Zhang Cunjing

Biography

Family Background and Early Life

Zhang Cunjing came from Qiao Commandery in Pei State, corresponding roughly to present-day Bozhou in Anhui. Historical sources preserve little about his family background, beyond indicating that he was a local man rather than a member of a great aristocratic clan. The Old History of the Five Dynasties describes him as upright, courageous, and fearless in danger, suggesting a forceful and resolute character.

During the Tang Zhonghe era (881–885), the Huang Chao rebellion swept across the Central Plains and regional military governors expanded their power. Zhu Wen, then military governor of Xuanwu Circuit and based at Bianzhou, recruited capable men. Zhang Cunjing entered his service during this period. According to the Old History of the Five Dynasties, he was able to humble himself and respect others and was consequently treated with particular trust by Zhu Wen. Zhu Wen appointed him Right Cavalry Commander, putting him in command of cavalry and beginning a long military career in Zhu Wen's service.

Campaigns against Huang Chao and Qin Zongquan

When Zhang Cunjing first joined Zhu Wen, the wars of the late Tang were at their most intense. He followed Zhu Wen in campaigns against remnants of Huang Chao's forces and against Qin Zongquan, military governor of Caizhou, taking part in more than one hundred engagements. During these campaigns Zhang Cunjing displayed considerable military ability. The Old History of the Five Dynasties states that in moments of extreme danger he often produced unusual strategies, repeatedly winning distinction.

During the Guangqi era (885–888), Li Keyong, military governor of Hedong, assisted Li Hanzhi, military governor of Heyang, in besieging Zhang Quanyi, governor of Henan, at Heyang, present-day Mengzhou in Henan. Zhu Wen dispatched Ding Hui, Ge Congzhou, and Zhang Cunjing to relieve the siege. Zhang Cunjing led the cavalry in the first charge while the other troops supported him from the flanks. They heavily defeated the Hedong cavalry and lifted the siege. The victory was an important early achievement that established Zhang Cunjing as one of Zhu Wen's hard-fighting commanders.

Campaigns in Xu and Yan and Repeated Military Successes

In 891, the second year of the Dashun era, Zhang Cunjing was appointed military commissioner of discipline for the armies and assisted Huo Cun in commanding the army that recovered Suzhou, in present-day Anhui. For his military merit he received the honorary office of Minister of War. He later accompanied Zhu Wen in eastern campaigns against Shi Pu of Xuzhou and Zhu Jin of Yanzhou and repeatedly captured or killed enemy troops.

In the third lunar month of 894, the first year of Qianning, Xuanwu forces advanced to Xintai County. Zhu Jin, military governor of Taining Circuit, sent the commanders Zhang Yue and Li Hujiao with three thousand men to meet them. Chief Commander Pang Shigu sent Ge Congzhou and Zhang Cunjing in a surprise attack. They captured Zhang Yue, Li Hujiao, and dozens of other commanders alive and won a major victory.

Zhang Cunjing fought with exceptional boldness. Whenever he received a military order, he placed himself at the front where arrows and stones were falling. Zhu Wen greatly valued him and appointed him field-army chief commander and honorary Right Vice Director, while giving him especially generous treatment. In 896, the third year of Qianning, Zhang Cunjing became acting commander of Wuning Circuit and acting governor of Yingzhou, beginning to take part in local administration as well as campaigning.

In the eighth lunar month of 897, the fourth year of Qianning, Wang Gong, military governor of Shanguo Circuit, was attacked by Wang Ke, military governor of Huguo Circuit, and requested assistance from Zhu Wen. Zhang Cunjing and Yang Shihou led troops to his aid and decisively defeated the Huguo army south of Yishi, present-day Linyi in Shanxi, lifting the siege. In the eleventh lunar month of 898, the first year of Guanghua, Zhu Wen sent Zhang Cunjing against Cui Hong, military governor of Fengguo Circuit, because Cui had allied with Yang Xingmi of Huainan. Cui Hong was forced to surrender.

Crushing the Yan Forces and Subduing Zhen and Ding

In 899, the second year of Guanghua, Liu Rengong, military governor of Lulong, sent forces from Youzhou, Cangzhou, and ten other prefectures to invade Weibo Circuit. Zhu Wen appointed Zhang Cunjing chief commander and sent him to assist Weibo. Zhang Cunjing, Zhu Wen's nephew Zhu Youlun, Li Si'an, and others first camped at Neihuang, in present-day Henan. Ge Congzhou, acting commander of Zhaoyi Circuit, entered Weizhou from Xingzhou and Mingzhou with eight hundred elite cavalry, while Zhu Wen personally led reinforcements.

Liu Rengong's eldest son Liu Shouwen, military governor of Cangzhou, and Liu's son-in-law Shan Keji attacked Neihuang. Zhang Cunjing prepared an ambush east of the town and coordinated with Ge Congzhou, Zhang Guibian, Fan Jushi, and other units. North of Neihuang they inflicted a crushing defeat on the Yan army, killing or capturing more than 30,000, taking more than two thousand horses, and capturing Shan Keji together with more than seventy others. Liu Shouwen fled toward Weizhou with the remnants but was pursued by Zhang Cunjing and Ge Congzhou, who broke eight successive camps and drove the enemy as far as Linqing. They then attacked the remaining Lulong troops at the Yu River, where many drowned. Liu Rengong and his son barely escaped back to Cangzhou.

