Zhang Xun张巡

History vs. fiction

In the official history, Zhang Xun defended Yongqiu for several months with just over a thousand soldiers, borrowing arrows with straw men and defeating a strong enemy; the novel faithfully recounts his repeated victories over Linghu Chao.

• attestedZhang Xun defended Yongqiu with a thousand isolated troops and defeated Linghu Chao several times

  The New Book of Tang, Biography of Zhang Xun, records that after the An Lushan Rebellion broke out, Zhang Xun entered Yongqiu to resist the rebels, 'the siege lasted about four months, the rebels often numbered in the tens of thousands, while Xun's troops were only a thousand or so, yet every battle was won.' He also lowered straw effigies from the city walls at night to obtain hundreds of thousands of arrows, and repeatedly defeated Linghu Chao. The Sui and Tang Romance, Chapter 90, narrates the Battle of Yongqiu, saying, 'It was also heard that Zhang Xun, the Defense Commissioner of Yongqiu, fought continuously with the rebels and repeatedly defeated their troops.' The achievement of defending the city and repelling the enemy is entirely based on historical records.