Zhang Cheng

Historical Record

Zhang Cheng, courtesy name Zhongsi, was a man of Xiuwu in Henei; his elder brother Zhang Fan had the courtesy name Gongyi. Zhang Cheng was known for his talent and learning and was on good terms with Zhuge Jin, Bu Zhi, Yan Jun, and others ^c:1658. When Dong Zhuo wrought havoc at the end of the Han, Zhang Cheng wished to gather a band of followers to join all under Heaven in a campaign against Dong Zhuo. However, his elder brother Zhang Zhao (then a court gentleman for consultation), returning from Chang'an, dissuaded Zhang Cheng, pointing out that the forces for a campaign against Dong Zhuo were vastly unequal, that the soldiers were untrained and unlikely to succeed, and that it would be better to choose to submit and bide one's time. Zhang Cheng followed his brother's advice, surrendered his seal and resigned his office, and together with his brother Zhang Fan withdrew to Yangzhou ^c:1656.

Yuan Shu once sought to recruit Zhang Fan with generous gifts, but Zhang Fan declined on the pretext of illness, and Yuan Shu did not press him. Yuan Shu then sent for Zhang Cheng to come and see him. Yuan Shu asked Zhang Cheng whether he could achieve a hegemon's enterprise like Duke Huan of Qi or Emperor Gaozu of Han. Zhang Cheng replied, "It lies in virtue, not in strength. If one can use virtue to unite the desires of all under Heaven, then though from the resources of a commoner, to raise the achievements of a hegemon or king is not difficult. But if one falsely arrogates rank and acts against the times, then forsaken by the multitude, who can raise him up?" Hearing this, Yuan Shu was displeased. Later, when Cao Cao was about to campaign against Jizhou, Yuan Shu again asked Zhang Cheng, holding that for Cao Cao to oppose a host of a hundred thousand with a few thousand troops was to overreach himself. Zhang Cheng said, "Though the virtue of Han has waned, the Mandate of Heaven has not changed; now Lord Cao holds the Son of Heaven to command all under Heaven—he could withstand even a host of a million." Hearing this, Yuan Shu's face showed displeasure, and Zhang Cheng departed ^c:1656.

After Cao Cao pacified Jizhou, he sent an envoy to welcome Zhang Fan. Because of illness, Zhang Fan remained in Pengcheng and sent Zhang Cheng to pay his respects to Cao Cao, who then memorialized to appoint Zhang Cheng as Grand Counselor ^c:5288. In the seventeenth year of the Jian'an era (212 CE), Zhang Cheng's elder brother Zhang Fan died. When the state of Wei was first established, Zhang Cheng served as Libationer Adviser to the Chancellor and concurrently as Administrator of Zhao commandery, achieving notable governance in his post. When Cao Cao later campaigned west, he summoned Zhang Cheng as Adviser on Military Affairs; Zhang Cheng died of illness after reaching Chang'an ^c:5288.

In addition, Zhang Cheng is also recorded in Eastern Wu. When Sun Quan was General of Agile Cavalry, he recruited Zhang Cheng as Western Section Clerk, and later Zhang Cheng went out as Commandant of the Western Region of Changsha. He once subdued mountain bandits and obtained fifteen thousand elite troops. Afterward he served as Commander of Ruxu and General Who Rouses Might, was enfeoffed as Marquis of a Chief Village, and commanded five thousand personal troops. Zhang Cheng was robust, resolute, loyal, and upright, skilled at discerning men's worth; he once promoted Cai Kuan of Pengcheng and Xie Jing of Nanyang while they were still obscure, and both later became men of national standing—Cai Kuan rose to Commandant of the Guards, and Xie Jing to Administrator of Yuzhang. Zhang Cheng also appraised the young Zhuge Ke, predicting, "The one who will in the end ruin the Zhuge clan is Yuanxun." He was diligent in striving and earnest toward his kind; whomever was worth befriending, he would call upon at their door. In the seventh year of the Chiwu era (244 CE), Zhang Cheng died at the age of sixty-seven, with the posthumous title Marquis Ding. His son Zhang Zhen succeeded to his rank. After Zhang Cheng lost his wife, Zhang Zhao wished to seek for him the hand of Zhuge Jin's daughter; Zhang Cheng felt awkward because of his friendship with Zhuge Jin, but when Sun Quan learned of it and urged the match, Zhang Cheng then became a marriage relation of Zhuge Jin. Zhang Cheng had a daughter whom Sun Quan took as the wife of his son Sun He; Sun Quan repeatedly had Sun He pay his respects to Zhang Cheng and observe the rites due a son-in-law ^c:1658.

