Xu Zhi

Xu Zhi (onyomi: Jo Shitsu) is an officer of Wei who killed Zhang Ni during Jiang Wei's 7th northern invasion. The novel notes his weapon of choice, a mountain-splitting axe, and his great martial skill.

Role in Games
Xu Zhi appears in Jin's story in Dynasty Warriors 7, which he appeared in the 2nd invasion of Shu. He and his unit was forced to be trouble by Shu's ambush, led by Jiang Wei, Liao Hua and Zhang Yi. In Dynasty Warriors 8, Xu Zhi appears at Mt. Tielong, the renamed 2nd Shu Invasion, where he pursues Xingcai and the supply line she is directing. His pursuit leads him straight into a fire attack ambush, led by Zhang Yi and Liao Hua, putting him in extreme peril. If Zhuge Dan's loyalty had been restored in the previous battle, he will arrive as reinforcements and buy Xu Zhi more time by fighting Xingcai himself.

In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series, Xu Zhi appears in the later scenarios, serving Wei. His stats are skewed towards functioning as a military commander above all else, with Romance of the three Kingdoms XIV giving him skills that benefit attacking an army head on and swiftly.

Quotes

 * They intend to use their provisions to hold out until until help arrives. I'm not going to let that happen!"
 * Dynasty Warriors 8

Historical Information
Xu Zhi is first mentioned during Jiang Wei's fourth northern expedition in 249, where he served alongside Chen Tai and Deng Ai. The three officers, under Guo Huai's orders, besieged and cut off Ju An and Li Xin at Mt. Niutou. When the Shu officers' supplies ran out, they were forced to surrender to Xu Zhi and his allies. In 254, Xu Zhi was sent to prevent Shu's attempt to captured Didao. When he arrived at Xiangwu, Xu Zhi prepared his defenses. The battle began when Zhang Ni marched his forces against Xu Zhi, and their forces fought a feirce battle, with both sides taking heavy losses. Xu Zhi's forces managed to defeat Zhang Ni's, even slaying Ni himself, but hiw own losses were so great that Zhi needed to retreat back for reinforcements. Jiang Wei siexed upon this opening and led his army to catch Xu Zhi while he retreated and annihilated Xu Zhi and his remaining forces.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Xu Zhi appears only in chapter 106 of The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. In which, Zhi serves as Sima Zhao's vanguard, proving his valor by driving back both Liao Hua and Zhang Yi in personal combat. After winning the first day of battle by his might alone, Sima Zhao sends Xu Zhi to cut off the Shu forces supply lines, hoping to blunt their campaign by denying needed goods, as they had done in the past.

Jiang Wei anticipated this move, however, and had Liao Hua and Zhang Yi set two ambushes after Xu Zhi took the poorly defended supplies. Upon capturing the supplies, Zhi split his forces, half taking the supplies back, half continuing on, hoping to gain greater victory over the Shu forces. Xu Zhi and the remaining half of his forces fell into the two traps laid by Liao Hua and Zhang Yi. These ambushes left Xu Zhi isolated, having only just managed to escape the ambushes on his own, alone and exhausted. The Wei general tried to make his way back to camp, but before he could reach his camp, Jiang Wei led only last ambush to intercept Xu Zhi. Zhi fell to the leader of the Shu forces in a single strike. The other half of Xu Zhi's forces were waylaid by Xiahou Ba, who proceeded to use the uniforms of the captured men to infiltrate the Wei camp and forcing Sima Zhao to take refuge on Mount Tielong.