Cao Cao, courtesy name Mengde, was a Chinese statesman, warlord and poet who rose to power towards the end of the Eastern Han dynasty and became the effective head of the Han central government during that period, the most powerful man in China. He laid the foundation for what was to become the state of Cao Wei (220–265), established by his son and successor Cao Pi, who ended the Eastern Han dynasty and inaugurated the Three Kingdoms period (220–280). Beginning in his own lifetime, a corpus of legends developed around Cao Cao which built upon his talent, his cruelty, and his perceived eccentricities.
Zhuge Liang, also commonly known by his courtesy name Kongming, was a Chinese statesman, strategist, and engineer who lived through the end of the Eastern Han dynasty and the early to mid-Three Kingdoms period (220–280) of China. During the Three Kingdoms period, he served as the Imperial Chancellor of the state of Shu Han (221–263) from its founding in 221 and later as regent from 223 until his death in September or October 234.
Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions were a series of five military campaigns launched by the state of Shu Han against the rival state of Cao Wei from 228 to 234 during the Three Kingdoms period in China. All five expeditions were led by Zhuge Liang, the Imperial Chancellor and regent of Shu. Although they proved unsuccessful and ended up as a stalemate, the expeditions have become some of the best known conflicts of the Three Kingdoms period and one of the few battles during it where each side fought against each other with hundreds of thousands of troops, as opposed to other battles where one side had a huge numerical advantage.
Cao Zhen, courtesy name Zidan, was a military general of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was an adopted son of Cao Cao, a warlord who rose to power in the late Eastern Han dynasty and laid the foundation for Wei. After Cao Cao's death and the end of the Eastern Han dynasty, Cao Zhen served under Cao Pi and Cao Rui, the first two emperors of Wei. He is best known for leading a successful defence of Wei from the first two of a series of invasions by Wei's rival state, Shu Han, between 228 and 229.
Zhuge Dan, courtesy name Gongxiu, was a Chinese military general and politician of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China. When he held key military appointments throughout his middle to late career, he was involved in all of the three rebellions which broke out in Shouchun between 251 and 258. During the second rebellion, he actively assisted the Wei regent Sima Shi in suppressing the revolt. After the rebellion, the Wei government put him in charge of Shouchun. As the Sima clan became more powerful and established themselves as the de facto rulers of Wei, Zhuge Dan feared that he would end up slain like Wang Ling and Guanqiu Jian – the leaders of the first two rebellions – so he started the third rebellion against Sima Zhao, who succeeded Sima Shi as regent of Wei in 255. Although he received some support from Wei's rival state Eastern Wu, his rebellion was eventually suppressed by Wei imperial forces and he met his end at the hands of Hu Fen, a military officer under Sima Zhao.
The conquest of Wu by Jin was a military campaign launched by the Jin dynasty against the state of Wu from late 279 to mid 280 at the end of the Three Kingdoms period of China. The campaign, which started in December 279 or January 280, concluded with complete victory for the Jin dynasty on 1 May 280 when the Wu emperor Sun Hao surrendered. After the campaign, the Jin emperor Sima Yan changed the era name of his reign from "Xianning" to "Taikang", hence the campaign has also been referred to as the Taikang campaign.
Wang Mi, courtesy name Zigu, was a Chinese bandit leader and military general of Han-Zhao during the Western Jin dynasty. He participated in a rebellion led by Liu Bogen during the War of the Eight Princes but after it was quelled, he fled to Mount Zhangguang where he became a notorious outlaw and was given the nickname "Flying Leopard". After two years of banditry, he joined the Xiongnu king, Liu Yuan and his state of Han-Zhao in 308. He became one of the state's most important commanders in their war against Jin, playing a crucial role in capturing Luoyang during the Disaster of Yongjia. However, Wang Mi's career was cut short after he was assassinated by his peer and rival Shi Le in 311.
Qu Yun, was a military general of the Jin Dynasty (266-420). He was a prominent member of the group from Anding who swore to restore the Jin Dynasty in northern China following the Disaster of Yongjia and was one of Emperor Min of Jin's closest advisors in resisting Han Zhao. Despite the group's early success, the regime was short-lived as the lack of support and trust among themselves led to it eventually being overwhelmed by Han's forces in 316. After Emperor Min's surrender, Qu Yun killed himself while imprisoned.
Jia Ya, courtesy name Yandu, was a Chinese military general of the Jin dynasty (266–420). He was most known for leading the empire's restoration movement against the state of Han-Zhao in Anding following the Disaster of Yongjia in 311. However, his untimely death the next year undermined the potential of the group, as power would fall into the hands of Suo Chen and Qu Yun, who held on desperately to their influence on Emperor Min of Jin in Chang'an. His name can be rendered as Jia Pi.
Yan Ding, courtesy name Taichen, was a military general of the Jin dynasty (266–420). At the time of the Disaster of Yongjia in 311, Yan Ding brought the nephew of Emperor Huai, Sima Ye, to Chang'an, where a group of loyalists from Anding were in the process of retaking the region from Han-Zhao forces. After the re-establishment of the Jin government, Yan Ding became a powerful member of the new regime but jealousy and suspicion would cut his career short as his peers Qu Yun and Suo Chen combined their forces to have him killed.
