Gu Yanhui
Encyclopedia
Gu Yanhui (d. November 16, 897) was a warlord late in the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, who controlled Dongchuan Circuit (東川, headquartered in modern Mianyang
, Sichuan
) from 891
, when he succeeded his brother Gu Yanlang
, to 897
, when he, facing defeat against one-time ally Wang Jian, committed suicide with his family members.
, he was from Feng Prefecture (豐州, in modern Bayan Nur
, Inner Mongolia
). Both he and his older brother Gu Yanlang
served as junior officers at Tiande (天德, in modern Bayan Nur). The defender of Tiande, Cai Jing (蔡京), considered both of them to have appearances that indicated that they would be later successful, and therefore had his son give them money. During the subsequent major agrarian rebellion led by Huang Chao
, Gu Yanlang and Gu Yanhui served in the campaign against Huang and participated in Tang's recapture of the capital Chang'an
from Huang. Gu Yanlang was subsequently made a general of the imperial guards.
In 887
, then-reigning Emperor Xizong
made Gu Yanlang the military governor (Jiedushi
) of Dongchuan Circuit. Once he reported to his new post, Gu Yanlang made Gu Yanhui the prefect of Han Prefecture (漢州, in modern Deyang
, Sichuan
).
Meanwhile, a former colleague of Gu Yanlang's in the imperial guards corps, Wang Jian, had seized Lang Prefecture (閬州, in modern Nanchong
, Sichuan
) and claimed the title of prefect, and was sending the troops under him to raid the nearby regions, but remained in friendly relations with Gu Yanlang. Chen Jingxuan
the military governor of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu
, Sichuan
) became apprehensive that Gu and Wang might join their forces and attack Xichuan. Chen's brother, the former paramount eunuch Tian Lingzi
, who had previously adopted Wang as a son, suggested that he would be able to summon Wang to serve under Chen. Chen agreed, and Tian subsequently wrote a letter inviting Wang to serve under Chen. Wang, receiving Tian's summons, initially indicated that he agreed, and he left his family at Dongchuan's capital Zi Prefecture (梓州) with Gu, while he himself headed toward Xichuan's capital Chengdu
. However, while Wang was on his way, Chen's subordinate Li Ai (李乂) persuaded Chen that Wang could not be trusted, and Chen tried to stop Wang. Wang, however, would not stop, and he defeated officers Chen sent to stop him and proceeded to Chengdu. Gu then launched an army under Gu Yanhui's command to aid Wang. They put Chengdu under siege, but could not capture it, so they lifted the siege.
Wang, however, continued the campaign against Chen, and he raided and seized a number of prefectures of Xichuan Circuit. After Emperor Xizong died in 888
and was succeeded by his brother Emperor Zhaozong
— who had despised Tian — Wang submitted a petition to Emperor Zhaozong that argued that Chen and Tian were renegades against imperial rule and that the imperial government should launch a campaign against them, and Gu Yanlang joined Wang's petition as well. Emperor Zhaozong thereafter commissioned the chancellor Wei Zhaodu
as the new military governor of Xichuan and summoned Chen back to Chang'an to serve as a general of the imperial guards. When Chen refused, Emperor Zhaozong declared a general campaign against Chen, with Wei in command and Gu, Wang, and Yang Shouliang
the military governor of Shannan West Circuit (山南西道, headquartered in modern Hanzhong
, Shaanxi
) serving as Wei's deputies.
The campaign lasted for years. By 891
, Chen was in a desperate state, but the imperial government's resources had become drained due to a recent defeat in a campaign against another warlord, Li Keyong
the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan
, Shanxi
). Emperor Zhaozong decided to end the campaign against Chen; he issued an edict restoring Chen's offices and ordering Gu and Wang to withdraw their troops. Wang, however, saw that Chen was near defeat, and he intimidated Wei into returning to Chang'an and leaving him in command of the operations. Chen and Tian surrendered, and Wang became the military governor of Xichuan. Soon thereafter, Gu died, and Gu Yanhui took over as the acting military governor of Dongchuan.
