Historical Record
The historical records of Zhao Rong are exceedingly scarce, to the point that the Records of the Three Kingdoms and other standard histories contain virtually no independent biography or detailed account of his deeds. This suggests that Zhao Rong's standing in history may not have been prominent, or that his activities were not recorded in detail by the historians. Among the surviving historical materials there is no record of Zhao Rong's life, offices, achievements, or any specific events. Therefore we cannot sketch the true features of Zhao Rong from the standard histories, nor can we know the specific role he played during the Three Kingdoms period or the influence he had on the course of history. This dearth of historical sources makes Zhao Rong a figure who is almost obscure and unknown in the long river of history, his true deeds and specific contributions buried in the dust of time.
In the Novel
In sharp contrast to the dearth of historical sources, Zhao Rong, though appearing few times in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, has his own distinctive literary portrayal. In the novel he appears chiefly in chapters eighty-one and eighty-four, two chapters in all. In the novel, Zhao Rong is depicted as a general of Shu Han who followed Liu Bei in the campaign against Wu, the Battle of Xiaoting. Although his specific deeds and military exploits are not painted in vivid colors, his appearance provides background and detail for the development of the novel's plot. For instance, in the Battle of Xiaoting, Zhao Rong, as one of the Shu Han generals, took part in the deployment and execution of the campaign; though ultimately defeated, his presence enriches the group portrait of the Shu Han camp. The novel's portrayal of Zhao Rong is more that of a supporting figure setting off the principal characters and events than of an independent heroic figure. This treatment gives Zhao Rong a more concrete image in the novel than in the historical sources, although this image is a product of literary fiction, with no clear record of his specific deeds in history.
Key Relationships
Owing to the absence of historical sources, Zhao Rong's key relationships in actual history cannot be verified. However, in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms there exists a ruler-subject relationship between Zhao Rong and the Shu Han sovereign Liu Bei. As a general under Liu Bei, he took part in the Battle of Xiaoting launched by Liu Bei. This means that he, together with Liu Bei and other Shu Han generals such as Zhang Fei and Guan Yu (though by then deceased), jointly formed the Shu Han military system. Although the novel does not describe in detail Zhao Rong's personal interactions with these figures, his participation in the campaign indicates his subordinate relationship to the Shu Han core group. In addition, in the Battle of Xiaoting, Zhao Rong also fought shoulder to shoulder with other Shu Han generals, jointly facing the army of Eastern Wu, which constitutes his comrade-in-arms relationship with the other generals (unique to the novel).
Iconic Scenes
In the historical sources, no iconic scene of Zhao Rong is recorded. However, in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhao Rong's iconic scenes are concentrated during the Battle of Xiaoting. As a general of Shu Han, he took part in this major campaign that decided Shu Han's fate. Although no specific valiant deed or personal moment of glory is depicted in detail, his appearance in Liu Bei's military action against Wu itself constitutes his iconic presence in the novel. For instance, in chapters eighty-one and eighty-four, Zhao Rong, as one of the generals, appears at Liu Bei's military councils or on the battlefield; though only a brief appearance, these scenes establish his role positioning in the novel. Although these scenes are brief, they place Zhao Rong within a grand historical backdrop, making him a participant in and witness to the tragic historical event of the Battle of Xiaoting (unique to the novel).
Relationships
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