Li Keju
Encyclopedia
Li Keju (died 885
) was a warlord late in the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, who controlled Lulong Circuit (盧龍, headquartered in modern Beijing
) from 876
to 885.
was ethnically Huigu, of the Abusi (阿布思) tribe. In 875
, Li Maoxun, then an officer of Lulong Circuit, overthrew then-military governor (Jiedushi
) Zhang Gongsu
in a mutiny and took over control of the circuit, and was subsequently commissioned by Emperor Xizong
to be military governor. In 876
, Li Maoxun requested retirement and recommended Li Keju to succeed him. Emperor Xizong permitted Li Maoxun to retire. He made Li Keju acting military governor, and full military governor later in the year.
, when Li Keyong
the son of the Shatuo
chieftain Li Guochang
(who was then the Tang-commissioned military governor of Zhenwu Circuit (振武, headquartered in modern Hohhot
, Inner Mongolia
) rebelled and seized Datong Circuit (大同, headquartered in modern Datong
, Shanxi
), and was subsequently joined in rebellion by his father Li Guochang, Li Keju was one of generals whose army that Emperor Xizong ordered to mobilize against Li Guochang and Li Keyong, along with Li Jun (李均) the military governor of Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, headquartered in modern Changzhi
, Shanxi
), the Tuyuhun chieftains Helian Duo
and Bai Yicheng (白義誠), and Sage (薩葛) chieftain Mi Haiwan (米海萬). When Li Keju subsequently launched his attack against Li Keyong, Li Keyong stationed himself at Xiongwu Base (雄武軍, in modern Chengde
, Hebei
) to defend against Li Keju, leaving his officer Gao Wenji (高文集) at Shuo Prefecture (朔州, in modern Shuozhou
, Shanxi
) — but the new Tang-commissioned military governor of Datong, Li Zhuo (李涿), then persuaded Gao to surrender Shuo to him. When Li Keyong subsequently returned to Shuo to try to take it, Li Keju had his officer Han Xuanshao (韓玄紹) intercept Li Keyong, crushing Li Keyong's army and killing some 7,000 soldiers, before again defeating Li Keyong at Xiongwu Base. When Li Guochang was subsequently defeated by Li Zhuo and Helian, Li Guochang and Li Keyong were forced to abandon Datong Circuit and flee to the Dada (達靼) tribes. For his contributions, Li Keju was bestowed the honorary chancellor title of Shizhong (侍中).
In 882
, Li Keyong tried to return to Datong Circuit, and he engaged both Helian (who had been made the military governor of Datong by that point) and Li Keju, defeating both, although he was subsequently repelled by Zheng Congdang
the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan
, Shanxi
) and forced to return north.
, Li Keyong, who had again become a Tang subject and made major contributions in Tang's defeat of the agrarian rebel Huang Chao
, was the military governor of Hedong and controlled several nearby circuits as well. He was also an ally to Wang Chucun
the military governor of Yiwu Circuit (義武, headquartered in modern Baoding
, Hebei
). Both Li Keju and Wang Rong
the military governor of Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang
, Hebei
) were fearful of Li Keyong's growing strength, and therefore formed a pact to conquer Yiwu and divide its territory. They also persuaded Helian to attack Li Keyong to occupy him so that he could not save Li Chucun. In spring 885, they launched the attack, with Li Keju sending 60,000 soldiers under his officer Li Quanzhong
to attack Yi Prefecture (易州, in modern Baoding), one of Yiwu's two prefectures, while Wang Rong attacked Wuji (無極, in modern Shijiazhuang).
Initially, the Lulong attack was successful, as Li Quanzhong's subordinate Liu Rengong
captured Yi by digging a tunnel into it. However, Li Keyong, despite Helian's attack, came to Yiwu's aid himself and repelled the Chengde attack at Wuji and Xincheng (新城, in modern Shijuazhuang), forcing the Chengde forces to withdraw. Meanwhile, the Lulong forces had become overly confident after capturing Yi. Wang Chucun sent 3,000 soldiers disguised as sheep (by wearing sheepskin) at night to approach Yi. The Lulong soldiers, believing that they were sheep, opened the city gates to seize them. Wang Chucun then attacked, defeating Li Quanzhong and recapturing Yi.
Li Quanzhong, believing that Li Keju would punish him for this defeat, decided to turn against Li Keju. He gathered his remaining troops and attacked Lulong's capital You Prefecture (幽州). Li Keju could not resist the attack. He took his family onto a tower and burned it to commit suicide. Li Quanzhong took over the circuit as acting military governor.
