Biography
Early life
Pan Zhang was born in the 2nd century in Fagan County, Dong Commandery, Yan Province (present-day east of Guan County, Shandong). He was one of the Twelve Tiger Generals of Jiangdong.
When Pan Zhang was young, his family was poor. In 196 CE, when Sun Quan was fifteen years old and served as Prefect of Yangxian (present-day Yixing, Jiangsu), Pan Zhang began to follow Sun Quan.
Pan Zhang’s nature was unrestrained, and he liked to drink wine. His family was poor, and he liked to buy wine on credit. When creditors came to his door to collect debts, he would say: “When I become rich and noble later, I will certainly repay you.”
Early service
Sun Quan liked him and had him recruit soldiers, obtaining over one hundred men. Sun Quan therefore used him as a general.
Because Pan Zhang achieved outstanding merit in attacking mountain bandits, Sun Quan promoted Pan Zhang to Major of Separate Command.
Later, Pan Zhang served as Market Inspector of Wu Commandery, causing bandits to disappear. He therefore became known and was promoted to Prefect of Xi’an in Yuzhang Commandery.
Initially, when Liu Biao served as Inspector of Jing Province, the people of Xi’an County were often harassed by bandits. Since Pan Zhang served as Prefect of Xi’an, bandits did not dare to enter and invade.
When Jianchang County in a neighbouring county had bandits causing chaos, Pan Zhang was transferred to Prefect of Jianchang, given the additional title of Colonel of Fierce Warriors, attacked the bandits, and within one month had pacified all the chaos.
He also gathered local scattered troops and obtained over eight hundred men, leading them back to Jianye.
Campaign against Jing Province
In early 215 CE, the twentieth year of Jian’an, Sun Quan attacked Jingnan. Pan Zhang, together with Lü Meng, Sun Jiao, and Lu Su, each led troops and advanced separately, arriving at Yiyang and facing Guan Yu.
Finally, Liu Bei divided Jing Province with Sun Quan, and the matter was settled.
Battle of Hefei
In the eighth month of 215 CE, during the time when Wu’s main army surrounded Hefei, Zhang Liao led eight hundred men out of the city and suddenly arrived at the Wu army camp.
The Wu generals had no preparation. Chen Wu died in battle, and Song Qian and Xu Sheng both fled in defeat.
Pan Zhang was positioned in the rear. When he saw this, he galloped forward on horseback and personally killed two fleeing soldiers in Song Qian and Xu Sheng’s armies. The Wu troops therefore returned and fought Zhang Liao.
Sun Quan greatly praised Pan Zhang.
After the battle, Pan Zhang was appointed General of the Side, commanded one hundred companies, and stationed at Banzhou.
Capturing Guan Yu
In the eighth month of 219 CE, the twenty-fourth year of Jian’an, the Han River overflowed due to heavy rain, causing a natural disaster that harmed the people. Guan Yu took the opportunity to attack by large ship and captured Yu Jin’s tens of thousands of troops.
Guan Yu then claimed a lack of grain and arbitrarily took grain from Xiangguan.
Sun Quan therefore again sent Lü Meng, Pan Zhang, and others to attack Guan Yu.
Guan Yu retreated and guarded Maicheng. Wu Fan predicted that Guan Yu would feign surrender. Sun Quan therefore sent Pan Zhang and Zhu Ran to cut off Guan Yu’s rear route.
Pan Zhang led troops and reached Linju, staying between Jiashi, where he encountered Guan Yu’s army.
In the twelfth month, Ma Zhong, a Major under Pan Zhang, captured Guan Yu, Guan Ping, and Zhao Lei, the Commander.
Guan Yu and Guan Ping were executed on the spot in the Linju area.
Sun Quan therefore divided Yidu and Ziguí counties to create Guling Commandery, appointed Pan Zhang as Administrator and General Who Spreads Ferocity, and enfeoffed him as Marquis of Liyang.
Battle of Yiling
In 221 CE, the second year of Huangchu, Liu Bei sent Ma Liang to induce the Wuling Yi people to surrender and rebel against Wu.
Pan Zhang and others, totalling fifty thousand men and horses, under the leadership of Lu Xun, Grand Commander, resisted Liu Bei at Yiling.
In 222 CE, the first year of Huangwu, Pan Zhang’s subordinates killed Feng Xi, Liu Bei’s Protector of the Army, and others. The Shu Han army suffered heavy losses.
Sun Quan appointed Pan Zhang as General Who Pacifies the North and Administrator of Xiangyang (a remote appointment).
Liu Bei retreated and guarded Baidicheng.
Pan Zhang, Xu Sheng, and others submitted memorials to Sun Quan, requesting to attack Liu Bei again. However, Lu Xun, Zhu Ran, Luo Tong, and others expressed opposition.
