Han Hao

Historical Record

Han Hao, courtesy name Yuansi, was a native of Henei. As the realm fell into chaos at the end of the Han and bandits rose in swarms, Han Hao gathered a band for self-protection and became a bulwark for his home district. Grand Administrator Wang Kuang valued his talent, made him a Retainer, and dispatched him to lead troops at Mengjin to resist Dong Zhuo. To coerce Han Hao, Dong Zhuo seized his maternal uncle Du Yang, but Han Hao would not yield on that account. Yuan Shu, hearing of his deeds, admired his loyalty and valor and appointed him Commandant of Cavalry. Xiahou Dun too heard of his name, and after meeting him admired him greatly, thereupon inviting him to join his army on campaign^[1].

When Cao Cao first rose, Han Hao followed at his side. On one occasion, Xiahou Dun was held hostage at Puyang by Lü Bu's officers, and the army was shaken with terror. Han Hao acted decisively, deploying his troops at the gate of Xiahou Dun's camp, summoning the officers and generals, and ordering each to hold his post and not act rashly, thereby stabilizing the army's morale. He then went personally to the place where Xiahou Dun was held, rebuked the captors, and declared that he would deal with them according to the law of the state. Faced with Han Hao's resolute stance, the captors kowtowed in panic, saying they sought only goods. Han Hao was unmoved and ordered the captors slain. Xiahou Dun was thereby able to escape danger. When Cao Cao heard of this, he praised Han Hao's act as a "model for ten thousand generations," and decreed that thereafter, whenever there was a hostage-taking, all should join in attacking and need not regard the hostage's safety; thereafter hostage-takings ceased^[2].

Han Hao was renowned for his loyalty and valor, equal in fame to Shi Huan of Pei. He rose to General of the Central Army Guard, taking charge of the imperial guard troops, and was enfeoffed as a full marquis. When Cao Cao intended to campaign against Liucheng, the army leader Shi Huan held that the journey was distant and the penetration deep—not a wholly safe plan—and wished to remonstrate together with Han Hao. Han Hao, however, held that Cao Cao was divinely martial, never erring in his designs, and that this was the very moment to eliminate future trouble for the realm, so morale should not be dampened. In the end Cao Cao adopted Han Hao's view and successfully took Liucheng. Thereafter Han Hao's office was changed to General of the Central Army Guard, with Chief Clerk and Major established under him. During the campaign against Zhang Lu, some argued that Han Hao's wisdom and strategy were enough to secure the frontier and proposed leaving him to oversee the various armies guarding Hanzhong. But Cao Cao said: "How can I do without my Army Guard?"—and insisted on bringing Han Hao back. From this one may see Cao Cao's closeness to and trust in Han Hao. After Han Hao died, Cao Cao deeply lamented him. As he had no natural son, his adopted son Han Rong inherited his rank^[1].

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Han Hao's image to some extent carries on the loyalty and valor of the historical record, but he is more often portrayed as Xiahou Dun's deputy, taking part in several important battles, with somewhat more scenes and dialogue than in the histories. He first appears when Cao Cao sent Xiahou Dun to lead a hundred thousand troops to attack Xinye; Han Hao, together with Yu Jin, Li Dian, and Xiahou Lan, was appointed a deputy general^[3].

At the Battle of Bowang Slope, Han Hao tried to remonstrate with Xiahou Dun, pointing out that Zhao Yun was luring the enemy in deep and that an ambush was to be feared. However, Xiahou Dun, despising Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, would not heed Han Hao's advice, insisting on the pursuit, and in the end fell into Zhuge Liang's ambush^[4]. This episode has no record in the histories and is the Novel's literary invention to highlight Zhuge Liang's cunning and Xiahou Dun's contempt for the enemy.

Later, Han Hao appears again in the Hanzhong Campaign. He is portrayed as the younger brother of the surrendered general Han Xuan, sent together with Xiahou Shang to assist Zhang He. Han Hao harbored a deep hatred for Huang Zhong, because Huang Zhong and Wei Yan had surrendered the city of Changsha, causing the death of his brother Han Xuan^[5]. In their clashes with Huang Zhong, Han Hao and Xiahou Shang joined forces and once defeated Huang Zhong and seized his camp. However, Huang Zhong's successive retreats were in fact a ploy to lure the enemy; Zhang He once warned Xiahou Shang and Han Hao, but the two paid it no heed, ultimately bringing about the Cao army's defeat^[6][7]. This passage—the brotherhood with Han Xuan and the clashes with Huang Zhong—is all the Novel's own invention, meant to enrich the web of relationships and conflict.

Key Relationships

* Xiahou Dun: Han Hao was Xiahou Dun's trusted subordinate; in history he once rescued Xiahou Dun from peril and long followed at his side. In the Novel he also appears many times as Xiahou Dun's deputy^[2][3].
* Cao Wei: Han Hao was an important commander of Cao Cao's, deeply trusted and valued, rising to General of the Central Army Guard and taking charge of the imperial guard troops. Cao Cao once praised his conduct as a "model for ten thousand generations" and deeply lamented his death^[2][1].
* Han Xuan: In the Novel, Han Hao is cast as the younger brother of Han Xuan, harboring a grudge against Huang Zhong over Han Xuan's death (Novel only)^[5].
* Huang Zhong: In the Novel, Huang Zhong was Han Hao's enemy, and the two clashed several times in the Hanzhong Campaign (Novel only)^[5][6].
* Shi Huan: In history, Han Hao and Shi Huan were both distinguished for loyalty and valor and jointly took charge of the imperial guard troops; the two once exchanged differing views regarding the campaign against Liucheng^[1].

Iconic Scenes

* Rescuing His Lord at Puyang: When Xiahou Dun was taken hostage by Lü Bu's officers, Han Hao remained calm in the crisis, acted decisively, slew the captors, and successfully rescued Xiahou Dun. This act not only stabilized the army's morale but also set for Cao Cao a model for handling hostage incidents, hailed by Cao Cao as a "model for ten thousand generations"^[2].
* Remonstrance at Bowang Slope: In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Han Hao remonstrated with Xiahou Dun at the Battle of Bowang Slope, pointing out that Zhao Yun was luring the enemy in deep and that an ambush was to be feared, but was not heeded. This scene displays Han Hao's prudence and insight, and sets off Xiahou Dun's contempt for the enemy (Novel only)^[4].
* Vengeance at Hanzhong: In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Han Hao, on account of his brother Han Xuan's death, harbored a deep hatred for Huang Zhong and clashed with him several times in the Hanzhong Campaign, seeking revenge. This episode enriches Han Hao's motives and adds the color of personal grudge to the campaign (Novel only)^[5][6].
* Urging the Liucheng Campaign: When Cao Cao intended to campaign against Liucheng, Han Hao stood against the majority, holding that Cao Cao was divinely martial and that this was the moment to eliminate trouble, and that morale should not be dampened—ultimately bringing about victory in the Liucheng campaign^[1].