Zhang Xinnian

Biodata

Background / History

Military Service and Guard Assignment

Zhang Xinnian spent years in the army and fought enemies on the Northern Frontier, where he served as a Thousand-household Commander. By the time Jiang Xiaobai questioned him about his service, he had been with Jiang Jingcheng for approximately seven years. Jiang Jingcheng assigned him to protect Xiaobai 21 113 235 309 327.

Discovering Jiang Xiaobai’s Talents

Initially, Zhang expected Xiaobai’s outings to involve disreputable companions. When Xiaobai proposed visiting the former Grand Tutor, Elder Lin, Zhang doubted that either of them belonged in such a scholarly household and bluntly called his young lord a “useless wastrel” 18.

His opinion began changing after Xiaobai secured Gu Zhiyan’s invitation to accompany him inside the Lin Estate. Zhang recognized unexpected skill in Xiaobai’s observation and conversation, then expressed amazement when Elder Lin accepted him as a student. Later, he remarked that Xiaobai’s deceased elder brothers would have been happy to see his transformation 19 27 56.

Imperial College Incident

At Xiaobai’s request, Zhang acted as though he were “invincible under heaven” during their visit to the Imperial College. He exaggerated ordinary gestures into supposed feats of overwhelming martial power, including claiming to have drawn his saber thousands of times in half a breath 42.

The performance escalated into a dispute over a broken counting tray. Zhang stamped the tray into splinters, threatened the page and teaching assistant, and pulled Xiaobai away. Xiaobai subsequently told him that his acting had been excessive and ordered him not to act independently without instructions 43 44.

Liquor Business and Ministry of Justice Arrest

Zhang helped distribute Xiaobai’s liquor and led soldiers to smash a tavern after its staff rejected the wine he brought. Questioned by the emperor, he claimed personal responsibility and said he had not known the establishment belonged to the imperial family. The matter was dropped after Xiao Jinfeng tasted the wine and spoke in his favor 219 220.

He was later detained at the Ministry of Justice and pressured to sign a confession admitting that he had coerced merchants into buying wine. Despite being beaten, he refused and retaliated verbally when officials insulted Xiaobai. Xiaobai arrived with thirty thousand troops, found him bruised and swollen, and promised him justice; Zhang’s defiance gave way to tears of relief 234 235.

After returning home, Zhang resumed distributing goods. He later brought Xiaobai a bundle that Xiaobai judged likely to contain substantial liquor-business proceeds and was instructed to deliver it to Jiang Jingcheng 241 255.

Northern Yu Provocation

A Northern Yu Visiting Scholar deliberately struck Zhang and told him to show the resulting handprint to Jiang Jingcheng. Zhang reported the provocation to Xiaobai instead, fearing the Marquis’s reaction. Xiaobai ordered him to keep the incident from his father and accompanied the battered Zhang to the Drunken Immortal Tower the following morning 259 260.

Zhang enthusiastically celebrated Xiaobai’s killing of the powerful opponent there, even though cheering aggravated his facial injuries 264.

Jiang Jingxuan’s Attempted Takeover

When Jiang Jingcheng and Xiaobai were detained, Zhang declined Tang Kui’s invitation to leave with the household’s evacuees. He remained at the estate to gather information and watch for Jiang Jingxuan’s next move 327.

He outwardly welcomed Jiang Jingxuan and obeyed his order to assemble officers, while privately condemning him for framing the Marquis and Heir Apparent. Zhang subsequently prepared Jiang Jingxuan’s journey to the military camp. After the crisis, Xiaobai praised him for taking Jiang Jingxuan there and bringing thirty thousand armored troops into the palace; Tang Kui also commended his courage and loyalty 327 333 343.

Cannon Escort and the Seventh Prince’s Residence

During the Hidden Edge journey, Zhang managed the soldiers’ camp at Rear Mountain and operated cannons against hostile martial artists. He aimed one at Li Jingxing and later threatened Fu Yuanzong’s group on Xiaobai’s orders 457 464 490.

When Xiaobai was held at the Seventh Prince’s Residence, Zhang confronted Xiao Jinrong with ten cannons and demanded the Heir Apparent’s release. He fired directly at the prince, who avoided the shot, and refused to be intimidated by his imperial rank 553 554 557.

Afterward, Zhang was ordered to teach Xiao Qingshu to drive Xiaobai’s carriage. When the young prince’s service punishment was extended to a month, Zhang kicked him for abducting Xiaobai and made him drive Jiang Jingcheng and Li Bingzhang back to the estate 557 563.

Appearance

• Thick eyebrows and large, honest-looking eyes: Xiaobai notes these features while accusing him of setting up an awkward carriage encounter 113.
• Martial bearing: A Lin Estate attendant recognizes the grim martial menace surrounding him as characteristic of an honored military household 18.
• Saber at his waist: He habitually keeps his weapon ready while accompanying Xiaobai 116.

