Zhang Fei

Biography

Zhang Fei — the 'Yan Man' — was one of the most fearsome warriors of the Three Kingdoms and the youngest of the three sworn brothers alongside Liu Bei and Guan Yu. A butcher by trade, massive in build and terrifying in battle, he combined raw physical power with a surprisingly gifted tactical mind. His most famous exploit was his lone stand at Changban Bridge in 208, where he reportedly held off Cao Cao's entire pursuing army by roaring a challenge from the bridge so ferociously that no one dared advance. But Zhang Fei was also a deeply flawed man. He drank heavily and was notorious for his brutal treatment of his own soldiers, whipping and beating subordinates for trivial offenses. When Liu Bei launched his ill-fated campaign to avenge Guan Yu, Zhang Fei drove his troops to prepare at impossible speed while drinking and raging. On the eve of departure, two of his own officers — men he had beaten and humiliated — murdered him in his tent as he slept. They cut off his head and fled to Wu. His death deprived Liu Bei of his most formidable battlefield commander just as he marched into the disaster at Yiling.

Key Battles