Liang Xu

With Yin Shang, heads the party at Ma Zun's council pressing for the rescue of Xiahou Mao — if anything happens to the Imperial Son-in-Law, 'we shall be held guilty of having made no attempt to save him'. The argument that nearly empties Tianshui.

Holds Tianshui's wall through the whole chapter and finally gives it away. Taunts Zhao Zilong as the trap closes — 'On the contrary, you have fallen into our trap. Only you do not know it yet!' — and is left with Yin Shang to defend the city while the field armies manoeuvre. Alone reads the surrender correctly: 'I am sure he has made only a pretense of surrendering.' Receives Jiang Wei's arrow-letter, and when Xiahou Mao summons the pair of them that evening, rides to the gate at the head of his own soldiers and opens it instead. Welcomes Zhuge Liang in, fetches his brother out of Shanggui, and is made Governor of Tianshui.