Zhurong

Zhurong (onyomi: Shukuyū) is the fictional wife of the Nanman King, Meng Huo and the queen of Nanzhong. Said to be the daughter of the God of Fire, she is the only female character who actually fought in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, defeating two Shu generals in the battle.

Gamecity's Dynasty Warriors 7 character popularity poll places her Dynasty Warriors incarnation in fiftieth place out of sixty-two characters and fifty-first in the Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends poll. The latest poll for the eighth installment puts her in seventy-first. The character poll for overseas fans puts her in fourth place for the Other division.

In Kessen II, her character's height is 175 cm (5'9"). Her Japanese voice actor is married to Meng Huo's voice actor, and they act as a real-life comedy duo, Miyagawa Daisuke and Hanako. They are two of the many celebrities who performed for the title.

Before 2012, Koei titles separated the Chinese characters for her character's name and called her "Zhu Rong". Her given name is now properly localized in the games.

Role in Games

 * "Really? But do you get as hot as I am?"
 * Zhu Rong to Lu Xun; Dynasty Warriors 5

Dynasty Warriors
Zhu Rong is mainly seen as her husband's fierce supporter against the northern invaders of their homeland. In most scenarios, she often decides to attack after her husband has been beaten a few times. Unlike Meng Huo, she will appear only once at Nan Zhong. She leads her own special group of guards called "Amazoness" into the field. While Meng Huo calls her various pet names in English, she is considered the "mother" of her tribe in the Asian script.

In Dynasty Warriors 3, Zhu Rong has a small role during the Nanman Campaign. Unlike her husband, she will always die if defeated by the player in battle.

In her Musou Mode in Dynasty Warriors 3: Xtreme Legends, Zhu Rong and her husband fight and prevail other pairings during their conquests. Liu Bei invades Nan Zhong with Sun Shang Xiang and the Nanman tribe use the chance to wipe out Shu. Sun Shang Xiang escapes to her native Wu, and the Nanman people decide to travel the boarders outside of their home for the first time. While sailing the seas, the Nanman mates defeat Xiao Qiao and Zhou Yu, as well as Zhen Ji and Cao Pi. Exploring Luo Yang, they engage the land's protector, Dong Zhuo, and Diao Chan. Dong Zhuo is killed, while Diao Chan and Lu Bu are forced to flee.

Having demolished Cao Cao's and Dong Zhuo's armies, the Nanman unwittingly become the undisputed rulers of Northern China. Homesick, they decide to head home yet they attack the Wu Territory on Zhu Rong's request. Wu, ruled by Sun Ce and Da Qiao, attack at You Ting. Zhu Rong wins over Sun Shang Xiang, hurting the latter's pride. Wu stage a rematch at He Fei, planning to ambush Meng Huo and surround him. The ambush ultimately fails however, and the three aforementioned Wu officers are killed. The Nanman army seek refuge at He Fei Castle, but the rest is short lived. The three surviving women (Zhen Ji, Diao Chan, and Xiao Qiao) and their husbands join forces with Lu Bu to surround their position. After they defeat their counterparts, Zhu Rong and Meng Huo declare themselves to be the strongest couple in the land. Upon Lu Bu's defeat, they finally return home.

Zhu Rong's role in Dynasty Warriors 4 remains similar to that of her role in Dynasty Warriors 3 in which she charges after her husband's 5th defeat and the fact she only appears in the Nanman Campaign. But in Wu's story mode, she appears in the Nanman Campaign with a role identical to the Shu battle, but also appears in Defense of Nanman where she ambushes and sets the main camp on fire if she is able to defeat Zhuge Jin, the Wu officer she attacks upon appearing. She also appears in the Wu Tales Stage "Dong Zhuo Lives!" where she and Meng Huo have allied with Dong Zhuo and his forces to try and take down Sun Jian.

