The videos I watched became popular in ancient times

Zhang Song, courtesy name Ziqiao, was from Chengdu, Shu Commandery (present-day Chengdu, Sichuan). He was a subordinate of Liu Zhang, the governor of Yi Province. He persuaded Liu Zhang to welcome Liu Bei into Sichuan, plotting to betray his master. The plot was exposed, and he was executed by Liu Zhang.

In his early years, Zhang Song served as a subordinate official under Liu Zhang. In the thirteenth year of Jian'an (208 AD), when Cao Cao launched a southern expedition against Jingzhou, Liu Zhang sent Zhang Song as an envoy to meet Cao Cao.

Because of Cao Cao's disrespect, Zhang Song harbored resentment. After returning to Yizhou, he slandered Cao Cao and advised Liu Zhang to sever ties with Cao Cao and instead befriend Liu Bei.

Zhang Song had long desired to join Liu Bei, but lacked the opportunity. In the sixteenth year of Jian'an (211 AD), Cao Cao attacked Zhang Lu, and Liu Zhang was afraid. Zhang Song took the opportunity to suggest that Liu Zhang welcome Liu Bei into Sichuan.

Liu Bei led his troops to Fucheng (present-day Mianyang, Sichuan). Liu Zhang went to Fucheng to meet Liu Bei and provided him with financial assistance to help him attack Zhang Lu.

Zhang Song conspired with Fa Zheng to help Liu Bei seize Yizhou. Liu Bei then stationed his troops in Jiameng (present-day Zhaohua County, Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province) to win over the hearts of the people.

The following year, just as Cao Cao attacked Sun Quan, Liu Bei used the pretext of rescuing Sun Quan to borrow troops from Liu Zhang and demand supplies. Zhang Song wrote to the Imperial Secretary, advising Liu Bei not to miss the opportunity to seize Yizhou.

When Zhang Song's elder brother Zhang Su learned of Zhang Song's plot, he feared being implicated and informed Liu Zhang, who then executed Zhang Song.

Zhang Song was executed for plotting to betray his master and secretly communicating with Liu Bei. Later generations did not have a high opinion of him. For example, Zhang Fan, a historian of the Jin Dynasty, believed that Zhang Song and Fa Zheng were disloyal and unjust as ministers.
Song Dynasty historian Sima Guang also believed that Zhang Song was arrogant about his talent and often harbored rebellious intentions;
Qing Dynasty scholar Mao Zonggang lamented the relationship between Zhang Song and his brother Zhang Su, one betraying his master for personal gain without informing his brother, and the other disregarding his brother for fear of being implicated, showing no regard for brotherly affection.

Zhang Song was a staff member of Liu Zhang, serving as a subordinate official under Liu Zhang, the governor of Yi Province, along with his elder brother Zhang Su.

In the thirteenth year of Jian'an (208 AD), Liu Zhang heard that Cao Cao was conquering Jingzhou in the south, so he sent Zhang Su as an envoy to pay homage to Cao Cao, bringing three hundred Shu soldiers and other tribute. Cao Cao appointed Zhang Su as the governor of Guanghan Commandery.

Soon after, Liu Zhang sent Zhang Song to pay a visit to Cao Cao. Cao Cao had already pacified Jingzhou and driven away Liu Bei. In his triumph, he neither rewarded nor valued Zhang Song. In addition, Zhang Song was not good-looking, so Cao Cao only gave him the minor official position of Yuexi Ling.

In contrast to the courteous treatment his elder brother Zhang Su received, Zhang Song, feeling slighted, harbored deep resentment towards Cao Cao. Coincidentally, Cao Cao suffered a defeat at the Battle of Red Cliffs, and with the outbreak of plague, Liu Bei conquered Jingzhou. Upon returning to Yizhou, Zhang Song slandered Cao Cao before Liu Zhang, urging him to sever ties with him.

Following Zhang Song's advice, Liu Zhang severed ties with Cao Cao. Taking advantage of this, Zhang Song suggested to Liu Zhang that Liu Bei, the governor of Yu Province, was also a member of the Han imperial family, and that it would be better to befriend him.

At that time, Fa Zheng, a native of Fufeng County, was living in Shu and served as a military advisor under Liu Zhang. He was not given important positions and often harbored resentment. Zhang Song was confident in his talent and believed that Liu Zhang could not achieve great things, so he often sighed in secret.

