Le Yanzhen
Encyclopedia
Le Yanzhen (d. 888), né Le Xingda (樂行達), was a warlord late in the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, who ruled Weibo Circuit (魏博, headquartered in modern Handan
, Hebei
) as its military governor (Jiedushi
) from 883 to 888.
, Henan
), Bo (博州, in modern Liaocheng
, Shandong
), and Bei (貝州, in modern Xingtai
, Hebei
). Le Xingda became a Weibo officer in his youth. After Han Jian
became military governor, Le Xingda was promoted, and later became the prefect of Bo Prefecture. After Han briefly captured Heyang Circuit (河陽, headquartered in modern Luoyang, Henan) in 882 and forced Heyang's military governor Zhuge Shuang
to flee, as Le contributed to the victory, Han made him the prefect of Chan Prefecture.
In 883, while Han was attacking Tianping Circuit (天平, headquartered in modern Tai'an
, Shandong
), Zhuge took the opportunity to retake Heyang by surprise. Han, hearing of this, made peace with Tianping's acting military governor Zhu Xuan
and attacked Heyang again, but was defeated by Zhuge's general Li Hanzhi
. After Han's defeat, Le surprised Han by heading for Wei Prefecture in advance of Han and occupying it. The Weibo soldiers supported him to replace Han, who was subsequently killed by his own soldiers. Then-reigning Emperor Xizong
thereafter confirmed Le as the acting military governor, and later in the year full military governor.
It was said that Le Yanzhen was arrogant and unrestrained in his behavior. Once he was firm in his position as military governor of Weibo, he conscripted the people to build an inner city wall in Wei Prefecture and to rebuild the Yellow River
levee, requiring both projects to be done within a month and drawing resentment from the people. Further, his son Le Congxun (樂從訓) was said to be violent and greedy. Late in 884, when the former chancellor Wang Duo
was set to report to Yichang Circuit (義昌, headquartered in modern Cangzhou
, Hebei
) to serve as its military governor, Wang went through Weibo Circuit. Le Congxun, enticed by the large group of women accompanying Wang and the display of wealth, gathered several hundred men and laid an ambush for Wang, killing him and some 300 staff members, seizing Wang's wealth and women. Le Yanzhen reported to the imperial government that Wang had been killed by bandits, and the imperial government, having been recently severely weakened by the rebellion of the agrarian rebel Huang Chao
, was unable to investigate further. It was said that the people of Weibo had long heard of Wang's good reputation and regretted his death, and thereafter viewed Le Congxun poorly. Still, despite Wang's death, the imperial government thereafter granted the honorary titles of Kaifu Yitong Sansi (開府儀同三司) and Situ (司徒, one of the Three Excellencies
) on Le Yanzhen.
In 885, Ma Shuang (馬爽), an officer at neighboring Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, then-headquartered in modern Xingtai), rose in rebellion against Zhaoyi's military governor Meng Fangli
, trying to force Meng to kill fellow officer Xi Zhongxin (奚忠信), with whom Ma had a dispute. However, Ma was soon defeated and forced to flee to Weibo. Xi thereafter bribed Le Yanzhen to have Ma killed.
, Henan
), who was at Weibo to negotiate a purchase of food supplies from Le Yanzhen, was killed.)
The soldiers thereafter supported the officer Zhao Wenbian (趙文㺹) to serve as acting military governor. Le Congxun, meanwhile, hearing about his father's forced retirement, took some 30,000 soldiers and advanced to Wei Prefecture. Zhao refused to engage Le Congxun. The Weibo soldiers, uncertain of what Zhao's intentions were, killed him and supported another officer, Luo Hongxin
. Luo engaged Le Congxun and defeated him, forcing him to retreat to Neihuang (內黃, in modern Anyang). The Weibo forces put Neihuang under siege. Because the Weibo soldiers had killed Lei, Le Congxun decided to seek aid from Zhu. Zhu sent his officer Zhu Zhen (朱珍) north, capturing three Weibo cities and advancing to Neihuang, where he initially defeated Weibo forces. However, when Le Congxun subsequently tried to fight out of the siege, Luo's officer Cheng Gongxin (程公信) attacked and killed him. Subsequently, Le Yanzhen was also executed, and both his head and his son's were publicly displayed on the gate to the Weibo camp. Luo subsequently sent messengers to apologize to Zhu Quanzhong and offer him gifts, so Zhu Quanzhong withdrew his forces, allowing Luo to take over Weibo without further opposition.
