Wu Chongyin

Wu Chongyin (; 761 – November 30, 827 ), courtesy name Baojun , posthumous name Duke Yimu of Bin , was a Chinese military general and politician of the Tang dynasty.

Background Wu Chongyin was born in 761, during the reign of Emperor Suzong. His ancestors were Proto-Mongolic Wuluohou (烏洛侯) tribesmen who migrated to Zhangye and shortened their surname to Wu. His father Wu Chengbi was an army officer at Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi). From Wu Chongyin's youth, he served as an officer at Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, headquartered in modern Changzhi, Shanxi).

During Emperor Xianzong's reign As of 810, Wu Chongyin was serving under then-military governor (Jiedushi) of Zhaoyi, Lu Congshi , in a campaign declared by Emperor Suzong's great-great-grandson Emperor Xianzong against the warlord Wang Chengzong the military governor of Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang, Hebei), which Lu had initially encouraged Emperor Xianzong to engage in. Once the campaign was underway, however, Lu was in secret communication with Wang and interfered with the progress of the imperial forces, commanded by the eunuch general Tutu Chengcui. After this was revealed by Lu's staff member Wang Yiyuan to the chancellor Pei Ji, Tutu persuaded Wu to join his plan to act against Lu. Tutu endeared himself to Lu by offering Lu a number of precious gifts; after Lu's guard was down, Tutu had Lu seized while the two were at a feast in the army camp. When Lu's soldiers were set to act against Tutu, Wu rebuked them, and they did not dare to do so, but followed Wu's orders.

Tutu put Wu temporarily in charge of the Zhaoyi forces, and Emperor Xianzong contemplated making Wu the military governor of Zhaoyi, before, at Li Jiang's advice, he shifted Wu to Heyang Circuit (河陽, headquartered in modern Jiaozuo, Henan) while making Heyang's military governor Meng Yuanyang the military governor of Zhaoyi.

Later that year, the imperial campaign against Zhangyi began in earnest, and Wu Chongyin was one of the key imperial generals against Zhangyi, frequently prevailing over Zhangyi forces in association with another imperial general, Li Guangyan the military governor of Zhongwu Circuit (忠武, headquartered in modern Xuchang, Henan), although neither was without their defeats. After Wu Yuanji was captured by another imperial general, Li Su, in 817,

During Emperor Muzong's reign In 820, Emperor Xianzong died and was succeeded by his son Emperor Muzong. Later that year, Wang Chengzong also died, and his brother Wang Chengyuan offered control of the circuit to the imperial government, and Emperor Muzong commissioned Tian Hongzheng to succeed Wang Chengzong. When Wu arrived at the capital Chang'an, he further stripped Wu's military command and had him made a senior advisor to the Crown Prince. Subsequently, Wu was made the military governor of Tianping Circuit (天平, headquartered in modern Tai'an, Shandong).

In 826, Li Quanlüe the military governor of Henghai died. His son and deputy military governor Li Tongjie seized control of the circuit without imperial approval, and initially the imperial government did not act on his seizure of the circuit. In spring 827, by which time Emperor Jingzong's brother Emperor Wenzong was emperor, Wu was made the military governor of Henghai, and Li Tongjie was given the title of military governor of Yanhai Circuit (兗海, headquartered in modern Jining, Shandong). When Li Tongjie subsequently refused to report to Yanhai and refused to turn control of Henghai to Wu, Wu was given the additional command of Yanhai forces to attack Henghai along with other military governors around Henghai. Wu, after some initial successes, died in winter 827, while still on campaign against Li Tongjie. He was given posthumous honors, and it was said that more than 20 officers, missing him bitterly, cut off flesh from their thighs and burned them as offering to him.

Family

Younger Brother Wu Chongyuan

Sons Wu Hanhong , Zuoyulin Jiangjun, an imperial general Wu Xingzhuan , prefect of Mi Prefecture Wu Hanzhen , general of the imperial guards Wu Xingfang , advisor in Henan Wu Hanfeng , advisor in Weiweisi Wu Hanzhang , Youxiaowei Cancao Canjun , a military advisor Wu Xingsi , Zuowei Cangcao Canjun, a military advisor

Notes and references

Old Book of Tang, vol. 161. New Book of Tang, vol. 171. Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243.