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Zhang Chai

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Zhang Chai
張ちょう豺
General Who Awes the Rong (戎えびす昭あきら將軍しょうぐん)
In office
? (?)–349 (349)
MonarchShi Hu
Grand Guardian (太ふとし保ほ)
In office
349 (349)–349 (349)
MonarchShi Shi
Personal details
BornUnknown
Guangping County, Hebei
Died16 June 349
RelationsZhang Xiong (brother)
In this Chinese name, the family name is Zhang.

Zhang Chai was a minister of China's Later Zhao dynasty during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. He was a close ally to Shi Hu (Emperor Wu)'s empress, Empress Liu, who helped her establish themselves as the paramount leaders of Zhao through her son Shi Shi following the death of Shi Hu in 349. The pair attempted to centralize their power and eliminate their rivals, but a popular coup led by Shi Zun saw their reign barely lasting a month as they were removed and subsequently executed. Despite the coup, it would soon be known as the beginning of a bigger power struggle within the Shi family over the throne that led to the destruction of Later Zhao in 351 in the hands of Ran Min.

Early life and career

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Zhang Chai was a man from Guangping County in Julu Commandery. In 312, Zhang Chai and a fellow townsman named You Lun (游ゆう綸) gathered a large host of people and staged a revolt in the city of Yuanxiang (苑えん鄕, in present-day Hebei and Beijing), which was at the time under Han-Zhao. Zhang Chai and You Lun surrendered to the Youzhou warlord and Jin general Wang Jun and in response, the Han general Shi Le sent his army to besiege Yuanxiang.[1] Wang Jun directed his army to attack Shi Le's capital in Xiangguo, forcing Shi Le to take his focus away from Yuanxiang. However, Shi Le managed to turn back Wang Jun's army. With Wang Jun defeated, Zhang Chai and You Lun surrendered back to Han-Zhao that same year.[2]

Shi Le broke away from Han-Zhao in 319 and established his own state of Later Zhao. Zhang Chai appears to have followed Shi Le during the split. In 329, he participated in Shi Hu's campaign against Liu Yin and Liu Xi in Shanggui. The campaign was a victory for Shi Hu and resulted in the complete destruction of Han-Zhao. During the campaign, Zhang Chai captured the Han-Zhao emperor Liu Yao's daughter, the Princess of Anding, who was only twelve years old at the time. Zhang introduced her to Shi Hu, who made her one of his concubines. The Princess of Anding eventually grew up to be one of Shi Hu's favoured wife and gave birth to one of his sons, Shi Shi.[3]

Supporting Shi Shi to the throne

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In 348, Shi Hu was troubled with a succession issue. He had just executed his heir, Shi Xuan (石いし宣せん), who plotted to assassinate Hu but was discovered. At the suggestion of Zhang Ju, Shi Hu was considering making either Shi Bin (石いし斌あきら) or Shi Zun as his new heir. Zhang Chai, who was serving as the General Who Awes the Rong at the time, proposed against it, "The Duke of Yan (Shi Bin) had a lowborn mother, and he has already committed a transgression. The Duke of Pengcheng’s (Shi Zun) mother (Zheng Yingtao) had been demoted before due to the incident with your original Crown Prince (Shi Sui (石いし邃), who was also executed by Shi Hu). If she becomes Empress again, I fear she might still hold a grudge. I pray Your Majesty reconsider."[4]

Under the guise of concern, Zhang Chai actually wanted Shi Shi installed because he was still a child. Zhang Chai was confident that Shi Hu would die soon, and this succession crisis can aid him in expanding his personal power. He further adds, "When Your Majesty chose your heirs before, their mothers were all of common blood, and that was why disasters happened one after another. So this time, you should choose as your crown prince a son who is both filial and born of noble blood." Shi Hu agreed and made Shi Shi his Crown Prince and Lady Liu as his Empress. When a petition was published to have the ministers support Shi Shi to the throne, one minister, Cao Mo (曹莫), refused to sign the petition. When Shi Hu sent Zhang Chai to ask why, he expressed his belief that it was not proper to have a child be emperor.[5]

The following year in 349, Zhang Chai's instincts proved to be correct, as Shi Hu became deathly ill. Shi Hu started appointing regents to guide Shi Shi, them being Shi Bin, Shi Zun and Zhang Chai. Zhang Chai was appointed Grand General Who Guards And Protects, General Who Leads The Army, and Supervisor of the Masters of Writing. Both Zhang and Empress Liu saw Shi Bin as a potential rival for them once Shi Hu dies. They sent a messenger to Shi Bin falsely informing him to enjoy himself in Xianngguo, stating that Shi Hu was now recovering from his illness. Once Shi Bin started participating in excessively indulgent activities, Empress Liu and Zhang Chai forged an edict denouncing him as an unfilial son and had him confined in his home, where Zhang had his brother Zhang Xiong (張ちょう雄つよし) watch the prince with his soldiers. Zhang Chai later sent a false edict to his brother telling him to kill Shi Bin.[6]

