Zhang Jun
Leader of the war faction, he directed the Battle of Fuping and the Longxing Northern Expedition, both of which failed.
Life
Governed Sichuan and Shaanxi
Zhang Jun earned the jinshi degree and advocated resisting the Jin in the early Southern Song. In 1129 he was appointed Pacification Commissioner of Sichuan and Shaanxi, building up the northwest and recommending generals such as Wu Jie and Liu Ziyu.
Battle of Fuping
In 1130, to tie down the Jin army in the Yangtze–Huai region, he massed five armies totaling 400,000 men for a decisive battle with the Jin at Fuping in Shaanxi, but poor command led to a crushing defeat and the loss of most of Shaanxi. Wu Jie, however, then held the gateways to Sichuan at Heshangyuan and Xianren Pass.
Longxing Northern Expedition
He was twice chancellor and long held to the war policy, and was kept out of power by Qin Hui for nearly 20 years. After Emperor Xiaozong of Song came to the throne in 1163, Zhang Jun directed the "Longxing Northern Expedition," which was routed at Fuli. He died in 1164.
Legacy
Zhang Jun was one of the most resolute leaders of the Southern Song war faction, but both of his large-scale campaigns ended in defeat, and opinions of him have always been divided.
Major works & achievements
- Governed Sichuan and Shaanxi and recommended generals such as Wu Jie
Did you know? His son Zhang Shi was a famous Neo-Confucian scholar, as renowned as Zhu Xi.
Key dates
- 1129Appointed Pacification Commissioner of Sichuan and Shaanxi
- 1130Crushing defeat at the Battle of Fuping
- 1135Became chancellor
- 1163Directed the Longxing Northern Expedition; defeat at Fuli
- 1164Died