Zhang Yan

Who is Zhang Yan?

Zhang Yan, born Chu Yan, also known as Zhang Feiyan, was the leader of the Heishan bandits in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. He was a native of Zhending, Changshan commandery.

Because he was fast, and agile, and brave, his men called him "Feiyan", meaning "Flying Swallow".

Not much was known about him historically until 185, when he and Zhang Niujue, another bandit leader, raided the town of Yingtao. Zhang Niujue was killed, but before he died, he ordered his men to obey Feiyan as their new leader. Yan thus changed his surname to Zhang to honour Zhang Niujue.

His force steadily grew in strength, until they were said to be a million in number. They became known as the Heishan bandits. All the commanderies north of the Yellow River were exposed to their attacks and the court could do nothing to stop them.

In 193, Zhang Yan fought to a stalemate against Lü Bu – who at the time was serving nominally under Yuan Shao and undertook his quest to pacify various regions neighboring the Taihang Mountains.

In 199, he responded to Gongsun Zan's request for help in the Battle of Yijing. Before he arrived, Gongsun Zan was destroyed by Yuan Shao.