Zhang Jiazhen


Zhang Jiazhen, formally Marquess Gongsu of Hedong, was an official of the Chinese Tang Dynasty and Wu Zetian's Zhou Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. During Emperor Xuanzong's reign, he also served as a general. He was known for being capable but also being self-important during his term as chancellor.

Background

Zhang Jiazhen was born in 666, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong. His family was from Pu Prefecture, and traced its ancestry to the Jin Dynasty chancellor Zhang Hua and his First Son . who was originally from Fanyang, but his great-great-grandfather Zhang Zizha served as the secretary general of Hedong Commandery for Tang Dynasty's predecessor Sui Dynasty, and therefore relocated his family to Hedong. Zhang Jiazhen's great-grandfather Zhang Changdu, grandfather Zhang Junxing, and father Zhang Siyi all served as minor officials for Tang. He had at least one younger brother, Zhang Jiayou, and as Zhang Siyi died early, Zhang Jiazhen and Zhang Jiayou supported each other in their youths.
Zhang Jiazhen passed the imperial examinations in his youth and was made the magistrate of Pingxiang County, but was removed from office for an offense unspecified in historical accounts. He then returned home to Pu Prefecture. During the Chang'an era of Emperor Gaozong's wife Wu Zetian, there was an occasion when the imperial censor Zhang Xunxian was ordered to examine Hedong Circuit, when he encountered some cases that were difficult for him to decide. He thus asked the local officials, "Is there anyone here who is intelligent whom I can consult?" A local official recommended Zhang Jiazhen, and Zhang Xunxian consulted him. Zhang Jiazhen surprised Zhang Xunxian with his ability to analyze the situation and come up with the correct resolutions. He thus had Zhang Jiazhen draft his report to Wu Zetian as well. After Zhang Xunxian returned to the capital Luoyang, Wu Zetian was impressed by the quality of the report. Zhang Xunxian informed her that it was Zhang Jiazhen who drafted it for him, and offered to give his office to Zhang Jiazhen. She responded, "Do I not have an office for the capable?" She summoned Zhang Jiazhen to Luoyang and met with him personally. She was impressed with him, and thus made him an imperial censor; she also promoted Zhang Xunxian for his ability to find Zhang Jiazhen. Zhang Jiazhen subsequently successively served as a low-level official at the ministry of defense, when he became known for his abilities; Zhongshu Sheren, a mid-level official at the legislative bureau of government ; the commandant at Liang Prefecture and then Qin Prefecture ; and then the secretary general at Bing Prefecture. He became known for strictness in his governance, and his subordinates feared him.

