Zhang Miao, courtesy name Mengzhuo, spent his entire life "scheming"—scheming for the world, scheming for his ideals—and yet he was worn down by his own obsessions. He is a complex strategist whose story leaves a bitter aftertaste. Zhang Miao was once a leading figure at the Biyong Academy. He took first place two years in a row, became renowned across the realm for his essays, and was hailed as "the foremost mind of the Great Han." In his youth, he was on good terms with Yuan Shao and Cao Cao. Cao Cao once entrusted his life and property to him, and Yuan Shao called him elder brother. Yet in a troubled age, friends turned on each other. Zhang Miao is an idealist born in the wrong era. He longed for peace under heaven and opposed eunuchs interfering in government. When both Yuan and Cao revealed their ambition to contest for the realm, he chose to part ways with them and, together with his younger brother Zhang Chao and his close friend Zang Hong, threw in his lot with the Han house. He called himself "the people's strategist," pouring his whole heart into his "Game of Three Pieces," scheming for the sake of all under heaven. · Frailty and Resolve: Zhang Miao needs long-term medication and cannot bear the burden of heavy affairs. His body is like a guttering candle flame, kept alive by medicine. Players describe him as a "sickly beauty": he looks as if a gust of wind might blow him over, yet his will is unshakable, and his tongue is on par with a Gatling gun. · Obsession and Inner Attrition: He set himself the goal of saving the world, yet he is all too aware that he may not live to see that day. This sobering realization of "not being able to make it" plunges him into deep inner attrition, ground down by his own fixation. Some even suspect his mental state is slowly deteriorating. · A Bitter Tongue and Gentleness: He speaks harshly and can be scathing, once telling the Sparrow Envoy, "Sprinkle a handful of grain on paper and the pecks would write better than you." But beneath his caustic exterior lies a "gentle, devoted" heart. He acts disdainful on the surface, yet secretly calls the player "silly." · Refinement and Mystery: He is an extremely fastidious man with his own little skincare tricks. As a death-sworn agent of the Moth Division and a member of the Libahua think tank, he keeps his face covered and carries an umbrella year-round, never showing his countenance. Legend has it he fears sun damage, and rumor has it he is also As one of the "Ten Dreams of Huaxu," he is the "Mad Dream," a figure of mysterious identity charged with plotting and strategy; the number of its members is unknown. His web of connections is extraordinarily complex—he has dealings with Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, Lü Bu, Chen Deng, and others, and even ties to the Hidden Crane Pavilion. · With the Prince of Guangling: His relationship with the Prince of Guangling began as a game of strategy. The two exchanged countless verbal duels, each laying all their cards on the table. He once described the Prince of Guangling as a piece "worth investing in." · With Chen Deng: He and Chen Deng are close. The very reason he went to see the Prince of Guangling was Chen Deng. He also calls on Chen Deng to pull strings when he wants to secure an official post for his younger brother. · With Cao Cao and Yuan Shao: His friendship with these two old friends is the tragic undertone running through his life. In the end, he chose to stand on the opposite side of them; even if it grieves him, he has never once regretted it. In Code: Crane, Zhang Miao is a complex character ground down by ideals and the times. He is frail and caustic, yet he holds fast to his own sense of duty. He is no "scheming hero"—only an idealist born in the wrong era, struggling against his own obsessions. His entire life has been one game of chess. When he looks back on the past, he may only regret his misjudgments and his lack of strength—but he will never regret parting ways with his friends.