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 ruled 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...
) as its 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...
) from 883 to 888.
Background
It is not known when Le Xingda was born, but it is known that he was from Weibo Circuit's capital Wei Prefecture (魏州). His father Le Shaoji (樂少寂) was also a Weibo officer, and had successively served as prefect of three of Weibo's prefectures — Chan (澶州, in modern AnyangAnyang
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...
), Bo (博州, in modern Liaocheng
Liaocheng
Liaocheng , also known as the Water City, is a prefecture-level city in western Shandong province, People's Republic of China. It borders the provincial capital of Jinan to the southeast, Dezhou to the northeast, Tai'an to the south, and the province of Hebei and Henan to the west...
, 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...
), and Bei (貝州, in modern Xingtai
Xingtai
Xingtai is a city in southern Hebei province, North China. The prefecture-level city of Xingtai, with a total area of , administers 2 districts, 2 county-level cities and 15 counties. In 2004 it had an urban population of 561,400 and a total population of 6.73 million...
, 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...
). Le Xingda became a Weibo officer in his youth. After Han Jian
Han Jian (Weibo)
Han Jian , formally the Prince of Changli or Prince of Wei Commandery , was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who controlled Weibo Circuit...
became military governor, Le Xingda was promoted, and later became the prefect of Bo Prefecture. After Han briefly captured Heyang Circuit (河陽, headquartered in modern Luoyang, Henan) in 882 and forced Heyang's military governor Zhuge Shuang
Zhuge Shuang
Zhuge Shuang was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who controlled Heyang Circuit for some time and who vacillated between allegiance to Tang and to the Qi state of the agrarian rebel Huang Chao.- Background and early career :It is not known when Zhuge Shuang was born, but it is...
to flee, as Le contributed to the victory, Han made him the prefect of Chan Prefecture.
In 883, while Han was attacking Tianping Circuit (天平, 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...
), Zhuge took the opportunity to retake Heyang by surprise. Han, hearing of this, made peace with Tianping's acting military governor Zhu Xuan
Zhu Xuan
Zhu Xuan was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who, from 882 to 897, controlled Tianping Circuit as its military governor...
and attacked Heyang again, but was defeated by Zhuge's general Li Hanzhi
Li Hanzhi
Li Hanzhi , formally the Prince of Longxi , nickname Li Moyun , was a late-Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty warlord. He was initially a follower of the major agrarian rebel Huang Chao, and later became a Tang general, mostly known for his service under Li Keyong...
. After Han's defeat, Le surprised Han by heading for Wei Prefecture in advance of Han and occupying it. The Weibo soldiers supported him to replace Han, who was subsequently killed by his own soldiers. Then-reigning Emperor Xizong
Emperor Xizong of Tang
Emperor Xizong of Tang , né Li Yan , later name changed to Li Xuan , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 873 to 888. He was the fifth son of his predecessor Emperor Yizong and was the elder brother of his successor Emperor Zhaozong...
thereafter confirmed Le as the acting military governor, and later in the year full military governor.
As military governor
In 884, Emperor Xizong gave Le Xingda a new name of Yanzhen. Emperor Xizong also granted him the honorary title of Zuo Pushe (左僕射) and the honorary chancellor designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事).It was said that Le Yanzhen was arrogant and unrestrained in his behavior. Once he was firm in his position as military governor of Weibo, he conscripted the people to build an inner city wall in Wei Prefecture and to rebuild the Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
levee, requiring both projects to be done within a month and drawing resentment from the people. Further, his son Le Congxun (樂從訓) was said to be violent and greedy. Late in 884, when the former chancellor Wang Duo
Wang Duo
Wang Duo , is a Chinese calligrapher, painter, and poet in Ming Dynasty.Wang was born in Mengjin in the Henan province. His style name was 'Juesi' or 'Juezhi' and his sobriquets were 'Songqiao', 'Chi'an', or 'Yantan Yusou'...
was set to report to Yichang Circuit (義昌, 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...