Her Legend Mode in Dynasty Warriors 4: Xtreme Legends describes an event during Shu's invasion into Nan Zhong. Her husband is captured and held prisoner within Zhuge Liang's camp. Determined to save her husband, Zhu Rong infiltrates the enemy camp alone and tries to do so without being seen by the enemy. When she first arrives, Wang Ping spots her and tries to send a messenger to warn his allies. Zhu Rong puts a stop to his report and continues her plan of stealth. She does so by avoiding the patrol officers, heading straight for the Prime Minister and forcing Zhuge Liang to stop her rescue effort personally. After the strategist falls, the Nanman Queen finds her husband miserably bound in ropes. Although she chides his clumsiness for being captured, she is happy to see him alive.

Dynasty Warriors 5 has Zhu Rong continue supporting her husband, and her story mirrors his with a few minor differences, with first uniting the various Nanman tribes under her and Meng as the Great Queen and King of Nanman, dealing with Zhang Jiao and his Yellow Turbans, fighting off Wu's invasion, and finally dealing with Zhuge Liang's invasion with the Shu army. As opposed to trying to press for a campaign against the north, she is happy to share a leisurely elephant ride with her love in her ending. Their Legend Mode in the Xtreme Legends expansion takes place after Shu's destruction. As the Nanman were allies with the fallen kingdom, they swear to resist Sima Yi's invasion in their departed friend's honor.

Zhu Rong's ending scene in Dynasty Warriors: Online has her oversee the Nanman army carry their spoils of war back home. Thinking the player would be lonely without her, she makes them aware of her intent to bring them to Nanzhong so they can take care of each other like family.

Her Legendary Battles in Dynasty Warriors 7 show her supporting her husband again. In the first Legendary Battle, she assists Meng Huo with gaining the disposal over other regional lords such as Ahui Nan or King Mulu. In the second, she resists together with her people the invasion from the Shu Forces led by Zhuge Liang. However, her third and last Legendary Battle depicts her supporting together with her husband Zhuge Liang's attack on Sima Yi.

The Xtreme Legends expansion has Zhu Rong Hero scenario conclude the events from her husband's scenario. Though it appeared as though the Nanman had a rousing victory at Sanjiang Castle, their momentum is short lived and they struggle against Zhuge Liang's tactics. Zhu Rong demands her husband stay at their main camp while she assists the troops faltering on the battlefront. She rescues them from various Shu generals. Once they regain their footing, the Nanman forces charge for the Shu headquarters. To counter, Zhuge Liang sends the Shu army to attack Meng Huo's main camp. Through Zhu Rong's efforts, the Nanman once again claim victory.

Zhurong makes her appearance in the later chapters of Dynasty Warriors Next. When the Shu army invades Nanzhong, she remains in the main camp to provide Meng Huo with elephant units. She flies into a rage when the opposing troops capture her husband, causing her to head for the front lines. She personally duels with Yueying, but ends up losing the fight. She and Meng Huo are brought before Zhuge Liang who explains his intentions to have them join his lord's quest in unifying the land. Eager to aid their cause, Zhurong convinces her husband to befriend them. During the other scenarios, the Nanman couple are already integrated into the Shu forces. While she and her husband are not playable in Campaign Mode, they can be controlled if the player uses Conquest Mode to recruit them.

In Dynasty Warriors 8, She often fights, at the side of her husband, and their people. Together, they appear in Shu's historical route, causing a ruckus after Liu Bei's death. When her husband is defeated, the two pledge loyalty to Zhuge Liang's dreams. Much of the story is recurring in the hypothetical version, but now, Shu has the assistance of Wu in their campaign. In Wei's story mode, her only appearance is at the final battle in the hypothetical route at Baidi Castle. In the battle, she leads the tiger unit to the south. She, like her husband, is slain at the end.

Outliving Zhuge Liang, she and her husband occasionally appear to assist Shu in Jin's story mode. In their hypothetical route, she assists the Nanman forces who place Chengdu under siege, and she appears in the final confrontation at Chibi.

In the Xtreme Legends expansion, she and her husband gain a new scenario, where they attempt to protect the animals of Nanzhong from potential poachers.

