Wang Tingcou
Encyclopedia
Wang Tingcou (died 834
), formally the Duke of Taiyuan (太原公), was a general of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
who, in 821
, during the reign of Emperor Muzong
, took over control of Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang
, Hebei
) and thereafter ruled it in a de facto independent manner from the imperial government. He was said to be particularly cruel even for a warlord. After his death, his family held onto control of the circuit, even after the end of Tang Dynasty, until his great-great-grandson Wang Rong was overthrown in 921
— 100 years after Wang Tingcou had initially taken over the circuit.
Protectorate General to Pacify the East
. His great-grandfather Wugezhi (五哥之) came to serve under Li Baochen
the military governor (Jiedushi
) of Chengde and Li Baochen's son Li Weiyue
. After Li Weiyue's death, Li Weiyue's successor Wang Wujun
, because of Wugezhi's bravery in battle, adopted Wugezhi as a son, and thus Wugezhi took on the surname of Wang. Both Wang Tingcou's grandfather Wang Modahuo (王末怛活) and father Wang Shengchao (王升朝) continued to serve under Wang Wujun's family as cavalry officers. Wang Tingcou himself was said to be brave and quiet, but decisive.
died in 820
, Wang Chengzong's brother Wang Chengyuan
temporarily took over command of the circuit but requested to be transferred, fearing to be targeted as a warlord. At that time, Wang Tingcou served as the commander of Wang Chengyuan's guards. Then-reigning Emperor Muzong
transferred Tian Hongzheng
the military governor of Weibo Circuit (魏博, headquartered in modern Handan
, Hebei
) to Chengde and transferred Wang Chengyuan to Yicheng Circuit (義成, headquartered in modern Anyang
, Henan
). Wang Chengyuan subsequently left Chengde and headed for Yicheng despite the attempts by some soldiers to detain him at Chengde.
However, Tian, while at Weibo, had engaged in many campaigns against Chengde, and therefore was hated by the Chengde soldiers. He therefore took 2,000 Weibo soldiers to Chengde with him to protect him. He requested the imperial government to pay these soldiers' salaries. The director of finances, Cui Ling (崔倰), however, did not realize the seriousness of the situation and rejected Tian's request. Tian was forced to send the Weibo soldiers back to Weibo. Meanwhile, Wang Tingcou had been inciting the soldiers against Tian, and as soon as Weibo soldiers left, in fall 821, he gathered the troops at Chengde's capital Zhen Prefecture (鎮州) and attacked Tian's headquarters, killing Tian, his staff members, and their families — some 300 people. He forced the eunuch monitor of the army, Song Weicheng (宋惟澄), to submit a request on his behalf to be made military governor. Meanwhile, he had Wang Jinji (王進岌), the prefect of another of Chengde's prefectures, Ji Prefecture (冀州, in modern Hengshui
, Hebei
) assassinated and took over Ji Prefecture. The prefect of another of Chengde's prefectures, Shen Prefecture (深州, in modern Hengshui), Niu Yuanyi (牛元翼), refused to follow Wang and followed orders from the imperial general Li Su
, who had succeeded Tian as the military governor of Weibo. Emperor Muzong named Niu the new military governor of Chengde. However, Li Su soon grew ill, and his command was instead given to Tian's son Tian Bu
. When five Chengde officers, led by Wang Jian (王儉), tried to assassinate Wang Tingcou, Wang Tingcou not only killed them but also the 3,000 soldiers under their command. He subsequently took his own soldiers and those of his ally Zhu Kerong
(who had seized Lulong Circuit (盧龍, headquartered in modern Beijing
)) and put Shen Prefecture under siege.
