Background

Zhang Yanhan was born in 884. He was from Suiyang (睢陽, in modern Shangqiu, Henan), but little is stated about his family background in the traditional sources. Late during Tang, he served as the military advisor to the prefect of Shan Prefecture (陝州, in modern Sanmenxia, Henan). However, at one point, he took a leave to see his uncle Zhang Shensi, who was then serving as the acting military governor of Ganhua Circuit (感化, headquartered in modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu). He informed Zhang Shensi his opinion that northern China was about to fall into complete chaos and that he wanted to head to the region between the Yangtze and Huai Rivers (which was then under the rule of the major warlord Yang Xingmi the military governor of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu)), so that the family line could be extended. Zhang Shensi agreed with his analysis and sent him on his way.

During Wu

Tang ended in 907, and the realm fractured into several states, with Yang Xingmi's domain, then ruled by his son and successor Yang Wo, becoming the state of Hongnong (later known as Wu). Zhang Yanhan initially served there as the magistrate of Yancheng County (鹽城, in modern Yancheng, Jiangsu), and was said to have been capable. He was later promoted to be the military commander of the army at Chu Prefecture (楚州, in modern Huai'an, Jiangsu).

In 918, when then-Wu regent Xu Wen's adoptive son Xu Zhigao became junior regent at Wu's capital Guangling (廣陵, in modern Yangzhou) (as Xu Wen himself was stationed at Sheng Prefecture (昇州, in modern Nanjing, Jiangsu)), Xu Zhigao was given the title of military prefect (團練使, Tuanlianshi) of Jiang Prefecture (江州, in modern Jiujiang, Jiangxi), but obviously could not govern Jiang himself from Guangling; therefore, he sent Zhang there, as his secretary, to actually govern the prefecture.

At a later point, Zhang returned to the Wu imperial government to serve as an imperial censor (殿中侍御史, Dianzhong Shi Yushi), and was put in charge, in an acting capacity, of the office of the imperial censors. At that time, the general Zhang Xuan was one of the commanders of the guards for the capital Guangling, and was, due to his accomplishments, arrogant and violent. Zhang Yanhan submitted an indictment against Zhang Xuan, which caused other similarly arrogant generals to become apprehensive and to curb their behavior.

Zhang Yanhan was later promoted to be the deputy minister of rites (禮部侍郎, Libu Shilang). This caused him to appreciate Xu Zhigao (who was full regent by that point) greatly, as he had not previously been considered a close associate of the regent. At that time, Wu had not held imperial examinations — a Tang tradition for selecting officials for the imperial government; rather, it would be that people would be selected based on contents of petitions they submitted. Xu put Zhang in charge reinstituting the imperial examinations, and Zhang performed the task capably, paying attention to promoting the impoverished and not being intimidated by those with honored backgrounds, such that the administrators under him were respecting him as if he were a deity. After Xu Zhigao's son Xu Jingtong became junior regent in 930, Xu Jingtong was impressed with Zhang, and stated to others, "Mr. Zhang's opinions are fair and his decisions are well-reasoned. His listing of matters are detailed and clear. I should listen to him wholeheartedly." Zhang eventually was put in charge of overseeing all six ministries of the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng) and became respected by the people. When he was in his 50s, he was given the titles of Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎, deputy head of the legislative bureau (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng)) and Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi, making him a chancellor. Even though he was by no means old, the people still commented at the time that it was regrettable that he was not chancellor earlier.

During Southern Tang

In 937, Xu Zhigao had Yang Pu yield the throne to him, ending Wu and starting a new state of Southern Tang, with Xu as its emperor. (Xu would, in the following year, change his family name back to his birth name of Li and take on a new personal name of Bian.) He commissioned Zhang Yanhan, as well as fellow former Wu chancellors Zhang Juyong and Li Jianxun, chancellors of his new state.

It was said that some time thereafter, Zhang Yanhan fell ill. As Li Bian still hoped that Zhang would be able to serve as chancellor, he did not allow Zhang to resign, but rather repeatedly send emissaries to oversee his treatment and make sure that he was given the best medications. Despite this, Zhang died around the new year 941. He was given posthumous honors.

Notes and references

• Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms, vol. 21.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 281, 282.

家世

張延翰生于唐僖宗中和四年（884年），睢陽人，幾無家世記載。年輕時遊歷唐朝都城長安，唐朝末年任陝州司馬，一次去看從父權感化軍留後張慎思，告以北方將亂，說想要避居江、淮即大軍閥淮南節度使楊行密治下，以延續家族世系。張慎思認可他的判斷，慨然送他上路。

吳國年間

天祐四年（907年），唐亡，分裂成幾個政權，楊行密轄區當時由其子和繼承人楊渥統治，為弘農國（後為吳國）。張延翰初任鹽城令，有治績。遷楚州行軍司馬。

十五年（918年），吳國攝政徐溫屯昇州，由養子徐知誥在吳國都城廣陵為少攝政，封徐知誥潯陽公，授江州團練使，徐知誥顯然並不從廣陵前去就職，而是表張延翰為江州觀察巡官通判軍府事、工部郎中，前去江州代為理政。

後來，張延翰回到吳國朝廷，為殿中侍御史，知雜事，判台事。左街使張宣恃功驕暴，張延翰當廷彈劾之，其他悍將因而收斂。

張延翰後進禮部侍郎，因之前從未成為攝政的近臣，很感激當時已是全權攝政的徐知誥。當時，吳國還沒有沿用唐朝為朝廷選官的科舉制度，而是對獻書論事者評定優劣選官。徐知誥以張延翰兼知選事，張延翰表現稱職，公平詳審，注重提拔孤貧之人，不附權勢，官吏敬畏他如神明，不敢作奸犯科。大和二年（930年），徐知誥子徐景通為少攝政，對人們說：「張君議論公正，處事有條理，經手的簿冊和文書都很明晰，我要傾心聽之。」張延翰奉命綜領六司，為時人所重。五十歲時，拜中書侍郎、同中書門下平章事，為宰相。當時作為宰相他並不算老，但人們仍然認為他拜相晚了。

南唐年間

天祚三年（937年）十月，徐知誥迫吳帝楊溥禪位，代吳稱帝，建立南唐。以張延翰及門下侍郎張居詠、中書侍郎李建勛三位吳國宰相為同平章事，仍為南唐宰相。次年，徐知誥改李姓，改名李昪。

不久，張延翰病重不能理事。李昪仍希望他理事，不許其辭職，派使者問疾賜良藥不絕。升元四年（940年），張延翰在道路上卒于右僕射兼門下侍郎同平章事任上。士大夫嘆惜之。贈太師。

評價

• 《十國春秋》論曰：（張）延翰綜理六司，卓然奏績，晚登揆席，未竟厥用，惜哉！

注釋及參考文獻