Zhurong's bond stories in Dynasty Warriors: Unleashed focus more on her warm-hearted side as a wife, sister, and friend. Cheering her husband up with some homemade cooking, she extends the same gesture to her captives, right before deciding whether or not to sacrfice them to the Fire God. The strength and valor of the Shu officers impress her enough to confide in them the key to her success in battle: to treat every encounter as if it was their very last.

In Dynasty Warriors 9 Zhurong and her husband are informed by Yong Kai of Shu's intention to invade Nanzhong. Wei proposes an attack on 5 fronts, with the Nanman leading one of them. Although Zhurong is suspicious of Wei, she regardless aids her husband in attacking Shu. Despite their best efforts, Meng Huo is captured and brought before Zhuge Liang, who informs him of Wei's deception. Zhurong believes both Wei and Shu to be their enemies, and she and Meng Huo decide to scout out Shu, in order to be better informed about Shu's plans. Despite what they learn, the Nanman are pushed back again, but surprised when Shu retreats suddenly. Confused by Shu's actions, Zhurong helps rally the Nanman troops in order to finally beat Zhuge Liang's strategies. In their victory, the Great King Meng Huo and Sleeping Dragon Zhuge Liang form an alliance and Queen Zhurong bonds with Yueying and Bao Sanniang over their mutual love and support they harbor for their husbands.

Warriors Orochi
In Warriors Orochi, Zhu Rong asks for Zhao Yun's help in rescuing her people from the Orochi forces led by Sima Yi. She remains to guard the main camp once the rescued officers return to the battle, and orders the march of armored troops when Sima Yi unleashes a troop of archers. She later appears in two of Shu's Gaiden stages. She first appears to join Magoichi's army in a plan to trap Masamune and recruit him. She later appears alongside her husband in aiding Musashi and his swordsman troop in an attack on Mitsunari.

In Warriors Orochi 2, Zhu Rong and Meng Huo are attacked by the forces of Cao Pi at Nan Zhong. Wu comes to their aid and together they resist the Wei forces. After the battle, the Nanman are offered a position in the ranks of Wu and Zhu Rong immediately accepts the invitation.

She shares her dream mode with Nene and Yuan Shao, where they must defend Hideyori Toyotomi from Cao Pi's army at Mai Castle. Her personal contribution is to inspire the castle's defenders to hold out further.

Returning to her homeland with her husband, Zhurong supported their tribe's efforts to keep it peaceful in Warriors Orochi 3. She gladly joins the coalition when she learns they are fighting the "giant snake" and helps them rescue Da Ji at Sekigahara. Zhurong later supports her husband's rescue of the defending Nanman at Nanzhong, eventually leading to Kojirō's recruitment.

In Ultimate, she and her husband eventually join Ma Chao's forces. Due to the wiles of a fake Nagamasa Azai though, they end up attacking Cao Cao, and are eventually defeated. It is only until the arrival Zhuge Liang that things are cleared up.

Zhurong and her husband were transported late to Nanzhong in Warriors Orochi 4, where they are able to tame the horrors in the area in their fight against Ares's army. Before this, they also befriend Keiji Maeda, who offers to help defend their home against the god's army. Reinforcements eventually come in the form of Keiji's relative, Toshiie, and they defeat Ares. The trio then gratefully join the Coalition as thanks for the aid.

Zhurong later accompanies Kai and Wang Yi to the Wuzhang Plains in order to procure ingredients for Kai's cooking.

Kessen
Zhu Rong continues to be Meng Huo's wife in Kessen II. Like her husband, she leads a unique elephant army. Unlike her Dynasty Warriors counterpart, the couple act as the slap-stick duo in the game. She is the brains in the marriage and is continuously disappointed by her bumbling husband's antics, whom she punishes by hitting or scolding him. She leads a resistance against Liu Bei at Nanman but is eventually defeated by Shu's forces. When they are brought before him, Zhu Rong marvels Liu Bei's "manly" presence and asks to join Shu. She serves as a secondary general for Zhuge Liang or Pang Tong.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Within the Romance of the Three Kingdoms games, Lady Zhurong has the distinction of being the first female character to appear in the series as a regular officer and in all games within the series, should the player option for female officer appearances be turned off, Zhurong alone is excluded from this and will still appear as a general for the Nanman faction. Statistically portrayed in the same light as most of her Nanman brethren, Zhurong possesses a high War stat that roughly mirrors her husband at the mid-80's range, a good Leadership stat in the 70's and Charisma that fluctuates in the high-60's to low-70's while her Intelligence and Politics languish in the 20's. Active roughly the same time as her husband, Zhurong will often serve Shu well into Liu Shan's reign but die earlier than her husband. Her Throwing Knives appear as her personal specialty/item and increase the War stat by a small amount.

