Yang Fuguang
Encyclopedia
Yang Fuguang (842
-883
), formally Duke Zhongsu of Hongnong (弘農忠肅公), was an eunuch general of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, who was considered a major contributor to the Tang cause in finally defeating Huang Chao
's rebellion.
, during the reign of Emperor Wuzong
. He was originally surnamed Qiao (喬) and was from the Min (閩) region — i.e., modern Fujian
. At some point, he became an eunuch and an adoptive son of the powerful eunuch Yang Xuanjie (楊玄价), and therefore took the surname of Yang. It was said that Yang Fuguang was strong and self-motivated, impressing Yang Xuanjie. Because Yang Fuguang was considered to have military capabilities, he served several successive terms as eunuch monitor of armies. (Yang Fuguang was thus the adoptive cousin of another later-prominent eunuch, Yang Fugong
, as Yang Fugong was the adoptive son of Yang Xuanjie's adoptive brother Yang Xuanyi (楊玄翼).)
, Yang Fuguang was serving as the eunuch monitor of the army under the general Zeng Yuanyu (曾元裕), who was then serving as the deputy commander for Tang forces in the campaign against the agrarian rebel Wang Xianzhi
. In 877
, Yang sent messengers to Wang and persuaded him to surrender to Tang imperial forces. Wang agreed, and he sent his general Shang Junzhang (尚君長) to further discuss the matter with Yang. Zeng's superior Song Wei (宋威), however, ambushed and captured Shang on his way to Yang's camp. Song then submitted a report claiming that he had captured Shang in battle. Despite Yang's report that Shang was participating in Wang's negotiations to surrender, then-reigning Emperor Xizong
believed Song's report and had Shang executed. In anger, Wang broke off negotiations and continued his rebellion. Subsequently, when the chancellor Wang Duo
was put in overall command of the operations, Yang served as the eunuch monitor of his army.
By 880
, when Wang Xianzhi had already been killed in battle but Huang Chao
had in turn become the most powerful agrarian rebel figure, Yang Fuguang was serving as the eunuch monitor of Jingnan Circuit (荊南, headquartered in modern Jingzhou
, Hubei
), when, in the absence of a military governor (Jiedushi
), he commissioned the officer Song Hao (宋浩) to oversee the circuit's affairs. Subsequently, though, when Song had a dispute with the officer Duan Yanmo
over Song's punishment of some of Duan's soldiers, Duan killed Song. Yang subsequently submitted a report that indicated that Song's punishment was overly harsh, and Duan was not punished. (According to Yang's biography in the New Book of Tang
, Yang encouraged Duan's actions because Song was disrespectful to Yang as well.) Subsequently, Yang was made the eunuch monitor at Zhongwu Circuit (忠武, headquartered in modern Xuchang
, Henan
).
, forcing Emperor Xizong to flee to Chengdu
. A number of Tang generals submitted to Huang, who declared himself the emperor of a new state of Qi. Among those was the military governor of Zhongwu, Zhou Ji
. One night, when Zhou invited Yang Fuguang to a feast, Yang's attendants, pointing out that Zhou had already submitted to Qi, Yang should fear whether Zhou would kill him. Yang pointed out that he needed to do what he could to persuade Zhou back to the Tang imperial cause and should do so despite dangers to himself, and so attended the feast. At the feast, Yang persuaded Zhou to rejoin the Tang cause, and he further sent his adoptive son Yang Shouliang
to assassinate Huang's emissary to Zhongwu. Subsequently, Yang organized the Zhongwu troops into eight corps, commanded by eight officers, including Lu Yanhong
, Jin Hui (晉暉), Wang Jian, Han Jian
, Zhang Zao (張造), Li Shitai (李師泰), and Pang Cong (龐從). The Zhongwu forces were able to repel the Qi forces under Zhu Wen, preserving Zhongwu's ability to resist Qi. In winter 881
, Yang further advanced his troops to Wugong (武功, in modern Xianyang
, Shaanxi
), close to Chang'an, preparing to participate in the operations to recapture Chang'an from Huang. Tang forces subsequently briefly recaptured Chang'an, but Huang subsequently defeated them and took Chang'an again. Yang subsequently joined forces with Wang Chongrong
the military governor of Hezhong Circuit (河中, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi), and they persuaded Zhu, who then was at Tong Prefecture (同州, in modern Weinan
, Shaanxi
), to join the Tang cause as well.