, had his adoptive brother Yang Shouhou (楊守厚) the prefect of Mian Prefecture (綿州, in modern Mianyang) intercept and detain Song, and then attacked Zi Prefecture. Gu sought aid from Wang Jian, who, despite his prior friendship with Gu Yanlang, was not as endeared to Gu Yanhui and was secretly considering seizing Dongchuan. To that end, Wang sent his officers Hua Hong
, Li Jian (李簡), Wang Zongkan (王宗侃), and Wang Zongbi
to aid Dongchuan, but secretly instructed them that if they defeated the Shannan West troops and Gu held a feast to thank them, they should seize Gu at the feast and take over Dongchuan. After Wang Zongkan defeated Yang Shouhou and forced Yang Shouhou to withdraw, Gu was indeed ready to hold such a feast. For reasons lost to history, Wang Zongbi revealed Wang Jian's instructions to Gu, and Gu cancelled the feast under excuse that he was ill.
However, it appeared that for some time thereafter, there remained the appearance of an alliance between Wang Jian's Xichuan and Gu's Dongchuan, for, in 892
, when Wang was attacking Yang Sheng (楊晟) the military governor of Weirong Circuit (威戎, headquartered in modern Chengdu) at Weirong's capital Peng Prefecture (彭州), Yang Sheng sought aid from Yang Shouhou and suggested that Yang Shouhou attack Zi Prefecture to force Wang to aid Dongchuan. Yang Shouhou did so, but when he did so, Gu's officer Dou Xingshi (竇行實), who had agreed to betray Gu from the inside, was discovered, and Gu killed him. Yang Shouhou was thus unable to take Zi. Yang Shouhou and his adoptive brothers Yang Shouzhong (楊守忠) and Yang Shouzhen (楊守貞) were thereafter forced to withdraw after Wang further sent Li Jian to defeat them.
Still, by spring 893
, it appeared that the Wang/Gu alliance was over. Hearing that news, Li Maozhen
the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji
, Shaanxi
), who had defeated Yang Shouliang and seized control of Shannan West and Wuding (武定, headquartered in modern Hanzhong) Circuits late in 892
, wanted to make Gu an ally. He thus suggested to Emperor Zhaozong that he recommission Gu as full military governor. (Gu's commissioning was never carried out due to Yang Shouhou's seizure of Song, and therefore Gu continued to carry the acting military governor title through these years.) Emperor Zhaozong did so. Li Maozhen also sent his adoptive son Li Jimi (李繼密) with an army to Dongchuan to aid Gu. However, soon thereafter, Wang's forces defeated the joint Dongchuan and Fengxiang forces at Li Prefecture (利州, in modern Guangyuan
, Sichuan
). Gu sought peace with Wang and promised, as part of the terms, to terminate relations with Li Maozhen. Wang agreed to peace under those terms.
In 895
, when Emperor Zhaozong temporarily fled the imperial capital Chang'an
due to attempts by Li Maozhen and Wang Xingyu
the military governor of Jingnan Circuit (靜難, headquartered in modern Xianyang
, Shaanxi
), he issued an edict requesting that Wang Jian and Gu come to his aid. Wang used this opportunity to accuse Gu of refusing to do so and seizing his food supplies, and thereafter sent Hua to attack Dongchuan. From this point on, there would be constant warfare between Xichuan and Dongchuan. During one of the battles late in 895, Dongchuan forces captured Wang Zongbi. Gu, remembering how Wang Zongbi had revealed Wang Jian's plot to him earlier, took Wang Zongbi as an adoptive son and changed his name to Gu Chen. Gu sought aid from Li Maozhen, but at that time, Li Maozhen was fearful of an attack from Zhu Quanzhong the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng
, Henan
) and therefore unable to aid him. Wang Jian, who had by 897
put Zi Prefecture under siege, also paid off a number of former agrarian rebel leaders that Gu had taken under his command and made prefects of various Dongchuan prefectures, such that they abandoned Gu and turned to Wang, making Gu's position further desperate.
In late 897, Gu gathered his family at a feast. He instructed his adoptive son Gu Yao (顧瑤) to kill him and the other Gu family members, and then commit suicide, and Gu Yao did so. Prior to doing so, however, Gu Yanhui stated to Gu Chen that since he had not been in his family long, that he did not have to die with them and should leave, so Gu Chen did so. Wang Jian thereafter took control of Dongchuan.
