Battle of Changban
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Changban was a battle fought between the warlords Cao Cao
and Liu Bei
in 208 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms
period of Chinese history
. The battle took place at Changban (south of present-day Duodao District
, Jingmen
, Hubei
).
and Hunan
), governed by Liu Biao
at the time. Initial minor invasions led by Xiahou Dun
were repelled by Liu Biao's vassal Liu Bei, whose forces were stationed at Xinye
at the northern border of Jing Province. Following that, Cao Cao personally led his armies south to attack Jing province in the seventh lunar month of 208.
In the eighth month, when Cao Cao's forces had reached Wancheng (present-day Nanyang, Henan
), Liu Biao died of illness and was succeeded by his younger son, Liu Cong. Liu Cong's advisers Kuai Yue
and Fu Xun (傅巽) convinced Liu Cong that he could not resist Cao Cao even with Liu Bei's help, so Liu Cong agreed to surrender. Liu Bei, who was at Fancheng at the time, was not informed of Liu Cong's decision to surrender. When Liu Bei became suspicious, he sent an attendant to Xiangyang to question Liu Cong, and only then would Liu Cong pass the news to Liu Bei through his subordinate official Song Zhong (宋忠). Dismayed, Liu Bei drew his sword on Song Zhong, but did not kill him. Surrender was not an option to Liu Bei, since he had been involved in an assassination plot to remove Cao Cao when Liu was in the service of Cao roughly ten years ago and it was unlikely that Cao would forgive him.
Liu Bei then called for a council of his advisors. Zhuge Liang
suggested that Liu Bei should attack Liu Cong to secure Jing Province and defend against Cao Cao there, but Liu Bei rejected this and said, "as Liu Jingzhou (Liu Biao) was dying, he entrusted his orphans to me. I cannot turn from this obligation and seek my own advantage. How am I to face Liu Jingzhou after I die?". Not willing to fall under the hands of Cao Cao, Liu Bei gathered his men and marched to the south. As he passed Xiangyang he called out to Liu Cong, but Liu Cong dared not see him and hid. Many officials and civilians of Xiangyang followed Liu Bei as he left, as he was greatly respected by the people.
In the ninth month, Liu Cong set out from Xiangyang towards Xinye to receive Cao Cao, surrendering Jing Province. Cao Cao took over the command of Jing Province's military, especially its naval fleet, a component which Cao Cao's forces lacked. Fearing that Liu Bei would take the southern base of Jiangling, Cao Cao swiftly gave chase to Liu Bei with 5,000 elite horsemen, leaving his baggage behind. As Liu Bei was bringing along more than 100,000 unarmed people and thousands of carts of luggage, his force could not move very quickly. Someone suggested to Liu Bei that he should abandon the people for his safety, but Liu Bei did not have the heart to desert them when the people risked their own lives to follow him. Instead, Liu Bei had Guan Yu
sail ahead down the Han River with a detachment of several hundred ships and take a roundabout route to Jiangling, where they planned to rendezvous.
Cao Cao's cavalry caught up to Liu Bei's congregation at Changban, Dangyang Commandery, and Liu Bei had to flee for his life, galloping away south with Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun
and Zhuge Liang, while leaving his family and the populace behind. Cao Cao's forces captured all his army and his baggage. Xu Shu
, a friend of Zhuge Liang who was also serving Liu Bei at the time, requested leave from Liu and left to serve Cao Cao after learning that his mother was captured by Cao's men. Liu Bei's two daughters were also captured by Cao Chun
in the battle.
Zhang Fei commanded 20 horsemen as rearguard. He held the river and broke the bridges down; looking fierce and shaking his lance, he shouted, "I am Zhang Yide (using his own style name). Come and battle me to the death!" None of Cao Cao's men dared to go near him, buying time for Liu Bei to escape.
As Zhang Fei retreated with Liu Bei, Cao Cao ordered his men to build pontoon bridges and launch an assault, but a timely arrival of Guan Yu and his forces prevented Cao Cao from fully attaining victory.
In the chaos, Zhao Yun disappeared to the north, prompting suspicion that he had surrendered to Cao Cao. When someone reported that to Liu Bei, Liu angrily threw a handaxe and said "Zilong (Zhao Yun) would never desert me." Surely enough, Zhao Yun came back with Liu Bei's infant son Liu Shan
in his arms along with Lady Gan
. With this, Zhao Yun was promoted to General of the Standard (牙門將軍).
