Zhang Yi

Historical Record

Zhang Yi, courtesy name Bogong, was a native of Wuyang in Yi Province. After Liu Bei pacified Yi Province, Zhang Yi was appointed a clerical assistant. In the late Jian'an era he was recommended as a man of filial and incorrupt conduct, successively serving as magistrate of Jiangyang and magistrate of Fuling, and rising in due course to Administrator of Zitong, and later holding posts such as Administrator of Guanghan and Administrator of Shu Commandery.^[1]

In the ninth year of Jianxing, Zhang Yi was appointed Commander Who Subdues the South and General of the Household Gentlemen Who Pacifies the South. His character was rigorous and his enforcement of the law strict, so he failed to win the favor of the local non-Han peoples. When the tribal chief Liu Zhou rose in rebellion, Zhang Yi led troops to suppress him. However, before Liu Zhou had been put down, Zhang Yi received an order recalling him to court. His subordinates all thought he should set out at once, to avoid being charged for delay. But Zhang Yi said: "Not so. I am being recalled because the barbarians have stirred and I have failed to fulfill my duty. Yet my replacement has not yet arrived, and I am on the very field of battle; I ought to transport grain and fodder and provide supplies for putting down the rebellion. How could I abandon the state's public service merely because I am being dismissed?" So he continued to command the army without the least slackening, and only set out once his replacement arrived. Ma Zhong was thereby able to build upon the foundation Zhang Yi had laid and ultimately put down Liu Zhou's rebellion. When the Chancellor Zhuge Liang learned of this, he greatly commended Zhang Yi's conduct.^[1]

When Zhuge Liang led his troops out to Wugong, he appointed Zhang Yi Commander of the Front Army with the concurrent post of Administrator of Fufeng. After Zhuge Liang's death, Zhang Yi was appointed Front Leader of the Army, and in recognition of his merit in suppressing Liu Zhou he was retrospectively granted the noble rank of Marquis Within the Passes. In the first year of Yanxi, he entered court as a Master of Writing, then gradually rose to Commander Who Supervises and Establishes Might, with the staff of authority, and was further enfeoffed as Marquis of Duting, finally attaining the office of Grand General Who Conquers the West.^[1]

In the eighteenth year of Yanxi, Zhang Yi returned to Chengdu together with the General of the Guard, Jiang Wei. Jiang Wei proposed another campaign, but Zhang Yi argued against the consensus, holding that the state was weak and the people exhausted, and that it was unwise to use arms so frequently. Jiang Wei did not listen and still led Zhang Yi and others out on campaign, promoting Zhang Yi to Grand General Who Guards the South. Jiang Wei crushingly defeated the Wei Inspector of Yong Province, Wang Jing, at Didao, where Wang Jing's army lost tens of thousands of men slain at the Tao River. At this point Zhang Yi remonstrated: "We may stop here; it is unwise to advance further, lest it ruin this great achievement." Jiang Wei was furious at this and rebuked Zhang Yi for "drawing feet on a snake." Jiang Wei ultimately besieged Wang Jing at Didao but was unable to take the city.^[2]

From the time Zhang Yi voiced his objection, Jiang Wei harbored resentment toward him, yet the two still often acted together, and Zhang Yi could do nothing about it. In the second year of Jingyao, Zhang Yi was promoted to General of the Left Chariots and Cavalry, with the concurrent post of Inspector of Jizhou. In the sixth year of Jingyao, he was at Jianmen Pass together with Jiang Wei, and together they went to Fucheng to surrender to Zhong Hui. In the first month of the following year, he followed Zhong Hui to Chengdu, where he was finally killed amid the mutinying soldiers.^[2]

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhang Yi is given greater martial valor and loyalty, and his entrance comes far earlier than in the historical record. He first appears when Liu Bei attacked Luocheng: at that time Liu Gui was hurling abuse from atop the wall, and Zhang Yi stepped forth, drew his sword and beheaded Liu Gui, then opened the gate and surrendered, rendering merit in Liu Bei's capture of Luocheng.^[3] This episode has no basis in the historical sources and is an artistic embellishment the novel made to develop the character.

In the Hanzhong Campaign, Zhang Yi appears as a subordinate of Zhao Yun. When Zhao Yun withdrew to his camp under Cao Cao's pursuit, Zhang Yi advised closing the camp gate to guard against the pursuers. However, Zhao Yun boldly refused and laid out the ruse of an empty camp, ultimately frightening off Cao Cao.^[4] Here, Zhang Yi's caution contrasts with Zhao Yun's daring, highlighting Zhao Yun's valor.

When Zhuge Liang campaigned south against Meng Huo, Zhang Yi was appointed a deputy general, going on campaign together with Zhao Yun, Wei Yan, and others.^[5] During Zhuge Liang's Southern Campaign, he took part in many of Zhuge Liang's stratagems. For instance, after Meng Huo was captured for the fourth time, Zhang Yi was ordered to escort Meng You to Kongming's tent.^[6] Later, when Zhuge Liang set his plan of a fire attack at Coiled Serpent Valley, Zhang Yi was again ordered to lead a separate force and build a stockade at a designated place, coordinating with the actions of Ma Dai, Zhao Yun, Wei Yan, and others.^[7] In the end, together with Wang Ping, he led troops to the barbarian camp and captured alive Lady Zhurong and Meng Huo's household.^[8]

