Zhang Fei Zhang Fei ( died 221 ) , Yide , was a military general who served under the warlord Liu Bei in the late Eastern Han Dynasty and early Three Kingdoms period . Zhang Fei and Guan Yu , who were among the earliest to join Liu Bei , shared a brotherly relationship with their lord and accompanied him on most of his early exploits . Zhang Fei fought in various battles for Liu Bei , including : the Red Cliffs campaign ( 208 – 209 ) , Liu Bei ' s takeover of Yi Province ( 212 – 215 ) and the Hanzhong Campaign ( 218 – 219 ) . He was assassinated by his subordinates in 221 after serving for only a few months in the state of Shu Han ( founded by Liu Bei earlier that year ) . Early career . Zhang Fei was a native of Zhuo ( 涿郡 ) , which is in present - day Zhuozhou , Hebei . In the 180s , towards the end of the Han Dynasty , he and Guan Yu became Liu Bei ' s followers . As Guan Yu was many years older than Zhang Fei , the latter regarded him as an elder brother . When Liu Bei was later appointed as the Chancellor ( 相 ) of Pingyuan ( 平原 ; present - day Pingyuan County , Dezhou , Shandong ) by the Han imperial court , Zhang Fei and Guan Yu served as " Majors of Separate Command " ( 別部司馬 ) under him . The three of them shared a brotherly - like relationship , to the point of sharing the same room . Zhang Fei and Guan Yu also stood guard beside Liu Bei when he sat down at meetings . They followed him on his exploits and protected him from danger . Conflict between Liu Bei and Lü Bu . In 194 , Liu Bei succeeded Tao Qian as the Governor ( 牧 ) of Xu Province . The following year , he led his forces to Shiting ( 石亭 ) , Huaiyin ( 淮陰 ) , to counter an invading army sent by Yuan Shu , while leaving Zhang Fei behind to defend Xiapi ( 下邳 ; present - day Pizhou , Xuzhou , Jiangsu ) , the capital of Xu Province . Zhang Fei wanted to kill Cao Bao , a former officer under Tao Qian , for reasons unknown . Cao Bao fled back to his own camp and set up defences , while sending a messenger to request aid from Lü Bu , another warlord who was taking shelter under Liu Bei at that time . Lü Bu led his forces to attack Xiapi and succeeded in defeating and driving away Zhang Fei . Liu Bei returned to Xu Province , which was now under Lü Bu ' s control , and he reluctantly accepted the latter ' s offer to move to Xiaopei while the latter would remain in Xiapi . Tensions between Liu Bei and Lü Bu increased until the point of conflict , when Liu Bei sought help from Cao Cao , a warlord who was the " de facto " head of government in the Han imperial court . Cao Cao and Liu Bei combined forces and they defeated Lü Bu at the Battle of Xiapi in 198 , after which they returned to the imperial capital Xu ( 許 ; present - day Xuchang , Henan ) together . In Xu , Zhang Fei was appointed as a " General of the Household " ( 中郎將 ) . Roaming the land with Liu Bei . In 199 , Liu Bei found an excuse to leave the capital and he travelled to Xu Province and killed Che Zhou , the provincial governor appointed by Cao Cao , and seized control of the province . The following year , Cao Cao launched an eastern campaign to take back Xu Province and he defeated Liu Bei . Liu Bei fled to northern China , where he took refuge under Cao Cao ' s rival , Yuan Shao . Liu Bei later left Yuan Shao on the pretext of helping Yuan recruit the rebels in Runan ( 汝南 ; present - day Runan County , Zhumadian , Henan ) . He eventually found shelter under Liu Biao , the Governor of Jing Province . Liu Biao put him in charge of Xinye ( 新野 ; present - day Xinye County , Nanyang , Henan ) , a commandery on the northern border of Jing Province . It is not known whether Zhang Fei followed Liu Bei to join Yuan Shao after Liu ' s defeat in Xu Province , or whether he , like Guan Yu , was separated from Liu during that period of time . Red Cliffs campaign . Battle of Changban . In 208 , following Liu Biao ' s death , Cao Cao started a campaign aimed at wiping out opposing forces in southern China . When his armies arrived in Jing Province , Liu Biao ' s younger son and successor Liu Cong surrendered . Liu Bei evacuated Xinye and headed south with his followers towards Xiakou ( 夏口 ; in present - day Wuhan , Hubei ) , which was controlled by Liu Biao ' s elder son , Liu Qi . Cao Cao sent 5 , 000 riders to pursue Liu Bei , and they caught