Zhang Jun, a famous minister of the Southern Song Dynasty: His peak period was hidden for twenty years. What kept him determined?

If there was a job that required you to be on standby 24 hours a day, and you couldn’t care about personal gains and losses, what reasons would you use to keep yourself from being offline? The Miao-Liu mutiny made the young Zhang Jun famous in one battle. After that, he ran Shaanxi and Sichuan, became a general and became a prime minister, and insisted on resisting the Jin Dynasty. However, he was demoted during the 20 years when his career should be most brilliant, and his voice of loyalty could not reach him. In the ears of the emperor, the ambition to regain the Central Plains could not be promoted.

At every moment of life and death, he was remembered by the emperor and resolutely accepted orders in times of crisis. However, crisis elimination was quickly abandoned. This happened over and over again, but he was always online with no regrets.

Twenty years of seclusion, constant loyalty and admonishment

In the seventh year of Shaoxing (1137), due to the Huaixi mutiny, Zhang Jun took the blame and resigned as prime minister, and was demoted all the way. But no matter where he was demoted, he always cared about the court and kept advising on strategies to strengthen the country.

The Jin people sent envoys in the name of "Edict", and Zhang Jun wrote five consecutive letters to argue about this. Whenever there was trouble in the Jin army, he would propose strategies to defend the war. However, most of these good advice and suggestions have fallen into disrepair.

On the 9th year after he was demoted, Zhang Jun planned to write a letter to denounce current affairs. However, thinking that failure to remonstrate would lead to disaster, and seeing his elderly mother, he became torn. . When his mother asked him why he was unhappy, Zhang Jun told him frankly. Mother didn't say anything else, but just recited a sentence that Zhang's father once wrote: "I would rather die with an axe than say something, but I can't bear to betray His Highness without saying anything." With his mother so understanding of righteousness and his father's guidance, Zhang Jun once again went to the bookstore to advise him. However, this petition angered Qin Hui, and Zhang Jun was impeached again and demoted to the more remote Lianzhou (now Qingyuan, Guangdong).

In the 18th year after he was demoted, Zhang Jun heard that Wanyan Liang of the Jin Kingdom had usurped the throne and judged that the Jin army would definitely attack the Song Dynasty. At this time, Zhang Jun's mother passed away, and he should have been at home to observe mourning, but he still took the initiative to report and ask for orders to lead troops to meet the enemy. The leaders and factions believed that the Jin people did not know how to use troops, and they all laughed at Zhang Jun's request for war as being too arrogant. The result of this memorial was that after the mourning period expired, even his poor current position was dismissed. During this period, in order to completely silence Zhang Jun, Qin Hui even accused him of "treason". Fortunately, Qin Hui died soon and Zhang Jun was able to avoid disaster.

Zhang Jun was forced to leave the court for nearly twenty years when he was in his prime. Although he was no longer in the court, he still cared about his family and country. People all over the world admire him wholeheartedly and feel sorry that he cannot be reused; but the Jin people who are quite afraid of him only dare to feel a little relieved when they hear that he has not been reused.

Returning from danger but still in style

Song Gaozong turned a deaf ear to Zhang Jun’s advice. However, in the thirty-first year of Shaoxing (1161), when Wan Yanliang came with real swords and guns, the first thing Gaozong thought of was to appoint Zhang Jun.

Under the overwhelming offensive of the Jin soldiers, the Song army was defeated one after another. Zhang Jun was ordered to rush to Yueyang. In the heavy snow, he planned to go by boat. On the way, he met a man who was fleeing and said that the enemy troops were burning and killing him in the front, so he advised him to turn around and go back. Zhang Jun said: "When I go to see your father in urgent need, I just go straight ahead and ask for the location of your chariot." ?At that time, no boat on the Yangtze River dared to sail along the north bank. Only the small boat on which Zhang Jun was riding continued forward.

When Zhang Jun arrived at the army of general Li Xianzhong, the soldiers thought he had fallen from the sky, and their morale was greatly boosted.

The Jin army besieged Haizhou with one hundred thousand soldiers. Zhang Jun ordered people to rescue them and defeated the Jin soldiers. He recruited righteous men and women and appointed commanders for training. Zhang Jun analyzed that the Jin army was better at cavalry, while the Song army was better at infantry. In order to restrain the Jin army, he ordered the production of crossbows and the repair of chariots. Song Gaozong said to Zhang Jun: "As long as you are here, I won't have to worry about visiting the north!" ?

The veteran new emperor’s trust dilemma

In June of the 32nd year of Shaoxing (1162), Gaozong became the Zen throne, Xiaozong ascended the throne, and veteran Zhang Jun was truly reused.

When they met for the first time, Xiaozong said to Zhang Jun: "I have heard about the public name for a long time, and now the court only relies on the public." In the court hall, Zhang Jun gave a detailed speech on how to govern the country. After hearing this, Xiaozong said: "You should never forget the public words." ?He was appointed Shaofu, Xuanfu envoy on the east and west routes of Jianghuai, and was granted the title of Duke of Wei.

