Contents
Biography & Historical Record
Xue Li (薛礼) was an official serving under Tao Qian, the Governor of Xu Province during the late Eastern Han Dynasty. He served as the Chancellor of Pengcheng (Pengcheng Xiang). Following the death of Tao Qian, regional conflicts intensified. Xue Li became involved in a power struggle with the runaway general Zuo Rong, who had fled to Pengcheng after betraying Tao Qian and killing Zhao Yu. In 195 AD, Zuo Rong attacked Xue Li, eventually defeating and killing him.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
In the narrative, Xue Li appears as a minor governor loyal to the legacy of Tao Qian. His conflict with Zuo Rong highlights the chaotic state of the Xu Province following Tao Qian’s death, serving as a backdrop to the instability that allowed warlords like Liu Bei and Lu Bu to intervene in the region.
Xue Li — Historical & Literary Timeline
195 AD
Death of Xue Li
Xue Li is defeated and killed by the forces of Zuo Rong in Pengcheng.
Key Relationships
- Tao Qian
- Served as the Chancellor of Pengcheng under his administration in Xu Province.
- Zuo Rong
- Primary antagonist who besieged and killed Xue Li.
In Novel
Chapter 11
- Xue Li (薛礼, Tiết Lễ): Xue Li serves among the forces involved in the struggle in Youzhou. He is associated with the military conflict surrounding Gongsun Zan and the northern warlords.
In History
Military Service
- Xue Li (薛礼, Tiết Lễ) was a military figure whose name appears in the historical tradition of the Three Kingdoms period.
Historical Record
- His surviving biography is comparatively brief, with his activities preserved mainly through references connected to military affairs.
Historical Context
- He lived during a period when commanders served regional warlords and emerging states amid the prolonged conflicts that followed the collapse of Han central authority.
Significance
- Because several historical figures bore similar names, the surviving evidence must be kept distinct from other men named Xue Li.