up with him at Changban ( 長阪 ) , Dangyang ( 當陽 ) . Liu Bei abandoned his family and fled , with only Zhuge Liang , Zhang Fei , Zhao Yun and a few tens of soldiers accompanying him . Zhang Fei led 20 horsemen to cover Liu Bei ' s retreat . After having a bridge destroyed , he stood guard at one end ( facing the enemy ) , brandished his spear , glared at the enemy , and shouted , " I ' m Zhang Yide . You can come forth and fight me to the death ! " Cao Cao ' s soldiers were all afraid and did not dare to approach him . Liu Bei and his followers were hence able to retreat safely . Battle of Red Cliffs and after . In 208 , Liu Bei and Sun Quan combined forces and defeated Cao Cao at the decisive Battle of Red Cliffs and the follow - up Battle of Jiangling , after which Liu took control of southern Jing Province . Zhang Fei was appointed as " General Who Attacks Barbarians " ( 征虜將軍 ) , Administrator ( 太守 ) of Yidu ( 宜都 ) , and granted the title of " Marquis of Xin Village " ( 新亭侯 ) . He was later reassigned to Nan commandery ( 南郡 ; around present - day Jingzhou , Hubei ) . Yi Province campaign . Earlier defence of Jing Province . In 211 , Liu Bei led an army to Yi Province ( 益州 ; covering present - day Sichuan and Chongqing ) to assist the provincial governor Liu Zhang in countering a rival warlord , Zhang Lu of Hanzhong . He left Zhang Fei and others behind to guard Jing Province in his absence . Earlier in 209 , Liu Bei married Sun Quan ' s younger sister Lady Sun to strengthen the alliance between him and Sun Quan . Because of her brother ' s strong influence , Lady Sun was arrogant and she allowed her close aides to behave lawlessly . Even Liu Bei was afraid of her . When Sun Quan heard that Liu Bei had left for Yi Province , he sent a vessel to Jing Province to fetch his sister home . Lady Sun attempted to bring along Liu Bei ' s son Liu Shan with her , but Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun led their men to blockade the river and they retrieved Liu Shan . Conquest of Yi Province . Around 212 , relations between Liu Bei and Liu Zhang deteriorated to the point of conflict , where Liu Bei started a campaign aimed at seizing Yi Province from Liu Zhang . Liu Bei ordered Zhuge Liang , Zhao Yun , Zhang Fei and others to lead reinforcements into Yi Province to help him , while Guan Yu would remain behind to defend Jing Province . Along the way , Zhang Fei attacked Jiangzhou ( 江州 ; around present - day Yuzhong District , Chongqing ) , which was defended by Yan Yan , the Administrator of Ba commandery ( 巴郡 ) under Liu Zhang , and captured Yan alive . Zhang Fei said to Yan Yan , " When my army showed up , why did you put up resistance instead of surrendering ? " Yan Yan replied , " You people launched an unwarranted attack on my home province . There may be generals in my province who will lose their heads , but there are none who will surrender . " Zhang Fei was enraged and he ordered Yan Yan ' s execution . Yan Yan was expressionless , and he said , " If you want to chop off my head , then do it ! What ' s with all that outburst of anger ? " Zhang Fei was so impressed with Yan Yan ' s courage that he spared and released the latter and treated him like an honoured guest . Zhang Fei ' s army then proceeded to break through Liu Zhang ' s defences until they reached Chengdu ( Yi Province ' s capital ) , where they rendezvoused with Liu Bei and the others . In 215 , Liu Zhang surrendered and yielded Yi Province to Liu Bei . Liu Bei rewarded Zhuge Liang , Fa Zheng , Zhang Fei and Guan Yu each with 500 " jin " of gold , 1 , 000 " jin " of silver , 50 million coins and 1 , 000 rolls of silk . Zhang Fei was also appointed as the Administrator ( 太守 ) of Baxi commandery ( 巴西郡 ; north of present - day Dianjiang County , Chongqing ) . Hanzhong Campaign . Battle of Baxi . In around 216 , Cao Cao attacked and defeated Zhang Lu , after which Hanzhong came under Cao ' s control . Cao Cao left Xiahou Yuan , Zhang He and others behind to defend Hanzhong while he returned to Ye ( 鄴 ) . During that time , Zhang He led his forces to attack Baxi ( 巴西 ) with the aim of forcing Baxi ' s residents to relocate to Hanzhong . His army passed through Dangqu ( 宕渠 ) , Mengtou ( 蒙頭 ) and Dangshi ( 盪石 ) , and encountered Zhang Fei ' s troops . Both sides held their positions