Zhang Bin
Encyclopedia
Zhang Bin courtesy name Mengsun (孟孫), formally Marquess Jing of Puyang (濮陽景侯), was a key strategist for Shi Le
, the founder of the Chinese
/Jie
state Later Zhao
.
. Zhang Bin was studious in his youth, and once, comparing himself to the great strategist Zhang Liang
, said, "I believe my intelligence and judgment to be no less than Zhang Liang's, but I have not met Gaozu
(Liu Bang, the founder of Han Dynasty
)." He served on the staff of a Jin prince, but was not trusted, and so he resigned his post.
Later, after various agrarian rebellions started against Jin rule during the late reign of Emperor Hui of Jin
, Zhang happened to meet Shi, and believed that Shi was the most capable general he met, and so he joined Shi's army. Initially, Shi did not consider him important, but after they became more acquainted, Shi began to value his advice more and more. In 311, when Shi, who was then a Han Zhao
general who was winning many battles but failing to hold territory, considered capturing the region between the Yangtze River
and the Han River
, it was Zhang who advised him against the plan, apparently reasoning that Shi's army was suitable for mobility on the plains, not the river- and lake-filled region near the Yangtze. In 312, when Shi's army was facing a food shortage and worried about an attack from the Jin general Sima Rui
(later Emperor Yuan), Shi's other main strategist Diao Ying (刁膺) suggested offering to declare loyalty for Jin, which Zhang told Shi would be impossible, given the great enmity that Jin forces had for Shi after his participation in capturing and pillaging Sima Yue
's funeral procession and then the capital Luoyang
in 311 -- and that if he tried to retreat, Jin forces would not dare to engage him. Agreeing with Zhang, Shi retreated north without being attacked by Jin forces, and he made Zhang his right secretary -- but referred to him as Right Marquess (右侯), a title that he would use to address Zhang for the rest of Zhang's life, in lieu of name, thus showing greater respect for Zhang than for other subordinates.
In summer 312, it was at Zhang's suggestion that Shi finally occupied Xiangguo (襄國, in modern Xingtai
, Hebei
) and held it permanently as his headquarters. For the next few years, while he was ostensibly a Han Zhao general, with Zhang's assistance he expanded the territory he held to most of the area north of the Yellow River
. By 316, Shi had (presumably under authority granted by the Han Zhao emperor Liu Cong
) created Zhang the Marquess of Puyang. In 319, after Shi declared independence from Han Zhao and its new emperor Liu Yao
, thus creating Later Zhao, Zhang served as the prime minister. Zhang died in early 323, and upon his death, Shi mourned him greatly and exclaimed, "Is it that heaven does not wish me to complete great things? Why was the Right Marquess robbed from me?" After Cheng Xia (程遐), a capable administrator but not the strategist that Zhang was (and the brother of Shi's concubine Consort Cheng
), succeeded Zhang, Shi often sighed, "the Right Marquess abandoned me and let me work with this man. Was it not cruel for him to do so?"
Shi Le
Shi Le , courtesy name Shilong , formally Emperor Ming of Zhao , was the founding emperor of the Chinese/Jie state Later Zhao...
, the founder of the Chinese
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...
/Jie
Jie (ethnic group)
The Jié were members of a small tribe in Northern China in the 4th century CE. They established the Later Zhao state.According to the Book of Wei, their name derives from the Jiéshì area where they reside....
state Later Zhao
Later Zhao
The Later Zhao was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Jin Dynasty in China. It was founded by the Shi family of the Jie ethnicity...
.
Biography
Zhang Bin's father Zhang Yao (張瑤) was a commandery governing during the early Jin Dynasty (265-420)Jìn Dynasty (265-420)
The Jìn Dynasty , was a dynasty in Chinese history, lasting between the years 265 and 420 AD. There are two main divisions in the history of the Dynasty, the first being Western Jin and the second Eastern Jin...
. Zhang Bin was studious in his youth, and once, comparing himself to the great strategist Zhang Liang
Zhang Liang
Zhang Liang , style name Zifang , was a strategist and statesman of the early Han Dynasty. He is also known as one of the "Three Heroes of the early Han Dynasty" , along with Han Xin and Xiao He...
, said, "I believe my intelligence and judgment to be no less than Zhang Liang's, but I have not met Gaozu
Gaozu of Han
Emperor Gao , commonly known within China by his temple name Gaozu , personal name Liu Bang, was the first emperor of the Han Dynasty, ruling over China from 202 BC to 195 BC...
