Hu Cai

Hu Cai (胡才, ? – ?) was a General of Eastern Han China in the late period. He was originally a White Wave bandit, but he distinguished himself in guarding the Emperor during a crisis and received an official post. (Escape of Emperor Xian) He did not advance to the central government and remained in Hedong Commandery.

Life

He was a White Wave bandit. In the 11th month of the 2nd year of Xingping (195) according to the Lunar calendar (hereafter all dates are lunar), the party of Emperor Xian, which was heading east after leaving Chang'an, was attacked by Li Jue, Guo Si, and Zhang Ji due to a series of events. Yang Feng, the General of Xingyi (興義將軍), and Dong Cheng, the General of Anji (安集將軍), who were guarding the emperor, barely reached Caoyang Ravine (曹陽澗) after suffering heavy losses, and they then asked for help from Li Yue, Han Xian, and Hu Cai, former White Wave bandits in Hedong Commandery, as well as Qubi (去卑) of the Southern Xiongnu.¹ Joining forces, they defeated Li Jue and the others and beheaded several thousand of them.

In the twelfth month, they were again routed by Li Jue and the others, who had pursued them, and many died. They were driven back to Shan County (陝縣) in Hongnong Commandery. Fewer than one hundred of the Huben and Yulin guards remained. They had no choice but to descend a riverside cliff more than ten zhang (丈) in height and try to cross the Yellow River under cover of night. Some died or were injured while climbing down, and others while jumping, and those who barely made it down struggled to climb onto the boats. Dong Cheng and Li Yue struck at the of those clinging to the boats, and only then were the boats able to move forward. The severed fingers lay scattered, and many died from exposure or ; the scene was too horrific to describe. Although only a few dozen remained, they eventually passed through Daiyang County (大陽縣) in Hedong and arrived at Anyi County (安邑縣). The of , , supplied , and the Grand Administrator of Hedong, Wang Yi (王邑), supplied . Han Xian, Hu Cai, and Li Yue were all granted the rank of general with a provisional symbol of authority (假節), and were given the same honors as the .