Li Guochang
Li Guochang/Zhuye Chixin 李國昌/朱邪赤心 | |||||||||
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Spouse | Lady Qin, Empress Wenjing | ||||||||
Issue | Li Keyong Li Keyang Li Kegong Li Kening Princess Yiling | ||||||||
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Father | Zhuye Zhiyi |
Li Guochang (Chinese: 李國昌; pinyin: Lǐ Guóchāng) (died 887[1]), né Zhuye Chixin (朱邪赤心), courtesy name Dexing (德興), posthumously honored by the Later Tang dynasty as Emperor Wenjing (文景皇帝) with the temple name of Xianzu (獻祖), was a Chinese general of Shatuo ethnicity during the waning years of the Tang dynasty.
Background
Zhuye Chixin's ancestors had been hereditary chiefs of the
It is not known when Zhuye Chixin was born, or when Zhuye Zhiyi died. It is known that when Zhuye Zhiyi died, Zhuye Chixin took over leadership of the Shatuo.
In 847, shortly after Emperor Wuzong's death and succession by his uncle
During Pang Xun's rebellion
In 868, during the reign of Emperor Xuānzong's son
As Kang's imperial army took shape in 869 and prepared to engage Pang, he had Zhuye serve as his forward commander, and it was said that the soldiers under Kang, who were from 10 different circuits, were all impressed by the Shatuo soldiers' fortitude. He subsequently contributed greatly to Kang's battles against Pang, including the final battle at Bo Prefecture (亳州, in modern
Between Pang Xun's and Li Keyong's rebellions
In 870, Emperor Yizong commissioned Li Guochang as the military governor of Zhenwu Circuit (振武, headquartered in modern Hohhot, Inner Mongolia). However, he soon incurred the wrath of the imperial government when he, acting in defiance of the imperial government, killed members of his staff without imperial approval. In 872, Emperor Yizong tried to transfer him to Datong Circuit, with the lesser title of Fangyushi (防禦使). Li Guochang claimed to be ill and refused to report to Datong.[8] He was apparently thereafter allowed to remain at Zhenwu, and subsequently sent soldiers to participate in the imperial campaign against the agrarian rebel Wang Xianzhi.[3]
Rebellion against Tang
As of 878, by which time Emperor Yizong's young son Emperor Xizong was emperor, Li Guochang's oldest son Li Keyong was serving as the deputy commander of Shatuo soldiers at Datong Circuit, stationed at Wei Prefecture (蔚州, in modern Zhangjiakou, Hebei). At that time, most of the empire was overrun with agrarian rebellions; the Shatuo officer Li Jinzhong (李盡忠), technically Li Keyong's superior as the commander of the Shatuo soldiers at Datong, as well as his subordinates Kang Junli, Xue Zhiqin (薛志勤), Cheng Huaixin (程懷信), and Li Cunzhang, also considered rising in rebellion, particularly because the defender of Datong Circuit, Duan Wenchu (段文楚), was harsh to the soldiers, and was cutting back on their supplies. Li Jinzhong persuaded Li Keyong to agree to the rebellion, and then attacked and arrested Duan. Li Keyong subsequently arrived at Yun Prefecture and took control of the Datong headquarters, putting Duan and several of Duan's staff members to death cruelly.[9]
Li Guochang initially pledged continued faith to the imperial government, asking it to appoint a new defender of Datong and offering to attack Li Keyong himself if Li Keyong refused to comply. Emperor Xizong thus commissioned Lu Jianfang (盧簡方) as the new defender of Datong and asked Li Guochang to write a letter to persuade Li Keyong to accept Lu—but then decided to make Lu the military governor of Zhenwu and transfer Li Guochang to Datong instead (as military governor), believing that Li Keyong would not dare to resist his father. However, Li Guochang actually hoped for an arrangement where both he and Li Keyong would be each allowed to keep control of a circuit, and therefore, when he received the edict, he, in anger, tore the edict and killed the
