Liu Zong

Liú Zǒng (died May 2, 821 ), dharma name Dàjué , formally Duke of Chǔ , was a general of the Tang dynasty. He took over control of Lúlóng Circuit (盧龍, headquartered in modern Beijing) in 810 after killing his father Liú Jì as well as his brother Liú Gǔn , and thereafter ruled the circuit de facto independently from the imperial government. In 821, he submitted the circuit to imperial control and took tonsure to be a Buddhist monk. He died shortly after.

Background It is not known when Liu Zong was born. He was the second son of Liu Ji, who ruled Lulong Circuit as its military governor (Jiedushi) starting in 785 (when he succeeded Liu Zong's grandfather Liu Peng). Liu Zong's older brother Liu Gun was considered Liu Ji's heir, and during Liu Ji's rule was made deputy military governor, then considered the post for the heir among warlords who controlled their circuits de facto independently from the imperial government. Liu Zong was made the prefect of Ying Prefecture (瀛州, in modern Cangzhou, Hebei). Liu Zong was described by the Old Book of Tang to be treacherous.

Meanwhile, Liu Ji grew ill during the campaign. Liu Zong conspired with Liu Ji's assistant Zhang Qi , treasurer Cheng Guobao , and other officers, to take over power. He had people pretend to be imperial messengers arrive at the Lulong army's camp to state, "As the imperial government sees that you, Lord Chancellor, refuse to advance any further, the Deputy Military Governor has been made military governor." The next day, he had another person state, "The Deputy Military Governor's banner has already arrived at Taiyuan." Later on, he had another person state, "The banner has gone past Dai Prefecture [(代州, in modern Xinzhou, Shanxi)]." The army was shocked by these developments. Liu Ji himself was shocked and incensed, and he killed tens of officers who were friendly with Liu Gun. He also sent messengers to You Prefecture, ordering Liu Gun to report to the Lulong army's camp, while making Zhang Qi's brother Zhang Gao take over the headquarters. It was said that due to his anger, Liu Ji did not eat on that day from morning to noon, and when he grew thirsty and asked for a drink, Liu Zong handed him a poisoned drink. On August 20, 810, Liu Ji died from the poison. At Liu Gun travelled from You Prefecture to Zhuo Prefecture (涿州, in modern Baoding, Hebei), Liu Zong issued an order in Liu Ji's name, ordering that Liu Gun be caned to death. Liu Zong then took over the control of the circuit. In response, Emperor Xianzong gave him the honorary chancellor title of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi . However, it was said that Liu then effective sat on the fence and did not advance further, and as the regulations at the time were that once a circuit's army advanced out of its borders on an imperially-sanctioned campaign, the imperial treasury would be responsible for its expenses, the Lulong army's supplies were costly to the imperial treasury.

In 817, Wang's ally Wu Yuanji, who ruled Zhangyi Circuit (彰義, headquartered in modern Zhumadian, Henan), was defeated and captured by the imperial general Li Su. In fear, Wang submitted to imperial authority and surrendered two of his six prefectures to imperial control. In the aftermaths of Wang's actions, Liu's officer Tan Zhong persuaded him to also submit to imperial authority.

In response to Liu's proposal, Emperor Muzong gave a number of Liu's relatives honored titles, issued a money reward to the Lulong soldiers, and further issued two alternative edicts — one bestowing the dharma name of Dajue on Liu Zong, granting him a temple named Bao'en Temple , and giving him special purple monk robes; and one making him the military governor of Tianping Circuit (天平, headquartered in modern Tai'an, Shandong) and giving him the honorary chancellor title of Shizhong . He had his eunuchs deliver the two edicts to Liu Zong, to let Liu Zong decide which edict he would accept. However, before the edicts could arrive at You Prefecture, Liu Zong took tonsure and became a monk, and he prepared to depart You Prefecture. Some soldiers refused to let him leave, and he executed some 10 of the leaders and gave his seals to Zhang Qi, making Zhang the acting military governor. He then left in the middle of the night, and only in the morning did the soldiers find out. Zhang submitted a report stating, "I do not know where Liu Zong is by this point." On May 2, Liu Zong, who was by then in Ding Prefecture (定州, in modern Baoding), died.

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