137:), ordering Zhang to execute Liu and take over the army. When the messengers informed Zhang, Zhang, who was friendly with Liu, secretly informed Liu, who immediately put the two messengers to death. Liu then called a meeting with all of his officers, declaring that he was set to turn against Li Shidao and follow imperial orders. When some officers hesitated, he executed them, as well as a number of others that soldiers had resented. The other officers were intimidated into submission. At night, they launched a surprise attack on Yun Prefecture, and the Yun Prefecture defenders, believing that Liu was returning on Li Shidao's orders, allowed them in. Liu Wu controlled the city and arrested Li and his two sons, putting them to death. He then sent messengers to surrender to Tian. To reward Liu for his actions, Emperor Xianzong made Liu the military governor of Yicheng Circuit (義成, headquartered in modern
357:(whom he adopted as his son. According to Liu Congjian's biography in the New Book of Tang, Liu Congjian had some 20 sons, but they were all still children at the time of his death) succeed him. He planned with a number of staff members on how to induce the imperial government into allowing the succession, but before the preparations could be complete, Liu Congjian died. Liu Zhen's request to succeed him was subsequently denied, and Emperor Wuzong, under the advocacy of Li Deyu, ordered a general campaign against Zhaoyi, eventually defeating Liu Zhen and slaughtering the Liu family. Liu Congjian's body was disinterred, exposed in the street for three days, and then cut into pieces.
337:, after Xiao Ben was judged to be Empress Dowager Xiao's brother, Xiao Hong fled to Zhaoyi and requested help from Liu. Liu submitted a petition on Xiao Hong's behalf. Emperor Wenzong ordered a new investigation, which concluded that neither Xiao Ben nor Xiao Hong was Empress Dowager Xiao's brother; both were exiled. Meanwhile, Liu continued to accuse Qiu of crimes, while Qiu accused Liu of having designs against the imperial government. After Emperor Wenzong died in 840 and was succeeded by his brother
240:(Emperor Jingzong's younger brother), with the intent to request a transfer (i.e., to surrender control of Zhaoyi Circuit). However, when he got to the capital, he saw that the imperial government lacked direction, and many imperial officials made improper requests to him. He thus lost the respect he had for the imperial government, and never made the transfer request. Instead, in early 833, Emperor Wenzong conferred an honorific chancellor title of
341:, Liu offered a large horse to Emperor Wuzong, who declined the tribute. Liu believed that Qiu was the one who persuaded Emperor Wenzong not to accept the tribute and, in anger, killed the horse, and this act drew further suspicions from the imperial government. It was further said that Liu armed his circuit and conducted commerce to gather wealth such that the neighboring circuits were jealous of and suspicious of him.
298:, and effectively put Emperor Wenzong under house arrest. Liu, who had been friendly with Wang, protected the slaughtered officials' family members who fled to Zhaoyi. He further submitted harshly-worded petitions to the imperial government, openly questioning whether the slaughtered officials committed any crimes at all. The eunuchs tried to placate Liu by giving him the honorific title of acting
128:). Once Liu Wu arrived, however, Li, being counseled by some that executing Liu Wu without evidence of treachery so would destroy morale, changed his mind, and he sent Liu Wu back to Yanggu and gave Liu Wu much treasure. Meanwhile, Liu Congjian, who spent much time with Li's servants, was able to learn what had happened, and informed all of it to his father.
184:), submitted a petition in Liu Wu's name requesting that Liu Congjian be allowed to succeed him. Jia, however, rebuked Liu Congjian and pointed out that it was improper for him not to publicly mourn his father. Liu Congjian had no response, and so publicly declared Liu Wu's death. When the imperial government, then ruled by Emperor Muzong's son
114:). To endear himself to Liu Wu, he had Liu Congjian made a junior officer at his headquarters. However, Liu Wu was repeatedly losing battles to Tian, and Li became suspicious of Liu Wu's intentions. At one point, Li decided to have Liu Wu executed, so he recalled Liu Wu from Yanggu (陽穀, in modern
203:, who opined otherwise, prevailed, and Emperor Jingzong made Liu Congjian the acting military governor, and soon thereafter made him military governor. It was said that while Liu Wu was tedious and harsh, Liu Congjian was lenient and graceful toward the soldiers, and the soldiers supported him.
348:
I serve the imperial court with faithfulness, but the imperial court does not understand my intent, and the neighboring circuits are not friendly to us. After I die, if someone else came to succeed me, our family will not even have smoke remaining from its
306:), but Liu's petitions continued, and he eventually submitted four, continuing to call for the chancellors' posthumous rehabilitation. It was said that it was only after Liu's petitions that the powerful eunuchs, led by
177:
Liu Wu died suddenly in 825. Liu
Congjian initially did not announce his death except to the 2,000 soldiers that Liu Wu had brought from Pinglu Circuit initially and, after consulting with the officer Liu Wude
271:
suggested that Liu be transferred to Xuanwu, to end his family's hold on Zhaoyi. Emperor
Wenzong did not find the timing appropriate, and declined the suggestion, instead making the former chancellor
229:, launched a surprise attack on him, inflicting much casualties and forcing him to flee. Liu Congjian launched an army and saved Li Ting. For this achievement, Liu was created the Duke of Pei.