Turning east from Changban, Liu Bei and the remnants of his party had crossed the Han River to the east where Liu Qi, Liu Biao's elder son, still held control of Jiangxia Commandery (present-day Yunmeng County
, Hubei). They met Guan Yu's fleet and over 10,000 men led by Liu Qi in Hanjin (漢津). Together, they sailed down the river to Xiakou
.
Cao Cao did not follow up in immediate pursuit. The main objective of his drive to the south had been the base at Jiangling, and he pressed on south to secure that base first.
suggested that Cao should make full use of the resources in Jing Province to settle his troops before further territorial expansions, but Cao Cao preferred to use the momentum from his victories to attack Jiangdong next.
Lu Su
, a statesman under the Jiangdong
warlord Sun Quan
, was originally on a mission to offer condolences for Liu Biao's death. By the time he reached Jing Province, however, Liu Cong had already surrendered and Liu Bei had fled south. Lu Su went to see Liu Bei at Changban and, after Liu's defeat, followed him to Xiakou. There he asked where Liu Bei was heading after, and Liu replied that he plans to take refuge under Wu Ju (吳巨), an old friend, in the distant Cangwu
Commandery (蒼梧; eastern portion of present-day Guangxi
). To this, Lu Su dissuaded Liu Bei from joining Wu Ju, saying Wu was only an ordinary fellow who would not be independent for long; and persuaded Liu Bei to form an alliance with his lord Sun Quan against Cao Cao. Liu Bei was pleased at this suggestion, and sent Zhuge Liang to follow Lu Su back to meet Sun Quan and secure the alliance.
The successful formation of the Sun-Liu alliance led to the Battle of Red Cliffs
shortly after in the same year, where the allied forces defeated Cao Cao's overwhelming fleets, driving him back north and forming the basis of the Three Kingdoms
.
's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
, the battle was romanticized into a showcase of the power and bravery of Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun
.
Liu Bei was leading thousands of civilians with him when Cao Cao's 5,000 cavalry caught up with them at Changban, Dangyang, where Liu was defeated and he escaped under Zhang Fei's cover. He was separated from his wife Lady Mi
and infant son A'dou
during the chaos. Zhao Yun charged through enemy lines in search of Liu Bei's family and eventually found Lady Mi and A'dou beside a well. Lady Mi was happy to see Zhao Yun and she entrusted A'dou to him, after which she committed suicide by throwing herself into a well, not wanting to be a burden to them. Zhao Yun attempted to stop her but was too late, so he knocked down a nearby wall to conceal the well and prevent enemy soldiers from finding her body. He then strapped A'dou to his chest and covered him with a piece of armour.
During the escape, Zhao Yun encountered the enemy general Xiahou En
, who was bearing Cao Cao's prized Qinggang Sword (青釭劍), and swiftly slew him and gained the sword. Cao Cao was impressed by Zhao Yun's bravery and gave orders to only capture Zhao alive, in hope of turning Zhao to his side. As Zhao Yun was fighting his way out, he encountered many enemy generals who attempted to capture him. After escaping from an encirclement by four generals, another unit led by Zhang He
blocked his path, so Zhao Yun engaged Zhang in a duel. After fighting for more than ten rounds, Zhao Yun feared that prolonging the battle might hurt Liu Bei's son, so he broke off the contest and fled, but his horse fell into a ditch. Just as Zhang He was approaching for the kill, a beam of red light formed an arc over the ditch, causing Zhang He to fall back. Zhao Yun's steed leapt out and sped off.
Cao Cao's troops pursued Zhao Yun all the way to Changban Bridge, where they encountered Zhang Fei standing guard alone on the bridge. Zhang Fei yelled, "I'm Zhang Yide of Yan
. Who dares to fight with me?" Cao Cao's men saw that Zhang Fei was so fierce and resolute so they were afraid to advance. They also noticed clouds of dust in the woods behind Zhang Fei and thought there was an ambush. Zhang Fei then shouted, "What mean you? You neither fight nor run away!" It was then Xiahou Jie (夏侯傑), a general under Cao Cao, was so frightened of Zhang Fei that he died of shock. Cao Cao recalled Guan Yu
's comment on Zhang Fei's bravado and ordered his men to retreat and take a detour. After the enemy left, Zhang Fei destroyed the bridge and regrouped with Liu Bei and his surviving men.
