Wen Chou was a military general serving under the warlord Yuan Shao

Yuan Shao

Yuan Shao was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He occupied the northern territories of China during the civil war that occurred towards the end of the Han Dynasty and the beginning of the Three Kingdoms era...

 during the late Han Dynasty

Han Dynasty

The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...

 period of Chinese history

History of China

Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...

. His force was defeated by that of rival warlord Cao Cao

Cao Cao

Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...

 in the Battle of Yan Ford

Battle of Yan Ford

The Battle of Yan Ford was a battle that took place along the banks of the Yellow River during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. The battle was closely preceded by the Battle of Boma, and was part of series of engagements leading to the decisive confrontation between the...

 and he was killed in the midst of battle.

Biography

Historical records pertaining to Wen Chou are scarce. References to him could be found in Chen Shou

Chen Shou

Chen Shou was a historian during the Jin Dynasty period of Chinese history. He is best known as the author of Records of Three Kingdoms, a historical account of the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period.-Biography:...

's Records of Three Kingdoms

Records of Three Kingdoms

Records of Three Kingdoms , is regarded as the official and authoritative historical text on the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history covering the years 184-280 CE. Written by Chen Shou in the 3rd century, the work combines the smaller histories of the rival states of Cao Wei , Shu Han and...

, in the biographies of Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, Xun Yu

Xun Yu

Xun Yu was a strategist and statesman who served as an advisor to the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history.-Early life:...

, and Xun You

Xun You

Xun You was an advisor to the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He later opposed Cao Cao taking the title of "King of Wei". His uncle, Xun Yu, was better known. In the Wade-Giles version of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he and his uncle have the same name, Xun...

, from where it could be gathered that Wen was a fierce warrior whose prowess in battle matched that of his counterpart, Yan Liang

Yan Liang

Yan Liang was a military general serving under the warlord Yuan Shao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was slain by Guan Yu at the Battle of Boma.-Biography:...

.

In 200, after Yan Liang was killed in the Battle of Boma

Battle of Boma

The Battle of Boma or Battle of Baima was the first of a series of battles that led to the decisive Battle of Guandu between the warlords Yuan Shao and Cao Cao in northern China during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...

, Yuan Shao brought his main army south of the Yellow River

Yellow River

The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...

 and launched a full-fledged attack on Cao Cao. Wen and Liu Bei

Liu Bei

Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...

 were sent forth with a vanguard force of more than 5,000 riders to pursue the retreating army of Cao. Making a stand atop a knoll, Cao retained less than 600 cavalry and let loose the remaining horses.

As Wen's troops arrived, many broke ranks to loot the horses and other supplies. Cao then gave order for a counterattack. The small but elite cavalry force scored a brilliant victory over the disorganized enemy and killed Wen in battle.

In fiction

In Luo Guanzhong

Luo Guanzhong

Luo Ben , better known by his style name Luo Guanzhong , was a Chinese writer of the early Ming Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was also known as Huhai Sanren...

's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based on the events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in...

, Wen was said to have a face like that of the xiezhi. In chapter 5, Yuan Shao gave high praise to Wen's prowess in battle. Faced with the indomitable enemy commander Hua Xiong

Hua Xiong

Hua Xiong was a military general under the warlord Dong Zhuo during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. In 190, various warlords from around the country formed a coalition against Dong Zhuo, who was holding Emperor Xian hostage in the imperial court...

, Yuan lamented, "If I had either Yan Liang or Wen Chou here, I would have nothing to fear."

This comment foreshadows the appearance of Wen in chapter 26, where he volunteered to avenge his close friend Yan Liang, who was killed in the Battle of Boma. Given 70,000 troops, Wen crossed the Yellow River and came for Cao Cao's camp. In an unusual move, Cao turned his entire formation around, placing the supplies in front. While Wen's soldiers were busy looting the supplies, Cao directed his men south onto a knoll, from where they allowed their horses to graze. Wen's soldiers pounced upon the horses as they approached the knoll and became disorganized. Cao then gave the order for a counterattack, forcing the enemies to retreat.

Zhang Liao

Zhang Liao

Zhang Liao was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty and early Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He participated in many campaigns, including those against Yuan Shao's clan and the Wuhuan tribes...

 and Xu Huang

Xu Huang

Xu Huang was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history. He served the state of Cao Wei, founded by Cao Cao's successor Cao Pi, during the Three Kingdoms period...

, two of Cao's best generals, gave chase. Wen fired two arrows from atop his horse, one of which sliced off the feather on Zhang's helmet and the other hit Zhang's horse in the face. Brandishing his poleaxe, Xu came for Wen but had to retreat when a band of enemy soldiers came to their commander's rescue.

Leading a dozen riders, Guan Yu

Guan Yu

Guan Yu was a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. He played a significant role in the civil war that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty and the establishment of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, of which Liu Bei was the...

 then cut off Wen's escape and engaged in a duel with the enemy. Within three bouts, Wen withdrew and attempted to evade. However, Guan's horse, the Red Hare

Red Hare

Red Hare was Lü Bu's horse during the Three Kingdoms period of China. Historical records only mention the horse when Lü Bu temporarily became a subordinate of Yuan Shao, where he charged and defeated the armies of Zhang Yan while riding the Red Hare...

, was of a superior breed and soon caught up. Guan then slew Wen from behind.