Guo Huai

Cao Hong's Marching General and twice Zhang He's savior — talks Cao Hong out of the execution ('an army is easily raised; a leader is hard to find') and later out of pressing him toward desertion, steering the reprieve into the Jiameng Pass command.

A man of Yangqu, Lord of Sheting, and Imperial Protector of Yongzhou — named by Cao Zhen as the assistant he will not take the command without, and appointed his second. Proposes the ambush-in-anticipation: Zhuge Liang will think the army distracted by Wang Lang's funeral and raid at night, so hide two forces outside the camp and send two more to raid his. It is a good plan read one move too shallow, and it costs Wei the night. Closes the chapter promising the next scheme — the one that will bring in the Qiang.

Author of the Qiang alliance: the tribes have paid tribute since Cao Cao's day and Cao Pi favoured them, so buy them with gold and pearls and a promise of kindly treatment, let them engage Shu's attention, and strike elsewhere. It works as far as raising two hundred fifty thousand and the iron chariots, and no further. Pursues with Cao Zhen on the false read of the Shu withdrawal and is routed back to the River Wei.

Motivated by rivalry, not strategy: having discussed Sima Yi's recall with Cao Zhen and 'fearing lest the recalled general should acquire too great glory', he sets out to take Jieting first, is beaten to it, and diverts to Liliu for a consolation prize — only to find Sima Yi's banner already on the wall and be greeted with 'How late you are, friend Guo Huai!' Concedes it — 'He is too much for me' — pays his respects, and is sent to join Cao Zhen in the pursuit. Loses his Van Leader Su Yong to Zhao Zilong, disbelieves Wan Zheng's report that the veteran is as terrible as ever, and sends him back to be humiliated a second time. Takes joint credit with Cao Zhen for recovering the three counties.

Left with Zhang He to garrison Changan under Sun Zu's holding strategy while Cao Rui returns to Luoyang.

Consulted with Zhang He on which strategic points to hold, then detached east with Sun Li. Cao Zhen turns to him again for a new plan once Fei Yao is dead.

Recognises the edict's real author at once - 'That is Sima Yi's idea... he perfectly understands Zhuge Liang's plans, and he will eventually have to be called in to defeat Shu' - and supplies the supply-strangling brief that sends Wang Shuang out to the by-roads. Commands in the Gu Valley and at Jieting. After Chencang falls he grasps what is coming ('In that case, Yongcheng and Meicheng are in danger'), sends Sun Li to Yongcheng, takes Meicheng himself, and sends the urgent report to Luoyang.

Sent secretly with Sun Li to relieve Wudu and Yinping and fall on the Shu rear, and spends the ride arguing that Sima Yi's plan proves him superior to most people even if 'Zhuge Liang may be the cleverer'. Gets the scout's report that both cities are already lost, agrees with Sun Li to turn back, and rides straight into the ambush - Zhuge Liang in his chariot in front, Wang Ping and Jiang Wei closing behind - and escapes up the hillside on foot. Sent to hold Yongcheng on the defensive. Rejoins the army for Cao Zhen's AD 230 invasion. He is also the Guo Huai the Emperor's edict credits Zhuge Liang with driving back.

The Wei officer who keeps pushing the offensive. Given the defence of the West Valley Land counties, then rides with Sima Yi for the Tianshui wheat. When Sima Yi comes back shaken by the chariots he laughs it off - 'He threw dust in your eyes that time. However, now you know. What is the good of more talk?' - and proposes the double attack on Lucheng, which he leads from the rear. After losing it, he supplies the strategy that actually forces the Shu withdrawal: write to Yongzhou and Liangzhou for troops, and take Saber Pass to cut the supply road.

Supplies the analysis that puts Wei on the north bank: with Shu at Qishan there is a danger of their 'dominating River Wei, going up on the plain, and pushing out a line to the northern hills whereby to cut off all highways in the West Valley Land'. Given the whole West Valley Land force and told to fortify Beiyuan and stay defensive. Helps crush Wei Yan and Ma Dai's attack there. Later rides out to recover the stolen wooden-ox convoy, cannot make the animals move once Wang Ping has turned their tongues, is driven off by Wei Yan and Jiang Wei, and is finally stopped altogether by five hundred Shu soldiers in demon heads and beast shapes trailing gourd-smoke: 'Truly these are supernatural helpers.'

Holds the floating bridge with Sun Li against the Shu troops who have taken the River Wei camp, and is relieved by Sima Yi's charge. Afterwards he brings the observation that produces the chapter's key strategic exchange - 'The enemy have been carefully spying out the country. They are certainly selecting a new position for a camp' - which draws out Sima Yi's Wugong-versus-Wuzhang analysis.

Beats two enemies in one chapter. Marches against Xiahou Ba's three thousand, reviles him for rebelling against his own clan's dynasty, feints a flight of ten bouts and catches him between himself and Chen Tai. Then, against Shu, he supplies the move that breaks Qushan - 'In this high country the city must be short of water... Let us cut off the streams that supply them, and they will perish of thirst' - and afterwards takes River Yao and cuts Jiang Wei's supply road, forcing the retreat that costs Shu more than half its force.

Holds the west against Jiang Wei throughout, and is reinforced by Sima Zhao once Xincheng is under siege, so that Wei can fight Wu in the east without opening the Shu front.

Dies in this chapter. First he wins the campaign: with Sima Zhao penned on the Iron Cage Mountain, he takes Chen Tai's advice to break the Qiangs before attempting a rescue, destroys Ehe Shaoge's column in the pits, captures King Mi Dang, and then — instead of executing him — dismounts, unties him himself and talks him round: 'Our government has always regarded you as a loyal and true friend. Why then are you helping our enemies?… If you will now raise the siege of Iron Cage Mountain and drive off the troops of Shu, I will memorialize the Throne and obtain a substantial reward for you.' The Qiangs march back with Wei troops mixed into their ranks and break the Shu camp from inside the gate. Then he chases the unarmed Jiang Wei, is bluffed by an empty bowstring, hangs up his spear to shoot — and Jiang Wei catches the arrow and returns it into his face. 'There the arrow-head was pulled out, but the flow of blood could not be stanched, and Guo Huai died.'