In the long history of the Three Kingdoms period, many military generals switched their allegiance due to wars and political changes. The Five Tiger Generals, as the elite commanders under Liu Bei, were admired by later generations for their loyalty and bravery. However, not all of them followed Liu Bei from the beginning; some of them were once under the command of Cao Cao. This article will explore why these generals ultimately chose to join Liu Bei and analyze the reasons for their change in loyalty.

1. The Defectors Among the Five Tiger Generals

The Five Tiger Generals refer to Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao, and Huang Zhong, all famous generals of the Shu Han dynasty. Among these five generals, Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei followed Liu Bei from the very beginning, while Ma Chao and Huang Zhong joined later. Ma Chao, originally the son of Ma Teng from the West Liang region, defected to Liu Bei after his family was destroyed by Cao Cao. Huang Zhong surrendered to Liu Bei when he captured Jingzhou. It is worth noting that although Guan Yu was once recruited by Cao Cao early on, he ultimately chose to return to Liu Bei, so he is not considered a general who followed Cao Cao from the beginning.

2. Reasons for the Change in Loyalty

For Ma Chao and Huang Zhong, their change in loyalty was mainly influenced by external circumstances and personal experiences. Ma Chao held a deep hatred towards Cao Cao because his family was destroyed by him, making it emotionally unacceptable for him to submit to Cao Cao's rule. Before surrendering to Liu Bei, Huang Zhong had served under Liu Biao and Han Xuan. His choice was more due to his recognition of Liu Bei's personal charm and governance abilities.

3. Personal Choices and the Background of the Times

During the Three Kingdoms period, with warlords vying for power and frequent conflicts, the choices of military generals were often limited by the political landscape and personal interests. For Ma Chao and Huang Zhong, after experiencing personal and familial tragedies, choosing to join Liu Bei, who had a high reputation and could provide them with opportunities for revenge, was a decision that was in line with the prevailing situation. At the same time, Liu Bei's reputation for benevolence and his desire for talented individuals provided them with a better platform for development.

Conclusion:

The changes in Ma Chao and Huang Zhong among the Five Tiger Generals reflect the complexity of military generals' loyalty in the Three Kingdoms period. Their choices were not solely based on personal interests but also a response to the changing times and the qualities of their lords. Through their stories, we can see that in that tumultuous era, the line between loyalty and betrayal was often blurred, and the decisions of military generals were driven by both personal emotions and considerations of the overall situation.

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