Zang Ba served the warlord Tao Qian initially, followed by Lu Bu and finally Cao Cao and his successors, but for the most part of his career, he remained semi-autonomous over his troops and eastern China.
22 Facts About Zang Ba
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Zang Ba was originally from Hua County, Taishan Commandery, which is around present-day Fei County, Shandong.
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The administrator, who was greatly angered, had Zang Jie arrested to be sent to the commandery capital.
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Henceforth, the Zangs became fugitives, but Zang Ba's bravery became well known.
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Later in 193, as Tao Qian was repeatedly defeated by the warlord Cao Cao, Zang Ba gathered adventurers and gangsters and established himself as the leader of the bandit groups of Mount Tai with characters like Sun Guan, Wu Dun, Yin Li and Chang Xi within his ranks.
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Zang Ba heard of Lu Bu's violent and plundering ways, so he remained inside Ju County and put up a firm defence against Lu Bu.
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Later in 198, Zang Ba supported Lu Bu with his bandits when the latter was attacked by Cao Cao.
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However, after Lu Bu's defeat and execution following the Battle of Xiapi, Zang Ba lost his ally and became a fugitive.
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However, Zang Ba refused to turn the two men over as he told Liu Bei that the reason he had been able to earn the loyalty of so many people was because he never turned his back on them and further remarking that it would befit a great leader to act magnanimously.
10.
Zang Ba went personally to Cao Cao to congratulate him on his great victory.
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In 206, Zang Ba put down the rebellion of Chang Xi, his former subordinate, together with Yu Jin.
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Zang Ba was then formally appointed as the Inspector of Xu Province, and his close comrade Sun Guan became the Inspector of Qing Province.
13.
Zang Ba was the leader in the capture of Juchao of Lujiang Commandery.
14.
Yu Jin and Zang Ba were sent to attack Mei Cheng; Zhang Liao, with Zhang He and Niu Gai as his deputies, were to attack Chen Lan.
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Han Dang was in charge of defending Huancheng, a major stronghold in Lujiang Commandery at that time, so Zhang Liao sent Zang Ba to ensure that Han Dang could not move to reinforce the rebels.
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Zang Ba attacked Huancheng, but Han Dang defended the stronghold well and repelled the attack, driving Zang Ba to take refuge in the city of She, north of Juchao.
17.
Later, during the Battle of Ruxu in 216 and 217, Zhang Liao and Zang Ba both led the vanguard in a campaign against Sun Quan.
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Thereafter, Zang Ba moved to Juchao with Xiahou Dun to maintain pressure on Sun Quan's forces.
19.
When Cao Cao was seriously ill in early 220, Zang Ba sent a detachment to Luoyang to observe the situation.
20.
Zang Ba accompanied Cao Xiu in a three-pronged invasion against Wu territories in 222.
21.
Zang Ba attempted to retreat but was pursued by Sun Shao and Quan Cong, thousands of his soldiers killed or captured with subordinate general Yin Lu killed.
22.
Zang Ba went to Cao Pi's tent to greet him, but the emperor relieved him of his command and sent him to Luoyang.