Zhang Hua 張華
| Occupation | ROfficial · Minister of Works NOfficial · Assistant of the Palace Library | Faction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | |
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R8 |
Profile
Zhang Hua's name does not appear in Chen Shou's main text. The Biographies of the Three Successor Rulers in Records of Wu 3 record that in the winter of the 3rd year of Tianji (279) Jin sent its generals out along several routes and attacked Wu with the Grand Commandant Jia Chong as Grand Commander, but they do not record who at the Jin court urged the campaign and who opposed it. Records, Wu 3 §74 · 78
In the Romance he appears only in the last chapter, Chapter 120, that is, in 1 of the 120 chapters, and there is no chapter whose title contains his name. As Assistant of the Palace Library, he is playing weiqi with Sima Yan, the ruler of Jin, when Du Yu's memorial arrives; he pushes the board aside and urges an attack on Wu, and after the Jin army has advanced deep into Wu territory he argues for pressing on, against Jia Chong, who wants to recall the troops. Romance, Ch. 120 §31–33 · 49–50
In the Records
Zhang Hua's name does not appear in Chen Shou's main text. On the Jin campaign against Wu that he urges in the Romance, the Biographies of the Three Successor Rulers in Records of Wu 3 record that in the winter of the 3rd year of Tianji (279) Jin sent Sima Zhou, General-in-Chief Who Guards the East, toward Tuzhong; Wang Hun, General Who Brings Peace to the East, and others toward Niuzhu; Wang Rong, General Who Establishes Might, toward Wuchang; Hu Fen, General Who Pacifies the South, toward Xiakou; and Du Yu, General Who Guards the South, toward Jiangling; that it had Wang Jun, General Who Soars Like a Dragon, and Tang Bin, General Who Broadens Martial Might, sail east down the Yangtze; and that it made the Grand Commandant Jia Chong Grand Commander, to take position at a key point as circumstances required and stand at the center of all the armies. Records, Wu 3 §74 · 78
In the spring of the 4th year of Tianji (280), wherever Wang Jun and Tang Bin arrived, the defenders collapsed like crumbling earth and no one could resist them; Du Yu beheaded Wu Yan, Area Commander of Jiangling, and Wang Hun beheaded the Chancellor Zhang Ti, the Administrator of Danyang Shen Ying and others. On the day renshen of the 3rd month, Wang Jun arrived first and accepted Sun Hao's surrender. The deliberations at the Jin court over the campaign are not in Chen Shou's main text. Records, Wu 3 §81–82 · 85
In the Romance
In Chapter 120 of the Romance, Wang Jun, Inspector of Yi Province, submits a memorial urging an attack on Wu, and Sima Yan, the ruler of Jin, says that his mind is made up; but when the Palace Attendant Wang Hun proposes waiting one more year for Wu to grow weary, the ruler of Jin issues an edict halting the troops. He then withdraws to the rear palace and passes the time playing weiqi with Zhang Hua, Assistant of the Palace Library, when Du Yu's memorial arrives. The memorial says that if the campaign is stopped now, Sun Hao will take fright, move his capital to Wuchang and repair the cities south of the Yangtze, so that even next year's plans will come too late. Romance, Ch. 120 §29–32
When the ruler of Jin has finished reading the memorial, Zhang Hua springs to his feet, pushes the board aside, folds his hands and says that His Majesty is sage and martial, the state rich and the people strong, while the ruler of Wu is dissolute and cruel, his people anxious and his state exhausted, so that if Jin attacks now it can pacify Wu without effort. The ruler of Jin says, 'Your words see clearly into the advantages and harms; what more should I doubt?' He at once ascends the hall, makes Du Yu Grand Commander and has him advance on Jiangling, and sends out troops along several routes. Romance, Ch. 120 §32–34
When the Jin army has defeated Niuzhu and advanced deep into Wu territory, Jia Chong memorializes that the troops have long toiled abroad and are unused to the water and climate, so that they will surely fall ill, and that they should be recalled and the matter planned again later. Zhang Hua counters that the great army has already entered the enemy's lair and the men of Wu have lost their nerve, so that Sun Hao will surely be captured within a month, and that if the army is lightly recalled, all the merit already won will come to nothing. Romance, Ch. 120 §49
Before the ruler of Jin can answer, Jia Chong rebukes Zhang Hua: 'You do not even consider the timing of Heaven and the advantages of the terrain, yet you recklessly seek merit and wear out the soldiers; even beheading you would not suffice to make amends to the realm.' Sima Yan says, 'This is my own will. Zhang Hua merely shares my view; why argue about it?', and when a memorial from Du Yu arrives saying that the army should advance quickly, he at last gives the order to advance. Romance, Ch. 120 §50
Where the Romance differs
The one who urged the campaign: In Chapter 120 of the Romance, Zhang Hua pushes the weiqi board aside and urges an attack on Wu, bringing Sima Yan to his decision. Zhang Hua does not appear in Chen Shou's main text, and the Biographies of the Three Successor Rulers record only that Jin sent out its troops along several routes. Romance, Ch. 120 §32–33Records, Wu 3 §78
Jia Chong's position: In Chapter 120 of the Romance, Jia Chong argues at court for recalling the troops and quarrels with Zhang Hua. In the Biographies of the Three Successor Rulers in Chen Shou's main text, the Grand Commandant Jia Chong was made Grand Commander, took position at a key point as circumstances required and stood at the center of all the armies. Romance, Ch. 120 §49–50Records, Wu 3 §78
The Grand Commander: In Chapter 120 of the Romance, the ruler of Jin, having heard Zhang Hua's words, makes Du Yu Grand Commander and places the troops of all routes under his command. In the Biographies of the Three Successor Rulers, Du Yu headed for Jiangling as General Who Guards the South, and the Grand Commander was Jia Chong. Romance, Ch. 120 §33Records, Wu 3 §78
Written by 3KDEX (not yet reviewed) — The tags at the end of each paragraph link to the exact passage in the Records volume or Romance chapter it is based on.
Abilities
There is no record in the main text of Chen Shou’s Records, so only the Romance score is given.
- LEA35
- STR31
- INT72
- POL45
- CHA42
- VIR48
- ADP50
- SCH50
- DIP62
- DIS40
Evidence by ability
NNo direct record — estimated as a civil official serving as Assistant of the Palace LibraryCh. 120 §31
NNo direct record — a civil official with no record of martial prowessCh. 120 §31
NPointed to Wu's exhaustion in urging the campaign, and reckoned Sun Hao would be captured within a monthCh. 120 §32Ch. 120 §49
NNo direct record — estimated from his career as Assistant of the Palace LibraryCh. 120 §31
NNo direct record — estimated from the ruler of Jin defending him as sharing his own viewCh. 120 §50
NNo direct record — no record of his conductCh. 120 §50
NNo direct record — estimated from his insisting on the advance despite Jia Chong's rebukeCh. 120 §50
NNo direct record — estimated from his career as Assistant of the Palace LibraryCh. 120 §31
NPushed the weiqi board aside and persuaded the ruler of Jin to decide on attacking WuCh. 120 §32
NNo direct record — no record concerning talentCh. 120 §31
Romance Unverified No direct record; scored from their actions (evidence grade C)
3KDEX scoring — the Records use the main text of Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms; the Romance uses the 120-chapter Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Click a source tag to open that passage in the reader.
Romance chapters (1)
AppearsNot present Chapter list →