Zhang Bu

Historical Record

Zhang Bu was an important official of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period, his life and deeds concentrated mainly in the reigns of Sun Xiu and Sun Hao. Soon after Sun Xiu took the throne, recognizing that the powerful minister Sun Chen was domineering and intended to revolt, he secretly consulted with Zhang Bu on countermeasures^[1]. Zhang Bu recommended Ding Feng to Sun Xiu, holding that although Ding Feng was not skilled in documents, his schemes were extraordinary and he could decide great matters^[2]. Sun Xiu adopted Zhang Bu's advice and summoned Ding Feng to plot together the killing of Sun Chen. At the La festival gathering, Ding Feng and Zhang Bu coordinated and successfully wiped out Sun Chen and his clique in one sweep^[2]. Afterward, Sun Xiu issued an edict commending Zhang Bu, calling him one who "punished the treacherous minister," and enfeoffed Zhang Bu as Supervisor of the Central Army, his younger brother Zhang Dun as Marquis of Duting with three hundred troops, and another younger brother Zhang Xun as a colonel^[3].

During Sun Xiu's reign, Zhang Bu enjoyed deep favor, rising to General of the Left, and colluded with the Chancellor Puyang Xing, their power overawing the court and causing disappointment throughout the realm^[4]. Zhang Bu's power even affected Sun Xiu's daily decisions. For example, Sun Xiu once wished to invite the Erudite Libationer Wei Zhao to lecture in attendance, but Zhang Bu, being a favorite intimate whose conduct had many flaws, and fearing that Wei Zhao would use precedents ancient and modern to admonish Sun Xiu, obstinately blocked Wei Zhao from entering the palace to lecture. Sun Xiu was deeply displeased at this but in the end could not have his way^[5].

In the seventh month of the seventh year of the Yong'an era (264 CE), Sun Xiu died. The Left Army Director Wan Yu, who had always been on good terms with the Marquis of Wucheng, Sun Hao, persuaded Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu to depose Sun Xiu's crown prince and instead set up Sun Hao as ruler. Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu finally adopted Wan Yu's advice and installed Sun Hao^[4]. After Sun Hao took the throne, he enfeoffed Puyang Xing as Palace Attendant and Governor of Qing Province. However, the favorable situation did not last long: Wan Yu soon slandered Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu to Sun Hao, falsely charging that they regretted having installed Sun Hao. On the first day of the eleventh month of that year, Sun Hao seized the opportunity to arrest Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu, banished them to Guangzhou, had them pursued and killed on the way, and exterminated their three clans^[4].

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhang Bu's image is basically consistent with the historical record, revolving mainly around the two great events of taking part in the killing of Sun Chen and installing Sun Hao, though certain details are given literary embellishment and dramatization.

Regarding the killing of Sun Chen, the novel portrays it more vividly. When Sun Chen, resentful that Sun Xiu had not accepted his offering of oxen and wine, drunkenly let slip his true feelings at Zhang Bu's residence, saying "Sooner or later I will make you all see!", Zhang Bu, hearing this, merely "assented submissively," and the next day went into the palace to secretly report to Sun Xiu, so that Sun Xiu was "greatly alarmed, anxious day and night"^[6]. This episode highlights the key role of Zhang Bu in exposing Sun Chen's plot and lays the groundwork for the subsequent killing. In the novel, Zhang Bu likewise recommends Ding Feng and, together with Ding Feng, Wei Miao, Shi Shuo, and others, plans the scheme, with Zhang Bu serving as the "inside agent," finally succeeding in eliminating Sun Chen^[6]. This depiction reinforces Zhang Bu's contribution to the stability of Sun Xiu's regime.

In the matter of installing Sun Hao, the novel's account differs slightly from the histories, but the core plot is consistent. After Sun Xiu died of illness, the Chancellor Puyang Xing wished to install the crown prince Sun Wan, but the Left Army Director Wan Yu argued that Sun Wan was too young and proposed installing the Marquis of Wucheng, Sun Hao. At this point the General of the Left Zhang Bu stated clearly: "Sun Hao is of clear discernment and decisive judgment, fit to be emperor."^[7] This single remark played a key role in pushing the matter amid the ministers' deliberations and finally brought about Sun Hao's accession. Although the novel does not explicitly mention the episode of Wan Yu's slander leading to Zhang Bu's killing, Zhang Bu's end is the same as in the histories—he was put to death by Sun Hao (novel only; the detail of his being killed is not explicitly mentioned in the novel material, but it is a historical fact that after installing Sun Hao he soon lost favor and was killed).

