Zhang Yan
Encyclopedia
Zhang Yan, né Chu Yan (褚燕), also known as Zhang Feiyan (張飛燕), was the leader of the Heishan bandits
during the late Han Dynasty
period of Chinese history
. He was a native of Zhending, Changshan commandery (modern Baoding
).
He was born Chu Yan. Because he was fast, and agile, and brave, his men called him "Feiyan", meaning "Flying Swallow".
Not much was known about him historically until 185, when he and Zhang Niujue (張牛角), another bandit leader, raided the town of Yingtao (癭陶). Zhang Niujue was killed, but before he died, he ordered his men to obey Feiyan as their new leader. Yan thus changed his surname to Zhang to honour Zhang Niujue.
His force steadily grew in strength, until they were said to be a million in number. They became known as the Heishan bandits
. All the commanderies north of the Yellow River
were exposed to their attacks and the court could do nothing to stop them.
In 193, Zhang Yan fought to a stalemate against Lü Bu
– who at the time was serving nominally under Yuan Shao
and undertook his quest to pacify various regions neighboring the Taihang Mountains
.
In 199, he responded to Gongsun Zan
's request for help in the Battle of Yijing
. Before he arrived, Gongsun Zan was destroyed by Yuan Shao.
In 204, he made contact with Cao Cao
, who at the time was warring against Yuan Shao's sons Yuan Tan
and Yuan Shang
. Cao Cao appointed him General Who Pacified the North (平北將軍).
In the summer of 205, after the Yuans were destroyed, Zhang Yan officially surrendered to Cao Cao and was made Marquis of Anguo Village (安國亭侯).
Heishan bandits
The Heishan bandits or Black Mountain bandits was a bandit confederacy in the Taihang Mountain range during the later years of the Eastern Han Dynasty in 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...
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...
. He was a native of Zhending, Changshan commandery (modern Baoding
Baoding
-Administrative divisions:Baoding prefecture-level city consists of 3 municipal districts, 4 county-level cities, 18 counties:-Demographics:The Baoding urban area has a population of around 1,006,000 . The population of the Baoding administrative area is 10,890,000. The considerable majority are...
).
He was born Chu Yan. Because he was fast, and agile, and brave, his men called him "Feiyan", meaning "Flying Swallow".
Not much was known about him historically until 185, when he and Zhang Niujue (張牛角), another bandit leader, raided the town of Yingtao (癭陶). Zhang Niujue was killed, but before he died, he ordered his men to obey Feiyan as their new leader. Yan thus changed his surname to Zhang to honour Zhang Niujue.
His force steadily grew in strength, until they were said to be a million in number. They became known as the Heishan bandits
Heishan bandits
The Heishan bandits or Black Mountain bandits was a bandit confederacy in the Taihang Mountain range during the later years of the Eastern Han Dynasty in China...
. All the commanderies north of the Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
were exposed to their attacks and the court could do nothing to stop them.
In 193, Zhang Yan fought to a stalemate against Lü Bu
Lü Bu
Lü Bu was a military general and later a minor warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. According to the Records of Three Kingdoms, Lü Bu was highly-skilled in horse-riding and archery, and was thus nicknamed "Flying General"...
– who at the time was serving nominally under Yuan Shao
Yuan Shao
Yuan Shao was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He occupied the northern territories of China during the civil war that occurred towards the end of the Han Dynasty and the beginning of the Three Kingdoms era...
and undertook his quest to pacify various regions neighboring the Taihang Mountains
Taihang Mountains
The Taihang Mountains are a Chinese mountain range running down the eastern edge of the Loess Plateau in Henan, Shanxi and Hebei provinces. The range extends over 400 km from north to south and has an average elevation of 1,500 to 2,000 meters. The principal peak is Xiao Wutaishan...
.
In 199, he responded to Gongsun Zan
Gongsun Zan
Gongsun Zan , style name Bogui , a native of Liaoxi , was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history.-Biography:...
's request for help in the Battle of Yijing
Battle of Yijing
The Battle of Yijing was a battle that took place in northern China between 198 and 199 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
. Before he arrived, Gongsun Zan was destroyed by Yuan Shao.
In 204, he made contact with 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...
, who at the time was warring against Yuan Shao's sons Yuan Tan
Yuan Tan
Yuan Tan was the oldest son of the warlord Yuan Shao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. After Yuan Shao's death, Yuan Tan split with his youngest brother Yuan Shang over the successorship to their father's realm. Yuan Tan sought help from the warlord Cao Cao and defeated Yuan...
and Yuan Shang
Yuán Shàng
Yuan Shang , style name Xianfu , was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was the third son of the warlord Yuan Shao, and succeeded his father...
. Cao Cao appointed him General Who Pacified the North (平北將軍).
In the summer of 205, after the Yuans were destroyed, Zhang Yan officially surrendered to Cao Cao and was made Marquis of Anguo Village (安國亭侯).