Zhang Ye (張業) (died 24 August 948 [1] [2] ), né Zhang Zhiye (張知業), was a general and official of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period states Later Tang and Later Shu, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Later Shu's second emperor Meng Chang.
It is not known when Zhang Ye was born. [3] But he was said to be from Junyi (浚儀, in modern Kaifeng, Henan). His early career was not well-documented in history, but it is known that he was an officer in the Later Tang army that conquered Former Shu in 925. When in 926 after the conquest, the Later Tang commander of that invasion army, Li Jiji the Prince of Wei (the son of then-Later Tang emperor Li Cunxu) was prepared to depart Chengdu (the capital of the destroyed Former Shu state) and return to Later Tang's capital Luoyang, he left a detachment, commanded by the officers Li Renhan, Pan Rensi (潘仁嗣), Zhao Tingyin, Zhang Ye, Wu Zhang (武璋) and Li Tinghou (李廷厚), at Chengdu to await the arrival of the new Later Tang-commissioned military governor of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered at Chengdu), Meng Zhixiang, to arrive. (Apparently, then, when Meng subsequently arrived to take office, Li and those other officers came under his command.) [4] Zhang Ye was subsequently involved in suppressing the remaining popular uprisings against Meng in the region, and was commissioned the prefect of Jian Prefecture (簡州, in modern Ziyang, Sichuan). [3]
By 930, the relationships that Meng Zhixiang and Dong Zhang the military governor of neighboring Dongchuan Circuit (東川, headquartered in modern Mianyang, Sichuan) with the imperial government, with Li Cunxu's adoptive brother Li Siyuan as emperor (Li Cunxu's having been killed in a mutiny at Luoyang in 926), had become very strained, and it appeared that war between the imperial government and these two circuits would erupt at any time. At that juncture, there was a time when Li Renhan and Zhang Ye invited Meng to a feast. This led to a rumor, of which a Buddhist nun informed Meng, that the two of them were intending to assassinate Meng at the feast. Meng investigated, found no proof of the assassination plot, and eventually discovered that the rumors were being spread by the officers Du Yanchang (都延昌) and Wang Xingben (王行本). He put Du and Wang to death by cutting them in halves at the waist. He then proceeded to attend the feast at Li's house without any guards accompanying him. Li, in gratitude for this show of trust, knelt down to him and cried, stating, "This old soldier can only die to repay your grace." It was said that this incident led the generals to have greater attachment to Meng. [5]
In the fall of 930, Meng and Dong formally rose against the imperial government. Meng sent Li to command the army against the imperially-held Wuxin Circuit (武信, headquartered in modern Suining, Sichuan), with Zhao Tingyin serving as his deputy and Zhang serving as his forward commander. Li shortly after put Wuxin's capital Sui Prefecture (遂州) under siege, with the imperial general Xia Luqi (夏魯奇) the military governor of Wuxin defending. In spring 931, Sui Prefecture fell to Li; Xia committed suicide. [5] For Zhang's accomplishments during the Sui siege, Meng made him the acting military governor of Ningjiang Circuit (寧江, headquartered in modern Chongqing), and subsequently, even after he had a temporary rapprochement with the Later Tang imperial government, Meng issued an order on his own making Zhang the full military governor of Ningjiang, which Li Siyuan subsequently confirmed. [3]
In 934, Meng Zhixiang declared himself the emperor of a new state of Later Shu, independent of Later Tang, which was then ruled by Li Siyuan's son and successor Li Conghou. [6] He made Zhang Ye one of the commanders of his imperial guards, but still carrying the title of military governor of Ningjiang. [3]
Meng died later in the year, and was succeeded by his son Meng Chang. Upon Meng Chang's succession, he believed that the arrogance that Li Renhan displayed showed treasonous intentions, and he had Li put to death. As Zhang was then an imperial guard commander and Meng Chang feared that he would rebel as a result, he made Zhang a chancellor (with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事) to comfort him. When, shortly after, Li Conghou's adoptive brother Li Congke overthrew Li Conghou and became Later Tang's emperor, the Later Tang general Zhang Qianzhao (張虔釗) the military governor of Shannan West Circuit (山南西道, headquartered in modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi), who was one of the generals Li Conghou had previously sent against Li Congke, surrendered his Shannan West Circuit to Later Shu (along with Sun Hanshao (孫漢韶) the military governor of Wuding Circuit (武定, also headquartered in modern Hanzhong)), it was Zhang that Meng sent to accept their surrender, take over the two circuits for Later Shu, and return the surrendered general to Chengdu. [7]
