Xu Zhu

Xu Chu (onyomi: Kyō Chō) is one of Cao Cao's retainers who was renowned for his strength. He was known as a profound yet quiet general who moved his lord with his loyalty. Known as a simple-minded giant yet fierce in battle, his nickname is "Tiger Fool" (虎痴). His nickname was so famous it often substituted for his actual name. Soon after his recruitment, Cao Cao historically praised him to be the Fan Kuai of their era. Romance of the Three Kingdoms is famous for claiming that his strength matched Dian Wei and heralds him as one of Cao Cao's bravest generals.

Fans voted him to reach sixty-first place in Gamecity's Dynasty Warriors 7 character popularity poll; he placed seventy-sixth in the Shin Sangoku Musou 7: Moushouden popularity poll. The English localization for this series misspells his name as Xu Zhu.

A genderswapped version of him named Hu Zhi (虎稚) appears in Kessen II. Her namesake is Xu Zhu's nickname, Tiger Fool.

Role in Games

 * "Even pound for pound, you're the best there is!"
 * ―Musashi Miyamoto; Warriors Orochi

Dynasty Warriors
Xu Zhu is a man who likes to eat and protect his lord. Serving Cao Cao after the Allied Forces disband, he follows his master in several of his campaigns. A shining moment in his service is defending Cao Cao at Tong Gate. He bravely faces Ma Chao's charge and stops the general's advance with his might. Xu Zhu often lives to continue serving Wei until its final battles in the series.

His Legend Mode in Dynasty Warriors 4: Xtreme Legends details Xu Zhu's origins before joining Cao Cao. Xu Zhu is a resident of a nameless village who bravely defends it from bandits. When Cao Cao's army starts to pillage them for food, Xu Zhu resists them by defeating the generals and their supply captains. The one leading the troop is Cao Cao's bodyguard, Dian Wei, who at first tries to avoid Xu Zhu's rampage but orders his defeat in his subsequent appearances. On Dian Wei's third defeat, they compliment one another's strength and Dian Wei offers Xu Zhu to return with him to his master. Xu Zhu agrees on the simple conditions that everyone is happy and that he is fed good food.

Dynasty Warriors 5 describes Xu Zhu's previously mentioned recruitment and notes that Cao Cao is impressed with Xu Zhu for matching Dian Wei's might. He participates in Hu Lao Gate with Dian Wei but his friend soon dies to ensure their lord's safety at Wan Castle. To fill in the void that Dian Wei left, Xu Zhu redoubles his efforts to protect his lord at Chang Ban and Tong Gate. While partaking in the defense at Mt. Ding Jun, he spots Zuo Ci spying on them. The elderly one questions Xu Zhu's loyalty for Cao Cao but Xu Zhu is too concerned with his duty to bother with a thoughtful answer. Zuo Ci flees and an ill Cao Cao passes away after the battle. Serving Cao Pi to defeat Wu at He Fei Castle, Xu Zhu notices Zuo Ci's presence a second time. Knowing that Zuo Ci was plotting against his former master, the warrior accuses the elder of causing Cao Cao's death and defeats him. Though Wei ultimately claims victory over both kingdoms, Xu Zhu tires of his life as a general and retires. To honor the deaths of his dear lord and friend, Xu Zhu promises to grow a huge rice field for them.

He shares his Legend Mode in the Xtreme Legends expansion with Cao Cao, Dian Wei and Xiahou Dun. Cao Cao and his closest generals use their collective strengths to save the emperor from Dong Zhuo's army. Xu Zhu and Xiahou Dun takes the western path while Dian Wei and Cao Cao take the east. Caught between two armies, the emperor's carriage is rescued and, after cutting through Lu Bu's upstart, the emperor returns safely and is placed under Cao Cao's protection.

Xu Zhu continues to appear in many of Wei's campaigns in the sequel. He is present during cutscenes related to Guan Du and Chi Bi. He lives to act in the later campaigns and defends Xu Chang during Sima Yi's rebellion. In Special, he appears as Xun Yu's reinforcements during Sun Ce's siege of the aforementioned castle. Sun Ce sends Taishi Ci to deal with him. Cao Cao also orders him to stop Ma Chao's attempt to break the river dam at Tong Gate.

In Dynasty Warriors 7, Xu Zhu is first seen among the remnants of the Yellow Turbans at Yan Province and fights Dian Wei. But after the battle, Xu Zhu stops the rebels, stating that if they steal crops from other people, then they will suffer too, and they all join Cao Cao's army. Xu Zhu and Dian Wei develop a strong bond of friendship and they work together to protect their lord as he fights Tao Qian at Xu province and shields the Emperor from rival warlords. However, Dian Wei dies while protecting Cao Cao at Wan Castle, leaving Xu Zhu and other officers devastated. Nevertheless, Xu Zhu continues to protect Cao Cao.

