Zhang Yanhan

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Zhang Yanhan (張延翰) (884

chancellor
late in Wu and early in Southern Tang.

Background

Zhang Yanhan was born in 884. He was from Suiyang (睢陽, in modern

Yangtze and Huai Rivers (which was then under the rule of the major warlord Yang Xingmi the military governor of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu)), so that the family line could be extended. Zhang Shensi agreed with his analysis and sent him on his way.[1]

During Wu

Tang ended in 907, and the realm fractured into several states, with Yang Xingmi's domain, then ruled by his son and successor

Wu).[4] Zhang Yanhan initially served there as the magistrate of Yancheng County (鹽城, in modern Yancheng, Jiangsu), and was said to have been capable. He was later promoted to be the military commander of the army at Chu Prefecture (楚州, in modern Huai'an, Jiangsu).[1]

In 918, when then-Wu regent Xu Wen's adoptive son Xu Zhigao became junior regent at Wu's capital Guangling (廣陵, in modern Yangzhou) (as Xu Wen himself was stationed at Sheng Prefecture (昇州, in modern Nanjing, Jiangsu)), Xu Zhigao was given the title of military prefect (團練使, Tuanlianshi) of Jiang Prefecture (江州, in modern Jiujiang, Jiangxi),[5] but obviously could not govern Jiang himself from Guangling; therefore, he sent Zhang there, as his secretary, to actually govern the prefecture.[1]

At a later point,[6] Zhang returned to the Wu imperial government to serve as an imperial censor (殿中侍御史, Dianzhong Shi Yushi), and was put in charge, in an acting capacity, of the office of the imperial censors. At that time, the general Zhang Xuan (張宣) was one of the commanders of the guards for the capital Guangling, and was, due to his accomplishments, arrogant and violent. Zhang Yanhan submitted an indictment against Zhang Xuan, which caused other similarly arrogant generals to become apprehensive and to curb their behavior.[1]

Zhang Yanhan was later promoted to be the deputy minister of rites (禮部侍郎, Libu Shilang). This caused him to appreciate Xu Zhigao (who was full regent by that point) greatly, as he had not previously been considered a close associate of the regent. At that time, Wu had not held

chancellor. Even though he was by no means old, the people still commented at the time that it was regrettable that he was not chancellor earlier.[1]

During Southern Tang

In 937, Xu Zhigao had Yang Pu yield the throne to him, ending Wu and starting a new state of

Li and take on a new personal name of Bian.) He commissioned Zhang Yanhan, as well as fellow former Wu chancellors Zhang Juyong and Li Jianxun, chancellors of his new state.[8]

It was said that some time thereafter, Zhang Yanhan fell ill. As Li Bian still hoped that Zhang would be able to serve as chancellor, he did not allow Zhang to resign, but rather repeatedly send emissaries to oversee his treatment and make sure that he was given the best medications.[1] Despite this, Zhang died around the new year 941.[2] He was given posthumous honors.[1]

Notes and references

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms, vol. 21.
  2. ^ a b Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 282.
  3. ^ Academia Sinica Chinese-Western Calendar Converter.
  4. ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 266.
  5. ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 270.
  6. Book of Southern Tang authored by the Song historian Lu You, indicated that this occurred at the time that Xu Zhigao took the throne as emperor (937), but this would be completely inconsistent with the rest of the timeline of Zhang's career as given in both the Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms as well as other more established sources, and therefore will be disregarded here. See Book of Southern Tang, vol. 6. It could be referring to Xu Zhigao's assumption of greater regency powers upon Xu Wen's death or the assumption of imperial title by then-ruler of Wu, Yang Pu, both occurring in 927. See Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 276
    .
  7. ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 277.
  8. ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 281.
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