Zhang Te (Chinese: 张特; pinyin: Zhāng Tè) was a military officer who served the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He is predominantly recognized for his pivotal role in successfully defending the city of Xinjun (新城) against a substantial siege led by Sun Quan, the founding emperor of Eastern Wu.
In 230 CE, Sun Quan initiated a significant military campaign against Cao Wei territories, personally commanding his forces to besiege Xinjun. Zhang Te, who was the commander responsible for Xinjun's defense, found his garrison in a precarious situation. His troops were vastly outnumbered, supplies were dwindling, and many soldiers were incapacitated by illness due to the prolonged siege and harsh conditions.
Facing the prospect of inevitable defeat, Zhang Te devised and executed a clever stratagem. He dispatched an envoy to Sun Quan, conveying a feigned intention to surrender the city. To make his offer seem credible, he requested a temporary respite of twenty days, claiming this time was needed for his sick soldiers to recover before he could formally open the city gates. As a token of his supposed sincerity, he offered a portion of his official seal and a selection of his personal documents as a pledge. Sun Quan, perhaps hoping to minimize further casualties and preserve the city's resources, accepted Zhang Te's terms.
During the granted twenty-day period, Zhang Te used the time not to prepare for surrender, but to diligently repair and reinforce the city's damaged walls and ramparts. He bolstered the defenses, rallied his remaining healthy troops, and prepared for renewed resistance. When the twenty days had elapsed, and Sun Quan's forces approached the city expecting a surrender, Zhang Te defiantly displayed his strengthened defenses and refused to yield, proclaiming his determination to fight to the last man.
Realizing he had been outmaneuvered and facing a now resolute and prepared enemy, Sun Quan's frustration mounted. With his own forces experiencing fatigue and declining morale from the prolonged campaign and the deception, he ultimately ordered a retreat. Zhang Te's cunning strategy and unwavering resolve successfully repelled the invasion, securing Xinjun for Cao Wei. For his exceptional service and strategic acumen, he was subsequently promoted and enfeoffed. This incident remains the most significant documented achievement of Zhang Te's career.