During the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty Yonghui , there was a severe drought, and there was no rain for three months. The prime minister at that time, Zhang Xingcheng, felt that the severe drought was caused by his failure to govern the country well, so he asked to resign and go home on the grounds of old age. Tang Gaozong learned the reason for his resignation and did not agree. He believed that this drought was caused by his shallow moral character as an emperor and had nothing to do with the prime minister. Zhang Xingcheng repeatedly appealed, hoping that the emperor would allow him to resign and go home. Seeing his persistence, Tang Gaozong cried and said to Zhang Xingcheng: "You are my elder, why do you have to abandon me?" Zhang Xingcheng was frightened after hearing this. After pleading guilty to the emperor, he had to continue handling government affairs and did not dare to resign. The matter of the official returning home.
So what ability did Zhang Xingcheng have that could make Tang Gaozong value him so much that he even cried to keep him?
Zhang Xingcheng originally worked under Wang Shichong. In 1621 AD, Li Shimin perished Zheng Guo and forced Wang Shichong to surrender. Zhang Xingcheng also surrendered to the Tang Dynasty and was appointed as the county captain of Gushu County.
After Li Shimin came to the throne, he appreciated Zhang Xingcheng's talents, summoned him to the court, and was awarded the title of attendant censor in the palace. Facts have proved that Li Shimin was not wrong. After Zhang Xingcheng became the censor, he enforced the law strictly, impeached officials, and was not afraid of the powerful. He was deeply appreciated by Tang Taizong.
Tang Taizong once said to Fang Xuanling in private: "Since ancient times, any talent cannot rely solely on the recommendation of others, but also needs to have extraordinary talents. Just like Zhang Xingcheng, he has talents that ordinary people do not have. Therefore, even though no one recommends him, I will reuse him."
Zhang Xingcheng not only often pointed out the shortcomings of ministers, but also pointed out the inappropriate words and deeds of Li Shimin without mercy. Once, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty mentioned Shandong people and Guanzhong people at a banquet, and he praised and criticized them.
What Li Shimin said is of course wrong. In today’s terms, this is a complete blackout of the region. This was indeed wrong, but the person who said it was the emperor, and the ministers attending the banquet did not dare to refute even though they knew it was wrong. Only Zhang Xingcheng stood up and immediately admonished: "The emperor regards the four seas as one family, and there should be no distinction between east and west. Otherwise, people will think you are narrow-minded."
After Zhang Xingcheng's admonishment, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty also realized that he These words are inappropriate. And gave him a famous horse, 100,000 yuan, and a set of clothes. Soon after, Zhang Xingcheng was promoted to the post of and began to participate in the discussion of major political policies between North Korea and China.
In 1643 AD, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty established King Li Zhi of the Jin Dynasty as the crown prince, and selected important officials in the court to serve in the East Palace. At this time, Zhang Xingcheng, who was serving as the minister of punishment, was also appointed as Prince Shao Zhanshi and became Li Zhi's official in the East Palace.
In 645 AD, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty campaigned Goguryeo . He ordered the crown prince Li Zhi to stay at Dingzhou to supervise the country, and asked Zhang Xingcheng and other ministers to stay behind to assist the prince. Dingzhou is Zhang Xingcheng's hometown, so Prince Li Zhi sent people to pay homage to the tombs of Zhang's ancestors in his own name. After Zhang Xingcheng learned about this, he expressed his gratitude to Li Zhi. However, Li Zhi said to Zhang Xingcheng: "People often take it as an honor to return home in rich clothes. Today I will let you return home in rich clothes." Public , supervising the compilation of national history. Two years later, Zhang Xingcheng was promoted to the third rank of Shangshu Youpuse and Tongzhongshu.
In September 653 AD, Zhang Xingcheng died of illness at the official office of Shangshu Province at the age of sixty-seven. Three days after Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty abolished the imperial court, he rewarded him with the secret weapon of Dongyuan, and ordered officials of the ninth rank and above to visit the house to express condolences. Then he ordered the female officials in the palace to go to Zhang Mansion to supervise the funeral, and to offer sacrifices with the ceremony of Shaolao. Zhang Xingcheng was posthumously awarded the title of Governor of Kaifu Yitong Sansi and Bingzhou District, with a posthumous title of Ding.
As a minister, Zhang Xingcheng tried his best and pointed out the monarch's inappropriateness many times.He was even more dedicated in handling government affairs, and finally died of illness in the official office.
