# Zhang Yan (Han dynasty)

Zhang Yan (pronunciation) (fl. 180s–205), born Chu Yan, also known as Zhang Feiyan, was the leader of the Heishan bandits during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He rose from a local rebel to master of a confederation that could hold off the Han, becoming a regional power, and was able to maintain authority in Changshan until he chose to surrender to Cao Cao, getting enfeoffment that remained with his family.

## Life

Originally named Chu Yan, he was from Zhending County, Changshan Commandery, which is around present-day Zhengding County, Hebei. Because he was fast, agile, and brave, his men called him "Feiyan", meaning "Flying Swallow". He raised forces during the Yellow Turban revolt and pillaged Shanze then aligned with the bandit forces of Zhang Niujue (張牛角) with Niujue as the superior commander. When the group raided Julu Commandery in 185 and attacked Yingtao, Zhang Niujue was mortally wounded by an arrow. Before he died, Zhang ordered his men to obey Chu Yan as their new leader. Chu Yan thus changed his family name from "Chu" to "Zhang" to honour Zhang Niujue.
With Zhang Yan's energy and military reputation, his confederation steadily grew in strength, until they were said to be one million strong though historians suggest more in the tens of thousands. They became known as the Heishan bandits, and operated as a bandit confederacy in the Taihang Mountains. Though the use of the term bandits could have multiple meanings, Sinologist Carl Leban uses the term rebels instead while Rafe De Crespigny notes it was likely a peasant-led group (one of many but perhaps the most successful) but he accepts the bandit designation as correct.
Their position gave them access to the capital region of Henei and the provinces of Bing, Ji, and Yan. All the commanderies north of the Yellow River were exposed to their attacks and while Lu Zhi was able to drive Zhang Yan forces away from Henei, the Han could not suppress the rebellion. In order to pacify him, the government eventually appointed Zhang Yan "General of the Household Who Pacifies Disorder" and granted him the right to appoint officials in his territories, bringing the group within the administration, confirming Zhang Yan in authority while saving face for the Han court.
By the early 190s with the land in civil war, Zhang Yan had formed an alliance with the warlord Gongsun Zan against their common opponent, Yuan Shao. In 193, the Heishan bandits had backed mutineers and local rivals of Yuan Shao to seize his capital of Ye and nearly captured Yuan Shao's family. Yuan Shao responded with force, allying with reinforcements from some of the Wuhuan and Xiuchuge tribes, and even gaining the support of Lü Bu. He marched 250 kilometers (over 150 miles) through the Taihang Mountains, destroying the Heishan bandit camps as he went. The southern hills were overrun, but at Changshan, Zhang Yan had 20-30 thousand soldiers and several thousand cavalry. He fought for over ten days with Yuan Shao, Zhang Yan suffered major casualties and got the worst of the fighting, but Yuan Shao's troops were exhausted and also withdrew. Despite the defeats, Zhang Yan was able to maintain his independence in Changshan but his power as the head of a regional confederation was broken. In 199, Zhang Yan responded to Gongsun Zan's request, via son Gongsun Xu, for help by marching along three routes in the Battle of Yijing against Yuan Shao, but Gongsun Zan was defeated and killed before Zhang Yan arrived.
In 204, Zhang Yan made contact with the warlord Cao Cao, who at the time was warring against Yuan Shao's sons, Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang and besieging Ye. Cao Cao appointed him General Who Pacifies The North (平北將軍). In the summer of 205, after Cao Cao drove the Yuans to the Wuhuan, Zhang Yan brought his 100,000 followers and surrendered, he was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Anguo Village (安國亭侯). After his death, his son Zhang Fang succeeded him as marquis; his family maintained their fief during the following decades.

## In popular culture

Zhang Yan appears in Total War: Three Kingdoms, leading his own bandit faction.