General Zhao

Lore & Background

As the war intensifies, Zhao's authority becomes a symbol of the old order that Rin and her classmates must eventually surpass or dismantle. While he maintains loyalty to the Emperor and the state, his inability to adapt to the shifting nature of warfare highlights the limitations of the Nikara high command. His interactions with rising stars often reveal a deep-seated skepticism about relying on magic, fearing it undermines the structural integrity of the military.

Reader's Guide

General Zhao functions as an antagonist representing institutional authority within The Poppy War. He challenges Rin's early ambitions by enforcing strict military protocol and questioning her reliance on shamanic power. His relationship with the cadets is professional yet distant, emphasizing the gap between officers and soldiers. His moral arc reflects the struggle of a loyalist trying to maintain order amidst chaos.

As Rin ascends through the ranks using forbidden methods, Zhao's relevance wanes, symbolizing the obsolescence of traditional command in the face of war magic. He represents the cost of discipline versus the necessity of adaptation. Ultimately, his fate is tied to the broader collapse and restructuring of the Nikara military during the trilogy. While he does not drive the central plot like Rin or Dai, his presence grounds the narrative in the reality of the empire's crumbling infrastructure.

Did You Know?

• The Poppy War trilogy draws its plot and politics from mid-20th-century China, with the conflict based on the Second Sino-Japanese War.
• The Poppy War was nominated for the 2019 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel.
• The first two books in the Poppy War trilogy were included in Time magazine's 2020 list of the 100 best fantasy books of all time.