Yang Zhicheng
Encyclopedia
Yang Zhicheng (died 835
?) was a general of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, ruling Lulong Circuit (盧龍, headquartered in modern Beijing
) as its military governor (Jiedushi
) in de facto independence from the imperial government from 831
to 834
.
, Yang Zhicheng served as the deputy commander of the headquarter guards at Lulong Circuit, serving under the military governor Li Zaiyi
.
, when Li Zaiyi was feasting with an imperial messenger, Yang Zhicheng and a group of soldiers he gathered started a disturbance. Li Zaiyi and his son fled to Yi Prefecture (易州, in modern Baoding
, Hebei
), in neighboring Yiwu Circuit (義武). As part of his takeover, Yang also killed the prefect of Mo Prefecture (莫州, in modern Cangzhou
, Hebei
), Zhang Qingchu (張慶初). Then-reigning Emperor Wenzong
was initially concerned and considered his options, but at the urging of the chancellor Niu Sengru
, who pointed out that for decades, Lulong had, in effect, not been under the control of the imperial government, and that Li Zaiyi himself had taken control of the circuit without imperial input. Emperor Wenzong thus allowed Yang to remain in control of the circuit and made him acting military governor (留後, Liuhou). Later in the year, Emperor Wenzong made Yang military governor.
, in addition to being military governor, Yang Zhicheng also carried the honorary title of acting minister of public works (工部尚書, Gongbu Shangshu). In 833, apparently, he demanded greater honor from the imperial government; in response, the imperial government bestowed the honorary title of acting minister of civil service affairs (吏部尚書, Libu Shangshu) on him. His representative at the capital Chang'an
, the officer Xu Di (徐迪), arrogantly informed the chancellors, "The soldiers do not understand the system of offices at the imperial government. They only know that it is a promotion to go from being a minister to being Pushe [(僕射, the head of the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng)], and they do not know that it is also a promotion to go from the ministry of public works to the ministry of civil service affairs. I fear that when the imperial messenger goes, he will not be able to leave." However, the chancellors took no heed of Xu's threat. Subsequently, when the imperial messengers Wei Baoyi (魏寶義), Jiao Fengluan (焦奉鸞), and Yin Shigong (尹士恭) arrived at Lulong, to announce Yang's new commission, to deliver the spring uniforms to the soldiers, and to conduct an embassy to the Xi
and Khitan
tribes, Yang detained them. Yang then sent the officer Wang Wenying (王文穎) to Chang'an, formally to thank for the honors and declining them; when the imperial government responded by giving Wang the commission certificate for the minister of civil service affairs, as well as a reply refusing to allow Yang to decline, Wang refused to accept them and left Chang'an without taking them. Eventually, the imperial government placated him later that year by naming him Pushe.
, there was another disturbance in the Lulong army, and Yang Zhicheng was expelled, along with the eunuch monitor Li Huaiwu (李懷仵). The soldiers supported the officer Shi Yuanzhong
to take over. As he went through Taiyuan
, the capital of Hedong Circuit (河東), Li Zaiyi, who was at that time the military governor of Hedong, had him battered and wanted to kill him, and it was only at the intercession of Li Zaiyi's staff that Yang escaped death, but Li Zaiyi killed Yang's wife and followers. Further, because during Yang's time as military governor, Yang had dug up the graves of Li Zaiyi's mother and brother to take the treasures buried with them, Li Zaiyi made a request to the imperial government to kill Yang and take out his heart to be sacrificed to Li Zaiyi's mother; the imperial government declined the request.
Subsequently, Shi submitted two sets of clothing that Yang had made, that were in designs only appropriate for an emperor, as well as other equipment that only an emperor should use. As a result, Yang was ordered exiled to the Lingnan
region. On the way, when he got to Shang Prefecture (商州, in modern Shangluo
, Shaanxi
), another order was issued for his execution, and he was executed there.
835
Year 835 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Ragnar Lodbrok rises to power ....
?) 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...
, ruling 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...
) 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...
) in de facto independence from the imperial government from 831
831
Year 831 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* In this year, an Uyghur Turk sues the son of a Chinese Tang Dynasty grand general who had failed to repay a debt of 11 million government-issued copper coins...
to 834
834
Year 834 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The Vikings first raid Dorestad ....
.
Early career
Virtually nothing is known about Yang Zhicheng's background, including when he was born or where his family was from. It is known that as of 831831
Year 831 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* In this year, an Uyghur Turk sues the son of a Chinese Tang Dynasty grand general who had failed to repay a debt of 11 million government-issued copper coins...
, Yang Zhicheng served as the deputy commander of the headquarter guards at Lulong Circuit, serving under the military governor Li Zaiyi
Li Zaiyi
Li Zaiyi , courtesy name Fanggu , formally the Prince of Wuwei , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who, from 826 to 831, ruled Lulong Circuit in de facto independence from the imperial government as the circuit's military governor , although he was respectful to Emperor Wenzong and...
.
