Zhang Liao, style name Wenyuan, was from Yanmen Mayi. He was originally a descendant of Nie Yi, but changed his surname to escape trouble. When he was young, he held a government position in the county. In the late Han Dynasty, the Governor of Bingzhou, Ding Yuan, recognized Zhang Liao's outstanding martial prowess and recruited him as an aide, sending him to command troops in the capital. He was dispatched by He Jin to enlist soldiers in Hebei, enlisting over a thousand soldiers. Upon his return, He Jin was assassinated, and Zhang Liao's troops fell under Dong Zhuo's control. After Dong Zhuo's downfall, his troops fell to Lu Bu, and Zhang Liao was promoted to Cavalry General. When Lu Bu was defeated by Li Jue, Zhang Liao fled east to Xuzhou with Lu Bu, serving as the Governor of Lu. At that time, he was only 28 years old. When Cao Cao defeated Lu Bu at Xiapi, Zhang Liao led his subordinates to surrender to Cao Cao, was appointed as a General of the Household, and granted the title of Marquis within the Passes.
Zhang Liao gained many military victories and was promoted to General of the Rear. After Yuan Shao's defeat, Cao Cao personally dispatched Zhang Liao to restore order in the counties of Lu. He and Xiahou Yuan laid siege to Chang Xi in Donghai together, besieging him for several months until their supplies ran out. Just as they were preparing to withdraw, Zhang Liao said to Xiahou Yuan, "In recent days, every time we patrol the various camps, Chang Xi always stares at me. Moreover, his arrows have been decreasing, suggesting his hesitation and reluctance to fully engage in battle. I want to talk to him; perhaps we can persuade him to surrender." Zhang Liao then sent someone to tell Chang Xi, "The lord has ordered me to convey a message." Chang Xi indeed came down to speak with Zhang Liao, who urged him to surrender, saying, "Cao Cao is brave and is winning over the world with his benevolence. Those who surrender sooner will receive generous rewards." Chang Xi agreed to surrender. Zhang Liao then went alone to Mount Sangong, visited Chang Xi's wife, and brought her along to see Cao Cao. Cao Cao sent Chang Xi back and scolded Zhang Liao, saying, "That's not how a great general behaves!" Zhang Liao replied, "Because your reputation is well-known and echoes throughout the land, I was following your orders, and Chang Xi wouldn't dare to harm me."
Zhang Liao followed Cao Cao to attack Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang in Liyang, where he distinguished himself in battle and was promoted to the rank of General of the Vanguard. He followed Cao Cao to assault Yuan Shang in Ye City, where Yuan Shang held his ground. After Cao Cao returned to Xuchang, he dispatched Zhang Liao and Yue Jin to attack Yan'an, relocating the people there to Henan. Later, he followed Cao Cao again to attack Ye City, which eventually fell. Zhang Liao then subdued Zhao and Changshan, recruited bandits from the Yuanshan region, and surrendered Sun Qing and other Black Mountain bandits. In Cao Cao's campaign against Yuan Tan, Zhang Liao led a patrol along the coast and defeated the Liaodong bandit Liu Yi and others. When he returned to Ye City, Cao Cao personally welcomed Zhang Liao outside the city, and the two rode together in a carriage. Cao Cao appointed Zhang Liao as the General Who Pacifies the Rebels. Zhang Liao then led troops to attack Jingzhou, pacifying various counties in Jiangxia, and stationed in Linying, where he was appointed as the Marquis of Duting. Following Cao Cao's expedition against Yuan Shang in Liucheng, Zhang Liao encountered the enemy and advised Cao Cao to fight, demonstrating great valor and resolve. Cao Cao highly praised him and handed over his command flag to Zhang Liao. Zhang Liao then led the troops to attack, defeating the enemy and killing the Chanyu Tadun.
It is said that before Jingzhou was taken, Cao Cao sent the Governor of Liaodong, Zang Ba, to camp in Changshe. As he was leaving, there was suddenly a rebellion in the camp, triggering chaos and igniting fires in the dead of night. Zang Ba addressed the soldiers around him, "Don't move! It's impossible for the entire camp to rebel; there must be someone deliberately causing chaos to stir up trouble." He commanded the soldiers who had not joined the rebellion to remain seated and still. Zang Ba and several dozen of his personal guards stood resolutely in the center of the camp. After a while, the rebellion was swiftly quelled, and Zang Ba quickly captured the masterminds behind it and executed them.
Chen Lan and Mei Cheng led the troops from six counties of the Di tribe in revolt. Cao Cao sent Yu Jin and Zang Ba to subdue Mei Cheng, while Zang Ba commanded Zhang He, Niu Gai, and others to subdue Chen Lan. Mei Cheng feigned surrender to Yu Jin, who subsequently withdrew. Mei Cheng seized the opportunity to join Chen Lan with his troops, and they fled to Mount Ling together. Within Mount Ling was Tianzhu Mountain, tall and steep, with a treacherous, narrow path over twenty miles long that could only accommodate one person passing through at a time. Chen Lan and his men took a defensive position on the mountain. Zang Ba was eager to attack, but his generals cautioned him, "We have few men and the road is dangerous; it is very difficult to advance into enemy territory!" Zang Ba said, "This is what’s known as a one-on-one battle; whoever is brave can charge ahead!" So he led his troops to camp at the foot of the mountain and then began the attack, resulting in the beheading of both Chen Lan and Mei Cheng, along with the capture of all their troops and horses.
