| NAME | |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 李肃, 李肅, Lǐ Sù |
| Other name | Lý Túc |
| INFORMATION | |
| Birth Place | Wuyuan Commandery, Bing Province (并州五原郡; quận Ngũ Nguyên, Tinh Châu) |
| Died | 192 |
| Death Reason | Executed by Lu Bu (吕布, Lã Bố) after defeat by Niu Fu (牛辅, Ngưu Phụ) (192 AD) |
| CAREER | |
| Allegiance | Dong Zhuo → Lu Bu |
| Battles | Assassination of Dong Zhuo; attack on Niu Fu (Chang’an / Hongnong) |
Here is the exhaustive biography of Li Su (李肅 / 李肃) (? – 192), a cavalry commandant under Dong Zhuo who helped assassinate his lord and later served Lu Bu, incorporating historical records and the narrative of Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Historical Career
Li Su was a native of Wuyuan Commandery (modern Baotou area, Inner Mongolia) and a fellow townsman of Lu Bu. He served as Cavalry Commandant (qiduwei) under Dong Zhuo. In May 192 he joined the plot of Wang Yun and Lu Bu to kill Dong Zhuo: he led about a dozen men disguised as guards at the palace gate, struck Dong Zhuo with a ji (halberd) as he entered, wounding him and knocking him from his carriage so that Lu Bu could finish him. Shortly afterwards Lu Bu ordered Li Su to attack Niu Fu (Dong Zhuo’s son-in-law). Li Su was defeated, retreated to Hongnong, and was executed by Lu Bu for the failure.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
In the novel Li Su is a Tiger-Guard Commandant under Dong Zhuo and a fellow native of Lu Bu. He volunteers to persuade Lu Bu to abandon Ding Yuan: bringing gold, pearls, a jade belt and especially the horse Red Hare, he successfully induces Lu Bu to kill Ding Yuan and join Dong Zhuo. He later assists Hua Xiong against the coalition, advising a night attack that routs Sun Jian. When Wang Yun and Lu Bu plot against Dong Zhuo, Li Su, resentful at lack of promotion, joins them; he helps lure Dong Zhuo and participates in the assassination. Lu Bu then sends him against Niu Fu; after defeat Li Su is executed by Lu Bu.
Family, Friends and Enemies
Family:
- No recorded parents, spouse or children.
Colleagues / shared origin: Lu Bu (fellow townsman of Wuyuan; later his executioner). Served under Dong Zhuo; later under Lu Bu.
Principal adversaries: Ding Yuan (whose death he engineered in the novel); Niu Fu (whom he failed to defeat); ultimately Lu Bu himself.
Li Su (李肅) — Historical & Literary Timeline
c. 189–192 AD — Service under Dong Zhuo
Cavalry Commandant
Served Dong Zhuo as Cavalry Commandant. In the novel he is the envoy who, with Red Hare and other gifts, persuades Lu Bu to kill Ding Yuan and defect.
192 AD — Assassination of Dong Zhuo & Death
Plot, Failure against Niu Fu, Execution
Joined Wang Yun and Lu Bu in the assassination of Dong Zhuo; struck the first blow at the palace gate. Later ordered by Lu Bu to attack Niu Fu, was defeated, and was executed by Lu Bu for the failure.
Historical Note
Historically Li Su is remembered for two acts: the physical role he played in Dong Zhuo’s assassination and his subsequent execution by Lu Bu after failing against Niu Fu. The novel greatly expands his earlier career by making him the persuasive agent who brings Lu Bu over from Ding Yuan with the gift of Red Hare, and it retains the historical outline of his part in the assassination and his fatal defeat. Thus the fictional account supplies the famous “persuasion of Lu Bu” episode while remaining faithful to the essential facts of his rise and abrupt end in 192.
For detailed historical records, archives, and official chronicles, explore Li Su on Wikipedia.
Key Relationships
Family
- Neither Romance of the Three Kingdoms nor the official histories (Sanguozhi / Hou Hanshu notices) record parents, spouse, or children for Li Su (李肃, Lý Túc).
Friends
- Dong Zhuo (董卓, Đổng Trác): Lord whom Li Su served as Cavalry Commandant / Tiger-Guard officer in Luoyang before joining the assassination plot.
