Zhao Ang

Zhao Ang is an officer who served Cao Cao. He is Wang Yi's husband who fought together with her and his fellow generals to repel Ma Chao's invasion.

Historical Information
Zhao Ang was born in Tianshui Commandary (modern day Gansu). He was married to Wang Yi and was the father to three sons and one daughter. One of his sons was named Zhao Yue and his daughter was named Zhao Ying.

He began his career during his youth as an officer in Liangzhou. His reputation was on the rise at the same time as his fellow officers Yang Fu, Jiang Xu, and Yin Feng. Sometime during the Jian'an Era (the years 196~220), Zhao Ang was promoted to military service within Tianshui and was stationed at Ji Castle. He was ordered to reinforce the Governor of Liangzhou and lord of Ji Castle, Wei Kang. In 218 Ma Chao led a rebellion and clashed with Wei Kang's forces. Since reinforcements for their cause would take too long to reach them, Wei Kang soon offered a plea of surrender by opening Ji Castle's gates. Both Zhao Ang and Yang Fu sought to discourage the offer, but their pleas fell on deaf ears.

After Ma Chao accepted their terms of surrender, he entered the castle and quickly killed Wei Kang. As Zhao Ang and the other retainers fled for safety, Ma Chao held Zhao Yue hostage. He wanted to use the heir in an attempt to win Zhao Ang's loyalties. Zhao Ying's father wanted to stay true to his duties yet hesitated to attack Ma Chao due to his love for his son. Swayed by his wife's encouragement, however, Zhao Ang ultimately decided to strike back. He and his wife joined forces with Yin Feng to oppose Ma Chao at Qishan. There, they opposed Ma Chao's forces nine times with a staunch defense. They gained the upper hand when Xiahou Yuan reinforced them thirty days later. After the reinforcements came, Zhao Yue's death by Ma Chao's hand was reported to the defenders.

His efforts in the war were celebrated and rewarded. Zhao Ang is last mentioned by name to have been granted the post as Governor of Yizhou. Curiously a person with the same title was reported to have later died beside Xiahou Yuan in 219. However, this individual was named Zhao Yong (趙顒) in Liu Bei's scroll in Record of Three Kingdoms. People are divided on whether Zhao Yong is a simple misspelling of Zhao Ang or a different person altogether, though it's currently argued that the former is a plausible truth.