Guan Yu Cleaves Hua Xiong Over Warm Wine

The Explosive Debut of the Lord of the Magnificent Beard

In Luo Guanzhong’s (罗贯中, La Quán Trung) epic novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三国演义, Sān Guó Yǎn Yì, Tam Quốc Diễn Nghĩa), the legendary episode “Cleaving Hua Xiong Over Warm Wine” (Wēn Jiǔ Zhǎn Huá Xióng, 温酒斩华雄) takes center stage in Chapter 5: “Warlords Rally to Attack Dong Zhuo; The Three Brothers Battle Lu Bu at Hulao Pass.”

This breathtaking debut launched the unknown warrior Guan Yu (关羽, Quan Vũ) onto the national stage, shattering the arrogance of the Eighteen Warlords and immortalizing his martial prowess.

Guan Yu – 关羽 – Quan Vũ

1. Historical Context and Order of Battle

(190 AD – The First Year of Chuping)

Following the death of Emperor Ling, the tyrannical warlord Dong Zhuo (董卓, Đổng Trác) deposed Emperor Shao (Lưu Biện) and installed Emperor Xian (Lưu Hiệp), seizing control of the Eastern Han court in Luoyang (洛阳, Lạc Dương). Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo) issued a forged imperial edict urging warlords across China to form a coalition to destroy Dong Zhuo.

The Coalition of Eighteen Warlords (The Eastern Alliance)

The coalition elected Yuan Shao (袁绍, Viên Thiệu) as their Supreme Commander. The 18 alliance commanders were:

1. Yuan Shao (袁绍, Viên Thiệu) – Supreme Commander / Governor of Bohai
2. Yuan Shu (袁术, Viên Thuật) – Quartermaster / General of the Rear
3. Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo) – Coalition Organizer / Cavalry Commander
4. Sun Jian (孙坚, Tôn Kiên) – Vanguard / Governor of Changsha
5. Gongsun Zan (公孙瓒, Công Tôn Toản) – Governor of Youbeiping (Accompanied by Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei)
6. Bao Xin (鲍信, Bào Tín) – Chancellor of Jibei
7. Han Fu (韩馥, Hàn Phức) – Inspector of Jizhou
8. Kong Zhou (孔伷, Khổng Trụ) – Inspector of Yuzhou
9. Liu Dai (刘岱, Lưu Đới) – Inspector of Yanzhou
10. Wang Kuang (王匡, Vương Khuông) – Governor of Henei
11. Zhang Miao (张邈, Trương Mạc) – Governor of Chenliu
12. Qiao Mao (桥瑁, Kiều Mạo) – Governor of Dongjun
13. Yuan Yi (袁遗, Viên Di) – Governor of Shanyang
14. Kong Rong (孔融, Khổng Dung) – Governor of Beihai
15. Tao Qian (陶谦, Đào Khiêm) – Inspector of Xizhou
16. Zhang Chao (张超, Trương Siêu) – Governor of Guangling
17. Zhang Yang (张杨, Trương Dương) – Governor of Shangdang
18. Ma Teng (马腾, Mã Đằng) – Governor of Xiliang

Dong Zhuo’s Defensive Forces

Dong Zhuo dispatched Commander Hua Xiong (华雄, Hoa Hùng)—a massive warrior standing nine chi tall with a leopard’s waist and a tiger’s chest—alongside vice-generals Li Su (李肃, Lý Túc), Hu Zhen (胡轸, Hồ Chẩn), and Zhao Cen (赵岑, Triệu Sầm) with 50,000 elite troops to defend Sishui Pass (汜水关, Ải Tự Thủy—also known as Hulao Pass).

2. The Bloody Engagements at Sishui Pass

Stage 1: Initial Success and Internal Betrayal

• Supreme Commander Yuan Shao assigned Sun Jian (孙坚, Tôn Kiên), the “Tiger of Jiangdong,” as the Vanguard. Sun Jian marched on Sishui Pass alongside his trusted generals: Cheng Pu (程普, Trình Phổ), Huang Gai (黄盖, Hoàng Cái), Han Dang (韩当, Hàn Đương), and Zu Mao (祖茂, Tổ Mậu).

• Dong Zhuo’s vice-general Hu Zhen (胡轸, Hồ Chẩn) rode out to engage them, but Cheng Pu ran him through the throat with his Iron-Poled Serpent Spear in the first clash. Sun Jian surrounded the pass and requested supply rations from alliance quartermaster Yuan Shu (袁术, Viên Thuật).

Cheng Pu

Hu Zhen

Round: 1

Result: Cheng Pu kill Hu Zhen through the throat with Iron-Poled Serpent Spear in the first clash

• Internal Treachery: Yuan Shu became envious of Sun Jian’s success, thinking: “Sun Jian is a fierce tiger. If he captures Luoyang and slays Dong Zhuo, we will only be replacing one wolf with another.” Yuan Shu withheld the grain supplies, leaving Sun Jian’s army starving and disorganized.

• Taking advantage of the chaos, Hua Xiong launched a night raid on Sun Jian’s camp. Sun Jian was forced to flee. To save his lord, Zu Mao (祖茂, Tổ Mậu) wore Sun Jian’s signature red felt turban to draw away pursuers. When Hua Xiong discovered Zu Mao hiding behind a bamboo grove, he cleaved Zu Mao off his horse with a single blow.

