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Zhang Fang

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Zhang Fang
張方
General of Inspiring Martial Might (振武將軍)
In office
?–?
MonarchEmperor Hui of Jin
General Who Leads The Army of the Center (中領軍)
In office
304–306
MonarchEmperor Hui of Jin
Personal details
BornUnknown
Cangzhou, Hebei
Diedc.February 306
ChildrenZhang Pi
In this Chinese name, the family name is Zhang.

Zhang Fang (died c.February 306[1]) was a military general of the Jin dynasty (266–420). He was the influential general of the Prince of Hejian, Sima Yong during the War of the Eight Princes who helped him in subduing the Prince of Changshan, Sima Ai, and had the imperial family briefly under his control in 304. Though capable, he was infamous for his transgressions against the emperor and the cruelty that he and his soldiers displayed, with one account claiming that he had them engage in cannibalism. His act of forcibly moving Emperor Hui of Jin from Luoyang to Chang'an provided the Prince of Donghai, Sima Yue and his allies with pretext to start a coalition to punish him and Sima Yong in 305. In a desperate attempt to settle for peace, Sima Yong had Zhang Fang assassinated the following year.

Life

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Coalition against Sima Lun and Sima Jiong (301 and 302)

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Zhang Fang was born in a poor family in Sima Yong's princely fief, Hejian commandery. Despite his upbringing, he was talented and brave enough to capture the attention of the prince, who employed him into his administration. He soon climbed through the ranks and became his General of Inspiring Martial Might by 301.[2] That same year, Zhang Fang captured Xiahou Shi (夏侯奭), a former Army Advisor who was raising an army in Shiping (始平, in modern Xingping, Shaanxi) to join the anti-Sima Lun coalition. Sima Yong initially sided with Sima Lun, who had usurped the throne earlier that year, and sent Zhang Fang to reinforce him in Luoyang. However, after learning that the Sima Ying and Sima Jiong forces were larger in size, Yong decided to switch sides and recalled Zhang Fang.[3]

Zhang Fang was involved in Sima Yong and Sima Ying's coalition against Sima Jiong (now Emperor Hui of Jin's regent) in 302. He led Yong's vanguard towards Luoyang and occupied Xin'an. There, in accordance with Yong's strategy, he proclaimed that the Prince of Changshan, Sima Ai, who was in Luoyang, should take action and punish Sima Jiong. The intent was to make Ai complicit in the two princes' rebellion so that Jiong would execute him first before they attack the capital, thus eliminating a potential political rival. However, the plan did not go as expected, as Ai managed to fight back and kill Jiong, taking over the imperial court.[4]

Siege of Luoyang (303–304)

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Yong was not satisfied with the outcome, so he had another coalition with Sima Ying against Sima Ai in 303. Sima Ying and Zhang Fang jointly attacked Luoyang and placed the capital under siege with Sima Ai and the emperor still inside. Ai sent his general Huangfu Shang (皇甫商) to stop Zhang's advances, but he was defeated in a surprise attack. Zhang's soldiers breached through the walls and carried out mass plunderings and killings.[5] Ai personally went out to lead the army against Zhang Fang, bringing along the emperor with him. Sighting the imperial carriage, Zhang Fang did not dare to attack and instead retreated. Sima Ai capitalized on this and dealt Zhang Fang a major setback.[6]

Zhang Fang managed to return to his camp, where his men were starting to believe that they should retreat during the night. However, Zhang Fang did not think so, and instead ordered them to build a rampart surrounding Luoyang. The rampart was built in secrecy and Sima Ai himself thought that Zhang Fang was still recovering from his defeat. Once the rampart was completed, Sima Ai was taken by surprise and attacked him but failed. Meanwhile, Zhang Fang breached the Qianjin Dam (千金堨) and dried up the water mills around the capital. He had slave women from noble families to grind up food for his men and implemented forced labour indiscriminately as a punishment for those who he found were not partaking in the campaign hard enough.[7]

Despite the advantages, the siege carried on into the following year in 304. Sima Ai was finding success in battles against Sima Ying and his men's morale continued to soar. Zhang figured that Luoyang was not ready to fall and decided to retreat. However, just as he did, the Prince of Donghai, Sima Yue, had Sima Ai arrested, fearing that he would not be able to overcome Sima Ying and Sima Yong in the long run. Yue arranged to hand over Sima Ai to Zhang Fang at Jinyong Fortress (金墉城). Once he received the captured prince, Zhang Fang had him burnt alive in front of Zhang's own army.[8]

