Campaigners › Warriors
Dian Wei
Cao Cao's bodyguard commander, known for wielding a pair of heavy halberds, who died holding the camp gate when Zhang Xiu attacked at Wan in 197
On a training ground at morning, a straw target stands at the left with one person beside it, turned away and empty-handed; racks hold bows and spears at rest, an armour stand holds lamellar armour and a helmet, and a saddled horse stands by a wooden mounting block at the right.
- Roles
- Warriors
Dian Wei came from Jiwu in Chenliu, a huge man of great strength; as a youth he avenged the Liu family of Xiangyi by killing their enemy Li Yong, then walked away unhurried. He enlisted when Zhang Miao raised troops, later served under Xiahou Dun, and was promoted for the heads he took. At Puyang in 194, with Cao Cao's army pressed by Lu Bu, he led a few dozen volunteers through a hail of arrows and drove the enemy back; Cao made him a commandant at the head of several hundred guards around the command tent. He carried a pair of large halberds and a long sword, and soldiers sang that the strong man under the tent lifted twin halberds of eighty jin. In 197, when Zhang Xiu, who had just surrendered, attacked Cao's camp at Wan by night, Dian held the gate until he had taken dozens of wounds and died cursing the enemy. Cao Cao wept for him and made his son Dian Man a court gentleman.
Life and times
Dates Birth unknown–197 CE