885
Year 885 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The Vikings besiege Paris.* Godfrith, the Sea King is killed in Lobith...
) was a warlord late in 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 controlled Lulong Circuit (盧龍, headquartered in modern Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
) from 876
876
Year 876 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Births :* Henry the Fowler, the duke of Saxony from 912 and king of the Germans from 919 until his death...
to 885.
Background
It is not known when Li Keju was born. His father Li MaoxunLi Maoxun
Li Maoxun was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who seized control of Lulong Circuit briefly from 875 to 876 before retiring and turning control of the circuit over to his son Li Keju.- Background :...
was ethnically Huigu, of the Abusi (阿布思) tribe. In 875
875
Year 875 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* December 29 – Charles the Bald, king of West Francia, is crowned emperor....
, Li Maoxun, then an officer of Lulong Circuit, overthrew then-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...
) Zhang Gongsu
Zhang Gongsu
Zhang Gongsu was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who ruled Lulong Circuit from 872 to 875 as its military governor in de facto independence from the imperial government....
in a mutiny and took over control of the circuit, and was subsequently commissioned by 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...
to be military governor. In 876
876
Year 876 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Births :* Henry the Fowler, the duke of Saxony from 912 and king of the Germans from 919 until his death...
, Li Maoxun requested retirement and recommended Li Keju to succeed him. Emperor Xizong permitted Li Maoxun to retire. He made Li Keju acting military governor, and full military governor later in the year.
As military governor
In 878878
Year 878 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :...
, when Li Keyong
Li Keyong
Li Keyong was a Shatuo military governor during the late Tang Dynasty and was key to developing a base of power for the Shatuo in what is today Shanxi Province in China...
the son of the Shatuo
Shatuo
The Shatuo were a Turkic tribe that heavily influenced northern Chinese politics from the late ninth century through the tenth century. They are noted for founding 3 of the 5 dynasties and 1 of the kingdoms during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period....
chieftain Li Guochang
Li Guochang
Li Guochang , né Zhuye Chixin , courtesy name Dexing , posthumously honored by Later Tang Dynasty as Emperor Wenjing with the temple name of Xianzu , was a leader of the Shatuo Turks during the waning years of the Tang Dynasty.- Background :Zhuye Chixin's ancestors had been hereditary chiefs of...
(who was then the Tang-commissioned military governor of Zhenwu Circuit (振武, headquartered in modern Hohhot
Hohhot
Hohhot , is a city in north-central China and the capital of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, serving as the region's administrative, economic, and cultural centre....
, Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
) rebelled and seized Datong Circuit (大同, headquartered in modern Datong
Datong
Datong is a prefecture-level city in northern Shanxi Province of North China, located a few hundred kilometres west by rail from Beijing with an elevation of...
, 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 was subsequently joined in rebellion by his father Li Guochang, Li Keju was one of generals whose army that Emperor Xizong ordered to mobilize against Li Guochang and Li Keyong, along with Li Jun (李均) the military governor of Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, headquartered in modern Changzhi
Changzhi
Changzhi is a prefecture-level city in Shanxi Province, People's Republic of China. It lies between the city of Huozhou in Shanxi and the city of Hebi in Henan....
, 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....
), the Tuyuhun chieftains Helian Duo
Helian Duo
Helian Duo was an ethnically-Tuyuhun warlord in late Tang Dynasty. He had a long-running enmity with the Shatuo chieftain Li Keyong, and was killed by Li Keyong in 894.- Background and initial campaign against Li Keyong :...
and Bai Yicheng (白義誠), and Sage (薩葛) chieftain Mi Haiwan (米海萬). When Li Keju subsequently launched his attack against Li Keyong, Li Keyong stationed himself at Xiongwu Base (雄武軍, in modern Chengde
Chengde
Chengde , previously known as Jehol or Re He , is a prefecture-level city in Hebei province, People's Republic of China, situated northeast of Beijing. It is best known as the site of the Mountain Resort, a vast imperial garden and palace formerly used by the Qing emperors as summer residence...
, 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 defend against Li Keju, leaving his officer Gao Wenji (高文集) at Shuo Prefecture (朔州, in modern Shuozhou
Shuozhou
Shuozhou is a city in the north of Shanxi Province in North China, located on the upper reaches of the Fen River. As of 2004, its population is approximately 1.25 million, and the city has an area of approximately 5,737 square kilometres. Administratively, Shuozhou is a prefecture-level city, with...