During the Northern Expeditions, Zhang Yi also campaigned many times with Zhuge Liang. At the Battle of Tianshui, Zhuge Liang dispatched Zhao Yun to lie in ambush and ordered Zhang Yi and Gao Xiang to intercept and kill Ma Zun on the key road.^[9] In Chapter 99, facing Zhang He's pursuit, Zhang Yi together with Wang Ping laid an ambush to cut off the Wei army's rear.^[10] Although Sima Yi arrived with a large army and surrounded Wang Ping and Zhang Yi, Zhang Yi firmly believed the Chancellor had divine stratagems and encouraged the soldiers to fight to the death.^[11] Then, together with Liao Hua, he pursued Sima Yi and seized Sima Yi's golden helmet, rendering military merit.^[12]

During Jiang Wei's Northern Expeditions, Zhang Yi repeatedly played the role of remonstrator. He once admonished Jiang Wei that "the land of Shu is shallow and narrow, its money and grain scant, and it is unwise to campaign far," advocating instead "holding the strategic passes and keeping to one's portion, sparing the army and loving the people," but Jiang Wei would not comply.^[13] After the great victory at the Battle of the Tao River, Zhang Yi again admonished Jiang Wei that "the achievement is already accomplished and your renown greatly resounds; you may stop now. If you advance further and it does not go as wished, it will be just like drawing feet on a snake," but Jiang Wei still would not heed him.^[14] When Jiang Wei withdrew his troops, Zhang Yi together with Liao Hua guarded the rear to fend off Wei pursuit.^[15] When Jiang Wei clashed with Deng Ai, Zhang Yi proposed the plan of taking Mount Qi and was ordered to lead the rear army there.^[16]

In the last years of Shu Han, facing the massive Wei offensive, Zhang Yi was ordered by Jiang Wei to lead troops to guard Yangping Pass.^[17] When Jiang Wei was hard-pressed, Zhang Yi together with Liao Hua led troops on their own initiative to come to his aid, and together they retreated to hold Jianmen Pass.^[18] In the end, after the Latter Lord Liu Shan surrendered, Zhang Yi, together with Jiang Wei, Liao Hua, Dong Jue, and others, feigned surrender to Zhong Hui in an attempt to restore the house of Han, but was finally killed amid the mutinying soldiers at Chengdu.^[19]

Key Relationships

* Shu Han (serves): Zhang Yi was loyal to Shu Han all his life, serving the state with utmost devotion under Liu Bei, under Zhuge Liang, and under Jiang Wei alike.^[1]
* Liu Zhou (fights_in): Zhang Yi once led troops to suppress the rebel Liu Zhou, demonstrating his ability to put down internal disorder.^[1]
* Zhuge Liang (commands_in): During Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions and Southern Campaign, Zhang Yi served many times as one of his subordinate generals, taking part in important military actions and earning Zhuge Liang's esteem.^[1][5]
* Jiang Wei (rival_of): Zhang Yi and Jiang Wei had clear differences over military strategy. Zhang Yi repeatedly admonished Jiang Wei that frequent use of arms was unwise, holding that national strength was insufficient, but Jiang Wei often would not heed him, leading to discord between the two.^[2][13]
* Liu Bei (serves_in): Zhang Yi became a clerical assistant to Liu Bei right after Liu Bei settled Yi Province, and was an early official of Shu Han.^[1]
* Zhao Yun (commands_in): In the novel, Zhang Yi was once a subordinate of Zhao Yun, defending the camp together with Zhao Yun in the Hanzhong Campaign.^[4] (unique to the novel)
* Meng Huo (fights_in): During Zhuge Liang's Southern Campaign against Meng Huo, Zhang Yi, as a deputy general, took part in several captures of Meng Huo.^[8] (unique to the novel)
* Sima Yi (fights_in): In the novel, Zhang Yi once together with Wang Ping resisted Sima Yi's pursuit and seized his golden helmet.^[11][12] (unique to the novel)
* Zhong Hui (fights_in): Zhang Yi ultimately surrendered to Zhong Hui together with Jiang Wei and tried to use Zhong Hui to restore the house of Han.^[19]

Iconic Scenes

* Holding his post to suppress Liu Zhou: During the suppression of Liu Zhou, although recalled to court, Zhang Yi insisted on completing his military deployment, laying the foundation for the subsequent quelling of the rebellion, and won Zhuge Liang's praise.^[1]
* Remonstrating with Jiang Wei against militarism: Zhang Yi repeatedly admonished Jiang Wei outright, opposing his year-after-year Northern Expeditions on the grounds that national strength was insufficient and militarism unwise, displaying his upright and outspoken character.^[2][13]
* Beheading Liu Gui and opening the gate to surrender: In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, when Liu Bei attacked Luocheng, Zhang Yi beheaded the defending general Liu Gui and opened the gate for Liu Bei—a valorous showing in his first appearance.^[3] (unique to the novel)
* Dialogue with Zhao Yun in the empty-camp ruse: In the Hanzhong Campaign, Zhang Yi's advice to Zhao Yun to close the camp gate contrasted with Zhao Yun's boldness, indirectly setting off Zhao Yun's daring.^[4] (unique to the novel)
* Campaigning south against Meng Huo and taking part in ambushes: During Zhuge Liang's Southern Campaign, Zhang Yi took part in many of Zhuge Liang's stratagems, such as laying an ambush at Coiled Serpent Valley and capturing Meng Huo's household.^[7][8] (unique to the novel)
* Resisting Wei in the Northern Expeditions and seizing Sima Yi's golden helmet: In the Northern Expeditions, Zhang Yi together with Wang Ping resisted Sima Yi and successfully seized Sima Yi's golden helmet—a high point of his battlefield career.^[12] (unique to the novel)
* Feigning surrender at Jianmen Pass to plot the restoration of Han: At the fall of Shu Han, Zhang Yi, together with Jiang Wei and others, feigned surrender to Zhong Hui in an attempt to exploit Wei's internal discord to restore the house of Han, embodying his loyalty to Shu Han.^[19]