| NAME | |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 赵弘, 赵弘, Zhào Hóng |
| Nickname | Yellow Turban General |
| Other name | Triệu Hoằng |
| INFORMATION | |
| Died | 184 |
| Death Reason | Executed by Zhu Jun after the fall of Wancheng. |
| CAREER | |
| Allegiance | Yellow Turban Rebellion |
| Battles | Battle of Wancheng |
Zhao Hong and the Defense of Wancheng
Zhao Hong was an insurgent military commander of the Yellow Turban Rebellion during the decline of the Eastern Han Dynasty, setting the stage for the turbulent Three Kingdoms period. Following the deaths of early rebel leaders across Nanyang Commandery, he assumed direct command of the large insurgent garrison entrenched inside the vital stronghold of Wancheng in 184 AD.
Imperial authorities responded swiftly to the uprising. The Han court deployed Right General Zhu Jun to suppress the Nanyang insurgents. Trapped within city walls, Zhao Hong organized an unyielding multi-month defense against repeated imperial assaults. However, coordinate strikes by imperial forces ultimately breached the perimeter, culminating in the complete collapse of the rebel line and Hong’s death in battle.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
In Luo Guanzhong’s historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhao Hong appears as a fierce defender who inherits leadership after the fall of Zhang Mancheng and Han Zhong. Alongside Sun Zhong, he stubbornly resists the combined armies of Zhu Jun and early volunteer militias led by Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei before being slain during the final siege.
Historical & Literary Timeline
The Siege of Wancheng
Taking command of Nanyang rebel units, the insurgent general withstands a prolonged siege before being overpowered and killed by Zhu Jun’s army.
Key Historical Relationships
Allies
- Zhang Jue: Supreme leader and founder of the Yellow Turban movement.
- Zhang Mancheng: Initial Nanyang commander whose death prompted a shift in local rebel leadership.
- Han Zhong & Sun Zhong: Fellow commanders who coordinated defensive operations at Wancheng.
Enemies
- Zhu Jun: Imperial general who directed the multi-gate assault that crushed the Wancheng defense.
- Huangfu Song: Han commander who assisted in pacifying regional rebellions.
- Sun Jian: Fearless officer under Zhu Jun who led the vanguard scaling the city ramparts.
In Novel
Chapter 2
- Zhao Hong (赵弘, Triệu Hoằng): Zhao Hong becomes one of the Yellow Turban leaders after the movement expands beyond Zhang Jue's original leadership. He commands rebel forces around Jingzhou and resists the Han campaign led by Sun Jian. Sun Jian attacks the Yellow Turban position, and Zhao Hong is killed in the fighting. His death contributes to the collapse of the local Yellow Turban resistance.
In History
184 AD
- Zhao Hong (赵弘, Triệu Hoằng) was a Yellow Turban commander active in Nanyang during the rebellion against the Eastern Han.
184 AD
- Zhao Hong and other Yellow Turban leaders held Wan against Han forces under Zhu Jun (朱儁, Chu Tuấn). The resistance lasted for an extended period before the Han counterattack.
184 AD
- Zhao Hong was killed during the Han campaign, in which Sun Jian (孙坚, Tôn Kiên) played an important role. His death contributed to the collapse of the Yellow Turban resistance in Nanyang.
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