Personality

Zhang is fiercely loyal to the Jiang household and quick to treat insults against its members as grounds for confrontation. He endures coercion rather than confess, stays behind during the household’s crisis, and openly challenges an imperial prince to protect Xiaobai. His loyalty can override caution or protocol: when summoned before the emperor, he greets Xiaobai first before remembering to pay his respects to the sovereign 166 219 235 327 554.

His bluntness frequently embarrasses Xiaobai. Attempts to explain Xiaobai’s drunken behavior only worsen Tang Ningshuang’s anger, and he loudly announces an interrupted kiss instead of discreetly guarding the door. Nevertheless, he is capable of deception and quick judgment when necessary, particularly while feigning obedience to Jiang Jingxuan 144 327 413.

Abilities & Skills

Saber Combat

• Severs a thick chain securing a courtyard gate with one saber stroke 129.
• Immediately raises his saber when a fast-moving attacker seizes Xiaobai by the neck 129.
• Reports nearly being overwhelmed by the expert black-clad attackers involved in the lake assassination incident 159.
• Explicitly denies being a Grandmaster; his exact cultivation realm is not stated 118.
• His claims of immense saber intent and thousands of instantaneous draws at the Imperial College are an act, not demonstrated abilities 42 43 44.

Military Command and Artillery

• Commands hundreds of estate soldiers to draw and sheathe their weapons in unison 219.
• Helps mobilize the household’s capital troops during the Jiang Jingxuan crisis 333 343.
• Personally pushes, aims, and controls cannon fuses during confrontations 464 466.
• Leads a ten-cannon force to demand Xiaobai’s release from the Seventh Prince’s Residence 553 557.

Threat Assessment and Martial Knowledge

• Uses his army experience to identify hostility in Xiao Qingxiu’s expression and warn Xiaobai 21.
• Supplies information about military figures and martial-world connections, including Tang Kui, Pei Shen, and a possible link between Hidden Edge Mountain and the Dragon-Tiger Sect 56 113 191.
• Estimates that someone would need to be at least a ninth-realm Grandmaster to withstand Xiaobai’s firearm head-on, while stressing that even such a fighter would probably be injured 112.

Escort, Investigation, and Logistics

• Drives carriages and teaches Xiao Qingshu to handle the reins 56 557.
• Receives orders to discreetly question trusted Northern Guardian Army veterans about the “Third Master” 309.
• Carries out Xiaobai’s plan to spread warnings about supposed impostor delegations, using the Silver Tally to enlist local authorities 300.
• Collects perfume-making supplies, arranges craftsmen, and relays the investigation into leaked liquor-making equipment 353 401 413.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Saber — His regular weapon; used to sever the locked courtyard’s chain and defend Xiaobai 116 129.
• Saber-technique manual — Selected from the Heavenly Mechanism Workshop’s Martial Arts Vault; its name and any resulting improvement are not documented 122.
• Cannons — Operated during martial-world confrontations and the rescue at the Seventh Prince’s Residence 464 490 553.
• Silver Tally — Temporarily entrusted to him for the operation against the Northern Yu and Qi delegations 300.

Relationships

• Jiang Xiaobai — His young lord and principal charge. Zhang’s initial skepticism develops into admiration and fierce loyalty; Xiaobai protects him after both his arrest and the Northern Yu assault 18 56 235 260.
• Jiang Jingcheng — Long-standing superior who assigns him to guard Xiaobai. Zhang has served him for about seven years and vigorously defends his authority 113 309 553.
• Tang Ningshuang — Fellow protector of Xiaobai. Zhang’s indiscreet remarks repeatedly provoke her, including a jealousy accusation that earns him a sword at his neck 144 282.
• Tang Kui — Senior general who offers him refuge during the Jiang household’s crisis and later praises his decision to remain behind 327 343.
• Jiang Jingxuan — Adversary whom Zhang pretends to serve while remaining loyal to Jiang Jingcheng and Xiaobai 327 333.
• Xiao Jinrong — Imperial prince whom Zhang threatens and fires upon while seeking Xiaobai’s release 553 554 557.
• Xiao Qingshu — Young prince placed in service at the Jiang estate. Zhang supervises his carriage-driving instruction and punishes him for abducting Xiaobai 557 563.

Notable Quotes

“I may not be good at much! … But I’m a tough one to kill!” 327

“Hmph, lay a hand on our Heir Apparent or shout at our duke, and I’d take you on even if you were the King of Heaven himself!” 554

Trivia

• He sneaks enough liquor to become drunk and is found lying in Xiaobai’s courtyard the following morning 205.
• After interrupting Xiaobai and Li Zhiwei, he returns to ask, “Heh, Heir Apparent, finished kissing?” His original reason for entering was merely to report that the requested craftsmen had been arranged 413.