Zhang Wen (193–230), courtesy name Huishu, was a Chinese military general and politician of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of China.
[c] His father, Zhang Yun (張允), was famous in Wu Commandery for valuing friendship and having a low regard for material wealth.
Zhang Yun also served as an assistant officer under the warlord Sun Quan,[6] who became the founding emperor of Eastern Wu later.
When Zhang Wen was summoned to the Wu court to meet Sun Quan and his subjects, he impressed them with his demeanour and his eloquent responses to their questions.
Zhang Wen was then appointed as a Consultant (議郎) and Master of Writing in the Selection Bureau (選曹尚書).
[7] In the summer of 224,[1] when Zhang Wen was 31, he was appointed as General of the Household Who Upholds Righteousness (輔義中郎將) and sent on a diplomatic mission to Wu's ally state, Shu Han.
Zhang Wen replied: "I have never held great responsibilities in the imperial court before, nor do I possess the ability to handle diplomatic affairs well.
However, Zhuge Liang is wise, discerning and good in long-term planning, so I believe he will definitely understand your intentions and the reasons behind your dealings with Wei.
[8] Shortly after he returned to Wu, Zhang Wen was sent to serve in the military garrison in Yuzhang Commandery (豫章郡) but did not do anything significant there.
[9] Sun Quan was not only unhappy with Zhang Wen for praising the Shu government, but also jealous of his growing popularity.
Ji Yan incurred much resentment from his colleagues when he came up with radical ideas to reform the bureaucracy – a move that would affect over 90 percent of all Wu officials.
[10] In 224, Ji Yan and his colleague Xu Biao (徐彪) were arrested and removed from office based on allegations of unprofessional conduct.
The order read: When I recruited Zhang Wen, I deliberately left an appointment vacant for him to fill, and hoped to entrust him with great responsibilities in the future.
When I placed Zhang Wen in charge of overseeing the three commanderies and leading the bureaucrats and battle-weary troops there, I feared that war would break out there so I ordered him to evacuate quickly.
However, Zhang Wen gathered his troops and deployed them in the deep hills instead, and even refused to come to the frontline when I summoned him.
After Yin Li returned to Wu, he was supposed to assume the appointment we had for him, but Zhang Wen let him work in the Imperial Secretariat instead.
Zhang Wen abused the grace he has received from the imperial court by using it to form his own political clique.
I cannot bear to see him being executed in public, hence I permit him to return home and continue serving there as a low-ranking official.
Before he leaves, Liu Shan prepares a farewell banquet for him and orders Zhuge Liang and other senior officials to see him off.