Service under Han Fu and Yuan Shao

Zhang He was from Mao County (鄚縣), Hejian State, which is in present-day Maozhou, Hebei. Towards the end of the Eastern Han dynasty, when the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, he responded to the Han government's call for volunteers to serve in the army and help to suppress the revolt. He was commissioned as a Major and placed under the command of Han Fu, the Inspector of Ji Province (present-day southern Hebei).

In 191, after Han Fu relinquished his control of Ji Province to the warlord Yuan Shao, Zhang He came to serve Yuan Shao and was promoted to the rank of Colonel (校尉). Between 191 and 199, Zhang He fought on Yuan Shao's side in the war between Yuan Shao and his rival Gongsun Zan. In 199, after Yuan Shao had eliminated Gongsun Zan at the Battle of Yijing, Zhang He was further promoted to General of the Household Who Brings Peace to the State for his achievements in battle.

Battle of Guandu

In the year 200, Yuan Shao fought the Battle of Guandu with Cao Cao, a warlord who controlled the Han central government and the figurehead Emperor Xian. When Yuan Shao having a few advantages like a far larger army in the initial stages of the campaign, Zhang He suggested that he avoid direct confrontation with Cao Cao and instead send a light cavalry force south to attack the rear of Cao Cao's camp. Yuan Shao did not heed Zhang He's suggestion and attacked his foe's main force instead. In the first few battles of the campaign, Cao Cao's forces won several victories in which two of Yuan Shao's generals, Yan Liang and Wen Chou, were killed and no progress was made in overrunning Cao Cao's defenses.

Raid on Wuchao

Yuan Shao had sent his general Chunyu Qiong to guard his army's supply depot at Wuchao (烏巢; southeast of present-day Yanjin County, Henan). One night, Cao Cao led a raid on Wuchao to destroy Yuan Shao's supplies.

When news of the attack on Wuchao reached Yuan Shao's camp, Zhang He advised Yuan Shao: "Cao Cao's forces are well-trained so they will definitely defeat Chunyu Qiong. If Chunyu Qiong is defeated, all is lost for you, General. You should immediately dispatch forces to reinforce Wuchao." Yuan Shao's adviser Guo Tu disagreed with Zhang He: "Zhang He's idea isn't right. Why don't we attack Cao Cao's main camp instead? He will definitely head back to defend his camp. In this way, we can stop the attack on Wuchao without having to send reinforcements there." Zhang He replied: "Cao Cao's camp is well-defended and can't be conquered easily. If Chunyu Qiong is taken captive, we will all become prisoners-of-war."

Yuan Shao dispatched a detachment of light cavalry to reinforce Wuchao and sent heavily armed forces to attack Cao Cao's main camp. Cao Cao succeeded in destroying Yuan Shao's supplies at Wuchao, while his main camp successfully resisted Yuan Shao's attacks. Cao Cao scored an overall decisive victory over Yuan Shao in the battle.

Defecting to Cao Caos side

Guo Tu felt embarrassed after seeing that his suggestion had resulted in Yuan Shao's defeat, so he attempted to divert attention away from himself by accusing Zhang He of displaying schadenfreude upon learning of their defeat. Zhang He became afraid when he heard about this, so he defected to Cao Cao's side.

Cao Cao was very pleased when Zhang He came to join him and he told Zhang He: "In the past, Wu Zixu failed to understand the situation and met his downfall. What if he had abandoned Yin like Weizi and defected to Han like Han Xin?"

The fifth-century historian Pei Songzhi pointed out a discrepancy between Zhang He's biography and the biographies of Cao Cao and Yuan Shao about the time when Zhang He defected to Cao Cao's side. According to Cao Cao and Yuan Shao's biographies, Yuan Shao sent Zhang He and Gao Lan (高覽) to attack Cao Cao's main camp per Guo Tu's suggestion. They defected to Cao Cao when they learnt that Wuchao was lost, and their defection resulted in Yuan Shao's defeat. Based on these two accounts, Zhang He defected to Cao Cao before Yuan Shao's defeat at the Battle of Guandu. On the other hand, Zhang He's biography mentioned that Zhang He defected to Cao Cao after Yuan Shao's defeat at Guandu and after Guo Tu slandered him.

