Qi Kerang
Encyclopedia
Qi Kerang was a general of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, who was part of Tang's resistance against the major agrarian rebel Huang Chao
, as the military governor (Jiedushi
) of Taining Circuit (泰寧, headquartered in modern Jining, Shandong
). After his failures against Huang, he returned to Taining, but in 886
was displaced in a surprise attack by Zhu Jin
.
, the Book of Tang
and the New Book of Tang
. As of 880
, he was serving as the military governor of Taining Circuit, when then-reigning Emperor Xizong
ordered the troops of several eastern circuits to be stationed at Yin River (溵水, a major branch of the Shaying River
), and Qi Kerang's Taining troops to be stationed at Ru Prefecture (汝州, in modern Pingdingshan
, Henan
), to block off the northwestward advance by the major agrarian rebel Huang Chao
.
In fall 880, Huang arrived in the region and, due to sheer numerical advantages (150,000 to 6,000), defeated Qi Kerang's colleague Cao Quanzhen (曹全晸) the military governor of Tianping Circuit (天平, headquartered in modern Tai'an
, Shandong
). Further, around the same time, Xue Neng (薛能) the military governor of Zhongwu Circuit (忠武, headquartered in modern Xuchang
, Henan
) was killed in a mutiny led by Zhou Ji
. Qi, worried that Zhou would ambush him, abandoned his defensive position and returned to Taining's capital Yan Prefecture (兗州); following his lead, the other circuits' forces also abandoned their defensive position at Yin River, allowing Huang an open path toward the eastern capital Luoyang
and the imperial capital Chang'an
.
Qi soon regrouped and returned to the vicinity of Luoyang, but faced with Huang's growing strength, decided to withdraw to Tong Pass to defend it against Huang's further advance toward Chang'an. At that time, he still had more than 10,000 soldiers, but his troops had no food supplies. When Emperor Xizong commissioned the imperial guard general Zhang Chengfan (張承範) to reinforce Qi with a few thousand troops, Zhang objected on the basis that neither his troops nor Qi's troops had food supplies; Emperor Xizong sent Zhang on his way anyway, claiming that the food supplies would follow, but none did.
On January 4, 881
, Zhang's relief troops arrived at Tong Pass, as did Huang's forward troops. Qi's troops and Huang's troops battled for most of the morning, and initially were able to fight off Huang's troops. However, around noontime, Qi's troops, in hunger, collapsed, and the soldiers trampled through Jinkeng (禁坑), a valley full of thorns that served as part of the defensive perimeter for Tong Pass, destroying the thorns and therefore leaving Tong Pass open to attack. Qi fled, while Zhang continued to try to defend Tong Pass, but it fell, allowing Huang to continue on and capture Chang'an, forcing Emperor Xizong to flee to Chengdu
.
(by which time Huang Chao had been defeated and Emperor Xizong had returned to Chang'an) when, as the result of a major dispute between the powerful eunuch Tian Lingzi
and Wang Chongrong
the military governor of Hezhong Circuit (河中, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi), Tian tried to transfer Wang to Taining, Qi to Yiwu Circuit (義武, headquartered in modern Baoding
, Hebei
), and Wang Chucun
the military governor of Yiwu to Hezhong. Wang Chucun defended Wang Chongrong in a petition, while Wang Chongrong gathered his troops and, along with his ally Li Keyong
the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan
, Shanxi
), defeated those of Tian and Tian's allies Zhu Mei
the military governor of Jingnan Circuit (靜難, headquartered in modern Xianyang
, Shaanxi
) and Li Changfu
the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji
, Shaanxi
). What position Qi took during the affair was unclear, but there was no record that he either refused to or tried to report to Yiwu.