Zhang's military governorship was apparently later moved from Ningjiang to Wuxin Circuit, for he was referred to by that title (in addition to his chancellor title) in 938. At that time, he was given the additional titles of Zuo Pushe (左僕射, one of the heads of the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng) and Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎, deputy head of the legislative bureau (中書省)), while his Wuxin governorship was given to fellow chancellor Wang Chuhui. [8] He was later given the honorary title of Sikong (司空, one of the Three Excellencies). [3] In 940, when his senior chancellor colleague Zhao Jiliang proposed that the responsibilities for overseeing the three financial agencies (taxation, treasury, and salt and iron monopolies) be divided between Zhao himself as well as Wu Zhaoyi and Zhang, Meng put Zhao in charge of taxation, Wu in charge of salt and iron monopolies, and Zhang in charge of the treasury. [9]
By 948, Zhang, who had long been chancellor, was by reputation known as arrogant and wasteful, and he had seized many people's properties, drawing resentment. He was also protecting fugitives and putting people who owed him money in jail. His son Zhang Jizhao (張繼昭) was a swordsman and had gone with the Buddhist monk Guixin (歸信) to recruit capable swordsmen to serve under him as well, drawing greater suspicion. Sun Hanshao, who was then an imperial guard commander and who had previous conflicts with Zhang Ye, thus submitted an accusation to Meng that Zhang Ye and Zhang Jizhao were plotting treason. The imperial scholar Li Hao and the officer An Siqian (安思謙) concurred in these accusations. Meng thus put Zhang Ye and Zhang Jizhao to death. Meng then issued an edict publicizing Zhang Ye's crimes and confiscating his assets. [1]
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Meng Chang (孟昶) (919–965), originally Meng Renzan (孟仁贊), courtesy name Baoyuan (保元), formally Prince Gongxiao of Chu (楚恭孝王), was the second emperor of Later Shu during imperial China's Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. He ruled from 934 until 965, when his state was conquered by the Song Dynasty. He died soon afterwards.
Meng Zhixiang was a general of the Later Tang who went on to found the independent state of Later Shu during the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Meng Zhixiang was an in-law of the Later Tang ruling family, who went by the family name Li. Meng married the eldest sister or perhaps a cousin of the founding emperor, Zhuangzong. Meng served the Later Tang as the military governor (Jiedushi) of Xichuan Circuit, after the conquest of Former Shu. After Emperor Zhuangzong's death, Meng was more distant to the succeeding emperor. The new emperor was Emperor Zhuangzong's adoptive brother, Emperor Mingzong. Meng, fearing accusations by Emperor Mingzong's chief advisor An Chonghui, rebelled, in alliance with Dong Zhang, military governor of neighboring Dongchuan Circuit. The Meng-Dong alliance repelled subsequent attempts to suppress or control them, although they continued as nominal subjects of Mingzong. Eventually, Meng overpowered Dong, thus assuming control of both allied domains. Meng continued as titular vassal to Mingzong for the rest of that emperor's reign; but, afterwards, Meng Zhixiang declared himself suzerain of an independent state named Shu, in 934, now called Later Shu to avoid confusion with other political entities sharing the same name.
Li Congke, also known in historiography as the Last Emperor of Later Tang (後唐末帝), Deposed Emperor of Later Tang (後唐廢帝), Wang Congke (王從珂), or Prince of Lu, childhood name Ershisan or, in short, Asan (阿三), was the last emperor of the Later Tang of China. He was an adoptive son of Li Siyuan and took the throne after overthrowing Emperor Mingzong's biological son Li Conghou. He was later himself overthrown by his brother-in-law Shi Jingtang, who was supported by Liao troops. When the combined Later Jin and Khitan forces defeated Later Tang forces, Li Congke and his family members, as well as the guards most loyal to him, ascended a tower and set it on fire, dying in the fire.
An Chonghui was the chief of staff (Shumishi) and chief advisor to Li Siyuan of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Later Tang.
Guo Chongtao, courtesy name Anshi (安時), formally the Duke of Zhao Commandery (趙郡公), was a Chinese military general and politician of the Later Tang dynasty and its predecessor state, the Former Jin. He served as the chief of staff for Later Tang's founding emperor Li Cunxu from before the time of the Later Tang's establishment and was instrumental in the Later Tang's destruction of its rivals Later Liang and Former Shu, but came under suspicion after Former Shu's destruction. Despite that suspicion, the Emperor Zhuangzong did not initially intend to kill him, but the Emperor Zhuangzong's wife Empress Liu issued an order herself and had him executed.
