Zhang Yi

Historical Record

Zhang Yi, courtesy name Junsi, was a native of Chengdu in Shu Commandery. He studied the Gongyang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals intensively and read widely in histories such as the Records of the Grand Historian and the Book of Han. When Xu Wenxiu of Runan entered Shu, he praised Zhang Yi as capable and quick, comparable to Zhong Yao of the Central Plains^[1].

During Liu Zhang's administration, Zhang Yi was recommended as a filially pious and incorrupt candidate and served as Chief of Yufu. He later returned to the provincial office as an attendant officer, concurrently holding the post of Major under the Tent. When Zhang Fei came from Jing Province through Diejiang into Yi Province, Liu Zhang granted Zhang Yi command of troops, ordering him to resist Zhang Fei at Mo below Deyang, but he was finally defeated and returned to Chengdu. Zhang Yi then went on Liu Zhang's orders as an envoy to Liu Bei, who promised to treat Liu Zhang with courtesy and reassure his subordinates; after Zhang Yi returned to the city, the gates of Chengdu were thrown open^[1].

After Liu Bei took control of Yi Province, he appointed Zhang Yi Grand Administrator of Ba Commandery, then transferred him to Director of the Metal Office, in charge of producing farm tools and weapons. Earlier, in Yi Commandery the murder of Grand Administrator Zheng Ang had occurred, and the local magnate Yong Kai, who enjoyed deep prestige in Nanzhong, secretly colluded with Sun Quan. Against this backdrop Zhang Yi was appointed Grand Administrator of Yi Commandery and went straight to the commandery to take up his post. Yong Kai, however, harboring treachery, used the name of ghosts and spirits to declare: "Lord Zhang is like a gourd—glossy on the outside but coarse within; not worth killing—better to bind him and send him to Sun Quan." So Zhang Yi was sent off to Sun Quan^[1].

After Liu Bei's death, Zhuge Liang sent Deng Zhi as envoy to Eastern Wu, instructing him that when conversing with Sun Quan he might take the opportunity to ask for Zhang Yi's release. Zhang Yi had been detained in Wu for several years, always concealing his name, so Sun Quan, unaware of him, readily agreed to Deng Zhi's request and consented to send him back. Before Zhang Yi's departure, Sun Quan summoned him. Sun Quan asked Zhang Yi: "The widowed daughter of the Zhuo family of Shu once eloped with Sima Xiangru—why are the customs of your land like this?" Zhang Yi replied: "I would say the widow of the Zhuo family was still more virtuous than the wife of Zhu Maichen." Sun Quan further said to Zhang Yi: "After you return to Shu, you will surely be put to important use and will not live in seclusion in the countryside like a common farmer—how will you repay me?" Zhang Yi answered: "I return having committed a crime, and shall submit myself to the judgment of the officials. If by good fortune I keep my life, the years before fifty-eight were granted by my parents; the life from this point on will be granted by Your Majesty." Hearing this, Sun Quan laughed merrily and held Zhang Yi in considerable esteem. After leaving the hall, Zhang Yi deeply regretted that he had failed to feign foolishness, and at once boarded a boat, traveling day and night. Sun Quan did indeed send men in pursuit, but Zhang Yi had already entered Yongan territory by several dozen li, and the pursuers could not catch up^[2].

After Zhang Yi returned to Shu, Chancellor Zhuge Liang appointed him Army Adviser, handling the affairs of the office, and concurrently Attendant Officer of the Central Bureau of Yi Province. When Zhuge Liang led his army to garrison Hanzhong, Zhang Yi, as Colonel of Archers Who Shoot at a Sound, concurrently served as Chief Clerk of the rear office. He often said: "The Chancellor's rewards do not pass over the distant; his punishments do not favor the close; rank cannot be obtained without merit; punishment cannot be escaped through power and influence—this is precisely where men, wise or foolish, can forget themselves in his service." The next year, Zhang Yi went north to Hanzhong to report to Zhuge Liang on his work; those seeing him off numbered several hundred, with carriages and horses blocking the road. Zhang Yi wrote to friends and relatives: "These days I have been on the road, receiving guests day and night without rest; what people respect is the office of the Chancellor's Chief Clerk—I, Zhang Junsi, am merely an appendage, and I am worn out." His speech was quick and fluent, all in this vein^[3].