When Cao Cao summarized the achievements of his generals, he said, "By climbing Tianzhu Mountain, overcoming the treacherous mountain path, and defeating Chen Lan and Mei Cheng, this is a significant accomplishment in quelling bandits and rebels!" So Cao Cao promoted Zang Ba to a higher rank and rewarded him with a staff of authority.
After defeating Sun Quan, Cao Cao sent Zhang Liao, Yue Jin, Li Dian, and other generals to garrison at Hefei with over seven thousand troops. Later, when Cao Cao went to fight Zhang Lu, before leaving, he handed a letter to the guard, Xue Ti, with the instruction: "Open only when the enemy arrives." Not long after, Sun Quan arrived with a hundred thousand troops to besiege Hefei, and it was only then that they opened Cao Cao's letter, which read: "If Sun Quan comes, Generals Zhang Liao and Li Dian will lead the battle; General Yue Jin will be responsible for defense, and the guard must not participate in the battle." The other generals felt this strategy was flawed.
Zhang Liao said, "My lord is away on a distant expedition; by the time the reinforcements arrive, Hefei will have already fallen. Therefore, the strategy mentioned in the letter is to proactively attack the enemy before they completely surround Hefei, to strike them, dampen their morale, and stabilize our forces to defend Hefei. The key to victory lies in this battle; does anyone have any doubts?" Li Dian also agreed with Zhang Liao's opinion. So that night, Zhang Liao recruited soldiers willing to fight alongside him, found eight hundred men, slaughtered cattle to reward the soldiers, and prepared for a major battle the next day.
The next morning, Zhang Liao donned his armor, grabbed his long spear, and was the first to charge into battle, killing dozens of enemies, beheading two Wu generals, loudly shouting his name, and fighting his way to where Sun Quan's banner flew. Sun Quan was greatly surprised; his soldiers were thrown into confusion, and they hurriedly ran to higher ground to hide, using long spears to protect themselves. Zhang Liao loudly ordered Sun Quan to come down and fight, leaving Sun Quan too scared to move. Seeing that Zhang Liao was outnumbered, Sun Quan ordered his soldiers to surround Zhang Liao on all sides. Zhang Liao wielded his weapons left and right, broke through the encirclement, and escaped with dozens of soldiers. The remaining soldiers cried out, "General, are you abandoning us?" Zhang Liao charged back, broke through again, and rescued all the remaining soldiers. Sun Quan's army was in chaos; no one dared to stop them. From morning until noon, the Wu army's morale was utterly shattered; they began to fortify their defenses, and the army's morale finally stabilized. Other generals then acknowledged Zhang Liao's leadership.
After laying siege to Hefei for over ten days, Sun Quan found the city impregnable and eventually withdrew his troops. Zhang Liao led his army in pursuit, almost capturing Sun Quan. When Cao Cao heard about this, he was very pleased and appointed Zhang Liao as General Who Conquers the East. In the twenty-first year of Jian'an, Cao Cao launched another campaign against Sun Quan. Upon reaching Hefei, he specifically went to the place where Zhang Liao had fought before and took a long, reflective sigh. Cao Cao then bolstered Zhang Liao's forces, left many troops in Hefei, and moved his headquarters to Juchao.
Legend has it that Guan Yu besieged Cao Ren in Fancheng. At this time, Sun Quan declared himself a feudal lord, recalling Zhang Liao and all the troops to rescue Cao Ren. Before Zhang Liao arrived, Xu Huang had already defeated Guan Yu, thus lifting the siege on Cao Ren. Zhang Liao and Cao Cao met at Mopai. After Zhang Liao's troops arrived, Cao Cao came out in a carriage to congratulate him, then returned to Chen County. Emperor Wen ascended to the throne, promoting Zhang Liao to General and granting titles of Marquis to his brother Zhang Fan and one of his sons. Sun Quan rebelled again, and Cao Cao sent Zhang Liao to station in Hefei, promoting him to Marquis of Duxiang. Cao Cao also provided horses and carriages for Zhang Liao's mother and military escorts to escort Zhang Liao's family to their new home, ordering a grand reception for their arrival. All the generals under Zhang Liao's command lined the roadsides, kneeling in respect while onlookers admired. After Emperor Wen's coronation, Zhang Liao was enfeoffed as Marquis of Jinyang, bringing the total to two thousand six hundred households. In the second year of Huangchu, Zhang Liao visited the Luoyang Palace, where Emperor Wen summoned him to the Jianshi Hall to inquire personally about his conquest of Wu. The Emperor sighed and remarked to his attendants, "This is truly summoning a tiger from the mountains!" Cao Cao built a mansion for Zhang Liao and a special palace for his mother. He also incorporated the foot soldiers who had volunteered to join the army that conquered Wu with Zhang Liao into the elite Tiger Ben Army. Sun Quan declared himself a feudal lord once again. Zhang Liao returned to Yongqiu to defend the region but fell gravely ill.
The emperor sent chamberlain Liu Ye with the imperial physician to visit. The Tiger Ben army also sought news, with a constant stream of people passing by on the road. The emperor personally visited Zhang Liao's camp before he recovered from his illness, holding Zhang Liao's hand, providing him with court clothes, and the imperial kitchen provided daily meals. Once Zhang Liao's condition showed some improvement, he returned to his station. Sun Quan launched another rebellion, and the emperor sent Zhang Liao by boat to Haoling, where he stationed by the river with Cao Xiu. Sun Quan was greatly alarmed and instructed his generals to remain vigilant, despite Zhang Liao's illness. That year, Zhang Liao and his forces defeated Sun Quan's general Lu Fan. Zhang Liao's health deteriorated, and he eventually passed away in Jiangdu. The emperor wept and posthumously bestowed upon Zhang Liao the title of "Ganghou." His son Zhang Hu inherited the title.