While the siege of Luoyang was going on, Sima Yong was defending Chang'an from his former general, Liu Chen (劉沈), who had rebelled against him in 303. After Liu Chen defeated Sima Yong's general, Yu Kui (虞夔), Yong urged Zhang Fang to return and help him. Zhang Fang plundered Luoyang and took in more than ten thousand slave women into his army before departing.[9] The Zizhi Tongjian further claims that, to keep his army supplied, he also had people killed and mixed their flesh with beef and horse meat.[10] After reaching near Chang'an, he sent his general Dun Wei (敦偉) to attack Liu Chen during the night. Liu was captured and subsequently executed by Sima Yong.

Controlling the imperial family (304–305)

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In 304, Sima Yue raised a coalition against Sima Ying from Luoyang, bringing Emperor Hui with him. Yue's coalition was defeated and the emperor was captured, but Ying was subsequently attacked by the Inspector of Youzhou, Wang Jun and the Inspector of Bingzhou, Sima Teng. Sima Yong ordered Zhang Fang to rescue Ying, but after hearing that the Emperor Hui had retreated into Ye, Yong had him guard Luoyang instead. The generals within Luoyang, Shangguan Si (上官巳) and Miao Yuan (苗願) retaliated against Zhang Fang but were defeated. The Crown Prince, Sima Tan, ousted them out from the capital and welcomed Zhang Fang. Despite the warm reception, Zhang had Sima Tan deposed along with the empress, Yang Xianrong.[11] Wang Jun decisively defeated Sima Ying at Ye, and he barely escaped with his remaining officials before making his way towards Luoyang. As they nearly reached Luoyang, Zhang Fang sent his son Zhang Pi (張羆) to escort them into the city. Zhang welcomed him with his cavalries and performed obeisance to the point that the emperor personally approached him to get him to stop.[12]

With the emperor in Luoyang and Sima Ying powerless, Zhang had full control over the imperial family. He wanted to move the emperor to Chang'an and make the city the new capital seeing that his men were becoming restless staying in Luoyang. However, he knew that many of the ministers were wary of him, and initially tried to get the emperor to go to the Ancestral Temple, so he could move him by force with his soldiers but the emperor refused. His patience eventually wore off, so he had his men storm the palace and drag the emperor into the imperial carriage. He justified to the emperor that he only wanted him to inspect the ramparts he had built years ago to ensure that the defenses are proper.[13]

Meanwhile, while the emperor was at the rampart, Zhang Fang's soldiers raided the palace and looted the place until there was none left to steal. Zhang then considered burning down the palace and Ancestral Temple to prevent anyone else from entering but forfeited the decision after his contemporary, Lu Zhi, compared his actions to Dong Zhuo.[14] The emperor remained at the rampart for three days before Zhang forced him and his family to relocate to Chang'an. After they were moved, Sima Yong appointed Zhang as General Who Leads The Army of the center, chief of affairs of the Masters of Writing, and acting Administrator of Jingzhao. In 305, Zhang deposed Yang Xianrong once again.

Downfall and death (305–306)

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Zhang Fang's treatment of the emperor created scorn among the people and officials. The same year in 305, an official named Huangfu Chang (皇甫昌) forged an edict under the guise of Sima Yue and the now-deposed Yang Xianrong's orders asking officials to attack Zhang Fang and save the emperor in Chang'an. The edict was believed at first but Huangfu Chang's forgery was soon found out, and he was put to death. Later on, Sima Yue's official, Liu Qia (劉洽) urged his prince to raise a coalition against Sima Yong, seeing that Zhang Fang had forcibly moved the emperor to Chang'an. Yue carried out the last coalition of the civil war against Sima Yong, and Yong had Zhang Fang made Grand Commander to march to Xuchang and fight them.[15] Despite Sima Yong's orders, Zhang Fang refused to move his army.

