Tian Kai

Tian Kai (onyomi Den Kai) is an official and military general who served under Gongsun Zan during the Eastern Han dynasty. He fought several battles against Yuan Shao, before dying in action at Yijing alongside his master.

Roles in Games
Tian Kai first appears in Dynasty Warriors 7: Xtreme Legends at Jieqiao. He is numbered among the frontline officers, attacking Yuan Shao's base. Unlike the rest, however, he fights up the center, rushing in as one of the first officers to be confronted. During the battle of Changshan in Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends, Tian Kai joins Zhao Yun as part of the first line of ambushing cavalry from Gongsun Zan's reinforcements. Dynasty Warriors 9: Empires has him appear as a default member of Gongsun Zan's faction based in Beiping.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms presents Tian Kai as Gongsun Zan's best general besides Zhao Yun and Tian Yu. He is a decent commander with balanced stats, ranging from the high 50s to high 60s with leadership and war being his best traits. Overall, he is a good supporting general and can be used offensively and defensively.

Historical Information
Tian Kai is first mentioned in history as a subordinate of Gongsun Zan. He joined Zan from the beginning of his conflict with Yuan Shao. During the battle of Jieqiao, Tian Kai tried to rescue Gongsun Zan when his lord attempted to fight and was overwhelmed by Wen Chou. Kai did not prove to be up for the task and had to retreat himself, only being saved by the counterattack on Wen Chou by Zhao Yun.

Part of the war between the warlords saw both Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao naming provincial governors for the surrounding provinces, with Zan naming Tian Kai as governor of Qing province. Tian Kai had to contend with Yuan Shao's appointee, Yuan Tan, Shao's oldest son. Kai was unable to win his struggle against Yuan Tan, the two getting locked in a stalemate, splitting the province, with Tian Kai controlling the northern portion of the province. This stalemate lasted for two years, until in 193, when Yuan Tan managed to drive Tian Kai out of Qing.

In 194, Xu province was attacked by Cao Cao, and Chen Deng was sent by Tao Qian to Tian Kai seeking aid. Both Tian Kai and neighboring ruler Kong Rong led several thousand men into the mountains surrounding Xaipi. Although in too small a number to attack Cao Cao's forces directly, Cao Cao now how to direct much of his forces towards guarding said mountains, alleviating some of the pressure on the city. Liu Bei also arrived from Gongsun Zan shortly afterwards and convinced the two to write Cao Cao and request he leave before they attack. To Tian Kai and Kong Rong's surprise, the letter worked (they learned later of the new danger Lu Bu's uprising presented to Cao Cao's home territory). With the crisis averted, Tian Kai returned north.

Tian Kai remained loyal to his lord, even as his war with Yuan Shao continued to go poorly. By the year 198, Tian Kai was also trapped inside Yijing with Gongsun Zan by Yuan Shao's forces. As the new spring of 199 rolled around, the final fight for the battle of Yijing took place and Tian Kai was numbered among the slain as Gongsun Zan's faction was destroyed.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms
In the novel, Tian Kai only appears in chapter 11. Here Tian Kai's role in helping rescue Xu province from Cao Cao remains fairly similar. The big difference is Tian Kai participates in a fight to help Liu Bei reach Xaipi itself, as Liu Bei needed to consult with Tao Qian to understand the depth of the situation, and allow proper planning to save the province. When Liu Bei writes his letter and Cao Cao withdraws, Tian Kai returns to his land and service (although his service under Gongsun Zan is not explicitly stated).