Life

Coalition against Sima Lun and Sima Jiong (301 and 302)

Zhang Fang was born in a poor family in Sima Yong's princely fief, Hejian commandery. Despite his upbringing, he was talented and brave enough to capture the attention of the prince, who employed him into his administration. He soon climbed through the ranks and became his General of Inspiring Martial Might by 301. That same year, Zhang Fang captured Xiahou Shi (夏侯奭), a former Army Advisor who was raising an army in Shiping (始平, in modern Xingping, Shaanxi) to join the anti-Sima Lun coalition. Sima Yong initially sided with Sima Lun, who had usurped the throne earlier that year, and sent Zhang Fang to reinforce him in Luoyang. However, after learning that the Sima Ying and Sima Jiong forces were larger in size, Yong decided to switch sides and recalled Zhang Fang.

Zhang Fang was involved in Sima Yong and Sima Ying's coalition against Sima Jiong (now Emperor Hui of Jin's regent) in 302. He led Yong's vanguard towards Luoyang and occupied Xin'an. There, in accordance with Yong's strategy, he proclaimed that the Prince of Changshan, Sima Ai, who was in Luoyang, should take action and punish Sima Jiong. The intent was to make Ai complicit in the two princes' rebellion so that Jiong would execute him first before they attack the capital, thus eliminating a potential political rival. However, the plan did not go as expected, as Ai managed to fight back and kill Jiong, taking over the imperial court.

Siege of Luoyang (303–304)

Yong was not satisfied with the outcome, so he had another coalition with Sima Ying against Sima Ai in 303. Sima Ying and Zhang Fang jointly attacked Luoyang and placed the capital under siege with Sima Ai and the emperor still inside. Ai sent his general Huangfu Shang (皇甫商) to stop Zhang's advances, but he was defeated in a surprise attack. Zhang's soldiers breached through the walls and carried out mass plunderings and killings. Ai personally went out to lead the army against Zhang Fang, bringing along the emperor with him. Sighting the imperial carriage, Zhang Fang did not dare to attack and instead retreated. Sima Ai capitalized on this and dealt Zhang Fang a major setback.

Zhang Fang managed to return to his camp, where his men were starting to believe that they should retreat during the night. However, Zhang Fang did not think so, and instead ordered them to build a rampart surrounding Luoyang. The rampart was built in secrecy and Sima Ai himself thought that Zhang Fang was still recovering from his defeat. Once the rampart was completed, Sima Ai was taken by surprise and attacked him but failed. Meanwhile, Zhang Fang breached the Qianjin Dam (千金堨) and dried up the water mills around the capital. He had slave women from noble families to grind up food for his men and implemented forced labour indiscriminately as a punishment for those who he found were not partaking in the campaign hard enough.

Despite the advantages, the siege carried on into the following year in 304. Sima Ai was finding success in battles against Sima Ying and his men's morale continued to soar. Zhang figured that Luoyang was not ready to fall and decided to retreat. However, just as he did, the Prince of Donghai, Sima Yue, had Sima Ai arrested, fearing that he would not be able to overcome Sima Ying and Sima Yong in the long run. Yue arranged to hand over Sima Ai to Zhang Fang at Jinyong Fortress (金墉城). Once he received the captured prince, Zhang Fang had him burnt alive in front of Zhang's own army.

While the siege of Luoyang was going on, Sima Yong was defending Chang'an from his former general, Liu Chen (劉沈), who had rebelled against him in 303. After Liu Chen defeated Sima Yong's general, Yu Kui (虞夔), Yong urged Zhang Fang to return and help him. Zhang Fang plundered Luoyang and took in more than ten thousand slave women into his army before departing. The Zizhi Tongjian further claims that, to keep his army supplied, he also had people killed and mixed their flesh with beef and horse meat. After reaching near Chang'an, he sent his general Dun Wei (敦偉) to attack Liu Chen during the night. Liu was captured and subsequently executed by Sima Yong.

Controlling the imperial family (304–305)

In 304, Sima Yue raised a coalition against Sima Ying from Luoyang, bringing Emperor Hui with him. Yue's coalition was defeated and the emperor was captured, but Ying was subsequently attacked by the Inspector of Youzhou, Wang Jun and the Inspector of Bingzhou, Sima Teng. Sima Yong ordered Zhang Fang to rescue Ying, but after hearing that the Emperor Hui had retreated into Ye, Yong had him guard Luoyang instead. The generals within Luoyang, Shangguan Si (上官巳) and Miao Yuan (苗願) retaliated against Zhang Fang but were defeated. The Crown Prince, Sima Tan, ousted them out from the capital and welcomed Zhang Fang. Despite the warm reception, Zhang had Sima Tan deposed along with the empress, Yang Xianrong. Wang Jun decisively defeated Sima Ying at Ye, and he barely escaped with his remaining officials before making his way towards Luoyang. As they nearly reached Luoyang, Zhang Fang sent his son Zhang Pi (張羆) to escort them into the city. Zhang welcomed him with his cavalries and performed obeisance to the point that the emperor personally approached him to get him to stop.