The imperial troops soon tried to attack Wang Tingcou from three directions — Pei Du
the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan
, Shanxi
) from the west, Tian Bu from the south, and Wu Chongyin
the military governor of Henghai Circuit (橫海, headquartered in modern Cangzhou
, Hebei
) from the east. (Wu was soon succeeded by Li Guangyan
.) After the key outpost Gonggao (弓高, in modern Cangzhou) fell to Zhu's troops in spring 822
, however, the imperial army's own supply routes, as well as the supply routes for Shen Prefecture, were cut off. With Shen Prefecture in dire straits, Emperor Muzong was forced to commission Wang Tingcou the military governor of Chengde. Wang accepted the commission, but refused to lift the siege on Shen Prefecture, even when the imperial official Han Yu
was sent to urge him. Eventually, Niu fought his way out of the siege, and his subordinate Zang Ping (臧平) surrendered. Wang rebuked Zang for defending the city for too long and executed Zang and 180 other officials in the city. When Emperor Muzong subsequently sent the eunuch messenger Yang Zaichang (楊再昌) to Wang to order him to turn over Tian Hongzheng's body and Niu's family, Wang responded that Tian's body could no longer be located and that he would soon release Niu's family — but he never actually did so, despite Niu's repeatedly sending Wang gifts and requests to release his family, while Niu served as the military governor of Shannan East Circuit (山南東道, headquartered in modern Xiangfan
, Hubei
), until Niu's death in 823
.
and was succeeded by his son Emperor Jingzong
, Wang Tingcou heard of Niu Yuanyi's death and slaughtered Niu's family — leading the new emperor to lament that the chancellors were incompetent. As of 826
, Emperor Jingzong was originally intent on visiting the eastern capital Luoyang
and restoring the early Tang customs of the emperor spending time in both the main capital Chang'an
and Luoyang. Both Wang and Zhu Kerong sent arrogantly-worded offers to contribute troops to repair the long-ruined palaces and governmental offices at Luoyang, offers that Emperor Jingzong declined, and Emperor Jingzong subsequently abandoned the plan to visit Luoyang, at the urging of the senior chancellor Pei Du
.
Also in 826, after Li Quanlüe (李全略) the military governor of Henghai Circuit died, his son Li Tongjie
took over the circuit without imperial sanction. The imperial government initially took no reaction against Li Tongjie. After Emperor Jingzong was assassinated in late 826 and was succeeded by his brother Emperor Wenzong
, Li Tongjie hoped that the new regime would be willing to let him inherit the circuit, and in early 827
sent his secretary Cui Congzhang (崔從長) and his brothers Li Tongzhi (李同志) and Li Tongsun (李同巽) to Chang'an to pay homage to Emperor Wenzong. Emperor Wenzong, however, did not intend to let Li Tongjie take over the circuit, subsequently issued an edict transferring Wu Chongyin from Tianping Circuit (天平, headquartered in modern Tai'an
, Shandong
) to Henghai and Li Tongjie to Yanhai Circuit (兗海, headquartered in modern Jining
, Shandong
). As the imperial government was concerned that the other circuit governors would encourage Li Tongjie to resist, Emperor Wenzong bestowed various honorific titles on the military governors, including Wang, around Henghai. Wang, however, requested commission for Li Tongjie, and when his request was denied, mobilized his own troops to interfere with the operations by Weibo's military governor Shi Xiancheng
against Henghai. He also tried to bribe the Shatuo
chieftain Zhuxie Zhiyi (朱邪執宜), trying to get Zhuxie to ally with him, but Zhuxie refused.
Emperor Wenzong subsequently declared a general campaign against Li Tongjie, but with Wang assisting Li Tongjie and supplying him with both troops and supplies in the other circuits' campaign against Li Tongjie, in fall 828
, Emperor Wenzong declared Wang a renegade but did not order a campaign against him, merely ordering the other circuits to treat him as a renegade and await for his repentance. Soon thereafter, however, he stripped Wang and his sons of their titles and ordered a general campaign against him. Meanwhile, with the other circuits' armies making headway against Li Tongjie and Wang unable to relieve him, in winter 828, Wang persuaded the Weibo officer Qi Zhishao (亓志紹) to rebel and turn against Shi, attacking Weibo's capital Wei Prefecture (魏州). Emperor Wenzong was forced to order the troops from Yicheng and Heyang (河陽, headquartered in modern Luoyang
, Henan
) to aid Weibo. In spring 829
, after Shi Xiancheng's son Shi Tang (史唐) and the military governor of Yicheng, Li Ting (李聽), defeated Qi, Qi fled to Chengde. After Li Tongjie soon surrendered but was killed by the imperial official Bo Qi (柏耆) after he surrendered, Emperor Wenzong thereafter resumed the posture of declaring Wang a renegade but not waging a campaign against him. Wang soon sent a letter to Li Cheng
the military governor of Hedong Circuit, offering to resubmit and surrender Henghai's Jing Prefecture (景州, in modern Cangzhou), which Wang had seized during the campaign, and reporting that Qi had committed suicide. In fall 829, Emperor Wenzong pardoned Wang and his subordinates and restored their titles.