In his youth Zhang Yi was on good terms with Yang Gong of Qianwei. Yang Gong died early, leaving behind young orphans. Zhang Yi took them into his home, housing them in separate rooms, and served Yang Gong's mother as he would his own. When Yang Gong's children grew up, Zhang Yi found them wives, bought them land and property, and set them up as independent households. He cared for old friends and relieved declining families; his deeds of righteousness were very generous. Later he was further enfeoffed as General Who Upholds the Han, still concurrently Chief Clerk. He died in the eighth year of Jianxing (230 CE). His son Zhang Yu inherited his rank and successively served as Grand Administrator of three commanderies and as Army Supervisor. Zhang Yu's son Zhang Yu served as Attendant of the Heir Apparent^[3].

Zhuge Liang once wished to make Zhang Yi Chief Clerk of the rear office and asked the opinion of Lü Yi (courtesy name Hong). Lü Yi replied: "Zhang Yi is by nature clever and perceptive and skilled at handling complex affairs; his ability is indeed equal to the task, but his disposition is not impartial enough, and I fear he cannot stand alone—better to keep Xiang Lang. Xiang Lang's conduct has less pretense; Zhang Yi can then attend at your side and put his talents to use; in this way both matters benefit." In his youth Zhang Yi had been close to Lü Yi. During Zhang Yi's exile in Wu, Lü Yi held office in Zhang Yi's commandery, and Zhang Yi's son Zhang Yu, serving as a commandery clerk, was punished for a minor fault, which Lü Yi did not specially pardon. When Zhang Yi later learned of this, he resented it deeply, and his friendship with Lü Yi was damaged. When Lü Yi went to see Zhuge Liang, he told Zhang Yi what he had said. Zhang Yi replied to Lü Yi: "You kept me here, yet you, my lord, could not prevent it." At the time some suspected Lü Yi wished to be Chief Clerk himself; others suspected Lü Yi knew Zhang Yi felt self-reproach and did not wish him to hold a key post in charge of rear affairs. Later Zhang Yi fell out with the Colonel of the Salt Office, Cen Shu, even to the point of resentment. Zhuge Liang wrote to Zhang Yi: "In former days at Mo, when your camp was overrun, I was so anxious that food lost its savor; later when you were exiled to the Southern Sea, I sighed for you, unable to rest; and when you returned, I entrusted you with heavy responsibility to assist the royal house together, considering myself bound to you as the men of old in a friendship of stone. The way of a friendship of stone is that even enemies may aid each other and cleave bone and flesh to be mutually understood, still not refusing one another—how much more so when I merely confide my heart to Yuanjian [Lü Yi's courtesy name], and yet you cannot bear with him?" Commentators therefore held that Lü Yi had no selfish motive^[4].

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhang Yi's image mainly appears during the periods of Liu Bei's entry into Shu and Zhuge Liang's governance of Shu. In the novel Zhang Yi's part is relatively minor, mainly appearing as Liu Zhang's subordinate and a Shu Han official. The novel does not give his character and deeds deep literary elaboration, essentially following the historical record. For example, in Chapters 80 and 91 Zhang Yi appears as a Shu Han official, but without notable personal episodes or dialogue^[1]. The novel does not detail his clash with Zhang Fei at Mo below Deyang, nor does it dwell on his being sent by Yong Kai to Eastern Wu. As for his dialogue with Sun Quan in Wu, and Zhuge Liang's esteem and trust for him, the novel likewise does not elaborate at length, which contrasts with the histories' appraisal of Zhang Yi as "capable and quick" and "speaking with rapid fluency"; the novel does not fully display his eloquence and wisdom^[3].

