Zhang Pu

Historical Record

There is no clear record of this Zhang Pu in the official histories such as the Records of the Three Kingdoms. His life and deeds, his record of offices, and even whether he truly existed are all impossible to verify from the historical sources. Therefore, no historical image of him can be constructed from the biographical historical materials.

In the Novel

In the literary world of Luo Guanzhong's Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhang Pu appears as a Cao Wei general, his image wholly fictional. He first appears in chapter 96, playing an important role in the Battle of Shiting. At that time Cao Xiu had fallen for Zhou Fang's feigned-surrender stratagem, and his great army marched to Shiting. When it was discovered that Zhou Fang had vanished and that the Wu troops had already taken hold of the mountain passes, Cao Xiu was filled with regret. At this critical juncture, Cao Xiu ordered Zhang Pu to serve as vanguard, leading several thousand troops to engage the Wu army.

As the two armies faced off, Zhang Pu rode out cursing and challenging the Wu army. The Wu general Xu Sheng thereupon rode out to meet him. After several bouts, Zhang Pu could not withstand Xu Sheng's fierce assault and was ultimately defeated; he reined in his horse and withdrew, reporting to Cao Xiu that Xu Sheng's "valor is irresistible". Hearing this, Cao Xiu decided to employ a stratagem of surprise troops. He ordered Zhang Pu to lead twenty thousand troops in ambush to the south of Shiting, while Xue Qiao led twenty thousand troops in ambush to the north of Shiting. Cao Xiu planned to lead a thousand troops in person the next day to give battle, then feign defeat and retreat, luring the Wu army before the northern hills, whereupon, at the signal of a cannon shot, they would attack from three sides for a great victory. Having received the plan, Zhang Pu led his troops that very night to the appointed place to lie in ambush. However, the novel does not describe in detail Zhang Pu's specific conduct in this ambush or his eventual fate, nor does it mention his subsequent destiny, leaving this figure but a fleeting presence in the novel.

Key Relationships

* Cao Wei: In the novel, Zhang Pu is a member of the Cao Wei camp, taking orders from Cao Xiu and serving him (novel only).
* Cao Xiu: Zhang Pu's direct superior, whose commands he obeyed and to whom he reported on the battle (novel only).
* Xu Sheng: Zhang Pu's opponent at the Battle of Shiting, against whom he fought and was defeated (novel only).
* Zhou Fang: The Battle of Shiting in which Zhang Pu took part was touched off by Zhou Fang's feigned-surrender stratagem (novel only).

Iconic Scenes

Zhang Pu's iconic scenes are concentrated in the Battle of Shiting in chapter 96 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

1. First battle against Xu Sheng: At the critical moment when Cao Xiu had fallen for the stratagem and the Wu army had taken hold of the mountain passes, Zhang Pu was charged to serve as vanguard, leading several thousand troops to engage the Wu army. He rode out cursing and engaged the Wu general Xu Sheng in single combat. However, Zhang Pu could not withstand Xu Sheng's assault and was ultimately defeated, reporting to Cao Xiu that Xu Sheng's "valor is irresistible" (novel only). This is Zhang Pu's only direct battle description in the novel, displaying his side as a general, though it ended in defeat.
2. Charged to lie in ambush: After his defeat in the first battle, Cao Xiu decided to adopt a stratagem of surprise troops and ordered Zhang Pu to lead twenty thousand troops in ambush to the south of Shiting, coordinating with Xue Qiao and Cao Xiu himself in a three-sided attack. Zhang Pu received the plan and led his troops that very night to the ambush position (novel only). This scene embodies Zhang Pu's duty as an executor, obeying his superior's commands and taking part in an important Cao Wei military operation. Though the outcome of the ambush is not described in detail, this deployment is the last clear military arrangement in which he takes part in the novel.