Wang Tingcou was subsequently created the Duke of Taiyuan. In 834
, he died. The soldiers supported his son Wang Yuankui
to succeed him, and Emperor Wenzong subsequently approved. Wang Tingcou was given posthumous honors. Wang Tingcou's biography in the Book of Tang
commented:
834
Year 834 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The Vikings first raid Dorestad ....
), formally the Duke of Taiyuan (太原公), 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...
who, in 821
821
Year 821 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Tang Mu Zong becomes emperor of China.* First recorded session of the Parliament of Croatia- Byzantine Empire :...
, during the reign of Emperor Muzong
Emperor Muzong of Tang
Emperor Muzong of Tang , personal name Li Heng , né Li You , was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 821 to 824. Emperor Muzong was the son of Emperor Xianzong...
, took over control 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...
) and thereafter ruled it in a de facto independent manner from the imperial government. He was said to be particularly cruel even for a warlord. After his death, his family held onto control of the circuit, even after the end of Tang Dynasty, until his great-great-grandson Wang Rong was overthrown in 921
921
Year 921 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.-Africa:* Crushing defeat of the Idrisid dynasty against their Fatimid rivals...
— 100 years after Wang Tingcou had initially taken over the circuit.
Background
It is not known when Wang Tingcou was born. His ancestors were of the Huigu Abusi (阿布思) tribe, which had been submissive to the 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...
Protectorate General to Pacify the East
Protectorate General to Pacify the East
The Protectorate-General to Pacify the East was a short-lived military government established at Pyongyang by Tang Dynasty China in 668. It played an important role in the turbulent events of the peninsula in the late 7th century....
. His great-grandfather Wugezhi (五哥之) came to serve under Li Baochen
Li Baochen
Li Baochen , originally named Zhang Zhongzhi , courtesy name Weifu , known as An Zhongzhi during the Anshi Rebellion and Zhang Baochen 778–779, formally the Prince of Longxi , was a general of the Chinese rebel state Yan, who later submitted to and became a general of Tang Dynasty, from...
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 Chengde and Li Baochen's son Li Weiyue
Li Weiyue
Li Weiyue was the son of the Chinese Tang Dynasty general Li Baochen. After Li Baochen's death in 781, Li Weiyue tried to succeed his father as the de facto ruler of Chengde Circuit and waged a campaign against the imperial government when Emperor Dezong refused to let him do so...
. After Li Weiyue's death, Li Weiyue's successor Wang Wujun
Wang Wujun
Wang Wujun , courtesy name Yuanying , né Monuogan , formally Prince Zhonglie of Langye , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a long-time Jiedushi of Chengde Circuit during the reign of Emperor Dezong and ruling Chengde in a de facto independent manner...
, because of Wugezhi's bravery in battle, adopted Wugezhi as a son, and thus Wugezhi took on the surname of Wang. Both Wang Tingcou's grandfather Wang Modahuo (王末怛活) and father Wang Shengchao (王升朝) continued to serve under Wang Wujun's family as cavalry officers. Wang Tingcou himself was said to be brave and quiet, but decisive.
During Emperor Muzong's reign
When Wang Wujun's grandson Wang ChengzongWang Chengzong
Wang Chengzong was a general of the Chinese Tang Dynasty who served a military governor of Chengde Circuit...
died in 820
820
Year 820 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Tahir, the son of a slave, is rewarded with the governorship of Khurasan for supporting the caliphate...