Key Relationships

* Liu Zhang's faction (serves): Under Liu Zhang, Zhang Yi served as Chief of Yufu, attendant officer of the provincial office, Major under the Tent, and other posts. He was once ordered to lead troops to resist Zhang Fei, and later went as envoy to Liu Bei^[1].
* Zhang Fei (enemy_of): On Liu Zhang's orders Zhang Yi led troops to resist Zhang Fei at Mo below Deyang, but was finally defeated^[1].
* Liu Bei (advises_in): Zhang Yi made contact with Liu Bei as Liu Zhang's envoy; after Liu Bei took control of Yi Province, he appointed Zhang Yi Grand Administrator of Ba Commandery, then transferred him to Director of the Metal Office^[1].
* Shu Han (serves): Zhang Yi was an important Shu Han official, successively serving as Grand Administrator of Ba Commandery, Director of the Metal Office, Chancellor's Army Adviser, Attendant Officer of the Central Bureau of Yi Province, Chief Clerk of the rear office, and General Who Upholds the Han, deeply esteemed by Zhuge Liang^[2].
* Zhuge Liang (advises_in): Zhuge Liang trusted and esteemed Zhang Yi greatly, sending Deng Zhi to ask Sun Quan to release him and appointing him to key posts such as Chancellor's Army Adviser and Chief Clerk of the rear office. Zhuge Liang once wrote to mediate the quarrel between Zhang Yi and Cen Shu, calling him "a friend of stone of the ancients"^[4].
* Sun Quan (captor_of): Zhang Yi was sent by Yong Kai to Eastern Wu and became Sun Quan's captive, later sent back at Zhuge Liang's request^[2].
* Lü Yi (friend_turned_rival): Zhang Yi and Lü Yi were close in their youth, but their relationship was damaged when Lü Yi did not give special consideration to Zhang Yi's son during his exile. Zhuge Liang once wrote to mediate for Zhang Yi over this^[4].
* Yong Kai (enemy_of): Yong Kai was a magnate of Yi Commandery who, in collusion with Sun Quan, bound Zhang Yi and sent him to Sun Quan^[1].

Iconic Scenes

* Resisting Zhang Fei at Mo below Deyang: Under Liu Zhang, Zhang Yi was ordered to lead troops to resist Zhang Fei at Mo below Deyang; though finally defeated, this was an important experience of his early military career^[1].
* Going as envoy to Liu Bei and opening the city gates: As Liu Zhang's envoy, Zhang Yi went to negotiate with Liu Bei, successfully securing Liu Bei's promise to treat Liu Zhang well, laying the groundwork for the opening of Chengdu's gates^[1].
* Being sent by Yong Kai to Eastern Wu: After being appointed Grand Administrator of Yi Commandery, Zhang Yi was bound and sent by Yong Kai to Sun Quan because of Yong Kai's rebellion; this experience reflects the complexity of the situation in Yi Commandery at the time and foreshadows his later dialogue with Sun Quan^[1].
* Quick-witted exchange with Sun Quan: Before being sent back, Zhang Yi had a brilliant exchange with Sun Quan. Faced with Sun Quan's question about Zhuo Wenjun, Zhang Yi cleverly compared the situation with the wife of Zhu Maichen, displaying his eloquence and wit. When Sun Quan asked how he would repay him, Zhang Yi answered, "the years before fifty-eight were granted by my parents; the life from this point on will be granted by Your Majesty," at once expressing respect for Sun Quan and preserving his own dignity, making Sun Quan "laugh merrily, with a look of esteem for Zhang Yi"^[2].
* Zhuge Liang's effort to bring him back to Shu: When Zhuge Liang sent Deng Zhi as envoy to Eastern Wu, he specially asked Sun Quan to release Zhang Yi, showing Zhuge Liang's regard and trust for him, and paving the way for Zhang Yi's return to Shu Han and his holding of key posts^[2].
* Diligent service as Chief Clerk of the rear office: During Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions, Zhang Yi, as Colonel of Archers Who Shoot at a Sound, concurrently served as Chief Clerk of the rear office, handling rear affairs. He often praised Zhuge Liang—"the Lord's rewards do not pass over the distant; his punishments do not favor the close; rank cannot be obtained without merit; punishment cannot be escaped through power and influence"—reflecting his agreement with Zhuge Liang's governing philosophy and his own honest devotion to duty^[3].
* Caring for old friends, displaying benevolence and righteousness: After his young friend Yang Gong died, Zhang Yi took Yang Gong's orphans into his home to raise, serving Yang Gong's mother as his own, and found wives and bought property for Yang Gong's children, displaying his character as one who valued loyalty and righteousness and delighted in doing good^[3].