Sun Quan, after analysis, decided to withdraw the army and request peace.
Defence of Jiangling
In 222 CE, the first year of Huangwu, Cao Pi discovered that Sun Quan was not sincerely submitting and greatly attacked Wu.
Cao Zhen, Xiahou Shang, Zhang He, Xu Huang, and others attacked Zhu Ran at Jiangling.
Pan Zhang, Zhuge Jin, Yang Can, and others were ordered to relieve the siege but did not succeed.
Wei general Xiahou Shang and others surrounded and attacked Zhu Ran at Nan Commandery, divided the vanguard of thirty thousand men to build a floating bridge, crossed to Bailizhou, and Zhuge Jin and Yang Can combined forces and went to relieve them. However, they did not know the enemy situation and could not relieve them.
The Wei army had soldiers crossing the river every day.
Pan Zhang believed: “The Wei army’s momentum is beginning to be strong, and the river water is shallow. It is not yet time to fight them.”
He therefore led troops to fifty li upstream from the Wei army, built a water city, cut down several million bundles of reeds, bound them into large rafts, and wanted to set them on fire and float them downstream to burn the floating bridge.
However, Zhuge Jin again greatly attacked Xiahou Shang. Xiahou Shang and others withdrew their troops because they could not capture Jiangling after a long siege.
Pan Zhang then went to guard Lukou.
Later campaigns
In 227 CE, the sixth year of Huangwu, Sun Quan personally led troops to meet the Wei army at Shiyang. The Wu army achieved great victory and prepared to withdraw, with Pan Zhang covering the rear.
However, at night, chaos occurred, and the enemy pursued Pan Zhang. Pan Zhang could not resist, but fortunately, Zhu Ran came to rescue him.
Service under Sun Quan as emperor
In 229 CE, the first year of Huanglong, Sun Quan became emperor and appointed Pan Zhang as General of the Right.
Death and legacy
In 234 CE, the third year of Jiahe, Pan Zhang died. Sun Quan ordered his troops to be handed over to Lü Dai to command.
Pan Zhang’s son Pan Ping was exiled to Kuaiji for being a scoundrel.
Pan Zhang’s wife remained in Jianye. Sun Quan granted her fields, houses, and fifty households of retainers exempt from taxes and corvée.
Personality
Pan Zhang was known for being extremely rough, fierce, and treacherous. His prohibitions were strict, and he liked to establish merit and achievements.
The troops and horses he led were only several thousand, but when fighting, they were like ten thousand.
Whenever a war ended, he would establish a military market. What other armies did not have, they would all come to Pan Zhang’s army to seek.
However, his nature loved gambling, wandering, and drinking. When young, he was poor and liked to buy on credit. When creditors came to his door, he would often say: “When I become rich and noble later, I will certainly repay you.”
After becoming a general, his life was overly extravagant, and when old, it became even more serious. What he used and wore all had signs of exceeding his rank.
He even repeatedly killed wealthy officers and soldiers and seized their property, not following the law.
Supervising officials repeatedly submitted memorials to inform Sun Quan, but Sun Quan cherished his achievements and did not investigate.
Military achievements
Pacifying bandits
Pan Zhang successfully pacified bandits in Jianchang County within one month and gathered over eight hundred scattered troops.
Battle of Hefei
At the Battle of Hefei, Pan Zhang killed two fleeing soldiers, causing the Wu troops to return and fight, showing his courage and leadership.
Capturing Guan Yu
Pan Zhang’s greatest achievement was participating in the capture of Guan Yu. His subordinate Ma Zhong captured Guan Yu, Guan Ping, and Zhao Lei at Linju.
Battle of Yiling
Pan Zhang participated in the Battle of Yiling, and his subordinates killed Feng Xi and others, contributing to the victory.
Defence of Jiangling
Pan Zhang participated in the defence of Jiangling, preparing to burn the floating bridge with fire rafts, though the Wei army withdrew before the plan could be executed.
Relationships
With Sun Quan
Sun Quan greatly valued Pan Zhang despite his faults. When Pan Zhang was young and poor, Sun Quan liked him and had him recruit soldiers. Even when Pan Zhang violated the law and killed wealthy officers, Sun Quan cherished his achievements and did not investigate.
With Lü Meng
Pan Zhang worked together with Lü Meng in campaigns against Jing Province and Guan Yu, showing their cooperation.
With Zhu Ran
Pan Zhang worked together with Zhu Ran in capturing Guan Yu and defending Jiangling, showing their cooperation.
Anecdotes
The promise to repay debts
When Pan Zhang was young and poor, he liked to buy wine on credit. When creditors came to his door, he would say: “When I become rich and noble later, I will certainly repay you.” This shows his confidence and ambition.