Zhao Yun had slain 54 of Cao Cao's generals and charged in and out of enemy lines a total of seven times. However, many argued that the "generals" slain by Zhao Yun were mostly insignificant, and were probably minor mounted officers. By then, Zhao Yun had returned to Liu Bei's side safely, bringing along with him A'dou. When Zhao Yun presented A'dou to Liu Bei, Liu threw his son to the ground, saying that his son had almost cost him one of his best generals. Zhao Yun caught A'dou in time and reaffirmed his allegiance to his lord, pledging to serve Liu Bei with his life. In the context of that era, Liu Bei's action was not considered in a negative light, since a brave and mighty warrior like Zhao Yun was more useful to Liu Bei than an infant son. Modern detractors of Liu Bei suggest that this incident caused A'dou to suffer from brain damage and grow up to become an incompetent heir to the state of Shu Han
established by his father. However, there is little truth that can be attributed to these claims, since the account of Liu Bei throwing his son to the ground is fictional.
.
The battle is also featured in John Woo
's 2008 film Red Cliff.
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
and Liu Bei
Liu Bei
Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
in 208 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
. The battle took place at Changban (south of present-day Duodao District
Duodao District
Duodao District is a district of Hubei, China. It is under the administration of Jingmen city....
, Jingmen
Jingmen
Jingmen is a prefecture-level city in Hubei province of the People's Republic of China. Jingmen is within an area where cotton and oil crops are planted. The population of the city is approximately 2,984,000 . The urban area of Jingmen City has a population of about 350,000...
, Hubei
Hubei
' Hupeh) is a province in Central China. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Lake Dongting...
).
Background
After Cao Cao unified northern China in 207, he made arrangements for a southern campaign on Jing Province (荊州; covering present-day HubeiHubei
' Hupeh) is a province in Central China. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Lake Dongting...
and Hunan
Hunan
' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...
), governed by Liu Biao
Liu Biao
Liu Biao , style name Jingsheng , was a warlord and the governor of Jing Province during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was a member of the extended family of the Han Dynasty emperors...
at the time. Initial minor invasions led by Xiahou Dun
Xiahou Dun
Xiahou Dun was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. Cao Cao's original family name was Xiahou, but his father Cao Song was the adopted son of the eunuch Cao Teng, so Xiahou Dun and Cao Cao share blood relations...
were repelled by Liu Biao's vassal Liu Bei, whose forces were stationed at Xinye
Xinye County
Xinye is one of the counties of Nanyang that lies in the southwest of Henan province in central China. Its south is Xiangfan city of Hubei province . Itseast is Tanghe county of Nanyang. Its west is county-level city...
at the northern border of Jing Province. Following that, Cao Cao personally led his armies south to attack Jing province in the seventh lunar month of 208.
In the eighth month, when Cao Cao's forces had reached Wancheng (present-day Nanyang, Henan
Nanyang, Henan
Nanyang is a prefecture-level city in the southwest of Henan province, People's Republic of China. The city with the largest administrative area in Henan, Nanyang borders Xinyang to the southeast, Zhumadian to the east, Pingdingshan to the northeast, Luoyang to the north, Sanmenxia to the...
), Liu Biao died of illness and was succeeded by his younger son, Liu Cong. Liu Cong's advisers Kuai Yue
Kuai Yue
Kuai Yue , style name Yidu , was an advisor to the warlord Liu Biao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was the younger brother of Kuai Liang. When Liu Biao died and Liu Cong succeeded him, Kuai Yue recommended that he surrender to Cao Cao...
and Fu Xun (傅巽) convinced Liu Cong that he could not resist Cao Cao even with Liu Bei's help, so Liu Cong agreed to surrender. Liu Bei, who was at Fancheng at the time, was not informed of Liu Cong's decision to surrender. When Liu Bei became suspicious, he sent an attendant to Xiangyang to question Liu Cong, and only then would Liu Cong pass the news to Liu Bei through his subordinate official Song Zhong (宋忠). Dismayed, Liu Bei drew his sword on Song Zhong, but did not kill him. Surrender was not an option to Liu Bei, since he had been involved in an assassination plot to remove Cao Cao when Liu was in the service of Cao roughly ten years ago and it was unlikely that Cao would forgive him.
