Characters in "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. "Brothers are akin to limbs, wives are akin to clothing. Torn clothing can be mended, but can severed limbs be reattached".

Answer: Liu Bei

Liu Bei was the founder of the Shu. He and his sworn brother, Guan Yu, had been sent on an expedition against Yuan Shu. His other sworn brother, Zhang Fei, was left in charge of his home base of Xuzhou.

Zhang Fei, known for his penchant for drinking, got drunk one night and lost Xuzhou to Lu Bu. Zhang escaped and fled to Liu Bei's camp. Upon seeing Liu Bei, he apologised, drew his sword and wanted to commit suicide to atone for his mistake. Liu Bei prevented his attempt and consoled him with the above quote.

2. He betrayed Ding Yuan over a horse to serve Dong Zhuo, and later killed Dong over a plot laid by Wang Yun.

Answer: Lu Bu

Lu Bu was an exceptional warrior who first served a minor warlord Ding Yuan.

Dong Zhuo was impressed with his fighting skill. Dong won over Lu by rewarding Lu a fine horse and also made Lu his foster son. Lu defected to Dong and killed Ding.

Wang Yun, a loyal minister of the Han dynasty hated Dong, as Dong was a tyrant who seized power ending the Han empire. He was planning to get rid of Dong when he encountered Diaochan, a singer in his household who he treated like his daughter. Wang used Diaochan to sow the discord between Dong and Lu. His plot worked and Dong was eventually killed by Lu.

3. "I'd rather betray the world than let the world betray me".

Answer: Cao Cao

Cao Cao became the most powerful warlord who founded Wei. He was loved and feared by his subordinates who served under him.

After failing to kill Dong Zhuo, he was caught by Chen Gong's men. Cheng, who was then the Magistrate of Zhongmou, assisted him to escape. Cao and Cheng went to seek refuge at the home of Lu Boshe (Cao Cao's father's sworn brother). While resting, they heard the sounds of knife sharpening and suspected they had been betrayed. Without hesitation, they slayed everyone in the household. They only realised their mistake after the murders. The knife sharpening was in preparation for killing of pigs for a feast with them.

While fleeing from the house, they ran into Lu who was returning from a neighbouring village with wine he bought for them. Cao Cao drew his sword and killed Lu as well. When asked why by Cheng, the above was his reply.

4. He used "Empty Fort Strategy" to make the enemies retreat during the Northern Expedition.

Answer: Zhuge Liang

Zhuge Liang was a brilliant military strategist hired by Liu Bei.

During the Northern Expedition Campaign, he used this strategy at Xicheng against Sima Yi's Wei army. The main Shu army was deployed elsewhere and only a small group of soldiers were with him. He ordered all the gates opened and instructed a few soldiers to disguise as civilians sweeping the road. He then sat on the viewing platform calmly playing the quqin, accompanied by his two pages. Sima Yi was surprised by the sight and suspected that Liang was setting up a trap to lure him. Sima Yi immediately ordered a retreat.

5. "A jade can be smashed, but its white cannot be altered. A bamboo can be incinerated, but its culm nodes cannot be destroyed".

Answer: Guan Yu

Guan Yu was the sworn brother of Liu Bei and Zhang Fei, well known for his loyalty.

After losing Jingzhou to Lu Meng of Wu, Guan led his troops to retreat into the last remaining fortress at Maicheng. At Maicheng, they were completely surrounded without hope of rescue in the short term.

Sun Quan, the lord of Wu, was reluctant to kill Guan Yu and sent Zhuge Jin (Zhuge Liang's eldest brother) to talk him into surrendering. He refused to surrender and made the above statement. Guan was eventually killed and beheaded.

6. During the Battle of Changban, he stood at the bridge; looking fierce and shaking his lance. He then shouted his name and dared the enemies to fight him to the death.

Answer: Zhang Fei

Zhang Fei was the youngest sworn brother of Liu Bei. He was well known for his hot temper and would not hesitate to punish his subordinates.

The Shu army was on the retreat during the battle against the Wei army. Zhang was commanding a troop of 20 horsemen as rearguard. To allow time for Liu Bei and the Shu army to escape, he stood at the bridge shouting his name to the enemies. None of the Wei soldiers dared to advance, thinking that there was an ambush behind the woods. His plot worked, allowing the Shu army time to escape and avoided a total defeat.

