In 221, Sun Quan submitted to Emperor Cao Pi of Wei and accepted the title of King of Wu. Later, Sun Quan began to appoint officials at all levels, but controversy arose over the choice of chancellor. People all think that the position of chancellor is none other than the old minister Zhang Zhao, but Sun Quan chose Sun Shao, who is not very famous! After Sun Shao's death, the Hundred Officials again recommended Zhang Zhao as chancellor, but Sun Quan again refused, instead appointing Gu Yong. So, why didn't Sun Quan choose Zhang Zhao as the chancellor?
First, Zhang Zhao is a person
Zhang Zhaozibu, a native of Pengcheng, was eager to learn since childhood, read a lot of books, and also worshiped BaiHou Zi'an as a teacher and learned "Zuo Shi Chunqiu" from him. At that time, Zhang Zhao was on a par with Zhao Yu of Lang and Wang Lang of the East China Sea (yes, that is, the Wang Situ of Cao Wei), and the three were still good friends. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, when the world was in chaos, Zhang Zhao crossed the Yangtze River and came to Jiangdong to take refuge. Later, Sun Ce raised an army, recruited talents, and invited Zhang Zhao, "ordering Zhao to be a long history and a general in the army."
Sun Ce used Zhang Zhao very much, "the affairs of literature and martial arts, one by one entrusted", but also "ascended to the church to worship the mother, like the old shoulder to shoulder". Zhang Zhao also did his best to assist Sun Ce. However, in 200, Sun Ce was assassinated and seriously injured and died. At that time, Sun Quannian was only very young, and the situation in Eastern Wu was turbulent, in this case, Sun Ce said to Zhang Zhao before his death: "If Zhongmou does not do anything, jun will take it upon himself." It is not a quick retreat, slowly returning to the west, and there is no worry. ”
Second, he assisted Sun Quan in his great achievements
It can be said that before Sun Ce died, he was isolated from Zhang Zhao, and it was precisely under Zhang Zhao's assistance that Sun Quan became the lord of Jiangdong, "When He was dying, he entrusted Zhao with his brother Quan, and Zhao led the group to stand and supplement him." After that, Zhang Zhao "went up to the Han Room, moved down to the city, Chinese and foreign generals, and served in various orders", helping Sun Quan stabilize the situation. During the period of assisting Sun Quan, Zhang Zhao appeased the people, recommended talents, and did a very good job. When Sun Quan sent troops, Zhang Zhao stayed in the rear and was responsible for all administrative affairs.
Later, the Yellow Turban Yu Party rebelled, and Zhang Zhao once led the army to attack, and won the victory, "don't please Kuang Qi, and supervise the generals, attack Yu Zhang's thieves and lead Zhou Feng to the southern city." Sun Quan also had great respect for Zhang Zhao, treating Zhang Zhao as a master, and most of the courtiers called him by his first name, only calling Zhang Zhao zhang Gong. However, although Zhang Zhao did not serve as a minister at that time, his status and role in Eastern Wu were equivalent to those of a chancellor.
3. Why did Zhang Zhao not become a minister?
Sun Quan called himself empress dowager, did not make Zhang Zhao a chancellor, and after Sun Shao's death, even with the recommendation of hundreds of officials, Sun Quan still did not seal Zhang Zhao. At that time, Sun Quan himself had an explanation, "The consul is troubled, and this public nature is rigid, and what he says is not obeyed, and the resentment will be revived, not so beneficial." There are two main meanings: first, the work of the prime minister is too busy, and Zhang Zhao is old, which is not an act of giving preferential treatment to the old minister; second, Zhang Zhao is strong in temperament and very stubborn, and if he does not listen to him, there will be contradictions.
In fact, what Sun Quan said was not complete, and the reason why Zhang Zhao was not named a minister was directly related to one thing! This is in 208, on the eve of the Battle of Chibi, when facing Cao Cao's army, Zhang Zhao advocated abandoning resistance, "foolishly saying that it is better to meet it than to meet it." In the end, Sun Quan vetoed Zhang Zhao's opinion, and from then on, Zhang Zhao's political status in Eastern Wu began to decline, gradually withdrawing from the political core. In addition, it is also very important that Zhang Zhao is not a Jiangdong Shi clan, he is from Xuzhou, and Sun Quan uses the Jiangdong Shi clan to win support, so he chose Gu Yong.
References: 1. Chronicle of the Three Kingdoms; 2. Zizhi Tongjian