However, Huang's army remained powerful, and Wang was apprehensive to directly act against Huang. Yang suggested that they enlist the aid of the Shatuo
chieftain Li Keyong
— who had previously rebelled against Tang and been branded a renegade. Yang submitted the proposal to Wang Duo (who was then again overseeing the operations against Huang), and Wang issued an edict in Emperor Xizong's name summoning Li Keyong. Li Keyong agreed, and he joined forces with Yang and Wang Chongrong, preparing to again attack Chang'an. In summer 883, with Li Keyong leading the operation, the imperial forces defeated Huang's, forcing Huang to abandon Chang'an and flee east. Subsequently, it was Yang who submitted the public report to Emperor Xizong proclaiming the victory at Chang'an. For his contributions, he was given the honorific title of Kaifu Yitong Sansi (開府儀同三司) and created the Duke of Hongnong.
Yang died later in 883, at Hezhong. It was said that because he had led the troops well, the troops greatly mourned his death. Yang had a large number of adoptive sons (who were not eunuchs), and many of them would become key military officers.
842
Year 842 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* February 14 – Charles the Bald and Louis the German sign a treaty....
-883
883
Year 883 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Oldest known mention of the city of Duisburg.* Monte Cassino is sacked and burned down by the Saracens....
), formally Duke Zhongsu of Hongnong (弘農忠肅公), was an eunuch 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 was considered a major contributor to the Tang cause in finally defeating 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...
's rebellion.
Background
Yang Fuguang was born in 842842
Year 842 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* February 14 – Charles the Bald and Louis the German sign a treaty....
, during the reign of 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...
. He was originally surnamed Qiao (喬) and was from the Min (閩) region — i.e., modern Fujian
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
. At some point, he became an eunuch and an adoptive son of the powerful eunuch Yang Xuanjie (楊玄价), and therefore took the surname of Yang. It was said that Yang Fuguang was strong and self-motivated, impressing Yang Xuanjie. Because Yang Fuguang was considered to have military capabilities, he served several successive terms as eunuch monitor of armies. (Yang Fuguang was thus the adoptive cousin of another later-prominent eunuch, Yang Fugong
Yang Fugong
Yang Fugong , courtesy name Zike , formally the Duke of Wei , was an eunuch official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, playing key roles in the imperial administrations of Emperor Xizong and Emperor Xizong's brother Emperor Zhaozong...
, as Yang Fugong was the adoptive son of Yang Xuanjie's adoptive brother Yang Xuanyi (楊玄翼).)
Before Huang Chao captured Chang'an
As of 876876
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...
, Yang Fuguang was serving as the eunuch monitor of the army under the general Zeng Yuanyu (曾元裕), who was then serving as the deputy commander for Tang forces in the campaign against the agrarian rebel Wang Xianzhi
Wang Xianzhi
Wang Xianzhi , courtesy name Zijing , was a famous Chinese calligrapher of the Eastern Jin.He was the seventh and youngest son of the famed Wang Xizhi. Wang inherited his father's talent for the art, although his siblings were all notable calligraphers. His style is more fluid than his father's,...
. In 877
877
Year 877 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The Danes take Exeter, England.* A flotilla of 120 Danish ships is lost in a storm off Swanage....
, Yang sent messengers to Wang and persuaded him to surrender to Tang imperial forces. Wang agreed, and he sent his general Shang Junzhang (尚君長) to further discuss the matter with Yang. Zeng's superior Song Wei (宋威), however, ambushed and captured Shang on his way to Yang's camp. Song then submitted a report claiming that he had captured Shang in battle. Despite Yang's report that Shang was participating in Wang's negotiations to surrender, 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...
believed Song's report and had Shang executed. In anger, Wang broke off negotiations and continued his rebellion. Subsequently, when the 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 put in overall command of the operations, Yang served as the eunuch monitor of his army.
By 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...
, when Wang Xianzhi had already been killed in battle but 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...
had in turn become the most powerful agrarian rebel figure, Yang Fuguang was serving as the eunuch monitor of Jingnan Circuit (荊南, headquartered in modern Jingzhou
Jingzhou
Jingzhou is a prefecture-level city in Hubei Province, People's Republic of China. The city is located on the banks of the Yangtze River.Its population is 5,691,707 at the 2010 census whom 1,154,086 in the built up area made of 3 urban districts.-Geography:Jingzhou occupies an area of...