Service under Cao Cao

After his defection, Zhang He was appointed by the Han imperial court (under Cao Cao's control) as a Lieutenant-General (偏將軍) and enfeoffed as a Marquis of a Chief Village (都亭侯). Between 200 and 207, he fought on Cao Cao's side against Yuan Shao's heirs and allies at the battles of Ye (204), Bohai (205) and Liucheng (207). He was promoted to General Who Pacifies the Di (平狄將軍) for his contributions.

In 206, Zhang He participated in the campaign against pirate forces led by Guan Cheng (管承) in Donglai Commandery (東萊郡; around present-day Yantai and Weihai, Shandong).

In 209, after the Battle of Red Cliffs, Chen Lan and Mei Cheng (梅成) started a rebellion in Lu County (六縣; in present-day Lu'an, Anhui). Cao Cao ordered Zhang Liao to lead a force to suppress the revolt. Zhang He and Niu Gai (牛蓋) served as Zhang Liao's deputies and succeeded in eliminating the rebels.

Campaigns in northwestern China

In 211, Zhang He participated in the Battle of Weinan against a coalition of warlords from the Guanzhong region led by Ma Chao and Han Sui. The coalition broke up after Cao Cao defeated the warlords in the battle. Cao Cao sent Zhang He to lead a force to attack one of the warlords, Yang Qiu, at Anding Commandery (安定郡; covering parts of present-day Ningxia and Gansu), and Zhang succeeded in forcing Yang Qiu to surrender.

In 212, Zhang He accompanied Xiahou Yuan on a campaign against another of the warlords, Liang Xing (梁興), and the Di tribes in Wudu Commandery (武都郡; in present-day Longnan, Gansu). In 214, Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He defeated Ma Chao, who had borrowed troops from the warlord Zhang Lu in Hanzhong Commandery after being driven out of Guanzhong. They also eliminated rebel forces led by Song Jian (宋建).

Battles in Hanzhong

In 215, when Cao Cao launched a campaign against Zhang Lu in Hanzhong Commandery, he first sent Zhang He to lead an army ahead to attack Liang Xing (梁興) and the Di tribal king, Dou Mao (竇茂). He ordered Zhang He to lead 5,000 infantry to clear the path after entering Hanzhong via San Pass (散關; southwest of present-day Baoji, Shaanxi). After receiving Zhang Lu's surrender, Cao Cao headed back and left behind Xiahou Yuan, Zhang He and other generals to defend Hanzhong from his rival Liu Bei, who controlled Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing) directly south of Hanzhong.

Later that year, Zhang He pacified Badong (巴東; east of present-day Chongqing) and Baxi (巴西; around present-day Langzhong, Sichuan) commanderies and relocated the residents to Hanzhong. He was defeated by Liu Bei's general Zhang Fei at Dangqu (宕渠; in present-day Qu County, Sichuan) and abandoned his horse and escaped on foot via a shortcut with only a few of his men. He retreated back to Nanzheng County with his remaining troops. He was promoted to General Who Defeats Bandits (盪寇將軍) later.

In 218, Liu Bei launched a campaign to seize control of Hanzhong from Cao Cao's forces. He garrisoned his forces at Yangping Pass (陽平關; in present-day Ningqiang County, Shaanxi) while Zhang He stationed his troops at Guangshi. Liu Bei divided his thousands of elite soldiers into ten groups and ordered them to attack Zhang He's position at night. Zhang He personally led his men to resist Liu Bei's forces and succeeded in holding off the enemy. In the meantime, Liu Bei set fire to the fences at Zhang He's camp in Zouma Valley. Xiahou Yuan led some soldiers to put out the fire and encountered Liu Bei's force along the way and engaged the enemy. Xiahou Yuan was killed in action while Zhang He retreated. According to the Weilüe, Liu Bei was fearful that Xiahou Yuan would be replaced by Zhang He as the commander of Cao Cao's forces in Hanzhong. He also expressed disappointment after learning that it was Xiahou Yuan, and not Zhang He, who was killed in battle.

Cao Cao's forces in Hanzhong were shocked when they learnt of their commander's death and became worried that Liu Bei might take advantage of the situation to press on the attack. Guo Huai, a Major who served under Xiahou Yuan, expressed support for Zhang He to be the new commander. He said: "General Zhang (He) is a famous general in the Empire. Even Liu Bei is afraid of him. He is the only person capable of restoring stability in this hour of peril." Zhang He assumed the role and reorganised his forces. The other officers were all willing to submit to his command. Stability was restored.