Personality
Zhurong is depicted as an aggressive and beautiful woman who often coerces her husband into action against rival kingdoms. As she finds Meng Huo's laid-back and contented nature a hindrance to the Nanman people, she sees it as her duty to inspire passion and ambition in him. While she may seem to bully him, she loves her husband deeply and would never see him come to harm. Due to Meng Huo's adoration for his wife, and his desire not to upset her ferocious temperament, he will usually wind up doing as she asks with the results often proving positive for the Nanman people.

Her Warriors Orochi incarnation has her become friends with Ginchiyo Tachibana, who is impressed by Zhurong's proud conduct and leadership. In the third installment, she gets along with Nene and the two try each other's cooking, though Zhurong's wilder tastes make Nene less than eager to experiment as much. She offers a place in Nanzhong for both Wei Yan and Kojirō in spite of their misunderstood nature. In the fourth installment, she is idolized by Zhu Ran due to her affiliation with the Fire God.

Character Symbolism
In the Japanese version of Dynasty Warriors 4: Empires, Zhu Rong is given the nickname of "The Empress of Blaze" while the English version changes it to "The Daughter of the Sun God". As a dominant ruler in Dynasty Warriors 5: Empires, she calls her five greatest warriors the "Five Generals of Fire".

Voice Actors

 * Melissa Dodd - Dynasty Warriors 3 (English-uncredited)
 * Dorothy Elias-Fahn - Dynasty Warriors 4~Xtreme Legends (English-uncredited)
 * G.K. Bowes - Dynasty Warriors 4: Empires (English-uncredited)
 * Jessica Gee - Dynasty Warriors 5~8, Warriors Orochi series; first and second games only (English-uncredited)
 * Meghan Lewis - Dynasty Warriors 9 (English)
 * Qiu Peiyu - Dynasty Warriors 3 (Chinese)
 * Cheng Ma - Dynasty Warriors 9 (Chinese)
 * O Gilgyeong - Dynasty Warriors 3~5 (Korean)
 * Yeo Min Jeong - Dynasty Warriors: Unleashed (Korean)
 * Kim Hyeonji - Romance of the Three Kingdoms: The Legend of Cao Cao (Korean)
 * Chizu Yonemoto - Dynasty Warriors and Warriors Orochi series (Japanese)
 * Hanako Miyagawa - Kessen II (Japanese)
 * Wakana Yamazaki - Sangokushi Koumeiden
 * Minami Takayama - Romance of the Three Kingdoms drama CD series
 * Romi Park - Shin Sangokushi
 * Etsuko Kozakura - Youkai Sangokushi (Japanese)
 * Sora Tokui - Sangokushi Hadou (Japanese)

Quotes

 * See also: Zhurong/Quotes


 * "I don't know what my husband is up to, but he is making us look bad. Maybe it is time for a woman's touch. Men! What are they good for? Oh yeah... Now I know what they are meant for."


 * "Who are you? Why do you disturb the peace of our city?"
 * "Who am I? I am Zhu Rong, Daughter of the God of Fire! Anything more to say? Come over here and say it!"
 * Diao Chan and Zhu Rong; Dynasty Warriors 3: Xtreme Legends


 * "Didn't you ever learn your manners?! Now get off my property before I throw you out!"
 * "Ungrateful beast! My blade shall tame you!"
 * Zhu Rong and Yue Ying; Dynasty Warriors 5


