History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 338 "Healing Master" Zhang Quanyi 1
【“Healing Master” Zhang Quanyi1】

Zhang Quanyi's real name is Zhang Juyan (some books also write "Zhang Yan"). His family has been farmers for generations. When he was young, he worked as a temporary worker in the county government. He was often discriminated against and humiliated by the county magistrate. His work and life were not going well. Coincidentally, when the Huang Chao Rebellion broke out, Zhang Quanyi, who was struggling at the bottom of society, saw the hope of class transition, so he gladly gave up his temporary job, ran towards poetry and the distance, joined the Cao army, and followed Huang Chao.

Zhang Quanyi should be regarded as one of the earliest hardcore bandit veterans who defected to the Cao Army. He followed Huang Chao in his campaigns, made countless contributions, and was promoted and valued. When Huang Chao entered Chang'an and founded the country and proclaimed himself emperor, he appointed Zhang Quanyi as the Minister of Personnel and Water Transport Envoy, which was equivalent to the Minister of Organization and Deputy Minister of Transportation of the "Great Qi Kingdom".

After Huang Chao was defeated, Zhang Quanyi went to Zhuge Shuang's camp and was recommended by Zhuge Shuang as the governor of Zezhou. After Zhuge Shuang's death, his son Zhuge Zhongfang succeeded him. Liu Jing and Li Hanzhi, the "trusted ministers", fought for power and were incompatible with each other. At that time, Zhang Quanyi stood on Li Hanzhi's side and worked together to drive Liu Jing away and control the Heyang area.

Later, Zhang Quanyi and Li Hanzhi divided the spoils unevenly, and gradually developed a rift. The reason was simple. During Zhuge Shuang's time, Li Hanzhi was the second-in-command of the group, with a higher official position and status than Zhang Quanyi. In addition, in the process of expelling Liu Jing, it was Li Hanzhi's connections (Li Keyong) who made the most efforts. Therefore, when dividing the fruits of victory, Li Hanzhi was also very aggressive, and was not friendly, respectful, or sympathetic to Zhang Quanyi, which led to Zhang Quanyi's dissatisfaction. The detailed process has been described in the previous article.

Zhang Quanyi secretly contacted Wang Chongying, an enemy of Li Hanzhi, and launched a surprise attack on Li Hanzhi, driving him away and taking control of Heyang. Li Hanzhi fled to Hedong and brought in Li Keyong's heavenly soldiers and generals. Zhang Quanyi then surrendered to Zhu Wen of Bianzhou and asked for his asylum. This was known as the "Battle for Heyang", which ended with Zhu Wen's victory. Zhang Quanyi occupied Heyang and officially joined the Bianzhou forces. From then on, Zhang Quanyi was completely loyal to Zhu Wen.

That year was the first year of Emperor Xizong of Tang (888), and until the fall of the Later Liang Dynasty (923), Zhang Quanyi was loyal to Zhu Wen for 35 years! This is true love.

"Zhang Quanyi" was a name given by Emperor Zhaozong of Tang Dynasty, and was from the same batch as Zhu Wen's "Zhu Quanzhong". One is Quanzhong, the other is Quanyi, for good meaning. Unfortunately, Quanyi is really Quanyi, but Quanzhong is not really loyal.

When Zhu Wen usurped the Tang Dynasty and established the Liang Dynasty, Zhang Quanyi took the initiative to request to change his name to avoid the emperor's taboo. So Zhu Wen gave him the name Zhang Zongshi (pronounced the same as "shi"). As per convention, he is called "Zhang Quanyi" throughout the book.

During the reign of Zhu Wen, Zhang Quanyi was conferred the title of King of Wei, and was appointed Grand Protector, Grand Tutor, and Grand Teacher. He served as the prefect of Henan Province and the governor of various places for many years. Zhu Yougui conferred him the title of Grand Marshal; Zhu Youzhen conferred him the title of Governor of Luoyang and Deputy Marshal of the Army of the Whole Country.

When Zhuangzong entered Bianzhou, Zhang Quanyi came to Bianzhou from Luoyang to pay homage, lying in wait for punishment. Li Cunxu comforted him for a long time, ordered people to help him to the palace, and gave him a banquet to calm his nerves.

As early as when Zhang Quanyi and Li Hanzhi were fighting for Heyang, Li Keyong captured Zhang Quanyi's brother Zhang Quanwu and his family. Li Keyong did not make things difficult for them, and granted them land and houses in Taiyuan, giving them relatively generous treatment. From then on, although Zhang Quanyi served Zhu Wen loyally, he often secretly sent people to contact Taiyuan. As for whether he was limited to family affairs or suspected of being a spy for Hedong, it is unknown. The historical records only say that "he often secretly sent people to contact Taiyuan", leaving this sentence for future generations to understand.

