Zhang Qi 張緝

Zhang Qi 張緝 (d. 254 CE), courtesy name Jingzhong 敬仲, was a high minister in the empire of Wei 曹魏 (220-265) during the Three-Empires period 三國 (220-280).

He came from Gaoling 高陵 in the commandery Fengyi馮翊 (modern Gaoling, Shaanxi) and was the son of general Zhang Ji 張既. During the Taihe reign 太和 (227-232) he was magistrate (ling 令) of Wen 溫. Later on he was appointed commandant of cavalry (jiduwei 騎都尉) and as a high commander took part in a campaign against the empire of Shu 蜀漢 (221-263).

Back home he was promoted to director in a ministerial office (shangshu lang 尚書郎). In this post he received the attention of Emperor Ming 魏明帝 (r. 226－239 CE) and was made governor of Dongwan 東莞. During the Jiaping reign 嘉平 (249-253) his daughter was made consort of prince and eventual emperor Cao Fang 曹芳 (r. 239-254), and Zhang Qi accordingly rose to the post of Grand master of Splendid Happiness (guanglu dafu 光祿大夫). In 254 General-in-chief (da jiangjun 大將軍) and regent Sima Shi 司馬師 tried usurping the power of the central government.

Zhang Qi conspired with Li Feng 李豐, Director of the Imperial Secretariat (zhongshuling 中書令), and planned to replace Sima Shi with general Xiahou Xuan 夏侯玄. Yet the plot was reveiled, and Zhang Qi was executed. Sima Shi later replaced Emperor Cao Fang with Cao Mao 曹髦 (r. 254-260 CE), the Township Duke of Gaogui 高貴鄉公.