Li Zou

Biography & Historical Record

Li Zou was a military officer who served under the warlord Lu Bu during the warlord era of the late Eastern Han dynasty[cite: 3]. In the chaotic fighting among rival factions, Li Zou joined Lu Bu’s army as a subordinate commander, though historical records preserve few details regarding his early origin or family background[cite: 3].

In 196 AD (the first year of the Jian’an era), Cao Cao launched a series of military offensives targeting Lu Bu’s forces in Yan and Xu Provinces[cite: 3]. During these campaigns, Cao Cao’s elite general Xu Huang engaged and defeated the military unit commanded by Li Zou[cite: 3]. Realizing that his military position was hopeless, Li Zou, alongside fellow officer Zhao Shu, surrendered to Xu Huang[cite: 3]. Following his submission to Cao Cao’s forces, Li Zou fades from historical records[cite: 3].

Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms

In Luo Guanzhong’s Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Li Zou appears during the chaotic conflict between Lu Bu and rival warlords. As a subordinate officer under Lu Bu, Li Zou participates in regional military deployments aimed at securing territory. However, when confronted by Cao Cao’s rising general Xu Huang, Li Zou and his fellow officer Zhao Shu recognize the collapse of their line and surrender, reflecting the attrition of Lu Bu’s officer corps prior to the final encirclement at Xiapi.

Li Zou (李鄒) — Literary Timeline

For detailed historical records, archives, and official chronicles, explore Li Zou on Wikipedia.

Key Relationships

Family

• No information

Friends

• Zhao Shu (赵庶, Triệu Thứ) — A fellow officer under Lu Bu who fought alongside Li Zou and surrendered with him to Xu Huang in 196 AD.
• Chen Gong (陈宫, Trần Cung) — A senior strategist and advisor under Lu Bu whom Li Zou served under during his tenure in the warlord’s army.
• Zhang Liao (张辽, Trương Liêu) — A prominent general serving under Lu Bu during the period Li Zou was active in the faction.

Enemies

• Xu Huang (徐晃, Từ Hoảng) — A general serving Cao Cao who defeated Li Zou’s military unit in 196 AD and accepted his formal surrender.
• Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo) — The warlord whose military campaigns in Yan and Xu Provinces forced the collapse of Li Zou’s position and led to his eventual surrender.

Other

• Lu Bu (吕布, Lữ Bố) — The warlord and sovereign commander under whom Li Zou served as a subordinate officer prior to his surrender to Cao Cao’s forces.