So Li Cunxu comforted Zhang Quanyi and said, "Your brother and nephew, it's a honor to see you again." Zhang Quanyi was grateful and thanked the emperor for his grace. Li Cunxu ordered his brothers and sons to treat him as an elder brother and treated Zhang Quanyi with great respect. At that time, Zhang Quanyi was 71 years old. He had guarded Luoyang for 35 years and enjoyed a pivotal position in the Later Liang Dynasty. He also had a good reputation and a deep mass base. Even if Li Cunxu was just putting on a show, he had to be respectful and gentle to this living fossil and political vase in the political arena.

The reason why Zhang Quanyi could become an evergreen in the political arena in the turbulent political arena, served two dynasties and three emperors (not counting Zhu Yougui) and survived, served as Grand Tutor, Grand Preceptor, Grand Guardian, Grand Commandant, Secretary of the Central Secretariat, and was granted the title of King of One Character (Wei King in Later Liang, Qi King in Later Tang), with a fief of 40 households, served as the military governor of Heyang, Tianping, etc., and rose steadily in the officialdom for consecutive years, and was the highest official. In Later Liang, he was the in-law of Zhu Wen's children, and in Later Tang, he was the godfather of the queen... and finally committed suicide. After his death, he was not only not criticized by the emperor, but was immediately posthumously honored. Since ancient times, there has been only one person who has achieved the status of Zhang Quanyi, as described in the "Old History of the Five Dynasties".

Of course, Feng Dao soon became the first and only "unchanged prime minister" in the world history. However, Feng Dao was still slightly inferior to Zhang Quanyi. The reason why Zhang Quanyi created this miracle in the officialdom was that he knew the current affairs, understood the truth, was indifferent to fame and wealth, and did not compete with the world. He formed a sharp contrast with Guo Chongtao.

Looking back at Zhang Quanyi's early experiences, it is not difficult to see that he is somewhat similar to Zhu Wen. Both were at the bottom of society, unhappy, and then joined Huang Chao's army, accumulated military merits, and gradually gained fame.

However, before Huang Chao's defeat, Zhang Quanyi was superior to Zhu Wen in all aspects. For example, Zhang Quanyi was better than Zhu Wen in terms of origin, a farmer and a temporary worker in the county government VS a domestic helper; when the Huang Qi regime was established, Zhang Quanyi was the Minister of Personnel, the highest-ranking of the six ministries, and Zhu Wen was just a peripheral official.

Therefore, Zhu Wen was somewhat suspicious of this old colleague and had the idea of ​​killing him several times.

Zhang Quanyi also understood this truth. Being in a high position and having power has always been the source of trouble, and he could not steal the limelight from his leader, so Zhang Quanyi always avoided it and was humble and cautious.

Before submitting to Zhu Wen, Zhang Quanyi always tolerated Li Hanzhi. In front of the powerful Li Hanzhi, Zhang Quanyi was so cowardly and acted like a grandson that even his subordinates couldn't stand it.

Before Zhu Wen usurped the Tang Dynasty, he and Zhang Quanyi served as Shangshu Ling and Zhongshu Ling respectively, with equal status. Zhang Quanyi therefore repeatedly declined the position and firmly resigned from the post of Jiedushi, voluntarily giving up his fame and power to Zhu Wen.

He did not form cliques, did not form factions for personal gain, did not fight for power and gain, did not take credit for himself, did not show off his wealth... He was honest and dutiful, served the people wholeheartedly, encouraged farming and sericulture, and pacified refugees, and lived a very low-key life. Even though he was a noble, he still did not wear silk and satin. Although he was born in the army, he respected Confucian scholars and did not believe in unorthodox teachings. He loved reading Laozi and Zhuangzi the most, and was devoted to the Taoist doctrine of transcendental thought, and truly lived in harmony with the world.

On one occasion, Zhu Wen became murderous again and had already arranged the Hongmen Banquet, waiting for Zhang Quanyi to fall into his trap.

Zhang Quanyi's wife, Chu, was intelligent and resourceful. She often defended Zhang Quanyi. This time, she was completely desperate. She went straight to Zhu Wen and cursed him without caring about the relationship between the emperor and his subjects. She accused him harshly, saying, "I, Zhang Quanyi, am just an old farmer who can only farm! For more than 30 years, I have done nothing else. Look around Luoyang, is there an inch of idle and barren land? I worked hard and fulfilled my duties to open up farmland, make the people healthy, increase tax revenue, and lay a solid material foundation for your majesty to conquer the world. Now that he is old and half of his body is buried in the ground, your majesty still suspects him? He is about to die, how could he rebel?"

Zhu Wen was so scolded that he was speechless and could only smile and beg for mercy, "It's a misunderstanding, it's a misunderstanding. I didn't do that. Please don't say anything more (I don't mean any harm, please don't say too much)." In order to prove that he had no intention of harming him, Zhu Wen let his son marry Zhang Quanyi's daughter, thus forming a family of in-laws.

(End of this chapter)