)[4] Zhang Ye was subsequently involved in suppressing the remaining popular uprisings against Meng in the region, and was commissioned the prefect of Jian Prefecture (簡州, in modern Ziyang, Sichuan).
Meng investigated, found no proof of the assassination plot, and eventually discovered that the rumors were being spread by the officers Du Yanchang (都延昌) and Wang Xingben (王行本).
[5] For Zhang's accomplishments during the Sui siege, Meng made him the acting military governor of Ningjiang Circuit (寧江, headquartered in modern Chongqing), and subsequently, even after he had a temporary rapprochement with the Later Tang imperial government, Meng issued an order on his own making Zhang the full military governor of Ningjiang, which Li Siyuan subsequently confirmed.
[6] He made Zhang Ye one of the commanders of his imperial guards, but still carrying the title of military governor of Ningjiang.
At that time, he was given the additional titles of Zuo Pushe (左僕射, one of the heads of the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng) and Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎, deputy head of the legislative bureau (中書省)), while his Wuxin governorship was given to fellow chancellor Wang Chuhui.
[9] By 948, Zhang, who had long been chancellor, was by reputation known as arrogant and wasteful, and he had seized many people's properties, drawing resentment.
His son Zhang Jizhao (張繼昭) was a swordsman and had gone with the Buddhist monk Guixin (歸信) to recruit capable swordsmen to serve under him as well, drawing greater suspicion.