[ Horse trader from Zhongshan with Zhang Shiping. Supplied Liu Bei’s first armed force.
Officer Details
Wade-Giles: Su Shuang
Simplified Chinese: 苏双
Cantonese (Yale): Sou Seung
Cantonese (Jyutpin): Sou Soeng
Literary Appearances
Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 1
Biography
In AD 184 Liu Bei, who had been studying under Lu Zhi and Zheng Xuan, saw the call-to-arms posted by the Han government for troops to help defeat the Yellow Scarves. He formed a small military force with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei and thanks to Zhang Fei’s background as a butcher were able to muster some basic arms for their troops. Unfortunately, they had no horses.
Horse dealers by the names of Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang arrived with a good supply of horses. They traveled north every year to buy horses, but this year had to turn back because of the Yellow Scarves. The Three Brothers invited them to the farm at which they were staying, served wine, and explained their situation and ambitions. Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang were overjoyed, and in an effort to support them provided 50 good steeds, 500 ounces of gold and silver, and 1,500 pounds of steel fit for the forging of weapons. The brothers expressed their gratitude and the merchants took their leave. This helped Liu Bei greatly in his preparations to face the Yellow Scarves.