Zhang Zhao

Elder of the two Zhangs of Guangling, won by Sun Ce's personal visits and gifts; warns him against praying at the hilltop shrine with the enemy across the valley, and proposes the night raid that breaks Liu Yao's camp.

Argues against attacking Yuan Shu alone: write to Cao Cao, let the great army strike from the north with Wu as auxiliary - the plan that creates the four-way convergence on Shouchun.

Zhang Zhao; civil administrator named in Sun Ce's deathbed mandate ('for internal matters consult Zhang Zhao').

Counsels caution both times: warns that refusing Cao Cao's hostage demand risks attack, and holds that 'the armies should not move during the period of mourning' - overruled by Zhou Yu on each count.

Argues against holding faraway Jiangxia alone: go home, absorb Liu Biao's revenge expedition on friendly ground, then take the whole region - the counsel Sun Quan follows.

Leads the surrender party twice: the council argument that Cao Cao holds both the imperial authority and the Great River, and the opening challenge of the scholars' gauntlet - Guan Zhong and Yue Yi against Liu Bei's lost Jingzhou - answered with the physician parable and the 'common birds' laugh. After the war decision he rallies the scholars for one more assault on Sun Quan's resolve.

Brings his faction to Zhou Yu first and is told what he wants to hear; next day, invited to restate the surrender case before the throne, he is dismissed in one line - 'the opinion of an ill-advised student' - and watches the table corner fly.

Invoked in Huang Gai's scripted treason - 'better to take Zhang Zhao's advice, throw down your weapons, and surrender' - the name that makes the offense capital.

Zhang Zhao; with Sun Quan.

Endorses the luxury trap point for point - give the lifelong wanderer wealth until Zhuge Liang and the brothers fade - and, when the couple bolts, urges immediate pursuit.

Zhang Zhao; at Sun Quan's court.

Advises the appeal that saves the south: have Lu Su write to Liu Bei - marriage and friendship guarantee the answer.

Zhang Zhao; designs the forged-illness letter to lure Lady Sun home.

Designs the chapter-opening stratagem: two letters to set Liu Zhang against Liu Bei and Zhang Lu against Jingzhou, so the South Land can move on Jingzhou unopposed.

Claims a scheme that will make Liu Bei hand Jingzhou over 'with both hands' and without a fight — the next chapter's business.

Designs the family gambit: stage-seize Zhuge Jin's household and send him west, so brotherhood will squeeze Zhuge Liang into returning Jingzhou. Sun Quan balks at touching a loyal man's family until Zhang Zhao explains it is theatre.

Reads the offer correctly — 'all this is because Liu Bei fears Cao Cao' — and advises taking Hefei anyway while Cao Cao is far off in Hanzhong.

Urges the opening strike before Cao Cao's march-weary army recovers, and a month later joins Gu Yong in advising the peace.

Zhang Zhao; on Sun Quan's council; advocates the deal with Wei.

Sounds the one note of caution in Wu's council: Cao Cao asks for help now, 'but when he has gained his end, I doubt whether he will hold to his promise.'

Comes from Jianye to say the unsayable — the execution has put the Peach Garden oath's whole weight on Wu — and supplies the deflection: send the head to Cao Cao, so the hatred fastens north.

Wrong about Zhuge Jin ('he will not return') and shamed for it — then redeems the day twice: brings the haughty Wei ambassador down from his carriage with a remark about swords, and drafts the relief slate: Han Dang commanding, Zhou Tai second, Pan Zhang the van, Ling Tong the rear, Gan Ning in reserve.

Objects to the student commander — 'he is no match for Liu Bei' — and is overruled by Kan Ze's staked house.

Author of the cauldron theatre — boiling oil, ranks of armed giants, and the Li Yiji warning — the intimidation Deng Zhi walks through smiling.

Writes the memorial that makes Sun Quan an emperor - the phoenix east of Wuchang, the yellow dragon in the Great River, 'your virtue matches that of Kings Yu and Tang, and your understanding is on a level with that of Kings Wen and Wu' - and carries the rest of the officers with him. Then, alone against the whole court, argues down the war they all want: 'It is not well to begin Your Majesty's new reign with fighting. Rather improve learning and hide the sword; establish schools and so give the people the blessings of peace. Make a treaty with Shu to share the empire' - which becomes Wu policy. His rank is set only below that of Prince, and his second son Zhang Xi is made Right Companion to the Heir. Also the straight man in the Zhuge Ke drinking exchange: refuses the cup as improper for old age, is answered with Lu Wang at ninety, and 'had no reply ready, and so had to drink.'