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 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 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 (工部尚書, Gongbu Shangshu). Sometime thereafter, his salary level was increased to that of an honorary You Pushe (右僕射). 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 (金吾大將軍) to Yulin Tongjun (羽林統軍). 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 (驍衛將軍). 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 Xuānzong's grandson Emperor Xizong, Zhang was recalled to Chang'an to serve as Xiaowei Dajiangjun (驍衛大將軍). 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.

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 (霸上, in modern Xi'an, Shaanxi) 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.

Notes and references

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 180.

• New Book of Tang, vol. 212.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 248, 249, 254.

生平

盧龍留後張仲武之子。仲武死後，張直方被擁立為留後，性殘忍，喜遊獵，多日不歸。尤好食動物胚胎，經常活剝懷孕中的牛、羊、豬、狗。因嗜酒凌虐士卒，軍中大亂，張得輔欲殺張直方以代之，張直方的牙將閻好問經過一場激戰，勉強穩定局勢。後以打獵為名，逃回長安，軍中遂立周綝為盧龍留後。唐廷念及其父張仲武之功，將共封為金吾大將軍。殘暴不改，曾以小罪笞殺金吾使，貶為右羽林統軍，因小過屢殺家中奴婢，再貶為恩州司戶。鄭畋任宰相時念舊，又赦還為金吾大將軍。家必須用雞蛋洗鍋具，每日所費的雞蛋無數。

中和元年（881年），黃巢軍進入長安，張直方率眾到灞上（灞橋，今西安市東）迎接黃巢大軍進城，頗得信任。冒險收留唐大臣豆盧瑑、崔沆、于琮等數百人。又與鳳翔節度使鄭畋暗通消息，事洩，黃巢怒誅直方三族。

注釋

參考書目

• 《新唐書》卷二百二十五下‧列傳第一百五十下