Six years later, the emperor remembered Zhang Liao and Yue Jin's achievements in Hefei, decreeing, "In the Battle of Hefei, Zhang Liao and Yue Jin led eight hundred infantrymen to rout one hundred thousand enemy troops, an unparalleled feat in history. This has instilled fear in the enemy ever since, truly the country's talisman! Zhang Liao and Yue Jin were each awarded the rights to govern a hundred households and the title of Marquis of Guanneihou for their services." Zhang Hu was appointed as a junior general, but he also passed away, and his son Zhang Tong inherited the title.
Yue Jin, styled Wenqian, was from Yangping Weiguo. He was short and small, but exceptionally brave, starting his career under Cao Cao as a minor officer. Cao Cao later sent him back to his hometown to recruit soldiers and procure horses, resulting in the recruitment of over a thousand men and subsequently promoted to army magistrate and chief commander.
Following Cao Cao's lead in battles, he fought against Lu Bu at Puyang and emerged victorious, always charging at the front lines, achieving great feats, and was honored with the title of Marquis of Guangchangting. Later, he accompanied Cao Cao to confront Zhang Xiu at Anzhong, besieged Lu Bu at Xiapi, defeated Lu Bu's commanders, overcame Sui Gu at Shequan, and triumphed over Liu Bei at Peixian, achieving victory after victory, and was appointed as the Colonel of Rebel Suppression.
He crossed the Yellow River to launch an attack on Huajia, then followed Cao Cao to fight against Yuan Shao at Guandu, valiantly defeating Yuan Shao's general Chunyu Qiong. He then accompanied Cao Cao to battle Tan and Shang at Liyang, where he killed their general Yan Jing, and was promoted to General of the Swift Cavalry. He led his troops independently to decisively defeat the Yellow Turban Army, bringing peace to Le'an Commandery. Later, he participated in the siege of Ye City; after successfully capturing Ye City, he followed Cao Cao to attack Yuan Tan at Nanpi, being the first to storm into the city through the east gate, where he defeated Yuan Tan. After Yuan Tan's defeat, Le Jin alone attacked Yongnu and won.
In the eleventh year of the Jian'an era, Cao Cao recommended Le Jin, Yu Jin, and Zhang Liao to Emperor Xian of Han, stating, "These three men are exceptional in martial prowess, possess strategic minds, and are loyal, honest, and upright. They always lead the charge in battles, are fearless, and there is no strong city they cannot conquer. They personally beat the drums and shout, tireless in their efforts. Furthermore, they can lead troops alone, command armies, pacify soldiers, obey orders, make quick decisions in battle, and have never made mistakes. In recognition of their merits, they deserve significant rewards." As a result, Yu Jin was named General of Tiger's Might; Le Jin was named General Who Breaks Through Enemy Lines; and Zhang Liao was named General Who Subdues Banditry.
I said goodbye to Gao Gan, entered Shangdang via the northern road, and then made my way out of Shangdang. Gao Gan and his men were still holding the line at Huguan. We won several battles in a row and took many enemy heads. Gao Gan refused to surrender, so Emperor Taizu personally led the troops to assault Huguan and ultimately captured it. After that, Emperor Taizu went to campaign against Guan Cheng, and the army was stationed in Chunyu, sending me to fight Guan Cheng together with Li Dian. Guan Cheng was defeated and fled to an island. At that time, the coastal regions had all been pacified, but Jingzhou had yet to fully surrender, so troops were stationed in Yangdi. Later, I participated in the pacification of Jingzhou, was assigned to guard Xiangyang, fought against Guan Yu, Su Fei, and others, and defeated them all. The mountainous areas and various barbarian tribes in Nanchun surrendered. I also campaigned against Du Pu, the magistrate of Linju under Liu Bei, and Liang Da, the magistrate of Jingyang, defeating them both.
Later, I joined the campaign against Sun Quan, and the emperor granted me military command. After Emperor Taizu returned, he assigned me, Zhang Liao, and Li Dian to guard Hefei, and rewarded me with five hundred households, bringing my total to twelve hundred. Due to my repeated military successes, I was granted another five hundred households, and my son was made a marquis. I was also promoted to Right General. In the 23rd year of Jian'an, I passed away and was posthumously granted the title of Marquis Wei. My son Zang Chen inherited my title.
Zang Chen was brave and carried on my legacy, serving as the Governor of Yangzhou. Later, Zhuge Dan rebelled and killed Zang Chen in a surprise attack. The court mourned his loss and posthumously appointed him as the Guard of the Imperial Carriage and posthumously conferred the title of Marquis Min upon him. His son, Zang Zhao, succeeded him.
Yu Jin, courtesy name Wenzhe, was from Juping, a town near Mount Tai. During the Yellow Turban Rebellion, he joined Bao Xin's cause. Later, when Cao Cao became Inspector of Yanzhou, Yu Jin followed him and became a low-ranking officer under Cao Cao, serving under General Wang Lang. Impressed by Yu Jin's abilities, Wang Lang recommended him to Cao Cao as someone who had the potential to become a great general. Cao Cao met with Yu Jin, was satisfied, and appointed him as a military commissioner, and sent him to lead troops against Guang Qi in Xuzhou. He quickly captured it, which led to his promotion to Deputy Commandant. He then accompanied Cao Cao to fight against Lu Bu at Puyang, defeating two of Lu Bu's armies south of the city, and also defeating Gao Ya's forces in Xuchang. He continued to follow Cao Cao in attacking Shouzhang, Dingtai, Lihu, and besieging Zhang Chao in Yongqiu, successfully capturing these locations. He also joined Cao Cao in battling the Yellow Turban leaders Liu Bi, Huang Shao, and others, based at Bianliang. When Huang Shao and his men launched a midnight surprise attack on Cao Cao's camp, Yu Jin led his soldiers to defeat them, killing Huang Shao and capturing their entire force. As a result, Yu Jin was promoted to the rank of Colonel of Pacification.
