| Occupation | RNGeneral · General of Agile Cavalry | Faction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | |
| Born | R? Unverified | Native place | Wuwei Commandery Zuli County Unverified |
| Died | R196 Unverified | Place of death | RRang County NNanyang Commandery |
| Cause of death | RKilled in battle NKilled in battle Unverified | ||
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R10 |
Zhang Ji was a military officer who served as a colonel under Niu Fu, Dong Zhuo's son-in-law. The Records gives him no biography of his own and records neither his courtesy name nor his place of origin; he appears in the Biography of Dong Zhuo, the Biography of Zhang Xiu, the Biography of Jia Xu, the Biography of Liu Biao and the Annals of Emperor Wu. After Dong Zhuo's death he attacked Chang'an together with Li Jue, Guo Si and others and drove out Lü Bu, and, made General of Agile Cavalry and Marquis of Pingyang, he was stationed at Hongnong. Records, Wei 6 §19–21Records, Wei 8 §56Records, Wei 10 §70
When Li Jue and Guo Si fought each other, he came from Shan County and reconciled the two, enabling the Son of Heaven to get out of Chang'an. Later, when his troops were starving, he attacked Rang County on the border of Jing Province to the south and was killed by a stray arrow, and his nephew Zhang Xiu took command of his followers. Records, Wei 6 §25 · 84Records, Wei 8 §57Records, Wei 1 §42
Zhang Ji does not appear in the assessment that Chen Shou appended to the end of Records of Wei 6. In the Romance he first appears in Chapter 3 as one of Li Jue, Guo Si, Zhang Ji and Fan Chou, whom Dong Zhuo leads toward Luoyang; he appears in 6 of its 120 chapters, and his name is in no chapter title. He exits in Chapter 16 with the news that he was killed by a stray arrow while attacking Nanyang. Records, Wei 6 §96Romance, Ch. 3 §2Romance, Ch. 16 §40
At first Dong Zhuo's son-in-law Niu Fu, General of the Household, commanded troops and was stationed separately at Shan County, and he dispatched the colonels Li Jue, Guo Si and Zhang Ji separately to plunder the counties of Chenliu and Yingchuan. When Dong Zhuo died and Niu Fu died too, the troops were afraid, and Li Jue, Guo Si, Zhang Ji and the others wanted to disband their troops and slip home by back roads. Jia Xu told them that there was talk in Chang'an of killing every man from Liang Province, and that if they abandoned their troops and went off alone, a single precinct chief could tie them up; he urged them to lead their men west, attack Chang'an and avenge Lord Dong. The troops agreed. Records, Wei 6 §19–20Records, Wei 10 §70–71
The Biography of Zhang Xiu records that when Dong Zhuo fell, Zhang Ji, together with Li Jue and others, attacked Lü Bu and avenged Dong Zhuo. According to the Biography of Dong Zhuo, Li Jue and the others gathered troops wherever they went, so that by the time they reached Chang'an their host numbered more than 100,000; joining forces with Dong Zhuo's former subordinates Fan Chou, Li Meng, Wang Fang and others, they surrounded Chang'an, took it in ten days and routed Lü Bu inside the city. Li Jue became General of Chariots and Cavalry, Guo Si General of the Rear and Fan Chou General of the Right, and they controlled the court as they pleased, while Zhang Ji became General of Agile Cavalry and Marquis of Pingyang and was stationed at Hongnong. Records, Wei 8 §56Records, Wei 6 §20–21
Later the generals contended for power, killed Fan Chou and absorbed his followers, and Guo Si and Li Jue, growing suspicious of each other, fought within Chang'an. Li Jue held the Son of Heaven hostage in his camp, and the two attacked each other month after month, the dead numbering ten thousand. When Li Jue's subordinate general Yang Feng betrayed him, Li Jue gradually weakened; at this point Zhang Ji came from Shan County and reconciled the two, and the Son of Heaven was at last able to get out and reached the area between Xinfeng and Baling. Records, Wei 6 §24–25
