Contents
Biography & Historical Record
Zhuo Ying (died 214 AD or post-214 AD) was a military general during the late Eastern Han dynasty and Three Kingdoms period. Initially serving as a deputy officer under the warlord Liu Zhang in Yi Province (Sichuan region), Zhuo Ying later surrendered to Liu Bei and became a trusted officer under the Shu Han regime.
In Luo Guanzhong’s classic historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhuo Ying is featured during the bloody Siege of Luocheng in 214 AD. Following the capture and execution of the heroic general Zhang Ren, the remaining Yi Province garrison retreated inside Luocheng under the command of Liu Kui. As Liu Bei displayed Zhang Ren’s severed head to intimidate the garrison into surrendering, internal morale collapsed. While Liu Kui fiercely maintained his unyielding loyalty and executed anyone advocating capitulation, Zhuo Ying and fellow officer Zhang Yi recognized that Liu Zhang’s regime was doomed. Seeking self-preservation and a opportunity to earn merit under Liu Bei, Zhang Yi assassinated Liu Kui during a night patrol along the city ramparts. Simultaneously, Zhuo Ying organized his troops, suppressed the remaining loyalist guards, and opened the gates of Luocheng to welcome Liu Bei’s forces into the city without firing a single arrow.
In authentic historical records (Sanguozhi), Zhuo Ying’s career was markedly different and more heroic. Rather than surrendering through a bloody mutiny at Luocheng, Zhuo Ying surrendered to Liu Bei during the early phase of the Yi Province campaign. Recognizing his military competence, Liu Bei granted him significant command authority. Zhuo Ying subsequently marched alongside Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun, commanding a major vanguard division in the grand offensive against Chengdu. His tactical contributions in pacifying the surrounding Shu commanderies were instrumental in compelling Liu Zhang’s final surrender and establishing the foundation of Shu Han.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
In Luo Guanzhong’s Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhuo Ying is featured in Chapter 64 as a key deputy general stationed at Luocheng under Liu Kui. His pragmatic collusion with Zhang Yi to overthrow Liu Kui and open the city gates highlights the systemic internal collapse of Liu Zhang’s regime, providing the pivotal entry point for Liu Bei’s army to secure Luocheng and complete the conquest of Yi Province.
Zhuo Ying (卓膺) — Literary Timeline
Garrisoning Luocheng and Collusion with Zhang Yi
Serves as deputy general under Liu Kui at Luocheng; wavers as Liu Bei’s forces encircle the city following Zhang Ren’s execution.
Night Mutiny and Surrender to Liu Bei
Suppresses loyalist guards while Zhang Yi slays Liu Kui on the ramparts; opens Luocheng’s gates to welcome Liu Bei’s army and surrenders to Shu Han.
For detailed historical records, archives, and official chronicles, explore Zhuo Ying on Wikipedia.
Key Relationships
Family
- No information
Friends
- Zhang Yi (张翼, Trương Dực): Fellow officer and co-conspirator at Luocheng in 214 AD; while Zhang Yi assassinated Liu Kui on the ramparts, Zhuo Ying suppressed the loyalist guards to facilitate the city’s surrender to Liu Bei.
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Historical commander whom Zhuo Ying served under as a vanguard officer during the grand offensive to pacify the commanderies surrounding Chengdu.
- Zhang Fei (张飞, Trương Phi): Historical comrade with whom Zhuo Ying marched during the Yi Province campaign to secure the Shu region for Liu Bei’s regime.
- Zhao Yun (赵云, Triệu Vân): Historical military colleague who operated alongside Zhuo Ying in the multi-pronged invasion and pacification of Liu Zhang’s territory.
Enemies
- Liu Kui (刘璝, Lưu Khôi): Superior commander at Luocheng in 214 AD; Zhuo Ying betrayed him and opened the city gates to Liu Bei’s forces following Liu Kui’s assassination by Zhang Yi.
- Zhang Ren (张任, Trương Nhiệm): Yi Province general whose capture and execution by Liu Bei’s forces demoralized the Luocheng garrison, prompting Zhuo Ying to defect.
Other
- Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị): The founding emperor of Shu Han to whom Zhuo Ying surrendered; he later served Liu Bei as a trusted general during the conquest of Yi Province.
- Liu Zhang (刘璋, Lưu Chương): Former lord and Governor of Yi Province; Zhuo Ying initially served as his deputy officer before defecting to join the Shu Han cause.
In Novel
Chapter 64
- Zhuo Ying (卓膺, Zhuó Yīng): Zhuo Ying serves Liu Zhang as a commander during the defense of Luoxian. Zhang Ren organizes the defenders with Zhang Yi and Liu Kui inside the city while he and Zhuo Ying command forces outside. Zhuo Ying takes part in the fighting against Liu Bei’s army.
Chapter 64
- Zhuo Ying (卓膺, Zhuó Yīng): When Zhang Ren is trapped by Zhuge Liang’s stratagem and captured, Zhuo Ying realizes that the defense has collapsed. He surrenders to Zhao Yun rather than continue a hopeless battle. Zhuo Ying is brought before Liu Bei, who accepts his surrender and rewards him. He subsequently serves alongside the Shu forces in the pacification of Yizhou.
In History
Summary
- Zhuo Ying (卓膺, Trác Ưng) was a military officer who served Liu Zhang and later surrendered to Liu Bei.
Period I — Liu Zhang’s Forces
- Zhuo Ying participated in the fighting during Liu Bei’s campaign in Yi Province.
- He was associated with the defense of Liu Zhang’s territory as Liu Bei’s forces advanced toward Chengdu.
Period II — Submission to Liu Bei
- As Liu Bei’s campaign gained momentum, Zhuo Ying changed allegiance and entered Liu Bei’s service.
- His career illustrates how some of Liu Zhang’s local officers were incorporated into the emerging Shu administration.
Historical Record
- Zhuo Ying was historical, although the surviving record of his career is brief compared with the major commanders of the Yi Province campaign.