Li Te, courtesy name Xuanxiu (玄休), posthumously King Jing of Chengdu (成都景王) and later Emperor Jing (景皇帝), was the spiritual founder of the Ba-Di-led Cheng-Han dynasty during the Sixteen Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Under the ruling Jin dynasty (266–420), he and many people from present-day Gansu sought refuge in Yizhou due to Qi Wannian's rebellion. In 300, he ousted the rebelling provincial Inspector, Zhao Xin, and established a strong presence in the region. He initially agreed to coexist with the new Inspector, Luo Shang, but due to conflicting interests, they eventually went to war with each other. Li Te had the upper hand early on, and in 303, he hinted at the formation of a new state. However, before he could do so, he was abruptly killed in an ambush by Jin forces. Regardless, his brother Li Liu and his son Li Xiong continued the war, with the latter finally forcing Luo Shang out from the provincial capital, Chengdu in 304. Li Xiong established the state of Cheng, and posthumously honoured his father as a king and later an emperor.
Huyan Yan was a Xiongnu military general and minister of Han-Zhao during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. He was an important figure during the Disaster of Yongjia in 311 and was also a supporter of Liu Yao following Jin Zhun's coup in 318.
Dou Chong was a Di military general and ruler of Former Qin during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. Dou Chong rose to prominence after the Battle of Feishui in 383, remaining loyal to Fu Jian after most of Qin's generals had betrayed the state and becoming a key general. Dou Chong continued his service with Qin under Fu Pi and Fu Deng, but by 393, despite receiving much favour from Fu Deng, he rebelled and declared himself the King of Qin. Dou Chong's Qin only lasted for a year before he was defeated and captured by Later Qin.
Chen An, courtesy name Huhou, was a Chinese military general and warlord of the Jin dynasty (266–420) and Han-Zhao during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. During the aftermath of the Disaster of Yongjia in northern China, Chen An became a favored general of the Jin prince Sima Bao in Qinzhou, but an assassination attempt on him made by one of Bao's subordinates in 315 prompted him to declare independence in Longcheng. He submitted to the Han-Zhao state in 319 but then rebelled in 322, declaring himself the King of Liang. His reign was short-lived, as he was defeated and executed by Han-Zhao forces the following year.
Yang Nandi was a ruler of Chouchi during the Jin dynasty (266–420) and Sixteen Kingdoms period. He was the son of Yang Maosou who founded Chouchi in 296. During his reign, attacks on Chouchi by Former Zhao and Cheng-Han became more frequent. Nandi met these with mixed results, sometimes having to resort to vassalage, but was ultimately successful in preserving the survival of Chouchi.
Zhang Fang was a military general of the Jin dynasty (266–420). He was the powerful general of the Prince of Hejian, Sima Yong during the War of the Eight Princes who helped him in subduing the Prince of Changshan, Sima Ai, and had the imperial family under his control in 304. Though capable, he was most noted for his cruelty, allowing his soldiers to plunder and kill freely and also having them engaged in cannibalism. Zhang was killed under Sima Yong’s order in 306 in a desperate attempt to use his death to settle for peace with the Prince of Donghai, Sima Yue.
Zhang Chai was a minister of Later Zhao during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. He was a close ally to Shi Hu's empress, Empress Liu, who helped her establish themselves as the paramount leaders of Zhao through her son Shi Shi following the death of Shi Hu in 349. The pair attempted to centralize their power and eliminate their rivals, but a popular coup led by Shi Zun saw their reign barely lasting a month as they were removed and subsequently executed. Despite the coup, it would soon be known as the beginning of a bigger power struggle within the Shi family over the throne that led to the destruction of Later Zhao in 351 in the hands of Ran Min.
Guo Mo, courtesy name Xuanxiong, was a Chinese military general and warlord of the Jin dynasty (266–420). During the Disaster of Yongjia, he acclaimed himself as a wuzhu before seeking refuge and working with another wuzhu, Li Ju against the Han-Zhao and Later Zhao states around the Luoyang region. As Li Ju faced defeat, Guo Mo abandoned him and fled south to Jiankang, the capital of the Eastern Jin. He later sided with loyalist forces during Su Jun's Rebellion. After his controversial killing of his contemporary, Liu Yin in 330, the ministers, Tao Kan and Yu Liang raised their troops against him and executed him.
Li Ju, courtesy name Shihui, was a Chinese military general and warlord of the Jin dynasty (266–420). During the Upheaval of the Five Barbarians, he became a powerful wuzhu and contested with the Han-Zhao and Later Zhao states over the Luoyang region, which Jin had lost control over after the Disaster of Yongjia in 311. He found much success initially, even briefly recovering the city of Luoyang for Jin. However, with little support from the court in Jiankang, his forces were eventually overwhelmed and he was forced to withdraw. While traveling to Jiankang in 325, he was involved in a horse riding accident and died from his injuries.
Lu Zhi, courtesy name Zidao, was a Chinese politician of the Jin dynasty (266–420) and Han-Zhao dynasty during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. He was a close confidant of the Prince of Chengdu, Sima Ying, who, throughout War of the Eight Princes, provided him with vital advice. He was praised by traditional historians for encouraging his prince towards righteous decisions and remaining by his side even after his fall from power and until his death in 306. After the war, he continued to serve the Jin government until his capture by the Xiongnu-led Han-Zhao state, where he briefly served before he was executed for treason.
