Historical Record
Concerning Zhao Cen, there is no clear record in the official histories. In the *Records of the Three Kingdoms* and its related materials, no deeds can be found of any general or figure named Zhao Cen. Thus, from the standpoint of the historical record, Zhao Cen is a figure unrecorded in the histories; his life, origins, allegiance, and any specific actions are beyond verification. This suggests that Zhao Cen is very likely a character wholly invented by literary creation, or one artistically elaborated from some minor figure unrecorded in the official histories. For lack of historical support, we cannot offer any description of him grounded in historical fact.
In the Novel
In the literary world of Luo Guanzhong's *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Zhao Cen appears as a general under Dong Zhuo. He appears mainly in Chapters 5 and 6 of the novel, playing a key role: guarding Sishui Pass. Sishui Pass was an important gateway for Dong Zhuo's faction to resist the coalition of the eastern regional lords, its strategic position self-evident. In the course of the coalition's campaign against Dong Zhuo, however, when Dong Zhuo decided to abandon Luoyang and move the capital to Chang'an, Zhao Cen's stance shifted. Chapter 6 of the novel clearly records Zhao Cen's action: "Now Dong Zhuo's general Zhao Cen, seeing that Dong Zhuo had already abandoned Luoyang and gone, thereupon surrendered Sishui Pass. Sun Jian drove his troops in first, while Xuande, Guan, and Zhang fought their way into Hulao Pass, and the various lords each led their armies in." c:6431 With this single stroke, Zhao Cen becomes the first general within Dong Zhuo's faction to surrender to the coalition, directly causing the loss of Sishui Pass. His surrender opened the gateway to Luoyang for Sun Jian and the other coalition forces, hastening the coalition's advance and indirectly bringing about the subsequent fighting at Hulao Pass. Although Zhao Cen appears only a few times in the novel and with very little ink, his act of surrendering the pass had an important effect on the whole course of the war, displaying his choice at a particular historical juncture. His action may be read as a turning away from Dong Zhuo's tyranny, or as a calculation of his own prospects; either way, it added to the coalition's victory.
Key Relationships
* Dong Zhuo's Faction (defected_from): In the novel, Zhao Cen was at first a general of Dong Zhuo, charged with guarding Sishui Pass. When Dong Zhuo decided to abandon Luoyang, however, Zhao Cen chose to turn away from Dong Zhuo and surrendered Sishui Pass to the eastern coalition c:6431. This act of betrayal turned his relationship with Dong Zhuo's faction from subordination to enmity, and ultimately brought about the collapse of Dong Zhuo's faction's defensive line at Sishui Pass (novel-only).
* The Eastern Coalition (object of surrender): The direct beneficiary of Zhao Cen's surrender of the pass was the eastern coalition, especially Sun Jian's force. His surrender cleared the obstacle to entering Luoyang, allowing Sun Jian to be the first to enter Sishui Pass and further driving the coalition's overall offensive c:6431. Thus a temporary cooperative relationship formed between Zhao Cen and the eastern coalition, though it was built upon his betrayal of his former lord (novel-only).
Signature Scenes
* Surrendering Sishui Pass: Zhao Cen's most signature scene in the novel is, without doubt, the event of his surrendering Sishui Pass to the eastern coalition. After Dong Zhuo abandoned Luoyang and departed, Zhao Cen, "seeing that Dong Zhuo had already abandoned Luoyang and gone, thereupon surrendered Sishui Pass" c:6431. This act directly brought about the change of hands of Sishui Pass, allowing Sun Jian to enter smoothly and paving the way for the subsequent actions of the coalition of regional lords. This scene displays not only Zhao Cen's choice at a critical moment but also stands as an important marker of the collapse of Dong Zhuo's faction's defensive line. Though Zhao Cen has little part in the novel, this act profoundly influenced the course of the campaign against Dong Zhuo, leaving a deep impression in readers' minds (novel-only).
Relationships
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- 演ch.6
Inner monologues · AI-generated1 段 ▸
- After Dong Zhuo abandoned Luoyang and headed west, I stood atop Sishui Pass, gazing at the smoke and dust beyond it, wit