Cao Cao, who was then in Chang'an, sent a messenger to Hanzhong to approve Zhang He's command. In the following year, he personally led an army to Hanzhong to reinforce Zhang He. Liu Bei ordered his forces to remain in their positions in the mountainous regions and refused to engage Cao Cao in battle. Cao Cao eventually gave up on Hanzhong and led his forces out. Zhang He was relocated to a garrison at Chencang (陳倉; present-day Chencang District, Baoji, Shaanxi).

Service under Cao Pi

Cao Cao died in March 220 and was succeeded by his son Cao Pi as the King of Wei (魏王). Cao Pi promoted Zhang He to General of the Left (左將軍) and increased his marquis rank to Marquis of a Chief District. Later that year, Cao Pi usurped the throne from Emperor Xian, ended the Eastern Han dynasty and established the state of Cao Wei with himself as the new emperor. After his coronation, he promoted Zhang He from a district marquis to a county marquis under the title "Marquis of Mao" (鄚侯).

In 221, Cao Pi ordered Zhang He and Cao Zhen to lead forces to attack the Lushui and Eastern Qiang tribes in Anding Commandery (安定郡; covering parts of present-day Ningxia and Gansu).

Battle of Jiangling

In 222, Cao Pi summoned Zhang He and Cao Zhen for an audience with him in the Wei capital Luoyang, and then ordered them, Xiahou Shang and other generals to lead armies to attack Jiangling County, which was controlled by Wei's rival state, Eastern Wu. During the battle, Zhang He supervised the Wei forces as they captured an island on the Yangtze River and started constructing a small castle on it. The battle had an inconclusive overall result because the Wei forces withdrew on their own without making any significant gains.

Service under Cao Rui

Cao Pi died in 226 and was succeeded by his son Cao Rui as the emperor of Wei. Cao Rui ordered Zhang He to garrison in Jing Province to defend Wei's southern border from Eastern Wu. Later on, Zhang He and Sima Yi led troops to attack Wu forces commanded by Liu E and defeated them at Qikou (祁口).

Repelling the first Shu invasion

In 228, Zhuge Liang, the regent of Wei's rival state Shu Han, led the Shu forces on the first of a series of campaigns to attack Wei. Zhang He was recalled back from Jing Province to defend Wei's western borders in the Guanzhong region (covering areas in present-day Gansu and Shaanxi) from the Shu armies. Later that year, he defeated the Shu general Ma Su at the Battle of Jieting by first cutting off the enemy's access to water supplies and then attacking them.

Earlier that year, three Wei-controlled commanderies – Nan'an (南安; in present-day Dingxi, Gansu), Tianshui and Anding (安定; covering parts of present-day Ningxia and Gansu) – had responded to Zhuge Liang's call and defected to Shu. Zhang He attacked the three commanderies and took them back for Wei. Cao Rui issued an imperial decree to praise Zhang He for his success in repelling the Shu invasion and reward him by adding 1,000 taxable households to his marquisate. Zhang He had 4,300 households in his marquisate after the increment.

Aborted campaign against Wu

Around the time, the Wei general Sima Yi, who was training naval forces in Jing Province, planned for an invasion of Wu via the Han River, which links to the Yangtze River. Cao Rui ordered Zhang He to lead forces from the Guanzhong region to Jing Province to support Sima Yi. However, when they arrived in Jing Province, it was already in winter and the waters were unsuitable for the larger ships to sail on, hence the campaign was aborted. Zhang He then returned to his garrison at Fangcheng County (方城縣; present-day Gu'an County, Hubei).

Predicting the outcome of the Siege of Chencang

In late 228, Zhuge Liang launched a second campaign against Wei and besieged the Wei fortress at Chencang (陳倉; present-day Chencang District, Baoji, Shaanxi), which was defended by Hao Zhao. Cao Rui summoned Zhang He back to the capital Luoyang to discuss plans to counter the Shu invasion but they met in Henan instead. Cao Rui placed Zhang He in command of 30,000 troops and reassigned some of the Imperial Guards to serve as Zhang's bodyguards. He asked Zhang He: "General, if you're late, will Zhuge Liang have already captured Chencang?"

Zhang He predicted that Zhuge Liang's forces could not maintain the siege on Chencang for long because they lacked supplies. He replied: "Zhuge Liang will have already left before I even reach Chencang. I estimate he has less than 10 days worth of supplies." He then led his troops towards Nanzheng County, travelling day and night. The Shu forces retreated. Cao Rui summoned Zhang He back to Luoyang and commissioned him as General of Chariots and Cavalry Who Attacks the West (征西車騎將軍).