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 Dongchuan Circuit (東川, headquartered in modern Mianyang
Mianyang
Mianyang is the second largest prefecture-level city of Sichuan province in Southwest China. Its administrative area includes the city proper of Mianyang, with 985,586 inhabitants in the built up area , the county-level city of Jiangyou, and six counties, covering an area of over and a population...
, Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
) from 891
891
Year 891 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Arnulf of Carinthia defeats the Normans at the Battle of Leuven....
, when he succeeded his brother Gu Yanlang
Gu Yanlang
Gu Yanlang was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who controlled Dongchuan Circuit from 887 to his death in 891 as its military governor .- Background :...
, to 897
897
Year 897 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Emperor Uda of Japan is succeeded by Emperor Daigo....
, when he, facing defeat against one-time ally Wang Jian, committed suicide with his family members.
Background
It is not known when Gu Yanhui was born. According to his biography in the New Book of TangNew 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...
, he was from Feng Prefecture (豐州, in modern Bayan Nur
Bayan Nur
Bayannur is a prefecture-level city in western Inner Mongolia. Until December 1, 2003, the area was called the Bayannur league.Bayannur city has an area of 65,788 km². It borders Mongolia to the north, Alxa to the west, Ordos to the south and Baotou to the east...
, 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...
). Both he and his older brother Gu Yanlang
Gu Yanlang
Gu Yanlang was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who controlled Dongchuan Circuit from 887 to his death in 891 as its military governor .- Background :...
served as junior officers at Tiande (天德, in modern Bayan Nur). The defender of Tiande, Cai Jing (蔡京), considered both of them to have appearances that indicated that they would be later successful, and therefore had his son give them money. During the subsequent major agrarian rebellion led by 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...
, Gu Yanlang and Gu Yanhui served in the campaign against Huang and participated in Tang's recapture of 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...
from Huang. Gu Yanlang was subsequently made a general of the imperial guards.
In 887
887
Year 887 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The city of Toledo rises against the Umayyad leader....
, 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...
made Gu Yanlang 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 Dongchuan Circuit. Once he reported to his new post, Gu Yanlang made Gu Yanhui the prefect of Han Prefecture (漢州, in modern Deyang
Deyang
Deyang is a prefecture-level city in Sichuan province, China. Deyang is a wealthy, mostly industrial city, with the Erzhong Heavy Machinery Company Deyang is a prefecture-level city in Sichuan province, China. Deyang is a wealthy, mostly industrial city, with the Erzhong Heavy Machinery Company...
, Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
).
Meanwhile, a former colleague of Gu Yanlang's in the imperial guards corps, Wang Jian, had seized Lang Prefecture (閬州, in modern Nanchong
Nanchong
Nanchong is a prefecture-level city in the northeast of Sichuan Province of the People's Republic of China, with an area of 12,479 kilometers. and the home to 7,300,000 people. It has the second most populated area and suggested to be one of the eight largest cities of Sichuan Province...
, Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
) and claimed the title of prefect, and was sending the troops under him to raid the nearby regions, but remained in friendly relations with Gu Yanlang. Chen Jingxuan
Chen Jingxuan
Chen Jingxuan was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who came to control Xichuan Circuit Chen Jingxuan (陳敬瑄) (d. April 26, 893) was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who came to control Xichuan Circuit Chen Jingxuan (陳敬瑄) (d. April 26, 893) was a general of the Chinese...
the military governor of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
, Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
) became apprehensive that Gu and Wang might join their forces and attack Xichuan. Chen's brother, the former paramount 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...
, who had previously adopted Wang as a son, suggested that he would be able to summon Wang to serve under Chen. Chen agreed, and Tian subsequently wrote a letter inviting Wang to serve under Chen. Wang, receiving Tian's summons, initially indicated that he agreed, and he left his family at Dongchuan's capital Zi Prefecture (梓州) with Gu, while he himself headed toward Xichuan's capital Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
. However, while Wang was on his way, Chen's subordinate Li Ai (李乂) persuaded Chen that Wang could not be trusted, and Chen tried to stop Wang. Wang, however, would not stop, and he defeated officers Chen sent to stop him and proceeded to Chengdu. Gu then launched an army under Gu Yanhui's command to aid Wang. They put Chengdu under siege, but could not capture it, so they lifted the siege.