) to serve as its military governor, Wang went through Weibo Circuit. Le Congxun, enticed by the large group of women accompanying Wang and the display of wealth, gathered several hundred men and laid an ambush for Wang, killing him and some 300 staff members, seizing Wang's wealth and women. Le Yanzhen reported to the imperial government that Wang had been killed by bandits, and the imperial government, having been recently severely weakened by the rebellion of the agrarian rebel Huang Chao
Huang Chao
Huang Chao was the leader of the Huang Chao Rebellion , known in mainland China as the Huang Chao Revolution in China that seriously weakened the once mighty Tang Dynasty of China...
, was unable to investigate further. It was said that the people of Weibo had long heard of Wang's good reputation and regretted his death, and thereafter viewed Le Congxun poorly. Still, despite Wang's death, the imperial government thereafter granted the honorary titles of Kaifu Yitong Sansi (開府儀同三司) and Situ (司徒, one of the Three Excellencies
Three Excellencies
The Three Ducal Ministers , also translated as the Three Dukes, Three Excellencies, or the Three Lords, was the collective name for the three highest officials in ancient China...
) on Le Yanzhen.
In 885, Ma Shuang (馬爽), an officer at neighboring Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, then-headquartered in modern Xingtai), rose in rebellion against Zhaoyi's military governor Meng Fangli
Meng Fangli
Meng Fangli was a warlord in the late Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who, from 881 to 889, controlled all or part of Zhaoyi Circuit — the headquarters of which he moved from Lu Prefecture to his home Xing Prefecture — as its military governor...
, trying to force Meng to kill fellow officer Xi Zhongxin (奚忠信), with whom Ma had a dispute. However, Ma was soon defeated and forced to flee to Weibo. Xi thereafter bribed Le Yanzhen to have Ma killed.
Retirement and death
By 888, the people of Weibo had become disgruntled about Le Yanzhen's rule, and the veteran Weibo soldiers were apprehensive that Le Congxun had gathered a group of several hundred soldiers to serve as his personal guards, calling them "the Son's officers" (子將). Le Congxun detected the Weibo soldiers' apprehensions about him, and became so insecure that he fled out of Wei Prefecture. Le Yanzhen thereafter made him the prefect of Xiang Prefecture (相州, in modern Handan). Le Congxun thereafter frequently sent messengers to Wei Prefecture to take armors and treasures from Wei to Xiang, drawing further apprehension from the Weibo veterans. Le Yanzhen, fearing that the veterans would mutiny, offered to resign and become a Buddhist monk at Longxing Temple (龍興寺). (In this disturbance, Lei Ye (雷鄴), an emissary from Zhu Quanzhong the military governor of neighboring Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern KaifengKaifeng
Kaifeng , known previously by several names , is a prefecture-level city in east-central Henan province, Central China. Nearly 5 million people live in the metropolitan area...
, 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...
), who was at Weibo to negotiate a purchase of food supplies from Le Yanzhen, was killed.)
The soldiers thereafter supported the officer Zhao Wenbian (趙文㺹) to serve as acting military governor. Le Congxun, meanwhile, hearing about his father's forced retirement, took some 30,000 soldiers and advanced to Wei Prefecture. Zhao refused to engage Le Congxun. The Weibo soldiers, uncertain of what Zhao's intentions were, killed him and supported another officer, Luo Hongxin
Luo Hongxin
Luo Hongxin , courtesy name Defu , formally Prince Zhuangsu of Beiping , was a warlord in the late Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who controlled Weibo Circuit as its military governor after seizing control in 888 after taking advantage of the soldiers' discontent with the prior military governor...
. Luo engaged Le Congxun and defeated him, forcing him to retreat to Neihuang (內黃, in modern Anyang). The Weibo forces put Neihuang under siege. Because the Weibo soldiers had killed Lei, Le Congxun decided to seek aid from Zhu. Zhu sent his officer Zhu Zhen (朱珍) north, capturing three Weibo cities and advancing to Neihuang, where he initially defeated Weibo forces. However, when Le Congxun subsequently tried to fight out of the siege, Luo's officer Cheng Gongxin (程公信) attacked and killed him. Subsequently, Le Yanzhen was also executed, and both his head and his son's were publicly displayed on the gate to the Weibo camp. Luo subsequently sent messengers to apologize to Zhu Quanzhong and offer him gifts, so Zhu Quanzhong withdrew his forces, allowing Luo to take over Weibo without further opposition.