Zhang Fei Yik-te

Zhang Yik-te
The bravest of the Five Tigers

Snake spear

Physical Description

Zhang Fei was a tall man with a leopard-shaped head, large eyes, a pointed chin and a bristling moustache. He was very strong (from a long line of butchers) with a deep bass voice. His favorite weapon was a twenty-foot snake-like spear which he weilded from horseback against his opponents. His angry roar brought fear into the hearts of many brave men.

Offspring

Zhang Fei had one son, Zhang Bao, who served well under the Shu empire. Like his father, Zhang Bao was hot-headed and impulsive, but fortunately he did not have the same love for wine that his father possessed. Zhang Bao was a constant companion of Guan Xing, son of Guan Yu and, much like their fathers, they competed against each other in good spirits to see who was the bravest in battle.
Also, Zhang Fei had another son called Zhang Shao. However, the Annals of the three Kingdoms only mention his name for a few times and said nothing about him. May be he had grown up and lead an unremarkable lives.

Zhang Bao Zhang Shao

Brief Summary of His Deeds

Hot-headed and daring, Zhang Fei made up for his lack of intelligence with his bravery and strong arm. Easy to anger, he frequently got the three brothers in trouble. For example, when a visiting court official asked for a bribe from Liu Bei in order to keep his office, Zhang personally dragged the man out into the street and flogged him. He was the first to face Lu Bu at Hualoguan battlefield when the three fought him to a draw. Zhang Fei fought Lu Bu for fifty bouts until Guan Yu joined in the fray.

Perhaps his greatest moment was at Changban. Liu Bei's forces were fleeing the hordes of Cao Cao, but were slowed greatly by the masses of people who followed to bask in Liu Bei's virtue. Zhang Fei concealed some cavalry in the trees next to Changban bridge and had them raise great amounts of dust as if many soldiers were concealed within. He stood alone astride the bridge with his serpent-spear. Cao Cao himself arrived to see this spectacular man. Seeing him, Fei roared "I am Zhang Yik-te of Yen; who dares fight with me?" Cao Cao became stricken with fear at such a mighty challenge and he fled in stark raving terror, his army trailing behind. Liu Bei and the civilians then made it safely to Han Zhong.

Later, when the forces of Zhang Lu threatened the borders of Shu, Zhang Fei Zhuge Liang were deployed to stop them. Zhang Lu had won the favor of the exiled Ma Chao, who later became one of the Five Tigers. Zhuge Liang angered Zhang Fei so that he would fight his hardest and the two champions Zhang and Ma met on the field of battle. They fought every day for several days with no clear winner emerging. Ma was so impressed by the skill of Zhang Fei that he left Zhang Lu to serve Liu Bei.

Unfortunately, Fei's hot-head was his undoing much like Lu Bu's treachery was the end of him. In the expedition to avenge the death of his brother Guan Yu, a drunken Zhang Fei cruely beat two officers who suggested that they turn back. They later slew him while he slept and brought his head to Sun Quan.

*** Modified from the page written by Anthony Torza. Pictures are copyrighted by KOEI Corporation. ***

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