Death

In 231, when Zhuge Liang launched his fourth invasion of Wei, Cao Rui ordered Sima Yi and Zhang He to lead Wei forces west to counter the invasion. When Zhang He's army arrived in Lueyang County, Zhuge Liang retreated to Mount Qi (the mountainous regions around present-day Li County, Gansu) to defend his position. When Sima Yi ordered Zhang He to pursue the enemy, Zhang He refused and said that according to classical military doctrine, they should not pursue an enemy force returning to its base. Sima Yi insisted, so Zhang He had no choice but to pursue the retreating Shu forces. He fell into an ambush at Mumen Trail (木門道; near present-day Mumen Village, Mudan Town, Qinzhou District, Tianshui, Gansu) and died after a stray arrow hit him in the right knee. Cao Rui granted him the posthumous title "Marquis Zhuang" (壯侯), which literally means "robust marquis".

Family

Zhang He had four sons, who were all enfeoffed as marquises by Cao Rui in recognition of their father's contributions to Wei. The eldest, Zhang Xiong, inherited his father's title and became the next Marquis of Mao (鄚侯). The youngest son, whose name is unknown, received the peerage of a Secondary Marquis.

Appraisal

Zhang He was described to be a resourceful and proficient military leader who was well versed in geography and capable of making accurate predictions about war situations, to the point where even Zhuge Liang was wary of him. Even though he served in the military, he highly respected Confucian scholars. He once recommended Bei Zhan (卑湛), a learned scholar who was known for his good moral conduct and who was from the same hometown as him, to serve in the Wei government. Cao Rui accepted Zhang He's suggestion and appointed Bei Zhan as an Academician (博士). He also issued an imperial decree to praise Zhang He for not only defending Wei's borders, but also showing concern for the internal preservation of Wei.

In popular culture

Zhang He is a playable character in Koei's Dynasty Warriors and Warriors Orochi video game series. He also appears in all instalments of Koei's Romance of the Three Kingdoms strategy game series.

In the collectible card game Magic: The Gathering there is a card named "Zhang He, Wei General" in the Portal Three Kingdoms set.

生平

時勢趨然

張郃於黃巾之亂的時候，以韓馥的軍司馬身份參與鎮壓叛亂。韓馥死後，效力於袁紹。在攻打公孫瓚時立下不少戰功，升為寧國中郎將。在官渡之戰中，曹操襲擊烏巢，張郃說：「曹公兵精，往必破瓊等；瓊等破，則將軍事去矣，宜急引兵救之。」但郭圖卻說：「郃計非也。不如攻其本營，勢必還，此為不救而自解也。」張郃反駁：「曹公營固，攻之必不拔，若瓊等見禽，吾屬盡為虜矣。」結果袁紹聽信郭圖，不聽張郃的勸阻，派他攻打曹操軍營，結果不但沒攻下，缺乏救援的烏巢也被劫了。郭圖的計謀失敗後，誣陷張郃失敗後出言不遜，張郃等將領懼怕被追究，於是投降了曹操。曹操對張郃的投降感到高興，親自迎接並稱「如微子去殷，韓信歸漢也」，此後擔任著偏將軍、封都亭侯。

隨後的南征北戰，張郃表現出了他的武將風姿。攻鄴城，渤海敗袁尚、袁譚，征烏丸，圍雍奴，討柳城，征東萊，討管承、陳蘭、梅成，平馬超，破韓遂，圍安定，降楊秋，與夏侯淵討鄜賊梁興及武都氐，平宋建，滅張魯，屢建戰功。

堅整嚴備

後來張郃頗受曹操重用，張郃跟隨太祖（曹操）到渭南，擊潰了馬超、韓遂，保衛了安定城，也令馬超的部將楊秋投降。後張郃、夏侯淵一起征討盤踞在鄜城的賊寇梁興和武都一代的氐族叛軍，再次擊敗了馬超的部隊，平定了宋建統治的地區。張郃在對馬超和韓遂的討伐有功，更先後與張遼、徐晃及夏侯淵搭擋。