Shi Hao and Zhang Jun had a dispute over the location of the city. When Shi Hao was appointed as the counselor of political affairs, Shi Hao would rebel whenever Zhang Jun had plans. Shi Hao was an old minister of Xiaozong's late residence. He had made great contributions to Xiaozong, and his words in front of Xiaozong were very important. However, Xiaozong was not influenced by Shi Hao. Instead, he cared deeply about Zhang Jun and often asked about his daily life, diet and physical condition.

He said to the minister: "I rely on the Duke of Wei like the Great Wall, and I cannot allow it to be swayed by idle talk." ?

In the first year of Longxing (1163), Zhang Jun was appointed as Privy Envoy. Song Xiaozong followed Zhang Jun's suggestion and ordered him to preside over the Northern Expedition. At that time, the Jin army was stationed in Hongxian (today's Sixian, Anhui) and Lingbi (today's Suxian, Anhui) to prepare for the southern attack. Zhang Jun planned to take a pre-emptive strike and sent his generals to send troops in two directions, seize the two counties and then take advantage of the victory to conquer Suzhou. Xiaozong gave a handwritten note saying: "Recent side reports have encouraged China and foreign countries. There has been no such record in ten years." ?

However, before the news of victory could subside, the Song army suffered a major defeat. Zhang Jun went to Shu to plead guilty, and the emperor decreed that he should be appointed as the envoy to Jiang and Huai. In the court, the emperor and his party talked a lot about Zhang Jun's mistakes. Xiaozong gave Zhang Jun a handwritten letter saying: "Today, I rely on you for the most important matters. You should not be afraid of what others say and hesitate." At the beginning of the incident the day before yesterday, I and your Majesty took charge of it, and today I must also end it with you. ?

Zhang Jun's son Zhang Shi came to the court to serve. Zhang Jun attached a memorial stating his mistakes and asked to resign. Xiaozong said to Zhang Shi: "I treat Wei Gong well and will not be confused by superficial opinions." ? Soon the imperial edict was issued to restore the title of Governor Zhang Jun.

The main battle of his life, looking forward to the Central Plains

After a defeat, Song Xiaozong had no intention of confronting the Jin soldiers again. At this time, Jin Shizong proposed a peace negotiation on the condition that the Southern Song Dynasty would donate four counties and annual coins. He claimed that if the requirements were not met, he would attack during slack times. Zhang Jun said: When gold is strong, it comes, when it is weak, it stops. It does not matter whether it is in harmony or disharmony. ?Strive to resist gold.

At this time, the Right Prime Minister Tang Situi had already sent people to Jinying in a hurry to sue for peace, and promised the four counties of Jin Kingdom. In the court, Zhang Jun argued again and again, explaining the failure of the peace negotiation. Xiaozong then ordered Hu Fang and others to go to Jinying to declare that the four counties could not be divided. Xiaozong said to Zhang Jun: "If the peace negotiation fails, God will let it go." ? Changed Tang Si to be the left prime minister, appointed Zhang Jun as the right prime minister, and prepared to go to war with the Jin people.

Song Xiaozong ordered Zhang Jun to inspect Jiang and Huaihe. Zhang Jun, who was 68 years old at this time, rushed to Lianghuai to actively prepare for the war. He recruited more than 20,000 loyal heroes from Shandong, Huaibei, and Huainan to enrich the army; he built castles in key places, added Jiang and Huai warships, and supplemented the bows and arrows of each army. He was fully prepared for a decisive battle with the Jin people.

However, Zhang Jun's position on the front line to fight against the Jin army was more like Xiaozong's plan to drive him away, because the court decided to abandon the ground and sue for peace before the battle started. Emperor Xiaozong of the Song Dynasty asked Zhang Shi to send a message to Zhang Jun: "Today, the country needs to measure the strength of the people and the country, and take it as soon as possible."

Zhang Jun felt that there was nothing he could do, so he became an official in the second year of Longxing (1164). Although he left the court, he still published essays to denounce treacherous ministers and advised the emperor to study and learn from the virtuous. Some people advised Zhang Jun not to comment on current affairs anymore. Zhang Jun said: "The king and his ministers have nothing to hide between heaven and earth." I have been so kind to you in the past two dynasties, and I have been carrying a heavy responsibility for a long time. Although I am leaving the country now, I still look at it and feel it in my heart. If the superior wants to use Chun again, he should go to the hospital immediately and not dare to excuse himself due to old age and illness. If you say so, why are you sincere? ?

Zhang Jun felt sad that the country was declining and he had no choice but to have treacherous officials in power. He eventually became ill due to worries and died of illness in August of the second year of Longxing (1164). Before he died, he said to his son: "I have tried to be the prime minister, but I can't restore the Central Plains. I want to avenge the shame of my ancestors. I shouldn't be buried on the left side of the tomb of my ancestors. Burying me in Hengshan Mountain is enough." ?

Having been dormant for twenty years, when called, he rose up in response. Although our ambitions have been thwarted, our patriotism remains unchanged. As long as the country recruits us, we dare not refuse due to old age and illness! What kind of responsibility is this? When the mediocre ministers were groveling and running away, he became the most determined "rebel" in the war, with no regrets and unswerving determination!