RNo direct record — estimated from his conductWei 8 §66
NRepeatedly urged burning the storehouses and fleeingCh. 67 §24Ch. 67 §25
Zhang Wei 張衛
| Occupation | RNGeneral | Faction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | |
| Born | Native place | Pei Commandery Feng County Unverified | |
| Cause of death | NKilled in battle Unverified | ||
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R3 |
Profile
Zhang Wei was the younger brother of Zhang Lu, who held Hanzhong. He has no biography of his own in Chen Shou's main text, and appears once each in the account of Zhang Lu in the Biographies of the Two Gongsuns, Tao and the Four Zhangs (Records of Wei 8) and in the Annals of Emperor Wu (Records of Wei 1). His elder brother Zhang Lu was a man of Feng County in Pei State. Records, Wei 8 §61 · 66Records, Wei 1 §147
In the 20th year of Jian'an (215), when Cao Cao came to Yangping Pass to attack Zhang Lu, Zhang Lu wished to surrender Hanzhong, but Zhang Wei would not go along with it and, leading a host of tens of thousands, blocked the pass and held it firmly. When Cao Cao's troops made a night attack, beheaded the commander Yang Ren and pressed on to attack, Zhang Wei and the others fled by night. Records, Wei 8 §66Records, Wei 1 §147
In his assessment in Records of Wei 8, Chen Shou wrote that Zhang Yan, Zhang Xiu and Zhang Lu abandoned their bands of brigands and joined the ranks of meritorious officials, but he did not mention Zhang Wei by name. In the Romance he first appears in Chapter 59 as the younger brother with whom Zhang Lu discusses raising troops, and appears in 3 of its 120 chapters; no chapter has his name in its title. In Chapter 67 he abandons Yangping Pass and flees, then, facing Cao Cao's troops as they invade Bazhong, dies by Xu Chu's blade. Records, Wei 8 §71Romance, Ch. 59 §49Romance, Ch. 67 §11 · 26
In the Records
Zhang Wei was the younger brother of Zhang Lu. Zhang Lu, a man of Feng County in Pei State, practiced the Way handed down since the time of his grandfather Zhang Ling, held Hanzhong and styled himself 'Lord Teacher', and he held Ba and Hanzhong for nearly thirty years. Chen Shou's main text records neither Zhang Wei's courtesy name, nor his age, nor any office he held. Records, Wei 8 §61–63 · 66
In the 20th year of Jian'an (215), Cao Cao came out from San Pass to Wudu on a campaign against Zhang Lu and reached Yangping Pass. Zhang Lu wished to surrender Hanzhong, but his younger brother Zhang Wei would not go along with it and, leading a host of tens of thousands, blocked the pass and held it firmly. The Biography of Zhang Lu records that Cao Cao broke through and then entered Shu. Records, Wei 8 §66
The Annals of Emperor Wu describe this battle in more detail. In the 3rd month of that year Cao Cao set out west to attack Zhang Lu, and in the 7th month, in autumn, he reached Yangping. Zhang Lu had his younger brother Zhang Wei and the commander Yang Ang and others hold Yangping Pass, and they built walls across the mountains for more than ten li. Unable to take it by attack, Cao Cao led his army back, and the enemy, seeing the main army withdraw, relaxed their guard and dispersed. Cao Cao secretly sent Xie Biao, Gao Zuo and others to make a night attack over the steep ground; they inflicted a great defeat and beheaded the commander Yang Ren, and when Cao Cao pressed on to attack Zhang Wei, Zhang Wei and the others fled by night. Records, Wei 1 §146–147
Zhang Lu's forces collapsed and he fled to Bazhong; Cao Cao's army entered Nanzheng and took all the treasures in Zhang Lu's storehouses, and Ba and Hanzhong both surrendered. The Biography of Zhang Lu records that when Zhang Lu came out with his whole family, Cao Cao appointed him General Who Guards the South and enfeoffed him as Marquis of Langzhong, and that Zhang Lu's five sons, Yan Pu and others were all enfeoffed as full marquises. Chen Shou's main text does not record what became of Zhang Wei after he fled by night. Records, Wei 1 §147–148Records, Wei 8 §68
