Pan Zhang
Encyclopedia
Pan Zhang was a military general of Eastern Wu
during the late Han Dynasty
and Three Kingdoms
era of Chinese history
. Although an active general with high rank, he was known to desire wealth and treasure, and to dress himself in a gaudy fashion. It was said that he would kill wealthy officials or soldiers in order to confiscate their wealth for his own.
, Shandong
). He began to follow Sun Quan
after the latter rose to Chief of Yanxian. Known as a heavy drinker and a complusive gambler, Pan frequently borrowed money to quench these habits, when his creditors asked him to return the money, he always claimed he would repay the debts when he became endowed with wealth. Due to his "distinguished" character, Sun noticed Pan and had him assigned as a captain. He became popular for his powers to cease crime in any area he lived, and was know to be a strong disciplinarian thereafter.
, the warlord of Jing Province constantly sent his pawns to raid the area, but once Pan stationed there, Liu's men stopped the pillage. He was promoted to the rank of a colonel, and quelled a local uprising before he was summoned to Sun's headquarter, Jianye.
During the Battle of Xiaoyao Ford
, the northern warlord, Cao Cao
left the defense of Hefei fortress to Zhang Liao, who personally led the charge into Sun Quan's formation, and slew Sun's bodyguard leader, Chen Wu. Sun's generals Song Qian and Xu Sheng
were unable to resist Zhang and fled, the soldiers deserted following their superiors. Sun was thus an open target for Zhang's cavalry; but Pan chased after the deserting troops of Song and Xu and had two of them executed: the soldiers were shocked and turned back, successfully pushed Zhang back into the fortress. Sun admired Pan's military discipline and granted him the title of Major General for his performance in this particular incident.
In 219, Pan participated in Lü Meng
's invasion of Jing Province
, and with Zhu Ran
, they blocked two possible return routes of the enemy commander, Guan Yu
. Correctly predicting Guan's retreat route, Pan's subordinate, Ma Zhong
had Guan Yu and Guan Ping
captured alive. In recognition of Pan's effort, Sun Quan immediately split Zigui and Yidu to form a new commandery, and had Pan appointed as the Governor.
After losing Jing Province and his close aide, Guan Yu, the Shu emperor Liu Bei
resolved to retake Jing Province, and launched the biggest expedition in Shu history
in 222. Under the command of Lu Xun
, Pan pulled back to Xiaoting from Guling, and prepared for a final showdown with the massive army of Liu. After several months of standoff, Lu ordered an incursion into one of Liu's camps and found out the camps were linked with wooden fences; Lu then ordered a large scaled fire attack. Pan joined Lu's operation: in the battle, his unit had Liu's Protector-of-the-Army, Feng Xi
killed, and incurred great damage to the Shu Han forces.
. Once, the Wei emperor, Cao Pi
sent Zhang He
, Xu Huang
, Cao Zhen
and Xiahou Shang
to invade Nan Commandery with the immediate goal to capture Jiangling city, which Zhu Ran guarded with 5,000 troops. Wei vanguard of 30,000 led by Xiahou built wooden bridges to cross a stream to land the Hundred Miles Island (百里洲), while none of the Wu generals could locate the crossing points of the Wei troops. Pan then told his comrades that the Wei troops were highly spirited and the water level was low, so they'd better avoid battles with them at the moment. Following the river upstream, Pan ordered his soldiers to collect a few hundred million bundles of reeds, and attached them atop some large rafts and set them on fire. He then sent the rafts downstream so that they would burn the wooden bridges being used by Wei. Sensing the danger of being isolated, Xiahou withdrew from the island before his retreat route would be destroyed. For his effort in the siege, Pan was promoted to the rank of General of the Right (右将軍).
Pan's last battle was the invasion of Shiyang, in which he was tasked with guarding the rear when Wu forces retreated from the area. However, he laid his guard down one night, a mistake he never committed before, and was targeted by the enemy and defeated. Pan was barely saved when Zhu Ran led reinforcement to the scene.
Pan died in 234 of a natural course, and was not succeeded by his son, Pan Ping, because the latter was exiled to Kuaiji for poor conduct; however, Pan Zhang's wife was allowed to stay in Jianye, and was granted with fiefs and 50 households of tenant farmers.
's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
, Pan captured Guan Yu in an ambush during the invasion of Jing Province. He was given Guan's famed weapon, the Green Dragon Crescent Blade, as a reward.
On one of the nights before the Battle of Xiaoting, Pan barged into a peasant hut for rest. Coincidentally, Guan Yu's son Guan Xing
was also in the hut for the same reason. When Pan entered, he saw a portrait of Guan Yu and was so stunned that he dropped the Green Dragon Crescent Blade. Guan Xing picked up the weapon and killed Pan to avenge his father.
Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu, also known as Sun Wu, was one the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period after the fall of the Han Dynasty. It was based in the Jiangnan region of China...
during the late Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
and 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...
era 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...
. Although an active general with high rank, he was known to desire wealth and treasure, and to dress himself in a gaudy fashion. It was said that he would kill wealthy officials or soldiers in order to confiscate their wealth for his own.
Early life and career
Pan was from Fagan, Dong Commandery (east of present-day Guan CountyGuan County, Shandong
Guan County is a county of western Shandong province, People's Republic of China, bordered by Hebei province to the west. It is administered by Liaocheng City.The population was in 1999.- External links :*...
, Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
). He began to follow 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....
after the latter rose to Chief of Yanxian. Known as a heavy drinker and a complusive gambler, Pan frequently borrowed money to quench these habits, when his creditors asked him to return the money, he always claimed he would repay the debts when he became endowed with wealth. Due to his "distinguished" character, Sun noticed Pan and had him assigned as a captain. He became popular for his powers to cease crime in any area he lived, and was know to be a strong disciplinarian thereafter.
Service under Sun Quan
Pan was promoted to be prefect of Xi'an county of Yuzhang commandery. At the time, Liu BiaoLiu 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...
, the warlord of Jing Province constantly sent his pawns to raid the area, but once Pan stationed there, Liu's men stopped the pillage. He was promoted to the rank of a colonel, and quelled a local uprising before he was summoned to Sun's headquarter, Jianye.
During the Battle of Xiaoyao Ford
Battle of Xiaoyao Ford
The Battle of Xiaoyao Ford, also known as the Battle of Leisure Ford, Battle of Hefei, and Hefei Campaign, was fought between the warlords Cao Cao and Sun Quan between 215 and 217 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history over the control of Hefei...
, the northern warlord, Cao Cao
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...
left the defense of Hefei fortress to Zhang Liao, who personally led the charge into Sun Quan's formation, and slew Sun's bodyguard leader, Chen Wu. Sun's generals Song Qian and Xu Sheng
Xu Sheng
Xu Sheng , style name Wenxiang , was a military general of Eastern Wu during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He fought in at least 5 wars for the southern regime during his lifetime...
were unable to resist Zhang and fled, the soldiers deserted following their superiors. Sun was thus an open target for Zhang's cavalry; but Pan chased after the deserting troops of Song and Xu and had two of them executed: the soldiers were shocked and turned back, successfully pushed Zhang back into the fortress. Sun admired Pan's military discipline and granted him the title of Major General for his performance in this particular incident.
In 219, Pan participated in Lü Meng
Lü Meng
Lü Meng was a military general serving under the warlord Sun Quan during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He served as the commanding general in the invasion of Jing Province that led to the death of Guan Yu.-Early life:Lü Meng was born in Fupo, Runan Commandery in 178...
's invasion of Jing Province
Lü Meng's invasion of Jing Province
Lü Meng's invasion of Jing Province was a battle fought between the warlords Sun Quan and Liu Bei in 219 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Sun Quan's forces, led by Lü Meng, invaded Liu Bei's territory of Jing Province , which was defended by Guan Yu, and succeeded...
, and with Zhu Ran
Zhu Ran
Zhu Ran was a military general of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. Despite being a childhood friend of the first emperor of Eastern Wu, Sun Quan, he was never tasked with important position nor assignment before Lü Meng's invasion of southern Jing Province in 219,...
, they blocked two possible return routes of the enemy commander, 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...
. Correctly predicting Guan's retreat route, Pan's subordinate, Ma Zhong
Ma Zhong (Han Dynasty)
Ma Zhong was a general serving under the warlord Sun Quan during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. Under Pan Zhang's command, he captured Guan Yu and Guan Ping during Lü Meng's invasion of Jing Province.-In fiction:...
had Guan Yu and Guan Ping
Guan Ping
Guan Ping was the oldest son of the military general Guan Yu and older brother of Guan Xing. He served under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history...
captured alive. In recognition of Pan's effort, Sun Quan immediately split Zigui and Yidu to form a new commandery, and had Pan appointed as the Governor.
After losing Jing Province and his close aide, Guan Yu, the Shu emperor 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...
resolved to retake Jing Province, and launched the biggest expedition in Shu history
Battle of Xiaoting
The Battle of Xiaoting, also known as the Battle of Yiling and the Battle of Yiling and Xiaoting, was fought between the states of Eastern Wu and Shu Han in 222 during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
in 222. Under the command of Lu Xun
Lu Xun (Three Kingdoms)
Lu Xun was a military general and politician of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He is best known for defeating Liu Bei's forces at the Battle of Xiaoting in 222.-Early life:...
