The first five generals (Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Huang Zhong and Ma Chao) are known as the five tiger generals of the Shu Kingdom after Liu Bei conquered HanZhong and became the King of HanZhong thus bestowing these titles to the five of them. Note that the numbers between ( ) refer to the year in which they are born and there might be an margin of error of plus 1 or minus 1 for the life span figure due to the month of birth/death unknown. Bits and pieces of information will be added and errors corrected as time goes by.

Guan Yu   Guan Yu Full Name: Guan Yunchang Life Span: 57 years (AD 162-219) Sons: Guan Ping(adopted,182), Guan Xing(193), Guan Suo(194) Grandsons: Guan Tong(son of Guan Xing,224), Guan Yi(son of Guan Xing,226) Warlords Served: Gongsun Zan, Tao Qian, Lu Bu, Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, Liu Biao Officers Killed: Hua Xiong, Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Kong Xiu, Meng Tan, Han Fu, Bian Xi, Wang Zhi, Qin Qi, Yang Ling, Xiahou Cun, Pang De Cause of Death: Captured and executed by Sun Quan after refusing to surrender and defect to East Wu.

Leader of the five tiger generals of Shu. I'm sure many rtk fans feel sad reading about the capture and subsequent execution of Guan Yu. Sharing the same vision of government and the desire to restore peace and order led him to swear brotherhood with Liu Bei and Zhang Fei.

During the suppression of the Yellow Scarves Rebellion, Guan Yu fought alongside with Liu Bei and Zhang Fei and their success brought them some fame in the country and soon the ailing Han Dynasty enlisted their aid in helping to put down the yellow scarves rebellion elsewhere. Later on while Liu Bei was governing Xuzhou, Cao Cao launched an attack and Liu Bei and Zhang Fei led troops out to try to take the weary enemy by surprise but unfortunately was beaten back. Guan Yu defending the city of Xuzhou left the city to aid his brothers as he is worried about them due to the lack of news on the battle progress.

Guan Yu fell into Cao Cao's trap by leaving the city and the city was easily taken by Cao Cao with Guan Yu away. With Liu Bei's wives trapped in the city when the city fell, Guan Yu felt letting his brother down and thought about comitting suicide if not for the persuasion of Cao Cao's general Zhang Liao. To secure the safety of Liu Bei's wives, Guan Yu agreed to surrender to Cao Cao temporarily till he know the whereabouts of Liu Bei.

Since the defeat by Cao Cao, Liu Bei had sook refuge with Yuan Shao and manage to convince Yuan Shao to attack Cao Cao. Though vastly outnumbered, Cao Cao still led troops to engage Yuan Shao. Initially left out of the battle due to fears by Cao Cao that Guan Yu would leave him after repaying him, Guan Yu was called upon to relieve Cao Cao's predicament at Baima slope by slaying Yuan Shao's feroicous general Yan Liang and later Wen Chou. With these deeds along with the return of precious gifts from Cao Cao, Guan Yu felt at ease and left Cao Cao and began the thousand mile journey escorting Liu Bei's wives to meet up with Liu Bei. The ardous journey saw Guan Yu fighting his way and killing a few of Cao Cao's generals who refuse to let him through the pass.

During the battle of Chibi, Zhuge Liang assigned Guan Yu to ambush the escaping Cao Cao at Huarong Trail. It was a very easy task of capturing Cao Cao but Guan Yu, reminded of Cao Cao's kind treatment when he was under him let Cao Cao go. Ashamed of himself when he return back he may have committed suicide but was given another chance to make amends by conquering Xiangyang.

Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei entrusted the care of Jingzhou to Guan Yu when they were away to capture Xichuan. With Cao Cao to the north and Sun Quan to the east, the defense of Jingzhou is no easy feat. Though Guan Yu managed to starved off the invasion of Cao Cao's forces to the north, Jingzhou fell to the surprise attack by the Wu forces while Guan Yu is engaged in battle with Cao Cao's troops. Forced by desertion of troops as well as being wounded in battle, Guan Yu and his son Guan Ping together with his close aides fled to Maicheng. A call for reinforcements from Chengdu was taking too long and growing impatient, Guan Yu and his adopted son Guan Ping attempted to break out of the enemy encircelement of Maicheng and make their way back to Chengdu. They were both captured in an ambush soon after leaving Maicheng. Guan Yu refused to surrender and thus executed together with his adopted son.