, 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....
) — but the new Tang-commissioned military governor of Datong, Li Zhuo (李涿), then persuaded Gao to surrender Shuo to him. When Li Keyong subsequently returned to Shuo to try to take it, Li Keju had his officer Han Xuanshao (韓玄紹) intercept Li Keyong, crushing Li Keyong's army and killing some 7,000 soldiers, before again defeating Li Keyong at Xiongwu Base. When Li Guochang was subsequently defeated by Li Zhuo and Helian, Li Guochang and Li Keyong were forced to abandon Datong Circuit and flee to the Dada (達靼) tribes. For his contributions, Li Keju was bestowed the honorary chancellor title of Shizhong (侍中).
In 882
882
Year 882 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Carloman, King of the West Franks, becomes sole king upon the death of his brother....
, Li Keyong tried to return to Datong Circuit, and he engaged both Helian (who had been made the military governor of Datong by that point) and Li Keju, defeating both, although he was subsequently repelled by Zheng Congdang
Zheng Congdang
Zheng Congdang , courtesy name Zhengqiu , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, twice serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong.-Background and early career:...
the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan
Taiyuan
Taiyuan is the capital and largest city of Shanxi province in North China. At the 2010 census, it had a total population of 4,201,591 inhabitants on 6959 km² whom 3,212,500 are urban on 1,460 km². The name of the city literally means "Great Plains", referring to the location where the Fen River...
, 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 forced to return north.
Death
By 885885
Year 885 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The Vikings besiege Paris.* Godfrith, the Sea King is killed in Lobith...
, Li Keyong, who had again become a Tang subject and made major contributions in Tang's defeat 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 the military governor of Hedong and controlled several nearby circuits as well. He was also an ally to Wang Chucun
Wang Chucun
Wang Chucun was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who controlled Yiwu Circuit in late Tang. He was one of the main contributors in Tang's eventual defeat of the agrarian rebel Huang Chao....
the military governor of Yiwu Circuit (義武, headquartered in modern Baoding
Baoding
-Administrative divisions:Baoding prefecture-level city consists of 3 municipal districts, 4 county-level cities, 18 counties:-Demographics:The Baoding urban area has a population of around 1,006,000 . The population of the Baoding administrative area is 10,890,000. The considerable majority are...
, 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...
). Both Li Keju and Wang Rong
Wang Rong
Wang Rong , style name Junchong , was a politician of the Jin Dynasty period of Chinese history.Wang Rong served under Jin as the 3rd East General. Wang Rong participated during the final conquest of Eastern Wu, where he led his army as far as to that of Wuchang...
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...
) were fearful of Li Keyong's growing strength, and therefore formed a pact to conquer Yiwu and divide its territory. They also persuaded Helian to attack Li Keyong to occupy him so that he could not save Li Chucun. In spring 885, they launched the attack, with Li Keju sending 60,000 soldiers under his officer Li Quanzhong
Li Quanzhong
Li Quanzhong was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who controlled Lulong Circuit from 885, when he overthrew the prior military governor Li Keju, to his death in 886...
to attack Yi Prefecture (易州, in modern Baoding), one of Yiwu's two prefectures, while Wang Rong attacked Wuji (無極, in modern Shijiazhuang).
Initially, the Lulong attack was successful, as Li Quanzhong's subordinate Liu Rengong
Liu Rengong
Liu Rengong was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who controlled Lulong Circuit from 895 to 907...
captured Yi by digging a tunnel into it. However, Li Keyong, despite Helian's attack, came to Yiwu's aid himself and repelled the Chengde attack at Wuji and Xincheng (新城, in modern Shijuazhuang), forcing the Chengde forces to withdraw. Meanwhile, the Lulong forces had become overly confident after capturing Yi. Wang Chucun sent 3,000 soldiers disguised as sheep (by wearing sheepskin) at night to approach Yi. The Lulong soldiers, believing that they were sheep, opened the city gates to seize them. Wang Chucun then attacked, defeating Li Quanzhong and recapturing Yi.
Li Quanzhong, believing that Li Keju would punish him for this defeat, decided to turn against Li Keju. He gathered his remaining troops and attacked Lulong's capital You Prefecture (幽州). Li Keju could not resist the attack. He took his family onto a tower and burned it to commit suicide. Li Quanzhong took over the circuit as acting military governor.