7. During the Battle of Changban, he single-handedly defeated the encirclement by the Wei's generals, and saved the infant son of his master.

Answer: Zhao Yun

Zhao Yun was most level headed general among the five Tiger generals.

During the battle, he broke through the enemy lines and rescued the baby son of his master, Liu Bei, fighting his way out of a heavy encirclement of the Wei army. His ability to escape unscathed with an infant beneath his chest armor while galloping, killing anyone along his way, gaining him the respect of his enemies.

After handing over the baby to his master, he rode back to rescue his master's wife, avoiding capture by Cao Cao's top generals.

8. He was known for leading Wu and his allies to defeat a much superior forces of Wei during the Battle of Chibi.

Answer: Zhou Yi

Zhou Yu served warlord Sun Ce and continued to serve the younger Sun Quan after Sun Ce's death.

During the naval Battle of Chibi, the combined armies of Wu and Shu with a force of 50,000 defeated Cao Cao's Wei army of 800,000. The Wei soldiers, who were mainly from the north, were not used to fight a naval battle. Cao Cao ordered the ships to be chained from stem to stern to prevent his troops from sea sickness.

Zhou used unmanned fire ships to attack, which easily set Wei's fleet ablaze as the ships were chained together. Zhou and his allies capitalized on the confusion to move in and completely routed their enemies.

9. "It is my heartfelt hope that you will never forget my brother's dying words".

Answer: Sun Quan

Sun Ce, elder brother of Sun Quan, was ambushed by three former servants of Xu Gong, the Administrator of Wu Commandery, whom he killed earlier. He was hit in the cheek by an arrow fired by one of them before his men arrived and killed the assassins. Sun Ce eventually died from his wound days later. He was 26 when he died.

Before his death, Sun Ce passed on the throne to Sun Quan. Sun Quan took over the leadership of Wu at 18 years old. Sun Quan reminded Zhou Yi, military commander of Wu, not to forget what his brother instructed him to do after his death. Zhou must give his full support to Sun Quan in governing Wu.

10. "Incapacity to tolerate small frustrations will lead to inability to accomplish big tasks".

Answer: Sima Yi

Sima Yi served the Cao family and became one of Cao Pi's close friends and subsequently an influential figure in Wei. He was brilliant in domestic and military affairs.

Yi had fought numerous battles against Zhuge Liang and lost all of them. He therefore decided to hold fast and ordered his generals not to engage in any more battles with Liang.

Zhuge Liang was leading the Shu army in his sixth campaign against Wei. Liang sent his general Wei Yan to abuse and humiliate Sima Yi in front of Yi's camps. Yi's subordinate generals were incensed and wanted to avenge the insults. Instead of agreeing, Sima Yi laughed off the abuse, refused battle and warned his subordinates with the above quote.

Source: Author sw11

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Questions		Choices
1. "Brothers are akin to limbs, wives are akin to clothing. Torn clothing can be mended, but can severed limbs be reattached".		Liu Bei
2. He betrayed Ding Yuan over a horse to serve Dong Zhuo, and later killed Dong over a plot laid by Wang Yun.		Zhao Yun
3. "I'd rather betray the world than let the world betray me".		Sima Yi
4. He used "Empty Fort Strategy" to make the enemies retreat during the Northern Expedition.		Zhang Fei
5. "A jade can be smashed, but its white cannot be altered. A bamboo can be incinerated, but its culm nodes cannot be destroyed".		Cao Cao
6. During the Battle of Changban, he stood at the bridge; looking fierce and shaking his lance. He then shouted his name and dared the enemies to fight him to the death.		Sun Quan
7. During the Battle of Changban, he single-handedly defeated the encirclement by the Wei's generals, and saved the infant son of his master.		Zhou Yi
8. He was known for leading Wu and his allies to defeat a much superior forces of Wei during the Battle of Chibi.		Guan Yu
9. "It is my heartfelt hope that you will never forget my brother's dying words".		Zhuge Liang
10. "Incapacity to tolerate small frustrations will lead to inability to accomplish big tasks".		Lu Bu

The most famous Chinese historical novel written by Luo Guanzhong. During the last days of the Han dynasty, the 3 kingdoms of Wei, Shu and Wu were fighting for the control of China from 220-280 AD.