Liu Bei then called for a council of his advisors. Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang was a chancellor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era....
suggested that Liu Bei should attack Liu Cong to secure Jing Province and defend against Cao Cao there, but Liu Bei rejected this and said, "as Liu Jingzhou (Liu Biao) was dying, he entrusted his orphans to me. I cannot turn from this obligation and seek my own advantage. How am I to face Liu Jingzhou after I die?". Not willing to fall under the hands of Cao Cao, Liu Bei gathered his men and marched to the south. As he passed Xiangyang he called out to Liu Cong, but Liu Cong dared not see him and hid. Many officials and civilians of Xiangyang followed Liu Bei as he left, as he was greatly respected by the people.
In the ninth month, Liu Cong set out from Xiangyang towards Xinye to receive Cao Cao, surrendering Jing Province. Cao Cao took over the command of Jing Province's military, especially its naval fleet, a component which Cao Cao's forces lacked. Fearing that Liu Bei would take the southern base of Jiangling, Cao Cao swiftly gave chase to Liu Bei with 5,000 elite horsemen, leaving his baggage behind. As Liu Bei was bringing along more than 100,000 unarmed people and thousands of carts of luggage, his force could not move very quickly. Someone suggested to Liu Bei that he should abandon the people for his safety, but Liu Bei did not have the heart to desert them when the people risked their own lives to follow him. Instead, Liu Bei had Guan Yu
Guan Yu
Guan Yu was a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. He played a significant role in the civil war that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty and the establishment of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, of which Liu Bei was the...
sail ahead down the Han River with a detachment of several hundred ships and take a roundabout route to Jiangling, where they planned to rendezvous.
The battle
Zhao Yun
Zhao Yun was a military general who lived during the late Han Dynasty and early Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. For most of his career, Zhao served the warlord Liu Bei, playing a part in the establishment of state of Shu Han...
and Zhuge Liang, while leaving his family and the populace behind. Cao Cao's forces captured all his army and his baggage. Xu Shu
Xu Shu
Xu Shu was an advisor to the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He initially served Liu Bei before joining Cao Cao in 208.-Biography:...
, a friend of Zhuge Liang who was also serving Liu Bei at the time, requested leave from Liu and left to serve Cao Cao after learning that his mother was captured by Cao's men. Liu Bei's two daughters were also captured by Cao Chun
Cao Chun
Cao Chun was a cavalry general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He commanded the elite mounted force – the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry – in several campaigns against Yuan Tan, Tadun and Liu Bei.-Biography:Cao Chun was a younger...
in the battle.
Zhang Fei commanded 20 horsemen as rearguard. He held the river and broke the bridges down; looking fierce and shaking his lance, he shouted, "I am Zhang Yide (using his own style name). Come and battle me to the death!" None of Cao Cao's men dared to go near him, buying time for Liu Bei to escape.
As Zhang Fei retreated with Liu Bei, Cao Cao ordered his men to build pontoon bridges and launch an assault, but a timely arrival of Guan Yu and his forces prevented Cao Cao from fully attaining victory.
In the chaos, Zhao Yun disappeared to the north, prompting suspicion that he had surrendered to Cao Cao. When someone reported that to Liu Bei, Liu angrily threw a handaxe and said "Zilong (Zhao Yun) would never desert me." Surely enough, Zhao Yun came back with Liu Bei's infant son Liu Shan
Liu Shan
Liu Shan, , was the second and last emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. As he ascended the throne at the young age of 16, Liu Shan was entrusted to the care of the Chancellor Zhuge Liang and Imperial Secretariat Li Yan...
in his arms along with Lady Gan
Lady Gan
Lady Gan was Liu Bei's first wife and mother of Liu Shan. Very little is mentioned about her. She was posthumously named as Empress Zhaolie and was buried alongside Liu Bei.-See also:*List of people of the Three Kingdoms...
. With this, Zhao Yun was promoted to General of the Standard (牙門將軍).
Turning east from Changban, Liu Bei and the remnants of his party had crossed the Han River to the east where Liu Qi, Liu Biao's elder son, still held control of Jiangxia Commandery (present-day Yunmeng County
Yunmeng County
Yunmeng County is a county in Hubei Province, People's Republic of China administered by Xiaogan City.-History:...
