Apologies regarding Da Qiao

Another issue raised by the book friends is that the age difference between Qiao Xuan and Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao is too great, seemingly making it impossible for them to have been born. If we assume that Da Qiao could be two or three years older than Sun Ce, she might have been born around the year 172, making Qiao Xuan 65 years old at that time, which is still possible. The Book of the Later Han records that in the second year of Guanghe (179), Qiao Xuan had a ten-year-old son who died at the hands of bandits; this child was also born in 169, which is not far off in age from Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao. Perhaps at that time, Qiao Xuan was in good health and was still capable of such matters. The Book of the Later Han records that in the second year of Guanghe (179), Qiao Xuan had a ten-year-old son who died at the hands of bandits; this child was also born in 169, which is not far off in age from Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao. Perhaps at that time, Qiao Xuan was in good health and was still capable of such matters

In the book, I set Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao as the daughters of the late General Qiao Xuan, stating that Cao Cao had met Da Qiao once twenty years ago, which was deemed too far-fetched by my readers. Upon reflection, it indeed seems far-fetched, but not because of Da Qiao's age, rather due to Qiao Xuan's age

However, regarding the age of Da Qiao, I would like to clarify that both Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao were separated from their families during the turmoil and ended up in Wan City. It is possible for them to remain unmarried past a certain age. At that time, Sun Ce and Zhou Yu were both 25 years old, so it is not necessarily the case that Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao were younger than them. It is not uncommon for women to be a few years older than men, whether in that era or in the present.

In the sixteenth year of Jian'an, Xu Chu was appointed as the General of the Imperial Guards due to his contributions in the Battle of Tongguan. From then on, the Tiger Warriors were under the command of the Imperial Guards, marking the beginning of the history of the Imperial Guards as the personal bodyguards. Later, he was promoted to the General of the Central Army, and upon Cao Pi's ascension to the throne, he was transferred to the position of General of the Imperial Guards. He passed away during the reign of Emperor Ming. Although the exact dates of his birth and death are unclear, considering that he was already a prominent figure when he began his career in the first year of Jian'an, and that over thirty years had passed since then, it is likely that he was around sixty years old, or even older, which can be considered a good end to his life. Compared to Dian Wei, who died young on the battlefield, his fate was much more favorable.

Xu Chu and Dian Wei are characters favored by many enthusiasts of the Three Kingdoms, often regarded as essential figures in time-travel narratives. I recall that in "Zhen Zui," Dian Wei is depicted as an unparalleled master of close combat. There is also a book where the protagonist encounters Dian Wei upon arrival in the new world. However, more often than not, Dian Wei and Xu Chu are mentioned together. Yet, there is one book (the title escapes me) that seems to portray them unfavorably, depicting them as two bandit-like figures, which I do not particularly appreciate. I remember there is a book where the protagonist encounters Dian Wei upon arrival in the new world. However, more often than not, Dian Wei and Xu Chu are mentioned together. Yet, there is one book (the title escapes me) that seems to portray them unfavorably, depicting them as two bandit-like figures, which I do not particularly appreciate.

Many people believe that these two individuals are quite similar, both being suitable candidates for bodyguards, with comparable personalities and traits. As a result, they often find it difficult to distinguish between the two, leading them to assume that they must have a strong rapport and a close relationship. Personally, I think these two are actually from different worlds. Aside from their impressive martial skills and their composed demeanor (it is important to note that neither of them is a reckless person; on the contrary, they are both very cautious individuals who approach tasks with great care and steadiness), they have numerous differences. The likelihood of them becoming good friends is quite low, and there are not many opportunities for that.

In the subsequent Battle of Wancheng in the second year of Jian'an, Xu Chu was rewarded for his military achievements, "leading the charge and beheading tens of thousands, promoted to the rank of Captain." I find this somewhat exaggerated; how could he have beheaded tens of thousands when Zhang Xiu had only a limited number of troops? Regardless, he was indeed promoted to Captain, on par with Dian Wei. Just a few days after this battle, Dian Wei was killed in action, and from then on, all the Tiger Warriors became Xu Chu's subordinates. In the ninth year of Jian'an, Xu Chu was again granted the title of Marquis of Guannei for his contributions. Dian Wei never attained the title of Marquis in his lifetime, which is a point of comparison with Xu Chu. Of course, had he lived, he might have had the opportunity, but considering his capabilities, he would likely have progressed more slowly than Xu Chu.

Later, Zhang Miao's troops were incorporated into Cao Cao's forces, under the command of Xiahou Dun. At this time, Dian Wei found his opportunity, achieving numerous victories and being appointed as a minor official. Subsequently, during the Battle of Puyang, he displayed extraordinary prowess as a small leader of the "vanguard"—essentially a death squad or cannon fodder team—leading dozens of men, heavily armored with two sets of armor, without shields, wielding only long spears. In the midst of fierce combat, he decisively defeated the enemy forces, "holding over ten spears, he shouted loudly, and all those he faced fell before him." As a result, Cao Cao was able to defeat the formidable warrior Lü Bu (it remains unknown whether Lü Bu ever engaged in combat with Dian Wei), thus stabilizing his position. Cao Cao appointed him as a commander and assigned him several hundred personal guards as bodyguards. Later, due to his repeated acts of bravery in the vanguard, he was promoted to the rank of Captain, which was the highest position he attained. He ultimately met his end in the second year of Jian'an, dying in the battle at Wancheng, a desperate fight that is well-known to all, so I will not elaborate further.