Later, he accompanied Cao Cao in the siege of Qiao Rui at Kuxian, killing Qiao Rui and four other generals. Subsequently, he accompanied Cao Cao to Wancheng, where Zhang Xiu capitulated. Unexpectedly, Zhang Xiu revolted once more, and Cao Cao suffered a defeat in battle against him, with the army retreating to Wuyin. At that time, the army was in chaos; everyone was fleeing for their lives, desperately trying to locate Cao Cao. Only Yu Jin led his few hundred men, fighting and retreating, maintaining their formation despite sustaining casualties. The pursuers gradually slowed down, and Yu Jin gradually reorganized his troops, sounding the drums to rally them. Before reaching Cao Cao, they saw a dozen wounded soldiers running in a state of undress. Yu Jin asked them what happened, and they said, "They were robbed by the soldiers from Qingzhou." It turned out that following the surrender of the Yellow Turban Army, they were called the soldiers from Qingzhou. Cao Cao had been more lenient with them, so they dared to rob like this. Furious, Yu Jin addressed his soldiers, saying, "The soldiers from Qingzhou are also under Cao Cao; how can they become bandits!" He then led his troops to pursue the Qingzhou soldiers, holding them accountable for their crimes. The Qingzhou soldiers were scared and quickly ran to Cao Cao to lodge a complaint. Upon his arrival, Yu Jin first established a camp and did not immediately see Cao Cao. Someone advised him, "The Qingzhou soldiers have already lodged a complaint with Cao Cao; you should quickly go and explain to him." Yu Jin said, "The enemy is still pursuing us from behind; we don't know when they will catch up. Without proper defense preparations, how can we deal with the enemy? Besides, Cao Cao is very clever; how could he possibly believe such false accusations?" So he methodically dug trenches and established his camp, and waited for everything to settle before going to see Cao Cao, reporting the events in detail. Cao Cao was greatly pleased and commended him, saying, "During the Battle of Yushui, I was in great danger. General, you were able to maintain the stability of the troops in the chaos, strike the rioters, defend the fortress, and have an unwavering will. Even the renowned generals of antiquity cannot compare to you!" So Cao Cao, based on Yu Jin's previous merits, appointed him as the Marquis of Yishouting.
Afterwards, he followed Cao Cao in attacking Zhang Xiu of Rangcheng, captured Lu Bu at Xiapi, and, together with Shi Huan and Cao Ren, attacked Sui Gu of Sheqi, defeating and killing him. Cao Cao initially faced Yuan Shao, who commanded a powerful army, with Yue Jin at the forefront. Cao Cao, admiring his capabilities, sent Yue Jin two thousand infantry to help defend Yanjin against Yuan Shao, while he himself led the troops back to Guandu. At this time, Liu Bei rebelled in Xuzhou, prompting Cao Cao to march east to confront him. Yuan Shao attacked Yue Jin, who held his ground, and Yuan Shao found himself unable to breach his defenses. Later, Yue Jin and other generals led five thousand infantry and cavalry to attack Yuan Shao's other camps, advancing southwest from Yanjin all the way to Jixian and Huojia counties, burning down over thirty military camps, killing and capturing thousands, and resulting in the surrender of over twenty of Yuan Shao's generals, including He Mao and Wang Mo. Cao Cao then assigned Yue Jin to guard Yuanwu and launch an attack on Yuan Shao's camp at Dushi Ferry, defeating them. Yue Jin was promoted to Deputy General and later accompanied Cao Cao back to Guandu.
Cao Cao and Yuan Shao confronted each other, establishing camps and building earthen mounds to attack each other. Yuan Shao used arrows to attack Cao Cao's camp, causing great fear among the troops and resulting in many soldiers being killed or injured. Yue Jin was in charge of defending the earthen mound, fighting valiantly and raising morale. After Yuan Shao's defeat, Yue Jin was promoted to the rank of Deputy General. After Ji Province was pacified, Chang Xi rebelled, and Cao Cao sent Yue Jin to suppress the rebellion. Yue Jin swiftly attacked Chang Xi; since they were once friends, Chang Xi surrendered to Yue Jin. Other generals believed that Chang Xi's surrender warranted a meeting with Cao Cao, but Yue Jin said, "Don't you know the Prime Minister's orders? Those who surrender after being surrounded will not be pardoned. It is our duty to follow orders and uphold the law. Although Chang Xi is my old friend, can I betray my duty?" Yue Jin personally cut ties with Chang Xi and, with tears in his eyes, killed him. At that time, Cao Cao's forces were stationed in Chunyu, and upon hearing of this, he sighed and remarked, "Chang Xi surrendered not to me, but to Yue Jin. Isn't this fate?" He regarded Yue Jin with even greater esteem. Once Donghai was pacified, Yue Jin was appointed as General Tiger's Might. Later, he and Zang Ba and others attacked Mei Cheng, while Zhang Liao, Zhang He, and others attacked Chen Lan. When Yue Jin arrived, Mei Cheng surrendered along with more than three thousand troops. However, Mei Cheng later revolted once more, and his army fled to Chen Lan. Zhang Liao and his men confronted Chen Lan, but faced a shortage of supplies. Yue Jin consistently delivered supplies, and Zhang Liao ultimately defeated and killed both Chen Lan and Mei Cheng. Yue Jin was awarded an additional two hundred households as a fief, adding to his previous holdings for a total of one thousand two hundred households.
