Huang Zu (simplified: 黄祖, traditional: 黃祖, pinyin: Huáng Zǔ) was a general under Liu Biao, Governor of Jing Province, and Administrator of Jiangxia (江夏). He commanded the forces that killed Sun Jian (Sun Ce and Sun Quan’s father) in 191 or 192—accounts differ on whether Sun Jian fell in an ambush in the hills or at the hands of Lü Gong’s troops. Huang Zu then defended Jiangxia against Sun Ce and Sun Quan for years. Su Fei served as his commander in Jiangxia; Gan Ning also served him before defecting to Sun Quan. In 208 Sun Quan sent a force under Lü Meng and others against Jiangxia; Huang Zu was defeated and killed. His death removed a major obstacle to Sun Quan’s control of the middle Yangtze.
Biography
Killing Sun Jian and defence of Jiangxia
Huang Zu was Liu Biao’s man in Jiangxia. When Sun Jian attacked Jing Province, Huang Zu’s troops fought him; Sun Jian was killed (191–192). Sun Ce and later Sun Quan repeatedly campaigned against Huang Zu to avenge their father. Huang Zu held the line for over a decade, with Su Fei and others under him. Gan Ning, who had once served Huang Zu, went over to Sun Quan and advised on how to attack Jiangxia.
Defeat and death
In 208 Sun Quan sent Lü Meng, Ling Tong, and others against Jiangxia. They broke Huang Zu’s defences; Huang Zu fled and was pursued and killed. His head was sent to Sun Quan. The fall of Jiangxia helped clear the way for Sun Quan’s expansion along the Yangtze.
Legacy
Huang Zu is remembered as the man who killed Sun Jian and as Liu Biao’s long-serving defender of Jiangxia until his defeat and death at the hands of Sun Quan’s forces.