Zhong Yao锺繇

History vs. fiction

In the official history, Zhong Yao governed Guanzhong with good governance and comfort, while the novel fictionalized his defeat in a one-round duel with Ma Dai in front of the battle array, leading to the loss of Chang'an.

• novel inventionZhong Yao fought Ma Dai in front of Chang'an and was defeated in one round, losing the city.

  According to the 'Records of the Three Kingdoms, Wei Shu, Biography of Zhong Yao', when Cao Cao campaigned westward, he 'then memorialized Zhong Yao as Shi Zhong, acting as Colonel of the Sili Region, holding the staff of authority to supervise all armies in Guanzhong, entrusting him with subsequent affairs', overseeing rear logistics and comforting the people. The official history has no record of Zhong Yao dueling with generals on the battlefield. In 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms', Chapter 58, it is fictionalized that Zhong Yao led troops out to fight, 'Dai wielded a precious sword and engaged Yao in combat. In less than one round, Yao was defeated and fled', resulting in the fall of Chang'an within ten days. This is a fictional invention of the novel.