Han De

Historical Record

As for Han De, there is no clear record of him in the official histories. In source materials such as the Records of the Three Kingdoms, no general named Han De appears in the Cao Wei camp, nor is there any record of his leading Western Qiang troops in battle against Shu Han. Therefore, the figure of Han De and his associated deeds are not historical fact but belong to the realm of literary invention.

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Han De is portrayed as a great general of Xiliang, a vivid figure with the typical traits of a Novel character. He wielded a great mountain-splitting axe and was described as having "valor that ten thousand men could not withstand" ^c:6701, a fierce general under Xiahou Mao. Han De first appears in Chapter Ninety-two, during Zhuge Liang's First Northern Expedition; as Xiahou Mao mustered the various armies at Chang'an, Han De led eighty thousand Western Qiang troops to come to his aid and was appointed vanguard by Xiahou Mao ^c:6701.

Han De had four sons—the eldest Han Ying, the second Han Yao, the third Han Qiong, and the fourth Han Qi—all "skilled in martial arts, surpassing in archery and horsemanship" ^c:6701. He led his four sons and the Western Qiang troops to Fengming Mountain, where they encountered the Shu army. As the two armies faced off, Han De rode out first, sternly cursing Zhao Yun as a "traitor to the nation" ^c:6701. However, his four sons fell one after another in their clashes with Zhao Yun. The eldest, Han Ying, was speared to death by Zhao Yun within three bouts; the second, Han Yao, could not hold; the third and fourth, Han Qiong and Han Qi, attacked Zhao Yun together, with the result that Han Qi was speared off his horse, and Han Qiong was struck in the face by one of Zhao Yun's arrows and died. In the end, Han Yao was captured alive by Zhao Yun ^c:6701. Seeing all four of his sons fall to Zhao Yun's hand, Han De was overcome with grief, his "liver and gall shattered, and he was the first to flee into the ranks" ^c:6701.

Han De led his defeated troops back to Xiahou Mao and tearfully reported the affair. Xiahou Mao then personally led troops to fight Zhao Yun. In the second clash, Han De, to avenge his slain sons, urged his horse forward and swung his mountain-splitting axe straight at Zhao Yun. But he was no match for Zhao Yun; in barely three bouts he was speared off his horse and killed ^c:15445. Han De's death further set off Zhao Yun's invincible valor and foreshadowed Xiahou Mao's rout. The Novel's portrayal of Han De emphasizes his valor, his deep love for his sons, and his resolute desire to avenge them, all of which end in tragedy, highlighting the strength of the Shu Han generals.

Key Relationships

* Cao Wei (serves): As a great general of Xiliang, Han De led eighty thousand Western Qiang troops to join and serve Cao Wei, following Xiahou Mao's orders and serving as vanguard ^c:6701. (Novel only)
* Xiahou Mao (superior): Han De was an important commander under Xiahou Mao, who valued him highly and appointed him vanguard. After his defeat Han De tearfully reported to Xiahou Mao, who then personally took the field ^c:15445. (Novel only)
* Han Ying, Han Yao, Han Qiong, Han Qi (kin): Han De had four sons, all highly skilled in martial arts, who campaigned with their father. He was deeply devoted to his sons; after all four were slain one by one by Zhao Yun, his "liver and gall shattered" ^c:6701, and he was bent on avenging them ^c:15445. (Novel only)
* Zhao Yun (enemy_of): Zhao Yun was the direct enemy of Han De and his four sons. All four of Han De's sons died at Zhao Yun's hand, and Han De himself was ultimately speared to death by Zhao Yun—the two were mortal foes on the battlefield ^c:6701, ^c:15445. (Novel only)

Iconic Scenes

* Father and Sons Take the Field at Fengming Mountain: Han De led his Western Qiang troops and four sons against Zhao Yun at Fengming Mountain. He sternly cursed Zhao Yun and sent out his eldest son Han Ying to fight. His four sons then clashed with Zhao Yun one after another, all ultimately falling to Zhao Yun's spear. This scene concentrates on Han De's valor, his sons' martial skill, and Zhao Yun's extraordinary fighting power in his old age ^c:6701. (Novel only)
* Avenging His Sons Against Zhao Yun: After his four sons were slain by Zhao Yun, Han De, consumed by grief and rage, was bent on avenging them. When Xiahou Mao led his troops to fight Zhao Yun again, Han De recklessly urged his horse forward, swinging his mountain-splitting axe straight at Zhao Yun. But he failed to avenge his sons; instead, within three bouts he was speared off his horse and killed. This scene marks the end of Han De's character arc, emphasizing his deep paternal love and his tragic end as a general ^c:15445. (Novel only)