In his assessment in Records of Wei 8, Chen Shou said that Zhang Yan, Zhang Xiu and Zhang Lu abandoned their bands of brigands, joined the ranks of meritorious officials, escaped danger and destruction, and preserved the sacrifices of their ancestral temples, so that they did better than the others, but he said nothing separately about Zhang Wei. Records, Wei 8 §71
In the Romance
In Chapter 59 of the Romance, hearing that Cao Cao has crushed the forces of Xiliang, Zhang Lu consults his followers, saying that he will declare himself King of Hanning and lead troops to resist Cao Cao. When Yan Pu says that Liu Zhang of Yi Province is muddled and weak, and that it will not be too late to call himself king after first taking the forty-one districts of Xichuan, Zhang Lu is overjoyed and discusses raising troops with his younger brother Zhang Wei. Romance, Ch. 59 §48–49
In Chapter 65, when Ma Chao at Jiameng Pass does not return though summoned three times, Yang Song, while demanding three things of Ma Chao, also advises that Zhang Wei muster troops to guard the passes and strongholds as a precaution against a mutiny by Ma Chao's troops. When Ma Chao tries to withdraw his troops, Zhang Wei divides his troops along seven routes and firmly holds the mouths of the strategic defiles, refusing to let Ma Chao's troops in, so that Ma Chao can neither advance nor retreat. Romance, Ch. 65 §26–28
In Chapter 67, when Cao Cao marches west to invade, Zhang Wei says that the most perilous place in Hanzhong is Yangping Pass, proposing to set up more than ten stockaded camps to the left and right of the pass, backed by the mountains and flanked by the forests, to meet the enemy, while his elder brother at Hanning supplies grain and fodder. Zhang Lu sends his senior commanders Yang Ang and Yang Ren with his younger brother, and the two commanders' raid on the camp brings a heavy defeat on the whole vanguard of Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He. Cao Cao, going to observe Zhang Wei's camps with only Xu Chu and Xu Huang, is put in danger when Yang Ang and Yang Ren charge in along two routes. Romance, Ch. 67 §1–5
After more than fifty days of mere standoff, Cao Cao pretends to withdraw his troops, and Yang Ang, ignoring Yang Ren's attempt to stop him, leads out all the troops and horses of the five camps in pursuit. In the dense fog Xiahou Yuan loses his way and seizes the empty camps, and Yang Ang is killed by Zhang He. Learning that the two commanders have been defeated and put to flight and that the camps have already been lost, Zhang Wei abandons the pass in the middle of the night and flees, and on returning to Zhang Lu he says that he could not hold the pass because the two commanders had lost the strategic defiles. Romance, Ch. 67 §6–12
When Cao Cao attacks Nanzheng, Zhang Wei urges again and again that they burn all the granaries and storehouses, flee to the southern mountains and hold Bazhong, but Zhang Lu, saying that the granaries and storehouses belong to the state, seals them all up and leaves. When Cao Cao sends men to Bazhong to urge surrender, Zhang Lu wishes to surrender, but Zhang Wei will not listen. When Cao Cao comes to Bazhong in person, Zhang Wei, on Zhang Lu's orders, leads troops out to meet him, crosses weapons with Xu Chu, and is cut down by Xu Chu's blade and falls from his horse. Romance, Ch. 67 §24–26
Where the Romance differs
When he refused surrender: In the Biography of Zhang Lu in the Records, when Cao Cao reached Yangping Pass, Zhang Lu wished to surrender Hanzhong, but Zhang Wei would not go along with it and blocked and held the pass. In Chapter 67 of the Romance, the defense of Yangping Pass is Zhang Wei's own plan, and his refusal to hear of surrender comes when Cao Cao urges Bazhong to surrender after Yangping Pass and Nanzheng have been lost. Records, Wei 8 §66Romance, Ch. 67 §1 · 26
