Zhao Yun Rides Alone at Changban

Also called: Zhao Yun at Changbanpo

A scene invented by a historical novel. It differs from the recorded history.

A scene from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms in which Zhao Yun rides alone through Cao Cao’s army to rescue the infant Adou. The history records only that he protected the child.

A scene greatly embellished by the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Having lost Liu Bei’s family in the rout, Zhao Yun (Zilong) charges alone through Cao Cao’s host seven times, slays more than fifty officers and brings out the infant Adou (Liu Shan) in his arms. Lady Mi, who entrusted him with the child, throws herself into a well so as not to slow him, and when Zhang Fei roars on the Changban bridge, Cao Cao’s officer Xiahou Jie falls dead from his horse in fright.

Zhao Yun’s biography in the Records of the Three Kingdoms says only that he carried the infant and protected Lady Gan, bringing them safely through. The charges through the host, Lady Mi’s death and Xiahou Jie belong to the novel. Zhang Fei cutting the bridge and shouting down Cao Cao’s men is in the history.