In the fourth lunar month of the same year, Li Hanzhi rebelled against Li Keyong and declared himself military governor of Zhaoyi Circuit. Li Keyong sent Li Junqing, commander of the combined mounted and infantry forces, to attack him. In the fifth lunar month Zhu Wen moved to Heyang and sent Zhang Cunjing to relieve Li Hanzhi, with Ding Hui following as reinforcement. Zhang Cunjing routed the Hedong forces, forcing Li Junqing to lift the siege; Li Junqing was later executed by Li Keyong for his failure.

In 900, the third year of Guanghua, Zhang Cunjing and Ge Congzhou jointly attacked Fuyang, present-day Cangzhou in Hebei. They built dozens of camps and besieged Liu Shouwen for several months. In the sixth lunar month Liu Rengong arrived with 50,000 troops to relieve the city. Ge Congzhou left Zhang Cunjing and Shi Shuqiong to guard the Cangzhou encampments and set an ambush at Laoyadi south of Qianning Army. The Yan army suffered a catastrophic defeat. Xuanwu forces claimed 50,000 enemy heads, captured Ma Shenjiao and more than one hundred others, and seized over 10,000 horses. Liu Rengong withdrew to Waqiao Pass.

In the ninth lunar month Zhang Cunjing crossed the Hutuo River to attack Zhenzhou, present-day Zhengding in Hebei. Encountering several thousand patrol troops, he pursued them directly to the Yong Gate of the city and seized tens of thousands of saddled horses, cattle, and camels. The following day Wang Rong, military governor of Zhenzhou, sent an envoy to submit hostages and accept Zhu Wen's authority, after which Zhang Cunjing withdrew. Soon afterward he was appointed governor of Songzhou, where sources say he governed effectively.

Zhang Cunjing later led a large army toward Jimen and within several dozen days successively captured Yingzhou, Mozhou, Qizhou, and Jingzhou, taking innumerable prisoners. He then fought Wang Chuzhi, military governor of Yiwu Circuit, from Huaide Station and defeated him so severely that corpses were said to stretch for tens of li. Wang Chuzhi opened his city and surrendered. With Yiwu's submission, the military circuits of Hebei were largely brought under Zhu Wen's control.

Pacification of Hezhong and Death in Office

In the spring of 901, the first year of the Tianfu era, Zhu Wen decided to attack Wang Ke, military governor of Hezhong, because Wang had formed a marriage alliance with Li Keyong of Taiyuan and relied on Hedong support. Zhu Wen told Zhang Cunjing that Wang Ke was mediocre but behaved arrogantly because of Hedong backing, and that he wished to cut the “long snake” at the waist and have his generals bind Wang with a single rope. Zhang Cunjing and Hou Yan, acting commander of Heyang, led 30,000 troops across the river from Sishui and advanced by the Hanshan route.

In the second lunar month Zhang Cunjing sent military commissioner Hu Gui to capture Tao Jianzhao, governor of Jiangzhou, and then forced Zhang Hanyu, governor of Jinzhou, to surrender. With both commanderies secured, he surrounded Hezhong. On the advice of his officer Liu Xun, Wang Ke came to the walls to request surrender, asking Zhang Cunjing to pull back until Zhu Wen personally arrived, at which point the city would be opened. Zhang Cunjing withdrew that same day. When Zhu Wen arrived, Wang Ke surrendered as promised. Zhu Wen warmly praised Zhang Cunjing and made him acting commander of Huguo Circuit.

Soon afterward Zhang Cunjing received the honorary rank of Minister over the Works and was ordered to attack Tongzhou. Sima Ye, an official under Han Jian, military governor of Zhenguo Circuit, surrendered the city. Later that same year Zhang Cunjing was again transferred as governor of Songzhou. Before he could take office, he fell seriously ill and died at Hezhong after more than ten days. Zhu Wen mourned him for a long time. After Zhu Wen displaced Tang and founded Later Liang in 907, the early Kaiping era saw Zhang Cunjing posthumously appointed Grand Protector. In 913, the third year of Qianhua, he was further posthumously appointed Grand Preceptor.

Major Activities

Military Campaigns

Zhang Cunjing spent his life campaigning and participated in nearly every major phase of Zhu Wen's consolidation of the Central Plains. From early campaigns against Huang Chao and Qin Zongquan, through operations in Xu and Yan, to northern campaigns in You and Yan and the final pacification of Hezhong, he remained one of Zhu Wen's most trusted commanders. His military reputation rested especially on producing unexpected plans in dangerous situations and personally leading troops at the front.

