Lu Kai (Shu)

Lu Kai (onyomi: Ryo Gai) is a minister of Shu. He served as a guide to Zhuge Liang during the Nanman Campaign.

Role in Games
In Dynasty Warriors, Lu Kai usually makes his only appearance in the Nanman Campaign. He may lead his own unit in the battle to fight the Nanman forces at the front lines or serve as a subordinate to one of the other officers, depending on the game. In the Empires games, Lu Kai often appears in the Nanman territory.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms gives Lu Kai decent politics and charisma, above average intelligence and below average battle skills. Thanks to his skill Antidote in the eleventh installment, which nullifies damage taken from passing poisonous terrain, he can be a useful deputy in any battles that occur in the Nanzhong area. He is one of the few non-Nanman officers that appear in the Nanzhong area. He serves Shu in the later scenarios.

Historical Information
Lu Kai was born in 194. During the early 220's, he served as a deputy of Shu general Wang Kang in Yongchang commandery. When Meng Huo rebelled with Yong Kai and others in 225, Lu Kai participated in the defense of Yongchang and was successful. Because of his knowledge of the area, Lu Kai was chosen to aid Zhuge Liang in his campaign against Meng Huo. He presented a map of the area to Zhuge Liang and served as a guide during the whole campaign. Zhuge Liang was able to defeat the rebels in the same year and Lu Kai was appointed Administrator of Yunnan Commandery and became Marquis of Yangqian Village. He was later killed by rebels in Yunnan shortly after. His son, Lü Xiang (呂祥) would go on to inherit his peerage.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Lu Kai is first mentioned in chapter 87 of the novel. When news were brought to Zhuge Liang that Meng Huo, the King of Nanman rebelled, Lu Kai was introduced as the Deputy Governor who served under Wang Kang, the Governor of Yongchang. After the initial rebellions were quelled, Lu Kai was called to Zhuge Liang when the latter visited Yongchang. Zhuge Liang thanked Lu Kai for his efforts and asked him about his knowledge of the area. Lu Kai presented Zhuge Liang a map of the whole region, called "The Plan to Subdue the Mangs", saying that he expected the tribes to rise in rebellion eventually and thus sent secret agents to map the region. In the following chapter, Zhuge Liang instructed him to build stockades in the forests. In chapter 89, Lu Kai advised Zhuge Liang to use bamboo for building rafts to cross the Xi'er River. In the next chapter, Lu Kai told Zhuge Liang about Wutugu's tribe and their rattan armor. Lu Kai is last mentioned in chapter 91 after Meng Huo's defeat, when he and Wang Kang were instructed to govern the four southern commanderies of Yi Province.