Zhang Song was on good terms with Fa Zheng, so he recommended Fa Zheng to Liu Zhang as an envoy to visit Liu Bei and establish contact.

After Fa Zheng returned, he praised Liu Bei's great talent and strategy to Zhang Song. The two secretly plotted to help Liu Bei seize Yizhou and were willing to jointly serve Liu Bei as their lord, but they just couldn't find an opportunity.

In the sixteenth year of Jian'an (211 AD), Cao Cao attacked Zhang Lu in Hanzhong. Liu Zhang was deeply afraid upon hearing this.

Zhang Song once again advised Liu Zhang that Cao Cao's army was strong and powerful, and he was invincible. If he conquered Hanzhong and then marched south to attack Yizhou, no one would be able to resist him.

Liu Bei and Cao Cao have a deep-seated hatred for each other, and Liu Bei is skilled in military strategy. It would be better to let him lead troops to attack Zhang Lu, capture Hanzhong, and strengthen the defense of Yizhou. In this way, even if Cao Cao leads a large army, he will be powerless to stop him.

Moreover, the generals leading troops in Yizhou, such as Pang Xi and Li Yi, are now arrogant and unruly because of their achievements. If they do not receive Liu Bei's help, they will face strong enemies from the outside and internal rebellions, which will inevitably lead to defeat.

Liu Zhang deeply agreed with Zhang Song's analysis and sent Fa Zheng to invite Liu Bei to Sichuan. Liu Zhang's chief clerk Huang Quan explained the advantages and disadvantages, and his subordinate Wang Lei remonstrated with his life, but Liu Zhang ignored them all.

When Fa Zheng arrived at Liu Bei's place, he secretly offered Liu Bei a plan: Liu Zhang was weak, and if Zhang Song were used as an inside agent, it would be easy to take over Yizhou.

Liu Bei was overjoyed. He left Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu, and others to guard Jingzhou, and personally led tens of thousands of men to Yizhou, arriving at Fucheng (present-day Mianyang, Sichuan). Liu Zhang personally led more than 30,000 infantry and cavalry to Fucheng to meet Liu Bei.

Liu Bei bribed Zhang Song, Fa Zheng, and others with generous gifts, inquiring about the geography and mountains of Yizhou, the location of the armory, the number of troops, and the situation of the passes where troops were stationed. Zhang Song and others answered all their questions and even drew maps of the mountains and rivers, so Liu Bei knew the true situation of Yizhou.

After Liu Bei arrived in Fucheng, Zhang Song secretly instructed Fa Zheng to tell Liu Bei that Liu Zhang was coming and that they could seize the opportunity to capture him and take Yizhou without losing a single soldier.

The strategist Pang Tong also suggested attacking Liu Zhang. However, Liu Bei, having just entered Yizhou and with his policies still undefined, did not heed this advice.

Liu Zhang and Liu Bei celebrated for a hundred days in Fucheng, and each submitted a memorial recommending Liu Bei for official positions. Liu Zhang also provided Liu Bei with countless provisions and weapons, and sent him to lead troops to attack Zhang Lu, while he himself returned to Chengdu.

When Liu Bei led his army north to Jiameng (in present-day Zhaohua County, Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province), he did not immediately attack Zhang Lu. Instead, he took the opportunity to establish his authority and win over the hearts of the people.

In the seventeenth year of Jian'an (212 AD), Cao Cao launched a southern campaign against Sun Quan, who then sought help from Liu Bei.

Liu Bei then requested Liu Zhang to send 10,000 troops and provide provisions, but Liu Zhang only agreed to send 4,000 troops and halve the provisions, which displeased Liu Bei.

When Zhang Song heard that Liu Bei was about to leave Sichuan to rescue Sun Quan, he wrote a letter to Fa Zheng, advising Liu Bei that the great cause was now within reach and that he should not miss the opportunity to seize Yizhou.

When Zhang Song's elder brother, Zhang Su, learned of his plot to betray his master, he feared that he would be implicated. So he told Liu Zhang about Zhang Song and Fa Zheng's scheme. Liu Zhang was furious and had Zhang Song executed.

Upon hearing of Zhang Song's execution, Liu Bei was deeply saddened and seized the opportunity to launch an attack on Liu Zhang, quickly capturing passes and cities along the way. In the summer of Jian'an 19 (214 AD), Liu Bei's army reached the gates of Chengdu, and Liu Zhang surrendered.

