Qin and Han · General

Zhang Liao 張遼

Attested AD 200 - AD 222

Passages: 1
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Zhang Liao was a general.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 200 to AD 222 古張遼、甘寧
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 53, passage 82

Assessments and attributes

Assessment cited as ancient exemplar of shock combat · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 53, passage 82

References in the histories

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 53Volume 53 Book of Later Tang 29: Biographies 5: Li Cunxin, Li Cunxiao, Li Cunjin, Li Cunzhang, Li Cunxian · 1 passage

存孝每臨大敵，被重鎧橐弓坐槊，僕人以二騎從，陣中易騎，輕捷如飛，獨舞鐵□，挺身陷陣，萬人辟易，蓋古張遼、甘寧之比也。 Whenever Cunxiao met a major foe he donned heavy armor, bow slung as he rode spear in hand, with two spare mounts led behind him. In the press of battle he changed horses mid-charge, light as flight, wielding his iron spear alone as he drove into the enemy line until ten thousand men shrank back—worthy, indeed, of comparison with Zhang Liao and Gan Ning of old.