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Renowned as Tào Tháo's guardian general, Hua Chu once bravely dueled Lü Bu solo, yet refrained from confronting the legendary warrior Quan Vu. The surprising reason behind this decision is revealed!
In the Three Kingdoms, alongside the intense political maneuvers among the three dominant factions of Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu, the individual duels between top generals and warriors were highly captivating.
With numerous advantages and the recruitment of many talents, Cao Cao quickly became one of the three major powers during the Three Kingdoms period.
Among the generals recruited by Cao Cao, Dian Wei and Hua Chu were two trusted guardian generals, highly esteemed for their extraordinary strength and unwavering loyalty to their lord.
Particularly, Hua Chu engaged in single combat with many of the strongest warriors of that era. He was a loyal state builder of the Cao Wei dynasty, known for his exceptional strength, loyalty, dedication, and indomitable spirit.
Hua Chu, dubbed as the 'Tiger General,' epitomizes his raw strength akin to a wild tiger.
In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Hua Chu engaged in single combat with valiant generals such as Dian Wei, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao... Many of these battles ended inconclusively.
Especially, in the Battle of Bo Duong, Hua Chu boldly confronted Lu Bu, renowned as the foremost warrior in the Three Kingdoms. Despite over 20 rounds, the outcome remained undecided. Concerned for Hua Chu's safety and recognizing Lu Bu's might, Cao Cao dispatched Dian Wei, along with Hua Hua Dun, Hua Hua Yuan, Nac Tien, and Ly Dian for support. Together, these six generals launched an attack on Lu Bu, ultimately forcing him to retreat.
Hua Chu clearly understands his own capabilities. Though inferior to Lu Bu, his courage to single-handedly face this warrior showcases his valor and superior combat skills.
However, the question arises, having dueled Lu Bu, why did Hua Chu hesitate to confront Quan Vu?
Why did Hua Chu refrain from dueling Quan Vu alone?
Quan Vu, renowned as one of the foremost generals during the late Eastern Han and Three Kingdoms period, was acclaimed for his ability to stand against tens of thousands, a deity on the battlefield, with the demeanor of a statesman. He was the steadfast right hand of Liu Bei from the early days of his career, a general coveted by Cao Cao throughout his life.
During years of warfare under Cao Cao, Hua Chu once crossed swords with Quan Vu. However, it was a skirmish at Tho Son, with the assistance of Tu Hoang.
Following a heavy defeat against Cao's forces, Liu Bei sought refuge in Ha Bac under the shelter of Vien Thieu. Meanwhile, Zhang Fei sought refuge in Co Thanh, while Quan Vu found himself besieged at Tho Son.
Cao Cao ordered Ha Dau Don to lure Quan Vu out of Ha Phi for battle, then commanded Hua Chu and Tu Hoang to block Quan Vu's escape, aiming to coerce his submission. However, Quan Vu managed to repel the two generals. Later, as he tried to return to Ha Phi, he was intercepted by Ha Hau Don, forcing him to camp temporarily at Tho Son.
The battle showcased Quan Vu's exceptional combat prowess. It was evident that Quan Vu surpassed Hua Chu and Tu Hoang by far. Despite their combined efforts, they couldn't overcome Quan Vu.
Hua Chu was incredibly courageous, engaging in hundreds of duels with Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, and even daring to duel Lã Bố, despite never having faced these opponents before. Naturally, Hua Chu exuded unwavering confidence.
However, Hua Chu refrains from dueling Quan Vu alone for one reason.
That reason is he knows his own limitations. Initially appearing bold and impulsive like Zhang Fei, Hua Chu, in reality, is a prudent general, fully aware of his own capabilities as a loyal defender under Tào Tháo.
Before pledging allegiance to Tào Tháo, Quan Vu was at the peak of his strength. This was evident to Hua Chu after their joint efforts with Tu Hoang to confront Quan Vu.
If a 2-on-1 battle couldn't defeat Quan Vu, it's natural that Hua Chu wouldn't risk a solo duel with such a renowned adversary as Quan Vu.
On the other hand, according to Romance of the Three Kingdoms, during his allegiance to Tào Tháo, Quan Vu demonstrated remarkable combat prowess by easily dispatching Nhan Luong and Van Xu, two of Vien Thieu's top generals, at the Battle of Bach Ma (200 AD), slicing through five passes and slaying six generals. This highlights Hua Chu's prudent and wise decision not to challenge Quan Vu.
References: Sohu, Baidu
