| “ | Regarding our current problem, I can only rely on Zang Hong; he will definitely come to save me. | „ |
| ~ Zhang Chao |
Zhang Chao 張超 was a civil official who was the Grand Administrator of Guangling commandery and the younger brother of Zhang Miao. He was a member of the Guandong Coalition. He was involved in a rebellion against Cao Cao and committed suicide upon his death.
Biography[]
Not much is known about his early life. However, at some point, he served as Grand Administrator of Guangling commandery. He was possibly appointed by Dong Zhuo in order to appease civil officials. Around 189, Zhang Chao recruited Zang Hong. Zang Hong would become Zhang Chao's most valuable advisor.[1] He helped Zhang Chao manage the affairs of the commandery, which had at least 20,000 people (claimed by Zang Hong) and was prosperous. Around 190, when Dong Zhuo took control of the capital and later killed former Emperor Shao, Zang Hong urged Zhang Chao to take action against Dong Zhuo. Zhang Chao was persuaded by Zang Hong and they went west to Chenliu commandery to gauge the opinion of Zhang Miao. Zhang Miao also disliked Dong Zhuo and agreed to join Zhang Chao. They later met at Shence where Zhang Miao asked what type of person Zang Hong was, adding that he was the one actually governing the commandery. Zhang Chao responded, "Zang Hong's ability and tact in his strategies is superior to mine. I extremely value him; he is an extraordinary scholar within the seas." Zhang Miao later met Zang Hong and found out that Zhang Chao was right.[2] They soon contributed his troops to the Guandong Coalition, resulting in Zhang Chao losing his post to Zhao Yu.
Zhang Chao sent Zang Hong to try to work with Liu Yu in the north, but due to Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan's conflict, Zang Hong could not advance, and he later reluctantly joined Yuan Shao. [3]After the Guandong Coalition disbanded, Zhang Chao joined his brother. Around 194, Zhang Chao, along with Chen Gong, Xu Si, and Wang Jie, plotted to replace Cao Cao, who was the Governor of Yan province, with Lü Bu. Zhang Miao also joined them and launched the rebellion. They were initially successful in deposing Cao Cao as Governor of Yan province, but Cao Cao soon was able to retake his old province within two years.[4] Around Autumn 195, Zhang Miao ordered Zhang Chao to lead their family into Yongqiu city and guard it, while he remained with Lü Bu. Cao Cao soon besieged Yongqiu city.[5] Zhang Chao told his subordinates that, "Regarding our current problem, I can only rely on Zang Hong; he will definitely come to save me." However, one of his subordinates stated that, "Both the Yuan and Cao are on friendly terms. Zang Hong has been appointed by Yuan Shao, and I fear he will not destroy the good relations between Yuan and Cao by coming here from afar, for that would contradict his fortune and invite disaster." Zhang Chao replied, "Ziyuan is a righteous personage of this world. He is someone who will never betray his original lord. I fear his power may be restrained, that we will not reach each other, that is all." Zang Hong did try to convince Yuan Shao to lend him troops, only to be rejected, sealing Zhang Chao’s fate.[6][7] The siege lasted about four months, but soon, in early Spring 196, Cao Cao’s troops broke into Yongqiu city. In response to his defeat, Zhang Chao committed suicide.[8] Cao Cao had Zhang Chao’s clan exterminated to the third degree.[5][6][7][8]
Family[]
- Older brother: Zhang Miao
Notes[]
- ↑ Exact date between 29 December 194 and 28 January 195.
Fact vs. Fiction[]
Historically…
- …
References[]
- ↑ 【靈帝末，棄官還家，太守張超請洪為功曹。】《三國志注•卷七》
- ↑ 【董卓殺帝，圖危社稷，洪說超曰：「明府歷世受恩，兄弟並據大郡，今王室將危，賊臣未梟，此誠天下義烈報恩効命之秋也。今郡境尚全，吏民殷富，若動枹鼓，可得二萬人，以此誅除國賊，為天下倡先，義之大者也。」超然其言，與洪西至陳留，見兄邈計事。邈亦素有心，會於酸棗，邈謂超曰：「聞弟為郡守，政教威恩不由己出，動任臧洪，洪者何人？」超曰：「洪才略智數優超，超甚愛之，海內奇士也。」邈即引見洪，與語大異之。致之於劉兗州公山、孔豫州公緒，皆與洪親善。】《三國志注•卷七》
- ↑ 【超遣洪詣大司馬劉虞謀，值公孫瓚之難，至河間，遇幽、兾二州交兵，使命不達。】《三國志注•卷七》
- ↑ 【興平元年，太祖復征謙，邈弟超，與太祖將陳宮、從事中郎許汜、王楷共謀叛太祖。宮說邈曰：「今雄傑並起，天下分崩，君以千里之衆，當四戰之地，撫劒顧眄，亦足以為人豪，而反制於人，不以鄙乎！今州軍東征，其處空虛，呂布壯士，善戰無前，若權迎之，共牧兖州，觀天下形勢，俟時事之變通，此亦縱橫之一時也。」邈從之。太祖初使宮將兵留屯東郡，遂以其衆東迎布為兖州牧，據濮陽。郡縣皆應，唯鄄城、東阿、范為太祖守。太祖引軍還，與布戰於濮陽，太祖軍不利，相持百餘日。是時歲旱、蟲蝗、少穀，百姓相食，布東屯山陽。二年間，太祖乃盡復收諸城，擊破布於鉅野。布東奔劉備。】《三國志注•卷七》
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 【邈從布，留超將家屬屯雍丘。太祖攻圍數月，屠之，斬超及其家。邈詣袁術請救未至，自為其兵所殺。】《三國志•卷七》
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 【太祖圍張超於雍丘，超言：「唯恃臧洪，當來救吾。」衆人以為袁、曹方睦，而洪為紹所表用，必不敗好招禍，遠來赴此。超曰：「子源，天下義士，終不背本者，但恐見禁制，不相及逮耳。」洪聞之，果徒跣號泣，並勒所領兵，又從紹請兵馬，求欲救超，而紹終不聽許。超遂族滅。】《三國志注•卷七》
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 【時曹操圍張超於雍丘，甚危急。超謂軍吏曰：「今日之事，唯有臧洪必來救我。」或曰：「袁曹方穆，而洪為紹所用，恐不能敗好遠來，違福取禍。」超曰：「子源天下義士，終非背本者也，或見制強力，不相及耳。」洪始聞超圍，及徒跣號泣，並勒所領，將赴其難。自以眾弱，從紹請兵，而紹竟不聽之，超城遂陷，張氏族滅。】《後漢書虞傅蓋臧列傳》
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 【秋八月，圍雍丘。冬十月，天子拜太祖兖州牧。十二月，雍丘潰，超自殺。夷邈三族。邈詣袁術請救，為其衆所殺，兖州平，遂東略陳地。】《三國志注•卷七》