Zhao Jiliang (883–946), courtesy name Dezhang (德彰), was an official of the Chinese Former Jin, Later Tang, and Later Shu dynasties, serving as a chancellor under the Later Shu.
Ren Huan was a Chinese military general and politician of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Later Tang. He served as a chancellor during the reign of Later Tang's second emperor Li Siyuan, but became embroiled in a power struggle with Li Siyuan's powerful chief of staff An Chonghui. He eventually was forced into retirement, but An eventually had Li Siyuan order him to commit suicide.
Kang Yanxiao, known as Li Shaochen (李紹琛) from 923 to 926, was a Chinese military general of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period states Later Liang and Later Tang. It was his defection from Later Liang to Later Tang in 923 and subsequent offering of intelligence to Later Tang's emperor Li Cunxu that persuaded Li Cunxu to launch a surprise attack on the Later Liang capital Daliang that resulted in the fall of Later Liang, for which Kang was rewarded and given the imperially-bestowed name of Li Shaochen. He subsequently had major contributions in Later Tang's conquest of Former Shu as well. After Former Shu's fall, however, with Li Cunxu killing the major generals Guo Chongtao and Li Jilin, Li Shaochen became apprehensive and decided to rebel, but was subsequently defeated and executed.
Dong Zhang was a Chinese military general and politician of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period Later Liang and Later Tang states. After submitting to Later Tang after Later Liang's destruction, he became a general favored by both Later Tang's founding emperor Li Cunxu and Li Cunxu's chief of staff Guo Chongtao, causing Guo to commission Dong as the military governor (Jiedushi) of Dongchuan Circuit after Guo's conquest of Former Shu. Because of this, after Li Cunxu's downfall and succession by his adoptive brother Li Siyuan, Li Siyuan's chief of staff An Chonghui came to suspect both Dong and Meng Zhixiang, the military governor of neighboring Xichuan Circuit. Dong and Meng jointly rebelled against Li Siyuan and were successful military, forcing the imperial government to eventually move into a reconciliatory posture. Dong, however, as his son Dong Guangye (董光業) and Dong Guangye's family were slaughtered, refused the imperial overture, and later launched an attack on Meng, as Meng was moving to reconciliation with the imperial government. Meng defeated him, and he was later killed by his own subordinates.
Li Congyan (李從曮), né Li Jiyan (李繼曮), formally the Prince of Qi (岐王), was a son and the heir of Li Maozhen, the only ruler of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Qi. After Li Maozhen submitted to Later Tang and died shortly after, he continued to control the former Qi territory, as a Later Tang vassal, and subsequently served as a general for both Later Tang and its successor state Later Jin.
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Li Hao (李昊) (891?/893?‒965?), courtesy name Qiongzuo (穹佐), was an official for the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period states Former Shu, Later Tang, and Later Shu, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Later Shu's last emperor Meng Chang.
Feng Yun was an official of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state known as the Later Tang, serving both as chancellor and chief of staff (Shumishi) during the reigns of its second emperor Li Siyuan and Li Siyuan's son and successor Li Conghou.
Li Renhan (李仁罕), courtesy name Demei (德美), was a major general of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period Later Shu. He contributed greatly to the campaigns that allowed Later Shu's founding emperor Meng Zhixiang to control his realm. However, later in his career, he became arrogant and greedy, such that Meng Zhixiang's son and successor Meng Chang and other high-level officials came to see him as a threat to Meng Chang's governance, so they had him arrested and executed.
Zhao Tingyin (趙廷隱), formally Prince Zhongwu of Song (宋忠武王), was a major general of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Later Shu.
Wang Chuhui (王處回), courtesy name Yaxian (亞賢), was an official of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period Later Tang and Later Shu states, serving as the chief of staff (Shumishi) for both emperors of Later Shu, Meng Zhixiang and Meng Chang.
Wang Sitong was a general of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Later Tang (and Later Tang's predecessor state Jin. In 934, when Li Congke, the adoptive brother of then-reigning emperor Li Conghou, rebelled against Li Conghou, Wang was put in command of the army against Li Congke, and was soon defeated and executed without Li Congke's approval.
Wu Zhaoyi (毋昭裔) or Guan Zhaoyi (毌昭裔) was an official of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Later Shu, serving as a chancellor during the reign of its second emperor Meng Chang.
Liu Churang, courtesy name Deqian (德謙), was a general of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period states Later Tang and Later Jin, serving as a chief of staff (Shumishi) during the reign of Later Jin's founding emperor Shi Jingtang.
Zhang Gongduo (張公鐸) was a general and official of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period Later Shu state.
