Lu Xun

Historical Record

Historical sources on Lu Xun are lacking; his name does not appear in the official histories, nor have any related deeds been transmitted. It is therefore impossible to verify or describe his life, deeds, character, or key relationships from any historical or biographical material.^[1]

In the Novel

In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Lu Xun appears as a general of Shu Han, his image shaped mainly against the backdrop of Wei's large-scale invasion of Shu. He first appears in Chapter 116 of the novel, when the Wei general Zhong Hui leads a great army to invade Hanzhong, and Lu Xun is charged with defending Nanzheng Pass.^[1]

The Lu Xun of the Romance displays exceptional military insight and adaptability. Foreseeing early that the Wei troops would arrive, he set ambushes to the left and right of the wooden bridge before the pass, cleverly making use of the ten-bolt repeating crossbows left behind by the Martial Marquis Zhuge. When the Wei vanguard commander Xu Yi led his troops to seize the pass, a single clack of Lu Xun's watchman's clapper sent arrows raining down, instantly shattering Xu Yi's assault, felling dozens of riders, and routing the Wei troops.^[1]

Soon after, Zhong Hui personally led a hundred-odd riders to investigate, and Lu Xun again displayed his boldness. He led five hundred troops charging down from the pass, intending to pursue Zhong Hui. During the pursuit, the horse beneath Zhong Hui caught its hooves where the earth had collapsed on the bridge, and he nearly fell from the saddle. Zhong Hui abandoned his horse and fled on foot, with Lu Xun in close pursuit, thrusting a spear at Zhong Hui. However, Xun Kai among the Wei troops turned in time and loosed an arrow, striking Lu Xun and knocking him from his horse. Zhong Hui seized the moment and took Nanzheng Pass.^[1]

Lu Xun's character is portrayed in the Romance as alert and valiant. He could not only anticipate the enemy's movements and set ambushes in advance, but also dared to risk himself in person, leading troops to pursue the enemy's commander-in-chief. Although in the end he was defeated when struck by an arrow and thrown from his horse, his resistance at Nanzheng Pass bought time for Shu Han's defensive line and highlighted his image as a loyal and brave general.^[1]

Key Relationships

* Shu Han: Lu Xun was a general of Shu Han. At the critical moment of Wei's invasion of Shu, he took up the heavy duty of guarding Nanzheng Pass, contributing to Shu Han's defensive system.^[1] (novel only)
* Xu Yi: As the vanguard of the Wei army, Xu Yi was Lu Xun's direct opponent at Nanzheng Pass. Relying on ambush and repeating crossbows, Lu Xun routed Xu Yi's first assault.^[1] (novel only)
* Zhong Hui: Lu Xun and Zhong Hui were in an adversarial relationship. Lu Xun once ambushed and repelled Zhong Hui, and when Zhong Hui came personally before the pass, led troops charging down in pursuit, nearly slaying him.^[1] (novel only)
* Xun Kai: Xun Kai was a Wei general; when Lu Xun pursued Zhong Hui, it was Xun Kai who turned and loosed an arrow that struck Lu Xun and knocked him from his horse, thereby rescuing Zhong Hui.^[1] (novel only)
* The Martial Marquis Zhuge: In guarding the pass, Lu Xun used "the ten-bolt repeating crossbows left by the Martial Marquis," showing that he inherited and employed the military legacy left by Zhuge Liang, reflecting the transmission of the Martial Marquis's ingenuity.^[1] (novel only)

Defining Scenes

Lu Xun's most defining scene is his defensive battle at Nanzheng Pass. Having learned early that the Wei troops would arrive, he set ambushes to the left and right of the wooden bridge before the pass and cleverly deployed the ten-bolt repeating crossbows left behind by the Martial Marquis Zhuge. When the Wei vanguard commander Xu Yi led his troops to seize the pass, a single clack of Lu Xun's watchman's clapper sent arrows raining down, instantly shattering Xu Yi's assault and routing the Wei troops.^[1]

After this, when Zhong Hui personally led a hundred-odd riders to reconnoiter, Lu Xun again displayed his valor. He led five hundred troops charging down from the pass, pursuing Zhong Hui in person. During the pursuit, the horse beneath Zhong Hui caught its hooves where the earth had collapsed on the bridge, and he nearly fell from the saddle. Zhong Hui abandoned his horse and fled on foot, with Lu Xun in close pursuit, thrusting a spear at Zhong Hui and almost cutting him down. However, Xun Kai among the Wei troops turned in time and loosed an arrow, striking Lu Xun and knocking him from his horse, so that Zhong Hui was able to escape danger and seize the moment to take Nanzheng Pass.^[1] This series of events fully displays Lu Xun's combination of wisdom and courage, as well as his boldness and loyalty on the battlefield; though in the end he failed to hold the pass, his heroic deeds left a deep mark in the Romance.^[1] (novel only)