In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Bei was a highly praised monarch, and his conquests were often victorious in battle after battle. However, throughout the Three Kingdoms period, Cao Cao was a formidable opponent, and his intelligence and military ability were always the biggest obstacle that Liu Bei wanted to defeat. However, if Liu Bei could succeed in subduing that figure comparable to Pang Tong and Guan Yu, then Cao Cao would face an even more difficult situation than he had imagined. This person is Zhang Ren, and his inclusion is a huge opportunity for Liu Bei and Shu Han, but it is also a huge regret. In this article, we will take a look at Zhang Ren's background, talent, and the enormous impact he could have on the history of the Three Kingdoms.
Zhang Ren was originally a general under Liu Zhang, and he showed extraordinary resourcefulness and force on the battlefield. His original tactics such as the Eight Formations, the Fire at the Bottom of the Pit, and the Array of Bound Beasts made him an unrivaled strategist and a military general with superior combat effectiveness. If you want to understand Zhang Ren, you must understand his tactics and abilities. His performances in battles such as the feint ploy of the Central Plains, the trap on Huarong Road, and the siege of Dangyang Nagasaka all demonstrated his talent and ability. His tactics and tactics were not only famous in Liu Bei's army, but even the famous strategists Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu were unmatched. In terms of force, Zhang Ren was not inferior to Guan Yu and Huang Zhong. He knocked out Gao Shun with a single shot and almost defeated Zhang Fei. It can be said that Zhang Ren is not inferior to the top figures of the Three Kingdoms period in terms of talent and force.
During Liu Bei's attack on Yizhou, Zhang Ren suddenly appeared and routed Liu Bei's army. His stratagems and tactics demoralized Liu Bei's army and made it impossible to deal with it effectively. After Pang Tong was killed, Liu Bei was very panicked. Zhang Ren's strategy and force exceeded Liu Bei's expectations, and he realized that he was not Zhang Ren's opponent, so he could only choose to temporarily retreat and ask for reinforcements. Although reinforcements arrived quickly, Liu Bei was still worried. Zhang Ren's strategic talent and force seem to be beyond the imagination of ordinary people. He has proven himself to be an opponent to be reckoned with. Zhuge Liang's addition allowed Liu Bei to compete with Zhang Ren. Under Zhuge Liang's planning, Liu Bei summoned Ma Chao, Zhang Yi, Mi Zhu, Wei Yan and other fierce generals to reinforce the battle. In the end, under Zhuge Liang's plan, Zhang Ren was captured. Although Liu Bei wanted to surrender and use Zhang Ren's talents, Zhang Ren refused to give in. Eventually, Zhuge Liang ordered Zhang Ren to be executed. Although this is a pity, according to Zhuge Liang's judgment, Zhang Ren must be eliminated, otherwise he will become a threat in the future.
Although Zhang Ren was eventually executed, his influence on Shu Han was profound. His intellect and strategic abilities made him an important object of comparison, and Zhuge Liang's awareness of his formidable adversaries also enhanced his strategic abilities. In addition, Zhang Ren was Liu Zhang's subordinate general, and his joining also gave Liu Bei a chance to win Liu Zhang's support. If Liu Bei can successfully subdue Zhang Ren, then for Liu Zhang, his army will be greatly strengthened, and at the same time, a war with Liu Bei can also be avoided. However, since Liu Bei did not succeed in subduing Zhang Ren, Shu Han still chose to be Liu Zhang's enemy in the end. This led to the outbreak of the Battle of Yizhou, in which Shu Han suffered huge losses.
Zhang Ren is a man of extraordinary talent and strategic ability. His tactics and intrigue made him one of Liu Bei's greatest threats. However, although Zhang Ren was not used by Liu Bei and was eventually executed, his intelligence and strategic abilities had a great influence on the historical development of Liu Bei and Shu Han. His presence made Liu Bei realize that he needed a better military commander to fight Cao Cao, and he made Liu Zhang realize Liu Bei's great strength. Although his joining and departure brought regrets, the memories he left behind and his talents will be forever remembered in the history of the Three Kingdoms.