China's Youngest General: Xun Guan

Illustration by Yang Yongqin, archive.org

Born: 303

Died: 4th Century

Country: China

Culture: Jin Dynasty

She must be remembered as the savior of Wancheng

General Zhou Feng, 316 CE

The major belief in China during the Jin Dynasty was Confucianism, which taught that girls were supposed to be quiet, meek, and submissive. Xun Guan wasn’t any of these. She was bold, stubborn, and a fighter. And she would become a national hero.  

Her dad was an army general named Xun Song. Only boys were allowed to learn martial arts, but her dad knew how valuable those skills were. He hired a personal tutor for Guan. She learned meditation, weaponry, combat, strategy, and horseback riding. Legend has it that by the time she was ten years old, Guan could skillfully shoot a target with an arrow while on horseback. 

In 317, when Guan was just thirteen years old, a revolt broke out in her hometown of Wancheng. One of her dad’s own generals, Du Zeng, betrayed them and laid siege to the city, surrounding it with 2,000 soldiers. Nobody could get in—or out. Du Zeng was confident that eventually, Xun Song would surrender. After all, they were cut off from all of their trade, meaning food and medicine would eventually run out. 

Soon, food supplies inside the walled city ran low, and with only 1,000 men, Guan’s dad did not have nearly enough strength to break through the siege. But he remembered his friend, General Shi Lan, was stationed with his soldiers just a few days' ride away. Xu Song knew that if could contact Shi Lan, he could come and save them. Xu Song gathered his bravest soldiers and announced his plan. Someone would have to lead a small garrison of elite soldiers to break through the soldiers surrounding the wall, and ride like the wind to General Shi Lan. He asked for volunteers to lead this daring escape--but no one dared to accept. 

Two days passed, and still no soldier volunteered. Xun Guan approached her father and announced that if no one else would accept the mission, she would go. This was her home, and she wasn’t about to let it go without a fight. Xun Song hesitated. He loved his daughter and knew this mission was extremely dangerous. Some lives would definitely be lost. But Xun Guan was resolute, and he eventually gave in.

An elite garrison of soldiers was assembled and Xun Guan equipped herself with a longbow and a sword hung at her waist. She stood on the city wall to spy on the rebels, and at her short height she could easily keep out of sight. She noted the weak points of soldiers and mentally planned the route. When night fell, she led her men, sneaky at first until just the right moment. Then they sprung on the rebel forces in a surprise attack. A spectacular clash broke out as Xun Guan and her soldiers bravely fought to get to the other side. 

It was a tough battle. Many of Guan’s men died in combat, but she made it out alive. She set course for General Shi Lan, and rode like the wind. For three days she rode over mountains and plains, before finally arriving. Shi Lan welcomed her in and listened to her plea. He was impressed by her courage, and readily agreed to help her father. There was only one problem—he only had five-hundred men. It wouldn’t be enough to retake the city. 

Xun Guan refused to give up, She and Shi Lan hatched another plan: another ally, General Zhou Fang, was stationed nearby with his men. If he could be convinced to aid their cause, that would mean another 3,000 soldiers in reinforcements. Xun Guan wrote a letter to Zhou Fang, and forged her father’s signature. Thankfully, General Zhou Fang immediately sent Guan 3,000 men. 

With the two armies combined, Xun Guan had 3,500 soldiers, and she was ready to take back her home. She led the army on a three-day ride back to her hometown, until they were just outside of the city. With the other generals, she strategized a plan, put her men in position, and attacked. 

With such a large force, they easily retook the city. The rebels were defeated and her home was liberated. Guan’s dad humbly thanked his two general friends, but they in turn thanked his young daughter. Shi Lan said, “General Xu Song, you have a tigress of a daughter, who truly is brave and a good strategist”, and Zhou Fang added, “Xun Guan’s work was a key element—this must not be forgotten. She must be remembered as the savior of Wancheng.”