At that time, Yue Jin, Zhang Liao, Zhang He, and Xu Huang were all famous generals. Every time Cao Cao went to battle, they took turns leading the charge and providing rear support. Yue Jin strictly enforced military discipline and never misappropriated captured goods, so he received many rewards. However, he ruled his subordinates with strict laws, which caused him to be unpopular among the soldiers. Cao Cao always disliked Zhu Ling and wanted to take away his military power. Because Yue Jin was held in high regard, Cao Cao sent him with several dozen cavalry, carrying a written order, to directly take Zhu Ling's military power in his camp. Zhu Ling and his men did not dare to resist, so Zhu Ling became a commander under Yue Jin, and everyone was intimidated and obedient, demonstrating the fear Yue Jin instilled. Yue Jin was promoted to Left General, granted a ceremonial seal, given a fief of 500 households, and his son was enfeoffed as a Marquis.
In 219 AD, Cao Cao was in Chang'an and sent Cao Ren to attack Guan Yu in Fancheng, and also sent Yu Jin to support Cao Ren. In the autumn, a heavy rain fell, the Han River rose, and the low-lying areas were flooded several feet deep. Yu Jin and seven other armies were all submerged. Yu Jin and the other generals climbed to higher ground to survey the area, surrounded by water with no escape route. Guan Yu launched an attack on Yu Jin and the others from a large boat, and Yu Jin eventually surrendered, with only Pang De refusing to yield. Upon hearing this, Cao Cao sighed deeply for a long time and said, "I have known Yu Jin for thirty years; I never imagined he would falter in a crisis compared to Pang De!" Later, Sun Quan defeated Guan Yu and captured his army, and Yu Jin also came under Sun Quan's control.
After Cao Pi, the Emperor Wen of Wei, ascended to the throne, Sun Quan recognized him as his vassal and sent Yu Jin back. Cao Pi summoned Yu Jin and saw that his hair and beard had turned white; he appeared emaciated and haggard. Yu Jin wept and kowtowed. Cao Pi comforted him, drawing on the tales of Xun Linfu and Meng Mingshi to soothe him, and appointed him as General of An Yuan. Cao Pi intended to send envoys to Wu, starting with Yu Jin traveling north to Ye City to pay his respects at Gao Ling. Cao Pi also commissioned murals depicting Guan Yu's victory, Pang De's fury, and Yu Jin's surrender on the walls of the tomb. When Yu Jin saw these paintings, he felt a mix of shame and anger, which exacerbated his condition, ultimately resulting in his death. His son, Yu Gui, succeeded him as the Marquis of Yishouting, and Yu Jin was posthumously honored with the title Marquis Li.
Zhang He, style name Junyi, was a native of Mao County in Hejian. At the end of the Han Dynasty, he participated in the campaign against the Yellow Turban Army, serving as a military officer under Han Fu. After Han Fu's defeat, Zhang He led his troops to join Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao appointed Zhang He as a captain and sent him to resist Gongsun Zan. After Gongsun Zan's defeat, Zhang He achieved great success and was promoted to the rank of General of Ningguo. During the standoff at Guandu between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, Yuan Shao sent Chunyu Qiong and others to oversee the supply lines and stationed them at Wuchao. Cao Cao personally launched a fierce attack on Wuchao. Zhang He advised Yuan Shao, "Cao Cao's army is strong; attacking them will surely defeat Chunyu Qiong and the others. If Chunyu Qiong is defeated, your campaign will be doomed, so we should quickly send reinforcements." Guo Tu countered, "Zhang He's plan is flawed. It's better to attack Cao Cao's main camp; he will definitely send troops to rescue, and we won't have to save them." Zhang He said, "Cao Cao's main camp is strong; we won't be able to attack it. If Chunyu Qiong and the others are captured, we'll all be at risk of becoming prisoners." Yuan Shao only sent light cavalry to rescue Chunyu Qiong while using heavy troops to attack Cao Cao's main camp, but they failed to breach it. As expected, Cao Cao defeated Chunyu Qiong and the others, resulting in the rout of Yuan Shao's forces. Guo Tu felt ashamed and falsely accused Zhang He of being reckless with his words during the defeat. Fearing for his life, Zhang He then surrendered to Cao Cao.
Cao Cao was very pleased with Zhang He and said, "In the past, Wu Zixu did not realize his potential soon enough and ended up losing his life. How does he compare to Weizi's departure from the Yin Dynasty and Han Xin's allegiance to the Han Dynasty?" Therefore, Cao Cao appointed Zhang He as a deputy general and bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Duting. He gave him a military force to participate in the successful capture of Ye City. He then followed Cao Cao to attack Yuan Tan in the Bohai Sea, where Zhang He was sent to lead a separate army to surround Yongnu and achieved a resounding victory. Later, he participated in the campaign against Liucheng, teaming up with Zhang Liao to campaign against Chen Lan, Mei Cheng, and others, achieving victory over them. He was promoted to General Who Pacifies the Di due to his military accomplishments. He was subsequently dispatched alone to campaign against Guan Cheng in Donglai and also took part in the battle against Ma Chao and Han Sui in Weinan, besieged Anding, and subdued Yang Qiu. He joined Xiahou Yuan in attacking the bandits Liang Xing in Fuxian and the Di people in Wudu. He defeated Ma Chao again, quelled the rebellion of Song Jian, and when Cao Cao campaigned against Zhang Lu, he first sent Zhang He to lead various troops to attack the leader of the Di people in Xinghe, Dou Mao. As Cao Cao entered Hanzhong via Sanguan, he dispatched Zhang He ahead with five thousand infantry to clear the path. Upon reaching Yangping Pass, Zhang Lu surrendered, and Cao Cao returned with his troops, leaving Zhang He, Xiahou Yuan, and others to defend Hanzhong against Liu Bei.