 * "You're rather the silent type, aren't you?"
 * "Words are a woman's weapon. Men fight with blades!"
 * "Oh, that's a cute attitude. I'm gonna enjoy proving it wrong!"
 * Zhu Rong and Cao Ren; Dynasty Warriors 5: Xtreme Legends


 * "Hey! I'm hungry!"
 * "What?! You just ate, you bottomless pit!"
 * "Your cooking is special! I can never get enough of it!"
 * Meng Huo and Zhu Rong; Dynasty Warriors 7


 * "You are remarkable on the battlefield, Lady Zhurong. What is the secret to your strength?"
 * "I've never really thought about it. I just can't afford to lose for the sake of my husband and family."
 * "Fighting for the sake of another... Gaining strength from the feelings for another. I think I understand."
 * "Hah, it sounds a bit strange when you say it out loud. But, yeah, that's the truth!"
 * Zhao Yun and Zhurong; Dynasty Warriors 8


 * "You really know how to handle that crazy weapon, huh."
 * "And you have shown true courage. And you're handsome to boot."
 * "Watch your step, boy! You touch her and I'll rip off your arms!"
 * Musashi, Zhu Rong, and Meng Huo; Warriors Orochi


 * "The pride of the Tachibana will manifest as lightning and strike you down!"
 * "I'm the goddess of fire. You expect me to be scared of a little lightning?"
 * Ginchiyo and Zhu Rong; Warriors Orochi 2


 * "I'm jealous of how loyal your husband is. I wonder if there's any way to keep my husband from straying..."
 * "There's one great way I can think of! Men love women who can cook!"
 * "Not roasted snake again? Anything but that!"
 * Nene and Zhurong; Warriors Orochi 3


 * "Ah, shaddup will ya? What did I tell ya? "Don't go off fighting", right? But no! Jerk! You gotta get caught."
 * Zhu Rong; Kessen II

Gameplay

 * See also: Zhurong/Movesets

Weapons

 * See also: Zhurong/Weapons

Dynasty Warriors 8
Zhurong still uses the boomerang as her default weapon in this title.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Lady Zhurong only appears in chapter 90 in the novel after Meng Huo's fifth defeat and the death of King Duosi. She was the daughter of the Zhurong family from Southern Mang and was a master of throwing swords. She wielded at least five of them, as well as an eighteen foot signal staff. She rode a reddish, curly haired horse into battle.

When Meng Huo finished mourning his lost comrade, Lady Zhurong belittled her husband's low morale and volunteered to be the next to face Shu. He gave her permission to leave and she rode on horseback, leading fifty thousand to drive away Shu. She dueled with Zhang Ni and her troops surrounded Ma Zhong. Both generals were captured and were brought before Meng Huo. While his tribesmen wanted to put their prisoners to death, Meng Huo remembered the generosity he was given from his previous defeats and spared them. The Mang tribe decided to celebrate their victory and Lady Zhurong was happy with wine.

To recover from the loss, Zhuge Liang gave special orders to Ma Dai, Zhao Yun and Wei Yan. Lady Zhurong rode to their challenge, dueling Zhao Yun and Wei Yan. Both generals feigned a retreat after their declarations for a duel, but she did not take the bait to pursue. During Wei Yan's second repetition of the same process, he ordered his troops to fire arrows from afar. This proved too much for the lady, and she chased Wei Yan. As she and her men headed towards a narrow valley, Ma Dai unleashed his rope trap and her horse tripped over the twine. The three generals captured her and returned to Zhuge Liang. Within the Shu main camp, they removed her bonds and treated her kindly. Zhuge Liang sent a message to Meng Huo, offering an exchange with his wife for the two Shu generals. The Prime Minister personally handed Meng Huo's wife back while the Shu generals were returned. Meng Huo scolded her for not seeing through the trick but was happy to see her return to him in one piece.

Lady Zhurong was later captured with the rest of Meng Huo's family by Ma Dai. She was treated kindly as a prisoner, given food and other refreshments before her husband joined her. Her husband formally surrendered soon afterwards.

While Zhurong is a fictional character, it was highly suggested that she was inspired by Lady Triệu and Zhiyuanduo, two non-Han women that led rebellions against the empire.