County Magistrate Zhang

Biodata

Appearance

Zhang was a heavyset, bearded man who appeared old to Gao Yunyi, although he was not yet fifty 3 5 19.

• His face was plump and round; it had grown somewhat thinner after he began working diligently 18 22.
• Several white hairs appeared, and his face aged noticeably, during his efforts to govern Heyang County 53.

Personality

Originally, Zhang was a corrupt, pleasure-seeking official hated by Heyang’s people. He was overbearing toward his subordinates but fearful and deferential before Gao Yunyi, whose descent he believed was a genuine miracle 1 5.

Zhang’s desire for a good place in history first drove him to reform. He came to find satisfaction in governing well, though his old habits did not vanish at once: he initially offered to pay off the family of an abducted woman before remembering his duty to enforce the law 5 6 26.

He remained conscious of his reputation and afraid of powerful opponents, but he nevertheless stood up to Prince Ning’s heir and stayed to defend Heyang during the rebellion 56 69.

History

The immortal’s arrival

Gao Yunyi descended into the inner courtyard of the Heyang County yamen. Zhang, conscious of his corrupt conduct, feared that the apparent immortal had come to punish him. He welcomed Gao and gave him the yamen’s best guest room 1 3.

Adviser Wenqian persuaded Zhang that his name would be recorded alongside the immortal’s and urged him to become an incorruptible official. Zhang resolved to change, then personally addressed the crowd outside the yamen. His uncharacteristic kindness so alarmed the townspeople that they fled 5 6.

Bandit campaign and reform

When Gao asked about problems the county could not solve, Zhang initially claimed that all was well. Pressed further, he admitted that the Crouching Ox Mountain bandits had defeated the authorities and continued to rob travelers and raid villages. He supplied his personal carriage and assembled constables and yamen runners for Gao’s expedition 7 8.

After Gao destroyed the stronghold, Zhang led a public welcome and thanked him on behalf of the county. Gao asked that his name not be mentioned; Zhang then agreed to his adviser’s proposal to claim in a memorial that he had personally directed the campaign 17 18.

Zhang set out to reform the yamen and improve local conditions. After Gao left Heyang, Zhang found a Spirit-Gathering Pill he had left behind. Zhang enshrined it as a family heirloom rather than taking it; it was later taken by Vice Prefect Xiao for the Liang Emperor 19 22 26 54.

Confrontation with Prince Ning’s heir

Zhang ordered the arrest of his concubine’s brother, Young Master Ning, for abducting a woman. When his concubine pleaded for her brother, Zhang refused and had her expelled and divorced 26.

When Prince Ning’s heir arrived in Heyang with armed troops, Zhang defended the city guards who had stopped them under court rules. Later, the heir abducted another young woman. Zhang brought his officers to confront him and threatened to report him to the court and Prince Ning’s Residence. The heir released her, and the townspeople cheered Zhang 53 55 56.

Defense and death

During Prince Ning’s assault on Heyang, Zhang stayed on the wall with the defenders to buy time for residents escaping through the south gate. After Clerk Liu was killed, Zhang tried unsuccessfully to draw Liu’s bow; as the defenders dwindled, he picked up a steel saber and rallied the survivors 69.

Rebel soldiers captured Zhang alive. After he tried to kill himself by biting his tongue, hundreds of residents returned with makeshift weapons to rescue him. Zhang was moved by their loyalty but feared for them when rebel cavalry approached 71.

Zhang died during the attack, and his skin was made into a lantern. His death devastated Gao, who had added Zhang as his only friend on the game system’s Friends List. Gao subsequently killed Prince Ning’s heir; later, townspeople worshipped Zhang’s straw-stuffed remains inside the Immortal Shrine 75 77 97.

Relationships

• Gao Yunyi — The apparent immortal whose arrival prompted Zhang’s reform. Zhang regarded him as a spiritual pillar, while Gao came to like Zhang and added him to his Friends List 5 22 75.
• Adviser Wenqian — Zhang’s adviser, who urged him to govern well for the sake of his historical reputation and later helped arrange the memorial claiming credit for the bandit campaign 5 18.
• Constable Chen — Zhang’s subordinate, whom he entrusted with protecting Gao and later worked alongside in enforcing the law and defending Heyang 8 26 69.
• Zhang’s daughter — Zhang offered her to Gao as a maidservant, but Gao declined 18.
• Former concubine — Zhang expelled and divorced her after she pleaded for her brother, who had abducted a woman. She later appeared with Prince Ning’s heir 26 56.
• Prince Ning’s heir — A powerful visitor whom Zhang opposed over an abducted woman; the heir later led the attack on Heyang 56 71.

Notable Quotes

“I am the father and mother of Heyang County. If I cannot even protect the people under my charge, I might as well give up my post.” 55

“I will stay here and defend the city with you. While the city stands, I stand. I will never flee!” 69