Guan Ping - in Romance of The Three Kingdoms

In Romance of The Three Kingdoms

In Romance of The Three Kingdoms Guan Ping was said to have been the second son of a farmer named Guan Ding. When Guan Yu visited Guan Ding’s farm in AD 200, Guan Ping, his father, and his brother, Guan Ning, came out to meet the famed general and offer him their farm for the night. Guan Yu quickly took an interest in him and Guan Ping was soon made the general's adopted son. Later, Liu Bei went on to Gucheng and, along with Guan Ping and several other commanders, built up a force of several thousand, including infantry and cavalry. When Bei learned that Cao Cao was on a campaign against Yuan Shao in the north, he left Liu Pi to guard Runan and began his march onto the capital. Guan Ping was chosen to join the expedition. Before Liu Bei reached Xuchang, Cao Cao caught word of his advance and rushed back to the city to join in its defense. Liu Bei suffered many casualties in battle, including the death of Liu Pi, and he eventually ran to a valley blocked by Cao’s general Zhang He. Learning of Liu Bei’s peril, Guan Ping, along with Guan Yu and general Zhou Cang, led three hundred men to rescue Bei and cut a bloody path into Zhang He’s ranks, forcing the general to retreat.

In 207 AD, Cao Cao led an army of one hundred thousand to attack Xinye. Zhuge Liang, who was now serving as Liu Bei’s military advisor, ordered Guan Ping and Liu Feng to take five hundred men with combustible materials and wait on either side of the area beside Bowang slope. As Cao Cao’s vanguard general Xiahou Dun approached Bowang slope in pursuit of general Zhao Yun, Guan Ping and Liu Feng waited until Dun had advanced enough past their own position. As he did, Guan Ping ordered his men to set fire to the surrounding undergrowth, trapping Xiahou Dun and his men in a spreading inferno. Many of Xiahou Dun’s men were killed in the ambush, but Dun himself was able to escape.

Guan Ping would later go on to join Liu Bei's expedition to capture Yi Province, which was in control of Liu Zhang at the time. Upon arriving at Luoxian, Guan Ping successfully managed to capture its eastern encampments along with Liu Bei and Liu Feng. Guan Ping would later go on to serve his father in the defense of Jing Province. In 219 AD Guan Yu along with Guan Ping led an expedition against Wei. After having some initial success against Wei commander Cao Ren, Guan Yu's army would be isolated and surrounded by Wu forces commanded by Lu Meng. Guan Ping and his father were then forced to retreat to Mai Castle where they were soon encircled. After Guan Yu's officer Liao Hua failed to receive reinforcements from Liu Feng and Meng Da, Guan Yu and Guan Ping were forced to try to escape on their own. However, the two were soon ambushed and captured by Wu troops who brought the captives to Sun Quan. After several failed attempts to persuade Guan Ping and Guan Yu to surrender, Sun Quan had both father and son beheaded.