Li Decheng
Li Decheng (李德誠) (863
Background
Li Decheng was born in 863, during the reign of Emperor Yizong of Tang. He was from Guangling (廣陵, in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu[1] — although an alternative account indicated that he was from Xihua (西華, in modern Zhoukou, Henan).[1][4] In his youth, he came under the service of the late-Tang warlord Zhao Huang, who was then the governor (觀察使, Guangchashi) of Xuanshe Circuit (宣歙, headquartered in modern Xuancheng, Anhui).[1]
As of 889, Zhao and his capital Xuan Prefecture (宣州) were under the siege by another warlord, Yang Xingmi the prefect of Lu Prefecture (廬州, in modern Hefei, Anhui). The siege became desperate enough that Zhao's officer Zhou Jinsi (周進思) expelled Zhao and defended the city himself. Zhao tried to flee to Guangling (which was then under the control of the greater warlord Sun Ru, who then ruled Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered at Guangling), but was captured by Yang (and subsequently executed). It was said that during Zhao's expulsion and capture, only Li and another officer, Han Qiu (韓球), did not abandon him, and apparently were also captured by Yang. Yang was set to send Li back into the city to try to persuade Zhou to surrender, but Li fell ill at that time, so Yang sent Han, whom Zhou promptly executed. However, the other officers in the city soon seized Zhou and surrendered. Impressed with Li, Yang gave the daughter of a clansman to him in marriage.[1][4]
Service under Yang Xingmi during Tang
Yang Xingmi took over Xuanshe, which then-reigning
In 903, Tian Jun the military governor of Ningguo and An Renyi (安仁義) the military prefect (團練使, Tuanlianshi) of Run Prefecture (潤州, in modern Zhenjiang, Jiangsu), both Yang's vassals, jointly rose in rebellion against him. Tian was soon defeated and killed by Yang's general Tai Meng (臺濛), and another Yang general, Wang Maozhang then put Run under siege,[6] but because An was a capable defender, the city's defense held up to spring 905, when Wang's forces finally entered the city by digging a tunnel in. Nevertheless, An held out in a tower, and initially, the Huainan forces did not dare to approach it. However, as Li, who participated in the siege effort, remained civil to An throughout the siege whereas the other Huainan generals were insulting, An stated to him, "You are polite. I am going to make myself your accomplishment." An then descended the tower, surrendered to Li, and further gave his favorite concubine to Li. Li delivered him and his sons to Guangling, where they were executed.[7] Yang then commissioned Li as the prefect of Run.[1]
During Hongnong/Wu
Later, by which time Tang had fallen and Yang Xingmi's domain, which was ruled successively by his sons
Li Decheng was later made the military governor of Weiwu Circuit (威武, somewhat of an honorary title, as Weiwu was traditionally headquartered in modern Fuzhou, Fujian, then under the control of Wu's southeastern neighbor Min) and put in charge of Fu Prefecture (撫州, in modern Fuzhou, Jiangxi — not the same Fuzhou as Weiwu's traditional headquarter site).[1][10][11] While he was at Fu, there was an occasion when the arrogant junior regent Xu Zhixun (Xu Wen's oldest biological son), hearing that Li had many singing girls in his household, demanded that Li give some to him. When Li responded that these singing girls were too old for Xu and that he would try to find younger and more beautiful ones for Xu, Xu responded to Li's messenger, "One day I will kill Li Decheng and take even his wife!" (However, this threat was never carried out, as Xu Zhixun himself was thereafter assassinated by the general Zhu Jin and replaced by his far more civil adoptive brother Xu Zhigao.)[10] At some point (unclear when), another marital connection was made between the two families, as one of Li's daughters married Xu Zhigao's son Xu Jingda.[1]
In 919, when Yang Longyan declared himself the King of Wu (as an independent ruler away from any titles bestowed by the now defunct Tang state),
By 936, Xu Zhigao, who was then senior regent, was planning to have Yang Pu yield the throne to him. As he believed Li and Zhou Ben to be the most senior generals of the realm and that having their outward support would affirm his power, he had them go to Guangling to lead the officials in petitioning Yang Pu to do so, and then go to Jinling (where Xu was then stationed as regent) to petition him to accept. This led the senior official Song Qiqiu, who was a long-time friend of Xu's but opposed all this, to state to Li Jianxun, "Your honored father was a great contributor to Emperor Taizu [(i.e., Yang Xingmi)], but now his accomplishments are destroyed."[12] Song also apparently wrote a letter to Li, trying to stop him. However, Xu soon accepted the throne, ending Wu and starting Southern Tang.[13]
During Southern Tang
After Xu Zhigao took the throne, he feasted with the high-level officials, and at the feast, Li Decheng showed Song Qiqiu's letter to him. However, Xu refused to read it, although Song nevertheless apologized.[13] Xu bestowed on Li Decheng the honorary title Taishi (太師) and created him the Prince of Nanping.[1]
After the transition, for some time, Yang Pu, whom Xu still honored with the title of "Rang Huang" (讓皇, "emperor who yielded"), continued to reside at Wu's former palace at Guangling, but he was apprehensive and wanted to move out. Li Decheng also spoke in favor of moving Yang, and thereafter Xu sent Li Jianxun to Guangling to escort Yang and his family to the inner city of Run Prefecture, which Xu renamed Danyang Palace to serve as the Yang family's residence.[13]
In 939, Xu Zhigao changed his family name back from his adoptive family name of Xu to his original family name of
Li Decheng was later given the greater title of Prince of Zhao. He died in 940.[1]
Notes and references
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms, vol. 7.
- ^ Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms, vol. 15.
- ^ Academia Sinica Chinese-Western Calendar Converter.
- ^ a b c Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 258.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 259.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 264.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 265.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 266.
- ^ Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms, vol. 21.
- ^ a b c Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 270.
- ^ As Hongnong did not take over Fu Prefecture until 909, Li's commission likely came at that time or later. See Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 266.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 280.
- ^ a b c Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 281.
- Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms, vol. 7.
- Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 258, 259, 265, 270, 280, 281.