Zhang Guangfu

Who was Zhang Guangfu?

Zhang Guangfu was an official and general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as chancellor during the first reign of Emperor Ruizong.

It is not known when Zhang Guangfu was born, but it is known that he was from the Tang capital Chang'an. He was said to be intelligent and good at rhetoric in his youth, and also capable as an official. He was eventually promoted to the posts of deputy minister of agriculture and then Wenchang Zuo Cheng, one of the secretaries general of the executive bureau of government. In 687, he was made Fengge Shilang, the deputy head of the legislative bureau of government, and given the designation Tong Fengge Luantai Pinzhangshi, making him a chancellor de facto. In 688, when Emperor Ruizong's uncle Li Zhen the Prince of Yue rebelled against the rule of Emperor Ruizong's powerful mother and regent Empress Dowager Wu, Empress Dowager Wu commissioned Zhang to command the troops against Li Zhen, assisted by fellow chancellor Cen Changqian and Qu Chongyu. Li Zhen was quickly defeated. Thereafter, Empress Dowager Wu gave him the greater chancellor designation of Tong Fengge Luantai Sanpin.