In the Novel

Romance of the Three Kingdoms records very little of Zhang Cheng, mentioning him only once in chapter 102, with merely two lines of dialogue ^c:102. The novel offers no detailed depiction of his life and deeds, his character, or his political and military talents. Compared with the rich career recorded in the histories—where Zhang Cheng served in both Cao Wei and Eastern Wu—the novel almost wholly neglects to develop this figure, making no mention of his dialogue with Yuan Shu, his appraisal of Cao Cao, or his achievements and discernment of talent in Eastern Wu. This treatment leaves the novel's Zhang Cheng a very thin figure, greatly at odds with the historical image of a man "robust, resolute, loyal, and upright, able to discern men's worth," and likewise omits his marriage tie with Zhuge Jin ^c:1658.

Key Relationships

* Zhang Zhao (sibling_of): Zhang Cheng's elder brother, who once dissuaded Zhang Cheng from campaigning against Dong Zhuo ^c:1656. In Eastern Wu, Zhang Zhao once wished to seek for the widowed Zhang Cheng the hand of Zhuge Jin's daughter ^c:1658.
* Zhang Fan (sibling_of): Zhang Cheng's elder brother, who withdrew with him to Yangzhou and was later summoned by Cao Cao ^c:1656.
* Yuan Shu (advises_in): Zhang Cheng once went to pay his respects to Yuan Shu and offered penetrating views on Yuan Shu's ambitions for hegemony and on his estimate of Cao Cao ^c:1656.
* Cao Cao (serves): After Cao Cao pacified Jizhou, Zhang Cheng was memorialized by Cao Cao as Grand Counselor, later serving as Libationer Adviser to the Chancellor and Administrator of Zhao commandery, and was once summoned as Adviser on Military Affairs ^c:5288.
* Sun Quan (serves): In Eastern Wu, Zhang Cheng held such posts as Western Section Clerk, Commandant of the Western Region of Changsha, Commander of Ruxu, and General Who Rouses Might, and was enfeoffed as Marquis of a Chief Village. Sun Quan also brought about the marriage between Zhang Cheng and Zhuge Jin's daughter, and had his son Sun He marry Zhang Cheng's daughter ^c:1658.
* Zhuge Jin (friend_of, father_in_law_of): Zhang Cheng was on good terms with Zhuge Jin and later became a marriage relation, taking his daughter to wife ^c:1658.
* Zhang Zhen (parent_of): Zhang Cheng's son, who succeeded to his rank ^c:1658.
* Zhuge Ke (predicted_by): Zhang Cheng once predicted of Zhuge Ke, "The one who will in the end ruin the Zhuge clan is Yuanxun" ^c:1658.

Iconic Scenes

* Remonstrating with Yuan Shu: When Yuan Shu wished to emulate Duke Huan of Qi and Emperor Gaozu of Han in achieving hegemony, Zhang Cheng bluntly declared that "it lies in virtue, not in strength," pointing out Yuan Shu's usurping ambition. When Yuan Shu belittled Cao Cao's campaign against Jizhou, Zhang Cheng strongly upheld Cao Cao, saying he "holds the Son of Heaven to command all under Heaven—he could withstand even a host of a million," displaying his extraordinary political foresight and boldness ^c:1656.
* Discerning and promoting talent: During his service in Eastern Wu, Zhang Cheng promoted Cai Kuan of Pengcheng and Xie Jing of Nanyang from obscurity, both of whom later became men of national standing, embodying his trait of being "able to discern men's worth" ^c:1658.
* Predicting Zhuge Ke: While Zhuge Ke was still young, Zhang Cheng predicted that "the one who will in the end ruin the Zhuge clan is Yuanxun," displaying his ability to read men's hearts ^c:1658.
* Marriage alliance with Zhuge Jin: After Zhang Cheng lost his wife, Sun Quan brought about his marriage to Zhuge Jin's daughter; this was not merely a personal event but also reflected Sun Quan's regard for Zhang Cheng and the political marriage alliances within Eastern Wu ^c:1658.