He Jintao
Encyclopedia
He Jintao (died 840
) was a general of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, who, as military governor (Jiedushi
) of Weibo Circuit (魏博, headquartered in modern Handan
, Hebei
), ruled the circuit in de facto independence from the imperial government.
). His great-grandfather He Xiaowu (何孝物) and grandfather He Jun (何俊) both served as officers at Ling Prefecture. His father He Mo (何默) served as an officer at Xia Prefecture (夏州, in modern Yulin, Shaanxi
).
, who was obedient to the imperial government. In a campaign that Tian waged against Wang Chengzong
the military governor of Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang
, Hebei
), when Wang was resisting the imperial government, there was a night when Weibo forces conducted a nightly raid against Chengde's capital Heng Prefecture (恆州). Wang responded by sending an officer in an iron mask, commanding 1,000 cavalry soldiers, to counterattack against the Weibo forces. He Jintao engaged the Chengde cavalry soldiers and defeated them, almost capturing the officer in iron mask, causing much apprehension among the Chengde soldiers. After a subsequent campaign that Tian conducted against Li Shidao
the military governor of Pinglu Circuit (平盧, headquartered in modern Tai'an
, Shandong
), in which He Jintao made contributions, He Jintao was given the honorary imperial censor title of Shiyushi (侍御史).
, He Jintao was serving under Shi Xiancheng
, who was ruling Weibo in de facto independence from the imperial government. However, as at that time, imperial forces were close to defeating the rebel general Li Tongjie
, who controlled neighboring Henghai Circuit (橫海, headquartered in modern Cangzhou
, Hebei
), and Shi became apprehensive. Under the advice of his son Shi Xiaozhang (史孝章), Shi Xiancheng offered to surrender control of Weibo to the imperial government and requested another command elsewhere. Then-reigning Emperor Wenzong
reacted by commissioning Shi Xiancheng as the military governor of Hezhong Circuit (河中, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi
), and Li Ting (李聽) the military governor of Yicheng Circuit (義成, headquartered in modern Anyang
, Henan
) as the military governor of Weibo. He also carved out three of Weibo's six prefectures — Xiang (相州, in modern Anyang), Wei (衛州, in modern Xinxiang
, Henan
, note different character than the capital of Weibo), and Chan (澶州, in modern Anyang) — to create a new circuit, for Shi Xiaozhang to serve as military governor.
Thereafter, Shi Xiancheng prepared to depart Wei Prefecture. It was said that he stripped the headquarters and circuit treasury of its treasures, ready to take them to Hezhong, and this angered the soldiers. The soldiers mutinied and killed Shi Xiancheng, and they supported He Jintao to be their leader. When Li Ting subsequently arrived at Wei Prefecture, He Jintao refused to let him enter, and subsequently made a surprise attack against him, defeating him. At that time, the imperial treasury was drained, and the imperial government, judging that it had no ability to defeat He Jintao, capitulated and made He Jintao the military governor of Weibo, and further returned Xiang, Wei, and Chan prefectures to Weibo.
It was said that as the military governor of Weibo, He Jintao was favored by his people. He died in 840
, and then-reigning Emperor Wuzong
(Emperor Wenzong's younger brother) allowed his son He Chongshun
to inherit the circuit.
840
Year 840 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.-Europe:* After the death of Louis the Pious, his sons Lothar, Charles the Bald and Louis the German fight over the division of the Holy Roman Empire, with Lothar succeeding as Emperor.-Asia:* Tang Wu Zong succeeds Tang Wen Zong...
) was a general of the Chinese
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
dynasty Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, who, as military governor (Jiedushi
Jiedushi
The Jiedushi were regional military governors in China during the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. Originally set up to counter external threats, the jiedushi were given enormous power, including the ability to maintain their own armies, collect taxes, and pass their...
) of Weibo Circuit (魏博, headquartered in modern Handan
Handan
Handan is a prefecture-level city located in the southwestern part of Hebei Province of China.- History :Handan was the capital of the State of Zhao during the Warring States period , after the capital moved from Zhongmu. The city was conquered by the State of Qin after the virtual annexation of...
, Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
), ruled the circuit in de facto independence from the imperial government.
Background
It is not known when He Jintao was born, but it is known that his family was originally from Ling Prefecture (靈州, in modern Yinchuan, NingxiaNingxia
Ningxia, formerly transliterated as Ningsia, is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. Located in Northwest China, on the Loess Plateau, the Yellow River flows through this vast area of land. The Great Wall of China runs along its northeastern boundary...
). His great-grandfather He Xiaowu (何孝物) and grandfather He Jun (何俊) both served as officers at Ling Prefecture. His father He Mo (何默) served as an officer at Xia Prefecture (夏州, in modern Yulin, Shaanxi
Yulin, Shaanxi
Yulin is a prefecture-level city in the Shaanxi province of the People's Republic of China. It has an area of 43,578 km² and a population of 3,380,000.-Geography and climate:...
).
Early career
Eventually, He Jintao settled at Weibo's capital Wei Prefecture (魏州), and came to serve in the Weibo army, under then-military governor Tian HongzhengTian Hongzheng
Tian Hongzheng , né Tian Xing , courtesy name Andao , formally Duke Zhongmin of Yi , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty...
, who was obedient to the imperial government. In a campaign that Tian waged against Wang Chengzong
Wang Chengzong
Wang Chengzong was a general of the Chinese Tang Dynasty who served a military governor of Chengde Circuit...
the military governor of Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang
Shijiazhuang
Shijiazhuang is the capital and largest city of North China's Hebei province. Administratively a prefecture-level city, it is about south of Beijing...
, Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
), when Wang was resisting the imperial government, there was a night when Weibo forces conducted a nightly raid against Chengde's capital Heng Prefecture (恆州). Wang responded by sending an officer in an iron mask, commanding 1,000 cavalry soldiers, to counterattack against the Weibo forces. He Jintao engaged the Chengde cavalry soldiers and defeated them, almost capturing the officer in iron mask, causing much apprehension among the Chengde soldiers. After a subsequent campaign that Tian conducted against Li Shidao
Li Shidao
Li Shidao was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who, as the successor to his brother Li Shigu, ruled Pinglu Circuit in a de facto independent manner from the imperial government...
the military governor of Pinglu Circuit (平盧, headquartered in modern Tai'an
Tai'an
Tai'an is a prefecture-level city in western Shandong province, People's Republic of China.Centered around Mount Tai, the city borders the provincial capital of Jinan to the north, Laiwu to the northeast, Zibo to the east, Linyi to the southeast, Liaocheng to the extreme west and Jining to the south...
, Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
), in which He Jintao made contributions, He Jintao was given the honorary imperial censor title of Shiyushi (侍御史).
Seizure of Weibo Circuit and service as military governor
By 829829
Year 829 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Egbert of Wessex conquers Mercia and is recognized as Bretwalda.* The Saracens ravage the coast of Dalmatia....
, He Jintao was serving under Shi Xiancheng
Shi Xiancheng
Shi Xiancheng was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who ruled Weibo Circuit semi-independently from the imperial government.- Background :...
, who was ruling Weibo in de facto independence from the imperial government. However, as at that time, imperial forces were close to defeating the rebel general Li Tongjie
Li Tongjie
Li Tongjie was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. After the death of his father Li Quanlüe in 826, Li Tongjie tried to take over Henghai Circuit , which his father had been the military governor of, and he rejected a subsequent imperial edict for him to serve at a different circuit...
, who controlled neighboring Henghai Circuit (橫海, headquartered in modern Cangzhou
Cangzhou
Cangzhou is a prefecture-level city in Hebei province, People's Republic of China. Cangzhou's urban center has a population of approximately 514,074 at the 2010 census which correspond to the built up area), while the prefecture-level administrative region in total has a population of 7,134,053...
, Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
), and Shi became apprehensive. Under the advice of his son Shi Xiaozhang (史孝章), Shi Xiancheng offered to surrender control of Weibo to the imperial government and requested another command elsewhere. Then-reigning Emperor Wenzong
Emperor Wenzong of Tang
Emperor Wenzong of Tang , personal name Li Ang , né Li Han , was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 827 to 840. Emperor Wenzong was the second son of Emperor Muzong and younger brother of Emperor Jingzong...
reacted by commissioning Shi Xiancheng as the military governor of Hezhong Circuit (河中, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
), and Li Ting (李聽) the military governor of Yicheng Circuit (義成, headquartered in modern Anyang
Anyang
Anyang is a prefecture-level city in Henan province, People's Republic of China. The northernmost city in Henan, Anyang borders Puyang to the east, Hebi and Xinxiang to the south, and the provinces of Shanxi and Hebei to its west and north respectively....
, Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
) as the military governor of Weibo. He also carved out three of Weibo's six prefectures — Xiang (相州, in modern Anyang), Wei (衛州, in modern Xinxiang
Xinxiang
Xinxiang is a prefecture-level city in northern Henan province, People's Republic of China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to its southwest, Kaifeng to its southeast, Hebi and Anyang to its north, Jiaozuo to its west, and the provinces of Shanxi and Shandong to its northwest and...
, Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
, note different character than the capital of Weibo), and Chan (澶州, in modern Anyang) — to create a new circuit, for Shi Xiaozhang to serve as military governor.
Thereafter, Shi Xiancheng prepared to depart Wei Prefecture. It was said that he stripped the headquarters and circuit treasury of its treasures, ready to take them to Hezhong, and this angered the soldiers. The soldiers mutinied and killed Shi Xiancheng, and they supported He Jintao to be their leader. When Li Ting subsequently arrived at Wei Prefecture, He Jintao refused to let him enter, and subsequently made a surprise attack against him, defeating him. At that time, the imperial treasury was drained, and the imperial government, judging that it had no ability to defeat He Jintao, capitulated and made He Jintao the military governor of Weibo, and further returned Xiang, Wei, and Chan prefectures to Weibo.
It was said that as the military governor of Weibo, He Jintao was favored by his people. He died in 840
840
Year 840 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.-Europe:* After the death of Louis the Pious, his sons Lothar, Charles the Bald and Louis the German fight over the division of the Holy Roman Empire, with Lothar succeeding as Emperor.-Asia:* Tang Wu Zong succeeds Tang Wen Zong...
, and then-reigning Emperor Wuzong
Emperor Wuzong of Tang
Emperor Wuzong of Tang , né Li Chan , later changed to Li Yan just before his death, was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, reigning from 840 to 846. Emperor Wuzong is mainly known in modern times for the religious persecution that occurred during his reign...
(Emperor Wenzong's younger brother) allowed his son He Chongshun
He Hongjing
He Hongjing , né He Chongshun , formally the Duke of Chu , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who ruled Weibo Circuit as its military governor in de facto independence from the imperial government.- Background :It is not completely clear when He Chongshun was...
to inherit the circuit.