Zhang Song, courtesy name Ziqiao, was an official of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, but his reputation was not good.

He was regarded as a traitor to the Bashu region for his actions of betraying his master for personal gain, selling out Liu Zhang for wealth and power, and contributing maps. Let's take a closer look at his life.

Zhang Song was born in the second year of the Yongxing era of Emperor Xian of Han (154 AD). He was from Shu Commandery. He was short in stature, dark-skinned, and not particularly handsome, but he was exceptionally talented and had unparalleled eloquence.

He was initially appointed as the Yizhou Biejia Congshi under Liu Zhang, but was sent to Cao Cao's side and was not kept in his records, so he harbored resentment.

After returning to Shu, Zhang Song advised Liu Zhang to sever ties with Cao Cao and suggested that Zhang ally with Liu Bei. Later, he conspired with Fa Zheng to support Liu Bei as their lord and persuaded Zhang to welcome Liu Bei to attack Zhang Lu. These suggestions were all adopted by Liu Zhang. In 212, Zhang Song secretly aided Liu Bei, but was reported by his brother Zhang Su. Upon learning of this, Liu Zhang was furious and had him executed.

Throughout history, Zhang Song's betrayal and treachery have been condemned. His actions not only severely damaged his reputation but also ultimately led to his untimely death.

His actions became evidence for people to condemn his crimes. In the history of Sichuan and Chongqing, he was forever branded as a "wicked person" and a "criminal of Sichuan and Chongqing".

Zhang Song is a typical power struggler who, for personal gain, is willing to betray his lord and secretly aid the enemy.

His actions severely violated the feudal concepts of loyalty and morality, and he was therefore regarded as a typical example of disloyalty and injustice.

His crimes have become a historical warning, reminding people not to betray their masters and homeland for their own selfish interests.

In short, Zhang Song's actions constitute a major crime in history. His betrayal and treachery not only violated the moral values ​​of feudal society but also hurt the feelings of the people of Sichuan and Chongqing.

His untimely death was a fitting end for his crimes. Throughout history, Zhang Song's name will be forever remembered as a representative of disloyalty and injustice.

Cao Cao, as a powerful and ambitious figure, was an outstanding politician and military strategist. He was brave and resourceful and knew how to use talented people. During Cao Cao's reign, the power of aristocratic families did not develop, while the power of people from humble backgrounds had great potential for development.

Cao Cao appointed people based on their abilities, not their birth, which enabled many talented individuals to realize their ideals and ambitions through his platform.

Therefore, the only way for the poor to get ahead is through education. Zeng Guofan said, "Education can change a person's temperament, and even their physical appearance. Changing one's physical appearance changes one's destiny."

However, after unifying the north in his later years, Cao Cao gradually became arrogant and overconfident.

Zhang Song, an advisor to Liu Zhang of Yizhou, came to Xuchang to pay his respects to Cao Cao. However, Cao Cao did not take Zhang Song seriously because he was short and ugly, and did not give him an official position. As a result, Zhang Song left Xuchang with resentment.

Later, Zhang Song joined forces with Liu Bei to eliminate Liu Zhang and Zhang Lu, laying the foundation for Liu Bei to establish the Shu Kingdom in Yizhou.

Looking at the overall situation of the Three Kingdoms, if Cao Cao had valued Zhang Song and promoted him, Zhang Song would have united Yizhou with Cao Cao's forces, and Yizhou would eventually have fallen into Cao Cao's territory.

With Cao Cao controlling most of the northern territory and Jingzhou, it was only a matter of time before he annexed Sun Quan's Jiangdong. In that case, Liu Bei would have had no foothold, and the later tripartite balance of power would never have occurred.

Throughout history, Zhang Song was a key figure in the emergence of the Three Kingdoms period. If Cao Cao had made good use of Zhang Song, he would have unified the country much earlier, at least several decades earlier.

Before Cao Cao prepared to fight against the Wuhuan, many advisors advised against it, arguing that the risks were too great. Cao Cao ignored their advice and insisted on sending troops to attack the Wuhuan and Yuan Shang.

In this campaign, Cao Cao defeated the Wuhuan, beheaded Yuan Shang, and massacred approximately 20 Wuhuan soldiers, employing extremely cruel methods. However, Cao Cao nearly escaped capture during this attack on the Wuhuan; it was only through divine intervention that he achieved this victory.

