Red Hare

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Red Hare (traditional Chinese: 赤兔馬; simplified Chinese: 赤兔马; pinyin: Chìtù mǎ) 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. Additionally, the annotated Cao Cao's biography in Sanguo Zhi also contained the phrase: "Among men, Lü Bu; among horses, Red Hare" (人中呂布，馬中赤兔) when describing Lü Bu's prowess in battle.

[edit] In Romance of the Three Kingdoms

In the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong, the life of the Red Hare was fleshed out. It was originally a treasured horse of Dong Zhuo, but at Li Su's suggestion, he gave it to Lü Bu to persuade him to murder his stepfather Ding Yuan, and join Dong Zhuo. Red Hare was said to be able to run one thousand li in a day (during the Three Kingdoms period, 1000 li would have equated to roughly 415.8 km or 258.2118 miles).

After Lü Bu was executed by Cao Cao in Xiapi, Cao Cao presented this horse to Guan Yu as a gift, after Guan Yu had managed to tame it, after all other officers failed. Cao Cao allowed him to keep the horse even after Guan Yu left Cao Cao's service and hospitality.

Later, when Guan Yu was captured by Lu Meng after Lu Meng's invasion of Jing province, the Red Hare was given to Ma Zhong by Sun Quan. However, following the execution of Guan Yu, Red Hare refused to eat and died of starvation.


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