Wang, however, continued the campaign against Chen, and he raided and seized a number of prefectures of Xichuan Circuit. After Emperor Xizong died in 888
888
Year 888 was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* January 13 – With the death of Charles the Fat, the Frankish kingdom is split again, and this time permanently...
and was succeeded by his brother Emperor Zhaozong
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang , né Li Jie , name later changed to Li Min , yet later name changed to Li Ye , was the penultimate emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 888 to 904...
— who had despised Tian — Wang submitted a petition to Emperor Zhaozong that argued that Chen and Tian were renegades against imperial rule and that the imperial government should launch a campaign against them, and Gu Yanlang joined Wang's petition as well. Emperor Zhaozong thereafter commissioned the chancellor Wei Zhaodu
Wei Zhaodu
Wei Zhaodu , courtesy name Zhengji , formally the Duke of Qi , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xizong and Emperor Xizong's brother Emperor Zhaozong...
as the new military governor of Xichuan and summoned Chen back to Chang'an to serve as a general of the imperial guards. When Chen refused, Emperor Zhaozong declared a general campaign against Chen, with Wei in command and Gu, Wang, and 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...
the military governor of Shannan West Circuit (山南西道, headquartered in modern Hanzhong
Hanzhong
Hanzhong is a municipality in southwest Shaanxi Province, China, occupying a historically significant valley in the mountains between the Xi'an area, home to many Chinese capitals, and the fertile but isolated Sichuan Basin...
, 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...
) serving as Wei's deputies.
The campaign lasted for years. By 891
891
Year 891 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Arnulf of Carinthia defeats the Normans at the Battle of Leuven....
, Chen was in a desperate state, but the imperial government's resources had become drained due to a recent defeat in a campaign against another warlord, 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....
). Emperor Zhaozong decided to end the campaign against Chen; he issued an edict restoring Chen's offices and ordering Gu and Wang to withdraw their troops. Wang, however, saw that Chen was near defeat, and he intimidated Wei into returning to Chang'an and leaving him in command of the operations. Chen and Tian surrendered, and Wang became the military governor of Xichuan. Soon thereafter, Gu died, and Gu Yanhui took over as the acting military governor of Dongchuan.
As military governor of Dongchuan
Later in the year, Emperor Zhaozong was set to make Gu Yanhui full military governor of Dongchuan, and he sent the eunuch Song Daobi (宋道弼) to deliver the staff and banner that showed imperial sanction to Gu. Yang Shouliang, who had by that point turned against the imperial government along with his adoptive father, the once-powerful eunuch Yang FugongYang 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...
, had his adoptive brother Yang Shouhou (楊守厚) the prefect of Mian Prefecture (綿州, in modern Mianyang) intercept and detain Song, and then attacked Zi Prefecture. Gu sought aid from Wang Jian, who, despite his prior friendship with Gu Yanlang, was not as endeared to Gu Yanhui and was secretly considering seizing Dongchuan. To that end, Wang sent his officers Hua Hong
Wang Zongdi
Wang Zongdi , né Hua Hong , was an officer who, during the late years of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, served under Wang Jian, the eventual founder of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Former Shu, who adopted him as a son...
, Li Jian (李簡), Wang Zongkan (王宗侃), and Wang Zongbi
Wang Zongbi
Wang Zongbi , né Wei Hongfu , known as Gu Chen during the time he served under Gu Yanhui, formally the Prince of Qi , was a major general of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Former Shu...
to aid Dongchuan, but secretly instructed them that if they defeated the Shannan West troops and Gu held a feast to thank them, they should seize Gu at the feast and take over Dongchuan. After Wang Zongkan defeated Yang Shouhou and forced Yang Shouhou to withdraw, Gu was indeed ready to hold such a feast. For reasons lost to history, Wang Zongbi revealed Wang Jian's instructions to Gu, and Gu cancelled the feast under excuse that he was ill.
However, it appeared that for some time thereafter, there remained the appearance of an alliance between Wang Jian's Xichuan and Gu's Dongchuan, for, in 892
892
Year 892 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Poppo of Thuringia, count of the march in Thuringia, is deposed by the German Carolingian king Arnulf of Carinthia....
