Zhang Zhifang was a general of the late Tang dynasty. Succeeding his father Zhang Zhongwu, he briefly ruled Lulong Circuit as its military governor in de facto independence from the imperial government, but fearing a mutiny, he fled to the imperial capitalChang'an and thereafter served as an imperial general. During Huang Chao's rebellion against Emperor Xizong, Zhang surrendered to Huang Chao's Qi state but plotted to undermine it; when this was discovered, Qi executed him.
Background
It is not known when Zhang Zhifang was born. He was a son of Zhang Zhongwu, who had seized Lulong Circuit from Zhang Jiang in 841 with the approval of Emperor Wuzong but without actual support from imperial troops. Zhang Zhongwu thereafter ruled Lulong in de facto independence from the imperial government, but followed Emperor Wuzong's orders during Emperor Wuzong's campaigns against the Huigu Khanate remnants and the warlordLiu Zhen, and therefore enjoyed a strong relationship with the imperial government. At some point, Zhang Zhifang became the commander of Zhang Zhongwu's guard troops. Zhang Zhongwu died in 849, during the reign of Emperor Wuzong's successor and uncle Emperor Xuānzong. The soldiers supported Zhang Zhifang to succeed him, and therefore, Emperor Xuānzong initially made him the acting military governor and then military governor.
As military governor
However, Zhang Zhifang almost immediately alienated the Lulong soldiers by being cruel and devoted to hunts and games. In winter 849, the soldiers were developing a plot to overthrow him. Zhang Zhifang found out about the plot and, in fear, claimed that he was undertaking a hunt. Instead, he took his family and fled to the imperial capital Chang'an. The soldiers instead supported Zhou Lin as the acting military governor.
As imperial general
When Zhang Zhifang arrived at Chang'an, Emperor Xuānzong sent messengers to welcome him, and made him a general of the imperial guards. As Zhang had a large family with him, Emperor Xuānzong awarded the salary of an honorary minister of public works. Sometime thereafter, his salary level was increased to that of an honorary You Pushe. However, he continued to be violent and cruel in his disposition. On one occasion, when he killed an imperial guard messenger by caning due to a minor fault that should not have been punished with death, he was reduced in title from Jinwu Dajiangjun to Yulin Tongjun. He continued to hunt repeatedly, and therefore neglected his duties serving in the rotation of imperial guard commanders. As a result, in 851, he was further reduced in title to Xiaowei Jiangjun. He continued to be violent, and he often killed household servants due to minor faults. In 852, he was demoted to be the census officer at En Prefecture. A long time thereafter, Zhang was recalled to again serve as Yulin Tongjun. However, thereafter, he was accused of allowing his subordinates to commit banditry, and he was demoted to be the military advisor to the prefect of Kang Prefecture. Later, he was allowed to settle at the eastern capital Luoyang, where he was again well known for his hunting. During the Qianfu era of Emperor Xuānzong's grandson Emperor Xizong, Zhang was recalled to Chang'an to serve as Xiaowei Dajiangjun. Because the office did not carry a large salary, the chancellorZheng Tian spoke on his behalf, pointing out Zhang Zhongwu's contributions during Emperor Wuzong's reign and that the Zhang household was effectively living in poverty. Emperor Xizong therefore made Zhang Zhifang an honorary You Pushe and also returned him to the title of Jinwu Dajiangjun.
Surrender to Qi and death
Late in 880, the army under the rebel Huang Chao was approaching Chang'an. Emperor Xizong fled to Chengdu. Zhang Zhifang led a group of Tang officials and generals to Bashang to welcome Huang. Huang thereafter proclaimed a new Qi state as its emperor. Even though Zhang accepted a position in the Qi administration, however, he hid many Tang officials who were unable to follow Emperor Xizong in flight within the walls of his home, including the former chancellor Liu Ye and the chancellors Doulu Zhuan and Cui Hang. Further, he was plotting a surprise attack on Huang, hoping to restore Emperor Xizong. When this was discovered, he was executed, along with his family.