, Hubei). They met Guan Yu's fleet and over 10,000 men led by Liu Qi in Hanjin (漢津). Together, they sailed down the river to Xiakou
Hankou
Hankou was one of the three cities whose merging formed modern-day Wuhan, the capital of the Hubei province, China. It stands north of the Han and Yangtze Rivers where the Han falls into the Yangtze...
.
Cao Cao did not follow up in immediate pursuit. The main objective of his drive to the south had been the base at Jiangling, and he pressed on south to secure that base first.
Aftermath
After the Battle of Changban, the land of Jing Province west of the Han River became territories of Cao Cao. Cao Cao entered Jiangling and pacified the officials and peasants there. Cao Cao's advisor Jia XuJia Xu
Jia Xu , style name Wenhe , was an advisor to the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He previously served Dong Zhuo, Li Jue and Zhang Xiu before finally joining Cao Cao...
suggested that Cao should make full use of the resources in Jing Province to settle his troops before further territorial expansions, but Cao Cao preferred to use the momentum from his victories to attack Jiangdong next.
Lu Su
Lu Su
Lu Su , style name Zijing , was a politician, militarist and diplomat serving under the warlord Sun Quan during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history...
, a statesman under the Jiangdong
Jiangnan
Jiangnan or Jiang Nan is a geographic area in China referring to lands immediately to the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, including the southern part of the Yangtze Delta...
warlord Sun Quan
Sun Quan
Sun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
, was originally on a mission to offer condolences for Liu Biao's death. By the time he reached Jing Province, however, Liu Cong had already surrendered and Liu Bei had fled south. Lu Su went to see Liu Bei at Changban and, after Liu's defeat, followed him to Xiakou. There he asked where Liu Bei was heading after, and Liu replied that he plans to take refuge under Wu Ju (吳巨), an old friend, in the distant Cangwu
Cangwu County
Cangwu County is a county of Guangxi, China. It is under the administration of Wuzhou city....
Commandery (蒼梧; eastern portion of present-day Guangxi
Guangxi
Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
). To this, Lu Su dissuaded Liu Bei from joining Wu Ju, saying Wu was only an ordinary fellow who would not be independent for long; and persuaded Liu Bei to form an alliance with his lord Sun Quan against Cao Cao. Liu Bei was pleased at this suggestion, and sent Zhuge Liang to follow Lu Su back to meet Sun Quan and secure the alliance.
The successful formation of the Sun-Liu alliance led to the Battle of Red Cliffs
Battle of Red Cliffs
The Battle of Red Cliffs, otherwise known as the Battle of Chibi, was a decisive battle at the end of the Han Dynasty, immediately prior to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. It was fought in the winter of 208/9 AD between the allied forces of the southern warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan...
shortly after in the same year, where the allied forces defeated Cao Cao's overwhelming fleets, driving him back north and forming the basis of the Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
.
In fiction
In Luo GuanzhongLuo Guanzhong
Luo Ben , better known by his style name Luo Guanzhong , was a Chinese writer of the early Ming Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was also known as Huhai Sanren...
's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based on the events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in...
, the battle was romanticized into a showcase of the power and bravery of Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun
Zhao Yun
Zhao Yun was a military general who lived during the late Han Dynasty and early Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. For most of his career, Zhao served the warlord Liu Bei, playing a part in the establishment of state of Shu Han...
.
Liu Bei was leading thousands of civilians with him when Cao Cao's 5,000 cavalry caught up with them at Changban, Dangyang, where Liu was defeated and he escaped under Zhang Fei's cover. He was separated from his wife Lady Mi
Lady Mi
Lady Mi was the second wife of the warlord Liu Bei, who lived during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Lady Mi was the sister of Mi Zhu and Mi Fang, who previously served the warlord Tao Qian before joining Liu Bei's side...
and infant son A'dou
Liu Shan
Liu Shan, , was the second and last emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. As he ascended the throne at the young age of 16, Liu Shan was entrusted to the care of the Chancellor Zhuge Liang and Imperial Secretariat Li Yan...
during the chaos. Zhao Yun charged through enemy lines in search of Liu Bei's family and eventually found Lady Mi and A'dou beside a well. Lady Mi was happy to see Zhao Yun and she entrusted A'dou to him, after which she committed suicide by throwing herself into a well, not wanting to be a burden to them. Zhao Yun attempted to stop her but was too late, so he knocked down a nearby wall to conceal the well and prevent enemy soldiers from finding her body. He then strapped A'dou to his chest and covered him with a piece of armour.