for over 50 days , after which Zhang Fei led about 10 , 000 elite soldiers and took an alternative route to attack Zhang He . As the mountain paths were very narrow and inaccessible , Zhang He ' s army was effectively divided into two because the troops at the front and the rear were unable to contact and assist each other , resulting in a victory for Zhang Fei . Zhang He and about ten of his men escaped on foot through a shortcut and retreated back to Nanzheng ( 南鄭 ) . Peace was restored in Baxi . Conquest of Hanzhong . In 217 , Liu Bei mobilised his forces and personally led a campaign to seize control of Hanzhong from Cao Cao . He ordered Zhang Fei and Ma Chao to supervise Wu Lan ( 吳蘭 ) , Lei Tong and Ren Kui ( 任夔 ) to attack Wudu ( 武都 ) , which was defended by Cao Hong . Zhang Fei attempted to trick Cao Hong into believing that they were planning to seal his retreat route , but Cao Xiu saw through the ruse , and Zhang suffered a defeat which absolved him from continuing the campaign - Lei Tong and Ren Kui were killed in action while Wu Lan fled to Yinping ( 陰平 ) and was killed by a Di chieftain Qiangduan ( 強端 ) . In 219 , Liu Bei emerged victorious in the Hanzhong Campaign and proceeded to proclaim himself " King of Hanzhong " ( 漢中王 ) . He appointed Zhang Fei as " General of the Right " ( 右將軍 ) . Liu Bei later planned to return to Chengdu and he wanted to leave a seasoned general behind to guard Hanzhong . Many people believed that Zhang Fei would receive this responsibility and even Zhang himself thought so too . However , much to everyone ' s surprise , Liu Bei chose Wei Yan instead and appointed the latter as the Administrator ( 太守 ) of Hanzhong . Service in Shu Han . In 221 , Liu Bei declared himself emperor and founded the state of Shu Han . He promoted Zhang Fei to " General of Chariots and Cavalry " ( 車騎將軍 ) and " Director of Retainers " ( 司隸校尉 ) , and granted the latter the title of " Marquis of Xi District " ( 西鄉侯 ) . His imperial edict read : " I have received the Mandate of Heaven and inherited the noble work of my ancestors . I am obliged to restore peace and purge the Empire of chaos . As of now , there are villains and barbarians causing destruction and harm to the people , while those who miss the Han Dynasty eagerly hope for its restoration . I feel distressed , I can neither rest well nor have my meals in peace . I have prepared the armies and made an oath to bring Heaven ' s punishment upon those evildoers . You are loyal and resolute , your deeds are comparable to those of Shao Hu , your fame spreads near and far . As such , I give you special appointments , grant you a title of nobility , and put you in charge of affairs in the capital . You are born with Heaven ' s might , you use virtue to win over others , and you dish out punishments to wrongdoers . I am very pleased with you . The " Classic of Poetry " stated : ' Not to distress the people , nor with urgency , but making them conform to the royal state . You have commenced and earnestly displayed your merit , and I will make you happy . ' How can I not give encouragement to you ? " Death . Earlier in late 219 , Sun Quan broke his alliance with Liu Bei and sent his general Lü Meng to lead an invasion on Jing Province , which resulted in the death of Guan Yu and the loss of Jing Province . In 222 , Liu Bei launched a campaign against Sun Quan to take revenge and seize back Jing Province . Zhang Fei was ordered to lead 10 , 000 troops from Langzhong ( 閬中 ) to rendezvous with Liu Bei ' s main force at Jiangzhou ( 江州 ; around present - day Yuzhong District , Chongqing ) . However , before departing , Zhang Fei was assassinated by his subordinates Fan Qiang ( 范彊 ) and Zhang Da ( 張達 ) . They cut off Zhang Fei ' s head and brought it along with them when they defected to Sun Quan ' s side . Zhang Fei ' s camp commandant wrote a report to Liu Bei . When Liu Bei heard that Zhang Fei ' s camp commandant had sent him a report , he exclaimed , " Oh ! ( Zhang ) Fei is dead . " In 260 , Liu Bei ' s son and successor Liu Shan granted Zhang Fei a posthumous title — " Marquis Huan " ( 桓侯 ) . Family . In 200 CE , Zhang Fei chanced upon Xiahou Yuan ' s niece while she was out gathering firewood and he took her home . She was 12 or 13 years old at that time . Zhang Fei knew that she was of