Zhu Bao

Historical Record

Zhu Bao, a figure of the Three Kingdoms period, once served as Grand Administrator of Zangke. In the summer of the first year of Jianxing under Shu Han (223 CE), Zhu Bao raised a revolt in Zangke Commandery, holding the commandery in defiance. This rebellion was not an isolated event, but echoed the revolt of Yong Kai, a great clan leader of Yi Province, and the betrayal of Gao Ding, the Yi king of Yuesui. According to the Spring and Autumn of the Wei Clan, the cause of Zhu Bao's rebellion may have been connected with the actions of the Yi Province Department Head Chang Fang. During an inspection tour, Chang Fang learned that Zhu Bao harbored treacherous intent, so he arrested and interrogated Zhu Bao's Registrar and finally had him killed. Zhu Bao was enraged by this, counterattacked and killed Chang Fang, and falsely accused Chang Fang of plotting rebellion. To pacify Zhu Bao, Zhuge Liang even executed Chang Fang's sons and exiled Chang Fang's four younger brothers to Yuesui. However, Zhu Bao did not repent, and in the end still used Zangke Commandery to respond to Yong Kai's revolt. In the same year, Shu Han installed a Lady Zhang as empress, and sent the Imperial Secretariat Gentleman Deng Zhi as envoy to Eastern Wu to restore good relations with the King of Wu, Sun Quan, so that relations between the two states were repaired.

In the Novel

In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhu Bao is cast as a commandery administrator who, together with the Southern Man king Meng Huo, the Grand Administrator of Jianning Yong Kai, and the Grand Administrator of Yuesui Gao Ding, rebelled against Shu Han. The novel sets the time of Zhu Bao's rebellion in the third year of Jianxing (225 CE), rather than the historical first year of Jianxing. In the story, Yi Province sent an urgent report to the Shu Han court, saying that the Southern Man king Meng Huo was invading the border with a hundred thousand Man troops, while the Grand Administrator of Jianning, Yong Kai, had allied with Meng Huo in revolt. The Grand Administrator of Zangke Commandery, Zhu Bao, and the Grand Administrator of Yuesui Commandery, Gao Ding, also surrendered their cities and joined the rebel ranks. Only the Grand Administrator of Yongchang, Wang Kang, refused to rebel, and together with the Officer of Merit Lü Kai gathered the people to hold the city firmly. The troops under Yong Kai, Zhu Bao, and Gao Ding all served as guides for Meng Huo, jointly attacking Yongchang Commandery, and the situation was extremely critical. Zhuge Liang therefore sought leave from the Latter Lord Liu Shan, personally leading a great army on a southern campaign to put down the Southern Man revolt. In the novel, Zhu Bao's rebellion is part of the grand narrative of Zhuge Liang's Southern Campaign and the Seven Captures of Meng Huo; his personal motives and details are simplified, and he appears more as one member of the rebel forces.

Key Relationships

* Shu Han: Zhu Bao was once Shu Han's Grand Administrator of Zangke, but in the end betrayed Shu Han, holding the commandery in independence and allying with rebel forces such as Yong Kai. In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he directly opposes the Shu Han army together with Meng Huo, Yong Kai, and Gao Ding, becoming one of the targets of Zhuge Liang's Southern Campaign.
* Yong Kai: In history, Zhu Bao responded to Yong Kai's revolt, jointly opposing Shu Han. In the novel, the two are also important members of the rebel alliance, jointly attacking Yongchang Commandery (unique to the novel).
* Gao Ding: In history, Gao Ding betrayed Shu Han in the same period as Zhu Bao and Yong Kai. In the novel, Gao Ding is likewise a commandery administrator who rebelled together with Zhu Bao, Yong Kai, and Meng Huo, jointly opposing Shu Han (unique to the novel).
* Meng Huo: In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhu Bao allied with Meng Huo, and his subordinates even served as guides for Meng Huo, jointly invading the Shu Han border (unique to the novel). In history, Zhu Bao's rebellion had no direct connection with Meng Huo.
* Chang Fang: According to the historical record, Chang Fang, having perceived Zhu Bao's treacherous intent and killed his Registrar, was finally counter-killed by Zhu Bao and falsely accused of plotting rebellion, becoming the direct trigger of Zhu Bao's revolt.
* Zhuge Liang: In history, to pacify Zhu Bao, Zhuge Liang once executed Chang Fang's son and exiled his brothers, but could not stop Zhu Bao's revolt. In the novel, Zhuge Liang is the one who finally puts down Zhu Bao's rebellion, leading an army on a southern campaign to deal with the rebel forces, Zhu Bao among them.

Signature Scenes

* Holding the commandery in revolt, responding to Yong Kai: Zhu Bao's most signature scene is his holding Zangke Commandery in revolt against Shu Han in the first year of Jianxing (history) or the third year of Jianxing (novel). In history, owing to the Chang Fang affair he angrily killed Chang Fang and falsely accused him of plotting rebellion, finally responding to the revolt of the Yi Province great clan leader Yong Kai. This act marked his transformation from a Shu Han official into a member of the rebel forces.
* Allying with Meng Huo, Yong Kai, and Gao Ding to attack Yongchang: In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhu Bao's rebellion is depicted as a joint action with the Southern Man king Meng Huo, the Grand Administrator of Jianning Yong Kai, and the Grand Administrator of Yuesui Gao Ding. They joined forces, and Zhu Bao's subordinates even served as guides for Meng Huo, jointly attacking Yongchang Commandery, putting the Grand Administrator of Yongchang Wang Kang and the Officer of Merit Lü Kai in dire straits, forcing them to defend the city to the death. This scene highlights Zhu Bao's role as an important member of the rebel alliance in the novel, and also provides important background for Zhuge Liang's Southern Campaign (unique to the novel).

Zhu Bao

Historical Record

In the Novel

Key Relationships

Signature Scenes

1 relationships

Enemies1