Hua Xiong

Zu Mao

Round: 1

Result: Hua Xiong cleaved Zu Mao off his horse with a single blow

Stage 2: Hua Xiong’s Rampage Outside the Alliance Camp

Flushed with victory, Hua Xiong rode directly to the main alliance camp, hoisting Zu Mao’s head on a pole and bellowing taunts.

• First Victim – Bao Zhong (鲍忠, Bào Trung): Seeking to steal credit before Sun Jian, Bao Xin’s younger brother Bao Zhong had secretly led 3,000 troops to attack the pass earlier, only to be decapitated on the spot by Hua Xiong.

Hua Xiong

Bao Zhong

Round: 1

Result: Bao Zhong was decapitated on the spot by Hua Xiong

• Second Victim – Yu She (俞涉, Du Thiệp): As Hua Xiong roared outside the camp gates, Yuan Shu proudly ordered his commander Yu She to engage him.

  Within three bouts, a scout rushed in: “General Yu She has been cleaved off his horse by Hua Xiong!”

Hua Xiong

Yu She

Round: 3

Result: Yu She has been cleaved off his horse by Hua Xiong

• Third Victim – Pan Feng (潘凤, Phan Phụng): Governor Han Fu boasted: “I have my supreme general Pan Feng; he can cut down Hua Xiong!” Pan Feng rode out wielding his massive war axe.

  Moments later, the scout reported in terror: “Pan Feng has also been slain by Hua Xiong!”

Hua Xiong

Pan Feng

Round: 1

Result: Pan Feng has also been slain by Hua Xiong

Panic gripped the assembly hall. Supreme Commander Yuan Shao sighed in despair:

“If only my premier generals Yan Liang (颜良, Nhan Lương) and Wen Chou (文丑, Văn Xú) were here! With either one present, why would we fear Hua Xiong?!”

3. The Iconic Moment: Guan Yu Steps Forward

From behind Gongsun Zan stood a towering man nine chi tall, with a two-foot-long beard, crimson cheeks, phoenix eyes, and a voice like a booming bell.

The Legendary Exchange in the Command Tent

Guan Yu: “I offer to go out and bring back Hua Xiong’s head to present beneath your command tent!”

Yuan Shao (asking): “What is your current rank?”

Gongsun Zan: “This is Guan Yu, sworn brother to Liu Bei. He currently serves as an Archer Cavalryman (马弓手, Mã cung thủ).”

Yuan Shu (bellowing in anger): “We have gathered the warlords of the whole empire! Are we out of generals that a mere horse archer dares to boast here?! Driver him out!”

Cao Cao (intervening): “Pray stay your anger, My Lord. Since this man boasts such courage, he must possess skill. Let him try; if he fails, it will be time enough to punish him.”

Yuan Shao: “Sending a mere horse archer will only make Hua Xiong laugh at us!”

Cao Cao: “This man possesses a regal aura; how would Hua Xiong know he is merely an archer?”

Guan Yu declared with absolute calm:

Guan Yu: “If I fail to decapitate Hua Xiong, you may take my own head!”

Cao Cao ordered a cup of warm wine to be poured and offered it to Guan Yu as a farewell toast. Guan Yu waved his hand and said:

Guan Yu: “Pour the wine and leave it here. I shall return shortly!”

The Climax Outside the Gates

Armed with his 82-catty Green Dragon Crescent Blade (青龙偃月刀, Thanh Long Yển Nguyệt Đao), Guan Yu mounted his warhorse and rode out alone.

Luo Guanzhong masterfully used dramatic off-screen tension rather than describing every exchange of the duel:

Inside the alliance tents, the warlords listened as thunderous war drums echoed from outside the pass, accompanied by shouts that shook the very earth as if heaven were collapsing.

Just as the panicked warlords prepared to send scouts, the clatter of horse hooves sounded outside. Guan Yu rode back into the main hall and tossed Hua Xiong’s severed head onto the ground.

The cup of wine poured by Cao Cao… was still warm!

Guan Yu

Hua Xiong

Round: 1

Result: Guan Yu rode back into the main hall and tossed Hua Xiong's severed head onto the ground

温酒斩华雄, Wēn Jiǔ Zhǎn Huá Xióng, Ôn Tửu Trảm Hoa Hùng

4. Summary of Key Event Figures

Hua Xiong

Guan Yu

Yu She

Pan Feng

Zu Mao

Hu Zhen

Cao Cao

Liu Bei

Zhang Fei

Gongsun Zan

5. Historical Fact vs. Literary Fiction

While “Cleaving Hua Xiong Over Warm Wine” is one of the most famous martial scenes in Chinese literature, it is pure literary fiction created by Luo Guanzhong:

• According to Historical Records (Records of the Three Kingdoms by Chen Shou):

  • The warrior who actually defeated and killed Hua Xiong was Sun Jian (The Tiger of Jiangdong).

  • At the Battle of Yangren (阳人之战), Sun Jian rallied his starving forces, launched a fierce counter-attack against Dong Zhuo’s Xiliang army, and defeated the enemy, decapitating Commander Hua Xiong in battle and forcing Dong Zhuo to abandon Luoyang.

• Luo Guanzhong’s Narrative Goal:

  • To glorify Guan Yu as the unbeatable “God of War” (Wu Sheng, 武圣).

  • To set up a dramatic momentum for subsequent legendary episodes, such as “Three Heroes Battle Lu Bu at Hulao Pass”, “Slaying Yan Liang and Wen Chou”, and “Crossing Five Passes and Slaying Six Generals“.