Zhao Yun
| Zhao Yun | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Zhao Yun |
| Game: | Total War: Three Kingdoms |
| Culture: | Han |
| Starting Faction: | None |
| Faction Leader: | No |
| Style Name: | Zilong |
| Title: | General who Guards the East, Marquis of Yongchang |
| Class: | Sentinel |
| Legendary: | Yes |
Zhao Yun is a unique character in the Total War: Three Kingdoms grand campaign.
Historical Background
From Zhending County, Changshan Commandery, Ji Province, Zhao Yun first appears in history when he joined the warlord Gongsun Zan not long after Yuan Shao took over his home province. While in Gongsun Zan's service, he met and befriended Liu Bei, another one of Gongsun Zan's subordinates, and commanded cavalry for him while he was fighting Yuan Shao's men. According to the Zhao Yun Beizhuan, a somewhat unreliable source, he initially served Gongsun Zan due to believing him to be a better man than Yuan Shao, but eventually became disillusioned with him and left his service under the guise of attending his brother's funeral, and did not meet Liu Bei again until they were both sheltering in the city of Ye.
Zhao Yun joined Liu Bei on his flight south to Jing Province. He participated in the Battle of Bowang where Liu Bei defeated Xiahou Dun (according to the Zhao Yun Beizhuan), and famously rescued Liu Bei's son Liu Shan from being captured during the Battle of Changban for which he was made General of the Standard. Following Chibi, he presumably joined Liu Bei on his campaign through southern Jing and stayed there when Liu Bei was invited to Yi Province by Liu Zhang. When Liu Bei launched his insurrection against Liu Zhang, Zhao Yun was one of those called up from Jing to assist Liu Bei in conquering the provincial capitol of Chengdu for which he was promoted to General of the Flying Army. The Zhao Yun Beizhuan claims he fought in a battle at the Han River at the end of the second Hanzhong campaign, where he defeated a Wei army by use of the Empty Fort Strategem, but this likely did not happen. It further adds that when Liu Bei wanted to launch his punitive campaign against Wu to reconquer Jing Province, Zhao Yun advised against it and later had to reinforce Liu Bei at Baidicheng after Lu Xun crushed him at Xiaoting.
Nonetheless, he was promoted to General Who Conquers the South and enoffed as a marquis when Liu Shan took the throne of Shu. He was promoted again to General Who Guards the East soon after and stationed in Hanzhong. When Zhuge Liang launched his first Northern Expedition, Zhao Yun was sent along with Deng Zhi as a diversionary force through the Xie Valley to tie down Cao Zhen. However, Cao Zhen defeated their weak force handily at Jigu, and they had no impact on the campaign, leading to Zhao Yun's demotion to General Who Guards the Army. He died not long after in 229AD.
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