Zhang He once again on his own led his troops, conquering Badong and Baxi counties and relocating the local people to Hanzhong. Later, he marched to Dangqu, which forced him to retreat to Nanzheng after being stopped by Liu Bei's general Zhang Fei. Zhang He was appointed as the General Who Pacifies the Disturbances. Liu Bei was stationed at Yangping, while Zhang He was at Guangshi. Liu Bei led over ten thousand elite soldiers, divided into ten units, and launched a fierce night attack on Zhang He. Zhang He led his elite troops to resist vigorously, but Liu Bei was unable to capture him. Later, Liu Bei set fire to Zhang He's camp in the Gaoma Valley, and Xiahou Yuan rushed to extinguish the flames. They encountered Liu Bei along another route, and a fierce clash erupted. Xiahou Yuan was killed, prompting Zhang He to retreat to Yangping. At that time, having just lost their commanding general, everyone feared being pursued by Liu Bei, and the soldiers' morale plummeted. Xiahou Yuan's Marshal Guo Huai said to everyone, "General Zhang is a renowned commander, and even Liu Bei is wary of him. In this urgent situation, only General Zhang can stabilize the troops!" Thus, everyone rallied behind Zhang He as their commander. Zhang He emerged to reorganize the troops, stabilize the army's morale, and all the generals obeyed Zhang He's command, revitalizing the troops' morale. Cao Cao was in Chang'an and sent envoys to grant Zhang He command authority. Later, Cao Cao personally arrived in Hanzhong, and Liu Bei, relying on the high mountains and dangerous terrain, was reluctant to engage in battle. Cao Cao subsequently withdrew his forces from Hanzhong, and Zhang He returned to his camp at Chencang. After Emperor Wen ascended the throne, he promptly promoted Zhang He to the rank of Left General and bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Duxiang. Later, when Emperor Wen officially ascended the throne, he subsequently elevated Zhang He's title to Marquis of Mao. Afterwards, the emperor ordered Zhang He and Cao Zhen to jointly lead an assault against the Lu Shui Hu of Anding County and the Dong Qiang tribes. The emperor summoned Zhang He and Cao Zhen to the capital for an audience and dispatched Xiahou Shang to assault Jiangling. Zhang He commanded additional forces to cross the Yangtze River and secured the riverside camp.
After Emperor Ming of Han ascended to the throne, he dispatched Zhang He to guard Jingzhou, and together with Sima Yi, they confronted Sun Quan's generals such as Liu A. They pursued them all the way to Qikou, fought a battle, and achieved a great victory. At this time, Zhuge Liang led troops out from Qishan. The Emperor promoted Zhang He to the rank of Special General, allowing him to command all the troops to resist Zhuge Liang's vanguard general, Ma Su, at Jieting. Ma Su relied on the terrain of Nanshan and refused to occupy the city for defense. Zhang He cut off Ma Su's supply route, launched an attack, and greatly defeated Ma Su. The three counties of Nan'an, Tianshui, and Anding responded to Zhuge Liang's call, but Zhang He also pacified them. The Emperor issued a decree praising him, stating, "Zhuge Liang leads the army of Ba Shu like a fierce tiger, while you, General, are clad in armor and wielding sharp weapons, unstoppable in your advance. I am very pleased! I specially reward you with a thousand households, in addition to your previous fief, totaling four thousand three hundred households." Sima Yi reorganized the navy in Jingzhou, preparing to attack the state of Wu along the Yangtze River. The Emperor ordered Zhang He to command the troops from various regions in Guanzhong and obey Sima Yi's command. When Zhang He arrived during the winter when water levels had dropped, which made it impossible for large warships to navigate, he had to return to Fangcheng to station. Zhuge Liang launched another attack on Chencang, and the Emperor urgently sent someone to summon Zhang He back to the capital. The Emperor personally held a banquet in the city of Henan to send Zhang He off, and sent thirty thousand troops from the north and south, as well as the Imperial Guards and elite troops, to escort Zhang He. At the same time, he asked Zhang He, "You arrived late; has Zhuge Liang already captured Chencang?" Zhang He knew that Zhuge Liang's army had no food and could not sustain a long siege, so he replied, "Before I arrived, Zhuge Liang had already retreated; I estimate Zhuge Liang's supplies will last no more than ten days." Zhang He made a hurried journey to Nanzheng, and indeed Zhuge Liang had already retreated. The Emperor commanded Zhang He to return to the capital and appointed him as the General of Chariots and Cavalry for the campaign to the West.
Zhang He is good at observing changes in the situation, skilled in arranging troops, and his judgments on the battle situation and terrain are always accurate; even Zhuge Liang is quite wary of him. Although Zhang He is a military general, he appreciates scholars and once recommended his fellow townsman Bei Zhan, praising his extensive knowledge and noble character. The emperor decreed, "When General Ji Zun was in charge, he proposed to set up scholars of the Five Classics, allowing them to recite poetry, write essays, and practice archery for entertainment with the scholars in the army. Now, you, General, not only lead the troops but also value Confucian studies. I appreciate your approach and now appoint Bei Zhan as a scholar."