good upbringing , so he married her . She bore him a daughter , who later married Liu Shan and became known as Empress Jing ' ai in the state of Shu . Empress Jing ' ai had a younger sister who also married Liu Shan and was known as Empress Zhang . Zhang Fei ' s eldest son Zhang Bao died at a young age . Zhang Bao ' s son , Zhang Zun ( 張遵 ) , served as an Imperial Secretary ( 尚書 ) . In 263 , during the Conquest of Shu by Wei , he followed Zhuge Zhan to defend Mianzhu Pass ( 綿竹關 ) from the Wei general Deng Ai but was killed in action . Zhang Fei ' s second son , Zhang Shao ( 張紹 ) , inherited his father ' s marquis title and served as a " Palace Attendant and Deputy Director in the Imperial Secretariat " ( 侍中尚書僕射 ) in Shu . In 263 , the Shu emperor Liu Shan ordered Zhang Shao , Qiao Zhou and Deng Liang ( 鄧良 ) to represent him when he officially surrendered to Deng Ai and brought an end to the Shu regime . After the fall of Shu , Zhang Shao accompanied Liu Shan to the Wei capital Luoyang , where he was enfeoffed as a marquis along with some other former Shu officials . Appraisal . Chen Shou , who wrote Zhang Fei ' s biography in the " Sanguozhi " , commented on the latter as such : " [ . . . ] Zhang Fei were referred to as mighty warriors capable of fighting thousands of enemies . They were like tigers among ( Liu Bei ' s ) subjects . [ . . . ] Zhang Fei had the style of a " guoshi " when he released Yan Yan out of righteousness . However , [ . . . ] Zhang Fei was brutal and heartless , and these shortcomings resulted in their downfalls . This was not something uncommon . " Cheng Yu , an advisor to Cao Cao , also once mentioned that Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were " capable of fighting thousands of enemies " . In the main text of Zhang Fei ' s biography , Chen Shou wrote that Zhang Fei respected virtuous persons and detested those of vile character . Liu Bei had constantly warned Zhang Fei about his barbaric behaviour as he once told the latter , " You have dealt out far too excessive punishments . You often flog your men , who are actually the ones who will carry out your orders . Your behaviour will get you into trouble . " Zhang Fei still did not change his ways . In fiction . In the historical novel " Romance of the Three Kingdoms " , Zhang Fei ' s is written as 翼德 in Chinese instead of 益德 , but both names have the same pronunciation . Zhang Fei was also described to be an alcoholic , and his obsession with wine caused his judgement to be affected from time to time . Throughout the novel , Zhang Fei was shown as an exceedingly loyal and formidable warrior , but also a short - tempered man , who often got into trouble more often when he was not on the battlefield . His weapon was a " 1 . 8 " zhang " long steel spear " ( 丈八點鋼矛 ) , which was also called a " 1 . 8 " zhang " long serpent spear " ( 丈八蛇矛 ) because its head was shaped like a serpent . See the following for some fictitious stories in " Romance of the Three Kingdoms " involving Zhang Fei : Modern references . The Kuomintang general Zhang Fakui was nicknamed " Zhang Fei " . In 1959 , the People ' s Liberation Army marshal Peng Dehuai identified himself with Zhang Fei . Because Mao Zedong was popularly associated with Cao Cao , Mao and other members of the Chinese Communist Party interpreted Peng ' s identification with Zhang as confrontational , eventually leading to Mao ending Peng ' s career . Zhang Fei appears on the Kunqu stage as a " hualian " . In one particular famous scene , " The Swaying Reeds " , Zhang Fei ambushes and humiliates Zhou Yu before setting him free . Zhang Fei is featured as a playable character in all instalments of Koei ' s " Dynasty Warriors " video game series , as well as " Warriors Orochi " , a crossover between " Dynasty Warriors " and " Samurai Warriors " . He also appears in other video games produced by Koei , such as " Romance of the Three Kingdoms " , " Dynasty Tactics " and " Kessen II " . Other non - Koei titles that he is featured in include " Clash of Kingdoms " , " " and " Destiny of an Emperor " . In the collectible card game " " , there is a card named " Zhang Fei , Fierce Warrior " in the " Portal Three Kingdoms " set . In " Koihime Musō " , Zhang Fei is portrayed as a young female character who was given the real name " Rinrin " .