The Scholar-Turned-General: Zhang Xun’s Early Life

Zhang Xun (709–757) was an unlikely military hero. Born during the golden age of the Tang Dynasty, he excelled in classical studies and earned the prestigious jinshi degree in the imperial examinations. A man of towering stature (over 175 cm—exceptionally tall for his era) with a magnificent beard, he could recite entire chapters of the Book of Han after just three readings. His refusal to compromise with corrupt officials like Yang Guozhong foreshadowed the unshakable principles that would define his later career.

When the An Lushan Rebellion erupted in 755, Zhang was merely a county magistrate. The rebellion, led by the Turkic-Sogdian general An Lushan, shattered the Tang’s prosperity, capturing Luoyang and Chang’an. As neighboring officials surrendered, Zhang made his stand—rallying 1,000 men at the Temple of Xuanyuan Emperor (deified Laozi) to resist the rebels.

The Siege of Yongqiu: A Masterclass in Asymmetric Warfare

Zhang’s first major engagement occurred at Yongqiu (modern Qi County, Henan). With just 2,000 troops against 40,000 rebels led by turncoat Linghu Chao, Zhang employed ingenious tactics:

– Straw Man Arrows: Mimicking Sun Quan’s (not Zhuge Liang’s) historic ruse, Zhang lowered straw dummies at night, tricking rebels into wasting arrows. Later, he replaced dummies with real soldiers who raided enemy camps.
– Psychological Warfare: He executed six officers who advocated surrender before a portrait of Emperor Xuanzong, cementing discipline.
– Delegated Command: Centuries ahead of his time, Zhang empowered subordinates with flexible tactics, declaring, “Let soldiers understand commanders’ intent, and commanders know their troops’ condition.”

For four months, Zhang held Yongqiu, inflicting heavy losses before strategic withdrawal.

The Agony of Suiyang: “Shielding the Yangtze, Saving the Empire”

In 757, Zhang joined forces with Suiyang’s governor Xu Yuan at the pivotal city of Suiyang (modern Shangqiu). Here, his defense reached legendary proportions:

### Tactical Brilliance Against Impossible Odds
– Night Raids: Feigning retreats, Zhang lured 100,000 rebels under Yin Ziqi into ambushes.
– The Arrow That Revealed a General: Lacking arrows, Zhang shot straw-tipped projectiles. When rebels gleefully reported this to Yin Ziqi, sharpshooter Nan Jiyun identified and blinded Yin with an arrow.
– The Finger of Defiance: When relief commander He Lan Jinming refused aid, general Nan Jiyun severed his finger in protest, vowing vengeance.

### The Descent into Darkness
After months of siege, Suiyang’s food vanished. Soldiers ate bark, then rats, and finally—in history’s most controversial act—resorted to cannibalism. Zhang sacrificed his concubine, declaring, “How could I cherish one woman over loyal men?” Xu Yuan followed, offering his servants.

Zhang’s rationale was strategic: Suiyang guarded the Yangtze—the lifeline supplying Tang’s surviving territories. As he argued, “If we abandon Suiyang, rebels will flood south. Our starved troops cannot outrun cavalry.”

Legacy: The Martyr Who Bought Time

Suiyang fell in October 757. Of its 10,000 defenders, only 400 emaciated men remained. Zhang, Nan Jiyun, and 34 others were executed after defiant last words: “I wished to devour traitors whole—my only regret is lacking strength!”

Their sacrifice was not in vain. Within weeks, Tang forces recaptured Luoyang. The rebels, bled dry at Suiyang, never penetrated the Yangtze. Historian Han Yu later eulogized:

> “They held one city to shield the empire… With dwindling troops against multiplying hordes, they barred the rebels at the Huai. If the Tang survived, whose achievement was this?”

In 848, Zhang entered the Lingyan Pavilion—Tang’s hall of heroes. Yet debates endure: Was his sacrifice noble or fanatical? Modern scholars recognize Suiyang as the battle that preserved southern China’s economic base, allowing the Tang to endure another 150 years despite northern warlordism.

Zhang Xun’s story transcends medieval China. It is a timeless study of leadership under existential crisis—where ingenuity, loyalty, and grim necessity collide at history’s crossroads.