Zhang Ji was stationed at Hongnong, and when his soldiers were starving he attacked Rang County to the south and was killed by a stray arrow. The Biography of Liu Biao records that Zhang Ji led his troops into the borders of Jing Province, attacked the city of Rang and was killed by an arrow, and the Biography of Dong Zhuo records that Zhang Ji, starving, went to Nanyang to plunder and was killed by the people of Rang. The Annals of Emperor Wu places the entry that Zhang Ji fled from Guanzhong to Nanyang and died at the end of the events of the 1st year of Jian'an (196), and the next entry is Cao Cao's arrival at Wan in the 1st month of the 2nd year of Jian'an (197) to accept Zhang Xiu's surrender. Records, Wei 8 §57Records, Wei 6 §84 · 30Records, Wei 1 §36 · 42–43
When the officials of Jing Province all congratulated him on Zhang Ji's death, Liu Biao said, 'Zhang Ji came because he was in desperate straits, and it came to crossing blades because the host failed in courtesy; this was not the governor's intention,' and declared that he would accept only condolences, not congratulations. Liu Biao sent men to take in Zhang Ji's followers, and when they heard of this they were glad and submitted. Records, Wei 6 §84
Zhang Xiu followed Zhang Ji, rose gradually through military merit to become General Who Establishes Loyalty, and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Xuanwei. When Zhang Ji died, Zhang Xiu took command of his followers, garrisoned Wan and allied with Liu Biao. When Cao Cao campaigned south and halted his army at the Yu River, Zhang Xiu surrendered with all his followers, but when Cao Cao took Zhang Ji's widow, Zhang Xiu resented it. Cao Cao heard of this and secretly plotted to kill Zhang Xiu, but the plot leaked and Zhang Xiu launched a surprise attack on Cao Cao; Cao Cao's army was defeated and two of his sons died. Records, Wei 8 §56–57
In Chapter 3 of the Romance, Dong Zhuo, overjoyed at receiving the edict, has his son-in-law Niu Fu, General of the Household, hold Shaanxi and advances on Luoyang leading Li Jue, Guo Si, Zhang Ji, Fan Chou and others. In Chapter 5, when Dong Zhuo divides his 200,000 troops into two routes, Zhang Ji, together with Li Ru, Lü Bu, Fan Chou and others, follows Dong Zhuo to hold Hulao Pass. Romance, Ch. 3 §2Romance, Ch. 5 §41
In Chapter 9 Dong Zhuo has his trusted men Li Jue, Guo Si, Zhang Ji and Fan Chou lead 3,000 of the Flying Bear Army to guard Mei Fortress. Hearing that Dong Zhuo is dead and Lü Bu is coming, the four lead the Flying Bear Army in flight to Liang Province overnight, then go to Shaanxi and send a memorial to Chang'an asking for pardon. When Wang Yun says that Dong Zhuo's arrogance was all abetted by these four and that they alone will not be pardoned, they follow Jia Xu's plan, gather a host of more than 100,000 and storm toward Chang'an along four routes. While Lü Bu for several days can neither fight nor stop, word comes that the two columns of Zhang Ji and Fan Chou have invaded Chang'an, and Lü Bu hurriedly turns his army back. Romance, Ch. 9 §18 · 29 · 36–38 · 44
In Chapter 10, when Li Jue and Guo Si intend to murder Emperor Xian, Zhang Ji and Fan Chou stop them, arguing that if they kill him now the people will not follow them, and that they should keep honoring him as sovereign as before, lure the regional lords into the passes, first clip his wings and only then kill him. The four each write down the titles they want and present them, and Zhang Ji becomes General of Agile Cavalry and Marquis of Pingyang and is stationed at Hongnong with his troops. Romance, Ch. 10 §1–2