In 886
, Zhu Jin
, an officer at Tianping and the cousin to Tianping's then-military governor Zhu Xuan
, asked Qi to give his daughter in marriage to Zhu Jin. Qi agreed, but did not know that this was actually part of Zhu Jin's plot to take over Tianing. Zhu Jin led a procession from Tianping's capital Yun Prefecture (鄆州) to Yan Prefecture, and on his wagons hid weapons and armor. When he reached Yan Prefecture, on the day that he was supposed to receive the bride, he made a surprise attack, evicting Qi from Yan Prefecture. He took over Taining Circuit and was eventually commissioned to be Taining's new military governor. That was the last historical reference to Qi, and it is not known what happened to him afterwards.
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 was part of Tang's resistance against the major 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...
, as the 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 Taining Circuit (泰寧, headquartered in modern Jining, Shandong
Jining, Shandong
Jining is a prefecture-level city in southwestern Shandong province, People's Republic of China. It borders Heze to the southwest, Zaozhuang to the southeast, Tai'an to the northeast, and the provinces of Henan and Jiangsu to the northwest and south respectively...
). After his failures against Huang, he returned to Taining, but in 886
886
Year 886 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :...
was displaced in a surprise attack by Zhu Jin
Zhu Jin
Zhu Jin was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who would later be a major general of the Wu state during the subsequent Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period...
.
Resistance against Huang Chao
Little is known about Qi Kerang's background, as he did not have a biography in either of the official histories of Tang DynastyTang 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...
, the Book of Tang
Book of Tang
The Book of Tang , Jiu Tangshu or the Old Book of Tang is the first classic work about the Tang Dynasty. The book began when Gaozu of Later Jin ordered its commencement in 941...
and the New Book of Tang
New Book of Tang
The New Book of Tang , is a classic work of history about the Tang Dynasty edited by Ouyang Xiu and Song Qi and other official scholars of the Song Dynasty. The emperor called for a revision of the former Book of Tang in 1044. The New Book was presented to the throne in 1060. It was given its...
. As of 880
880
Year 880 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Religion :* Pope John VIII issues the bull Industriae Tuae, creating an independent ecclesiastical province in Great Moravia with Archbishop Saint Methodius as its head...
, he was serving as the military governor of Taining Circuit, when 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...
ordered the troops of several eastern circuits to be stationed at Yin River (溵水, a major branch of the Shaying River
Shaying River
Shaying River is a river of China. It is part of the Yellow Sea basin. A major tributary of the Shaying is the Yin River ....
), and Qi Kerang's Taining troops to be stationed at Ru Prefecture (汝州, in modern Pingdingshan
Pingdingshan
Pingdingshan , also known as the Eagle City, with approximately 5.2 million inhabitants is a prefecture-level city in central Henan province, People's Republic of China.-Geography:...
, 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...
), to block off the northwestward advance by the major 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...
.
In fall 880, Huang arrived in the region and, due to sheer numerical advantages (150,000 to 6,000), defeated Qi Kerang's colleague Cao Quanzhen (曹全晸) the military governor of 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...
). Further, around the same time, Xue Neng (薛能) the military governor of Zhongwu Circuit (忠武, headquartered in modern Xuchang
Xuchang
Xuchang is a prefecture-level city in central Henan province in Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the northwest, Kaifeng to the northeast, Zhoukou to the east, Luohe to the southeast, and Pingdingshan to the southwest....
, 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...
) was killed in a mutiny led by Zhou Ji
Zhou Ji (Tang Dynasty)
Zhou Ji was a warlord of the late Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who seized control of Zhongwu Circuit in 880, briefly submitted to the agrarian rebel Huang Chao's new state of Qi, and later returned the Tang fold, controlling Zhongwu until he was forced to abandon it in 884 due to an attack by Lu...
. Qi, worried that Zhou would ambush him, abandoned his defensive position and returned to Taining's capital Yan Prefecture (兗州); following his lead, the other circuits' forces also abandoned their defensive position at Yin River, allowing Huang an open path toward the eastern capital Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
and the imperial capital Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
.