- Lu Bu (吕布, Lã Bố): Fellow townsman of Wuyuan (五原, Ngũ Nguyên). Novel: Li Su used Red Hare, gold, and shared origin to persuade Lu Bu to kill Ding Yuan. History and novel: after Dong Zhuo’s death Lu Bu sent Li Su against Niu Fu, then executed him for defeat.
- Wang Yun (王允, Vương Doãn): Chancellor who recruited Li Su into the 192 plot to forge a summons and assassinate Dong Zhuo.
Enemies
- Ding Yuan (丁原, Đinh Nguyên): Novel — warlord whose death Li Su engineered by suborning Lu Bu with gifts including Red Hare. History does not credit Li Su with this persuasion episode.
- Dong Zhuo (董卓, Đổng Trác): Former lord; Li Su struck the first assassin blow (halberd) at the palace gate in 192 so Lu Bu could finish him (history and novel).
- Niu Fu (牛辅, Ngưu Phụ): Dong Zhuo’s son-in-law who defeated Li Su; Lu Bu then executed Li Su for the failure (192).
Other
- Wuyuan townsman of Lu Bu: Historical and novel sources identify Li Su as a native of Wuyuan Commandery and fellow townsman of Lu Bu (吕布, Lã Bố) — the kinship used to open the Red Hare persuasion scene in the novel.
- Red Hare persuasion (novel only): In Ch.3 Li Su volunteers to bring gold, pearls, a jade belt and especially Red Hare (赤兔马, Xích Thố Mã) to induce Lu Bu to abandon Ding Yuan (丁原, Đinh Nguyên) for Dong Zhuo (董卓, Đổng Trác). Official history does not record this gift embassy; history remembers Li Su chiefly as the assassin who struck Dong Zhuo first at the palace gate.
- Assassin blow vs novel envoy: History — Cavalry Commandant who led disguised guards and wounded Dong Zhuo with a ji so Lu Bu could kill him. Novel — expands the earlier career as Red Hare envoy and Sishui adviser, then retains the historical assassination and fatal defeat.
- Hua Xiong (华雄, Hoa Hùng): Novel — Li Su assists Hua Xiong against the coalition and advises a night attack that routs Sun Jian (孙坚, Tôn Kiên).
- Sun Jian (孙坚, Tôn Kiên): Novel target of the night raid Li Su advised under Hua Xiong.
In Novel
Chapter 3
- Li Su (李肃, Lý Túc): Imperial officer and fellow townsman of Lu Bu (吕布, Lã Bố) who successfully bribed Lu Bu with the Red Hare steed and gold to assassinate Ding Yuan (丁原, Đinh Nguyên) and defect to Dong Zhuo (董卓, Đổng Trác).
Chapter 5
- Li Su (李肃, Lý Túc): Stationed at Sishui Pass under Hua Xiong (华雄, Hoa Hùng) and coordinated night raids against Sun Jian's (孙坚, Tôn Kiên) camp.
Chapter 9
- Li Su (李肃, Lý Túc): Joined Wang Yun (王允, Vương Doãn) and Lu Bu (吕布, Lã Bố) in the conspiracy against Dong Zhuo (董卓, Đổng Trác), delivering the false imperial summons to lure Dong Zhuo to his assassination; he was later executed by Lu Bu for suffering defeat against Niu Fu (牛辅, Ngưu Phụ).
In History
Year: 192 AD
- Li Su (李肃, Lý Túc) was a cavalry commandant who participated in the assassination of Dong Zhuo (董卓, Đổng Trác). He and other conspirators disguised themselves as guards and attacked Dong Zhuo at the palace gate. Dong Zhuo was then killed by Lu Bu (吕布, Lã Bố).
Year: 192 AD
- Li Su (李肃, Lý Túc) was subsequently sent by Lu Bu to attack Niu Fu (牛辅, Ngưu Phụ). After the campaign failed, Li Su was executed by Lu Bu.
Historical Status
- Li Su (李肃, Lý Túc) was a real historical figure. His role in persuading Lu Bu to betray Dong Zhuo is much more elaborate in Romance of the Three Kingdoms than in the surviving historical record.
Gallery
COMMENTS (0)