Li Keyong and Li Guochang initially gained successes in their raids on the neighboring circuits, and the Hedong soldiers were repeatedly intimidated into disturbances themselves, causing the successive expulsions or deaths of several Hedong military governors. However, after Li Zhuo (李涿) eventually took over the command of the entire operations, the tide began to turn against the Shatuo. In summer 880, Li Keyong's officer Gao Wenji (高文集), who was then defending Shuo Prefecture (朔州, in modern Shuozhou) for Li Keyong, surrendered to Li Zhuo along with Li Guochang's cousin Li Youjin (李友金) and several other chieftains. Li Keyong reacted by attacking Gao, to try to recapture Shuo Prefecture. Li Keju, however, attacked and defeated Li Keyong at Yao'er Heights (藥兒嶺, in modern Chengde, Hebei) before Li Keyong could do so, killing Li Jinzhong and Cheng. Li Keju then again defeated Li Keyong at Xiongwu Base (雄武軍, in modern Chengde). Meanwhile, Li Zhuo and Helian attacked Wei Prefecture, where Li Guochang had stationed himself at the time, defeating Li Guochang. Li Guochang, Li Keyong, and their family were forced to flee to the Dada (達靼) tribe, then in the Yin Mountains region.[9]
Several months later, Helian, who was consequently made the defender of Datong, secretly tried to persuade the Dada to slaughter the Shatuo who fled to them. Li Keyong, hearing rumors of this, demonstrated his shooting skills at a feast with Dada nobles, and further proclaimed that he did not intend to stay with the Dada and wished to eventually assist the Tang imperial government in attacking the agrarian rebel Huang Chao. After Li Keyong made that proclamation, the Dada became convinced that he would not stay and pose a threat to them, and therefore did not slaughter the Shatuo. Thereafter, Li Guochang and Li Keyong remained with the Dada for some time.[9]
Exile and later resubmission to Tang
In 881, by which time Huang Chao had captured Chang'an, forced Emperor Xizong to flee, and established his own state of Qi as its emperor, Li Youjin persuaded the eunuch monitor of his army, Chen Jingsi (陳景思), to suggest to Emperor Xizong to pardon Li Guochang and Li Keyong and to summon them to aid the imperial cause. Chen agreed, and subsequently, Li Keyong tried to take his troops south. Then-military governor of Hedong,
Later in the year, Emperor Xizong again summoned Li Keyong to aid in the imperial cause in attacking Huang Chao's Qi state, and this time, pursuant to imperial orders, Zheng did not again intercept Li Keyong. Li Keyong subsequently became the leading general in the Tang campaign to recapture Chang'an. In 883, Emperor Xizong made Li Keyong the military governor of Hedong and Li Guochang the military governor of a newly created Daibei Circuit (代北), with its headquarters at Dai Prefecture.[11]
Posthumous honors
According to the
Personal information
- Father
- Zhuye Zhiyi (朱邪執宜), posthumously honoured as Emperor Zhaolie with the temple name of Yizu 923
- Mother
- née Cui, posthumously honored Empress Zhaolie 923
- Wife
- née Qin, posthumously honored Empress Wenjing 923
- Children
- Li Keyong (856-908), Prince of Longxi 884, Prince of Jin 895, posthumously honoured as Emperor Wu with the temple name of Taizu 923
- Li Kerang (李克讓) (died 880?), commander in the imperial guard, killed fighting against Huang Chao
- Li Kegong (李克恭) (died 890), military governor of the Zhaoyi Circuit 890, killed in mutiny
- Li Kening (李克寧) (died 908), governor of the Zhenwu command, executed by Li Cunxu
Notes and references
- ^ .
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 237.
- ^ a b c d New Book of Tang, vol. 218.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 246.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 247.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 248.
- ^ a b c Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 251.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 252.
- ^ a b c d Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 253.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 254.
- ^ a b Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 255.
- ^ History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 25.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 272.
- New History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 5.
- ISBN 0-231-12826-6.
- New Book of Tang, vol. 218.
- History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 25.
- New History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 5.
- Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 246, 247, 248, 251, 252, 253, 255, 256.