Dian Wei

Debuts as the strongman of Chenliu: killed dozens of tent-mates with his fists, avenged a friend and walked the market with the head, follows a tiger across a stream - which is where Xiahou Dun finds him. Wielding twin hundred-twenty-pound spears, he steadies a toppling banner one-handed in the wind; Cao Cao cries 'this is old E Lai again!' and makes him Commander of the Headquarters Guards.

Dian Wei; rescues Cao Cao at Puyang from Lu Bu's encirclement - battles down the line with twin halberds, axes, then his fists. The chapter's signature feat.

Plunges back into burning Puyang three times hunting for his lost lord, warding falling beams aside with his lance. Later he fights the unknown swashbuckler Xu Chu for two hours to a standstill, then feigns defeat twice on Cao Cao's orders to draw him into the pitfall - the recruitment by combat.

Dian Wei; commands Cao Cao's personal guard at Xuchang.

Dian Wei dies at Wancheng - bare-chested, halberd snapped, holding the camp gate with corpses piled around him so Cao Cao can escape. The novel's defining bodyguard death.

Dian Wei; named in passing in the chapter's recap - already dead at Wancheng.

Dian Wei; named in passing in the recap.

Named by Han Sui identifying the boat-hero: the Tiger Guard was commanded by Dian Wei and Xu Chu, 'and as Dian Wei is dead, the man you saw must have been Xu Chu.'