Romance of the Three Kingdoms Zhang Fei

Zhang Fei was a Chinese military general and politician who served under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty and the early Three Kingdoms period. Alongside Guan Yu, Zhang Fei was among Liu Bei’s earliest allies, sharing a deep brotherly bond with both his lord and Guan Yu. He played a pivotal role in several key campaigns, including the Battle of Red Cliffs (208–209), the conquest of Yi Province (212–214), and the Hanzhong Campaign (217–218). Tragically, in 221, shortly after the establishment of the state of Shu Han by Liu Bei, Zhang Fei was assassinated by his own subordinates.

Zhang Fei is a prominent figure in the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which dramatizes and romanticizes the events of the era. In the novel, he is depicted as a fiercely loyal and courageous warrior who, alongside Liu Bei and Guan Yu, swore the famous Oath of the Peach Garden, pledging brotherhood and unwavering loyalty. Zhang Fei's loyalty and fiery temperament made him a legendary figure in Chinese folklore.