225:) as the new military governor of Weibo. However, Shi's soldiers opposed, and they mutinied, killing Shi. When Li Ting subsequently arrived, the Weibo soldiers, under the leadership of
148:
Liu Wu was initially obedient to the imperial government, and continued to be after he was transferred to Zhaoyi
Circuit in 820, by which time Emperor Xianzong's son
286:
to have the eunuchs slaughtered. When the eunuchs discovered the plot, Li Xun, Zheng, and many other officials were slaughtered, including the other chancellors
122:), where his troops were stationed, under the guise of consultation, intending to execute Liu Wu when he got to the circuit capital Yun Prefecture (
643:
278:
In 835, Emperor
Wenzong, in an attempt to regain power from the powerful eunuchs, who commanded the imperial guards, conspired with the chancellor
174:), Liu Wu returned Liu Chengjie to the imperial government, he subsequently began to rule Zhaoyi semi-independently from the imperial government.
55:), during which he was viewed as a warlord who maintained a tight hold on the circuit but also as someone who served as a counterbalance to the
168:) to seize control of Zhangyi, Liu Wu killed Zhang and arrested Liu Chengjie. While, under the counsel of his staffer Jia Zhiyan (
219:
independence from the imperial government, offered to surrender control of Weibo, the imperial government commissioned Li Ting (
102:, and the imperial forces were converging on Pinglu. He commissioned Liu Wu to command troops to resist the forces commanded by
334:
195:
advocated that the request be denied, and that Liu
Congjian be placated by making him a prefect. However, the chancellor
617:
613:
609:
605:
601:
597:
593:
589:
549:
530:
514:
491:
475:
454:
438:
422:
232:
It was said that Liu had intended to be faithful to the imperial government, and in 832, he visited the capital
189:
20:
577:
565:
401:
383:
188:, received the petition in Liu Wu's name, there was much debate among the imperial officials. The former
131:
Soon thereafter, Li became resolved to kill Liu Wu. He sent two messengers to Liu's deputy Zhang Xian (
185:
99:
354:
272:
237:
153:
338:
149:
98:
was in a war against the imperial government, then under the rule of
Emperor Dezong's grandson
68:
315:
267:) fell ill, and the imperial government was determining a successor for him. The chancellor
8:
638:
633:
192:
303:
572:
560:
396:
378:
72:
310:, became apprehensive and allowed Emperor Wenzong, as well as the new chancellors
333:), if either at all, was the true long-lost brother of Emperor Wenzong's mother
584:
417:
200:
103:
321:
In 839, in the midst of a controversy as to which of two claimants, Xiao Ben (
627:
212:
307:
38:
279:
233:
295:
259:) the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern
311:
283:
226:
196:
115:
95:
80:
79:
the military governor of Pinglu
Circuit (平盧, headquartered in modern
119:
84:
76:
48:
43:
287:
268:
260:
215:
the military governor of Weibo, who had governed his circuit in
291:
138:
107:
56:
52:
344:
In 843, Liu fell ill, and he commented to his wife Lady Pei:
264:
142:
111:
152:
was emperor. However, after an incident where the imperial
41:
who is most known for his term as the military governor (
106:, the military governor of Weibo Circuit (魏博, in modern
37:), was a Chinese military general and politician of the
162:), conspired with Liu Wu's subordinate Zhang Wen (
67:Liu Congjian was born in 803, during the reign of
47:) of Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, headquartered in modern
625:
250:) on him and allowed him to return to Zhaoyi.
62:
328:
322:
254:
245:
220:
179:
169:
163:
157:
132:
123:
32:
94:As of 819, Li Shigu's brother and successor
91:independence from the imperial government.
541:
539:
506:
504:
502:
500:
467:
465:
463:
412:
410:
318:, to exercise some of their authorities.
373:
371:
369:
59:who controlled the imperial government.
644:Tang dynasty jiedushi of Zhaoyi Circuit
536:
360:
206:
626:
497:
460:
407:
366:
75:was then serving as an officer under
389:
353:Liu thus wanted to have his nephew
156:monitor of the army, Liu Chengjie (
13:
14:
655:
275:the military governor of Xuanwu.
242:Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi
520:
481:
444:
428:
255:
246:
180:
164:
158:
133:
24:
1:
253:Later in 833, Yang Yuanqing (
236:to pay homage to then-ruling
87:), who ruled the circuit in
7:
63:Background and early career
10:
660:
27:) (803–843), formally the
329:
323:
221:
170:
124:
33:
199:and the powerful eunuch
351:
346:
361:Notes and references
335:Empress Dowager Xiao
207:As military governor
304:Three Excellencies
327:) and Xiao Hong (
651:
573:New Book of Tang
561:Old Book of Tang
553:
543:
534:
524:
518:
508:
495:
485:
479:
469:
458:
448:
442:
432:
426:
414:
405:
397:Old Book of Tang
393:
387:
379:New Book of Tang
375:
332:
331:
326:
325:
302:(司徒, one of the
282:and the general
258:
257:
249:
248:
224:
223:
186:Emperor Jingzong
183:
182:
173:
172:
167:
166:
161:
160:
136:
135:
127:
126:
100:Emperor Xianzong
36:
35:
26:
659:
658:
654:
653:
652:
650:
649:
648:
624:
623:
556:
544:
537:
525:
521:
509:
498:
486:
482:
470:
461:
449:
445:
433:
429:
415:
408:
394:
390:
376:
367:
363:
238:Emperor Wenzong
209:
65:
12:
11:
5:
657:
647:
646:
641:
636:
622:
621:
585:Zizhi Tongjian
581:
569:
555:
554:
546:Zizhi Tongjian
535:
527:Zizhi Tongjian
519:
511:Zizhi Tongjian
496:
488:Zizhi Tongjian
480:
472:Zizhi Tongjian
459:
451:Zizhi Tongjian
443:
435:Zizhi Tongjian
427:
418:Zizhi Tongjian
406:
388:
364:
362:
359:
339:Emperor Wuzong
208:
205:
201:Wang Shoucheng
150:Emperor Muzong
104:Tian Hongzheng
69:Emperor Dezong
64:
61:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
656:
645:
642:
640:
637:
635:
632:
631:
629:
619:
615:
611:
607:
603:
599:
595:
591:
587:
586:
582:
579:
575:
574:
570:
567:
563:
562:
558:
557:
551:
547:
542:
540:
532:
528:
523:
516:
512:
507:
505:
503:
501:
493:
489:
484:
477:
473:
468:
466:
464:
456:
452:
447:
440:
436:
431:
424:
420:
419:
413:
411:
403:
399:
398:
392:
385:
381:
380:
374:
372:
370:
365:
358:
356:
350:
345:
342:
340:
336:
319:
317:
313:
309:
305:
301:
297:
293:
289:
285:
281:
276:
274:
270:
266:
262:
251:
243:
239:
235:
230:
228:
218:
214:
213:Shi Xiancheng
211:In 829, when
204:
202:
198:
194:
191:
187:
175:
155:
151:
146:
144:
140:
129:
121:
117:
113:
109:
105:
101:
97:
92:
90:
86:
82:
78:
74:
71:. His father
70:
60:
58:
54:
50:
46:
45:
40:
30:
22:
18:
583:
571:
559:
545:
526:
522:
510:
487:
483:
471:
450:
446:
434:
430:
416:
395:
391:
377:
352:
347:
343:
320:
308:Qiu Shiliang
299:
277:
252:
241:
231:
216:
210:
176:
147:
130:
93:
88:
66:
42:
39:Tang dynasty
28:
17:Liu Congjian
16:
15:
29:Duke of Pei
639:843 deaths
634:803 births
628:Categories
296:Shu Yuanyu
190:chancellor
312:Zheng Tan
284:Zheng Zhu
227:He Jintao
197:Li Fengji
116:Liaocheng
96:Li Shidao
588:, vols.
578:vol. 214
566:vol. 161
550:vol. 248
531:vol. 246
515:vol. 247
492:vol. 245
476:vol. 244
455:vol. 243
439:vol. 242
423:vol. 241
402:vol. 161
384:vol. 214
355:Liu Zhen
349:chimney.
273:Li Cheng
247:同中書門下平章事
234:Chang'an
217:de facto
193:Li Jiang
120:Shandong
89:de facto
85:Shandong
77:Li Shigu
49:Changzhi
44:jiedushi
288:Wang Ya
269:Li Deyu
261:Kaifeng
57:eunuchs
21:Chinese
316:Li Shi
294:, and
292:Jia Su
280:Li Xun
154:eunuch
139:Anyang
108:Handan
81:Tai'an
73:Liu Wu
53:Shanxi
23::
265:Henan
143:Henan
112:Hebei
314:and
300:Situ
618:248
614:247
610:246
606:245
602:244
598:243
594:242
590:241
256:楊元卿
181:劉武德
171:賈直言
159:劉承偕
145:).
25:劉從諫
630::
616:,
612:,
608:,
604:,
600:,
596:,
592:,
576:,
564:,
548:,
538:^
529:,
513:,
499:^
490:,
474:,
462:^
453:,
437:,
421:,
409:^
400:,
382:,
368:^
330:蕭弘
324:蕭本
290:,
263:,
222:李聽
165:張汶
141:,
134:張暹
125:鄆州
118:,
110:,
83:,
51:,
34:沛公
620:.
580:.
568:.
552:.
533:.
517:.
494:.
478:.
457:.
441:.
425:.
404:.
386:.
244:(
178:(
31:(
19:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.