Contents
Biography & Historical Record
Zhang Ying was a military officer serving under the warlord Liu Yao during the late Eastern Han Dynasty. Tasked with defending Niu Zhu and the strategic ferries along the Yangtze River, he was a key obstacle to Sun Ce’s expansion into the Jiangdong region. Despite his defensive efforts, he was eventually outmaneuvered by Sun Ce’s forces. After retreating, his subordinate Chen Heng was subverted by Sun Ce’s agents, leading to Zhang Ying’s assassination.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
In Luo Guanzhong’s novel, Zhang Ying is portrayed as a loyal but ultimately outmatched defender of Liu Yao. His defeat at Niu Zhu marks a significant turning point in Sun Ce’s conquest of the south, highlighting the tactical brilliance of Sun Ce compared to the established regional officials of the Han.
Zhang Ying — Historical & Literary Timeline
Defeat at Niu Zhu
Zhang Ying attempts to block Sun Ce’s crossing of the Yangtze at Niu Zhu but is defeated and forced to flee.
Death
Following the capture of Qu’a, Zhang Ying is killed by his own officer, Chen Heng, who defects to Sun Ce.
Key Relationships
Family
- No information
Friends
- Liu Yao (刘繇, Lưu Do): Governor of Yang Province. Zhang Ying served as his premier frontline commanding general tasked with fortifying Niuzhu and the Yangtze river crossings (195 AD).
- Fan Neng (樊能, Phàn Năng): Senior general under Liu Yao who co-commanded the defensive garrisons at Hengjiang alongside Zhang Ying (195 AD).
- Yu Mi (于糜, Vu Mê): General under Liu Yao who assisted in resisting the early expansions of the Sun family.
Enemies
- Sun Ce (孙策, Tôn Sách): Little Conqueror of Jiangdong. Launched a lightning amphibious invasion across the Yangtze in 195 AD, completely routing Zhang Ying’s defense army at Niuzhu and capturing vast stores of grain and weapons.
- Huang Gai (黄盖, Hoàng Cái): Veteran general under Sun Ce who spearheaded the amphibious charge against Zhang Ying’s fortifications at Niuzhu (195 AD).
- Chen Heng (陈横, Trần Hoành): Subordinate officer under Zhang Ying. In Chapter 15 of *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Chen Heng fled alongside Zhang Ying to Moling; during Jiang Qin’s night ambush, Zhang Ying was shot through the chest with an arrow by Jiang Qin and died in battle.
- Jiang Qin (蒋钦, Tưởng Khâm): Naval commander under Sun Ce who ambushed Zhang Ying at Moling (195 AD) and shot him dead with a bow.
Others
- No information
In Novel
Chapter 15
- Zhang Ying (张英, Trương Anh): Zhang Ying is one of Liu Yao’s principal commanders defending Niuzhu against Sun Ce. He brings 10,000 sacks of grain into the Niuzhu storehouses and prepares to resist Sun Ce. When Sun Ce arrives, Zhang Ying challenges him and is opposed by Huang Gai. A fire suddenly breaks out in Zhang Ying’s camp, causing his troops to panic. Zhang Ying retreats from Niuzhu, abandoning the position. Sun Ce’s forces then capture the storehouses, weapons, and more than 4,000 surrendered soldiers. Zhang Ying escapes into the mountains.
Chapter 15
- Zhang Ying (张英, Trương Anh): Later in the same campaign, Zhang Ying is stationed at Moling together with Xue Li and Chen Heng. After Sun Ce is wounded by an arrow, he pretends to have died and orders his army to retreat. Zhang Ying and the other defenders pursue the supposed retreating army and fall into Sun Ce’s ambush. Zhang Ying is killed during the resulting battle.
In History
195 AD
- Zhang Ying (张英, Trương Anh) served Liu Yao (刘繇, Lưu Nghiêu) and worked alongside Xue Li (薛礼, Tiết Lễ) against the expansion of Sun Ce (孙策, Tôn Sách).
195 AD
- Zhang Ying participated in the fighting for the lower Yangtze region and helped defend Liu Yao’s positions as Sun Ce expanded his power.
195 AD
- After Liu Yao’s defeat, Zhang Ying continued resistance around Moling with Xue Li. He was eventually killed during the fighting against Sun Ce’s forces.