Zhang Yi (c. 166 – 230),[a] courtesy name Junsi, was an official of the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period of China.
He praised Zhang Yi as a nimble man in actions and perspicacious in reasons; even said that he was the equivalent of Zhong Yao from the central plains.
He started his official career after Liu Zhang, the Governor of Yi Province, nominated him as a xiaolian (civil service candidate), later assigned as the Chief of Yufu.
Liu Bei then appointed Zhang Yi as the Administrator (太守) of Ba Commandery (巴郡) and was promoted to Managing Metal Internal Cadet General.
[3] In late 222 or early 223, after Liu Bei lost the Battle of Xiaoting against his ally-turned-rival Sun Quan, the local tribes in southern Yizhou Commandery (益州郡; covering parts of present-day Yunnan), led by an elderly Yong Kai (雍闓) who was known as a kind man and trusted by them started a rebellion, killed Zheng Ang (正昂) the Shu-appointed Administrator of Jianning Commandery and secretly communicates with Sun Quan.
He then sent his men to pursue them and bring Zhang Yi back, but from the moment he left Zhang Yi already regretted showing his wit and sensed that Sun Quan did not want to let him leave, had sped up his journey day and night upon leaving Wu and returned to Shu just one day ahead of Sun Quan's men.
Around 227, when Zhuge Liang launched the first of a series of military campaigns against Shu's rival state Wei, he appointed Zhang Yi as Colonel of Trainee Archers (射聲校尉) and Chief Clerk (長史) in the Imperial Chancellor's office.
[11] In his later career, Zhang Yi was appointed as General Who Assists Han (輔漢將軍) but remained as Chief Clerk in Zhuge Liang's office.
When Yang Gong's children became adults, Zhang Yi bought fields and houses for their property and helped them to find wives and employment.