Zhang Chao

Historical Record

Zhang Chao, courtesy name Menggao, came from a family of considerable influence in the late Han. His elder brother Zhang Miao was likewise a regional commandery governor of the time. In the final years of Emperor Ling, Zhang Chao served as Grand Administrator of Guangling and invited Zang Hong, a man of Sheyang in Guangling, to serve as his Officer of Merit^[1]. Zang Hong's father Zang Min had served as General of the Household Who Manages the Xiongnu and as Grand Administrator of Zhongshan and Taiyuan, enjoying considerable renown at the time; Zang Hong himself was "of imposing physique, different from other men," and had been recommended as filially pious and incorrupt and made a Gentleman^[1].

When Dong Zhuo threw the government into chaos, murdered the emperor, and sought to endanger the dynasty, Zang Hong advised Zhang Chao, pointing out that this was the very moment for the righteous men of the realm to repay their debt and devote their lives. He held that since the territory of Zhang Chao's commandery was still intact and its officials and people prosperous, raising troops could yield twenty thousand men, with which to chastise the traitor to the state and take the lead for all under Heaven—a matter of great righteousness^[2]. Zhang Chao adopted Zang Hong's advice and went together with Zang Hong to Chenliu to confer with his elder brother Zhang Miao about it. Zhang Miao had long held the same intent, and the assembly at Suanzao was formed. Zhang Miao once asked Zhang Chao about Zang Hong's character, and Zhang Chao praised Zang Hong: "His talent, strategy, wisdom, and resourcefulness are outstanding; I greatly love him—he is an extraordinary man of the realm"^[2]. Zhang Miao then introduced Zang Hong, greatly admired his abilities, and recommended him to Liu Dai, Inspector of Yanzhou, and Kong Zhou, Inspector of Yu Province, both of whom became friends with Zang Hong. So the assembly set up an altar of oath and together raised Zang Hong to lead the covenant. Zang Hong, with stirring passion, read out the oath, pointing out that the house of Han was beset by misfortune, that the imperial fundamentals had lost their order, that Dong Zhuo had thrown the government into chaos, that disaster reached the most revered, and that the people suffered. He called on Liu Dai, Inspector of Yanzhou, Kong Zhou, Inspector of Yu Province, Zhang Miao, Grand Administrator of Chenliu, Qiao Mao, Grand Administrator of Dong Commandery, Zhang Chao, Grand Administrator of Guangling, and others to gather righteous troops and rush together to the nation's peril, swearing to be of one heart and to exert their strength to fulfill their duty as subjects, never to harbor a second mind even at the cost of head and life^[2]. Zang Hong's words were stirring, his tears flowing, so that not a single soldier present failed to be inspired.

Soon, however, the allied army scattered for want of provisions. Later Cao Cao besieged Zhang Chao at Yongqiu. In his plight Zhang Chao still firmly believed Zang Hong would come to his rescue, saying: "I rely only on Zang Hong, who will surely come to save me." Although everyone held that Yuan Shao and Cao Cao were then on good terms, and that Zang Hong, being employed by Yuan Shao, could not possibly damage his relationship with Yuan Shao for Zhang Chao's sake, Zhang Chao said: "Ziyuan is a righteous man of the realm; he will never turn his back on his roots—I only fear he may be restrained and unable to reach me in time"^[3]. Events indeed unfolded as Zhang Chao foresaw: when Zang Hong learned that Zhang Chao was besieged, he went barefoot and wailed, mustered his own troops, and asked Yuan Shao for reinforcements, intending to relieve Zhang Chao. In the end, however, Yuan Shao would not permit it. Zhang Chao was finally exterminated with his whole clan by Cao Cao^[3]. Zang Hong therefore came to resent Yuan Shao and would have nothing to do with him. Yuan Shao thereupon raised troops to besiege Zang Hong, but for a whole year could not take the city.

