Zhang Fei, underrated?

[Baiko Arashi]

I am sure there is a thread about this...but I just read the part of the novel where Zhang Fei tricks Zhang He TWICE... I think that deserves some honorable mention...opinions on the man?

[Dong Zhou]

Most people here, from what I have seen, admire Zhang Fei as a general so I wouldn't say he was underated. Certainly an able general

[Adam]

Yeah, Zhang Fei and underated aren't two words I'd put together. So no I don't think he's underated at all. He's certainly an able general at the least.

[Baiko Arashi]

ive seen on some places about him being an idiot thats why i put mindless brute or able general

[Shadowlink]

going by the novel yes he was a brute but during changban he scare cao cao for a while with a plan.

[kvn_m]

In the novel, I'd see him as a 3D character who grows. He wasn't like Liu Bei who was "noble thoroughly" or Zhou Yu who was "jealous thoroughly" or Guan Yu who was "proud thoroughly." Zhang Fei is an interesting character in the novel, being someone who lost Ru Nan due to his carelessness, as well as not thinking doing stuffs like destroying the Changban bridge after he scared Cao Cao.

Afterwards, he used his reputation to his advantage tricking Zhang He and Yan Yan. He certainly grew to be a shrewd tactician. It makes sense, as he was just a butcher when he joined ranks with Liu Bei, but he learned a lot from his experience.

And yes, I don't think the people in this forum generally think of him as just a brute, so he's really not underrated.

[Baiko Arashi]

dont look just at the title of the post...i asked opinions on the man

[Elitemsh]

Zhang Fei would not be underrated by most people, as his achievements both historically and in the novel were numerous. Zhang Fei was one of Shu's best generals possibly second only to Guan Yu. His performance during the Yi campaign and his defeat of Zhang He (one of Wei's most elite generals) would be his best achievements. He was no doubt a top class general, but his personality left a lot to be desired. Personally I respect his skills as a general, but I do not like him due to the way he treated his soldiers.

[Kong Wen]

Zhang Fei is both an able general and a mindless brute. You see, in the novel, he underwent character development.

I don't think he's underrated, though. Even as a mindless brute, he gets quite a bit of respect as a character and as a warrior/general.

[Chris the King]

Zhang Fei's character development, plus his character flaws (alcoholism, being an ass, etc.) makes him my favorite character in the novel bar none.

He shows his cruel side by whipping and killing a lot of people (the inspector, his soldiers, etc.), his alcoholism by losing Xuzhou, his genius by his tactics (especially using his reputation for being an alcoholic), his compassion by sparing Yan Yan, and his loyalty when he charged Guan Yu, thinking that the latter betrayed Liu Bei. He also shows his comedic/childish side, during the 3 visits, or when he threw a fit when he Zhao Yun was chosen to lead a campaign over him.

Plus, he held not only military positions, but some of the highest ranking administrative positions in the kingdom. He was grand administrator of several domains, including Hanzhong, and he proved his intellectual judgement by humbling himself before Pang Tong when he realized how talented the latter was. He may have been a brute, but he was far from mindless, even in the novel (at least in the later parts).

I can also think of many individual scenes where he not only illuminates his own personality, but those around him. During Liu Bei's battle against Wang Zhong and Liu Dai, he was hesitant to use Zhang Fei to engage Liu Dai, for fear of his brother killing their opponent. When Zhang Fei captured Liu Dai alive, he rode back to his brother, saying "You said I was too rough. How now?" Which Liu Bei replied, "If I had not put you on your mettle, you would not have evolved this stratagem." And Zhang Fei laughed. Even though the dialogue is very short, you can almost see the brothers smiling, very pleased with themselves, throwing good-natured jabs at each other.

Another one is Chang Ban, the dialogue between Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei.

Zhao Zilong shouted and rode at the captor who was speedily slain by a spear thrust and his captive was set free. Then taking two of the horses, Zhao Zilong set Lady Gan on one and Mi Zhu took the other. They rode away toward Long Slope Bridge. But there, standing grim on the bridge, was Zhang Fei. As soon as he saw Zhao Zilong, he called out, "Zhao Zilong, why have you betrayed our lord?" "I fell behind because I was seeking the ladies and our child lord," said Zhao Zilong. "What do you mean by talking of betrayal?" "If it had not been that Jian Yong arrived before you and told me the story, I should hardly have spared you." "Where is the master?" said Zhao Zilong. "Not far away, in front there," said Zhang Fei. "Conduct Lady Gan to him. I am going to look for Lady Mi," said Zhao Zilong to his companion, and he turned back along the road by which he had come.

But in his rear arose another tumultuous shouting, seeming to rend the very sky, and Wen Ping came up behind. However, although the man was weary and his steed spent, Zhao Zilong got close to the bridge where he saw standing, all ready for any fray, Zhang Fei. "Help me, Zhang Fei!" he cried and crossed the bridge. "Hasten!" cried Zhang Fei, "I will keep back the pursuers!"

Another short dialogue, but to me it really shows how the top generals acted toward each other. Here we see Zhang Fei being gruff and suspicious of Zhao Yun, but the way they refer to Liu Bei as "the master", and the way that Zhang Fei responds to Zhao Yun's desperate cry for help, it all shows that while these men were powerful forces unto themselves, they were still loyal and subservient to "the master".

He is definitely one of, if not the most colorful character in the novel.