Wu Anguo

Historical Record

As for Wu Anguo, there is no clear record in the official histories. No information related to him can be found in the Records of the Three Kingdoms or other sources. This indicates that Wu Anguo was not a real historical figure, or at least that his deeds were not included in the official histories. We therefore cannot, from the historical materials, depict his life, origins, achievements, or any specific historical activity. His existence is entirely a product of literary creation, meant to enrich and advance the plot of the novel. In the absence of historical support, Wu Anguo's standing in history may be regarded as "no such person on record," all his image and deeds deriving from later artistic working and imagination.^[1]

In the Novel

In Luo Guanzhong's Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Wu Anguo appears as a general under Kong Rong, the Administrator of Beihai, his image and deeds being entirely literary creations. He first appears in chapter 5, just as the eighteen lords formed their alliance to campaign against Dong Zhuo. At that time Lü Bu was exceptionally fierce, and no one could match him. Mu Shun, a general under Zhang Yang, the Administrator of Shangdang, rode out to engage him, but was pierced from his horse by a single thrust of Lü Bu's halberd, throwing the lords into consternation. It was at this critical moment that Wu Anguo stepped forward, displaying his courage as a general.^[1]

The novel depicts the weapon Wu Anguo used as an iron mace; he "rode out swiftly wielding his iron mace" and joined fierce battle with Lü Bu. However, Lü Bu's martial skill far surpassed the ordinary, and after the two had crossed swords for "only some ten bouts," Wu Anguo was defeated. Lü Bu "cut off Anguo's wrist with a thrust of his halberd," forcing him to "drop his mace to the ground and flee." This scene not only highlights Lü Bu's unmatched valor but also indirectly sets off the vast gulf between Lü Bu and the other generals among the eighteen lords, apart from a few top fighters. After being wounded, Wu Anguo was fortunately saved when "troops of the eight divisions all rushed out and rescued Wu Anguo," and only then did Lü Bu withdraw. After this battle Wu Anguo never appears again in the novel, and his fate is never accounted for. His appearance serves mainly to set off Lü Bu's strength and to lay the groundwork for the subsequent classic episode of Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Liu Bei's "Three Heroes Fight Lü Bu," stirring the lords to take Lü Bu seriously and to discuss countermeasures.^[1]

Key Relationships

Wu Anguo's key relationships in Romance of the Three Kingdoms revolve mainly around his lord Kong Rong. As a "general under Kong Rong, the Administrator of Beihai" (unique to the novel), he was a warrior in Kong Rong's service. Against the backdrop of the eighteen lords' campaign against Dong Zhuo, Kong Rong, as one of the lords, sent Wu Anguo into battle, reflecting his response to the alliance and his stance of resistance against Dong Zhuo. Wu Anguo's going into battle also represented a portion of Kong Rong's strength within the coalition, though that strength appeared negligible before Lü Bu. His lord-subordinate relationship with Kong Rong is the basis of his identity in the novel. In addition, a brief but decisive relationship—namely a hostile one—formed between him and Lü Bu, and this clash directly resulted in Wu Anguo's grave injury.^[1]

Signature Scenes

Wu Anguo's most signature scene is undoubtedly his single combat with Lü Bu. This scene occurs in chapter 5 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms and is a prelude to the clash between the lords' coalition and Dong Zhuo's army before Hulao Gate. When Lü Bu was displaying his prowess before the lines and Mu Shun had been killed, Wu Anguo "rode out swiftly wielding his iron mace," boldly challenging this peerless fierce warrior. He fought Lü Bu for "some ten bouts," and though in the end "his wrist was cut off by a thrust of the halberd, and he dropped his mace to the ground and fled," his courage in daring to challenge Lü Bu, amid a situation where the assembled heroes were at a loss, was a bright spot of its own.^[1] This scene displays not only Wu Anguo's valor but, more importantly, vividly presents to the reader Lü Bu's overwhelming might, laying the groundwork for the coming of "Three Heroes Fight Lü Bu." Though Wu Anguo was defeated, his crushing defeat sets off Lü Bu's arrogant invincibility, making him a classic "stepping-stone" character in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, whose brief appearance nonetheless left a deep mark in the novel (unique to the novel).