In the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhao Yun is second only to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, higher than Ma Chao and Huang Zhong, and has a high status and official rank. However, in the historical records, Zhao Yun was not made a general by Liu Bei. Zhao Yun's ability and character were outstanding in the Shu army, but his rank and treatment were not as good as his defection to Liu Bei and his rise from the pawns of Wei Yan.
Liu Bei, who knew people well, could not fail to see Zhao Yun's talents, so why did he not give him a very high position in his life?
Some commentators believe that Zhao Yun's martial skills are extraordinary, Liu Bei has long put him in charge of security work, used him as a bodyguard, and rarely has the opportunity to direct large-scale military operations like others, and it is difficult to make meritorious achievements.
Secondly, although Zhao Yun is capable, he is a maverick and does not like to form gangs. Although Liu Bei was very relieved about him, he would not fully trust him at the crucial moment and did not dare to let him go.
Zhao Yun is loyal and courageous, has a straight personality, and is often generous and outspoken. At first, Sun Quan sent Lü Meng to sneak up on Guan Yu, who was advancing northward, resulting in the defeat and death of Guan Yu's soldiers and the loss of Jingzhou, Liu Bei was furious, and originally wanted to raise troops to attack Sun Wu and retake Jingzhou, while avenging Guan Yu's killing. However, Zhao Yun strongly dissuaded Liu Bei, who refused to listen to the advice.
Before his death, Liu Beituo isolated Zhuge Liang and Li Yan's erchen assisted Liu Chan, leaving Zhao Yun alone in front of his sickbed, and if anyone dared to usurp Zhao and plot against him, he would kill him on his behalf. It can be seen that Zhao Yun is a person worthy of trust, and Liu Bei is not not not reusing Zhao Yun.
After Liu Bei's death, Zhuge Liang did not reward zhao yun for his merits and punished him, and Zhao Yun still did not grab it and became his general of Zhendong. Although Zhao Yun was not reused by Liu Bei in his life and his career was not satisfactory, he lived for nearly 80 years, which was the longest lifespan among the many famous generals of the Shu Han Dynasty.
In the Battle of Jieting, the overseer Ma Mo(谡) was found by the Wei army for his own cleverness to disobey Zhuge Liang's instructions, and was greatly defeated by Zhang Guo at the jieting, and the Wei army in Jigu began to attack with all its might, and Zhao Yunai personally broke it, and then burned the boardwalk to prevent the Cao army from pursuing, so the losses of military supplies and personnel were not large.
When the Shu army retreated, Zhuge Liang was surprised and said: "When the street pavilion retreated, our army's organization was chaotic, and The Migu retreated, and the organization was as neat as when the army was dispatched. Deng Zhi replied: "General Zhao personally cut off the queen, so the military supplies were not lost, the personnel were not disorderly, and the organization was neat. ”
At that time, There was extra silk cloth in Zhao Yun's army, and Zhuge Liang ordered it to be distributed to the generals, and Zhao Yun resigned: "If our army loses, why should we reward it?" Please put all your belongings in the treasury and make winter clothes for everyone in October. Zhuge Liang was greatly praised for this.
The image created by Luo Guanzhong for Zhao Yun in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms is a mighty and majestic warrior, strong in martial arts, loyal and brave, and virtuous and loving to the people. Make a gun name known as the Yajiao Gun, also known as the Bright Silver Gun, Gentian Bright Silver Gun.
As soon as he appeared on the scene, he fought with the famous Hebei general Wen Ugly for sixty rounds without distinction between victory and defeat, saved Gongsun Zhan, fought against a number of Three Kingdoms generals, charged and never lost, and when he saved Ah Dou in Changshanpo, he killed more than ten generals of Cao Ying in succession, and also won the famous sword known as the "Qingyi Sword". Zilong's bravery and good fighting, even the enemy Cao Cao was shocked, sent Cao Hong to ask Zilong's name, Zilong said: "I am Changshan Zhao Zilongye!" ”
When Cao Cao found out, he wanted to capture Zilong and surrender him, so he ordered the soldiers not to release arrows, but Zilong still fled back to Liu Bei's resting place (this is the source of the statue of Zhao Yun holding a gun and a horse and holding the young lord Liu Chan when sacrificing Zhao Yun's temple in the future). When he outwitted Guiyang, he showed his superior wit and outstanding strategy. When Zhuge Liang was hanging Zhou Yu, because Zhao Yun was accompanied by a sword, no one in Wu dared to move Zhuge Liang. When Han Shui rescued Huang Zhong, the Wei generals Zhang Guo and Xu Huang were terrified and did not dare to meet the enemy.
After Liu Bei's death, Cao Wei's five roads violated Shu, and Zhao Yun guarded Yang Pingguan, and one general was a pass, and all the people could not be opened. In his seventies, he was still a forward of the Shu army, and before the battle, he beheaded the Western Liang general Han De, who was called "the courage of ten thousand men".