Zhang Ni

Zhang Ni (190s - 254), courtesy name Boqi, rendered also as Zhang Yi, was a military general of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China. Famous for his courage and generosity, Zhang Ni made his name known while rescuing a magistrate's wife from bandits and leading her to safety.

Zhang Ni often worked with Ma Zhong, another general of Shu Han, when pacifying the indigenous tribes residing within and around Shu's borders. He spent at least 18 years dealing with the continuum of domestic uprisings centered around the Yuexi/Yuesui and Ba commanderies. Though he was a talented general, Zhang Ni often looked for humane solutions and sought to make peace or negotiate with the tribes when he could. Thanks to his upright nature, the ''Sanguozhi'' recorded that the tribes loved him and even wept and grabbed hold of his carriage when they learned that he would be returning to Chengdu.

Feeling he was growing weak and old, Zhang Ni gave a stirring speech asking to give him a chance to repay his lord's largesse or die trying. Liu Shan was moved to tears by his speech. During Jiang Wei's seventh Northern Expedition, he was killed in battle against the Wei general Xu Zhi after forcing the enemy to retreat. His death was mourned such that none among the Han or foreign clan of Yuexi did not weep with grief, and a temple established for him was brought offerings even in times of famine and hardship.

Zhang Ni had the reputation of being one of the more successful later generals of the Shu Han state. Liu Shan, emperor of the Shu Han dynasty at the time of his service, compared him to the great heroes of antiquity, while Chen Shou in his appraisal of Zhang also referenced this comparison. Provided by Wikipedia