Comprehensive Biography of Hu Zhen
Hu Zhen, styled Wencai (胡軫字文才), was a military general of Dong Zhuo who was known for his impulsiveness.
The Story
Hu Zhen served as Grand Administrator of Chen by 191. Dong Zhuo appointed him to a high military title, giving him Lü Bu and other petty officers as his subordinates.[1]
In Spring 191,[2] he was ordered to assault Yangren, where Sun Jian was garrisoned. While marching there, Hu Zhen grew frustrated at their perceived slowness and soon made a terrible impression when he announced that,
"Now with this march, I ought to behead a high-ranking officer as to correct our disunity into unity!"
Lü Bu and the others began to fear and also hate Hu Zhen afterwards. Soon, they arrived in Guangcheng, just some miles away from Yangren and its city. The march exhausted just about everything in their army, humans and horses, so they stopped there, also per Dong Zhuo's order. While there, they fed the horses and tried to use the night they had to prepare their troops. However, Lü Bu and the other generals decided to ruin Hu Zhen's night and soon exclaimed that,
"The traitors within Yangren City have already fled! We ought to pursue and search for them! If not, we will lose them!"
The army was forced to march in the night, exhausting them completely, and this persisted throughout the next day. The city was well-prepared, so they could not surprise attack them. By the time night fell again, the whole army was hungry, thirsty, and needing of rest. Soon, they took off their armor in hopes of resting, only for Lü Bu to loudly announce that,
"The traitors within the city have come out here!"
A total rout ensued, not by Sun Jian, but by Lü Bu's hatred of Hu Zhen. The terrified army discarded their weapons and saddles for their lives, and although they were able to regroup by dawn, Sun Jian already fortified the defenses even further, making it near-impossible for Hu Zhen to attack it. Hu Zhen retreated, probably humiliated.[1]
Hu Zhen's defeat terrified Dong Zhuo, who soon relocated the capital from Luoyang to Chang'an.[2]
In Summer 192, Hu Zhen served Wang Yun. Wang Yun ordered him and Xu Rong to defend Xinfeng from Li Jue and others, only for Hu Zhen to surrender his troops to them.[3] He was probably made Colonel who Directs Retainers at this time.[4]
Death
Hu Zhen and You Dun disliked each other, so Hu Zhen slandered You Dun, which was convincing enough to have You Dun executed. A few months later, however, Hu Zhen fell seriously ill, and one of the claimed side-effects of his illness was his eyes falling off its sockets. Hu Zhen blamed You Dun's spirit, saying,
"I admit my guilt! You Youqi will soon come to me as a ghost!"
Soon afterwards, Hu Zhen expired.[4][5] His date of death is not known, but it was probably between 192 and 196, as he appears to have not played a role in the internal war within Li Jue's faction.
References
[1] - 【初堅討董卓，到梁縣之陽人。卓亦遣兵步騎五千迎之，陳郡太守胡軫為大督護，呂布為騎督，其餘步騎將校都督者甚衆。軫字文才，性急，預宣言曰：「今此行也，要當斬一青綬，乃整齊耳。」諸將聞而惡之。軍到廣成，去陽人城數十里。日暮，士馬疲極，當止宿，又本受卓節度宿廣成，秣馬飲食，以夜進兵，投曉攻城。諸將惡憚軫，欲賊敗其事，布等宣言「陽人城中賊已走，當追尋之；不然失之矣」，便夜進軍。城中守備甚設，不可掩襲。於是吏士饑渴，人馬甚疲，且夜至，又無壍壘。釋甲休息，而布又宣言相驚，云「城中賊出來」。軍衆擾亂奔走，皆棄甲，失鞌馬。行十餘里，定無賊，會天明，便還，拾取兵器，欲進攻城。城守已固，穿壍已深，軫等不能攻而還。】《英雄記》
[2] - 【二月...袁術遣將孫堅與董卓將胡軫戰於陽人，軫軍大敗。董卓遂發掘洛陽諸帝陵。夏四月，董卓入長安。】《後漢書•孝獻帝紀》
[3] - 【王允聞之，乃遣卓故將胡軫、徐榮擊之於新豐。榮戰死，軫以眾降。】《後漢書•董卓列傳》
[4] - 【游敦，字幼齊，漢世為羽林中郎將。先與司隸校尉胡軫有隙，遂誣敦殺之。敦死月餘。軫病。目睛遂脫，但言「伏罪，游幼齊將鬼來」，於是遂死。】《還冤記》
[5] - 【游殷，字幼齊，與司隸校尉胡軫有隙，輕誣，構殺之。初，殷為郡功曹，有童子張既者，時未知名，為郡書佐，殷察異之。既過家，具設賓饌，及既至，殷妻笑曰：「君甚悖乎？張德容童昏小兒何異？」殷曰：「卿勿怪，乃方伯之器也。」殷遂與既論霸王之事，饗訖，以楚子托之。軫害殷，月餘得病，目脫，但言「伏罪，游幼齊將鬼來」，於是遂死。諺曰：「生有知人之明，死有鬼靈之驗。」】《三輔決錄》