During Emperor Xuanzong's reign

Early in the Kaiyuan era of Wu Zetian's grandson Emperor Xuanzong, Zhang Jiazhen, who was then still serving as the secretary general at Bing Prefecture, was in then-capital Chang'an on one occasion to report on his prefecture. Emperor Xuanzong had heard of his capabilities and therefore praised him. Zhang Jiazhen took the opportunity to request that his brother Zhang Jiayou, who was then the secretary general at Shan Prefecture, be moved to a closer location to him, as he missed his brother. Emperor Xuanzong praised him for his brotherly love and made Zhang Jiayou the prefect of Xin Prefecture, close to Zhang Jiazhen's post at Bing Prefecture.
In 718, with a group of Eastern Tujue people having submitted to Tang in the aftermaths of the death of the Eastern Tujue khan Ashina Mochuo, Zhang Jiazhen suggested that a military base be established to help curb in the Eastern Tujue people. Pursuant to his suggestion, Tianbing Base was established at Bing Prefecture, and Zhang was put in command of the base. In 718, Zhang was in Chang'an when there were accusations made that he was overly luxurious and corrupt while at Bing Prefecture. The chief imperial censor Wang Jùn thus indicted him, but after investigation, Zhang Jiazhen was cleared. Emperor Xuanzong considered executing the accuser as punishment for the false accusation, but Zhang pointed out that such an execution would have a chilling effect on the report of wrongdoing. Emperor Xuanzong thus only exiled the accuser, and he came to believe that Zhang was faithful and capable of greater duties, informing Zhang that one day he would likely be chancellor. Zhang responded:
Emperor Xuanzong instead responded, "Just go back right now; I will surely recall you soon." In 720, when Emperor Xuanzong was set to remove the chancellors Song Jing and Su Ting and was considering whom to make chancellor, he thought of Zhang Jiazhen, but forgot Zhang Jiazhen's name. He thus asked the official Wei Kang, "I can remember a general to the north who is capable; his name is Zhang, and his personal name has two characters. Can you think of it for me?" Wei thought it was Zhang Qiqiu, who was then the military governor of Shuofang Circuit, and so Emperor Xuanzong had an edict drafted up, making Zhang Qiqiu chancellor. That night, however, when Emperor Xuanzong was reviewing files, he ran across Zhang Jiazhen's name and remembered him. He thus modified the edict to commission Zhang Jiazhen instead as Zhongshu Shilang, the deputy head of the legislative bureau, with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia PIngzhengshi, making him a chancellor de facto, along with Yuan Qianyao. Later that year, Zhang was made Zhongshu Ling -- the head of the legislative bureau and a post considered one for a chancellor. As chancellor, Zhang was said to be capable and energetic, but self-important and inflexible; he was criticized by popular sentiment for those faults. He recommended the junior officials Miao Yansi, Lü Taiyi, Yuan Jiajing, and Cui Xun for promotions and entrusted them with many important tasks.
In 722, when Emperor Xuanzong visited Luoyang, an official at the Luoyang County government, Wang Jūn, had been building a mansion for Zhang, hoping to ingratiate him enough to be made an imperial censor. However, Wang Jūn was accused of corruption and set to be sentenced to death by caning. Zhang had Wang Jūn put to death as quickly as possible to avoid any taint, and then blamed Wei Kang, who was then chief imperial censor, and Wei Kang's deputy Wei Xuxin, and had them demoted. Later that year, the official Jiang Jiao was accused of leaking secret discussions with Emperor Xuanzong both advocated that Jiang be caned and then exiled. Emperor Xuanzong did so, and Jiang died on the way to his place of exile. Soon thereafter, Pei Zhouxian the commandant at Guang Prefecture was accused of corruption, and Zhang again advocated caning him. However, Zhang Shuo, who had been made a chancellor as well, argued that public caning is inappropriate for high-level officials, and Emperor Xuanzong agreed. After the meeting with Emperor Xuanzong was over, Zhang Jiazhen, displeased, asked Zhang Shuo, "Why did you have to go into such deep talk?" Zhang Shuo responded:
Meanwhile, Zhang Shuo and Zhang Jiazhen had not been on good terms, because Zhang Shuo, who ranked below Zhang Jiazhen in the precedence of chancellors, had previously served as Zhang Jiazhen's superior while serving as deputy minister of defense, and therefore resented Zhang Jiazhen for not showing him more respect. Meanwhile, Zhang Jiazhen's brother Zhang Jiayou had been made a high-ranked general, but in 723 was accused of corruption. At Zhang Shuo's suggestion, Zhang Jiazhen wore plain-colored clothes and waited outside the palace for punishment, to show remorse. Instead of escaping punishment as Zhang Jiazhen hoped, however, Zhang Jiazhen, without getting another audience with Emperor Xuanzong, was demoted to be the prefect of You Prefecture. Zhang Shuo then replaced him as Zhongshu Ling, drawing hatred from Zhang Jiazhen, who commented, "There can be two people serving as Zhongshu Ling. Why did he have to squeeze me out?" In 724, Zhang Jiazhen was recalled to serve as minister of census, as well as secretary general at Yi Prefecture. Emperor Xuanzong had Zhang Jiazhen join the chancellors for a banquet. Zhang Jiazhen, still resenting Zhang Shuo, cursed Zhang Shuo when they were both at the banquet, requiring Yuan Qianyao and Wang Jùn to step in to moderate between the two.
Later in 724, Wang Shouyi was accused of using witchcraft to try to regain Emperor Xuanzong's favor for his sister Empress Wang. Empress Wang was deposed, and Wang Shouyi was first exiled and then ordered to commit suicide. Zhang Jiazhen, because of his association with Wang Shouyi, was demoted to be the prefect of Tai Prefecture. However, he was eventually recalled to serve successively as minister of public works and then prefect of Ding Prefecture. He was also created the Marquess of Hedong. After he got to Ding Prefecture, on one occasion, he commissioned a stele for a temple dedicated to the god of Mount Heng, and personally wrote the text on the stele, described to be very beautiful in form. As there were much money donations made to the temple, he believed himself to be responsible for those donations, and so took a small part of it.
In 729, Zhang requested to be allowed to go to Luoyang on account of illness. Emperor Xuanzong agreed. Once Zhang got to Luoyang, he was no longer able to see, and Emperor Xuanzong sent imperial physicians to treat him. He died in the fall that year and was given posthumous honors. Zhang Jiazhen's son Zhang Yanshang and grandson Zhang Hongjing later served as chancellors for Emperor Dezong and Emperor Xianzong, respectively.
It was said that although Zhang served in many important offices, he never spent time managing his estate. When he was at Ding Prefecture, some relatives suggested that he should begin to do so. Zhang responded:
Those who heard him were impressed by the analysis.