Zhang Bao (Shu)


 * This article is about one of Zhang Fei's sons. For the brother of Zhang Jiao, see Zhang Bao (Yellow Turbans).

Zhang Bao (onyomi: Chō Hō) is one of Zhang Fei's sons; historically, little is actually known about him since records only state that he died when he was young and had a son named Zhang Zun. His younger brother, Zhang Shao, was the one who succeeded Zhang Fei. Romance of the Three Kingdoms prefers to focus on him sharing a friendship with Guan Xing as they both avenge their fathers' deaths.

Prior to his playable Dynasty Warriors appearance, he was a Shu NPC since the series's second title. He is Xingcai's older brother. In Famitsu's character survey, he ranked in three categories: sixth place for sibling, fourth place for friend, and seventh place for most desired boyfriend. He ranked thirty-seventh place in Gamecity's Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends popularity poll. This counterpart has an image song titled Back to Back.

Dynasty Warriors
He is often seen with his father or one of his father's brothers. Proud of his father's legacy, he will continue to fight for Shu during its twilight years of power. He occasionally appears together with Guan Xing to defend their home. In Dynasty Warriors 4, he mimics his father's brave stand from Chang Ban, guarding one of the bridges leading to Cheng Du. In the sequel Zhang Bao has minor roles in a few battles for the Shu side. His most notable appearances are the battle of Yi Ling and the battle of Bai Di Castle. In both cases, he is an officer under Xing Cai.

In his playable appearance, Zhang Bao is a man who possesses his father's talents in war. After his father's death, he travels to Yiling for vengeance. Prior to battle, he fights his cousin Guan Xing to convince him to stay at camp because he is not ready. However, their quarrelling is stopped by Zhao Yun, who accompanies them into battle at Yiling. Afterwards, Zhang Bao works together with Guan Xing in the northern campaigns at Jieting. Unfortunately, at Chencang Zhang Bao is ambushed when entering a Wei castle and his wounds prove to be fatal. With his final breath, he entrusts everything to Guan Xing and his sister before passing away in the former's arms. Zhang Bao can survive the events of Chencang if the enemy ambush is avoided by using the side entrance to the castle, though he still disappears from both Shu and Jin storylines afterwards.

During Shu's hypothetical route, he assists Zhuge Liang's efforts in thwarting Lu Su at the region of Lukou. Later, he helps Jiang Wei in invading Luoyang. He also joins the capture of Wei at Xuchang and is seen standing alongside his family and friends upon their victory.

In Wu's hypothetical scenario, Zhang Bao is present at Jiangxia as an enemy due to a forged letter by Wang Yi. Once Lu Xun confronts Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to resolve the misunderstanding, Zhang Bao and the Shu forces become allies and join the fight against Wei. In Wu's historical route, he is among those swearing vengeance at Yiling, and begrudgingly serves as Shu reinforcements for Wu at Guangling.

In Wei's story, Zhang Bao appears among the forces leading the initial assault at Hanzhong during the historical route. In the hypothetical route, Zhang Bao appears as one of Baidi Castle's defenders, and among the slain.

Warriors Orochi
In the Warriors Orochi series, he is one of Liu Bei's guards while his father and uncle are away. He continues to fight for Shu in each title. He also serves as Zhang Fei's substitute officer during the third title.

Development
When Omega Force was thinking of new characters to add to Shu, Liao Hua and Wang Ping were considered choices. However, since the team also wanted to add Guan Xing, they felt it wouldn't feel right to not include his famous partner in fiction. Thus, Zhang Bao was made playable in celebration of the fictional aspects of the game. He was designed to look like a "younger Zhang Fei". Designers add that he is the "good older brother" to contrast other cheerful characters in the cast.

Personality
He is an adventurous youth who harbors a strong sense of responsibility and enjoys taking care of his friends. Inheriting his father's caring nature, and combined his passionate personality often helps build morale for troops and allies alike. As a member of Shu's younger generation, he feels indebted to the previous generation, and, like his father, believes that taking action is the best way to give thanks. Believing in duty over personal feelings, Zhang Bao feels that he can never forgive Wu in the historical route, but will still aid them when the call is made to do so.

His lively personality runs as a contrast to his sister's and Guan Xing's stoic behaviours, though he still shares a budding relationship together with the two. Unfortunately, Zhang Bao's caring personality is occasionally misinterpreted by Guan Xing as babying at times. With his sister, Zhang Bao's attitude rarely strays from his usual cheery personality, and is usually able to break through Xingcai's calm nature, but is occasionally seen as the passing down of their father's reckless behaviour.

