When Zhang Yong, a famous minister of the Northern Song Dynasty, was a hero and informal, even if he lived in poverty and low status, he never felt inferior ("Less renqi, informal, although poor and unworthy, he did not taste people.") See History of the Song Dynasty, vol. 293). Although Zhang Yong came from a poor family, he loved to read since childhood, and he was talented, so he achieved great success in his studies, and was admitted to the Jinshi in the fifth year of the Taiping Revival of Emperor Taizong of Song (980), and has since embarked on a career.
After Zhang Yong entered the army, he started from Chongyang County Ling, because of his shrewd and strong personality and remarkable political achievements, he was deeply recommended by the prime ministers Li Xun, Song Xiang, Kou Zhun and others, and was valued by Emperor Taizong, and was promoted repeatedly, and was gradually promoted to the posts of Hubei transit envoy and privy councillor. After Wang Xiaobo and Li Shun launched an uprising in Sichuan, Emperor Taizong of Song, because he relied heavily on Zhang Yong's ability, worshiped him as the governor of Yizhou and ordered him to quell the rebellion.
Zhang Yong was a famous minister of the Northern Song Dynasty and served as an official in Sichuan
At this time, it had been nearly 30 years since the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty and the occupation of Sichuan, but the people of Shuzhong were suffering from the exploitation of local officials and often rebelled in groups, the largest of which was the uprising led by tea merchants Wang Xiaobo and Li Shun (993-995). The uprising lasted for more than 2 years, the number of people reached hundreds of thousands, almost occupied the whole of Sichuan, and finally under the strong suppression of Zhang Yong and others, it was considered to stabilize the situation.
When Wang Xiaobo and Li Shun rebelled, a large number of civilians in Shuzhong were coerced into serving as soldiers, and when the rebellion was quelled, the gang was captured by the imperial army. In order to punish You, Wang Ji'en, a eunuch who had come to quell the rebellion with Zhang Yong, handed over a large number of "rebel soldiers" to Zhang Yong for execution, but the latter released them all. Wang Ji'en was furious when he heard the news, so he asked Zhang Yong in a loud voice why he indulged in "chaotic party.".
Map of the uprising of Wang Xiaobo and Li Shun
In the face of Wang Ji'en's accusations, Zhang Yong explained with a smile: "When Li Shun coerced liangmin into thieves, today Zhang Yong helped them become good people again, isn't it a beautiful thing?" Wang Ji'en was speechless for a moment, so Zhang Yong did so. As a result, a large number of "chaotic parties" were able to save their lives, and the people of Shuzhong were also grateful to Zhang Yong ("When Kou Luo was in the time, the people were more coercive and obedient, and Yong moved the edict to the imperial court to make each return to the field.") And he said: 'The day before Li Shun threatened the people as thieves, today I turned thieves into thieves for the people, can't we care?' Ibid.).
However, although the uprising of Wang Xiaobo and Li Shun ended in failure, there were still many people who tried to break away from the imperial court and restore the situation of "Shu people ruling Shu", and there were a large number of supporters in the army. This group of people are mainly Sichuan generals, because of dissatisfaction with the inferior status and the harsh exploitation of senior officers, in order to change the status quo, it is very hoped to support a highly respected general leader, and then establish a separatist regime in Sichuan.
Zhao Kuangyin usurped the throne as emperor through the "Chen Qiao Mutiny"
However, the reputation of Sichuan generals and officials was generally low, not enough to take on this heavy responsibility, and in the end, the candidate they favored was Zhang Yong, who had deep kindness to the people. However, Zhang Yong was a foreigner and a high official loyal to the imperial court, and it was difficult to imagine how difficult it was to "pull him down". Therefore, in order to achieve this goal, these generals decided to emulate chen Qiaoyi's soldiers and put Zhang Yong on the "stove" of plotting to become emperor, so that he had to obey.
The generals thought of doing so, and took advantage of a certain opportunity to hold a large military parade to instruct the soldiers to shout "long live" to Zhang Yong, as many as three times. In the face of the cheers like a tsunami, Zhang Yong, who was riding on a horse, panicked for a moment, trembling and sweating, and almost did not pass out. Fortunately, Zhang Yong is a smart person, and his brain only turned slightly, and he immediately thought of a countermeasure.
Zhang Yong was in a hurry and had wisdom to easily resolve the crisis
Only to see Zhang Yong turn over and dismount, heading toward the northeast where Bieliang was located, and shouting "Long live" three times in succession in order to respond to the soldiers' actions. Subsequently, Zhang Yong turned on his horse and continued to review the army. The generals did not expect Zhang Yong to make this move, and for a while they seemed to be at a loss, and the plan they had previously formulated was "aborted". Afterwards, Zhang Yong searched out the mastermind of this matter, and then brought the law to justice on the spot, sparing punishment for the accomplices and "melon soldiers" who did not know the truth. In this regard, a great change was resolved in the bud.
Zhang Qiya guarded Chengdu, and in addition to the fire, the people were on the opposite side. One day of reading, the beginning of the out, the crowd called out three. The cliff also dismounted, and the northeast looked three times and returned to the road. The crowd did not dare to criticize. See The Complete Works of Wisdom Advisors, Volume VI (Zhang Yong' Nickname).
Zhang Yong ruled shuzhong for four years, during which time he was able to quell riots, be generous and love the people, develop production, and create paper money (i.e., "Jiaozi"), with great achievements. After stepping down as the governor of Yizhou, Zhang Yong entered the dynasty as the Left Counselor," the Minister of Affairs, the Envoy of The Household Department, and the Imperial Historian Zhongcheng (御史中丞), and during his tenure he was known for his outspoken and daring advice, correcting bullets and not avoiding the magnates ("Chengtian Festival Qihui, the chancellor has lost alcohol, and the chant plays it."). See History of the Song Dynasty, vol. 293).
After that, Zhang Yong successively held the posts of Hangzhou Zhizhou, Zhiyongxing Military Palace, Yizhou Zhizhou (re-appointment), Gongbu Shangshu, Libu Shangshu, Chenzhou Zhizhou, etc., and finally died in office in the eighth year of Dazhongxiangfu (1015), at the age of 70. After Zhang Yong's death, Emperor Zhenzong of Song was deeply saddened and ordered him to be posthumously given the title of Zuo Shu (左仆射) and the title of Zhongding (忠定). With the death of Zhang Yong, his legendary life officially came to an end.