Zhang Gongsu
Encyclopedia
Zhang Gongsu was a general of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, who ruled Lulong Circuit (盧龍, headquartered in modern Beijing
) from 872
to 875
as its military governor (Jiedushi
) in de facto independence from the imperial government.
's Xiantong era (860
-874
), Zhang Gonsu served as an officer in the Lulong army under the military governor Zhang Yunshen
, eventually reaching the position of prefect of Ping Prefecture (平州, in modern Qinhuangdao
, Hebei
).
Zhang Yunshen died in 872
. Emperor Yizong initially commissioned Zhang Yunshen's son Zhang Jianhui
as acting military governor. Zhang Gongsu, however, took his army from Ping Prefecture and headed for Lulong's capital prefecture You Prefecture (幽州), to attend Zhang Yunshen's funeral. As the Lulong army soldiers respected Zhang Gongsu, Zhang Jianhui feared that Zhang Gongsu was ready to attack him, and therefore fled to the imperial capital Chang'an
. Emperor Yizong then made Zhang Gongsu acting military governor, and later in the year made him full military governor.
, when Emperor Yizong died and was succeeded by his son Emperor Xizong
, Emperor Xizong bestowed on several military governors, including Zhang Gongsu, the honorific chancellor title Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事).
It was said that Zhang Gongsu was violent and harsh as a military governor, and as his eyes showed much sclera
, the people of the circuit referred to him as the "White-Eyed Chancellor." In 875
, the ethnically-Tujue officer Li Maoxun
considered rebelling against him. At the time, the people of the circuit much respected the senior officer Chen Gongyan (陳貢言), who was serving as the commander at Naxiang Base (納降軍, in modern Beijing). Li secretly assassinated Chen and took over his army, and then headed toward You Prefecture, claiming to be Chen's forward commander. Zhang Gongsu engaged him and was defeated, and thereafter fled to Chang'an. (Only after Li then entered You Prefecture did the people realize that he was not Chen, but felt compelled to support him anyway.) Emperor Xizong subsequently demoted Zhang to be the census officer at Fu Prefecture (復州, in modern Hanzhong
, Shaanxi
). That was the last reference in history to Zhang's career, and it is not known when he died.
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
dynasty Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, who ruled Lulong Circuit (盧龍, headquartered in modern Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
) from 872
872
Year 872 was a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Battle of Hafrsfjord: Harald Fairhair becomes the first king of Norway....
to 875
875
Year 875 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* December 29 – Charles the Bald, king of West Francia, is crowned emperor....
as its military governor (Jiedushi
Jiedushi
The Jiedushi were regional military governors in China during the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. Originally set up to counter external threats, the jiedushi were given enormous power, including the ability to maintain their own armies, collect taxes, and pass their...
) in de facto independence from the imperial government.
Background
It is not known when Zhang Gongsu was born. He was from Lulong Circuit's capital Fanyang (范陽). As of the middle of Emperor YizongEmperor Yizong of Tang
Emperor Yizong of Tang , né Li Wen , later changed to Li Cui , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 859 to 873. Yizong was the eldest son of Emperor Xuānzong...
's Xiantong era (860
860
Year 860 was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Ethelbert succeeds as king of Wessex.* The later Harald I of Norway becomes king.- Art :...
-874
874
Year 874 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Ingólfur Arnarson arrives as the first permanent Viking settler in Iceland, settling in Reykjavík ....
), Zhang Gonsu served as an officer in the Lulong army under the military governor Zhang Yunshen
Zhang Yunshen
Zhang Yunshen , courtesy name Fengchang , formally Duke Zhonglie of Yan , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who ruled Lulong Circuit , headquartered in modern Beijing in de facto independence from the imperial government.- Background :Zhang Yunshen was born in 785, during the reign...
, eventually reaching the position of prefect of Ping Prefecture (平州, in modern Qinhuangdao
Qinhuangdao
Qinhuangdao is a port city in northeastern Hebei province of North China. It is about 300 km east of Beijing, on the Bohai Sea, the innermost gulf of the Yellow Sea....
, Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
).
Zhang Yunshen died in 872
872
Year 872 was a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Battle of Hafrsfjord: Harald Fairhair becomes the first king of Norway....
. Emperor Yizong initially commissioned Zhang Yunshen's son Zhang Jianhui
Zhang Jianhui
Zhang Jianhui was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who briefly controlled Lulong Circuit in 872 after the death of his father Zhang Yunshen, who had ruled it as its military governor in de facto independence from the imperial government.It is not known when Zhang Jianhui was born...
as acting military governor. Zhang Gongsu, however, took his army from Ping Prefecture and headed for Lulong's capital prefecture You Prefecture (幽州), to attend Zhang Yunshen's funeral. As the Lulong army soldiers respected Zhang Gongsu, Zhang Jianhui feared that Zhang Gongsu was ready to attack him, and therefore fled to the imperial capital Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
. Emperor Yizong then made Zhang Gongsu acting military governor, and later in the year made him full military governor.
As military governor
In 873873
Year 873 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The Vikings raid Dorestad.* Al-Andalus: Second uprising of Toledo due to ethnic tensions in two years.- Asia :...
, when Emperor Yizong died and was succeeded by his son Emperor Xizong
Emperor Xizong of Tang
Emperor Xizong of Tang , né Li Yan , later name changed to Li Xuan , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 873 to 888. He was the fifth son of his predecessor Emperor Yizong and was the elder brother of his successor Emperor Zhaozong...
, Emperor Xizong bestowed on several military governors, including Zhang Gongsu, the honorific chancellor title Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事).
It was said that Zhang Gongsu was violent and harsh as a military governor, and as his eyes showed much sclera
Sclera
The sclera , also known as the white or white of the eye, is the opaque , fibrous, protective, outer layer of the eye containing collagen and elastic fiber. In the development of the embryo, the sclera is derived from the neural crest...
, the people of the circuit referred to him as the "White-Eyed Chancellor." In 875
875
Year 875 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* December 29 – Charles the Bald, king of West Francia, is crowned emperor....
, the ethnically-Tujue officer Li Maoxun
Li Maoxun
Li Maoxun was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who seized control of Lulong Circuit briefly from 875 to 876 before retiring and turning control of the circuit over to his son Li Keju.- Background :...
considered rebelling against him. At the time, the people of the circuit much respected the senior officer Chen Gongyan (陳貢言), who was serving as the commander at Naxiang Base (納降軍, in modern Beijing). Li secretly assassinated Chen and took over his army, and then headed toward You Prefecture, claiming to be Chen's forward commander. Zhang Gongsu engaged him and was defeated, and thereafter fled to Chang'an. (Only after Li then entered You Prefecture did the people realize that he was not Chen, but felt compelled to support him anyway.) Emperor Xizong subsequently demoted Zhang to be the census officer at Fu Prefecture (復州, in modern Hanzhong
Hanzhong
Hanzhong is a municipality in southwest Shaanxi Province, China, occupying a historically significant valley in the mountains between the Xi'an area, home to many Chinese capitals, and the fertile but isolated Sichuan Basin...
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
). That was the last reference in history to Zhang's career, and it is not known when he died.