Zhang Shicheng

Zhang Shicheng (1321–1367) was a salt shipper from northern Jiangsu who became the richest warlord of the late Yuan and a chief rival of Zhu Yuanzhang. In 1353 he led a salt workers' revolt and took Gaoyou with his brothers. In 1354 he proclaimed the state of Zhou and styled himself King Cheng.

That year the Yuan chancellor Toqto'a was dismissed while besieging Gaoyou. In 1356 he made Suzhou his capital and ruled the Yangtze delta, producing over half of China's salt. In 1357 he submitted to the Yuan; in 1363 he declared himself King of Wu.

Zhu Yuanzhang crushed Chen Youliang before turning on him. His brother Zhang Shide died in 1366; Zhu took Gaoyou and surrounded Suzhou, which fell on 1 October 1367. He tried to hang himself on the boat to Nanjing but was cut down; the Ming History says he hanged himself there.