Qi soon regrouped and returned to the vicinity of Luoyang, but faced with Huang's growing strength, decided to withdraw to Tong Pass to defend it against Huang's further advance toward Chang'an. At that time, he still had more than 10,000 soldiers, but his troops had no food supplies. When Emperor Xizong commissioned the imperial guard general Zhang Chengfan (張承範) to reinforce Qi with a few thousand troops, Zhang objected on the basis that neither his troops nor Qi's troops had food supplies; Emperor Xizong sent Zhang on his way anyway, claiming that the food supplies would follow, but none did.
On January 4, 881
881
Year 881 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Charles the Fat is crowned Western Emperor.* Battle of Saucourt-en-Vimeu: Louis III of France routs Norman pirates....
, Zhang's relief troops arrived at Tong Pass, as did Huang's forward troops. Qi's troops and Huang's troops battled for most of the morning, and initially were able to fight off Huang's troops. However, around noontime, Qi's troops, in hunger, collapsed, and the soldiers trampled through Jinkeng (禁坑), a valley full of thorns that served as part of the defensive perimeter for Tong Pass, destroying the thorns and therefore leaving Tong Pass open to attack. Qi fled, while Zhang continued to try to defend Tong Pass, but it fell, allowing Huang to continue on and capture Chang'an, forcing Emperor Xizong to flee to Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
.
Removal from Taining
After his failure against Huang Chao, Qi Kerang appeared to have returned to Taining, for he was still referred to as the military governor of Taining in 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...
(by which time Huang Chao had been defeated and Emperor Xizong had returned to Chang'an) when, as the result of a major dispute between the powerful eunuch Tian Lingzi
Tian Lingzi
Tian Lingzi , courtesy name Zhongze , formally the Duke of Jin , was a powerful eunuch during the reign of Emperor Xizong of Tang...
and Wang Chongrong
Wang Chongrong
Wang Chongrong , formally the Prince of Langye , was a warlord of the late Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who controlled Hezhong Circuit...
the military governor of Hezhong Circuit (河中, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi), Tian tried to transfer Wang to Taining, Qi to 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...
), and 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 to Hezhong. Wang Chucun defended Wang Chongrong in a petition, while Wang Chongrong gathered his troops and, along with his ally 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 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....
), defeated those of Tian and Tian's allies Zhu Mei
Zhu Mei
Zhu Mei was a warlord of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. Disillusioned with Emperor Xizong and the powerful eunuch Tian Lingzi, he tried to support Emperor Xizong's distant relative Li Yun the Prince of Xiang as the new emperor, but was soon thereafter killed by his own officer Wang Xingyu.-...
the military governor of Jingnan Circuit (靜難, headquartered in modern Xianyang
Xianyang
Xianyang is a former capital of China in Shaanxi province, on the Wei River, a few kilometers upstream from Xi'an. It has an area of...
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
) and Li Changfu
Li Changfu
Li Changfu was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who ruled Fengxiang Circuit from 884 to 887...
the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji
Baoji
Baoji is a prefecture-level city in Shaanxi province, China.-Geography:The prefecture-level city of Baoji has a population of 3,716,731 according to the 2010 Chinese census, inhabiting an area of . The city itself has a population of approximately 800,000. Surrounded on three sides by hills,...
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
). What position Qi took during the affair was unclear, but there was no record that he either refused to or tried to report to Yiwu.
In 886
886
Year 886 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :...
, Zhu Jin
Zhu Jin
Zhu Jin was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who would later be a major general of the Wu state during the subsequent Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period...
, an officer at Tianping and the cousin to Tianping's then-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...
, asked Qi to give his daughter in marriage to Zhu Jin. Qi agreed, but did not know that this was actually part of Zhu Jin's plot to take over Tianing. Zhu Jin led a procession from Tianping's capital Yun Prefecture (鄆州) to Yan Prefecture, and on his wagons hid weapons and armor. When he reached Yan Prefecture, on the day that he was supposed to receive the bride, he made a surprise attack, evicting Qi from Yan Prefecture. He took over Taining Circuit and was eventually commissioned to be Taining's new military governor. That was the last historical reference to Qi, and it is not known what happened to him afterwards.