Huang Yueying
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- This is a Chinese name; the family name is Huang
Huang Yueying (黄月英) is the fictional name for the wife of the Shu strategist Zhuge Liang, and daughter of Huang Chengyan. No name for Zhuge Liang's wife survives in history.
[edit] In the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
The dearth of historical information about Zhuge's wife did not prevent the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms from creating a name and a personality for her -- now so well known that popularly, these fictional traits are not questioned despite the lack of historical attestation. In the novel, she was known to be quite unattractive, but this was a rumour she spread so men would admire her for the abilities she carried and not her beauty. It is said that she was extraordinarily plain, but was very talented. The only man who could see past her ruse was Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang pursued her when he heard tales of her wisdom.
Zhuge Liang married her before he joined Liu Bei. She was never thought of as a great beauty her father even said she wasn't beautiful; therefore when Zhuge Liang asked for her hand in marriage everyone was surprised. He simply stated that he married he not for her beauty but for her wits. She and Zhuge Liang had one son, Zhuge Zhan, and one grandson, Zhuge Shang.
They adopted a son from Zhuge Liang's brother, Zhuge Jin of Wu. His name was Zhuge Qiao, and Zhuge Qiao had a son, Zhuge Pan.
She died after the Battle of Wuzhang Plains. Her last words were (to her son Zhuge Zhan) "Son, be filial and have piety".
[edit] Modern references
Huang Yueying is one of many playable characters in the Dynasty Warriors video game series by Koei, in which her name is simply Yue Ying. She is also very attractive, spreading false rumours across the land that she is dowdy and plain so that she may find a partner who respects her for her wisdom rather than her physical beauty, alluding to the novel's narrative.
She is portrayed as a tactician and inventor, who regularly accompanies her husband to the battlefield. Her weapon of choice is a scythe (in Dynasty Warriors 4) or war spear (in Dynasty Warriors 5) called the "Oblivion." In battle, she is very fast, and has above-average attack power. Using her "Musou Attack" (special attack), she will either spin around, swinging her scythe at enemies, or toss it outward like a boomerang, damaging anyone and anything within throwing range. With one attack, she hits an opponent with the blunt end of her weapon, repeatedly turning and thrusting it. Yue's fighting style and broad sweeps place her in the "Crowd Clearer" category.
Her story revolves around the five northern offensives conducted by Shu Han, primarily against the opposing kingdom of Cao Wei. They include Nan Zhong, wherein her "Juggernaut" invention is shown to play a significant role in forcing the submission of Meng Huo and the Nanman peoples; Tian Shui, wherein the famous Jiang Wei defects to Shu following one of Zhuge's strategies; Chen Cang, the siege of Wei's Chen Cang castle; Jie Ting, the rescue of Ma Su's surrounded army, and finally, the Battle of Wu Zhang Plains, wherein her "Wood Oxen" invention is utilised to deceive the enemy and maintain the Shu Han supply line. She is portrayed as a strategic genius, and is shown to be a great tactician with her inventions. The game credits her with the invention of the Juggernaut, which is used throughout the game by the Shu forces. Yue's "Legend Mode" in Dynasty Warriors 4: Xtreme Legends is actually a test of the usefulness and capabilities of the Juggernaut in a mock battle devised by Zhuge.
