Background

Zhang Yanhan was born in 884. He was from Suiyang (睢阳, 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 (陕州, 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 (盐城, 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 (广陵, in modern Yangzhou) (as Xu Wen himself was stationed at Sheng Prefecture (升州, in modern Nanjing, Jiangsu)), Xu Zhigao was given the title of military prefect (团练使, 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 (礼部侍郎, 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 (尚书省, Shangshu Sheng) and became respected by the people. When he was in his 50s, he was given the titles of Zhongshu Shilang (中书侍郎, deputy head of the legislative bureau (中书省, 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

张延翰生于唐僖宗中和四年（884年），睢阳人，几无家世记载。年轻时游历唐朝都城长安，唐朝末年任陕州司马，一次去看从父权感化军留后张慎思，告以北方将乱，说想要避居江、淮即大军阀淮南节度使杨行密治下，以延续家族世系。张慎思认可他的判断，慨然送他上路。

吴国年间

天佑四年（907年），唐亡，分裂成几个政权，杨行密辖区当时由其子和继承人杨渥统治，为弘农国（后为吴国）。张延翰初任盐城令，有治绩。迁楚州行军司马。

十五年（918年），吴国摄政徐温屯升州，由养子徐知诰在吴国都城广陵为少摄政，封徐知诰浔阳公，授江州团练使，徐知诰显然并不从广陵前去就职，而是表张延翰为江州观察巡官通判军府事、工部郎中，前去江州代为理政。

后来，张延翰回到吴国朝廷，为殿中侍御史，知杂事，判台事。左街使张宣恃功骄暴，张延翰当廷弹劾之，其他悍将因而收敛。

张延翰后进礼部侍郎，因之前从未成为摄政的近臣，很感激当时已是全权摄政的徐知诰。当时，吴国还没有沿用唐朝为朝廷选官的科举制度，而是对献书论事者评定优劣选官。徐知诰以张延翰兼知选事，张延翰表现称职，公平详审，注重提拔孤贫之人，不附权势，官吏敬畏他如神明，不敢作奸犯科。大和二年（930年），徐知诰子徐景通为少摄政，对人们说：「张君议论公正，处事有条理，经手的簿册和文书都很明晰，我要倾心听之。」张延翰奉命综领六司，为时人所重。五十岁时，拜中书侍郎、同中书门下平章事，为宰相。当时作为宰相他并不算老，但人们仍然认为他拜相晚了。

南唐年间

天祚三年（937年）十月，徐知诰迫吴帝杨溥禅位，代吴称帝，建立南唐。以张延翰及门下侍郎张居咏、中书侍郎李建勋三位吴国宰相为同平章事，仍为南唐宰相。次年，徐知诰改李姓，改名李昪。

不久，张延翰病重不能理事。李昪仍希望他理事，不许其辞职，派使者问疾赐良药不绝。升元四年（940年），张延翰在道路上卒于右仆射兼门下侍郎同平章事任上。士大夫叹惜之。赠太师。

评价

• 《十国春秋》论曰：（张）延翰综理六司，卓然奏绩，晚登揆席，未竟厥用，惜哉！

注释及参考文献