It's been a few years since I posted a list here. Although my favorites shift regularly, these are those I currently most enjoy reading about. No particular order, really.
1. Lu Kang - The cross-factional friendship between him and Yang Hu, and the stories of how their people treated each other are perhaps the most touching and heart-warming historical anecdotes I have ever read. And to persist under condemnation by his peers and even his emperor takes real strength of character. To boot, he wrote numerous letters to the emperor throughout his life, pleading with him to change his ways and rule with justice and righteousness and purge the corruption from the court. A true hero who can restore your faith in humanity in the midst of rapacious, brutal, remorseless, power-hungry tyrants.
2. Yang Hu - See above.
3. Xiahou Dun - By all appearances a mediocre military commander, but an endearing governor. He was generous and unconcerned with material wealth, happy to give away his excess (despite being perhaps the highest paid of all Cao Cao's generals), and seems to have had a genuine love for the people, with no problem personally partaking in the agricultural labor. This is the boss you dream of working for.
4. Lu Su - Another ridiculously charitable man. He spent quite a lot of time using his resources to help the poor in his earlier days. And then there was the whole "here Zhou Yu, have half my family's wealth for your army" thing. As a Wu official, he was constantly suing for peaceful resolutions with Shu, and was largely responsible for salvaging the alliance and likely ensuring the longevity of both kingdoms.
5. Zang Ba - I've only recently learned anything about this guy, and what a intriguing character he is! Taking in runaways from the chaos, and offering them protection and camaraderie within his band of benevolent bandits. He refused to turn them over to Cao Cao and somehow convinced the latter to let him maintain a fair amount of autonomy within his province, which he used quite responsibly to aid Wei to great effect. Is this an oversimplified and rose-tinted portrait of the guy? Probably, but he is certainly one of the era's most unique and memorable figures.
6. Xun Yu - A brilliant, idealistic, farsighted, unwavering Han loyalist. He knew the chaos was inevitable, and correctly predicted Cao Cao to be the most likely to come out on top. He did what he could to help Cao Cao bring an end to things as quickly as possible, all the while harboring the forlorn hope that when it came to it, he could somehow convince the 'villain' to cede his power back to the Han. I suspect he knew it was a lost cause, but what else could a man of virtue do?
7. Ling Tong - Humble, generous, affable, with a strong sense of righteousness. The selflessness he displayed at Xiaoyao Ford is, for me, one of the most impressive feats of the era. When it comes to sheer ferocity on the battlefield, I don't see anyone but Zhang Liao hoping to match him, and yet with his cunning he found a peaceful means of winning over the Shanyue. A tragedy to have died so young.
8. Huangfu Song - Han's last great hero. He was unflinchingly loyal to the empire, resolute in his moral code, and he doesn't seem to have had a vindictive bone in his body. The humility with which he treated his men (and pretty much everyone), who clearly had great admiration for him (as did just about everyone), is inspiring. Perhaps with more Huangfu's the Han might have been spared its fate.
9. Lu Zhi - Deserving of a spot right up there next to Huangfu Song as an almost impossibly upstanding and virtuous character. He had a larger than life personality, and was a proficient and prolific scholar. Also seems to have been a pretty okay teacher too, I guess.
10. Liao Hua - I will forever and always have a soft spot in my heart for Liao Hua. He was so dedicated, and had such a long career but without any real opportunity. I feel bad for the guy, especially with how he has become almost a historical punchline. He tried hard, okay? Sometimes I like to pretend he stayed with Wu, where he was suddenly discovered to be one of the great military prodigies of his time. (In less charitable moments I like to imagine a Pink Panther-esque scenario, in which he is executing his escape plan, faking his death and thinking he is being incredibly stealthy. In the meantime everyone in Wu knows exactly what's going on, but just roll their eyes and go about their business. A messenger comes in and informs the local commander about the escape, who nods and mumbles in monotone: "Oh no, not Liao Hua.
Somebody stop him. Don't let him..." he trails off as he returns to his paperwork.)
But in all seriousness I doubt he would've been promoted to his position if he was truly incompetent. Bonus points for his criticism of Jiang Wei.
“I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation." -- C.S. Lewis
That is a well thought out list and unusual one which is all the better. I doubt the Han would have survived with more Huangfu's, problems far far deeper then that, but he was an incredible man.
.