, Hubei
Hubei
' Hupeh) is a province in Central China. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Lake Dongting...
), when, in the absence of a 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...
), he commissioned the officer Song Hao (宋浩) to oversee the circuit's affairs. Subsequently, though, when Song had a dispute with the officer Duan Yanmo
Duan Yanmo
Duan Yanmo was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who, from 880 to 882, controlled Jingnan Circuit in conjunction with the eunuch Zhu Jingmei, but later had a fallout with Zhu and was killed by Zhu.- Background :Not much is known about Duan Yanmo's background, as he did not have...
over Song's punishment of some of Duan's soldiers, Duan killed Song. Yang subsequently submitted a report that indicated that Song's punishment was overly harsh, and Duan was not punished. (According to Yang's biography in 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...
, Yang encouraged Duan's actions because Song was disrespectful to Yang as well.) Subsequently, Yang was made the eunuch monitor at 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...
).
After Huang Chao captured Chang'an
Late in 880, Huang Chao captured the imperial capital Chang'anChang'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...
, 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...
. A number of Tang generals submitted to Huang, who declared himself the emperor of a new state of Qi. Among those was the military governor of Zhongwu, 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...
. One night, when Zhou invited Yang Fuguang to a feast, Yang's attendants, pointing out that Zhou had already submitted to Qi, Yang should fear whether Zhou would kill him. Yang pointed out that he needed to do what he could to persuade Zhou back to the Tang imperial cause and should do so despite dangers to himself, and so attended the feast. At the feast, Yang persuaded Zhou to rejoin the Tang cause, and he further sent his adoptive son Yang Shouliang
Yang Shouliang
Yang Shouliang , né Zi Liang , was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who controlled Shannan West Circuit from 887 to 892. He was initially an agrarian rebel under Wang Xianzhi, but later came to serve under the imperial eunuch general Yang Fuguang, becoming Yang Fuguang's...
to assassinate Huang's emissary to Zhongwu. Subsequently, Yang organized the Zhongwu troops into eight corps, commanded by eight officers, including Lu Yanhong
Lu Yanhong
Lu Yanhong was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who controlled Shannan West Circuit from 883 to 884 and Zhongwu Circuit from 884 to 886.- Background and service under Yang Fuguang :Little is known about Lu Yanhong's background, including when he was born, as...
, Jin Hui (晉暉), Wang Jian, Han Jian
Han Jian (Tang Dynasty)
Han Jian , courtesy name Zuoshi , was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who eventually became a subject of the succeeding Later Liang Dynasty...
, Zhang Zao (張造), Li Shitai (李師泰), and Pang Cong (龐從). The Zhongwu forces were able to repel the Qi forces under Zhu Wen, preserving Zhongwu's ability to resist Qi. In winter 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....
, Yang further advanced his troops to Wugong (武功, 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...
), close to Chang'an, preparing to participate in the operations to recapture Chang'an from Huang. Tang forces subsequently briefly recaptured Chang'an, but Huang subsequently defeated them and took Chang'an again. Yang subsequently joined forces with 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), and they persuaded Zhu, who then was at Tong Prefecture (同州, in modern Weinan
Weinan
Weinan is a Municipality in the province of Shaanxi, PRC. The Grand Historian Sima Qian was born in Weinan.-Administration:...
, 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...
), to join the Tang cause as well.
However, Huang's army remained powerful, and Wang was apprehensive to directly act against Huang. Yang suggested that they enlist the aid 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 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...
— who had previously rebelled against Tang and been branded a renegade. Yang submitted the proposal to Wang Duo (who was then again overseeing the operations against Huang), and Wang issued an edict in Emperor Xizong's name summoning Li Keyong. Li Keyong agreed, and he joined forces with Yang and Wang Chongrong, preparing to again attack Chang'an. In summer 883, with Li Keyong leading the operation, the imperial forces defeated Huang's, forcing Huang to abandon Chang'an and flee east. Subsequently, it was Yang who submitted the public report to Emperor Xizong proclaiming the victory at Chang'an. For his contributions, he was given the honorific title of Kaifu Yitong Sansi (開府儀同三司) and created the Duke of Hongnong.
Yang died later in 883, at Hezhong. It was said that because he had led the troops well, the troops greatly mourned his death. Yang had a large number of adoptive sons (who were not eunuchs), and many of them would become key military officers.