, when Wang was attacking Yang Sheng (楊晟) the military governor of Weirong Circuit (威戎, headquartered in modern Chengdu) at Weirong's capital Peng Prefecture (彭州), Yang Sheng sought aid from Yang Shouhou and suggested that Yang Shouhou attack Zi Prefecture to force Wang to aid Dongchuan. Yang Shouhou did so, but when he did so, Gu's officer Dou Xingshi (竇行實), who had agreed to betray Gu from the inside, was discovered, and Gu killed him. Yang Shouhou was thus unable to take Zi. Yang Shouhou and his adoptive brothers Yang Shouzhong (楊守忠) and Yang Shouzhen (楊守貞) were thereafter forced to withdraw after Wang further sent Li Jian to defeat them.
Still, by spring 893
893
Year 893 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Council of Preslav: Simeon I succeeds Vladimir as prince of Bulgaria; the capital is moved from Pliska to Preslav....
, it appeared that the Wang/Gu alliance was over. Hearing that news, Li Maozhen
Li Maozhen
Li Maozhen , né Song Wentong , courtesy name Zhengchen , formally Prince Zhongjing of Qin , was the only ruler of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Qi...
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...
), who had defeated Yang Shouliang and seized control of Shannan West and Wuding (武定, headquartered in modern Hanzhong) Circuits late in 892
892
Year 892 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Poppo of Thuringia, count of the march in Thuringia, is deposed by the German Carolingian king Arnulf of Carinthia....
, wanted to make Gu an ally. He thus suggested to Emperor Zhaozong that he recommission Gu as full military governor. (Gu's commissioning was never carried out due to Yang Shouhou's seizure of Song, and therefore Gu continued to carry the acting military governor title through these years.) Emperor Zhaozong did so. Li Maozhen also sent his adoptive son Li Jimi (李繼密) with an army to Dongchuan to aid Gu. However, soon thereafter, Wang's forces defeated the joint Dongchuan and Fengxiang forces at Li Prefecture (利州, in modern Guangyuan
Guangyuan
Guangyuan is a prefecture-level city in Sichuan Province, China. It has an area of 16313.78 square kilometers and a population of 2,484,123 in 2010...
, Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
). Gu sought peace with Wang and promised, as part of the terms, to terminate relations with Li Maozhen. Wang agreed to peace under those terms.
In 895
895
Year 895 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The seven tribes of the Magyars settle in the Carpathian Basin under the leadership of Árpád...
, when Emperor Zhaozong temporarily fled 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...
due to attempts by Li Maozhen and Wang Xingyu
Wang Xingyu
Wang Xingyu was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who controlled Jingnan Circuit from 887 to his death in 895...
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...
), he issued an edict requesting that Wang Jian and Gu come to his aid. Wang used this opportunity to accuse Gu of refusing to do so and seizing his food supplies, and thereafter sent Hua to attack Dongchuan. From this point on, there would be constant warfare between Xichuan and Dongchuan. During one of the battles late in 895, Dongchuan forces captured Wang Zongbi. Gu, remembering how Wang Zongbi had revealed Wang Jian's plot to him earlier, took Wang Zongbi as an adoptive son and changed his name to Gu Chen. Gu sought aid from Li Maozhen, but at that time, Li Maozhen was fearful of an attack from Zhu Quanzhong the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng
Kaifeng
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...
) and therefore unable to aid him. Wang Jian, who had by 897
897
Year 897 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Emperor Uda of Japan is succeeded by Emperor Daigo....
put Zi Prefecture under siege, also paid off a number of former agrarian rebel leaders that Gu had taken under his command and made prefects of various Dongchuan prefectures, such that they abandoned Gu and turned to Wang, making Gu's position further desperate.
In late 897, Gu gathered his family at a feast. He instructed his adoptive son Gu Yao (顧瑤) to kill him and the other Gu family members, and then commit suicide, and Gu Yao did so. Prior to doing so, however, Gu Yanhui stated to Gu Chen that since he had not been in his family long, that he did not have to die with them and should leave, so Gu Chen did so. Wang Jian thereafter took control of Dongchuan.