Zhang Xiu faction 張繡

Zhang Xiu was a man of Zuli in Wuwei Commandery and a clan nephew of Zhang Ji (張濟), General of Agile Cavalry. When Bian Zhang and Han Sui raised a rebellion in Liang Province and Qu Sheng of Jincheng killed the Chief of Zuli, Zhang Xiu, then a county clerk, watched for his chance and killed Qu Sheng, so that the commandery regarded him as righteous, and he gathered young men about him and became a strongman of the town. After Dong Zhuo's fall he followed Zhang Ji and through military merit rose to General Who Establishes Loyalty and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Xuanwei. Zhang Ji became General of Agile Cavalry and was stationed at Hongnong. Records, Wei 8 §56Records, Wei 6 §21

The Annals of Emperor Wu record under the 1st year of Jian'an (196) that Zhang Ji fled from Guanzhong to Nanyang and died, and that his nephew Zhang Xiu took command of his followers. Zhang Xiu's biography says that Zhang Ji, leading his starving soldiers south to attack Rang, was killed by a stray arrow, while the Biography of Dong Zhuo records that he was killed by the people of Rang while plundering Nanyang. With those followers Zhang Xiu garrisoned Wan County and allied with Liu Biao. According to the Biography of Jia Xu, while Zhang Xiu was in Nanyang he sent men to welcome Jia Xu and treated him with the courtesy of a son or grandson, and Jia Xu persuaded Zhang Xiu to ally with Liu Biao. Records, Wei 1 §42Records, Wei 8 §57Records, Wei 6 §30Records, Wei 10 §74–75

In the first month of spring in the 2nd year of Jian'an (197), when Cao Cao reached Wan County and halted his army on the Yu River, Zhang Xiu and the others surrendered with all their followers. The Biography of Dian Wei records that when Cao Cao invited Zhang Xiu and his officers to a great banquet, Dian Wei stood behind him holding a great axe and glared at them, so that they could not raise their heads. When Cao Cao took Zhang Ji's widow, Zhang Xiu resented it, and Cao Cao, hearing of this, secretly planned to kill Zhang Xiu, but the plan leaked out. A little over ten days later Zhang Xiu rebelled and made a surprise attack on Cao Cao's camp. Records, Wei 1 §43Records, Wei 8 §57Records, Wei 18 §64

Cao Cao's army was defeated; Cao Cao was hit by a stray arrow, and his eldest son Cao Ang and his nephew Cao Anmin were killed. Dian Wei died of dozens of wounds fighting to hold the camp gate. When Cao Cao withdrew to Wuyin, Zhang Xiu came with cavalry to raid but was beaten off, and he went to Rang and joined forces with Liu Biao. Cao Cao said that the reason for his defeat was that, having received the surrender of Zhang Xiu and the others, he had not taken hostages at once. Records, Wei 1 §43Records, Wei 18 §65–66Records, Wei 20 §4

Afterwards the counties of Nanyang and Zhangling again rebelled and went over to Zhang Xiu. Cao Hong, sent by Cao Cao, fared badly, withdrew to garrison She County and was repeatedly raided by Zhang Xiu and Liu Biao. In the 11th month, in winter, Cao Cao marched south in person, reached Wan County, took Huyang, held by Liu Biao's general Deng Ji, and recovered Wuyin. Records, Wei 1 §45

In the 3rd month of the 3rd year of Jian'an (198), Cao Cao besieged Zhang Xiu at Rang. Xun You advised slowing down and waiting, since Zhang Xiu, a roving army relying on Liu Biao for food, and Liu Biao, who could not supply it, were bound by circumstance to part ways, but Cao Cao did not follow his advice, and Liu Biao did indeed come to Zhang Xiu's rescue. In the 5th month, when Liu Biao's troops cut off Cao Cao's rear and Zhang Xiu's troops pursued him, Cao Cao cut a way through the defiles at Anzhong by night, concealed a surprise force, and routed both pursuing armies. The Biography of Cao Ren records that when the army, pursued by Zhang Xiu, had lost heart, Cao Ren vigorously encouraged the officers and men and defeated Zhang Xiu. Records, Wei 1 §46–47Records, Wei 10 §55–56Records, Wei 9 §32

The Biography of Jia Xu records that when Cao Cao, after attacking Zhang Xiu again and again, suddenly withdrew his army one morning, Zhang Xiu ignored Jia Xu's words, pursued in person and was badly defeated. When Jia Xu then said that if he hurried and pursued again he would surely win, Zhang Xiu gathered his scattered troops, pursued, and did indeed win. Jia Xu explained that Lord Cao would at first have guarded the rear himself, but that once he had won he would, because of some trouble at home, lighten his army and hurry away, so that even defeated troops could win. Records, Wei 10 §75–77

When Cao Cao was facing Yuan Shao at Guandu, Yuan Shao sent men to win Zhang Xiu over. Zhang Xiu was inclined to agree, but Jia Xu, right there, turned Yuan Shao's envoy away, asking whether a man who could not tolerate his own brother could tolerate the outstanding men of the realm. When Zhang Xiu hesitated, saying that Yuan Shao was strong and Cao Cao weak and that he himself had become Cao Cao's enemy, Jia Xu pointed out that Lord Cao upheld the Son of Heaven and issued commands to the realm, that the side with the weaker host would be all the more pleased to gain them, and that a man with the ambition of a hegemon would set aside private grudges. Records, Wei 10 §78–79

In the 11th month, in the winter of the 4th year of Jian'an (199), Zhang Xiu surrendered with his followers and was enfeoffed as a full marquis. Cao Cao took his hand and feasted with him, took Zhang Xiu's daughter as wife for his son Cao Jun, and appointed Zhang Xiu General Who Displays Martial Might. Taking Jia Xu by the hand, he said that it was Jia Xu who had made him trusted and respected throughout the realm. Records, Wei 1 §55Records, Wei 8 §58Records, Wei 10 §80

For fighting hard in the Battle of Guandu, Zhang Xiu was made General Who Smashes the Qiang, and after following the campaign that crushed Yuan Tan at Nanpi his fief came to 2,000 households in all. This was at a time when the realm's registered population had dwindled to one in ten, and none of the generals had a fief of a full thousand households. Zhang Xiu died on his way to attack the Wuhuan at Liucheng before arriving; his son Zhang Quan succeeded him, but was executed for involvement in Wei Feng's plot, and the fief was abolished. Records, Wei 8 §58–59

In the assessment of Records of Wei 8, Chen Shou said that Gongsun Zan, Gongsun Du, Tao Qian, Zhang Yang and others, though they held provinces and commanderies, were not even the equals of common men, while Zhang Yan, Zhang Xiu and Zhang Lu, who abandoned their bands of brigands, joined the ranks of meritorious officials, escaped danger and destruction and preserved the sacrifices of their ancestral temples, were better than they. Records, Wei 8 §71