In the same chapter, when Ma Teng and Han Sui storm toward Chang'an, Jia Xu proposes stationing Zhang Ji and Fan Chou on Mount Zhouzhi to hold fast. When Ma Teng and Han Sui withdraw after their inside collaborators are exposed, Li Jue and Guo Si send Zhang Ji after Ma Teng and Fan Chou after Han Sui, and Ma Chao fights to the death in the rear and drives Zhang Ji back. Later, when Li Jue holds a banquet and beheads on the spot Fan Chou, who had let Han Sui go, Zhang Ji falls prostrate on the ground in fright, and Li Jue raises him up, saying, 'You are my trusted man.' Fan Chou's troops are assigned to Zhang Ji, and Zhang Ji returns to Hongnong. Romance, Ch. 10 §8 · 13 · 15–17
In Chapter 13, when Li Jue and Guo Si are fighting each other, Zhang Ji comes from Shaanxi with a great army, declaring that he will reconcile the two and attack whichever side refuses. When Li Jue and Guo Si accept the reconciliation, Zhang Ji submits a memorial asking the Son of Heaven to proceed to Hongnong, is appointed General of Agile Cavalry by edict, and supplies the hundred officials with grain, wine and meat. Guo Si had meant to deceive Zhang Ji, seize the imperial carriage and take it back into Mei Fortress, and Li Jue says that since Zhang Ji's troops hold Chang'an, they cannot move rashly. Romance, Ch. 13 §35–36 · 38 · 45
In Chapter 16 Cao Cao receives a report that Zhang Ji, leading troops from Guanzhong to attack Nanyang, was killed by a stray arrow, and that his nephew Zhang Xiu has taken command of his followers, made Jia Xu his adviser, allied with Liu Biao and garrisoned the city of Wan. After accepting Zhang Xiu's surrender, Cao Cao, at the word of his nephew Cao Anmin, has the wife of Zhang Xiu's uncle Zhang Ji brought to him, and the lady introduces herself as 'Lady Zou, the wife of Zhang Ji.' Romance, Ch. 16 §40 · 44–45
First appearance: In Chapter 3 of the Romance, Zhang Ji goes to Luoyang with Dong Zhuo, and in Chapter 5 he holds Hulao Pass with Dong Zhuo. In the Records, Zhang Ji first appears when Dong Zhuo's son-in-law Niu Fu, stationed at Shan County, sent the colonels Li Jue, Guo Si and Zhang Ji to plunder Chenliu and Yingchuan; there is no record of his entering Luoyang or holding Hulao Pass. Romance, Ch. 3 §2Romance, Ch. 5 §41Records, Wei 6 §19
When Dong Zhuo died: In Chapter 9 of the Romance, Zhang Ji is guarding Mei Fortress with Li Jue, Guo Si and Fan Chou on Dong Zhuo's orders, and flees to Liang Province when Dong Zhuo dies. In the Records, by the time Li Jue and the others returned from their plundering, Niu Fu had already fallen, and the colonels Li Jue, Guo Si, Zhang Ji and others wanted to disband their troops and go home. Romance, Ch. 9 §18 · 29Records, Wei 6 §19–20Records, Wei 10 §70
Pardon: In Chapter 9 of the Romance, when the four submit a memorial asking for pardon, Wang Yun says that these four alone will not be pardoned. The Biography of Dong Zhuo in the Records records that, having no letter of pardon and hearing that Chang'an intended to kill every man from Liang Province, they were anxious and afraid. Romance, Ch. 9 §36Records, Wei 6 §20
The remonstrance that saved Emperor Xian: In Chapter 10 of the Romance, Zhang Ji and Fan Chou stop Li Jue and Guo Si from murdering Emperor Xian. The Biography of Dong Zhuo in the Records has no such episode. Romance, Ch. 10 §1Records, Wei 6 §19–30
The fight with Ma Teng: In Chapter 10 of the Romance, Zhang Ji pursues the retreating Ma Teng and is driven back by Ma Chao. In the Biography of Dong Zhuo in the Records, Ma Teng reached Changping Lodge, and when the plot with the inside collaborators leaked, Fan Chou attacked Ma Teng and drove him in defeat back to Liang Province; Zhang Ji does not appear. Romance, Ch. 10 §13Records, Wei 6 §22
Fan Chou's troops: In Chapter 10 of the Romance, Li Jue beheads Fan Chou at a banquet and assigns his troops to Zhang Ji. The Biography of Dong Zhuo in the Records says only that the generals contended for power, killed Fan Chou and absorbed his followers, and does not say that Zhang Ji received his troops. Romance, Ch. 10 §16–17Records, Wei 6 §24