When Cao Cao loses his naval forces at Chi Bi, Xu Zhu fends off the forces of both Shu and Wu as his lord makes his escape. Xu Zhu continues to fight for Wei up to the Battle of Yang Ping Gate, but after that, he is not seen in any other battle.

Xu Zhu's first Legendary Mode allows the player to rescue Dian Wei from death at Wan Castle. In his second Legendary Mode, Xu Zhu protects Cao Cao by defending against Ma Chao at Tong Gate.

In the eight installment Xu Zhu leads the remnants of the Yellow Turbans in Wei's story. Soon Cao Cao, hoping to gain officers and glory attacks the remnants, and defeats them along with Xu Zhu. Soon Xu Zhu is offered service under Cao Cao, and soon finds himself participating in many of his lord's campaigns, being present during the struggle for the emperor, Xiapi and most notably at Tong Gate. He is also one of the key officers that protect Cao Cao in his flight from Chibi.

He is also given an original scenario in Free Mode, where players can have him successfully resist Cao Cao and his officers alongside the Yellow Turbans.

Warriors Orochi
During Orochi's scenario, Xu Zhu is one of the officers who supports his lord's stand against Orochi. Losing to cannon fire and the serpent army, however, Xu Zhu retreats.

In Warriors Orochi, he acts as a gatekeeper for the resistance force led by Huang Gai at Kuzegawa. Xu Zhu is duped into joining with the promise of food, but Huang Gai orders that they wouldn't be fed until they defeat Cao Pi and Mitsunari's army. After his defat defeated, Cao Pi tells his men not to imprison Xu Zhu but give him food to pacify him. Post battle, Xu Zhu begs for Cao Pi's forgiveness and rejoins Wei. Xu Zhu believes that if Cao Cao were there, he'd be able to solve everything.

Cao Cao orders him and Pang De to aid Huang Gai and Goemon in Warriors Orochi 2. They erect an impenetrable defense against Masamune's army while the Wu leaders circle through the mountain path. He and Pang De join Wu after the battle. He shares his dream stage with Huang Gai and Hanzō and trio work together to rescue Gracia. When she returns with his lord, Xu Zhu is specially praised for protecting the lass.

Xu Zhu stayed with Wei and was the original defender of Tong Gate in the third title. He tried to defend it against Da Ji and was reinforced by Cao Pi. After he is beaten by the coalition from the future, Xu Zhu happily volunteers to join their cause. He later helps Sima Shi's plan to rescue Diaochan.

Kessen
The developers adjusted Xu Zhu to be a woman to serve as an interesting contrast to the other beautiful women protecting their masters in the game. She leads an army of foot soldiers in battle and has the potential to learn devastating tactics if players train her enough.

Hu Zhi is a general who uses her strength to serve Cao Cao. A tall and physically built figure, she is said to have the strength to match Guan Yu or Zhang Fei's ferocity. Since she doesn't like to talk too much, she doesn't socialize with other people too often. For one reason or another, Hu Zhi gets along with Himiko and they often support one another in their respective armies.

Personality
Xu Zhu is a gentle-hearted giant who is a uniquely jolly man in Wei. He's a gluttonous fellow and often cites being hungry in someway during conversations. Though he seems to possess a childish intellect, his respect for his lord's generosity and wit makes him a loyal subject. In spite of his strength in battle, he actually doesn't like fighting or people being aggressive towards one another. He sees people who oppose his lord as bullies or braggarts who "just can't get along".

He's friends with Dian Wei as both men are strong, practical in their duties, and simple minded. If his friend dies, Xu Zhu will be saddened by the news.

On account of his kind heart, Xu Zhu lacks rivals in the games, only being angered if someone opposes his lord. This is represented in Dynasty Warriors 5, in which Xu Zhu develops a short term rivalry with Zuo Ci, due to the fact that the old man opposes Cao Cao's power and threatens to kill him.

Character Symbolism
In the Japanese version of Dynasty Warriors 4: Empires, Xu Zhu is given the nickname of "The Silent Tiger" while the English version changes it to "The Demon of Battle with the Heart of a Child". As a dominant ruler in Dynasty Warriors 5: Empires, he calls his five greatest warriors the "Five Great Tigers".

His Level 11 Weapon takes its namesake from either Shennong or the sun. Shennong, also called the Fire Emperor, was described in Records of the Grand Historian as one who respected a dragon god and gave himself a surname after the Jiang River he lived beside. Creating a stringed instrument from a nearby tree, he went to the city to teach the people and reigned for 120 years. In legends, he is sometimes named a half-ox creature of a gigantic height.

The original names for Xu Zhu's third and fourth weapons and his Standard weapon in Dynasty Warriors 6 directly reference a half-ox, half-human god in Chinese mythology, Chihyu. His Skill weapon takes its namesake from a mythical beast known as Qiongji. Xu Zhu's Strength weapon is named after Hundun.