Zhang Fei   Zhang Fei Full Name: Zhang Yide Life Span: 54 years (AD 167-221) Sons: Zhang Bao(192), Zhang Shao(198) Warlords Served: Gongsun Zan, Tao Qian, Lu Bu, Cao Cao, Liu Biao Officers Killed: Xizhou Jie, Chen Sun, Lu Xiang, Xiahou Lan, Zhou Shan Cause of Death: Assassinated while sleeping by disgrunted subordinates Fan Jiang and Zhang Da.

Impulsive, hot-headed and like to drink. These characteristics eventually brought upon his death. He was initially a butcher before he sworn brothership with Liu Bei and Guan Yu. His outspoken frankness and the desire to help the weak and bullied without a second thought led him to trash the imperial inspector who came to inspect the county Liu Bei was rewarded for contributing to the war against the yellow scarves rebellion before Liu Bei and Guan Yu stopped him. This trashing led to Liu Bei giving up his county post and be on the run from the authorities.

The fondness for drinking led to the lost of Xuzhou when he beat up Cao Bao who later sought revenge by instigating Lu Bu to quickly launch a surprise attack on Xuzhou while Zhang Fei is in a state of drunken stupor. Despite those flaws, the courage and skills of Zhang Fei are remarkable and only rivaled by few. Later when Liu Bei and the rest are evacuating the populace to Jiangling, Zhang Fei managed give them some breathing space against the onslaught of the Cao army by scaring them off with his skills and vocals at Changban bridge.

Though profiled as dumb and a lack of wits from the start. He probably learnt a bit from earlier defeats and subdued the old general Yan Yan with a little trick at Bajun county who blocked Zhang Fei's journey into Xichuan to reinforce Liu Bei who was trapped at Fu Pass. At the defense of Jiameng Pass, Zhang Fei engaged Ma Chao in a duel that resulted in a statemate for two days. This duel among these two highly skilled warriors impresses Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang and led to Zhuge Liang to come up with a plan to persuade Ma Chao to pledge allegience over to Liu Bei.

He was stabbed to death while sleeping by disgruntled subordinates Fan Jiang and Zhang Da. Overcome by the desire for revenge for his brother Guan Yu. He issued an unreasonable order to Fan Jiang and Zhang Da to get ready white flags and white armor for the upcoming war against East Wu in three days time. Fan Jiang and Zhang Da requsted more time and overswept by anger over the thought of delaying the invasion Zhang Fei tied them to a tree and whipped them up. Due to the impossible task give to them as well as resentment over the beatings, the two of them sneak up on Zhang Fei when he is drunk and fell asleep and assasinated him.

Zhao Yun   Zhao Yun Full Name: Zhao Zilong Life Span: 71 years (AD 158-228) Brother: Zhao Lei (sworn brother) Sons: Zhao Tong(209), Zhao Guang(210) Warlords Served: Gongsun Zan, Liu Bei, Liu Shan Officers Killed: Qu Yi, Gao Lan, Zhang Wu, Lu Kuang, Chunyu Dao, Yan Ming, Xing Daorong, Xiahou En, Zhu Ran Cause of Death: Old age.

The longest surviving of the five tiger generals of the Shu Kingdom, Zhao Yun originally served under the warlord Gongsun Zan but abandoned him after finding him to be a warlord who fights for his own gains and didn't bother about suffering of the general populace. He joined up with Liu Bei when Liu Bei was escaping from Yuan Shao's camp.

Calm and level-headed, he was assigned as escort for Liu Bei on functions and trips. He is best remembered for his courageous breakout at Changban slope from the encirclement of the Cao army to rescue Liu Bei's new born child Liu Chan to safety. Aside from Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun is the most seasoned and experienced general and Liu Bei relied upon him on practically every battle up till he became the King of Hanzhong.

