Zhang Kai

Zhang Kai (onyomi: Chō Kai) is a former Yellow Turban who later decided to join Tao Qian forces. Zhang Kai is the man responsible for the death of Cao Song, Cao Cao's father. As a result of his misdeed, Cao Cao initiated an especially violent invasion of Xu Province to avenge his father. Zhang Kai, however, evaded the consequences of his actions by fleeing south of the Huai River and thus avoided the invasion.

Role in Games
Zhang Kai appears in Dynasty Warriors Vol. 2 at the invasion of Xu province. He defends the central attack base and strives to secure the southern attack base from falling into Cao Cao's hands.

In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series, Zhang Kai is quite notorious as a character that serves as more a liability should he be recruited to the player's force. While his war stat falls in the mid 60's, all of his other stats are insufferably low with all but leadership falling within single digits likely in reference to the destruction he bought to Xu Province for his selfish actions. He can be found in the ranks of the Yellow Turbans initially and will later go on to serve Tao Qian before becoming a free officer that is found in either Xiapi or Shouchun long after Tao Qian's death.

His character traits in the fourteenth title also produce negative effects. He damages public order within any region he is apart of each turn thanks to his trait, Bandit. Zhang Kai's other traits, Ambitious and Greedy, cause him to refuse to return upon completing military objectives immediately and make him demand a high stipend then his merits deserve.

Historical Information
Zhang Kai originated from Pingyuan, Ji province. He eventually made his way over to Tao Qian and submitted to his rule. Tao Qian assigned Zhang Kai the Commandant of Langye, which he held until given the assignment of escorting Cao Song back to Yan province. This assignment, however, held a secondary purpose, which was to assassinate Cao Song for Cao Cao's constant threats against Tao Qian. Zhang Kai took the riches that Cao Song and his family were traveling with for himself. He realized would be the patsy for the crime and fled south of the Huai River. After that there's no further information about him.

However, a man by the name of Zhang Kaiyang is mentioned as an officer under Yuan Shu in 197. This officer was sent to be an ambassador to the kingdom of Chen. The Chen State remained independent of all other warlords, being managed by Prince Liu Chong and his Chancellor Luo Jun. Yuan Shu had previously asked them to join his cause as he made himself emperor, but they turned him down. When trouble over food supplies began to grow in Yuan Shu's army, Shu sent Zhang Kaiyang as an ambassador and was welcomed by Luo Jun during a banquet. Zhang Kaiyang instead acted as an assassin and killed both Luo Jun and Prince Liu Chong. Aparently Yuan Shu was fine with this outcome as he quickly absorbed the kingdom of Chen (although he was thrown out by Cao Cao a few weeks later). Dr. Rafe de Crespigny speculates that Zhang Kaiyang and Zhang Kai are the same person - that Zhang Kai joined Yuan Shu when he fled Xu Province.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Zhang Kai appears primarily in chapter 10 of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. His role is essentially the same, escorting Cao Song and his family back to Cao Cao in Yan province, except with different motives and extra drama added. Instead of directly or indirectly following Tao Qian's orders to kill Cao Song, it is Zhang Kai who elects to kill Cao Cao's father so he can steal the substantial wealth Cao Song owned. Zhang comes to this decision at a small temple in Huafei, where they were sheltering against a strong storm. Zhang Kai and his compatriots use the storm as cover for their attack, catching Cao Song and his family off guard, easily slaughtering them.