Another false edict was forged by the Empress, this time solidifying Zhang Chai's power over the court. The Empress made Zhang Chai Grand Guardian and Commander of all military affairs, and chief of affairs of the Masters of Writing. He was to hold so much power that it was comparable to that of Huo Guang during the Han dynasty.[7]

Brief control over the government

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Shi Hu died on the 25th of May in 349. Empress Dowager Liu took control of the court affairs and made Zhang Chai the Prime Minister. However, Zhang Chai objected to this and instead suggested that Shi Zun and the Prince of Yiyang, Shi Jian be made Prime Ministers of the Left and Right respectively to satiate them, which she agreed to.[8]

One of Zhang Chai's first goal was to eliminate the Minister of Works, Li Nong. He planned to execute him but one of the conspirators, Zhang Ju was a friend of Li Nong, so he leaked the plot to him, giving Li ample time to flee to Guangzong. Li Nong then fled to Shangbai (上白じょうはく, in modern-day Guangzong County, Hebei) where he defended himself with remnants of the Qihuo, so the Empress Dowager ordered Zhang Ju to besiege Li Nong with capital troops. Meanwhile, Zhang Chai appointed Zhang Li (張ちょう離はなれ) as Grand General Who Guards The Army and Chief of all military affairs to act as his adjutant.[9]

Shi Hu's generals and ministers had all despised Zhang Chai and the Empress Dowager for their grasp over the court, and the attack on Li Nong only served to make their resentment grow stronger. A group of powerful generals, including Pu Hong, Yao Yizhong and Shi Min, were returning from quelling the rebellion of Liang Du (梁りょう犢) when they came across Shi Zun on their way back home. They pleaded him to lead them in deposing the Shi Shi, the Empress Dowager and Zhang Chai in exchange that they support him in becoming the new emperor. Shi Zun agreed and raised he troops in Licheng (李り城しろ, in modern-day Pingyi County, Shandong) to march over to Yecheng. He then sent out a proclamation calling out Zhang Chai's crimes, sending Zhang Chai into a state of panic and causing him to recall the troops from Shangbai.[10]

Shi Zun and his army reached Tangyin on June 12 with Shi Min serving the vanguard. Zhang Chai intended to march out and face him, but many of his troops defected in support of the prince as they thought he had come to mourn his late father. Zhang Chai tried to kill as many defectors that he can but most of them escaped to the opposing side. Even his adjutant Zhang Li decided to defect and opened the gates for Shi Zun to enter. The Empress Dowager was distressed and urged Zhang to grant him high-ranking offices. An edict was made appointing Shi Zun as Prime Minister along with many other offices, but he continued his advance into Ye.[11]

Shi Zun reached Anyang Point on June 15, and Zhang Chai fearfully went out to welcome him but was arrested by Shi Zun instead. On June 16, Shi Zun reached the palace and carried out the mourning ceremony. Zhang Chai was executed at the Pingle (平樂へいらく) market square in Ye along with his family members to the third degree. After Shi Zun ascended the throne, Shi Shi and the now-deposed Lady Liu were also executed. Despite their removal, Later Zhao was thrown into civil war between Shi Zun and his brothers who supposedly sought to avenge Shi Shi, and Shi Zun himself would only rule for 183 days before he was removed by Shi Min, starting Later Zhao's swift decline.[12]

