[ Occupied River Si Pass for Dong Zhuo. Retreated when Dong Zhuo abandoned Luoyang.
Officer Details
Wade-Giles: Chao Ts‘ên
Simplified Chinese: 赵岑
Pronunciation: Zhao4 Cen2
Cantonese (Yale): Jiu Sam
Cantonese (Jyutpin): Ziu Sam
Min-Nan: Tio Gim
Birthplace: Unknown
Rank and Titles
Commander Under Dong Zhuo
Literary Appearances
Zhao Cen
Biography
Zhao Cen was a fictional officer in service to Dong Zhuo. When the coalition forces advanced against Dong Zhuo in AD 189, Lü Bu offered to drive them off. Hua Xiong asked that he be allowed to fight instead, pointing out that there was no point in dispatching one such as Lü Bu to deal with an opponent that poses no threat. Dong Zhuo rejoiced at his bold words and appointed him Commander of the Valiant Cavalry and gave him fifty thousand of horse and foot. Hua Xiong and three other generals—Li Su, Hu Zhen, and Zhao Cen—marched toward River Si Pass.
Hua Xiong, though, would be killed and Dong Zhuo’s army defeated. The allied forces would press on defeating Lü Bu as well and eventually forcing Dong Zhuo to retreat from Luoyang, but not before burning and pillaging the city on his way out. When word of his retreat came to Zhao Cen at River Si Pass, he evacuated his vantage post and retreated as well. Liu Bei and his brothers thus captured Tiger Trap pass and the confederate lords advanced further. Zhao Cen makes no further appearances in the novel.