Zhang Yong张用

History vs. fiction

Zhang Yong. A bandit, later surrendered to Yue Fei. A rebel general, later occupied Queshan. A general of the Yue family army, rescued Niu Gao. Originally the defender of Chaling Pass, later...

• based on factA bandit, later surrendered to Yue Fei; a rebel general, later occupied Queshan | A general of the Yue family army, rescued Niu Gao; originally the defender of Chaling Pass, later returned to Yue Fei, offered a plan to capture Qiwu Mountain; Zhang Li's younger brother, separated from his brother, did not appear.

  Historically, Zhang Yong indeed existed. His deeds are recorded in sources such as the History of Song. For example, the Biography of Yue Fei records: 'Du Chong was about to return to Jiankang, Fei said: "The central plains are not to be abandoned even an inch. If we move now, this land will no longer be ours. In the future, to recover it would require hundreds of thousands of troops." Chong did not listen, and so they returned together. The army reached Railway Step, encountered the bandit Zhang Yong, and at Liuhe encountered Li Cheng. They fought and defeated them both. Cheng sent light cavalry to seize the silver and silk from the imperial envoy's reward army. Fei advanced and attacked them, and Cheng fled to Jiangxi. At that time, Chong was ordered to defend Jiankang. The Jin forces and Cheng jointly attacked Wujiang, but Chong shut the gates and did not go out. Fei wept and remonstrated, requesting to inspect the troops, but Chong ultimately did not go out. The Jin forces then crossed the river at Majiadu. Chong sent Fei and others to meet them in battle. Wang Xian fled first, and all the generals collapsed, only Fei fought with all his might.' In the novel The Story of Yue Fei, Chapter 39 describes: 'It is said that Ha Tie Long took the corpse and came to see Wushu, saying: "This southern barbarian even lifted eleven Iron Flower Chariots in succession. He is truly the reincarnation of the Overlord of Chu, formidable indeed!" Wushu ordered Marshal Ha to prepare the Iron Flower Chariots again. He told the minor barbarians to erect a tall pole at the camp gate and hang Gao Chong's corpse from it. At this time, Lord Yue was with his generals at the mountain front inquiring about Gao Chong's whereabouts. Suddenly they saw a corpse hanging at the gate of the barbarian camp. Niu Gao saw it from afar and shouted: "Not good!" He then spurred his horse and charged down the mountain. Lord Yue could not stop him, and hastily ordered Zhang Li, Zhang Yong, Zhang Bao, and Wang Heng to run down the mountain on foot, and also ordered He Yuanqing, Yu Huolong, Dong Xian, and Zhang Xian to quickly go to the rescue. The generals received the order and went down the mountain together.'