, Pan pulled back to Xiaoting from Guling, and prepared for a final showdown with the massive army of Liu. After several months of standoff, Lu ordered an incursion into one of Liu's camps and found out the camps were linked with wooden fences; Lu then ordered a large scaled fire attack. Pan joined Lu's operation: in the battle, his unit had Liu's Protector-of-the-Army, Feng Xi
Feng Xi
Feng Xi , style name Xiuyuan , was a military general of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history.In 221, Liu Bei launched a campaign against Sun Quan's forces, starting the Battle of Xiaoting. Feng participated in the initial stages of the battle, joining Wu Ban in defeating...
killed, and incurred great damage to the Shu Han forces.
Later life and death
In Pan's later years, he was tasked with the defense against the state of Cao WeiCao Wei
Cao Wei was one of the states that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period. With the capital at Luoyang, the state was established by Cao Pi in 220, based upon the foundations that his father Cao Cao laid...
. Once, the Wei emperor, Cao Pi
Cao Pi
Cao Pi , formally known as Emperor Wen of Wei, was the first emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Born in Qiao County, Pei Commandery , he was the second son of the late Han Dynasty warlord Cao Cao.Cao Pi, like his father, was a poet...
sent 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....
, Xu Huang
Xu Huang
Xu Huang was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history. He served the state of Cao Wei, founded by Cao Cao's successor Cao Pi, during the Three Kingdoms period...
, Cao Zhen
Cao Zhen
Cao Zhen was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He served the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. He was also a distant nephew of Cao Cao, though the latter treated him like a son. Cao Zhen participated in many...
and Xiahou Shang
Xiahou Shang
Xiahou Shang was a military general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was a distant nephew of Xiahou Yuan and father of Xiahou Xuan and Lady Xiahou Hui.-Biography:...
to invade Nan Commandery with the immediate goal to capture Jiangling city, which Zhu Ran guarded with 5,000 troops. Wei vanguard of 30,000 led by Xiahou built wooden bridges to cross a stream to land the Hundred Miles Island (百里洲), while none of the Wu generals could locate the crossing points of the Wei troops. Pan then told his comrades that the Wei troops were highly spirited and the water level was low, so they'd better avoid battles with them at the moment. Following the river upstream, Pan ordered his soldiers to collect a few hundred million bundles of reeds, and attached them atop some large rafts and set them on fire. He then sent the rafts downstream so that they would burn the wooden bridges being used by Wei. Sensing the danger of being isolated, Xiahou withdrew from the island before his retreat route would be destroyed. For his effort in the siege, Pan was promoted to the rank of General of the Right (右将軍).
Pan's last battle was the invasion of Shiyang, in which he was tasked with guarding the rear when Wu forces retreated from the area. However, he laid his guard down one night, a mistake he never committed before, and was targeted by the enemy and defeated. Pan was barely saved when Zhu Ran led reinforcement to the scene.
Pan died in 234 of a natural course, and was not succeeded by his son, Pan Ping, because the latter was exiled to Kuaiji for poor conduct; however, Pan Zhang's wife was allowed to stay in Jianye, and was granted with fiefs and 50 households of tenant farmers.
Appointments and titles held
- Chief of Yangxian (陽羨長)
- Senior Major (別部司馬)
- Chief of Xi'an, Yuzhang (豫章西安長)
- Colonel of Martial Vehemence (武猛校尉)
- Lieutenant General (偏將軍)
- Administrator of Guling (固陵太守)
- General of Inspiring Might (振威將軍)
- Marquis of Liyang (溧陽侯)
- General Who Pacifies the North (平北將軍)
- Administrator of Xiangyang (襄陽太守)
- General of the Right (右將軍)
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...
, Pan captured Guan Yu in an ambush during the invasion of Jing Province. He was given Guan's famed weapon, the Green Dragon Crescent Blade, as a reward.
On one of the nights before the Battle of Xiaoting, Pan barged into a peasant hut for rest. Coincidentally, Guan Yu's son Guan Xing
Guan Xing
Guan Xing was an official of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He was the second son of the military general Guan Yu and the younger brother of Guan Ping. He succeeded his father when both Guan Yu and Guan Ping were captured and executed by forces of Eastern Wu at the...
was also in the hut for the same reason. When Pan entered, he saw a portrait of Guan Yu and was so stunned that he dropped the Green Dragon Crescent Blade. Guan Xing picked up the weapon and killed Pan to avenge his father.