Killing fleeing soldiers
At the Battle of Hefei, when Song Qian and Xu Sheng’s armies were fleeing, Pan Zhang killed two fleeing soldiers, causing the troops to return and fight. This shows his courage and leadership.
The military market
Pan Zhang established military markets after wars, and other armies would come to seek what they did not have. This shows his resourcefulness and ability to supply his troops.
The extravagance
Pan Zhang’s life was overly extravagant, and he even killed wealthy officers to seize their property. However, Sun Quan cherished his achievements and did not investigate, showing Sun Quan’s tolerance of his faults.
Achievements
- Pacified bandits in Jianchang County
- Killed fleeing soldiers at Battle of Hefei, restoring order
- Participated in capturing Guan Yu
- Participated in Battle of Yiling
- Participated in defence of Jiangling
- Achieved rank of General of the Right
- One of the Twelve Tiger Generals of Jiangdong
Behind the scenes
Historical sources
Pan Zhang’s biography appears in Records of the Three Kingdoms by Chen Shou, where he is grouped with Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Han Dang, Jiang Qin, Zhou Tai, Chen Wu, Dong Xi, Gan Ning, Ling Tong, Xu Sheng, and Ding Feng as the Twelve Tiger Generals of Jiangdong.
Chen Shou wrote: “All these generals were the tiger ministers of Jiangbiao, and the Sun family treated them generously. With Pan Zhang’s lack of cultivation, Sun Quan could forget faults and remember achievements. His preservation of the southeast was appropriate!”
The Twelve Tiger Generals
Pan Zhang was one of the Twelve Tiger Generals of Jiangdong, a group of Wu’s most capable and loyal generals.
The faults
Pan Zhang was known for violating the law, killing wealthy officers, and living extravagantly. However, Sun Quan cherished his achievements and did not investigate, showing Sun Quan’s tolerance of capable but flawed generals.
The capture of Guan Yu
Pan Zhang participated in the capture of Guan Yu, though his subordinate Ma Zhong actually captured Guan Yu. This achievement earned Pan Zhang the title of Administrator of Guling Commandery and Marquis of Liyang.
Historical evaluations
Contemporary
Sun Quan greatly valued Pan Zhang despite his faults, showing his tolerance of capable but flawed generals.
Later historians
Chen Shou wrote: “Pan Zhang was rough and fierce. His prohibitions were strict, and he liked to establish merit and achievements.”
Chen Shou also wrote: “All these generals were the tiger ministers of Jiangbiao, and the Sun family treated them generously. With Pan Zhang’s lack of cultivation, Sun Quan could forget faults and remember achievements. His preservation of the southeast was appropriate!”
Lu Ji wrote: “Han Dang, Pan Zhang, Huang Gai, Jiang Qin, and Zhou Tai displayed their strength.”
Legacy
Pan Zhang is remembered as one of the Twelve Tiger Generals of Jiangdong, a capable general who participated in many important campaigns, including capturing Guan Yu and the Battle of Yiling.
However, he is also remembered for his faults—his extravagance, violation of the law, and killing wealthy officers. Sun Quan’s tolerance of these faults shows the value placed on capable generals, even flawed ones.
His story represents both achievement and fault—a general who served his state loyally and achieved great success but also violated the law and lived extravagantly, yet was forgiven because of his achievements.
Timeline
- 2nd century CE: Born in Fagan County, Dong Commandery, Yan Province
- 196 CE: Began following Sun Quan; recruited over one hundred soldiers; appointed Major of Separate Command; served as Market Inspector of Wu Commandery; appointed Prefect of Xi’an
- c. 200 CE: Transferred to Prefect of Jianchang; appointed Colonel of Fierce Warriors; pacified bandits; gathered over eight hundred troops
- 215 CE: Participated in campaign against Jing Province; Battle of Hefei; killed fleeing soldiers; appointed General of the Side; stationed at Banzhou
- 219 CE: Participated in campaign against Guan Yu; captured Guan Yu, Guan Ping, and Zhao Lei at Linju; appointed Administrator of Guling Commandery and General Who Spreads Ferocity; enfeoffed as Marquis of Liyang
- 222 CE: Battle of Yiling; subordinates killed Feng Xi; appointed General Who Pacifies the North and Administrator of Xiangyang; participated in defence of Jiangling; prepared fire rafts to burn floating bridge
- 227 CE: Covered rear at Shiyang; rescued by Zhu Ran
- 229 CE: Appointed General of the Right
- 234 CE: Died; troops handed over to Lü Dai
See also
- Guan Yu
- Lü Meng
- Zhu Ran
- Battle of Yiling
- Twelve Tiger Generals
References
- Chen Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms, Volume 55, Biography of Pan Zhang.
- Pei Songzhi. Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms.
- Sima Guang. Zizhi Tongjian, various volumes.