References

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  1. ^ (廣平ひろへい游ゆう綸、張ちょう豺擁衆しゅ數すう萬まん，據よりどころ苑えん鄕，受王浚假署しょ；石せき勒遣夔安、支ささえ雄ゆう等とう七なな將はた攻おさむ之の，破やぶ其外壘るい。浚遣督とく護まもる王おう昌あきら帥そち諸しょ軍ぐん及遼西にし公こう段だん疾やまし陸りく眷、疾やまし陸りく眷弟匹ひき磾、文ぶん鴦、從弟じゅうてい末まつ柸部衆しゅ五萬攻勒於襄國。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 88
  2. ^ (游ゆう綸、張ちょう豺請降於勒。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 88
  3. ^ (初はつ，戎えびす昭あきら張ちょう豺之破やぶ上うわ邽也，獲え劉りゅう曜幼女おんな，年ねん十じゅう二に，有ゆう殊こと色しょく，季き龍りゅう得とく而嬖之の，生子おいご世よ，封ふう齊ひとし公おおやけ。) Book of Jin, Volume 107
  4. ^ (趙ちょう王おう虎とら議ぎ立太子りったいし，太ふとし尉じょう張ちょう舉曰：「燕つばめ公こう斌あきら有武ありたけ略りゃく，彭城公こう遵有文德ふみのり，惟おもんみ陛下へいか所しょ擇よ。」虎とら曰：「卿きょう言げん正せい起おこり吾われ」戎えびす昭あきら將軍しょうぐん張ちょう豺曰：「燕つばめ公こう母はは賤，又また嘗有過か；彭城公こう母はは前ぜん以太子たいし事ごと廢はい，今立いまだて之の，臣しん恐こわ不能ふのう無な微ほろ恨。陛下へいか宜よろし審しん思おもえ之これ。」) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 98
  5. ^ (豺以虎とら老病ろうびょう， 欲よく立りつ世よ爲ため嗣，冀劉氏し爲ため太ふとし后きさき，己おのれ得とく輔政，乃說虎とら曰：「陛下へいか再さい立太子りったいし，其母皆みな出で于倡賤，故こ禍わざわい亂らん相しょう尋ひろ；今いま宜むべ擇よ母はは貴子たかこ孝こう者しゃ立りつ之の。」虎とら曰：「卿きょう勿言，吾われ知ち太子たいし處しょ矣。 」虎とら再さい與あずか群臣ぐんしん議ぎ于東堂どう。虎とら曰：「吾われ欲よく以純灰はい三斛自滌其腸，何なん爲ため專せん生せい惡あく子こ，年ねん逾二に十じゅう輒欲殺ころせ父ちち！今こん世よ方かた十じゅう歲さい，比ひ其二そのじ十じゅう，吾われ已やめ老ろう矣。」乃與張ちょう舉、李り農みのり定てい議ぎ，令れい公おおやけ 卿きょう上書うわがき請立世よ爲ため太子たいし。大だい司つかさ農みのり曹莫不ふ肯署名しょめい，虎とら使し張ちょう豺問其故，莫頓首とんしゅ曰：「天下てんか重器じゅうき，不ふ宜よろし立たて少しょう，故こ不ふ敢署。」虎とら曰：「莫，忠臣ちゅうしん也，然しか未ひつじ達たち朕ちん意い；張ちょう舉、李り農みのり知ち 朕ちん意い矣，可か令れい諭さとし之これ。”遂とげ立たて世よ爲ため太子たいし，以劉昭あきら儀ぎ爲ため後ご。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 98
  6. ^ (時とき熒惑犯はん積せき屍かばね，又また犯おかせ昴すばる、月つき，及熒惑北犯はん河かわ鼓こ。未み幾いく，季き龍りゅう疾やまし甚，以石遵為大將軍だいしょうぐん，鎮關右みぎ，石せき斌あきら為ため丞相じょうしょう、錄ろく尚書しょうしょ事ごと，張ちょう豺為鎮衛大將軍だいしょうぐん、領りょう軍ぐん將軍しょうぐん、吏部尚書しょうしょ，並なみ受遺輔政。劉りゅう氏し懼斌之の輔政也害世よ，與あずか張ちょう豺謀誅之。斌あきら時じ在ざい襄じょう國こく，乃遣使し詐いつわり斌あきら曰：「主上しゅじょう患已漸やや損そこね，王おう須獵者しゃ，可か小しょう停とま也。」斌あきら性せい好こう酒さけ耽ふけ獵りょう，遂とげ遊ゆう畋縱飲いん。劉りゅう氏し矯命稱たたえ斌あきら無む忠孝ちゅうこう之の心しん，免めん斌あきら官かん，以王歸き第だい，使つかい張ちょう豺弟雄ゆう率りつ龍りゅう騰あが五ご百ひゃく人にん守之もりゆき。...張ちょう豺使弟おとうと雄ゆう等とう矯季龍りゅう命いのち殺ころせ斌あきら...) Book of Jin, Volume 107
  7. ^ (劉りゅう氏し又また矯命以豺為ため太ふとし保たもて、都と督とく中外ちゅうがい諸しょ軍ぐん、錄ろく尚書しょうしょ事ごと，加か千せん兵へい百ひゃく騎き，一依霍光輔漢故事。) Book of Jin, Volume 107