Zhuge Liang led his forces to Qishan, while the emperor ordered Xiahou Yuan to lead the various armies west to Lueyang. Zhuge Liang withdrew his forces back to Qishan, and Xiahou Yuan pursued them to Mumen, where he engaged Zhuge Liang's forces. As a result, Xiahou Yuan was hit in the right knee by a stray arrow and died. He was posthumously titled Zhuanghou after his death, and his son Xiahou Xiong inherited his title. Xiahou Yuan had made significant contributions in battles before, and Emperor Ming divided Xiahou Yuan's property among his sons, ennobled four sons as marquises, and granted his youngest son the title of Marquis of Guannei.
Xu Huang, styled Gongming, was a native of Yang County, Hedong. He began as a minor official and later followed Yang Feng, the General of Chariots and Cavalry, in quelling a rebellion and was appointed as a Cavalry Commandant. Later, when Li Jue and Guo Si caused trouble in Chang'an, Xu Huang advised Yang Feng to escort the emperor back to Luoyang. Yang Feng listened to him, and they crossed the Yellow River to Anyi, where the emperor granted Xu Huang the title of Marquis of Duting. After arriving in Luoyang, Han Xian and Dong Cheng were in constant conflict, and Xu Huang advised Yang Feng to ally with Cao Cao. Yang Feng was initially inclined to agree, but later had second thoughts. Cao Cao later went to Liangzhou to suppress Yang Feng, so Xu Huang simply went over to Cao Cao.
Cao Cao appointed Xiahou Yuan to lead troops to attack Juan County (pronounced Juan Yinxu Quanfan) and the bandits of Yuanwu, won the battle and was appointed as Deputy General. Later, he accompanied Cao Cao in an attack against Lu Bu, successfully persuading Lu Bu's subordinates, Zhao Shu, Li Zou, and others, to surrender. He and Shi Huan together killed Sui Gu in the region of Henan. He also followed Cao Cao to defeat Liu Bei, then defeated Yan Liang, captured Bai Ma, advanced to Yanjin, defeated Wen Chou, and was granted the title of Supplementary General. He and Cao Hong together defeated the bandits in the Yin Qiang area, and with Shi Huan, they defeated Yuan Shao's transport team in Gu Shi, with notable military achievements, and was granted the title of Marquis of Dutian.
After surrounding Ye City and capturing Handan, the magistrate of Yiyang, Han Fan, pretended to surrender while secretly resisting. Cao Cao sent Xiahou Yuan to attack. After Xiahou Yuan arrived, he used flying arrows to shoot into the city and explained the pros and cons to Han Fan. Han Fan regretted and surrendered. Xiahou Yuan then said to Cao Cao, "The two Yuans have not been eliminated, many cities have not been captured yet, they are all waiting to see the situation. If we destroy Yiyang today, tomorrow they will all resist to the death. I'm afraid that the Hebei region will not be stabilized soon. I hope you accept Yiyang's surrender as an example for other cities, encouraging them to surrender without resistance." Cao Cao agreed with his opinion.
Later, Xiahou Yuan launched an attack on Mao City, set up an ambush, and defeated the enemy forces from three camps. He also followed Cao Cao to defeat Yuan Tan in Nanpi, pacified the rebels in Pingyuan, and captured Pingyuan. He went with Cao Cao to subdue Tadun and was titled as General of Hengye. He also took part in the campaign against Jingzhou, stationed troops in Fancheng, and suppressed bandit activity in Zhonglu, Linju, Yicheng, and other areas. He besieged Guan Yu at Hanjin alongside Man Chong and defended against Zhou Yu in Jiangling together with Cao Ren. In the fifteenth year of the Jian'an era, Xiahou Yuan went to quell the rebellion in Taiyuan, besieged Daling, captured Daling, and executed the rebel leader Shang Yao.
Han Sui, Ma Chao, and others rebelled in the Guanzhong region. Cao Cao stationed Xiahou Yuan in Fenyin to pacify the Hedong region, rewarding him with cattle and wine to honor his ancestors. Upon arriving at Tongguan, Cao Cao was worried about crossing the river and asked Xiahou Yuan for advice. Xiahou Yuan replied, "If you keep the army here while the rebels neglect to defend Puban, it shows they lack strategy. Let me take some elite troops across Puban Ford, seize advantageous positions, cut off their retreat, and capture them." Cao Cao agreed and sent Xiahou Yuan to lead four thousand infantry and cavalry to cross the river.
Before the trenches and barriers were finished, the rebel Liang Xing led over five thousand infantry to launch a night raid against Xiahou Yuan. Xiahou Yuan repelled them, and Cao Cao's army crossed the river smoothly. They later defeated Ma Chao and others. Xiahou Yuan then pacified the Di tribe rebellion in Yumi and Qian regions before meeting Cao Cao in Anding. After returning to Ye City, Cao Cao sent Xiahou Yuan to pacify the remnants of rebels in Fu and Xiayang regions, killing Liang Xing and bringing over three thousand households under control. Xiahou Yuan later participated in the campaign against Zhang Lu. Cao Cao also sent Xiahou Yuan to defeat the Di tribes in the mountainous regions of Gongdu and Qiuyi, successfully bringing them under control. Xiahou Yuan was promoted to General Who Suppresses Bandits. He also relieved General Zhang Shun from siege, defeating over thirty bandit camps led by Chen Fu and others.