(Liu Bang, the founder of Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
)." He served on the staff of a Jin prince, but was not trusted, and so he resigned his post.
Later, after various agrarian rebellions started against Jin rule during the late reign of Emperor Hui of Jin
Emperor Hui of Jin
Emperor Hui of Jin, sim. ch. 晋惠帝, trad. ch. 晉惠帝, py. jìn huì dì, wg. Chin Hui-ti , personal name Sima Zhong , courtesy name Zhengdu , was the second emperor of the Jin Dynasty...
, Zhang happened to meet Shi, and believed that Shi was the most capable general he met, and so he joined Shi's army. Initially, Shi did not consider him important, but after they became more acquainted, Shi began to value his advice more and more. In 311, when Shi, who was then a Han Zhao
Han Zhao
The Han Zhao , or Former Zhao, or Northern Han , was a Southern Xiongnu state during Sixteen Kingdoms period coeval with the Chinese Jin Dynasty...
general who was winning many battles but failing to hold territory, considered capturing the region between the Yangtze River
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
and the Han River
Han River (Hanshui)
The Han River is a left tributary of the Yangtze River with a length of 1532 km. Historically it was referred to as Hànshuǐ and the name is still occasionally used today....
, it was Zhang who advised him against the plan, apparently reasoning that Shi's army was suitable for mobility on the plains, not the river- and lake-filled region near the Yangtze. In 312, when Shi's army was facing a food shortage and worried about an attack from the Jin general Sima Rui
Emperor Yuan of Jin
Emperor Yuan of Jin , personal name Sima Rui , courtesy name Jingwen , was an emperor of the Jin Dynasty and the first of the Eastern Jin Dynasty...
(later Emperor Yuan), Shi's other main strategist Diao Ying (刁膺) suggested offering to declare loyalty for Jin, which Zhang told Shi would be impossible, given the great enmity that Jin forces had for Shi after his participation in capturing and pillaging Sima Yue
Sima Yue
Sima Yue , courtesy name Yuanchao , formally Prince Xiaoxian of Donghai , was a Jin Dynasty imperial prince and regent for Emperor Hui and Emperor Huai...
's funeral procession and then the capital Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
in 311 -- and that if he tried to retreat, Jin forces would not dare to engage him. Agreeing with Zhang, Shi retreated north without being attacked by Jin forces, and he made Zhang his right secretary -- but referred to him as Right Marquess (右侯), a title that he would use to address Zhang for the rest of Zhang's life, in lieu of name, thus showing greater respect for Zhang than for other subordinates.
In summer 312, it was at Zhang's suggestion that Shi finally occupied Xiangguo (襄國, in modern Xingtai
Xingtai
Xingtai is a city in southern Hebei province, North China. The prefecture-level city of Xingtai, with a total area of , administers 2 districts, 2 county-level cities and 15 counties. In 2004 it had an urban population of 561,400 and a total population of 6.73 million...
, 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...
) and held it permanently as his headquarters. For the next few years, while he was ostensibly a Han Zhao general, with Zhang's assistance he expanded the territory he held to most of the area north of the Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
. By 316, Shi had (presumably under authority granted by the Han Zhao emperor Liu Cong
Liu Cong
Liu Cong may refer to:*Liu Cong , emperor of Han Zhao of the Sixteen Kingdoms*Liu Cong , younger son of the Han Dynasty warlord Liu Biao...
) created Zhang the Marquess of Puyang. In 319, after Shi declared independence from Han Zhao and its new emperor Liu Yao
Liu Yao
Liu Yao , courtesy name Yongming , was the final emperor of the Chinese/Xiongnu state Han Zhao. He became emperor in 318 after most other members of the imperial Liu clan were massacred by Jin Zhun in a coup. However, the empire was soon divided in half, as the general Shi Le declared...
, thus creating Later Zhao, Zhang served as the prime minister. Zhang died in early 323, and upon his death, Shi mourned him greatly and exclaimed, "Is it that heaven does not wish me to complete great things? Why was the Right Marquess robbed from me?" After Cheng Xia (程遐), a capable administrator but not the strategist that Zhang was (and the brother of Shi's concubine Consort Cheng
Empress Dowager Cheng
Empress Dowager Cheng was an empress dowager of the Chinese/Jie state Later Zhao. She was a concubine of Later Zhao's founding emperor Shi Le and gave birth to his crown prince and successor, Shi Hong...
), succeeded Zhang, Shi often sighed, "the Right Marquess abandoned me and let me work with this man. Was it not cruel for him to do so?"