Zhuge Liang was relieved when he managed to intercept Lady Sun's boat and together with Zhang Fei brought back Liu Chan thus avoiding a blackmail from the Wu Kingdom to use Liu Bei's son to exchange for the territories of Jingzhou.

When Liu Bei breathed his last, he entrusted Zhao Yun to look after his sons. The death of Guan Yu was quickly followed up by Zhang Fei and Huang Zhong leaving only two tiger generals alive after the death of Liu Bei thus Zhao Yun is highly valued to the Shu Kingdom. During the suppression of the southern rebellion by Meng Huo, Zhuge Liang brought him and Wei Yan along as senior officers. With the south pacified, the plans for the invasion of Wei proceeded and though by that time Zhao Yun is very old, he is still a fearsome warrior on the battlefield despite his age.

Zhuge Liang was greatly saddened when Zhao Yun's sons Zhao Tong and Zhao Guang went to Chengdu to report the death of their father.

Huang Zhong   Huang Zhong Full Name: Huang Hanshen Life Span: 73 years (AD 148-221) Warlords Served: Liu Biao, Han Xuan Officers Killed: Deng Xian, Han Hao, Xiahou Yuan Cause of Death: Wounded in battle and died in camp.

An old veteran general probably the oldest ever known to take to the battlefield. Initially a general under the warlord Han Xuan, Huang Zhong led troops to defend Changsha against Guan Yu's invading forces after Yang Ling got slain by Guan Yu in the initial battle. Both men were evenly matched in the duel till Huang Zhong's horse stumbled. Guan Yu did not take advantage of the situation and spare Huang Zhong. The two generals had another duel the next day. In order to repay Guan Yu for sparing him, Huang Zhong purposely shot his arrow which pierced Guan Yu's helmet. Renowned for his marksmanship, Guan Yu realise this deed of Huang Zhong. However on return back to the Changsha, Han Xuan sent Huang Zhong to the executioner's ground to be executed on the grounds that he is collaborating with the enemy due to his actions of sparing Guan Yu's life. Huang Zhong was saved from the executioner's blade when Wei Yan arrived on the executioner's grounds and slain the executioner.

When Liu Bei arrived, Huang Zhong was ashamed of himself and avoided meeting anyone but he submitted to Liu Bei in the end. He rendered his first service to Liu Bei when he set off with Liu Bei and Wei Yan towards Xichuan. He was sniggered by others because of his old age when Zhuge Liang sent him and Yan Yan to Jiameng Pass. However he proved others wrong by winning a resounding victory as well as killing the one of Cao Cao's great general, Xiahou Yuan.

Huang Zhong's last battle is the invasion of East Wu ordered by Liu Bei to avenge Guan Yu's death. Fearing that harm might come to Huang Zhong because of his old age which at that time Huang Zhong is already 70+ years old, Liu Bei left him out of the major battles. Huang Zhong do not acknowledge his old age as a burden and went out to give battle. In an effort to prove himself, he fought pretty deep into the enemy lines and fell into the enemy's trap. Wounded in battle he managed to survive and escape when Guan Xing and Zhang Bao arrived to rescue the old general. Unfortunately his wounds are fatal and though Huang Zhong managed to escape back to camp he died of his wounds there.

Ma Chao   Ma Chao Full Name: Ma Mengqi Life Span: 49 years (AD 176-225) Father: Ma Teng Brothers: Ma Tie, Ma Xiu Cousin: Ma Dai Warlords Served: Ma Teng (father), Zhang Lu Officers Killed: Ma Wan, Li Tong Cause of Death: Died of illness.

Son of the warlord Ma Teng and a highly skilled warrior. He mobolised his father's forces for revenge when Cao Cao tricked his father to the capital and kill him along with his brothers Ma Tie and Ma Xiu. Together with his father's sworn brother Han Sui, they troops set off for Chang'an and conquer it easily. Having conquer Chang'an they advanced towards Tong Pass which is a strategic pass. Cao Cao ordered Cao Hong and Xu Huang to lead 10,000 troops to guard and hold on to Tong Pass for ten days. On the ninth however Cao Hong could not stand Ma Chao's challenge and verbal abuse and went out of the pass to give battle but was defeated and resulted in the loss of the pass.