After Cao Cao returned to Ye City, he left Zhang He and Xiahou Yuan in Yangping to resist Liu Bei. Liu Bei sent Chen Shi and others to lead more than ten armies to sever Hanzhong's connections both inside and out in order to seize it. Zhang He was sent to attack and defeated them, causing many enemies to jump off the mountain valley and die. Cao Cao was very happy when he heard about it and gave Zhang He the seal of the governor, saying, "This path is a crucial stronghold in Hanzhong, a vital thoroughfare. Liu Bei wants to cut off the internal and external communication of Hanzhong to capture it. General, your victory has successfully disrupted the enemy's plan, which is amazing!" Cao Cao then personally came to Yangping and withdrew the army from Hanzhong. He also sent Zhang He to assist Cao Ren in attacking Guan Yu, who was stationed in Wancheng. Just as the Han River began to swell, Yu Jin and others were submerged by the water. Guan Yu surrounded Cao Ren in Fancheng and also surrounded General Lu Chang in Xiangyang. Zhang He, commanding fresh troops, found it challenging to engage Guan Yu, so he first stationed at Yangling Po.
Cao Cao returned to Ye City and sent generals Xu Shang, Lu Jian, and others to meet Zhang He, ordering, "Wait until all the troops are assembled, then launch an attack together." Guan Yu's army was stationed in Yancheng. After Zhang He arrived, he devised a strategy to fortify his position, feigning an attempt to cut off Guan Yu's escape. Guan Yu burned the camp and fled. Zhang He took control of Yancheng, established camps on both flanks, and gradually advanced, being only three zhang away from Guan Yu's encirclement. Before launching the attack, Cao Cao sent Yin Shu, Zhu Gai, and a total of twelve armies to support Zhang He. Inside Guan Yu's encirclement, there was a camp, and four other camps were set up elsewhere. Zhang He pretended to target the camp within the encirclement but secretly attacked the other four camps. Seeing that the four camps were on the verge of being overrun, Guan Yu personally led five thousand infantry and cavalry to fight. Zhang He defeated them; Guan Yu fled in defeat, and Zhang He pursued and broke through Guan Yu's encirclement, defeating them. Some of the enemy even leapt into the Mian River to take their own lives.
Cao Cao ordered, "Within the enemy's encirclement, there are multiple layers of moats and deer antlers. General, you managed to win the battle and break through the enemy's lines, killing many foes. In my over thirty years of military experience and what I've learned from ancient strategists, no one has broken through the enemy's lines quite like you. Moreover, the sieges of Fancheng and Xiangyang are more severe than those of Jucheng and Jimo back then. Your achievements exceed those of Sun Tzu and Rangju." Zhang He led the troops back to Mobei Camp, and Cao Cao personally met Zhang He seven miles out, hosting a celebration. Cao Cao raised his cup to toast Zhang He, praising him, "Preserving Fancheng and Xiangyang is all thanks to your efforts!" By this time, all the troops had gathered, and Cao Cao was inspecting each camp. The soldiers left their tents to watch, but Zhang He's troops stayed put in their tents. Cao Cao sighed, "General Xu truly embodies the spirit of Zhou Yafu!"
After Emperor Wen of Han became emperor, he appointed Xu Huang as the Right General and elevated him to the title of Marquis of Luxiang. Later, when Emperor Wen officially ascended the throne, he further honored him with the title of Marquis of Yang. Xu Huang and Xiahou Shang defeated Liu Bei at Shangyong. Subsequently, Xu Huang was sent to guard Yangping and was appointed Marquis of Yangping. When Emperor Ming of Han succeeded to the throne, Xu Huang defended against the attack of the Wu general Zhuge Jin in Xiangyang. The emperor granted him an additional two hundred households, bringing his total holdings to three thousand one hundred households. Before his death, Xu Huang instructed his family to keep the funeral simple and to wear plain clothes.
Xu Huang was frugal and cautious in his actions. When leading troops into battle, he always sent scouts to scout the enemy's situation before launching an attack, ensuring victory was in his grasp. During the pursuit of enemies and the capture of spoils, his soldiers often forgot to eat. He would often sigh and say, "The greatest misfortune of people in ancient times was not encountering a wise ruler. Now I am fortunate to have met a wise lord; I should repay him with my accomplishments. Why should I worry about my own reputation?" Therefore, he never made friends or formed cliques. In the first year of Taihe, Xu Huang passed away and was posthumously honored with the title Zhuanghou. His son, Xu Gai, inherited his title. After Xu Gai's death, his son Xu Ba inherited the title. Emperor Ming of Han also divided a portion of Xu Huang's fiefdom and enfeoffed his other two sons as marquises.
Initially, Zhu Ling from Qinghe was a general under Yuan Shao. When Cao Cao campaigned against Tao Qian, Yuan Shao sent Zhu Ling to lead three battalions to support Cao Cao. Zhu Ling distinguished himself in battle. While the other generals sent by Yuan Shao went back, Zhu Ling said, "I have seen many people, but none compare to Cao Cao. He is the true wise lord! Since I have met a wise lord, where else should I go?" So he stayed and did not return. His soldiers admired him and stayed with him. Later, Zhu Ling became an outstanding general, with a reputation similar to Xu Huang's, eventually becoming a general and titled as Gaotangting Marquis.
The book evaluates that Cao Cao established such great achievements, with excellent generals ranking at the forefront. Yu Jin was known for his toughness and stability, but he did not persevere till the end. Zhang He was skilled at winning through adaptability, while Yue Jin was renowned for his courage and decisiveness, but their actual deeds didn’t quite match their reputations. Perhaps the historical records have some gaps, unlike the more detailed accounts of figures like Zhang Liao and Xu Huang.
