Zhang Liao
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Missing image Zhang_Liao_Portrait.jpg Portrait of Zhang Liao from a Qing Dynasty edition of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms | |
| Names | |
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| Simplified Chinese: | 张辽 |
| Traditional Chinese: | 張遼 |
| Pinyin: | Zhāng Liáo |
| Wade-Giles: | Chang Liao |
| Zi: | Wenyuan (文远) |
Zhang Liao (169 – 222) was a military general under the powerful warlord Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms Period in ancient China. He had participated in many campaigns, including those against Yuan Shao's heirs and the Wuhuan tribes. But he was most noted for his pivotal role in the Battle of Leisure Ford in 208, where he successfully defended the city of Hefei against advances of Sun Quan.
Chen Shou, author of the Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, considered Zhang Liao among the top five generals of the Kingdom of Wei, along with Yu Jin, Zhang He, Yue Jin and Xu Huang.
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Life
Early life
A local of Mayi (马邑, present day county of Shuo, Shanxi), Zhang Liao was orignially surnamed Nie. He served as a local administrative officer during his younger days. Towards the end of the Han Dynasty, Ding Yuan, governor of Bingzhou (并州), favored Zhang Liao's martial skills and recruited him.
In 189, Ding Yuan and his most trusted aide Lü Bu led troops into Luoyang to assist General-in-Chief He Jin to eliminate the powerful eunuch faction. However, He Jin was soon assassinated by the eunuchs and the capital fell into chaos. Dong Zhuo, a warlord from Liangzhou (凉州), in the ensuing tussel for power, intended to place in the throne a puppet emperor.
This move did not go down well with many in the capital, Ding Yuan included. However, Lü Bu was persuaded to defect and kill Ding Yuan. Soon, regional warlords formed a coalition against Dong Zhuo, who was forced to move the capital west to Chang'an. There Lü Bu again turned on his master and slayed Dong Zhuo. He was then defeated by Dong Zhuo's former subjects Li Jue and Guo Si and, followed by Zhang Liao, escaped to Xuzhou.
In 198, Cao Cao defeated Lü Bu at Xiapi (下邳). Zhang Liao then surrendered to Cao Cao, under whom his military talents finally began to be recognized. He participated in many campaigns, including the Battle of Guandu and the subsequent northern expeditions against Yuan Shang (袁尚), Yuan Tan and the Wuhuan tribes.
Battle of Leisure Ford
After Cao Cao lost the Battle of Red Cliffs in 208, he placed Zhang Liao, Yue Jin and Li Dian at Hefei with 7,000 men to guard against advances of the southern warlord Sun Quan. Soon Sun Quan led a much larger force upon Hefei. Under instructions from Cao Cao, Zhang Liao and Li Dian picked 800 vanguard troops to deter the enemy at Leisure Ford (逍遥津).
As the dawn broke, the force moved out with Zhang Liao in the frontmost of the formation. The general galloped into the enemy ranks and single-handedly slayed scores of men. Proclaiming his own name, Zhang Liao then went straight for Sun Quan, who sought refuge on top of a knoll. Seeing that Zhang Liao had much fewer men than himself, Sun Quan ordered him troops to surround the enemy.
Leading scores of men, Zhang Liao soon broke through the encirclement. Those who were still caught within then cried, "General, are you going to forsake us?" Spinning around, Zhang Liao rode into the circle again and freed the rest, by when it was already noontime. Sun Quan's demoralized soldiers then retreated for the time being.
Returning to the city, Zhang Liao supervised the reinforcement of the defense works. After two weeks of siege, Sun Quan could not take Hefei and had to turn back. Zhang Liao then led his troops on pursuit. On a number of occasions, they almost captured Sun Quan. Cao Cao was very pleased and promoted Zhang Liao to General Who Conquers the East (征东将军).
Late life
After Cao Pi succeeded Cao Cao in 220, Zhang Liao was further promoted to General of the Front (前将军) and again deployed to Hefei to defend against the Kingdom of Wu. In 221, Zhang Liao traveled to Xuchang for an audience with Cao Pi, who compared the general to Shao Hu¹. However, Zhang Liao soon fell sick and died in the following year in Jiangdu (江都). He was given the posthumous title of Marquis Gang (刚侯), literally meaning the resolute marquis.
Zhang Liao's son Zhang Hu (张虎) also served the Kingdom of Wei as an Assistant General (偏将军).
¹ Shao Hu (召虎) was a famous general during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.
Zhang Liao in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a historical novel by Luo Guanzhong, was a romanticization of the events that occurred before and during the Three Kingdoms Period. In the novel, Zhang Liao was depicted as a loyal and upright general. While this might not be untrue, such portrayal was likely the result of artistic simplificaton.
Zhang_Liao_TV_Serial.jpg
In Chapter 18, where he still served under Lü Bu, Zhang Liao was sent with a force to attack Liu Bei at Xiaopei (小沛). From the city wall Guan Yu addressed the attacker, "You seem like an extraordinary man, why ally yourself with the rebels?" Whereupon Zhang Liao hung his head and made no reply. Knowing that Zhang Liao was a righteous man, Guan Yu then refrained from hurling insults at his enemy, nor did he go out to meet the attack.
In the next chapter, after Lü Bu was defeated by Cao Cao and captured, Zhang Liao was also bound and brought before the victor. While Lü Bu pled for mercy, Zhang Liao scorned at the cowardly behavior and cursed his captor, showing no fear for death. The angry Cao Cao then came for Zhang Liao with a sword in hand.
Liu Bei quickly held on to Cao Cao's arm and Guan Yu dropped onto his knees. In unison they both avouch for Zhang Liao's character and pled for his life. Dropping the sword, Cao Cao laughed, "I also know Wenyuan to be loyal and righteous. I was just testing him." The warlord then personally unbound Zhang Liao and offered him fresh clothes and a seat. Moved by Cao Cao's sincerity, Zhang Liao then surrendered.
In Chapter 86 Zhang Liao was hit by an arrow fired by Ding Feng (丁奉) during an encounter with Wu troops led by Xu Sheng. He was rescued by Xu Huang and together, they escorted Cao Pi back to safety. However, upon returning to the capital Xuchang, Zhang Liao died from the arrow wound.