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Xu Chu

Courtesy nameZhongkang

The "Tiger Fool," Cao Cao’s Personal Bodyguard

Best of the Rank and File · Fierce Generals & Fine Strategists

BodyguardSuperhuman StrengthLoyal Valor

Who they are

Cao Cao’s most trusted personal bodyguard, nicknamed "the Tiger Fool" for his brave, blunt nature and enormous strength. At Tong Pass he shielded Cao Cao’s river crossing with his own body and rowed one-handed, bringing him through the rout alive; in camp he was famed for facing fierce generals stripped to the waist. Through years of close guard, he never once let Cao Cao come to real harm.

Primary sourcesChen Shou, Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Biography of Xu Chu

Key stories

A Deadly Fight to Guard His Lord at Tong Pass

At Tong Pass, with Ma Chao’s army in relentless pursuit of Cao Cao, Xu Chu in desperation held a shield over Cao Cao with one hand and rowed hard with the other, bringing him safely across the river through a rain of arrows, taking several arrows himself without flinching. Cao Cao afterward sighed that but for Xu Chu’s do-or-die protection, he would surely have died in the rout — the nickname "Tiger Fool" was earned with his life.

Relationships

Serves

🦅Cao Cao　Personal bodyguard, deadly fight to save his lord at Tong Pass

Echoes today

Below are how modern works borrow or reinterpret this name or story — not the original material. The two differ, so keep them apart.

"The Tiger Fool"Named for his brave, blunt nature, he is designed in most Three Kingdoms games as one of the characters highest in defense or strength.

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