In 306, Sima Yong was considering peace after being advised by a henchman of his, Mou Bo (繆播). However, Zhang Fang greatly opposed it, ostensibly pointing out Yong's advantages when in reality, he knew that peace would result in his execution for his crimes. Yong continued the war, even after his crucial ally Liu Qiao was defeated by Sima Xiao's general, Liu Kun. Yong's Army Advisor, Bi Yuan (畢垣), who had suffered from Zhang Fang's cruelty and seeing him lose favour, accused Zhang of plotting to overthrow the prince, citing his refusal to move against the coalition. Mou Bo and Mou Yin (繆胤) also agreed and pushed Yong to execute him.

Sima Yong summoned an old friend of Zhang Fang named Zhi Fu (郅輔) who he sent to assassinate the general. When Zhi Fu arrived at his camp, he was allowed to bring his sword into the tent due to their relationship. Zhi Fu presented him with a letter from Yong, which he immediately opened to read. With his guard down, Zhi Fu killed him and beheaded his corpse.[16] Yong sent his head to Sima Yue, hoping this would encourage him to settle with peace. The proposal was rejected, and Liu Kun used his head to convince Yong's other general to surrender to the coalition.[17]

References

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  1. ^ 1st month of the 1st year of the Guangxi era, per Emperor Hui's biography in Book of Jin. The month corresponds to 31 Jan to 1 Mar 306 in the Julian calendar.
  2. ^ (張方，河間人也。世貧賤，以材勇得幸于河間王顒，累遷兼振武將軍。) Book of Jin, Volume 60
  3. ^ (及趙王倫篡位，齊王冏謀討之。前安西參軍夏侯奭自稱侍御史，在始平合眾，得數千人，以應冏，遣信要顒。顒遣主簿房陽、河間國人張方討擒奭，及其黨十數人，于長安市腰斬之。及冏檄至，顒執冏使，送之於倫。倫徵兵於顒，顒遣方率關右健將赴之。方至華陰，顒聞二王兵盛，乃加長史李含龍驤將軍，領督護席薳等追方軍回，以應二王。) Book of Jin, Volume 59
  4. ^ (李含屯陰盤，張方帥兵二萬軍新安，檄長沙王乂使討冏。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 84
  5. ^ (乙丑，帝如十三里橋。太尉乂使皇甫商將萬餘人拒張方於宜陽。己巳，帝還宣武場。庚午，舍于石樓。九月，丁丑，屯于河橋。壬子，張方襲皇甫商，敗之... 張方入京城，大掠，死者萬計。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 84
  6. ^ (方遂進攻西明門。乂率中軍左右衛擊之，方眾大敗，死者五千餘人。方初于駃水橋西為營，於是築壘數重，外引廩穀，以足軍資。乂復從天子出攻方，戰輒不利。) Book of Jin, Volume 59