215年漢中之戰曹操親率大軍進攻漢中，從散關入，派張郃率五千步兵在前開道，一直到陽平。張魯投降，在曹操平定漢中亦立下不少戰功。曹操回軍，留張郃與夏侯淵、徐晃等守漢中，以拒劉備。同年，張郃率五千步兵南下進攻巴西郡，欲遷徙當地百姓到漢中。劉備派征虜將軍張飛領萬餘精兵為巴西郡太守，抗擊張郃。張郃軍進至岩渠，與張飛相拒五十餘日，張飛率精兵萬餘人從小道進攻張郃，由於山道狹窄，首尾不能相救，張郃軍被擊破，張郃棄馬緣山和手下十餘人退回南鄭。升遷蕩寇將軍。

建安二十三年（218年），劉備進攻漢中，屯于陽平，夏侯淵、張郃、徐晃等率軍迎擊，張郃負責防守廣石。

劉備親自率精兵萬餘人，分為十部，夜間猛攻張郃。張郃率親兵與蜀軍進行對抗，劉備不能攻克張郃。

曹劉兩軍相峙多時，建安二十四年（219年）正月，劉備軍在走馬谷放火燒營，張郃守東圍，夏侯淵守南圍，劉備軍向張郃那面進攻，張郃不利，夏侯淵調一半兵力來增援，並救火，途中遇上劉備軍，被黃忠率軍所殺。曹軍大敗，張郃同敗軍一起退守陽平關東。司馬郭淮和督軍杜襲收斂散卒，推舉張郃繼夏侯淵為魏軍主帥。張郃出任，指揮士兵，布置營寨，軍心安定。不久，曹操遣使令張郃假節。劉備欲渡漢水來攻，見魏軍在漢水以北列陣相迎，劉備于是放棄渡河，隔水相持。曹操親自進攻漢中，不能取勝，于是撤出漢中的部隊，令張郃屯兵于陳倉。

「劉備屯陽平，郃屯廣石。備以精卒萬餘 ，分為十部，夜急攻郃 。郃率親兵搏戰，備不能克。」陳壽後評稱張郃用兵以巧變稱，而此戰則顯示出他的嚴整堅重。劉備起自河北，又曾北從袁紹，對張郃向來應有所知，陽平廣石之役可能給了劉備對張郃的能耐有了強烈的認知。

舉接代位

夏侯淵死後，漢中地區的魏軍群龍無首，軍司馬郭淮見狀，便說：「張將軍乃國家之名將，為劉備所忌憚；今日事態緊急，非張將軍不能安定軍心。」於是立刻被推舉為主將，並迅速重整因失去大將而混亂的軍隊。而當劉備聽聞黃忠斬殺了夏侯淵，卻說：「要殺就殺張郃，殺夏侯淵有什麼用！」

外勒戎旅

延康元年，曹丕即魏王位後，任命張郃為左將軍，進封都鄉侯爵位。等到曹丕登基之後，又進封他為鄚侯，命令張郃與曹真率領兵馬征伐盤踞在安定一代的盧水胡人和東部羌人。

戰鬥結束後，曹丕又在洛陽宮召見了張郃、曹真，派張郃南下與夏侯尚一起進攻東吳政權的江夏郡。張郃獨自率領幾路大軍渡過長江，奪取了百里洲上的吳軍堡壘。而《吳主傳》的記錄比較詳細：「秋九月，魏乃命曹休、張遼、臧霸出洞口，曹仁出濡須，曹真、夏侯尚、張郃、徐晃圍南郡。權遣呂範等督五軍，以舟軍拒休等，諸葛瑾、潘璋、楊粲救南郡。二年春正月，曹真分軍據江陵中州。」

魏明帝曹叡即位後，派張郃來到南方，駐紮荊州，和司馬懿一起進攻孫權的部將劉阿等人，大軍來到祁口，與吳軍激戰，打敗了劉阿所部。

臨陣制變

228年街亭一役是張郃一生最成功的戰役，蜀漢丞相諸葛亮進行第一次北伐，其中的街亭之戰，曹叡給張郃加官特進，讓他總督各路軍馬，在街亭阻擋諸葛亮的部將蜀漢馬謖。馬謖棄守五路總口，只給王平五千兵馬，繼而依傍險要的南山紮寨，沒有下山占據城池而守。張郃包圍馬謖於高山上，斷絕了他取水的道路，然後發起進攻，大敗馬謖，之後見到王平領千人鳴鼓自守，懷疑有伏兵而不再追擊。此後攻回早先叛降諸葛亮的南安、天水、安定三郡。