After returning to the capital in triumph, Cao Cao asked, "Who advised me against attacking the Wuhuan?" Everyone looked at each other, wondering what was going to happen. Uncharacteristically, Cao Cao lavishly rewarded those who had advised him, saying, "You should all offer more advice in the future. This expedition was too risky; we should avoid such dangerous undertakings in the future."

For a person to succeed, favorable location and harmonious relationships are important, but timing also plays a significant role. After all the effort and dedication, whether things succeed or not is ultimately up to fate.

To summarize Sima Yi's life, one word sums it up perfectly: "pretentious." This perfectly encapsulates his character. When Cao Cao, having heard of his abilities, wanted to meet him, Sima Yi feigned illness and refused to see him.

Cao Cao was furious, so Sima Yi went to see him, and Cao Cao entrusted him with important responsibilities. Sima Yi later feigned illness to deceive Cao Shuang, ultimately overthrowing the Cao Wei regime.

In summary, Liu Bei's life can be summed up in one word: "crying." Some say that Liu Bei's empire was built on tears, and indeed it was. To win people's hearts, Liu Bei used emotions to influence others. Prime Minister Zhuge Liang launched six expeditions to Qishan for the sake of the Shu Kingdom, devoting himself wholeheartedly to the cause until his death. Later, the "Five Tiger Generals" were also willing to risk their lives for Liu Bei.

Speaking of how Liu Bei was able to easily conquer Yizhou, there was one person who deserved much credit, but whose character was questionable: Zhang Song!
Zhang Song, courtesy name Ziqiao, was then serving as the Prefectural Administrator of Yizhou, equivalent to a modern-day Secretary-General. Logically speaking, Zhang Song's official position under Liu Zhang was already quite high, but although he often complained about his low rank, he also said that Liu Zhang was incompetent and foolish, and that there was no future in following such a leader.

Back then, if you were talented, it was understandable to want to change jobs. After all, many people changed jobs, so it wasn't anything new or shameful.

But he chose to betray his master for personal gain, and it was all premeditated. It was unfortunate enough that Liu Zhang had such a ticking time bomb by his side!

It is said that although Zhang Songren was not tall and had a rat-like face, or in modern terms, he was somewhat ugly, he was very intelligent and had a photographic memory.

In order to gain the favor of his future new master, he went through many hardships and spent three years drawing a detailed map of Xichuan.

This map captures the entire geography of Western Sichuan, including its rivers, bridges, strategic passes, and armories. This top-ranking achievement would be a monumental accomplishment for any future master, comparable to commanding hundreds of thousands of elite troops!
He first tried to curry favor with Cao Cao, but because he wasn't handsome enough, he was rebuffed and, filled with resentment, turned to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei, who was always good at showing off, praised Zhang Song to the skies after receiving the map. Zhang Song was also very pleased and worked even harder to flatter his new master Liu Bei and harm his old master Liu Zhang.

Using the pretext of Ma Chao's invasion, he strongly urged Liu Zhang to invite Liu Bei into Sichuan to help Liu Zhang attack Ma Chao, thus successfully helping Liu Zhang to invite a wolf into his house.

Historically, traitors have never been respected. After Liu Bei successfully entered Sichuan, his next step was to replace Liu Zhang. To do so, he had to first become enemies with Liu Zhang.

But he kept saying that Liu Zhang and he were relatives of the Han imperial family and brothers. If he directly replaced Liu Zhang, it would give people grounds for criticism. He had to have a reason.
Therefore, Fengchu Chongtong devised a clever plan that would both turn against Liu Zhang and allow him to use someone else to do his dirty work. Knowing that Zhang Song's elder brother, Zhang Su, was honest and upright, he deliberately sent a wrong letter, which stated that they had agreed on a date to launch a coordinated attack from within and without to take down Liu Zhang.

This is outrageous! This good-for-nothing is trying to betray his master for personal gain! Sure enough, the honest and kind-hearted Zhang Su put righteousness before family and delivered the letter to Liu Zhang, successfully helping Chong Tong cut off Zhang Song's head!

Zhang Song never understood until his death that his clever mind hadn't even had a chance to prove useful to his new master before he was moved! (End of Chapter)