Han Huang (Jin dynasty)

The earliest mention of Han Huang is in 324, who followed Su Jun during Wang Dun's second insurrection against the Jin government. Wang Dun's forces were about to battle Su Jun's army at Qinhuai River during the night. Wang Dun believed that Su Jun and his men were tired due to marching long distances but just as the battle started, Han Huang flanked his troops and routed them.[1]

In 326, the Later Zhao general Shi Cong (石聰) invaded Jin. The Jin court initially ignored Zu Yue's call for help when Cong attacked Shouchun but panicked when Junqiu (浚遒, in present-day Feidong County, Anhui) and Fuling (阜陵; in present-day Quanjiao County, Anhui) were invaded as well. Wang Dao was made Grand Marshal to stop him, but just before he could take action, Su Jun sent Han Huang to help Zu Yue repel Shi Cong. Han Huang defeated him and Shi Cong fled back to Zhao.[2]

The following year, Su Jun and Zu Yue would rebel against Jin. Su Jun's first course of action was to capture Jin's food supply at Gushu (姑孰, in present-day Dangtu County, Anhui). Han Huang led Su Jun's other generals with him to capture it, and once they did, they marched to Cihu (慈湖, in present-day Jinjiazhung District, Anhui) where they killed the Prefect of Yuhu (于湖, in present-day Wuhu, Anhui), Tao Fu (陶馥) and General Who Spread Might Sima Liu (司馬流).[3] Later, Han Huang campaigned against Huan Yi (桓彝, Huan Wen's father) at Wuhu. After pushing him back, Han Huang advanced to Xuancheng, pillaging the area before returning to Su Jun.[4]

As loyalist troops began surrounding Su Jun, Su Jun sent Han Huang to Yixing. Han Huang fought with Huan Yi again at Lanshi (蘭石, in present-day Xuancheng, Anhui) through Huan's general Yu Zong (俞縱). Although Han Huang was coming close to annihilating Yu Zong's army, Yu refused to retreat and perished in battle. Han Huang proceed to attack Jing County where Huan Yi had camped. Han Huang killed Huan in battle after Huan's subordinate Jiang Bo (江播) betrayed him.[5]

Han Huang was assaulting Daye (大業, in present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu) when news of Su Jun's death in battle reached him. The rebels had appointed Su Jun's brother Su Yi (蘇逸) as his successor at Shitou, so Han Huang withdrew from Daye to see Su Yi. The following year, Han Huang joined Su Yi in attacking the governmental complex at Jiankang. Han Huang fought Mao Bao where the two exchanged banter. Han said to Mao, "You are said to be a brave man, why not come out and fight?" to which Mao replied "You are said to be a skillful general, why not come in and fight?" Han laughed before eventually withdrawing.[6]

Su Jun's other brother, Su Shuo (蘇碩) would be killed by Wen Jiao which worried Han Huang and the other commanders as the loyalists approached Shitou. Han Huang led Su Yi and his remaining forces to Qu'a (曲阿, in present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu) to join Zhang Jian but the passes and gates in Shitou were so narrow that his followers began stampeding on each other, leaving thousands dead. It also gave loyalist troops ample time to catch up with the rebels, and they captured and executed Su Yi, although Han Huang and the others managed to escape, changing their destination to Guzhang. Han Huang would make his last stand at Mount Pingling (平陵山, in present-day Liyang, Jiangsu) when Chi Jian's Army Advisor, Li Hong (李閎) surrounded the remaining rebels. Zhang Jian (張健) and the rest of the rebel leaders were afraid to come down from the mountain. Han Huang personally went out with two quiver of arrows and sat on a chair. Han Huang took aim at the loyalists and killed many of them. It was not until he ran out of arrows that he would be killed. The remaining rebels would perish with him, thus ending Su Jun's rebellion.[7]

• Fang, Xuanling (ed.) (648). Book of Jin (Jin Shu).
• Sima, Guang (1084). Zizhi Tongjian.