Zhang Fei’s Stronghold in Shangqiu

　　      The western peak of Mangdang Mountain, locally referred to as Zhang Fei’s Stronghold, has two layers of fortress walls—inner and outer—both built along the natural mountain terrain using blue stones. The outer wall has a remaining height of 0.5 to 1 meter on the southern side, is about 1 meter wide, stretches approximately 250 meters from north to south, and has a total circumference of 900 meters. The inner wall is about 40 meters long from north to south and 25 meters wide from east to west, with a circumference of 130 meters. On the western section of the outer wall lies “Zhang Fei’s Horse-Drinking Spring,” said to be the spot where Zhang Fei fetched water and watered his horse. The spring is circular, with a diameter of 4.5 meters.

　　    Shangqiu, Henan

　　Zhang Fei (?～221)　　   Zhang Fei (c.?–221), courtesy name Yide, also called Yide, was a native of Taocun in Zhuoxian County, Zhuojun Commandery, Eastern Han Dynasty (present-day Zhongyidian in Zhuozhou City). In his early years, he shared a close bond with Liu Bei and Guan Yu, and the three formed an unbreakable brotherhood in Zhuo, famously known as the “Oath of the Peach Garden.” In the late Eastern Han period, Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, and Liu Bei gathered local militias and raised troops in Zhuoxian, participating in the suppression of the Yellow Turban Rebellion. In the 12th year of the Jian’an era (207), Liu Bei sought refuge under Liu Biao of Jingzhou. When Cao Cao launched a campaign to take Jingzhou, Liu Bei was defeated and fled to Xiakou, and later to Changban Slope in Dangyang. There, Cao’s forces scattered Liu Bei’s army, but Zhang Fei held off the enemy with just 20 men. Seeing the approaching troops, he stood at the bridge, sword in hand, blocking their advance and allowing Liu Bei to escape. Later, on the way to Sichuan, he captured... Details+