Seizure of Lulong Circuit
On a day in spring 831831
Year 831 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* In this year, an Uyghur Turk sues the son of a Chinese Tang Dynasty grand general who had failed to repay a debt of 11 million government-issued copper coins...
, when Li Zaiyi was feasting with an imperial messenger, Yang Zhicheng and a group of soldiers he gathered started a disturbance. Li Zaiyi and his son fled to Yi Prefecture (易州, 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...
), in neighboring Yiwu Circuit (義武). As part of his takeover, Yang also killed the prefect of Mo Prefecture (莫州, 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...
), Zhang Qingchu (張慶初). 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...
was initially concerned and considered his options, but at the urging of the chancellor Niu Sengru
Niu Sengru
Niu Sengru , courtesy name Si'an , formally Duke Wenzhen of Qizhang , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Muzong and his sons Emperor Jingzong and Emperor Wenzong...
, who pointed out that for decades, Lulong had, in effect, not been under the control of the imperial government, and that Li Zaiyi himself had taken control of the circuit without imperial input. Emperor Wenzong thus allowed Yang to remain in control of the circuit and made him acting military governor (留後, Liuhou). Later in the year, Emperor Wenzong made Yang military governor.
As military governor
As of 833833
Year 833 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* al-Mu'tasim succeeds his brother Al-Ma'mun as Abbasid caliph....
, in addition to being military governor, Yang Zhicheng also carried the honorary title of acting minister of public works (工部尚書, Gongbu Shangshu). In 833, apparently, he demanded greater honor from the imperial government; in response, the imperial government bestowed the honorary title of acting minister of civil service affairs (吏部尚書, Libu Shangshu) on him. His representative at the 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...
, the officer Xu Di (徐迪), arrogantly informed the chancellors, "The soldiers do not understand the system of offices at the imperial government. They only know that it is a promotion to go from being a minister to being Pushe [(僕射, the head of the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng)], and they do not know that it is also a promotion to go from the ministry of public works to the ministry of civil service affairs. I fear that when the imperial messenger goes, he will not be able to leave." However, the chancellors took no heed of Xu's threat. Subsequently, when the imperial messengers Wei Baoyi (魏寶義), Jiao Fengluan (焦奉鸞), and Yin Shigong (尹士恭) arrived at Lulong, to announce Yang's new commission, to deliver the spring uniforms to the soldiers, and to conduct an embassy to the Xi
Kumo Xi
The Kumo Xi ) were a Mongolic steppe people located in current Manchuria from 207 AD to 907 AD. After the death of their ancestor Tadun in 207 they were no longer called Wuhuan but joined the Khitan Xianbei in submitting to the Yuwen Xianbei. Their history is widely linked to the more famous Khitan...
and Khitan
Khitan
The history of the Khitans dates back to the 4th century AD. The Khitan people dominated much of Mongolia and modern Manchuria by the 10th century, under the Liao Dynasty, and eventually collapsed by 1125 ....
tribes, Yang detained them. Yang then sent the officer Wang Wenying (王文穎) to Chang'an, formally to thank for the honors and declining them; when the imperial government responded by giving Wang the commission certificate for the minister of civil service affairs, as well as a reply refusing to allow Yang to decline, Wang refused to accept them and left Chang'an without taking them. Eventually, the imperial government placated him later that year by naming him Pushe.
Defeat and death
In winter 834834
Year 834 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The Vikings first raid Dorestad ....
, there was another disturbance in the Lulong army, and Yang Zhicheng was expelled, along with the eunuch monitor Li Huaiwu (李懷仵). The soldiers supported the officer Shi Yuanzhong
Shi Yuanzhong
Shi Yuanzhong was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving for several years as the military governor of Lulong Circuit and ruling it in de facto independence from the imperial government until he was killed in 841.Virtually nothing is known about Shi Yuanzhong's background,...
to take over. As he went through 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...
, the capital of Hedong Circuit (河東), Li Zaiyi, who was at that time the military governor of Hedong, had him battered and wanted to kill him, and it was only at the intercession of Li Zaiyi's staff that Yang escaped death, but Li Zaiyi killed Yang's wife and followers. Further, because during Yang's time as military governor, Yang had dug up the graves of Li Zaiyi's mother and brother to take the treasures buried with them, Li Zaiyi made a request to the imperial government to kill Yang and take out his heart to be sacrificed to Li Zaiyi's mother; the imperial government declined the request.
Subsequently, Shi submitted two sets of clothing that Yang had made, that were in designs only appropriate for an emperor, as well as other equipment that only an emperor should use. As a result, Yang was ordered exiled to the Lingnan
Lingnan
Lingnan is a geographic area referring to lands in the south of China's "Five Ranges" which are Tayu, Qitian, Dupang, Mengzhu, Yuecheng. The region covers the Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan and Jiangxi provinces of modern China and northern Vietnam...
region. On the way, when he got to Shang Prefecture (商州, in modern Shangluo
Shangluo
-Administrative divisions:...
, 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...
), another order was issued for his execution, and he was executed there.