, Wang Chengzong's brother Wang Chengyuan
Wang Chengyuan
Wang Chengyuan , formally the Duke of Qi , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. His family had, for generations, controlled Chengde Circuit , but he declined the command of Chengde after the death of his older brother Wang Chengzong...
temporarily took over command of the circuit but requested to be transferred, fearing to be targeted as a warlord. At that time, Wang Tingcou served as the commander of Wang Chengyuan's guards. Then-reigning Emperor Muzong
Emperor Muzong of Tang
Emperor Muzong of Tang , personal name Li Heng , né Li You , was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 821 to 824. Emperor Muzong was the son of Emperor Xianzong...
transferred Tian Hongzheng
Tian Hongzheng
Tian Hongzheng , né Tian Xing , courtesy name Andao , formally Duke Zhongmin of Yi , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty...
the military governor of Weibo Circuit (魏博, headquartered in modern Handan
Handan
Handan is a prefecture-level city located in the southwestern part of Hebei Province of China.- History :Handan was the capital of the State of Zhao during the Warring States period , after the capital moved from Zhongmu. The city was conquered by the State of Qin after the virtual annexation of...
, 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 Chengde and transferred Wang Chengyuan to Yicheng Circuit (義成, headquartered in modern Anyang
Anyang
Anyang is a prefecture-level city in Henan province, People's Republic of China. The northernmost city in Henan, Anyang borders Puyang to the east, Hebi and Xinxiang to the south, and the provinces of Shanxi and Hebei to its west and north respectively....
, 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...
). Wang Chengyuan subsequently left Chengde and headed for Yicheng despite the attempts by some soldiers to detain him at Chengde.
However, Tian, while at Weibo, had engaged in many campaigns against Chengde, and therefore was hated by the Chengde soldiers. He therefore took 2,000 Weibo soldiers to Chengde with him to protect him. He requested the imperial government to pay these soldiers' salaries. The director of finances, Cui Ling (崔倰), however, did not realize the seriousness of the situation and rejected Tian's request. Tian was forced to send the Weibo soldiers back to Weibo. Meanwhile, Wang Tingcou had been inciting the soldiers against Tian, and as soon as Weibo soldiers left, in fall 821, he gathered the troops at Chengde's capital Zhen Prefecture (鎮州) and attacked Tian's headquarters, killing Tian, his staff members, and their families — some 300 people. He forced the eunuch monitor of the army, Song Weicheng (宋惟澄), to submit a request on his behalf to be made military governor. Meanwhile, he had Wang Jinji (王進岌), the prefect of another of Chengde's prefectures, Ji Prefecture (冀州, in modern Hengshui
Hengshui
Hengshui is a prefecture-level city in Hebei province, China. It has an urban population of 460,240 in the built up area and a population of 4,340,373 at the 2010 census in its administrative area...
, 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...
) assassinated and took over Ji Prefecture. The prefect of another of Chengde's prefectures, Shen Prefecture (深州, in modern Hengshui), Niu Yuanyi (牛元翼), refused to follow Wang and followed orders from the imperial general Li Su
Li Su
Li Su was a military general serving under the warlord Dong Zhuo during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history.Li Su originally served as a Commandant of Cavalry under Dong Zhuo. He later assisted Lü Bu, who was from the same village as him, in the assassination of Dong Zhuo...
, who had succeeded Tian as the military governor of Weibo. Emperor Muzong named Niu the new military governor of Chengde. However, Li Su soon grew ill, and his command was instead given to Tian's son Tian Bu
Tian Bu
Tian Bu , courtesy name Dunli , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. He was the son of the general Tian Hongzheng, and after Tian Hongzheng's death at the hands of Chengde Circuit mutineers was put in command of Tian Hongzheng's old command Weibo Circuit Tian Bu (田布) (785 –...
. When five Chengde officers, led by Wang Jian (王儉), tried to assassinate Wang Tingcou, Wang Tingcou not only killed them but also the 3,000 soldiers under their command. He subsequently took his own soldiers and those of his ally Zhu Kerong
Zhu Kerong
Zhu Kerong , formally the Prince of Wuxing , was a military governor of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who ruled Lulong Circuit independent of the imperial authority during the reigns of Emperor Muzong and Emperor Jingzong, until he and his son Zhu Yanling were killed by their own soldiers in...
(who had seized 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...
)) and put Shen Prefecture under siege.
The imperial troops soon tried to attack Wang Tingcou from three directions — Pei Du
Pei Du
Pei Du , courtesy name Zhongli , formally Duke Wenzhong of Jin , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xianzong, Emperor Xianzong's son Emperor Muzong, and Emperor Xianzong's grandsons Emperor Jingzong and Emperor Wenzong...