Key Relationships

* Eastern Wu (serves): Zhang Bu was an important official of the Eastern Wu regime, serving through the reigns of both Sun Xiu and Sun Hao, especially favored during Sun Xiu's reign, with power overawing the court^[4].
* Sun Xiu (master/confidant): After Sun Xiu took the throne, Zhang Bu was an important trusted minister who took part in the major decision to kill the powerful minister Sun Chen and thereby gained high office. Sun Xiu placed great trust in him, yet was also wary and displeased with him in certain matters, as in the affair of obstructing Wei Zhao's lecture in attendance^[5].
* Ding Feng (friend_of/collaborator): In the operation to kill Sun Chen, Zhang Bu recommended Ding Feng to Sun Xiu and worked closely with Ding Feng to plan and carry out the scheme to eliminate Sun Chen^[2]. The two were important allies and collaborators.
* Sun Chen (enemy_of): Zhang Bu was one of Sun Chen's political rivals and took an active part in the operation to eliminate Sun Chen. Sun Chen, angered that Sun Xiu had not accepted his offering of oxen and wine, went instead to drink at Zhang Bu's residence and expressed his discontent with Sun Xiu after drinking, whereupon Zhang Bu immediately reported him to Sun Xiu^[6].
* Puyang Xing (ally/collaborator): In the later part of Sun Xiu's reign, Zhang Bu colluded with the Chancellor Puyang Xing, their power dominant and causing disappointment throughout the realm. In the matter of installing Sun Hao, the two also made the decision together^[4].
* Sun Hao (betrayed_by): Zhang Bu was one of the key figures who installed Sun Hao; yet after Sun Hao took the throne, he heeded slander and put Zhang Bu and his three clans to death^[4].
* Wan Yu (collaborator/betrayer): Wan Yu was the one who proposed installing Sun Hao, and Zhang Bu adopted his suggestion. However, Wan Yu later slandered Zhang Bu to Sun Hao, leading to Zhang Bu's killing^[4].
* Wei Zhao (enemy_of): Out of personal interest and to protect his power, Zhang Bu obstructed Sun Xiu's wish to invite Wei Zhao to lecture in attendance, so that Sun Xiu's intended employment of Wei Zhao could not be realized^[5].

Iconic Scenes

* Secretly plotting to kill Sun Chen: After Sun Xiu took the throne, facing the tyranny of the powerful minister Sun Chen, he secretly consulted with Zhang Bu on countermeasures. Zhang Bu recommended Ding Feng and, together with Ding Feng, devised the plan, finally succeeding in eliminating Sun Chen at the La festival gathering and stabilizing the politics of Eastern Wu. This event established Zhang Bu's standing in Sun Xiu's court^[2].
* Informing after a drinking bout: Sun Chen, resentful that Sun Xiu had not accepted his offering of oxen and wine, drunkenly let slip his discontent at Zhang Bu's residence, saying "Sooner or later I will make you all see!" Zhang Bu then secretly reported it to Sun Xiu, directly prompting Sun Xiu's wariness of Sun Chen and his resolve to eliminate him^[6] (novel only, though the histories also have the episode of Zhang Bu reporting to Sun Xiu that Sun Chen "harbored resentment and contempt for his lord and intended to revolt"^[1]).
* Obstructing the lecture in attendance: Sun Xiu wished to invite the learned and talented Wei Zhao to lecture in attendance, but Zhang Bu, being a favorite intimate whose conduct had many flaws and fearing that Wei Zhao would use precedents ancient and modern to admonish Sun Xiu, obstinately blocked Wei Zhao from entering the palace. This event displays Zhang Bu's power at court and his conduct of interfering in the ruler's decisions to protect his own interests^[5].
* Installing Sun Hao: After Sun Xiu died, Zhang Bu and other ministers such as Puyang Xing, on Wan Yu's suggestion, deposed Sun Xiu's crown prince and installed the Marquis of Wucheng, Sun Hao, as ruler. Zhang Bu played a key role in pushing this through, clearly stating that Sun Hao was "of clear discernment and decisive judgment, fit to be emperor"^[7]. However, this decision also ultimately led to his own tragic end.
* Death and the extermination of his clan: Soon after Sun Hao took the throne, he heeded Wan Yu's slander, arrested Zhang Bu and Puyang Xing who had installed him, pursued and killed them on the way of their banishment, and exterminated their three clans. This marked the end of Zhang Bu's political career and reflected Sun Hao's cruelty and suspicion^[4].