  8. ^ (己おのれ巳み，虎とら卒そつ，太子たいし世よ即位そくい，尊みこと劉りゅう氏し爲ため皇太后こうたいごう。劉りゅう氏し臨朝稱しょう制せい，以張豺爲丞相じょうしょう；豺辭不ふ受，請以彭城王おう遵、義よし陽ひ王おう鑒爲左右さゆう丞相じょうしょう，以慰其心，劉りゅう氏し從したがえ之これ。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 98
  9. ^ (於是世よ即そく偽にせ位い，尊みこと劉りゅう氏し為ため皇太后こうたいごう，臨朝，進しん張ちょう豺為丞相じょうしょう。豺請石せき遵、石いし鑒為左右さゆう丞相じょうしょう，以尉其心，劉りゅう氏し從したがえ之これ。豺與張ちょう舉謀誅李農のう，而舉與農のう素もと善ぜん，以豺謀はかりごと告つげ之の。農のう懼，率りつ騎き百ひゃく餘あまり奔廣宗むね，率りつ乞活數すう萬まん家いえ保ほ于上白しろ。劉りゅう氏し使し張ちょう舉等統すべ宿衛しゅくえい精せい卒そつ圍かこえ之これ。豺以張ちょう離はなれ為ため鎮軍大將軍だいしょうぐん、監かん中外ちゅうがい諸しょ軍事ぐんじ、司つかさ隸校尉じょう，為ため己おのれ之の副ふく。鄴中群盜ぐんとう大起だいき，迭相劫掠ごうりゃく。) Book of Jin, Volume 107
  10. ^ (石いし遵聞季き龍りゅう之の死し，屯たむろ於河內。姚弋仲なか、苻洪、石いし閔、劉りゅう甯及武たけ衛まもる王おう鸞、甯西王おう午うま、石いし榮さかえ、王おう鐵てつ、立たて義ぎ將軍しょうぐん段だん勤つとむ等とう既すんで平たいら秦しん、洛らく，班はん師し而歸，遇ぐう遵于李り城しろ，說せつ遵曰：「殿下でんか長ちょう而且賢けん，先帝せんてい亦また有意ゆうい于殿下か矣。但ただし以末年ねん惛惑，為ため張ちょう豺所誤あやま。今こん上白じょうはく相しょう持じ未み下した，京師けいし宿衛しゅくえい空虛くうきょ，若わか聲こえ張ちょう豺之罪ざい，鼓つづみ行ゆき而討之の，孰不倒たおせ戈ほこ開門かいもん而迎殿下でんか者しゃ邪よこしま！」遵從之の。洛らく州しゅう刺史しし劉りゅう國こく等とう亦また率りつ洛陽らくよう之の眾至於李城じょう。遵檄至いたり鄴，張ちょう豺大懼，馳はせ召上白しろ之の軍ぐん。) Book of Jin, Volume 107
  11. ^ (丙へい戌いぬ，遵軍于蕩陰かげ，戎えびす卒そつ九きゅう萬まん，石せき閔爲前ぜん鋒ほこさき。豺將出で拒こばめ之これ，耆舊、羯士皆みな曰：「彭城王おう來らい奔喪，吾われ當とう出迎でむかえ之の，不能ふのう爲ため張ちょう豺守城じょう也！」逾城而出；豺斬之の，不能ふのう止どめ。張ちょう離はなれ亦また帥そち騰あが二に千せん，斬き關せき迎むかい遵。劉りゅう氏し懼，召張豺入，對たい之の悲哭 曰：「先帝せんてい梓あずさ宮みや未み殯，而禍難なん至いたり此！今こん嗣子しし沖おき幼よう，托たく之の將軍しょうぐん，將軍しょうぐん將はた若わか之これ何なに？欲よく加か遵重位い，能のう弭之乎？」豺惶怖こわ不知ふち所出しょしゅつ，但ただし雲くも「唯唯いい」。乃下詔みことのり，以遵爲ため丞相じょうしょう，領りょう大だい司馬しば、大だい都と督とく、督とく中外ちゅうがい諸しょ軍ぐん，錄ろく尚書しょうしょ事ごと，加か黃き鉞、九きゅう錫すず。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 98
  12. ^ (遵至安陽あんよう亭てい，張ちょう豺懼而出迎でむかえ，遵命執と之これ。於是貫ぬき甲かぶと曜兵，入にゅう自じ鳳おおとり陽よう門もん，升ます于太武たけ前ぜん殿しんがり，擗踴盡つき哀あい，退すさ如東閣かく。斬き張ちょう豺于平樂へいらく市し，夷えびす其三族ぞく。假かり劉りゅう氏し令れい曰：「嗣子しし幼よう沖おき，先帝せんてい私わたし恩おん所しょ授，皇すめらぎ業ぎょう至いたり重じゅう，非ひ所ところ克かつ堪こらえ。其以遵嗣位い。」遵偽讓ゆずる至いたり於再三さん，群臣ぐんしん敦あつし勸すすむ，乃受之の，僭即尊みこと位い於太武たけ前ぜん殿しんがり，大赦たいしゃ殊こと死し已やめ下か，罷やめ上白じょうはく圍かこえ。封ふう世よ為ため譙王，邑萬戶待以不臣之禮，廢はい劉りゅう氏し為ため太たい妃ひ，尋ひろ皆みな殺ころせ之これ。世よ凡立三さん十じゅう三さん日にち。) Book of Jin, Volume 107
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