His principal achievements included lifting the siege of Heyang during the Guangqi era; defeating Liu Rengong's army at Neihuang in 899 and killing or capturing 30,000; taking 50,000 heads and 10,000 horses at Laoyadi in 900; entering Zhenzhou and forcing its submission; taking Ying, Mo, Qi, and Jing prefectures and defeating Wang Chuzhi at Huaide Station; and forcing Wang Ke's surrender in the Hezhong campaign of 901. These operations helped establish Zhu Wen's control of Hebei and Hezhong.

Local Administration

Zhang Cunjing was not only a successful commander. While serving as governor of Songzhou he was described as an able administrator. He also held acting command of Wuning and Huguo circuits, combining civil and military responsibilities.

Relations with Contemporaries

Zhang Cunjing served Zhu Wen for many years and fought alongside Ge Congzhou, Ding Hui, Huo Cun, Yang Shihou, Shi Shuqiong, Hou Yan, and others. His closest military cooperation was with Ge Congzhou, with whom he took part in the relief of Heyang, the attack on Cangzhou, the battle at Laoyadi, and other major operations. Zhu Wen trusted him deeply, repeatedly gave him important commands, and mourned at length when he died.

Personal Relations

Family

• Zhang Renying: Elder son; after Zhang Cunjing's death, his younger brother Zhang Renyuan served him as though he were a father
• Zhang Renyuan: Younger son; noted for filial conduct and knowledge of law; served Later Liang, Later Tang, and Later Jin, eventually becoming Minister of the Court of Judicial Review; posthumously appointed Director of the Palace Library

Ruler and Minister

• Zhu Wen (Zhu Quanzhong): Emperor Taizu of Later Liang and Zhang Cunjing's ruler; trusted and repeatedly promoted him, mourned him after his death, and posthumously granted him the titles Grand Protector and Grand Preceptor

Colleagues

• Ge Congzhou: Longtime fellow commander who campaigned with Zhang Cunjing repeatedly
• Ding Hui: Fellow commander, including in the relief of Heyang
• Huo Cun: Commander whom Zhang Cunjing assisted in recovering Suzhou
• Yang Shihou: Fellow commander who joined Zhang Cunjing in defeating Huguo troops south of Yishi in 897
• Shi Shuqiong: Fellow commander who guarded the Cangzhou encampments with Zhang Cunjing during the Battle of Laoyadi
• Hou Yan: Fellow commander who led 30,000 troops with Zhang Cunjing by the Hanshan route against Wang Ke in 901

Adversaries

• Liu Rengong and Liu Shouwen: Father and son of the Lulong military leadership; Zhang Cunjing fought them repeatedly and heavily defeated their forces at Laoyadi
• Wang Ke: Military governor of Hezhong, forced to surrender in 901
• Wang Chuzhi: Military governor of Yiwu Circuit, decisively defeated by Zhang Cunjing at Huaide Station
• Li Hanzhi: At first an opponent, later a follower of Zhu Wen whom Zhang Cunjing relieved in 899

Historical Assessment

Five Dynasties / Contemporary

• The Old History of the Five Dynasties credited Zhang Cunjing with major campaigning service under Zhu Wen and treated his later regional command as commensurate with his achievements.
• Zhu Wen valued Zhang Cunjing highly and reportedly mourned him for a prolonged period after his death; his posthumous promotions to Grand Protector and Grand Preceptor indicate the weight he carried in Zhu Wen's regime.
• The New History of the Five Dynasties described Zhang Cunjing as upright and courageous and as a general who was particularly skilled at producing unusual plans when placed in desperate situations.

Song and Yuan Periods

• The Old History of the Five Dynasties, compiled by Xue Juzheng and other Northern Song historians, gives detailed accounts of Zhang Cunjing's campaigns and recognizes him as a founding military contributor to Later Liang.
• Ouyang Xiu's New History of the Five Dynasties, though more concise, included him among the Later Liang generals and acknowledged his place in the dynasty's military history.
• The Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance records many of the battles in which Zhang Cunjing participated and presents him as one of the key generals in Zhu Wen's conquest of northern China.

Ming and Qing Periods

• Ming and Qing scholarship on the late Tang and Five Dynasties generally focused more on political structure and regional military rule than on Zhang Cunjing individually. Wang Fuzhi discussed Zhu Wen's generals in Reflections on Reading the Comprehensive Mirror without a separate focused assessment of Zhang Cunjing; Zhao Yi's Notes on the Twenty-Two Histories likewise emphasized broad political developments. Assessments of Zhang Cunjing in this period were therefore usually embedded in wider judgments of the Zhu Wen group.

Modern Period

• Modern scholarship on the late Tang and Five Dynasties generally treats Zhang Cunjing as an important military commander in Zhu Wen's consolidation of northern China and recognizes the significance of his campaigns in Hebei and Hezhong for the territorial formation of Later Liang.
• Scholars including Fu Lecheng in Taiwan have discussed the military activities of Zhu Wen's generals and Zhang Cunjing's role in the Hebei campaigns.
• Contemporary historical studies most often emphasize Zhang Cunjing's military ability and his contribution to the founding of Later Liang, regarding him as an important military figure of the early Five Dynasties.