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....
) from the west, Tian Bu from the south, and Wu Chongyin
Wu Chongyin
Wu Chongyin , courtesy name Baojun , formally Duke Yimu of Zhangyi , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty.- Background :...
the military governor of Henghai Circuit (橫海, headquartered 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...
) from the east. (Wu was soon succeeded by Li Guangyan
Li Guangyan
Li Guangyan , courtesy name Guangyuan , né Adie Guangyan , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. He was known for his participation in various campaigns against regional warlords during the reigns of Emperor Xianzong and Emperor Muzong.- Background :Adie Guangyan was born in 761,...
.) After the key outpost Gonggao (弓高, in modern Cangzhou) fell to Zhu's troops in spring 822
822
Year 822 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Byzantine Empire :* The civil war between Byzantine Emperor Michael II and the general Thomas the Slav continues...
, however, the imperial army's own supply routes, as well as the supply routes for Shen Prefecture, were cut off. With Shen Prefecture in dire straits, Emperor Muzong was forced to commission Wang Tingcou the military governor of Chengde. Wang accepted the commission, but refused to lift the siege on Shen Prefecture, even when the imperial official Han Yu
Han Yu
Han Yu , born in Nanyang, Henan, China, was a precursor of Neo-Confucianism as well as an essayist and poet, during the Tang dynasty. The Indiana Companion calls him "comparable in stature to Dante, Shakespeare or Goethe" for his influence on the Chinese literary tradition . He stood for strong...
was sent to urge him. Eventually, Niu fought his way out of the siege, and his subordinate Zang Ping (臧平) surrendered. Wang rebuked Zang for defending the city for too long and executed Zang and 180 other officials in the city. When Emperor Muzong subsequently sent the eunuch messenger Yang Zaichang (楊再昌) to Wang to order him to turn over Tian Hongzheng's body and Niu's family, Wang responded that Tian's body could no longer be located and that he would soon release Niu's family — but he never actually did so, despite Niu's repeatedly sending Wang gifts and requests to release his family, while Niu served as the military governor of Shannan East Circuit (山南東道, headquartered in modern Xiangfan
Xiangfan
Xiangyang is a prefecture-level city in Hubei Province of the People's Republic of China. It was formed from two famous ancient cities, Xiangyang and Fancheng...
, 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...
), until Niu's death in 823
823
Year 823 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Byzantine Empire :...
.
During Emperor Jingzong's and Emperor Wenzong's reigns
Shortly after Emperor Muzong died in 824824
Year 824 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Third Battle of Roncevaux Pass: The Basques and Banu Qasi defeat counts Eblo and Aznar, Frankish vassals....
and was succeeded by his son Emperor Jingzong
Emperor Jingzong of Tang
Emperor Jingzong of Tang , personal name Li Zhan , was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 824 to 827...
, Wang Tingcou heard of Niu Yuanyi's death and slaughtered Niu's family — leading the new emperor to lament that the chancellors were incompetent. As of 826
826
Year 826 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Religion :* June 24 – The Danish king Harald Klak accepts Christianity.- Deaths :...
, Emperor Jingzong was originally intent on visiting 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 restoring the early Tang customs of the emperor spending time in both the main 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...
and Luoyang. Both Wang and Zhu Kerong sent arrogantly-worded offers to contribute troops to repair the long-ruined palaces and governmental offices at Luoyang, offers that Emperor Jingzong declined, and Emperor Jingzong subsequently abandoned the plan to visit Luoyang, at the urging of the senior chancellor Pei Du
Pei Du
Pei Du , courtesy name Zhongli , formally Duke Wenzhong of Jin , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xianzong, Emperor Xianzong's son Emperor Muzong, and Emperor Xianzong's grandsons Emperor Jingzong and Emperor Wenzong...
.
Also in 826, after Li Quanlüe (李全略) the military governor of Henghai Circuit died, his son Li Tongjie
Li Tongjie
Li Tongjie was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. After the death of his father Li Quanlüe in 826, Li Tongjie tried to take over Henghai Circuit , which his father had been the military governor of, and he rejected a subsequent imperial edict for him to serve at a different circuit...
took over the circuit without imperial sanction. The imperial government initially took no reaction against Li Tongjie. After Emperor Jingzong was assassinated in late 826 and was succeeded by his brother 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...