而魏明帝亦下詔說：「賊亮以巴蜀之眾，當虓虎之師。將軍被堅執銳，所向克定，朕甚嘉之。益邑千戶，並前四千三百戶。」

屈指可數

街亭之戰大獲全勝後，張郃一度被朝廷調回到荊州支援司馬懿與吳國作戰，受命為節度使督導關中諸軍。他到達荊州時，正好是冬天河流水淺的時候，大船無法通行，只好住紮在方城。

這時諸葛亮又再出祁山急攻陳倉，曹叡急召張郃到京城，還親自到河南城巡視，設置酒宴為張郃送行，詢問道：「等將軍你到了，諸葛亮會不會已經攻下陳倉？」張郃知道諸葛亮的軍隊孤軍深入，沒有太多糧食，不能久攻，卻說：「不用等臣到，諸葛亮就先撤退；我屈指一算，諸葛亮的軍糧維持不了十天。」《資治通鑑》記載為張郃回答曹叡的話時，用手指算著說：「在臣下抵達的時候，諸葛亮早就退了。」

曹叡遣南北軍士三萬及分遣武衛、虎賁使衛張郃。張日夜兼程趕路，還沒到達，諸葛亮的糧食已盡，領兵退去；將軍王雙追趕，被諸葛亮擊殺。魏明帝詔張郃還京都，拜征西車騎將軍。

「屈指」意為用手指計算事物的數量，後來成語「屈指可數」就從《三國志·張郃傳》演變而出，用來形容數量很少。

戰死木門

公元231年，諸葛亮第四次北伐，張郃受命帶兵進駐洛陽，諸葛亮因擔心祁山糧道截斷，下令蜀軍回退，命魏延誘敵，姜維斷後。張郃在木門道追擊蜀軍交戰，遭到姜維伏擊，身中數十箭，不治而死。據《魏略》記載，司馬懿強行命令張郃追擊，以致張郃身亡。

張郃死後，朝廷賜給他壯侯的謚號，他的兒子張雄繼承了他的爵位。張郃征戰多年，屢立戰功，明帝分給他食邑，封他的四個兒子為列侯，賜給他的小兒子關內侯的爵位。

特徵

張郃雖為將亦愛樂儒士，嘗薦同鄉卑湛經明修行，詔曰：「昔祭遵為將，奏置五經大夫，居軍中，與諸生雅歌投壺。今將軍外勒戎旅，內存國朝。朕嘉將軍之意，今擢湛為博士。」（被皇帝下詔嘉獎，將張郃比作愛好儒學的東漢大將祭遵，並將卑湛提升為博士。）

才能表現

張郃為將心思細密，精通歷算，又擅長戰場規劃與謀略，在多次作戰前必會分析敵我軍勢，然後再作詳盡的謀略。在多次戰役中顯示張郃並不只是猛將一名，而張郃更能稱得上智將。例如在袁曹的官渡大戰、蜀魏的漢中戰、定軍山之戰都薦舉出不少計謀，又或是破謀等例如黃忠的「反客為主」之計、諸葛亮的「埋伏計」和算出蜀軍急攻陳倉的糧數等。其中算出蜀軍急攻陳倉糧數足以表現出張郃的智慧和曆法算術。

木門道

231年諸葛亮復出祁山，司馬懿派遣費曜、戴淩以四千兵力留守上邽，其餘全部支援祁山，張郃認為應當分兵在雍、郿兩縣以防諸葛亮襲擊後方，然而司馬懿卻擔心無法抵禦諸葛亮，繼而否決分兵的提議，結果諸葛亮反而分兵留攻祁山，親自率軍攻打上邽，不但擊破守軍，還大量收割麥子，並在撤軍時利用怪樹灘險惡之地形，暫時性地癱瘓司馬懿使之無法交戰。張郃說：「敵軍遠道而來，我軍的優勢不在作戰，而是要以長遠之計打敗敵軍。祁山的守軍知道大軍就在附近，人心自然會穩定，因此我們應當駐守於此，再以奇兵襲擊蜀軍後方，不宜前進卻又不敢作戰，而使軍心與士氣不穩。」司馬懿不聽，堅持要找諸葛亮，找到之後又登山掘營，避不肯戰，因而被部屬說「畏蜀如虎」，之後在諸將請命之下才派遣張郃攻王平，不能勝，自己率軍與諸葛亮正面交鋒，結果以大敗收場。後諸葛亮退兵，司馬懿命令張郃追擊，張郃說：「軍法，圍城必開出路，歸軍勿追。」司馬懿不聽，張郃無奈出戰，于木門道遭蜀軍伏擊，中箭陣亡。

