Zhang Zhifang

Zhang Zhifang (died January 23, 881?) was a Chinese military general of the late Tang dynasty. Succeeding his father Zhang Zhongwu, he briefly ruled Lulong around modern Beijing as its military governor in independence from the imperial government, but fearing a mutiny, he fled to the imperial capital Chang'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 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 Uyghur Khanate remnants and the warlord Liu 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 Xuanzong. The soldiers supported Zhang Zhifang to succeed him, and therefore, Emperor Xuanzong 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 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 (恩州, in modern Jiangmen, Guangdong).

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 (康州, in modern Zhaoqing, Guangdong). Later, he was allowed to settle at the eastern capital Luoyang, where he was again well known for his hunting. During the Qianfu era (874-879) of Emperor Xuanzong'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 chancellor Zheng 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. 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.