With the emperor in Luoyang and Sima Ying powerless, Zhang had full control over the imperial family. He wanted to move the emperor to Chang'an and make the city the new capital seeing that his men were becoming restless staying in Luoyang. However, he knew that many of the ministers were wary of him, and initially tried to get the emperor to go to the Ancestral Temple, so he could move him by force with his soldiers but the emperor refused. His patience eventually wore off, so he had his men storm the palace and drag the emperor into the imperial carriage. He justified to the emperor that he only wanted him to inspect the ramparts he had built years ago to ensure that the defenses are proper.

Meanwhile, while the emperor was at the rampart, Zhang Fang's soldiers raided the palace and looted the place until there was nothing left to steal. Zhang then considered burning down the palace and Ancestral Temple to prevent anyone else from entering but forfeited the decision after his contemporary, Lu Zhi, compared his actions to Dong Zhuo. The emperor remained at the rampart for three days before Zhang forced him and his family to relocate to Chang'an. After they were moved, Sima Yong appointed Zhang as General Who Leads The Army of the center, chief of affairs of the Masters of Writing, and acting Administrator of Jingzhao. In 305, Zhang deposed Yang Xianrong once again.

Downfall and death (305–306)

Zhang Fang's treatment of the emperor created scorn among the people and officials. The same year in 305, an official named Huangfu Chang (皇甫昌) forged an edict under the guise of Sima Yue and the now-deposed Yang Xianrong's orders asking officials to attack Zhang Fang and save the emperor in Chang'an. The edict was believed at first but Huangfu Chang's forgery was soon found out, and he was put to death. Later on, Sima Yue's official, Liu Qia (劉洽) urged his prince to raise a coalition against Sima Yong, seeing that Zhang Fang had forcibly moved the emperor to Chang'an. Yue carried out the last coalition of the civil war against Sima Yong, and Yong had Zhang Fang made Grand Commander to march to Xuchang and fight them. Despite Sima Yong's orders, Zhang Fang refused to move his army.

In 306, Sima Yong was considering peace after being advised by a henchman of his, Mou Bo (繆播). However, Zhang Fang greatly opposed it, ostensibly pointing out Yong's advantages when in reality, he knew that peace would result in his execution for his crimes. Yong continued the war, even after his crucial ally Liu Qiao was defeated by Sima Xiao's general, Liu Kun. Yong's Army Advisor, Bi Yuan (畢垣), who had suffered from Zhang Fang's cruelty and seeing him lose favour, accused Zhang of plotting to overthrow the prince, citing his refusal to move against the coalition. Mou Bo and Mou Yin (繆胤) also agreed and pushed Yong to execute him.

Sima Yong summoned an old friend of Zhang Fang named Zhi Fu (郅輔) who he sent to assassinate the general. When Zhi Fu arrived at his camp, he was allowed to bring his sword into the tent due to their relationship. Zhi Fu presented him with a letter from Yong, which he immediately opened to read. With his guard down, Zhi Fu killed him and beheaded his corpse. Yong sent his head to Sima Yue, hoping this would encourage him to settle with peace. The proposal was rejected, and Liu Kun used his head to convince Yong's other general to surrender to the coalition.

生平

屢建功勳

張方出身貧賤，地位十分低微，到長安時幸得當地富戶郅輔慷慨供給物質支援，後更因才能和勇氣而得到司馬顒的賞識，多次升遷後官至振武將軍。永寧元年（301年），齊王司馬冏要討伐篡位稱帝的趙王司馬倫，因司馬顒支持司馬倫，於是曾派張方討平在始平郡響應司馬冏的夏侯奭，又命他領兵到洛陽支援司馬倫，但當張方到華陰時，司馬顒見司馬冏軍兵力強盛，才命人追回張方，改為支持司馬冏。

永寧二年（302年），司馬顒長史李含從洛陽回來，假稱受密詔要誅除當時專政的大司馬齊王司馬冏，並獻計要先讓當時在洛陽的驃騎將軍長沙王司馬乂先討伐司馬冏，待司馬冏消滅司馬乂後以此為由再以自己軍隊討伐。司馬顒聽從並上陳司馬冏的罪狀，並舉兵十萬，命李含率領張方等人，聯結新野王司馬歆和范陽王司馬虓一起進攻洛陽。但司馬乂卻能夠戰勝司馬冏，並掌握朝政，李含和張方等只好退兵回長安。