張郃戰死的三種記載：

• 《三國志·張郃傳》：「郃追至木門，與亮軍交戰，飛矢中郃右膝，薨，謚曰壯侯」。

• 裴注引《魏略》：亮軍退，司馬宣王使郃追之，郃曰：「軍法，圍城必開出路，歸軍勿追。」宣王不聽。郃不得已，遂進。蜀軍乘高布伏，弓弩亂發，矢中郃髀。

• 《太平御覽·卷291◎兵部二十二○料敵下》引 袁希之《漢表傳》：丞相亮出軍圍祁山，以木牛運糧。魏司馬宣王、張郃救祁山。夏六月，亮糧盡，軍還，至于青封木門。郃追之，亮駐軍削大樹皮，題曰：「張郃死此樹下。」豫令兵夾道，以數千強弩備之。郃果目見，千弩俱發，射郃而死。

史料的混亂之處

裴松之在張郃傳中提到：「臣松之案武紀及袁紹傳並雲袁紹使張郃、高覽攻太祖營，郃等聞淳于瓊破，遂來降，紹眾於是大潰。是則緣郃等降而後紹軍壞也。至如此傳，為紹軍先潰，懼郭圖之譖，然後歸太祖，為參錯不同矣。」因此究竟是張郃先降曹操而後袁紹軍大潰，還是袁紹軍先大潰而後張郃降曹操尚有爭議。

《三國志·魏書·張郃傳》「紹軍先潰，懼郭圖之譖，然後歸太祖」。但《三國志·魏書·武帝紀》和《三國志·袁紹傳》均為「袁紹使張郃、高覽攻太祖營，郃等聞淳于瓊破，遂來降，紹眾於是大潰。」再因，張郃、高覽領「重兵」來看，應是先歸曹操，而袁紹後敗。同時《三國志·魏志·荀攸傳》亦記載「太祖自將攻破之，盡斬瓊等。紹將張郃、高覽燒攻櫓降，紹遂棄軍走。郃之來，洪疑不敢受，攸謂洪曰：「郃計不用，怒而來，君何疑？」乃受之。」。

關于張郃的記載，是《三國志》中較為混亂且前後不甚統一的。但根據其作者陳壽所處朝代為司馬晉朝來看，就能明白其中道理。縱觀《三國志》《魏書》《魏略》《漢晉春秋》等史料相關記載，張郃是司馬懿一生中與之爭論最多的一位。因而，陳壽身為晉朝的史官，不詳細記錄張郃事跡也在情理之中。

家庭

• 至少有四個兒子

• 長子：張雄，繼承張郃的爵位。

• 次子：名字不詳，被明帝封為列侯。

• 三子：名字不詳，被明帝封為列侯。

• 幼子：名字不詳，被明帝賜關內侯爵位。

逸話

墓葬

張郃葬於木門峽谷中。而時至今日，木門峽谷中仍存有張郃坪、張郃墓。張家坪〔原名張郃坪〕位於木門道峽谷東側，為諸葛亮與魏將張郃作戰時的埋伏之處。峽谷西側為十悄地梁，其下有諸葛亮拴馬之處的拴馬灣。峽谷低處有一小山石，成橢圓形，名曰石鼓。另外離石鼓不遠處有一土堆小丘，形如巨鐘，故稱土鐘。據《三國志·張郃傳》載：「諸葛亮複出祁山，詔郃督諸將西至略陽，亮還保祁山，郃追至木門，與亮交戰，飛矢中郃右膝，謚曰壯侯」。

成語

• 屈指可數：「屈指」意為用手指計算事物的數量，自張郃計算諸葛亮急攻兵糧，用手指都可數得出多少天，以此演變意義用作形容數量很少。

武器

在小說《三國演義》裡，張郃於七十回中就有「張郃復回，剌雷銅於馬下」，和九十九回中就有「拍馬舞槍，沖出重圍，無人能擋」。

小說

日本國民作家吉川英治基於《三國演義》翻寫而成、在日本最膾炙人口的三國歷史小說《三國志》，其中因作者的失誤，張郃在作品中死了三次，第一次在汝南被關羽所殺，第二次在長阪被趙雲所殺，第三次在木門道被諸葛亮所殺。

