Zhang Yanshang
Zhang Yanshang (張延賞) (727 – September 7, 787
Background
Zhang Baofu was born in 727, during the reign of
Your Imperial Majesty treated your chancellors with honor, when you commission them and when you remove them. Even after their deaths, their descendants are allowed to serve you. Zhang Jiazhen had a son named Zhang Baofu when he was old, and Zhang Baofu does not yet have a commission.
Emperor Xuanzong, hearing this, was saddened, and he summoned Zhang Baofu and made him an army officer. Emperor Xuanzong also gave him a new name — Yanshang, meaning "extended favor." It was said that Zhang Yanshang was well-versed in the
During Emperor Suzong's reign
During the
During Emperor Daizong's reign
After Emperor Suzong died in 762 and was succeeded by his son Emperor Daizong, the chancellor Yuan Zai became a dominant figure at court. As Yuan had been recommended by Miao Jinqing, he treated Zhang Yanshang, as Miao's son-in-law, with kindness. When Emperor Daizong was forced to flee to Shan Prefecture (陝州, in modern Sanmenxia, Henan) in 763, at Yuan's recommendation, Emperor Daizong made Zhang an imperial attendant (給事中, Jishizhong). Soon thereafter, he became deputy chief imperial censor (御史中丞, Yushi Zhongcheng) and Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng).[2][3]
In 767, Zhang was made the mayor of Henan Municipality (河南, i.e., the region of the eastern capital
During Emperor Dezong's reign
Emperor Daizong died in 779 and was succeeded by his son
At that time, Emperor Dezong was faced with a rebellion by the general Zhu Ci and was forced to flee Chang'an. During the times that he was at Fengtian (奉天, in modern Xianyang, Shaanxi) and then at Liang Prefecture (梁州, in modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi), until he was able to return to Chang'an after Zhu was defeated by the general Li Sheng in fall 784, Emperor Dezong relied on supplies from Xichuan Circuit, and in summer 784, he gave Zhang the honorary chancellor designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事).[8] In 785, when the chancellor Liu Congyi was seriously ill (and Liu would die later in the year), Emperor Dezong thus recalled Zhang to Chang'an, intending to make him an actual chancellor. Li Sheng, still displeased with Zhang, submitted a petition accusing Zhang of a number of crimes, and Emperor Dezong, not willing to go against Li's wishes, for the time being only made Zhang Zuo Pushe (左僕射), one of the heads of the executive bureau (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng).[6]
By 786, however, Zhang was beginning to gain the upper hand against Li in their struggle, as Li's son-in-law Zhang Yu (張彧), displeased that Li had held a grander ceremony and given more dowry when marrying another daughter to Cui Shu (崔樞) than when marrying Zhang Yu's wife to him, became an associate of Zhang's, as did another subordinate of Li's, Zheng Yunkui (鄭雲逵). Emperor Dezong also had been suspicious of Li due to his longtime hold on the loyalty of the army, as well as various rumors fostered by Tufan agents that Li was planning treason. Li, hearing that Emperor Dezong was suspecting him, offered to resign his post as military governor of Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji, Shaanxi), in winter 786 when he was Chang'an. Emperor Dezong declined, and instead requested the intervention of the chancellor Han Huang, who was friendly with LI. Han and the general Liu Xuanzuo (劉玄佐), the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng, Henan), therefore, held a feast for Zhang and Li, hoping to dissolve their enmity. Both agreed, and Li further tried to dissolve Zhang's resentment by endorsing him as chancellor. In spring 787, Emperor Dezong, accordingly, made Zhang a chancellor. However, while Zhang agreed to dissolve his resentment, the resentment persisted, and when Li requested that Zhang give a daughter to one of his sons in marriage, Zhang refused, causing Li to comment:[6]
Military men are more straightforward. Once they release their resentment when drinking, they will no longer hold it in their chests. This is unlike civilians; even though on the outside, there is resolution of anger, but the resentment remains inside. How can I not fear this?
Later in 787, Zhang, in conflict with his chancellor colleague Qi Ying, who had already offended Emperor Dezong by his honest words, and Zhang opined to Emperor Dezong that Qi did not have the talent to be a chancellor. Emperor Dezong demoted Qi to be a prefectural prefect.[6]
Around the same time, Han died, and both Zhang and the general
By summer 787, Emperor Dezong and Tufan's chancellor Shang Jiezan (尚結贊) had negotiated a peace treaty, and the general
Meanwhile, Zhang's rivalry with another official — Li Shuming (李叔明) the military governor of Dongchuan Circuit (東川, headquartered in modern Mianyang, Sichuan) — which formed when they governed neighboring circuits, led Zhang to carry out some additional actions intended to bring down Li Shuming. At that time, Li Shuming's son Li Shēng (李昇, note different tone and character than the great general) was repeatedly seen visiting Emperor Dezong's aunt Princess Gao, whose daughter was the wife and crown princess of Emperor Dezong's son and crown prince Li Song. He informed this to Emperor Dezong, intimating that Li Shēng was having an affair with Princess Gao. When Emperor Dezong asked Li Mi to investigate this, however, Li Mi correctly guessed that it was Zhang who informed Emperor Dezong of this and suggested no investigation, pointing out that Zhang's accusations also appeared to be intended to endanger Li Song. Emperor Dezong agreed, and thereafter moved Li Shēng to the position of head of Li Song's household, away from Princess Gao.[6]
Zhang died in winter 787 and was given posthumous honors. He was also given the posthumous name of Chengsu (成肅, meaning "successful and solemn"). His son Zhang Hongjing later served as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Dezong's grandson Emperor Xianzong.[3]
Ouyang Xiu, the lead editor of the New Book of Tang, commented thus about Zhang:[2]
Zhang Yanshang served at four circuits, and wherever he went, the people praised him for his love. After he became chancellor, however, he gave in to his emotions and acted in hatred, and therefore did not meet people's expectations. He also died early, and was unable to accomplish much as chancellor.
Notes and references
- Old Book of Tang, vol. 129.
- New Book of Tang, vol. 127.
- Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 224, 226, 229, 230, 232.