Voice Actors

 * Doug Stone - Dynasty Warriors 4~8, Warrior Orochi series (English-uncredited)
 * Yu Heamu - Dynasty Warriors 2 (Korean)
 * Lee Jang-won - Dynasty Warriors 3~5 (Korean)
 * Takahiro Yoshimizu - Dynasty Warriors and Warriors Orochi series (Japanese)
 * Keiichiro Yamamoto - Dynasty Tactics (Japanese)
 * Yasuhiko Kawazu - Dynasty Tactics 2 (Japanese)
 * Junko Noda - Kessen II (Japanese)

Quotes

 * See also: Xu Zhu/Quotes


 * "Naughty, naughty! Attacking Lord Cao Cao's castle while he's away? I'll squash you good!"
 * "Phew! You're strong! I've never gotten so hungry after a battle!"
 * "Hey, why don't you come with us?"
 * "Mmm... If you promise we'll make a world, umm... with lots of laughing, and lots and lots of food, then I'll go with you!"
 * "Right! That's settled!"
 * Dian Wei and Xu Zhu; Dynasty Warriors 4: Xtreme Legends


 * "Now you face me!"
 * "You must be an evil man, if you're trying to kill lord Cao Cao!"
 * Ma Chao and Xu Zhu; Dynasty Warriors 5


 * "My lord, let me ask you. What is the source of your strength?"
 * "Hmm... Eat heartily, and work hard! That's my motto."
 * "I see... Yes, the art of war is truly deep..."
 * Xu Huang and Xu Zhu; Dynasty Warriors 7


 * "You do not seem like an evil man. Why would you side with Orochi?"
 * "Lord Cao Pi is good. He provides us with food!"
 * "Side with us, and you will dine like a king!"
 * "No! I am loyal to Cao Pi. Without him I am nothing!"
 * Yukimura and Xu Zhu; Warriors Orochi


 * "All enemies of Lord Cao Cao will end up flat!"
 * "Your intellect cannot comprehend the allure of chaos, so you must be ended."
 * Xu Zhu and Kotarō; Warriors Orochi 2


 * "Master Xu Zhu, I am curious why you have earned such a reputation..."
 * "That's because I'm kind of a dim-wit, but in a test of strength, I always come out on top!"
 * "I cannot help but envy you. I am neither blessed in brains nor brawn. My powers are most limited."
 * Nagamasa and Xu Zhu; Warriors Orochi 3

Gameplay

 * See also: Xu Zhu/Movesets‎‎

Dynasty Warriors 7
Xu Zhu is affiliated with the club in this appearance. When he is equipped with it, he can perform a unique attack exclusive to him. Upon performing his Musou techniques, he will automatically use the weapon in his attacks.


 * EX Attack:, , undefined, undefined: Charges forward, slams himself into the nearest opponent and slaps them away.
 * Musou - Roly Poly (ころがるぞお): : Roly Poly: Rolls forward along the ground and gets up knocks away any nearby enemies with a blast of air when he finishes.
 * Alternate Musou - Rage Spike (おこったぞお): R1 + : Rage Spike: Tosses the nearest opponent into the air three times before slamming them down into the ground.


 * Warriors Orochi 3
 * ,, , undefined: Leaps and stomps twice.


 * , undefined: Smashes the ground to produce a large fissure, damaging enemies close by.
 * R1: Knocks back enemy with powerful slaps.
 * , R1 (Ultimate only): Twirls club momentarily before using it to hop on the ground four times, adding a quick final stomp upon ending the move.

Dynasty Warriors 8
Xu Zhu keeps the same moveset from the previous title with the following additions.


 * EX Attack 2 (Xtreme Legends only):
 * Aerial Musou - Unbeatable (まけねぇぞう):, : Does a body slam from a height, causing immense damage to foes caught within the attack.
 * Awakening Musou: Bashes the ground multiple times while leaping. At the end of the move, the user launches one final stomp that releases a sudden burst of energy. By accumulating enough hits, the user starts bouncing weapon by punching foes repeatedly for balance before grabbing it back in preparation for a rear slam.

Weapons

 * See also: Xu Zhu/Weapons

Dynasty Warriors 8
Xu Zhu still uses the club as his default weapon in this title.

Historical Information
Xu Chu participated in various battles such as the battles of Guan Du, and Tong Gate until Cao Cao finally passed away in 220. After Cao Cao's death, Cao Pi forced the emperor to abdicate and established the Wei Dynasty. After Cao Pi passed away, his son, Cao Rui took position as emperor. Xu Chu participated in many battles and was given much praises until Xu Chu finally passed away. None knew when his exact death is but was known to die during Cao Rui's reign.

Trivia

 * His name is spelled as "Xu Chu" in Cao Cao's movie gallery section in Dynasty Warriors 6.

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