Bao Long

Historical Record

Bao Long has no record in the histories. In the official sources such as the Records of the Three Kingdoms, no deeds or records of a figure named Bao Long can be found. It is therefore impossible to obtain any verifiable facts about Bao Long from the historical and biographical materials.

In the Novel

Bao Long is a fictional character in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, first appearing in Chapter 52^[1]. He and Chen Ying both came from a hunter background in the mountain villages of Guiyang and were renowned for their strength and valor. In the novel, Bao Long is described as a fierce warrior who had once shot and killed a pair of tigers^[1], which highlights his martial prowess and hunting skill. When Liu Bei dispatched Zhao Yun to lead troops to attack Guiyang, Zhao Fan, the Administrator of Guiyang, gathered his generals to discuss countermeasures. Bao Long and Chen Ying volunteered themselves, expressing their willingness to serve as the vanguard and go out to battle against Zhao Yun. Relying on their own valor, they said to Zhao Fan, "If Liu Bei comes, the two of us are willing to be the vanguard."^[1] Although Zhao Fan had heard of the strength of the generals under Liu Bei and was inclined to surrender, Bao Long and Chen Ying insisted on giving battle. Chen Ying even proposed that if they failed to capture Zhao Yun, it would not be too late to surrender then^[1].

In the subsequent episode, in order to help Zhao Fan resist Zhao Yun, Bao Long and Chen Ying proposed a feigned-surrender scheme^[2]. They planned to pretend to surrender to Zhao Yun, then seize the opportunity to capture Zhao Yun before his battle line. Bao Long suggested that the two of them feign surrender into Zhao Yun's army, while Zhao Fan would lead troops forward to give challenge, at which point they could capture Zhao Yun on the field. Chen Ying added that they would need to bring some troops, while Bao Long held that five hundred cavalry would be enough^[2]. This scheme showed a side of Bao Long's military cunning; although it ultimately did not succeed, it reflects his image in the novel as a subordinate of Zhao Fan who tried to solve problems through wit rather than pure force. Bao Long has little screen time in the novel, his scenes revolving mainly around plotting and volunteering for battle together with Chen Ying on Zhao Fan's behalf, and in the end he could not change the fate of Guiyang falling to Zhao Yun.

Key Relationships

* Zhao Fan: Bao Long's direct superior, the Administrator of Guiyang. As Zhao Fan's subordinate, Bao Long followed his orders and devised strategies for him, attempting to resist Zhao Yun's attack. Together with Chen Ying, Bao Long volunteered for battle before Zhao Fan and proposed the feigned-surrender scheme^[2] (novel only).
* Chen Ying: Bao Long's fellow townsman and comrade-in-arms. Both came from a hunter background in the mountain villages of Guiyang; relying on their valor, they together volunteered for battle before Zhao Fan and jointly discussed countermeasures^[1]. Their relationship is that of partners fighting side by side (novel only).
* Zhao Yun: Bao Long's opponent. Bao Long and Chen Ying attempted to oppose Zhao Yun through force or stratagem, but ultimately failed. Bao Long's feigned-surrender scheme was devised precisely against Zhao Yun^[2] (novel only).

Iconic Scenes

Bao Long's iconic scenes are concentrated in Chapter 52 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, in the moment when he and Chen Ying together volunteer for battle before Zhao Fan, the Administrator of Guiyang. When Zhao Yun led troops to press upon Guiyang, Zhao Fan gathered his subordinates to discuss countermeasures. Relying on their valor, Bao Long and Chen Ying volunteered themselves, expressing their willingness to serve as the vanguard^[1]. Bao Long further demonstrated his extraordinary martial strength through his experience of having "shot and killed a pair of tigers"^[1]. This scene not only displays Bao Long's personal valor but also lays the groundwork for the later scheme he and Chen Ying jointly devised to feign surrender to Zhao Yun. Although Zhao Fan had misgivings about the strength of the generals under Liu Bei, the insistence of Bao Long and Chen Ying pushed the plot forward and made Zhao Yun's campaign at Guiyang more dramatic. Bao Long's performance in this scene established his image as a brave but somewhat rash general (novel only).