General of Agile Cavalry: In the Romance, Zhang Ji becomes General of Agile Cavalry and Marquis of Pingyang in Chapter 10, and in Chapter 13, after reconciling Li Jue and Guo Si, is again appointed General of Agile Cavalry by edict. The Biography of Dong Zhuo in the Records records once that after the fall of Chang'an Zhang Ji became General of Agile Cavalry and Marquis of Pingyang and was stationed at Hongnong, and records no office after the reconciliation. Romance, Ch. 10 §2Romance, Ch. 13 §36Records, Wei 6 §21 · 25
Death: In Chapter 16 of the Romance there is only a report that Zhang Ji was killed by a stray arrow while attacking Nanyang from Guanzhong. In the Records, he led his starving troops to attack Rang County on the border of Jing Province and was killed by a stray arrow, and Liu Biao, telling the officials who congratulated him that he would accept only condolences, took in Zhang Ji's followers. Romance, Ch. 16 §40Records, Wei 8 §57Records, Wei 6 §84
Zhang Ji's wife: In Chapter 16 of the Romance, Cao Cao, at the word of Cao Anmin, has Zhang Ji's wife brought to him, and she introduces herself as Lady Zou. The Biography of Zhang Xiu in the Records says only that Cao Cao took Zhang Ji's wife, and records neither her surname nor who brought her. Romance, Ch. 16 §44–45Records, Wei 8 §57
Written by 3KDEX (not yet reviewed) — The tags at the end of each paragraph link to the exact passage in the Records volume or Romance chapter it is based on.
The Records score (Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms, main text) is the baseline. Each ability compares how the Romance redrew the same person, and the evidence from both sources explains the difference.
RAfter Dong Zhuo's death meant to disband his troops and go home, but turned back at Jia Xu's wordsWei 10 §70
NArgued that killing Emperor Xian at once would lose the people's hearts and that they should first clip the wings of the regional lordsCh. 10 §1
RPlundered Chenliu and Yingchuan as a colonel, but died plundering Nanyang when starvingWei 6 §19Wei 6 §30
NInvaded Chang'an in two columns with Fan Chou and put the capital in dangerCh. 9 §44Ch. 10 §17
RMeant to scatter after Dong Zhuo's death, and in the end died by an arrow attacking the border of Jing ProvinceWei 10 §70Wei 6 §84
NJoined the counterattack when pardon was refused, and later became General of Agile Cavalry by stepping in as mediatorCh. 9 §36Ch. 13 §35
RWas stationed at Hongnong, but his followers starved and survived by plunderWei 6 §30
NNo direct record — estimated from his supplying the hundred officials with grain and wineCh. 13 §36
RNo direct record — estimated from his leading his followers and passing them to his nephewWei 6 §30
NNo direct record — estimated from his commanding a great armyCh. 13 §35
RPlundered the counties of Chenliu and Yingchuan and seized the court with Li Jue and othersWei 6 §19Wei 6 §21
NProposed the stratagem of postponing the murder of Emperor Xian, and supplied grain to the hundred officialsCh. 10 §1Ch. 13 §36
RNo direct record — estimated from his career as a generalWei 6 §21
NNo direct record — estimated from his career as a generalCh. 13 §36
RCame from Shan County and reconciled Li Jue and Guo Si, letting the Son of Heaven get outWei 6 §25
NReconciled Li Jue and Guo Si by threatening to attack whichever side refused, and took the imperial carriage to HongnongCh. 13 §35
RNo direct record — estimated from his careerWei 6 §30
NNo direct record — estimated from his careerCh. 10 §17
Records Romance Unverified No direct record; scored from their actions (evidence grade C)
3KDEX scoring — the Records use the main text of Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms; the Romance uses the 120-chapter Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Click a source tag to open that passage in the reader.
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