In Fiction
Xu Chu appears in Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. To further pronounce the bravery and strength of Xu Chu, Luo Guanzhong added a fictional battle between Xu and Ma Chao in Chapter 59 – Xu Chu Strips for a Fight with Ma Chao.
During the confrontation between the armies of Cao Cao and Ma Chao, Xu Chu challenged the latter to a duel. Ma Chao took up the challenge and the pair rode forth to engage in a battle on horseback. Neither Xu Chu's sword nor Ma Chao's spear could get an upper hand after over a hundred bouts. By then, both of their steeds were spent, so each retired to their own lines to change a fresh mount before renewing the contest.
Hundred more bouts elapsed and still neither man could triumph over the other. Suddenly, Xu Chu galloped back to his own side, stripped off his heavy armor, and rode back to battle bare-chested. 30 bouts later, Xu Chu plunged towards his foe with sword held high to strike, but Ma Chao evaded the strike and rode in with his spear pointing at Xu Chu's heart. Discarding his sword, Xu Chu clamped the spear firmly under his left arm.
A struggle for the spear then ensued. With his enormous strength, Xu Chu snapped the spearshaft into two such that each were holding on to one half. The duel then continued, with each man assailing the other with the splintered rod. Cao Cao, fearing for his champion warrior, ordered Xiahou Yuan and Cao Hong to flank the enemy. Seeing this, Ma Chao's aides also rushed out with their troops. In the chaos Xu Chu received two arrow wounds on the arm and Cao Cao's force retreated to its temporary fortress.
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