Cao Cao led troops personally to recapture Tong Pass and Ma Chao defeated many of Cao Cao's generals such as Yu Jin, Zhang He etc... single handed after which he went after Cao Cao to avenge his father. Cao Cao in a bid to escape cut off his beard and threw away his robe to avoid being identified by Ma Chao's troops before being rescued by Cao Hong and Xiahou Yuan.

In order to cut off Ma Chao's supplies lines, Cao Cao lead troops to cross the river but Ma Chao was prepared and ambushed him instead. If not for Xu Chu, Cao Cao would have perished there. In the days ahead, Ma Chao harrassed Cao Cao's troops and gave them no chance of setting up camps. Knowing that it would be very difficult to defeat a valiant general like Ma Chao, Cao Cao accepted his adviser Jia Xu's proposal to pretend to make peace with Ma Chao and at the same time attempt to turn Ma Chao and Han Sui against each other. Slowly the two men were driven apart and Ma Chao thought that Han Sui had collaboratd with Cao Cao against him and tried to kill Han Sui but only manged to chop off Han Sui's hand. In the ensuing confusion, Cao Cao launched an attack on his confused enemies and overcome them.

Ma Chao together with his cousin Ma Dai and Pang De escaped and later sought refuge with the warlord Zhang Lu. Later Zhang Lu sent Ma Chao to rescue Liu Zhang's Xichuan from Liu Bei's invading forces. The first encounter with Liu Bei's army is with Zhang Fei and these two men fought like tigers for two days with no signs of either one gaining an upper hand. Fearing that either one will get hurt Liu Bei consulted Zhuge Liang and Zhuge Liang agreed too that such a valiant and highly skilled general like Ma Chao would be a waste if any harm befalls on him and Zhang Fei. An envoy was thus sent to pursuade Ma Chao to switch sides over Liu Bei and Ma Chao being in a fix at that time switch his allegience over to Liu Bei.

After the founding of the Shu Kingdom, Ma Chao was responsible for guarding the northern border against invasion by the barbarian tribes and the Wei Kingdom.

Wei Yan   Wei Yan Full Name: Wei Wenchang Life Span: 59 years (AD 175-234) Warlords Served: Han Xuan, Liu Bei, Liu Shan Officers Killed: Wang Shuang Cause of Death: Assasinated by Ma Dai.

Unofficially the sixth Tiger general of Shu. Wei Yan became one of the most senior generals of Shu after the death of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Huang Zhong and Ma Chao. He was the general who rushed to the executioner's ground and saved Huang Zhong from the executioner's blade after which he killed his lord, the cruel Han Xuan and surrender the city of Chang Sha to Guan Yu's attacking force.

Although he surrendered the city of Changsha and was willing to submit to Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang did not approve of his submission. Zhuge Liang fear that Wei Yan would betray Liu Bei just as what Wei Yan had betrayed his lord Han Xuan. Nevertheless Liu Bei took him as a subordinate and said that killing a surrendered officer would set a bad example for future enemy officers considering surrendering and submitting to him.

In the Battle of Hanzhong Wei Yan with his good archery skills knocked off two of Cao Cao's front teeth and as a result of the hit, Cao Cao was thrown off balance from his horse.

With four out of five Tiger generals dead, Zhuge Liang employed Wei Yan extensively in his major battles even though Wei Yan is an ambitious and untrustworthy person. Zhuge Liang can be considered as the "taming" force that held Wei Yan in check because when Zhuge Liang passed away on Wuzhangyuan, Wei Yan rebelled against Shu and wanted to act on his own and continue the offensive on Wei. Fortunately Zhuge Liang had foreseen the ambitious and rebellious nature of Wei Yan before his death and arranged for his close aides Ma Dai, Yang Yi and Jiang Wei to help execute Wei Yan in order to prevent him from becoming a menace to Shu.

Wei Yan tried to blocked the retreating Shu troops but was assassinated from the back by Ma Dai after he responded to Yang Yi's challenge of shouting "Who dares to kill me" three times.