A Chinese Biographical Dictionary/Chang Hsün (張巡)
63Chang Hsün 張巡. A.D. 709 - 757. A native of Nan-yang in Honan, who as a youth was very fond of military studies. He graduated as chin shih about 735, and entered upon a public career. Employed in military operations against the Turkic tribes he departed from all time-honoured tactics, complaining that it was impossible to fight these barbarians according to fixed rules; they would persist in attacking him when unprepared! His discipline, however, was so perfect that one of his officers, named 萬春 Wan Ch'un, is said to have received six arrows in his face without budging from the post which had been assigned to him. In 756 the rebellion of An Lu-shan brought him to the front. He fought many battles and performed prodigies of valour, not without receiving many wounds. The climax was reached by his heroic defence of 睢陽 Sui-yang against An Lu-shan's son. Hemmed in on all sides, provisions ran short; but he would not yield. He even sacrificed his favourite concubine, without avail. At length the enemy broke in upon his enfeebled garrison; and as he scorned to own allegiance to the conqueror, he was at once put to death. During the siege his patriotic rage had caused him to grind his teeth with such fury that after his death all but three or four were found to be worn down to the very gums!