Zhang Liang

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Zhang Liang (张良)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Zhao Tian's staff; later entrusted with Chen Feng's city administration 375 735
Occupation / Role	Assistant, investigator, security leader, and city manager 376 579 740
Status	Active 793
First Appearance	Chapter 372

Background

Zhang Liang grew up in poverty after his parents disappeared from his life, relying on his grandparents from childhood onward. Unable to afford stable housing for the three of them, he learned that Chen Feng was allowing people to relocate and decided to gamble on moving to Future City with his grandparents. 372

At Future City's gate, Zhang Liang complied with inspection procedures, received a residence, and immediately tried to build ties with his neighbors. He also sought work at a restaurant, accepting rejection without conflict. 373

Financial hardship made him vulnerable to a group seeking to target Zhao Tian and Chen Feng. Zhang Liang agreed to approach Zhao Tian as an apparent assistant, but Zhao Tian recognized his persistence and capability and hired him instead. 375 Zhang Liang subsequently chose Zhao Tian's side, treating Zhao Tian as the person who gave him a home and a chance to advance. 379

Personality

Zhang Liang is pragmatic and ambitious. His initial decision to relocate to Future City, seek work, and pursue an audience with Zhao Tian came from a desire to improve his grandparents' living conditions. 372 373 375

As his authority grows, he becomes patient, suspicious, and methodical. He prefers to verify intelligence before acting, uses surveillance and interrogation to identify threats, and can employ deception or ambushes when direct confrontation would be costly. 401 402 451

He is stern toward enemies and disloyal subordinates, but not indiscriminately cruel. He rescues an unconscious former informant, gives detained villagers opportunities to atone through useful work, and recognizes that Chen Feng will not tolerate harming innocent people without cause. 514 550 641

Abilities & Skills

Leadership and Administration

Zhang Liang develops from Zhao Tian's assistant into a leader trusted with city security and governance.

• Organized a citywide roundup after Zhao Tian sealed the city and provided a list of suspects. 379
• Became Zhao Tian's right-hand man and handled contacts seeking access to Zhao Tian. 376
• Was later left in charge of Chen Feng's city, managing security, external affairs, access restrictions, and limited resources while Chen Feng conducted research. 569 735 740
• Delegates searches, reconnaissance, containment, and investigations to subordinates with clear objectives. 392 622 732

Investigation and Interrogation

Zhang Liang relies on information control, questioning, and corroboration rather than acting solely on suspicion.

• Pressured captives into identifying their backers, then reported the intelligence to Zhao Tian for immediate action. 389
• Required evidence before accepting warnings about danger and used scouts or drones to verify potentially deceptive information. 451 453
• Conducted counter-investigations after discovering the Zhang Family's planned betrayal. 787 793
• Monitored Professor Chen after the professor attempted to exploit access to the ruins, ensuring he could not leave the controlled area. 488 502

Tactical Planning

Zhang Liang consistently favors preparation, positioning, and initiative.

• Temporarily admitted defeat when necessary to avoid complications, then sought resources and initiative through direct action. 401
• Used a feigned retreat to lure enemies into relaxing before surrounding them. 402
• Recognized ambushes and chose to wait, observe, and assess opposing intentions before committing. 650
• Set ambushes, deployed scouts, and arranged perimeter security against incoming threats. 652 655

Combat Command

Though chiefly a commander, Zhang Liang can fight personally and directs technologically equipped forces.

• Refused to surrender during a confrontation and drove an opposing group to withdraw after his attacks proved effective. 442
• Leads forces equipped with Wearable Mechanical Exoskeletons, which gave his side a decisive advantage over a rival gang. 491
• Maintains discipline during large-scale engagements, pursuing defeated enemies, taking captives, and postponing pursuit when immediate action would create unnecessary risks. 659 668

Resources and Equipment

• Wearable Mechanical Exoskeletons — Available to Zhang Liang's group and used as a major advantage against rival forces. 491
• Scouts and reconnaissance teams — Used to examine defensible locations, identify signs of habitation, and maintain secrecy around discoveries. 454
• Drones — Zhang Liang and Zhao Tian deploy a drone to verify the location of an enemy base before moving against it. 451
• City security network — Zhang Liang commands subordinates, guards, and informants across the city to locate suspects and prevent escapes. 379 749

Relationships

• Zhao Tian — Employer, mentor, and early benefactor. Zhao Tian hired Zhang Liang as an assistant, entrusted him with high-risk tests, and came to rely on him as a right-hand man. 375 376 379 380
• Chen Feng — Superior and later partner in city management. Zhang Liang initially expected Chen Feng to be vicious because of his reputation, but was surprised by his amiable demeanor; Chen Feng eventually entrusted him with the city and major investigations. 418 569 735
• Zhang Liang's grandparents — His remaining family and primary reason for seeking a new life in Future City. 372 373
• Professor Chen — A researcher Zhang Liang manipulated into exploring ruins, then kept under surveillance after Professor Chen's greed and attempted schemes became apparent. 488 502 505
• Zhang Family — A rival faction whose betrayal Zhang Liang uncovered and investigated through detention and counter-surveillance. 787 788 793

Story Role / Major Arcs

Arrival in Future City

Zhang Liang arrives in Future City with his grandparents, secures housing, and attempts to establish himself through work and neighborhood connections. His desperation for financial stability leads him into contact with people seeking to exploit him against Zhao Tian. 372 373 375

Zhao Tian's Assistant

After Zhao Tian hires him, Zhang Liang proves his worth by locating and detaining people on a sealed-city list. His success earns Zhao Tian's explicit support and elevates him from a newcomer to a trusted operative. 379 380

Security Conflicts and Consolidation

Zhang Liang helps Zhao Tian counter unrest, hostile crowds, infiltrators, rumor campaigns, controlled individuals, and armed rivals. He becomes known for confronting threats directly while using questioning, containment, and ambush tactics to prevent enemies from escaping. 382 389 433 451 457

Ruins Investigation

Zhang Liang becomes involved in investigations of potentially alien ruins. He is skeptical of extraordinary claims, considers consulting Zhao Tian, and later recognizes similarities between the ruins and the four pillars in their city. 498 543 He also controls access to research sites and keeps Professor Chen under supervision after detecting the professor's ulterior motives. 488 502

City Manager

After Chen Feng leaves the city to pursue research elsewhere, Zhang Liang is tasked with maintaining order. He investigates suspected conspirators, regulates entry into the city, manages resource pressure, and protects Chen Feng from disturbances while Chen Feng works. 579 735 740

Later Threat Investigations

Zhang Liang continues pursuing hostile factions beyond the city, including groups in northern Europe and the Zhang Family. He uses Chen Feng's influence to gather intelligence, uncovers betrayal, and launches counter-investigations rather than confronting every threat blindly. 753 754 787 793

Trivia

• Zhang Liang initially believed a person as powerful as Chen Feng should be “prestigious” and vicious; Chen Feng's friendly manner surprised him. 418
• Chen Feng investigated Zhang Liang's background and found no troubling affiliations or hidden backing. 385
• Zhang Liang's authority becomes strong enough that later opponents discuss avoiding a direct confrontation with him. 691 792