- Zhang Xiu
Three Kingdoms infobox
Name=Zhang Xiu
imagesize=
Caption=Zhang Xiu as depicted in the 84-episode TV serial "Romance of the Three Kingdoms"
Title=Minorwarlord
Kingdom=
Born=
Died=207
Simp=张绣
Trad=張繡
Pinyin=Zhāng Xiù
WG=Chang Hsiu
Zi=
Other=Zhang Xiu (? – 207) was a minor warlord during the late
Eastern Han Dynasty andThree Kingdoms era ofChina . He eventually surrendered toCao Cao in 200. Having contributed greatly to the decisiveBattle of Guandu and subsequent campaigns against the heirs ofYuan Shao , Zhang Xiu died en routeLiucheng (柳城) on a campaign to conquer theWuhuan tribe in 207.Life
Born in
Zuli (祖厲, present dayJingyuan ,Gansu ), Zhang Xiu was a distant nephew of General of Valiant Cavalry (驃騎將軍)Zhang Ji (張濟), who served the tyrannical warlordDong Zhuo . After Dong Zhuo's death in 192, his former subjects, including Zhang Ji, waged a coup and took over the capitalChang'an . For his part in the coup, Zhang Xiu was also promoted to General who Builds Loyalty (建忠將軍) and conferred the title of Marquis Xuanwei (宣威侯).After Zhang Ji's death, Zhang Xiu took over his uncle's troops and occupied
Wancheng (宛城, present day Nanyang,Henan ). He allied himself withLiu Biao , governor of Jingzhou (荆州) and a major warlord of the time. In 197, Cao Cao began his expansion south. When Cao Cao's force came to theBai River (白河), Zhang Xiu promptly surrendered and was allowed to keep control of Wancheng.Cao Cao then took Zhang Ji's widow as a concubine, which angered Zhang Xiu. Cao Cao heard of Zhang Xiu's displeasure and plotted to kill the latter. However, the plan was leaked and Zhang Xiu waged the surprise attack known as the
Battle of Wancheng against Cao Cao. Cao Cao's personal bodyguardDian Wei died defending the front gate to the camp so that Cao Cao could escape through the back. In the hasty retreat, Cao Cao's eldest sonCao Ang offered his own horse to his father, whose steed was felled by enemy arrows, and was killed by the pursuers.Henceafter, Cao Cao had sent forces to attack Zhang Xiu for years without success. In 200, however, Zhang Xiu took the council of advisor
Jia Xu and surrendered to Cao Cao again. Leaving past feuds behind them, Cao Cao took Zhang Xiu's hands and threw a banquet for him. Cao Cao also proposed a marriage between his sonCao Jun (曹均) and Zhang Xiu's daughter.At that time Cao Cao was fighting against the northern warlord Yuan Shao in the decisive Battle of Guandu. Having performed well during the conflict, Zhang Xiu was soon promoted to General who Defeats the Qiang (破羌將軍). In 207, Zhang Xiu died en route Liucheng in a northern campaign against the Wuhuan tribe. He was conferred the posthumous title of Marquis Ding (定侯), literally meaning the steadfast marquis.
References
*cite book|author=Chen Shou|title=San Guo Zhi|publisher=Yue Lu Shu She|year=2002|id=ISBN 7-80665-198-5
ee also
*
Eastern Han Dynasty
*Three Kingdoms
*Personages of the Three Kingdoms
*"Records of Three Kingdoms"
*"Romance of the Three Kingdoms "
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