動畫遊戲

• 真三國無雙系列 / 無雙OROCHI系列（光榮公司開發，幸野善之配音）

• 三國演義

• 《蒼天航路》（王欣太）

• 《火鳳燎原》（陳某）:設定於討董卓之戰登場，為袁方親信手下，曾在遼原火（趙雲）及張遼手中救出袁譚，在官渡之戰後因司馬懿的離間計下使自己和高覽誤為曹操內應，後和高覽投降曹操。後來於363回狹道真理中，透漏鍾繇曾是水鏡府專教 "忠義" 的鍾老師，而他目前的兩位學生是早已達成共識，兩位同是姓 "張" 的張遼和張郃。

• 《三國志姜維傳》(Ratchet):被描寫為一個滿口美學的人，經常說「XX之美」。

影視

• 中國電視劇《諸葛孔明》（1985年）：潘正民飾演張郃。

• 中國中央電視台電視劇《三國演義》（1994年）：徐偉茹飾演青年張郃，王化南飾演中年張郃，邢國洲飾演老年張郃。

• 中國電視劇《三國》（2010年）：譚建昌飾演張郃。

• 中國電視劇《曹操》（2013年）：李家飾演張郃。

• 中國電視劇《軍師聯盟》（2017年）：郭家諾飾演張郃。

評價

• 陳壽：「郃識變數，善處營陳，料戰勢地形，無不如計，自諸葛亮皆憚之。」「太祖建茲武功，而時之良將，五子為先。于禁最號毅重，然弗克其終。張郃以巧變為稱，樂進以驍果顯名，而鑒其行事，未副所聞。或注記有遺漏，未如張遼、徐晃之備詳也。」

• 曹操：「昔子胥不早寤，自使身危，豈若微子去殷、韓信歸漢邪？」

• 陳群：「郃誠良將，國所依也。」

• 劉備：「當得其魁，用此何為邪！」（要殺就殺張郃，夏侯淵算什麼！）

• 郭淮：「張將軍，國家名將，劉備所憚；今日事急，非張將軍不能安也。 」

• 曹叡：「賊亮以巴蜀之眾，當虓虎之師。將軍被堅執銳，所向克定，朕甚嘉之。益邑千戶，並前四千三百戶。」、「昔祭遵為將，奏置五經大夫，居軍中，與諸生雅歌投壺。今將軍外勒戎旅，記憶體國朝。朕嘉將軍之意，今擢湛為博士。」

• 王弘：「昔魏朝酷重張郃，謂不可一日無之。及郃死，何關興廢？」

• 張預：「孫子曰：「絕山依谷。」郃以馬謖不下據城而絕其汲道。又曰：「歸師勿遏。」郃追亮歸軍，而敗覆得也。」

• 李密：「若隋代官人，同吠堯之犬，尚荷王莽之恩，仍懷蒯聵之祿。審配死於袁氏，不如張郃歸曹；范增困於項王，未若陳平從漢。」

• 朱元璋：「王保保以鐵騎勁兵，虎踞中原，其志殆不在曹操下，使有謀臣如攸、彧，猛將如遼、郃，予兩人能高枕無憂乎。」

• 黃道周：「張郃袁將，欲求烏巢。郭圖異議，恐敗見嘲。特加譖妒，郃懼歸曹。街亭絕汲，馬謖敗逃。亮圍陳倉，曹慮動搖。郃慮無谷，久矣去郊。及救兵到，果屬徒勞。誰知再至，木門相遇。飛矢中膝，痛失英豪。」

• 王歆：「張郃名將，遼之亞匹，而可與徐晃等比肩。百戰漢中，終不能全，是時勢使然，非郃之過。然備「當得其魁」云云，料貶抑黃忠，而獨高張飛意，不可盡信。淵之用兵，不在郃下。至後祁山之役，悍拒諸葛，皆郃、真之功，觀司馬懿使郃追敵致歿，是懿軍略，或在郃下。小說家獨以懿為亮匹敵，未知是上亮歟，是下亮歟？別傳中雲郃自欲趕敵，懿阻之不聽，恐不可信。」

• 蔡東藩：「郃為魏著名大將，街亭一役，郃實主之；諸葛公計斃此獠，馬謖有知，能無快意？」