Of course, the above speculations, like the plot in the movie "Red Cliff," contain some elements of parody. You need not take them seriously. I take full responsibility for the content, and I acknowledge any errors; I will reflect on them.

There is another question that I once discussed with a fellow book lover: whether Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao could be the daughters of Qiao Xuan. This involves two issues. First, is Qiao Gong Qiao Xuan? The term "Gong" in the Han Dynasty had two meanings: one refers to a father, and the other refers to the Three Dukes. Qiao Xuan served as a Duke, which is why he could be referred to as Qiao Gong. From this perspective, it seems plausible, as there appears to be only one person with the surname Qiao who served as a Duke during the late Han period. Furthermore, the "Records of the Three Kingdoms" cites the "Biographies of Jiang Biao" referring to him as "Qiao Gong," rather than "Qiao Gong" as mentioned in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms." Therefore, it should be "Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao" as "Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao"; I have retained the character Qiao out of consideration for everyone's customary usage.

Qiao Xuan was born in 108 and died in 183, living for 76 years. Therefore, twenty years ago (in 188), Qiao Xuan had already been dead for five years, making it impossible for Cao Cao to have seen him at that time. This is the error.

This is the resume of Dian Wei. In brief, he rose through the ranks step by step due to his great strength and combat skills, without any other background. After his death, Cao Cao appointed his son Dian Man as a Langzhong, who later was promoted to Sima. After Cao Pi ascended to the throne, he was further promoted to Duwei and granted the title of Guanneihou. After that, there was no further news about him. It seems that Dian Man had nothing noteworthy to mention, unlike Xu Chu's son Xu Yi, who later could still lead troops into battle. Dian Man could only rely on Dian Wei's achievements to make a living.

Upon closer examination, I personally believe that the two of them, due to their differing family backgrounds and the time they entered Cao Cao's service, may not have developed a significant friendship. However, because their personalities are similar and neither is impulsive or reckless, it is unlikely that they would come into conflict. Moreover, they have only spent less than a year together, so any potential conflicts would not have had the time to surface. Their status differences are considerable, and aside from their martial skills, there is not much in common between them, suggesting a lack of shared language. Furthermore, Cao Cao has a peculiar aversion to his subordinates being overly familiar with one another. One reason he favors Xu Chu is that Xu Chu, as an internal minister, cannot casually interact with external ministers, which also spares the face of Cao Ren, the general stationed in Jingzhou at the time. Consequently, Cao Cao holds him in high regard. From this perspective, it is possible that Cao Cao does not necessarily appreciate Xu Chu and Dian Wei being as close as brothers.

Xu Chu and Dian Wei

Writing freely, chatting casually, to provide everyone with a smile

When did Xu Chu enter Cao's camp? I have not found a precise time for this, as the timing of "Taizu's expedition to Huai and Ru" cannot be determined. Based on the situation of Xu Chu fighting against the bandits in Runan at that time, it was likely during the second month of the first year of Jian'an when Cao Cao defeated the Yellow Turbans in Runan. He came to join Taizu with a large following, which was different from Dian Wei and Tu Shu, who were alone, thus receiving different treatment. "On the same day, he was appointed as the Captain and brought into the Imperial Guard." Those heroes who followed him were "all regarded as Tiger Warriors." From this statement, it seems that the title of Tiger Warriors had already been established at that time, while Dian Wei was the leader of the Tiger Warriors, holding the position of a mere Captain. Xu Chu, upon entering the camp, attained a status almost equal to his, and due to his large number of subordinates, his actual power might have been even greater than that of Dian Wei. His subordinates later included dozens who became generals and marquises, and hundreds who held the ranks of Captain and Lieutenant, which Dian Wei could not compare to. Xu Chu, upon entering the camp, attained a status almost equal to his, and due to his large number of subordinates, his actual power might have been even greater than that of Dian Wei. His subordinates later included dozens who became generals and marquises, and hundreds who held the ranks of Captain and Lieutenant, which Dian Wei could not compare to.

Xu Chugang is different; firstly, his family holds significant power, capable of "gathering thousands of young people and clans." It is evident that not only is the clan's influence strong, but it also carries considerable weight in the martial world, earning the admiration of the "youth." Therefore, it is reasonable to say that local gentry are not an issue.

Dian Wei was born into a poor family, with no notable lineage to speak of, and was illiterate. He originally was a wandering hero and once avenged the Liu family of Xiangyi by killing Li Yong, a former official from Fuchun, in a public place. This act brought him recognition among the local heroes, likely referring to individuals of a similar wandering nature rather than those of high status. In the first year of Chuping, during the Shandong uprising, he joined the camp of Zhang Miao, the governor of Chenliu, as an ordinary soldier under the command of Sima Zhao Chong. Due to his great strength, being able to lift the banner single-handedly, he caught Zhao Chong's attention. However, it is not mentioned whether he received any promotions; even if he did, it would have been limited, as Zhao Chong himself was merely a military Sima, a minor officer commanding a unit of four hundred men.