Wang Yuankui

Wang Yuankui (; 812–854 ), formally Duke Zhong of Taiyuan , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang dynasty. Like his father Wang Tingcou, Wang Yuankui ruled Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang, Hebei) in de facto independence from the imperial government, but unlike Wang Tingcou, he was respectful to the imperial government and often followed its orders.

Background Wang Yuankui was born in 812, After Wang Chengzong's death in 820, the imperial government briefly took over control of Chengde, but in 821, soldiers led by Wang Tingcou mutinied and killed the imperially-commissioned military governor Tian Hongzheng, and Wang Tingcou subsequently took over as military governor, with the imperial government eventually capitulating and allowing him to do so.

Sometime during Wang Tingcou's rule, he made Wang Yuankui one of the military commanders at Chengde's capital Zhen Prefecture , as well as the commander of Chengde army. It was said that Wang Yuankui changed Wang Tingcou's defiant stance toward the imperial government, and was respectful to the imperial government, often offering tributes to the emperor.

Subsequently, Emperor Wuzong put Wang and He Hongjing in charge of capturing the three Zhaoyi prefectures east of the Taihang Mountains. It was said that the day that Wang received the imperial edict, he immediately mobilized and took his forces to Zhao Prefecture (趙州, in modern Shijiazhuang) to ready for attack. Under battle orders that Emperor Wuzong subsequently issued to Wang, He Hongjing, Wang Maoyuan the military governor of Heyang Circuit (河陽, headquartered in modern Jiaozuo, Henan), Li Yanzuo the military governor of Wuning Circuit (武寧, headquartered in modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu), and Liu Mian the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi), Wang was specifically ordered to capture Xing Prefecture (邢州, in modern Xingtai, Hebei). Wang Yuankui quickly captured two Zhaoyi outposts and defeated relief forces Liu Zhen sent, and Emperor Wuzong used this opportunity to issue an edict praising him, in order to pressure Li Yanzuo, Liu Mian, and Wang Maoyuan to step up their attack. Emperor Wuzong also bestowed the honorary chancellor title of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi on Wang Yuankui. When, by contrast, He Hongjing was not attacking Zhaoyi forces immediately, Wang Yuankui submitted multiple secret petitions accusing He Hongjing of being ambiguous in his attitude, and Emperor Wuzong pressured He Hongjing by ordering one of the main imperial generals, Wang Zai the military governor of Zhongwu Circuit (忠武, headquartered in modern Xuchang, Henan), to go through Weibo territory in attacking Zhaoyi; this frightened He Hongjing, and he finally launched his troops in attacking Zhaoyi. After the end of the campaign, Emperor Wuzong rewarded Wang by bestowing on him the honorific title of Taifu and creating him the Duke of Taiyuan. Then-reigning Emperor Xuānzong allowed his son Wang Shaoding to inherit the circuit, and bestowed the posthumous honor of Taishi on Wang Yuankui.

Notes and references

Old Book of Tang, vol. 142. New Book of Tang, vol. 211. Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 245, 247, 248, 249.