Zhang Xiu 張繡

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

Zhang Ji, stationed at Hongnong, attacked Rang to the south when his soldiers were starving, and was killed by a stray arrow. Zhang Xiu took command of his troops, garrisoned Wan and allied with Liu Biao. According to the Biography of Jia Xu, when Zhang Xiu was in Nanyang, Jia Xu secretly made contact with him, whereupon Zhang Xiu sent men to welcome Jia Xu and treated him with the courtesy of a son or grandson. Jia Xu persuaded Zhang Xiu to ally with Liu Biao. Records, Wei 8 §57Records, Wei 1 §42Records, Wei 10 §74–75

In the first month of spring in the 2nd year of Jian'an (197), when Cao Cao marched south and halted his army on the Yu River, Zhang Xiu and the others surrendered with all their troops. The Biography of Dian Wei records that Cao Cao then invited Zhang Xiu and his generals to a great banquet, and Dian Wei stood behind Cao Cao holding a great axe and glaring at them, so that they did not dare raise their heads. When Cao Cao took Zhang Ji's widow, Zhang Xiu resented it, and Cao Cao, hearing that he was displeased, secretly made plans to kill him. When the plan leaked, Zhang Xiu rebelled after some ten days 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 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 fled to Rang and joined forces with Liu Biao. Cao Cao told his generals that his mistake had been not to take hostages at once when he accepted the surrender of Zhang Xiu and the others. Records, Wei 1 §43Records, Wei 18 §65–66

Afterwards the counties of Nanyang and Zhangling again went over to Zhang Xiu, and Cao Hong, attacking them without success, was repeatedly raided by Zhang Xiu and Liu Biao. In the 3rd month of the 3rd year of Jian'an (198), Cao Cao besieged Zhang Xiu at Rang. Xun You advised holding back and waiting, since circumstances would drive Zhang Xiu and Liu Biao apart, but Cao Cao did not listen and advanced, 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, set a surprise force in place, and routed both armies. Records, Wei 1 §45–47Records, Wei 10 §55–56

According to the Biography of Jia Xu, when Cao Cao, after attacking Zhang Xiu again and again, suddenly withdrew his army one morning, Zhang Xiu wanted to pursue in person. Jia Xu warned that pursuit would surely end in defeat, but Zhang Xiu did not listen, fought and was badly beaten. When Jia Xu then said that if he pursued again at once he would surely win, Zhang Xiu gathered his scattered troops, gave chase and did indeed win. When Zhang Xiu asked the reason, Jia Xu explained that Lord Cao would have covered his rear himself, but after one victory he would lighten his army and hurry on because of trouble at home, so that even a beaten army could win. Records, Wei 10 §75–77

In the 4th year of Jian'an (199), when Cao Cao was facing Yuan Shao at Guandu, Yuan Shao sent men to win over Zhang Xiu and also wrote to Jia Xu. Zhang Xiu was inclined to agree, but Jia Xu, right there, turned away Yuan Shao's envoy, asking how a man who could not tolerate his own brother could tolerate the outstanding men of the realm. When the startled Zhang Xiu asked whom they should turn to, Jia Xu said to follow Lord Cao. To Zhang Xiu, who objected that Yuan Shao was strong and Cao Cao weak and that he had become Cao Cao's enemy, Jia Xu gave three reasons: Lord Cao upheld the Son of Heaven; since his forces were weak, he would surely be glad to gain them; and one with the ambition of a hegemon sets aside private grudges. Records, Wei 10 §78–79

In the 11th month, in the winter of that year, Zhang Xiu surrendered with his troops 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, Cao Cao said, 'It is you who have made me trusted and respected throughout the realm.' Records, Wei 1 §55Records, Wei 8 §58Records, Wei 10 §80

In the Battle of Guandu, Zhang Xiu fought hard and distinguished himself, and was promoted to General Who Smashes the Qiang. He followed the campaign that crushed Yuan Tan at Nanpi and again won merit, bringing his fief to 2,000 households in all. At that time the realm's registered population had dwindled until barely one in ten remained, so that none of the generals had a fief of a full thousand households; Zhang Xiu alone had particularly many. Records, Wei 8 §58

In the 12th year of Jian'an (207), he accompanied Cao Cao when he attacked the Wuhuan of the Three Commanderies at Liucheng, and died before arriving. His posthumous title was Marquis Ding. His son Zhang Quan succeeded him, but was executed for involvement in Wei Feng's plot, and the fief was abolished. Records, Wei 8 §59Records, Wei 1 §97–99

In the assessment of Records of Wei 8, Chen Shou said that 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 Gongsun Zan, Gongsun Du, Tao Qian, Zhang Yang and others, who held provinces and commanderies yet were not even the equal of common men. Records, Wei 8 §71