How Yangping Pass fell: In Chapter 67 of the Romance, Cao Cao pretends to withdraw and Yang Ang gives chase, while Xiahou Yuan, having lost his way in the fog, seizes the empty camps. In the Annals of Emperor Wu in the Records, Cao Cao, unable to take the pass, actually withdrew, whereupon the enemy relaxed their guard and dispersed, and in that gap Xie Biao, Gao Zuo and others made a night attack and inflicted a great defeat. Romance, Ch. 67 §6–10Records, Wei 1 §147
The death of Yang Ren: In Chapter 67 of the Romance, Yang Ren flees from Yangping Pass to Nanzheng, goes out again to fight and is cut down by Xiahou Yuan. In the Annals of Emperor Wu in the Records, Yang Ren was beheaded in the night attack on Yangping Pass, and only afterward was Zhang Wei attacked. Romance, Ch. 67 §10 · 13Records, Wei 1 §147
The proposal to burn the storehouses: In Chapter 67 of the Romance, Zhang Wei proposes burning the granaries and storehouses before leaving. In the Biography of Zhang Lu in the Records, it was Zhang Lu's attendants who wanted to burn all the treasures and storehouses, and Zhang Wei's name does not appear. Romance, Ch. 67 §24–25Records, Wei 8 §67–68
Blocking Ma Chao: In Chapter 65 of the Romance, Zhang Wei blocks the strategic defiles along seven routes and refuses to let Ma Chao's troops in. In the Biography of Ma Chao in the Records, Ma Chao, judging that Zhang Lu was not a man with whom plans could be made, was dejected, and on hearing that the First Sovereign was besieging Liu Zhang at Chengdu he secretly sent a letter asking to surrender. There is no mention of Zhang Wei blocking Ma Chao. Romance, Ch. 65 §28Records, Shu 6 §29
His death: In Chapter 67 of the Romance, Zhang Wei dies by Xu Chu's blade at Bazhong. Chen Shou's main text stops at saying that Zhang Wei and the others fled by night, and does not record his death. The Biography of Xu Chu in the Records likewise contains no account of his cutting down Zhang Wei. Romance, Ch. 67 §26Records, Wei 1 §147Records, Wei 8 §66–69Records, Wei 18 §47–57
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.
Abilities
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.
Records total374 / 1000Rank 763 of 996 · Top 77%Romance total331 / 1000Rank 1,010 of 1,113 · Top 91%
Romance adaptation index−43Romance total − Records total
- LEA5242−10
- STR4028−12
- INT3845+7
- POL3231−1
- CHA4035−5
- VIR4528−17
- ADP3025−5
- SCH3131±0
- DIP3333±0
- DIS3333±0
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
RNo direct record — estimated from his conduct as a commanderWei 8 §66
NFought Xu Chu, was cut down by his blade and fell from his horseCh. 67 §26
RHeld Yangping Pass with tens of thousands and walls built across it, but collapsed under a night attack and fledWei 1 §147Wei 8 §66
NBlocked the strategic defiles along seven routes, but abandoned Yangping Pass by night and fledCh. 65 §28Ch. 67 §11
7 similar abilities — show evidence
RNo direct record — estimated from his conductWei 1 §147
NProposed setting up more than ten stockaded camps on the mountains either side of Yangping PassCh. 67 §1
RRefused to follow his brother's surrender and held out, then fled by nightWei 8 §66Wei 1 §147
NAbandoned the pass and fled, then refused calls to surrender and died in battleCh. 67 §11Ch. 67 §26
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.
Romance chapters (3)
AppearsNot present Chapter list →
Allegiance history
- Zhang Lu faction (~215) · Records · 「其弟衛不肯，率眾數萬人拒關堅守」 · 「張魯使弟衞與將楊昂等據陽平關」
Family
| Parents | Zhang Heng(張衡) Romance |
|---|---|
| Siblings | Zhang Lu Romance |
Based on Wikidata items for the historical and Romance figures. Relations without the Unverified badge were also confirmed in the Records.
Related events (2)
- Cao Cao Pacifies Hanzhong 215 · Appears (Romance scene)
- Battle of Yangping 215 · Command
Includes automatic matching from Wikipedia infoboxes and source keywords (unverified).