, Li Tongjie hoped that the new regime would be willing to let him inherit the circuit, and in early 827
827
Year 827 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Beginning of the invasion of Sicily by the Aghlabid dynasty of Ifriqiya . The campaign in the island against Byzantium will take 51 years...
sent his secretary Cui Congzhang (崔從長) and his brothers Li Tongzhi (李同志) and Li Tongsun (李同巽) to Chang'an to pay homage to Emperor Wenzong. Emperor Wenzong, however, did not intend to let Li Tongjie take over the circuit, subsequently issued an edict transferring Wu Chongyin from 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...
) to Henghai and Li Tongjie to Yanhai Circuit (兗海, headquartered in modern Jining
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...
, 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...
). As the imperial government was concerned that the other circuit governors would encourage Li Tongjie to resist, Emperor Wenzong bestowed various honorific titles on the military governors, including Wang, around Henghai. Wang, however, requested commission for Li Tongjie, and when his request was denied, mobilized his own troops to interfere with the operations by Weibo's military governor Shi Xiancheng
Shi Xiancheng
Shi Xiancheng was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who ruled Weibo Circuit semi-independently from the imperial government.- Background :...
against Henghai. He also tried to bribe 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 Zhuxie Zhiyi (朱邪執宜), trying to get Zhuxie to ally with him, but Zhuxie refused.
Emperor Wenzong subsequently declared a general campaign against Li Tongjie, but with Wang assisting Li Tongjie and supplying him with both troops and supplies in the other circuits' campaign against Li Tongjie, in fall 828
828
Year 828 was a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Al-Andalus: The city of Merida rises twice in one year against the Umayyad emirate....
, Emperor Wenzong declared Wang a renegade but did not order a campaign against him, merely ordering the other circuits to treat him as a renegade and await for his repentance. Soon thereafter, however, he stripped Wang and his sons of their titles and ordered a general campaign against him. Meanwhile, with the other circuits' armies making headway against Li Tongjie and Wang unable to relieve him, in winter 828, Wang persuaded the Weibo officer Qi Zhishao (亓志紹) to rebel and turn against Shi, attacking Weibo's capital Wei Prefecture (魏州). Emperor Wenzong was forced to order the troops from Yicheng and Heyang (河陽, headquartered in modern 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...
, 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 aid Weibo. In spring 829
829
Year 829 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Egbert of Wessex conquers Mercia and is recognized as Bretwalda.* The Saracens ravage the coast of Dalmatia....
, after Shi Xiancheng's son Shi Tang (史唐) and the military governor of Yicheng, Li Ting (李聽), defeated Qi, Qi fled to Chengde. After Li Tongjie soon surrendered but was killed by the imperial official Bo Qi (柏耆) after he surrendered, Emperor Wenzong thereafter resumed the posture of declaring Wang a renegade but not waging a campaign against him. Wang soon sent a letter to Li Cheng
Li Cheng (Tang Dynasty)
Li Cheng , courtesy name Biaochen , formally Duke Miao of Pengyuan , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Jingzong.-Background:...
the military governor of Hedong Circuit, offering to resubmit and surrender Henghai's Jing Prefecture (景州, in modern Cangzhou), which Wang had seized during the campaign, and reporting that Qi had committed suicide. In fall 829, Emperor Wenzong pardoned Wang and his subordinates and restored their titles.
Wang Tingcou was subsequently created the Duke of Taiyuan. In 834
834
Year 834 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The Vikings first raid Dorestad ....
, he died. The soldiers supported his son Wang Yuankui
Wang Yuankui
Wang Yuankui , formally Duke Zhong of Taiyuan , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. Like his father Wang Tingcou, Wang Yuankui ruled Chengde Circuit in de facto independence from the imperial government, but unlike Wang Tingcou, he was respectful to the imperial government and...
to succeed him, and Emperor Wenzong subsequently approved. Wang Tingcou was given posthumous honors. Wang Tingcou's biography in 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...
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