  7. ^ (穎進兵逼京師，張方決千金堨，水碓皆涸。乃發王公奴婢手舂給兵，一品已下不從征者，男子十三以上皆從役，又發奴助兵；公私窮踧，米石萬錢。詔命所行，一城而已。驃騎主簿范陽祖逖言於乂曰：「劉沈忠義果毅，雍州兵力足制河間，宜啓上爲詔與沈，使發兵襲顒。顒窘急，必召張方以自救，此良策也。」乂從之。沈奉詔馳檄四境，諸郡多起兵應之。沈合七郡之衆凡萬餘人，趣長安。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 84
  8. ^ (乂前後破穎軍，斬獲六七萬人。戰久糧乏，城中大饑，雖曰疲弊，將士同心，皆願效死。而乂奉上之禮未有虧失，張方以為未可克，欲還長安。而東海王越慮事不濟，潛與殿中將收乂送金墉城。乂表曰：「陛下篤睦，委臣朝事。臣小心忠孝，神祇所鑒。諸王承謬，率眾見責，朝臣無正，各慮私困，收臣別省，送臣幽宮。臣不惜軀命，但念大晉衰微，枝黨欲盡，陛下孤危。若臣死國寧，亦家之利。但恐快凶人之志：無益于陛下耳。」殿中左右恨乂功垂成而敗，謀劫出之，更以距穎。越懼難作，欲遂誅乂。黃門郎潘滔勸越密告張方，方遣部將郅輔勒兵三千，就金墉收乂，至營，炙而殺之。乂冤痛之聲達於左右，三軍莫不為之垂涕。時年二十八。乂將殯於城東，官屬莫敢往，故掾劉佑獨送之，步持喪車，悲號斷絕，哀感路人。張方以其義士，不之問也。初，乂執權之始，洛下謠曰：「草木萌牙殺長沙。」乂以正月二十五日廢，二十七日死，如謠言焉。) Book of Jin, Volume 59
  9. ^ (於是大掠洛中官私奴婢萬餘人，而西還長安。) Jin Shu, Volume 60
  10. ^ (河間王顒頓軍於鄭，爲東軍聲援，聞劉沈兵起，還鎭渭城，遣督護虞夔逆戰於好畤。夔兵敗，顒懼，退入長安，急召張方。方掠洛中官私奴婢萬餘人而西。軍中乏食，殺人雜牛馬肉食之。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 85
  11. ^ (顒加方右將軍、馮翊太守。蕩陰之役，顒又遣方鎮洛陽，上官已、苗願等距之，大敗而退。清河王覃夜襲已、願，已、願出奔，方乃入洛陽。覃于廣陽門迎方而拜，方馳下車扶止之。於是復廢皇后羊氏。) Book of Jin, Volume 60
  12. ^ (及帝自鄴還洛，方遣息羆以三千騎奉迎。將渡河橋，方又以所乘陽燧車、青蓋素升三百人為小鹵簿，迎帝至芒山下。方自帥萬餘騎奉雲母輿及旌旗之飾，衛帝而進。初，方見帝將拜，帝下車自止之。) Book of Jin, Volume 60
  13. ^ (方在洛既久，兵士暴掠，發哀獻皇女墓。軍人喧喧，無復留意，議欲西遷，尚匿其跡，欲須天子出，因劫移都。乃請帝謁廟，帝不許。方遂悉引兵入殿迎帝，帝見兵至，避之于竹林中，軍人引帝出，方於馬上稽首曰：「胡賊縱逸，宿衛單少，陛下今日幸臣壘，臣當捍禦寇難，致死無二。」於是軍人便亂入宮閣，爭割流蘇武帳而為馬帴。) Book of Jin, Volume 60
  14. ^ (方遂逼天子幸其壘。帝垂泣就輿，唯志侍側，曰：「陛下今日之事，當一從右將軍。臣駑怯，無所雲補，唯知盡微誠，不離左右而已。」) Book of Jin, Volume 84. Lu Zhi comparing Zhang Fang to Dong Zhuo is found in Lu's biography in vol.44 of the same work (方闻成都军败，顿兵洛阳，不敢进，纵兵虏掠，密欲迁都长安，将焚宗庙宫室，以绝人心。志说方曰：“昔董卓无道，焚烧洛阳，怨毒之声，百年犹存，何为袭之！”乃止。).
  15. ^ (東海中尉劉洽以張方劫遷車駕，勸司空越起兵討之。秋，七月，越傳檄山東征、鎭、州、郡云：「欲糾帥義旅，奉迎天子，還復舊都。」東平王楙聞之，懼；長史王脩說楙曰：「東海，宗室重望；今興義兵，公宜舉徐州以授之，則免於難，且有克讓之美矣。」楙從之。越乃以司空領徐州都督，楙自爲兗州刺史；詔卽遣使者劉虔授之。是時，越兄弟並據方任，於是范陽王虓及王浚等共推越爲盟主，越輒選置刺史以下，朝士多赴之。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 86
  16. ^ (初，方從山東來，甚微賤，長安富人郅輔厚相供給。及貴，以輔為帳下督，甚昵之。顒參軍畢垣，河間冠族，為方所侮，忿而說顒曰：「張方久屯霸上，聞山東賊盛，盤桓不進，宜防其未萌。其親信郅輔具知其謀矣。」而繆播等先亦構之，顒因使召輔，垣迎說輔曰：「張方欲反，人謂卿知之。王若問卿，何辭以對？」輔驚曰：「實不聞方反，為之若何？」垣曰：「王若問卿，但言爾爾。不然，必不免禍。」輔既入，顒問之曰：「張方反，卿知之乎？」輔曰：「爾。」顒曰：「遣卿取之可乎？」又曰：「爾。」顒於是使輔送書于方，因令殺之。輔既昵于方，持刀而入，守閣者不疑，因火下發函，便斬方頭。顒以輔為安定太守。) Book of Jin, Volume 60
  17. ^ (呂朗屯滎陽，劉琨以張方首示之，遂降。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 86
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