Xue Lan was a figure of the late Eastern Han. Wikidata gives his Chinese label as 薛兰 (traditional form 薛蘭) and his English label as Xue Lan, and records his death in the second year of Xingping (195). Chinese Wikipedia uses the same name for its article, so the title stays unchanged.[1][2]
Background
Chinese Wikipedia calls him a political figure and military man of the late Eastern Han who served as a Yan Province assistant. In the proscription of partisans, Zhu Bing denounced Zhang Jian and twenty-three others for forming a faction and listed the Eight Eminent, Eight Good, and Eight Leaders; Xue Lan is named among the Eight Eminent with Zhang Jian, Tan Bin, Chu Feng, Zhang Su, Feng Xi, Wei Xuan and Xu Qian. The article adds that this list differs from the lists of the Three Lords, Eight Eminent and others in the Book of the Later Han.[2]
Welcoming Lü Bu and his end
In the first year of Xingping (194) he answered the plans of Chen Gong and Zhang Miao and joined them in secretly welcoming Lü Bu and rising against Cao Cao, becoming a general under Lü Bu. Li Dian's uncle Li Qian refused to follow Xue Lan and Li Feng in betraying Cao Cao for Lü Bu, and Xue Lan and his associates killed him. In the second year (195) Xue Lan and Li Feng were camped at Juye when Cao Cao attacked. Li Qian's son Li Zheng led troops to avenge his father and, with Cao Cao's generals, broke them, and Xue Lan was killed by Cao Cao's forces.[2]
Family
Chinese Wikipedia names his father as Xue Yan, chancellor of Donghai, and his son as Xue Yong, courtesy name Maochang, who joined Liu Bei after his father's death, went with him into Shu and became grand administrator of Shu Commandery. His grandson Xue Qi, courtesy name Yifu, became grand administrator of Ba and Shu commanderies under Shu Han, surrendered to Wei after Shu fell, and his line was known as the Xue of Shu.[2]