Zang Ba (c. 162–230s), courtesy name Xuangao, was a military general who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of China.
[5][6] After the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out in the 180s, Zang Ba entered the service of Tao Qian, the Governor of Xu Province, who appointed him as Commandant of Cavalry (qiduwei, 騎都尉).
[6] Later in 193, as Tao Qian was repeatedly defeated by the warlord Cao Cao, Zang Ba gathered adventurers and gangsters and established himself as the leader of the bandit groups of Mount Tai with characters like Sun Guan (孫観), Wu Dun (吳敦), Yin Li and Chang Xi (昌豨) within his ranks.
[6] However, they did not return to Tao Qian after the campaign and instead camped at Kaiyang County (開陽) in the north of Langya Commandery.
[6] When Lü Bu gained control of Xu Province, Zang Ba and his Taishan Bandits attacked Xiao Jian (蕭建) at Ju County and seized his treasury.
[8] However, after Lü Bu's defeat and execution following the Battle of Xiapi, Zang Ba lost his ally and became a fugitive.
As the rest of eastern China plunged into turmoil, the situation in the lands under Zang Ba's influence remained under control.
[8] Yuan Shao's forces cannot advance to the east due to the strong defense mounted by Zang Ba.
For his accomplishments in restoring order in the east, Zang Ba was enfeoffed as a marquis of a chief village by and named as general.
[8] Some time between 206 and 209, he joined Xiahou Yuan and Lü Qian (呂虔) in the quelling of Yellow Turban remnants led by Xu He (徐和) and Sima Ju (司馬俱).
[8] With Zang Ba withdrawing, Sun Quan dispatched some 20,000 to 30,000 soldiers in two separate forces to assist Chen Lan.
Without the intervention from Sun Quan, Zhang Liao killed both Chen Lan and Mei Cheng, quelling the rebellion.
[8] However, their progress was hampered by continuous rainfall which had raised the water level, that allowed Sun Quan's ships to approach.
Thereafter, Zang Ba moved to Juchao with Xiahou Dun to maintain pressure on Sun Quan's forces.
the new emperor placed Zang Ba under the supervision of the general Cao Xiu, who had supreme authority over Qing and Xu provinces.