太安二年（303年）司馬顒見因司馬乂得勝令他的奪權計劃失敗，於是命李含等人刺殺司馬乂，但被皇甫商識破，並令司馬乂殺死李含等人。司馬顒於是聯結成都王司馬穎一同以討伐皇甫商為名攻打司馬乂，並命張方領精兵七萬前往洛陽。張方到洛陽後先擊破前來迎戰的皇甫商，並入城大肆搶掠。及後張方進攻西明門，此時司馬乂與晉惠帝率兵抵抗，張方兵眾見皇帝乘輿稍為退後，張方不能阻止，最終令到全軍向後潰退，並遭到司馬乂所領兵馬追擊，傷亡枕藉，張方亦只能退兵至十三里橋，並致力重整軍心，建起幾重的營壘圍困洛陽，又從外運輸軍需品，更曾擊敗領兵來攻的司馬乂。但因司馬穎軍隊多次被司馬乂擊破，死傷高遠六、七萬人；而即使戰爭已延續到明年年初且城中缺乏糧食仍沒有內亂發生，令張方覺得未能取勝，意圖撤兵。但此時東海王司馬越因害怕司馬乂不能取勝，於是聯中幾名殿中諸將收捕司馬乂，後更將司馬乂送交張方，張方於是燒死司馬乂，正式結束戰事。與此同時，司馬顒正被雍州刺史劉沈攻擊，被逼由渭城退回長安，並呼召張方，張方於是入城擄掠官私奴婢萬餘人後便立刻趕回長安，途中為解決軍中缺糧問題，更曾以人肉滲雜牛肉及馬肉作為糧食。劉沈潰敗後，張方獲升任右將軍、馮翊太守。

進據洛陽

永興元年（304年），剛被立為皇太弟司馬穎已見驕橫，大失眾望。司空司馬越和右衛將軍陳昣和長沙王故將上官巳等於是起兵謀討伐在鄴城的司馬穎，並帶晉惠帝一同出征。司馬顒見此，則命張方領二萬兵到鄴城營救司馬穎，但途中司馬穎部將石超就已擊敗司馬越軍並帶晉惠帝到鄴城，司馬顒於是改命張方鎮守洛陽。上官巳和苗願等人出拒張方但被擊敗，留守洛陽的太子司馬覃夜襲苗願和上官巳，二人出走而司馬覃向張方投降，張方於是進駐洛陽。同年王淩和東嬴公司馬騰討伐司馬穎，司馬穎兵敗並帶晉惠帝逃回洛陽，張方又到芒山迎帝。

逼帝西遷

張方在司馬穎帶晉惠帝回洛陽後擁兵專政，同時士兵亦幾乎將洛陽的物資都搜刮殆盡，都很想回到長安。張方於是意圖讓晉惠帝遷都長安，但又怕惠帝和眾大臣不順從，於是決意劫持惠帝到長安。張方曾請惠帝拜謁宗廟，意圖途中逼惠帝到長安，但惠帝拒絕。及後張方決定領兵入宮逼惠帝上路，惠帝躲在後園的竹樹之間但都被發現，並強行拉上車，送到張方的營壘去；同時張方的士兵亦在宮中大肆搜略，魏晉以來所累積的財寶幾乎都被一掃而空。張方更為了讓人們沒有重返洛陽之心，打算焚毀宗廟和宮室，幸有盧志以董卓火燒洛陽之事成功勸止張方。三日後張方即劫持晉惠帝和皇太弟司馬穎等宗室和官員到長安。到長安後，張方升任中領軍、錄尚書事，領京兆太守。

被誣枉死

永興二年（305年），張方廢黜皇后羊獻容，羊獻容被囚禁于金墉城。

同年，東海王司馬越以讓晉惠帝還都洛陽為名起兵，因司馬越兄弟三人都督三州軍事，又得到范陽王司馬虓和王浚等人的支持，很快就組成一支強大的軍事力量。但同時豫州刺史劉喬卻起兵反抗，不受司馬越指揮更攻擊司馬虓的根據地許昌和抵擋向關中地區西進的司馬越大軍。司馬顒見此，於是以張方為大都督，領兵十萬與呂朗等到前方支援劉喬。後來劉喬在當年十二月被司馬虓所派部隊擊敗，洛陽因而被司馬越軍佔領；張方則於霸上停駐，按兵不動。曾被張方侮辱的參軍畢垣見司馬顒在劉喬兵敗後考慮退兵和解，卻因怕張方反對而猶豫不決，向司馬顒說張方在霸上不動其實是見司馬越軍強盛，意圖叛變，還稱張方親信郅輔知道叛變的事，而繆播和繆胤亦認為張方一死，司馬越大軍就會自己解散。畢垣在郅輔見司馬顒前威嚇郅輔，教他回答時都只答是（爾爾）；司馬顒於是相信張方叛變，又希望以張方換取司馬越罷兵，便命令郅輔殺張方。張方因視郅輔為親信，所以對他沒有防備，最終輕易地被郅輔殺死，司馬顒即送張方的頭顱給司馬越請求和解，但遭司馬越拒絕，而且大軍更逼近長安，又利用張方的頭顱誘降司馬顒的其他兵將，最終都讓司馬越成功擊敗司馬顒。

附註

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