Voice Actors

 * Johnny Yong Bosch - Dynasty Warriors 8 (English-uncredited)
 * Daisuke Sakaguchi - Dynasty Warriors 8 (Japanese)
 * Takashi Kondo - Dynasty Tactics 2 (Japanese)
 * Takeshi Kusao - Sangokushi Koumeiden
 * Tomokazu Seki - Romance of the Three Kingdoms drama CD series

Quotes

 * See also: Zhang Bao/Quotes


 * "I won't let you scum ruin the dreams of our fathers! I, Zhang Bao, son of Zhang Fei, will smite you!"
 * "How can I get the officers to trust in me? Is excellence on the battlefield what they're looking for?"
 * "That is part of it. Your skills leave nothing to be desired."
 * "Alright! Then my father's strict training was worth it."
 * "However, that is not enough."
 * "Huh? There's something else? Please tell me what it is!"
 * "How should I put this... Spare no effort while you're young, so you can relax when you're older."
 * Zhang Bao and Huang Zhong; Dynasty Warriors 8

Gameplay
Zhang Bao is affiliated with the flail sword in this appearance. When he is equipped with it, he can perform a unique attack exclusive to him. Upon performing his Musou techniques, he will automatically use the weapon in his attacks.


 * EX Attack 1:, , , , undefined, (undefined): Lifts enemy into the air by thrusting weapon into the ground.
 * EX Attack 2 (Xtreme Legends only):, , , undefined, undefined: Latches extendable blade towards an opponent at mid-range before running towards them in time to perform a short upward strike.
 * Musou - Rapid Thrust (天空滑閃): : Latches unto an opponent and violently tosses them aside.
 * Alternate Musou - Cobra Strike (偃月天空刃): R1 + : Uses double pike to unleash six varying slashes done at warp speed before releasing a powerful war cry.
 * Aerial Musou - Mighty Blow (天空旋回):, : Does a fierce slash from right to left that leaves behind a yellow-green streak after creating a shockwave via stomp.
 * Awakening Musou: Thrusts forward numerous times. It ends with a final stab that sends out a sonic wave generating bursts of energy in the process. By extending the attack further, he resorts to short flaming swings while running and follows it up with a series of lashes.

Dynasty Warriors 8
Zhang Bao uses the flail sword as his default weapon in this title.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms
After Zhang Bao's father was murdered, he visited his uncle Liu Bei to announce his intent of seeking revenge against Wu where the killers Fan Qiang and Zhang Da had fled. Upon meeting his cousin Guan Xing for the first time, the two of them competed over the position of vanguard leader through an archery contest. Their rivalry nearly took a deadly turn before Liu Bei intervened and forced them to become oath brothers in the same way their fathers did with one another. The role of leading the vanguard was given to Hu Ban with Zhang Bao and Guan Xing as his escorts.

While camping at Yidu, the forces of Hu Ban were attacked by Wu soldiers led by Sun Quan's own nephew Sun Huan. Zhang Bao dueled against the officers Xie Jing and Li Yi until his steed was shot by an arrow fired by Tan Xiong. He was saved from a fatal blow by Guan Xing who beheaded Li Yi in an instant. By the next day, he participated in another skirmish against Sun Huan, this time slaughtering Xie Jing with a spear thrust. He also captured Cui Yu during Hu Ban's assault on the enemy main camp.

During the Battle of Yiling, Zhang Bao and Guan Xing were sent to aid the isolated Huang Zhong, rescuing him from being killed by Wu soldiers. He also faced the forces of Han Dang and Zhou Tai, dismounting Xia Xun from his horse with a mighty war cry. In an attempt to appease the leader of Shu, Wu sent Fan Qiang and Zhang Da back along with a box containing Zhang Fei's head. Liu Bei allowed Zhang Bao to brutally dismember them, thus satisfying the younger man's thirst for vengeance. Wu retaliated with a fire attack that crippled the Shu army's morale, leading Zhang Bao to escort his lord out of the battlefield. Relations between Wu and Shu improved later on after Liu Bei's death from illness.

Eventually, Zhang Bao was appointed as Right Guard of the army by Zhuge Liang who made plans to conquer the northern regions. While participating in the campaign against Xiahou Mao, he and Guan Xing helped capture the city of Nan'an after uncovering Cui Liang's deceit. The two of them even drove off the assaults of the Qiang tribesmen who affiliated themselves with Wei. They also assisted Zhuge Liang's ploy to mitigate the effects of Ma Su's miscalculation by tricking the enemy ranks into panicking, causing them to leave behind their equipment and supplies.

While pursuing the Wei generals Guo Huai and Sun Li in another campaign, Zhang Bao fell from a gully where he suffered a grave injury and died later on. Zhuge Liang's physical condition worsened upon hearing of his death. A poem was written in lament of Zhang Bao's passing.


 * "Fierce and valiant was Zhang Bao,
 * "Striving hard to make a name;
 * "Sad the gods should interfere
 * "And withhold a hero's fame!
 * "Zhuge Liang wept his end
 * "In the western winds blowing.
 * "For he knew the warrior gone,
 * "This grieving is beyond knowing.

Gallery
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