Zhang Jun (prince) - Early Reign

Early Reign

In 326, Zhang Jun, in fear of Han Zhao, forcibly relocated the people of Longxi (隴西) and Nan'an (南安, collectively roughly Dingxi, Gansu) Commanderies to the capital Guzang (姑臧, in modern Wuwei, Gansu). He also sought peace with Cheng Han's emperor Li Xiong and further tried to persuade Li Xiong to become a Jin vassal. Li Xiong agreed to peace and further did not completely rebuf Zhang Jun's overture, but also did not actually become a Jin vassal.

In 327, after hearing news that Han Zhao had suffered losses at Later Zhao's hands, Zhang Jun disavowed all titles granted by Han Zhao and returned to Jin titles, and attacked Han Zhao's Qin Province (秦州, modern eastern Gansu). Han Zhao's prince Liu Yin counterattacked, and, after defeating Former Liang general Han Pu (韓璞), captured all Former Liang territory south of the Yellow River and further crossed the river, but did not advance further. However, Zhang Jun did not resubmit to Han Zhao. As Han Zhao disintegrated and fell to Later Zhao in 329 after its emperor Liu Yao was captured by Later Zhao forces, Former Liang took the opportunity to regain lands south of the Yellow River. In 330, Later Zhao's emperor Shi Le sent messengers to persuade Former Liang to submit (by granting him honors, including the nine bestowments), but Zhang Jun refused and detained Shi Le's messengers. Later in the year, however, after Later Zhao's general Shi Sheng (石生) the Prince of Hedong defeated the nearby Xiongnu chieftain Shi Qiang (石羌), Zhang Jun became apprehensive and submitted to Later Zhao.

In 333, in the aftermaths of Shi Le's death and the coup by his nephew Shi Hu, a number of Later Zhao generals rebelled and tried to seek Jin and Former Liang assistance. Former Liang tried to ally itself with one of these generals, the Di chief Pu Hong (蒲洪). However, in light of Shi Hu's victory over most of the other generals, Pu soon submitted to Shi Hu. Shi Hu, however, did not appear to consider attacking Former Liang, and, not having to fight Later Zhao for years, by 335 Zhang Jun's domain was described as being so rich and strong and under his capable leadership that it also became overlord over a number of Xiyu (西域, collective name for modern Xinjiang and former Soviet central Asia) kingdoms, which offered tribute to Zhang Jun. He submitted a plan to Emperor Cheng of Jin requesting to attack Later Zhao and/or Cheng Han jointly with Jin forces, but the plan was not acted upon by Emperor Cheng.