Zhao Yun

"Let us join forces to put an end to this chaos. I propose an alliance."

- Zhao Yun.

"Another obstacle in the path of justice has fallen before me!"

- Zhao Yun's victory quote.

"So, I will never forsake my moral principles."

- Zhao Yun told Liu Bei, before leaving him and returned to Gongsun Zan.

"I shall become a mighty dragon that soars across the battlefield!"

- Zhao Yun in Warriors All-Stars.

Zhao Yun (in Chinese: 趙雲), also known as The Dragon of Changshan, is a character and one of the major protagonists in the classic chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms and its multiple adaptations. He is a former servant of Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao and one of the most loyal generals of Shu under Liu Bei. He has been lauded his bravery at Han River. Dynasty Warriors incarnation of Zhao Yun has been used as the mascot character and can be considered to be the main protagonist of the series.

Serving Gongsun Zan and Liu Bei
Zhao Yun born in Changshan, Zhengding, his early years in the military were spent serving Gongsun Zan and later Liu Bei. After his elder brother's death, Zhao Yun has would leave Liu Bei and returned to Gongsun Zan, that Liu Bei was holding Zhao Yun's hand while bidding him farewell. However, in later years, Zhao Yun was once again to serve Liu Bei, which his hard work an dedication eventually distinguished him from the ranks to the point where he was made one of Liu Bei's personal subordinates.

Retreat Across Jingzhou
Eventually, Liu Bei was forced to leave the service of his commander, Yuan Shao. General Cao Cao, Liu Bei's previous rival officer under Yuan Shao that was took the opportunity to pursue Liu Bei and his peoples.

During the Battle of Changban, Liu Bei was known on the running from, Cao Cao's massive army. However, Liu Bei had left so suddenly he has forced to abandoned his family and flee with his closest retainers. While passing through Jingzhou, Zhao Yun must broke off from the army to go back to retrieve Liu Bei's wife, Lady Gan and their son, Liu Shan. For his efforts, Zhao Yun was promoted to General. This action is one of Zhao Yun's most lawded in history and subsequently, adaptations of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms stories.

Establishing Shu
Liu Bei went to recruit his old mentor, Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang is would be accept the recruitment, and Zhao Yun is often worked with Liu Bei's sworn brother, Zhang Fei was to help Zhuge Liang win territory for Shu. Actually, Zhao Yun in particular focused on the western territories, such as the Battle of Mount Dingjun.

During the Battle of Mount Dingjun, Huang Zhong was attacked pressed an attack to destroy Cao Cao's food supply. However, Zhao Yun has would be return from a scouting missing to find that Huang Zhong is gone. When his comrade but does not return, Zhao Yun was rallied a detachment to check on Huang Zhong. They would find themselves that surrounded by Cao Cao's forces, though Zhao Yun was initially charged through enemy lines, soon after he eventually had to retreat back to his base to tend to the massive casualties his attempted rescue had caused. Cao Cao's forces pursued but stopped at the gates of the camp thanks to a bluff by Zhuge Liang. The open gates with no signs of guards was instantly suspicious to Cao Cao and he choose to retreat rather than walk into the any traps waiting for him.

The situation was actually a ploy from Zhuge Liang, Shu had few soldiers was left, but rather than put up a fight, Liu Bei's old mentor had made conquering them seem too easy to be true. So thanks to Zhuge Liang, Zhao Yun was able to save the most of his soldiers but still reported with heavy heart that his colleague old colleague, Huang Zhong had to be left behind. When Liu Bei venerated Huang Zhong, to made Zhuge Liang his regent for tactics and promoted Zhao Yun for his bravery that was try to save Huang Zhong and his wisdom to retreat but rather than sacrifice the remaining troops for blind honor.

Turning Point of Shu
However, Liu Bei was would be avenge to his sworn brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei's death, that he went to put down Wu commander Sun Quan in the Battle of Yiling. Though the rest of Shu were eager for the victory, Zhao Yun was expressed distaste for the battle and to remained in Jiāngzhōu. Actually, the battle was became a slaughtering-ground for Shu's forces and as a result, Zhao Yun was said he had preserved an army by avoiding the conflict. After Liu Bei's death, succeeded by his son, Shu was continued to be lead by Zhuge Liang, who promoted Zhao Yun to "General who Guards the East".

Zhao Yun was known to distracted Cao Cao's forces while Zhuge Liang went on an expedition across Mount Qi. From the starting in the battle, however, Zhao Yun was could to see the invasion was going to fail was against them and eventually issued the order for retreat to preserve the Shu forces. Zhao Yun was personally guarded the army's flank during the retreat. Zhao Yun's detachment but didn't lose many war supplies and were is able to re-distribute the resources to other the units. Though Zhuge Liang is offered to reward Zhao Yun, but he can declined since it was still that defeat, and willingly accepted he was demotion.

In later years, Zhao Yun died of illness, that succeeded by his son, Zhao Tong. After Zhao Yun's death, he was posthumously honoured as "Marquis Shunping".

Trivia

 * Zhao Yun's moves in the game are reach attacks, this is based on the stories that was depect him as able to wade through many crowds of enemies.
 * Zhao Yun outlived all the other Tiger Generals.
 * Zhao Yun's Samurai Warriors counterpart is Yukimura Sanada.
 * Zhao Yun is the poster boy in the Dynasty Warriors video game series.
 * In the first Warriors Orochi game, Zhao Yun is captured by Orochi's forces and held prisoner in Ueda Castle. He was rescued by Zuo Ci, Yoshihiro Shimazu, and Xingcai.
 * In the historical paths of Dynasty Warriors 7 and 8, Zhao Yun disappears after Shu's storyline to coincide with his historical death.
 * In Dynasty Warriors 8 and 9, Zhao Yun was lives long enough to fight at Wuzhang Plains, but does not appears in others later storylines.
 * Zhao Yun appears as one of the main protagonists in Dynasty Warriors: Godseekers, He is Lei Bin's childhood friend.
 * In the 2008 film Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon, Zhao Yun serves as the titular main protagonist of the film. He is a ally of Luo Pingan and Cao Ying's rival and archenemy, Zhao Yun was betrayed by them and also died in the final battle.
 * Zhao Yun is one of the playable characters in the Knights of Valour game series.