Sui and Tang · Statesman

Zhang Shuo 張說

Attested AD 713 - AD 730

Passages: 7
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Zhang Shuo was a statesman.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 725 封太山還後
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 134, passages 35, 37
AD 713 to AD 730 開元
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 134, passages 13, 31

Career and standing

Grand Counselor 宰相
Dismissed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 134, passage 37
Chief Minister of the Secretariat 中書令
Held
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 134, passage 31
Ordered
Retirement
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 134, passage 39

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Mode quotation Speaker Zhang Shuo (張說)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 134, passage 34

Assessments and attributes

Assessment despised Rong · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 134, passage 31

References in the histories

New Book of Tang, Chapter 134Volume 134 Biographies 59: Yuwen, Wei, Yang, Wang · 7 passages

中書令張說素惡融，融每建白，說輒引大體廷爭。 Chief Minister Zhang Shuo had always despised Rong. Whenever Rong put forward a proposal, Shuo would invoke larger principles and argue against it in open court.

融揣說不善，欲先事中傷之。 Rong perceived Shuo's vulnerability and sought to get the jump on him and damage him in the process.

張九齡謂說曰：「融新用事，辯給多詐，公不可以忽。」 Zhang Jiuling told Shuo, "Rong has just risen to influence. He is glib and deceitful—you must not underestimate him."

說曰：「狗鼠何能為！」 Shuo replied, "What harm can vermin do!"

融奏選事，說屢卻之，融怒，乃與御史大夫崔隱甫等廷劾說引術士解禱及受賕，說由是罷宰相。 Rong submitted reports on the selection process, but Shuo repeatedly turned them back. Enraged, Rong joined Censor-in-Chief Cui Yinpu and others in a court impeachment, charging Shuo with employing shamans for ritual prayer and taking bribes. Shuo was stripped of the chancellorship.

融畏說且復用，訾詆不已。 Fearing that Shuo might return to power, Rong kept up a relentless campaign of denigration.

帝疾其黨，詔說致仕，放隱甫於家，出融為魏州刺史。 Weary of their factional fighting, the emperor ordered Shuo to retire, dismissed Yinpu to his home, and sent Rong away as inspector of Wei Prefecture.