Pan Zhang
| Pan Zhang | |
|---|---|
| General of Eastern Wu | |
| Born | (Unknown) |
| Died | 234 |
| Names | |
| Traditional Chinese | 潘璋 |
| Simplified Chinese | 潘璋 |
| Pinyin | Pān Zhāng |
| Wade–Giles | P'an Chang |
| Courtesy name | Wengui (Chinese: 文珪; pinyin: Wénguī; Wade–Giles: Wen-kui) |
Pan Zhang (died 234),courtesy name Wengui, was a military general serving under the warlord Sun Quan in the late Eastern Han dynasty. He continued serving in the state of Eastern Wu (founded by Sun Quan) during the Three Kingdoms period until his death.
Pan Zhang was from Fagan County (發干縣), Dong Commandery (東郡), which is located east of present-day Guan County, Shandong. In 196, he became a follower of a 14-year-old Sun Quan, who was then serving as the Chief (長) of Yangxian County (陽羨縣) under his elder brother Sun Ce, who controlled many territories in the Jiangdong region. Pan Zhang was a heavy drinker and compulsive gambler, and he had to frequently borrow money to support these habits because his family was poor. When his creditors came to pursue debts, he always claimed that he would pay them back when he became wealthy. Sun Quan felt that Pan Zhang was extraordinary and favoured him, so he sent Pan on a recruitment drive. Pan Zhang returned with more than 100 men and Sun Quan appointed him as a military officer. He became a Major of Separate Command (別部司馬) after defeating some bandits. Later, he was appointed as a da shi cijian (大巿刺姧; similar to a police chief) in Wu Commandery (吳郡; around present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu) and became famous after achieving success in maintaining high standards of security in the area. He was reassigned to be the Chief (長) of Xi'an County (西安縣; present-day Wuning County, Jiangxi) later.
Around the time, bandits were rampant in Jing Province (covering present-day Hubei and Hunan) and its governor Liu Biao was unable to deal with them. However, the bandits did not dare to cross the border into Yuzhang Commandery to pillage the area when they heard that Pan Zhang was stationed there. When an uprising broke out in Jianchang County (建昌縣; west of present-day Fengxin County, Jiangxi), Pan Zhang was reassigned to be the county chief and appointed as Colonel of Martial Vehemence (武猛校尉). He was then sent to suppress the revolt and succeeded in doing so within a month and managed to gather back 800 soldiers who were scattered during the rebellion. He was summoned to Jianye, the capital of Sun Quan's domain.
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