47 Facts About Zhang He

Zhang He, courtesy name Junyi, was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China.

Zhang He continued serving in the state of Cao Wei under its first two rulers, Cao Pi and Cao Rui, during the Three Kingdoms period until his death.

Zhang He began his career under Han Fu, the governor of Ji Province, in the 180s when he joined the Han imperial forces in suppressing the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

Zhang He became a subordinate of the warlord Yuan Shao in 191 after Yuan Shao seized the governorship of Ji Province from Han Fu.

In 200, Zhang He initially fought on Yuan Shao's side at the Battle of Guandu against Cao Cao, a warlord who controlled the Han central government.

Zhang He's best known victory was at the Battle of Jieting in 228, in which he defeated the Shu general Ma Su by cutting off the enemy's access to water supplies and then attacking them.

Zhang He was from Mao County, Hejian State, which is in present-day Maozhou, Hebei.

Zhang He was commissioned as a Major and placed under the command of Han Fu, the Inspector of Ji Province.

In 191, after Han Fu relinquished his control of Ji Province to the warlord Yuan Shao, Zhang He came to serve Yuan Shao and was promoted to the rank of Colonel.

Between 191 and 199, Zhang He fought on Yuan Shao's side in the war between Yuan Shao and his rival Gongsun Zan.

In 199, after Yuan Shao had eliminated Gongsun Zan at the Battle of Yijing, Zhang He was further promoted to General of the Household Who Brings Peace to the State for his achievements in battle.

When Yuan Shao having a few advantages like a far larger army in the initial stages of the campaign, Zhang He suggested that he avoid direct confrontation with Cao Cao and instead send a light cavalry force south to attack the rear of Cao Cao's camp.

Guo Tu felt embarrassed after seeing that his suggestion had resulted in Yuan Shao's defeat, so he attempted to divert attention away from himself by accusing Zhang He of displaying schadenfreude upon learning of their defeat.

Zhang He became afraid when he heard about this, so he defected to Cao Cao's side.

Zhang He was promoted to General Who Pacifies the Di for his contributions.

In 206, Zhang He participated in the campaign against pirate forces led by Guan Cheng in Donglai Commandery.

In 211, Zhang He participated in the Battle of Weinan against a coalition of warlords from the Guanzhong region led by Ma Chao and Han Sui.

In 212, Zhang He accompanied Xiahou Yuan on a campaign against another of the warlords, Liang Xing, and the Di tribes in Wudu Commandery.

In 214, Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He defeated Ma Chao, who had borrowed troops from the warlord Zhang Lu in Hanzhong Commandery after being driven out of Guanzhong.

Zhang He ordered Zhang Zhang He to lead 5,000 infantry to clear the path after entering Hanzhong via San Pass.

Later that year, Zhang He tried to relocate the residents of Ba to Hanzhong.

Zhang He was defeated by Liu Bei's general Zhang Fei at Dangqu and abandoned his horse and escaped on foot via a shortcut with only a few of his men.

Zhang He retreated back to Nanzheng County with his remaining troops.

Zhang He was promoted to General Who Defeats Bandits later.

Zhang He garrisoned his forces at Yangping Pass while Zhang Zhang He stationed his troops at Guangshi.

Zhang He personally led his men to resist Liu Bei's forces and succeeded in holding off the enemy.

Zhang He expressed disappointment after learning that it was Xiahou Yuan, and not Zhang He, who was killed in battle.

Guo Huai, a Major who served under Xiahou Yuan, expressed support for Zhang He to be the new commander.

Zhang He is the only person capable of restoring stability in this hour of peril.

Zhang He was relocated to a garrison at Chencang.

Zhang He was recalled back from Jing Province to defend Wei's western borders in the Guanzhong region from the Shu armies.

Zhang He attacked the three commanderies and took them back for Wei.

Zhang He had 4,300 households in his marquisate after the increment.

Zhang He then returned to his garrison at Fangcheng County.

Zhang He predicted that Zhuge Liang's forces could not maintain the siege on Chencang for long because they lacked supplies.

When Zhang He's army arrived in Lueyang County, Zhuge Liang retreated to Mount Qi to defend his position.

When Sima Yi ordered Zhang He to pursue the enemy, Zhang He refused and said that according to classical military doctrine, they should not pursue an enemy force returning to its base.

Sima Yi insisted, so Zhang He had no choice but to pursue the retreating Shu forces.

Zhang He fell into an ambush at Mumen Trail and died after a stray arrow hit him in the thigh.

Zhang He had four sons, who were all enfeoffed as marquises by Cao Rui in recognition of their father's contributions to Wei.

The eldest, Zhang He Xiong, inherited his father's title and became the next Marquis of Mao.

Zhang He was described to be a resourceful and proficient military leader who was well versed in geography and capable of making accurate predictions about war situations, to the point where even Zhuge Liang was wary of him.

Zhang He once recommended Bei Zhan, a learned scholar who was known for his good moral conduct and who was from the same hometown as him, to serve in the Wei government.

Zhang He issued an imperial decree to praise Zhang Zhang He for not only defending Wei's borders, but showing concern for the internal preservation of Wei.

Zhang He is a playable character in Koei's Dynasty Warriors and Warriors Orochi video game series.

Zhang He appears in all instalments of Koei's Romance of the Three Kingdoms strategy game series.

Zhang He appears as a unique character in Total War: Three Kingdoms.