During the escape, Zhao Yun encountered the enemy general Xiahou En
Xiahou En
Xiahou En is a fictional character in Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. He was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao. He carried the Qinggang sword, one of Cao's prized personal weapons...
, who was bearing Cao Cao's prized Qinggang Sword (青釭劍), and swiftly slew him and gained the sword. Cao Cao was impressed by Zhao Yun's bravery and gave orders to only capture Zhao alive, in hope of turning Zhao to his side. As Zhao Yun was fighting his way out, he encountered many enemy generals who attempted to capture him. After escaping from an encirclement by four generals, another unit led by Zhang He
Zhang He
Zhang He was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history. He continued serving the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period until his death....
blocked his path, so Zhao Yun engaged Zhang in a duel. After fighting for more than ten rounds, Zhao Yun feared that prolonging the battle might hurt Liu Bei's son, so he broke off the contest and fled, but his horse fell into a ditch. Just as Zhang He was approaching for the kill, a beam of red light formed an arc over the ditch, causing Zhang He to fall back. Zhao Yun's steed leapt out and sped off.
Cao Cao's troops pursued Zhao Yun all the way to Changban Bridge, where they encountered Zhang Fei standing guard alone on the bridge. Zhang Fei yelled, "I'm Zhang Yide of Yan
Yan (state)
Yān was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji...
. Who dares to fight with me?" Cao Cao's men saw that Zhang Fei was so fierce and resolute so they were afraid to advance. They also noticed clouds of dust in the woods behind Zhang Fei and thought there was an ambush. Zhang Fei then shouted, "What mean you? You neither fight nor run away!" It was then Xiahou Jie (夏侯傑), a general under Cao Cao, was so frightened of Zhang Fei that he died of shock. Cao Cao recalled Guan Yu
Guan Yu
Guan Yu was a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. He played a significant role in the civil war that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty and the establishment of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, of which Liu Bei was the...
's comment on Zhang Fei's bravado and ordered his men to retreat and take a detour. After the enemy left, Zhang Fei destroyed the bridge and regrouped with Liu Bei and his surviving men.
Zhao Yun had slain 54 of Cao Cao's generals and charged in and out of enemy lines a total of seven times. However, many argued that the "generals" slain by Zhao Yun were mostly insignificant, and were probably minor mounted officers. By then, Zhao Yun had returned to Liu Bei's side safely, bringing along with him A'dou. When Zhao Yun presented A'dou to Liu Bei, Liu threw his son to the ground, saying that his son had almost cost him one of his best generals. Zhao Yun caught A'dou in time and reaffirmed his allegiance to his lord, pledging to serve Liu Bei with his life. In the context of that era, Liu Bei's action was not considered in a negative light, since a brave and mighty warrior like Zhao Yun was more useful to Liu Bei than an infant son. Modern detractors of Liu Bei suggest that this incident caused A'dou to suffer from brain damage and grow up to become an incompetent heir to the state of Shu Han
Shu Han
Shu Han was one of the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period, after the fall of the Han Dynasty. The state was based on areas around Sichuan, which was then known as Shu...
established by his father. However, there is little truth that can be attributed to these claims, since the account of Liu Bei throwing his son to the ground is fictional.
Modern references
The Battle of Changban is the highlight of Zhao Yun's story mode in Koei's video game series Dynasty WarriorsDynasty Warriors
is a series of tactical action video games created by Omega Force and Koei. The award-winning series is a spin-off of Koei's turn-based strategy Romance of the Three Kingdoms series, based loosely around the Chinese classical novel of the same name. The first game titled Dynasty Warriors,...
.
The battle is also featured in John Woo
John Woo
John Woo Yu-Sen SBS is a Hong Kong-based film director and producer. Recognized for his stylised films of highly choreographed action sequences, Mexican standoffs, and use of slow-motion, Woo has directed several notable Hong Kong action films, among them, A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, Hard...
's 2008 film Red Cliff.