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhang Chao's image is relatively sketchy, appearing mainly as an appendage of his elder brother Zhang Miao and as an opponent of Cao Cao. His end roughly matches the historical record, but the specific details differ. In the novel, the cause of Zhang Chao's death is portrayed as "self-immolation," being unable to hold out when Cao Cao stormed the city of Dingtao^[4]. This differs slightly from the historical record that "Chao was then exterminated with his clan"; the histories do not clearly state that Zhang Chao died by self-immolation, suggesting more that he was killed by Cao Cao or died after defeat. In the novel, Zhang Chao's part centers mainly on the process of Cao Cao and Lü Bu contesting Yanzhou. When Lü Bu was defeated by Cao Cao and abandoned Dingtao to flee, Cao Cao pressed the victory and stormed into the city, and Zhang Chao immolated himself in this context^[4]. The novel does not detail the deep friendship between Zhang Chao and Zang Hong, nor Zang Hong's efforts to save Zhang Chao—content that occupies important space in the histories but is greatly simplified or omitted in the novel.

Key Relationships

* Zang Hong (friend_of): The friendship between Zhang Chao and Zang Hong is given heavy emphasis in the histories. When Zhang Chao was Grand Administrator of Guangling, he invited Zang Hong to be his Officer of Merit^[1]. When Dong Zhuo threw the government into chaos, Zang Hong advised Zhang Chao, bringing about Zhang Chao's participation in the anti-Dong alliance. When Zhang Chao was besieged by Cao Cao at Yongqiu, he firmly believed Zang Hong would come to his rescue, calling Zang Hong "a righteous man of the realm who will never turn his back on his roots"^[3]. Zang Hong indeed went to great lengths to save Zhang Chao, even breaking with Yuan Shao over it. This relationship shows Zhang Chao's trust in his friend and Zang Hong's loyalty and righteousness.
* Lü Bu (dies_in): In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhang Chao's death is directly linked to Lü Bu's defeat. When Cao Cao defeated Lü Bu and took Dingtao, Zhang Chao immolated himself in the city^[4] (novel only). This shows that in the novel Zhang Chao's fate is tightly bound to Lü Bu's military actions, his death being a component of Cao Cao's defeat of Lü Bu and recovery of Yanzhou.
* Zhang Miao (brother_of): Zhang Chao and his elder brother Zhang Miao were important members of the anti-Dong alliance. On Zang Hong's advice, Zhang Chao joined his elder brother Zhang Miao to confer together on the great plan to chastise Dong^[2]. The two brothers raised troops together in the chaotic late Han to oppose Dong Zhuo, displaying the family's political union.

Iconic Scenes

* Joining the Suanzao assembly to chastise Dong Zhuo together: This is one of Zhang Chao's most important political actions in the histories. On Zang Hong's advice, Zhang Chao, with his elder brother Zhang Miao and other provincial inspectors and grand administrators, assembled at Suanzao, jointly raising Zang Hong to lead the covenant and swearing to chastise Dong Zhuo^[2]. This scene shows Zhang Chao, as a regional lord, actively responding to a righteous cause and resolving to oppose the traitor to the state.
* Besieged at Yongqiu, firmly believing Zang Hong would come to save him: When Zhang Chao was besieged by Cao Cao at Yongqiu, even facing a hopeless situation he still placed great trust and hope in Zang Hong. He firmly believed this "righteous man of the realm" would come to his rescue, and even when others thought otherwise he did not waver^[3]. This scene profoundly portrays the deep friendship between Zhang Chao and Zang Hong and Zhang Chao's affirmation of Zang Hong's character.
* Self-immolation at Dingtao (novel only): In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, when Cao Cao stormed the city of Dingtao, Zhang Chao, unable to resist, chose to immolate himself^[4]. Though this scene differs from the historical record, it became Zhang Chao's iconic end in the novel, reflecting his tragic and heroic choice in a hopeless situation, and marking the final establishment of Cao Cao's control over Yanzhou.