Zhu Youqian

Zhu Youqian (died March 9, 926 ), né Zhu Jian , known as Li Jilin from 923 to 926, courtesy name Deguang , formally the Prince of Xiping , was a Chinese military general, monarch, politician, and warlord of the late Chinese dynasty Tang dynasty and the first two dynasties of the subsequent Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, Later Liang and Later Tang, ruling Huguo Circuit (護國, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi) during most of that time. Both he and his family were extremely honored by Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang, but later, he was falsely accused of plotting a rebellion, and Emperor Zhuangzong put him and his entire family to death.

Background It is not known when Zhu Jian was born. His family was from Xu Prefecture (許州, in modern Xuchang, Henan), and both his grandfather Zhu Yan and father Zhu Cong were minor military officers at Zhongwu Circuit (忠武, headquartered at Xu Prefecture). During Huang Chao's rebellion, Zhu Jian left his home area and became a subordinate of Bo Kui the defender of Mianchi Base (澠池鎮, in modern Sanmenxia, Henan). At some point, he left that army post and became a bandit, but yet later again an army officer under Wang Gong the military governor of Baoyi Circuit (保義, headquartered in modern Sanmenxia).

Wang was impatient and harsh, and his subordinates had no love for him. Even the officer Li Fan , whom Wang favored and often depended on, could not escape severe caning for minor faults. As a result, Li secretly resented Wang. Further, Wang had engaged a lengthy struggle with his cousin Wang Ke the military governor of Huguo Circuit to try to take over Huguo, but was repeatedly defeated, and the army morale was low. (The main traditional historical sources differ as to Li's fate, with Zhu's biographies in both the History of the Five Dynasties and the New History of the Five Dynasties indicating that Li fled to Zhu Quanzhong's capital Bian Prefecture (with the New History of the Five Dynasties further stating that Zhu Jian was involved in Li's mutiny against Wang Gong) was frequently traveling through Baoyi Circuit to deal with the campaign and was treated with respect by Zhu Jian. Zhu Quanzhong had Zhu Jian given the honorary chancellor designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi . the forced move of the imperial court was so rushed that not even the imperial officials accompanying Emperor Zhaozong had proper clothes to wear. Zhu Jian prepared 100 sets and had them given to the officials when the imperial train travelled through Baoyi Circuit. Subsequently, after Emperor Zhaozong's arrival in Luoyang, Zhu Jian was given the greater honorary chancellor title of acting Shizhong . As Zhu Jian shared a family name with Zhu Quanzhong, he thereafter sent a petition to Zhu Quanzhong, stating: Emperor Taizu moved Zhu Youqian to the more prosperous Huguo Circuit as military governor and also gave him the title of acting Taiwei (太尉, one of the Three Excellencies). He was eventually also given the greater honorary chancellor title of Zhongshu Ling and created the Prince of Ji.

Vacillation between Later Liang and Jin In 912, Emperor Taizu was assassinated by his son Zhu Yougui the Prince of Ying, who, after blaming the assassination on his adoptive brother Zhu Youwen the Prince of Bo and executing Zhu Youwen, took the throne himself. However, rumors quickly spread that Zhu Yougui was the killer, and, despite Zhu Yougui's attempts to placate them with promotions and gifts, many of the senior generals were angry with him. Zhu Youqian was particularly vocal, and when Zhu Yougui's emissary announcing Emperor Taizu's death arrived at Huguo, Zhu Youqian wept and stated to the emissary:

Zhu Yougui tried to placate Zhu Youqian by bestowing him dual chancellor titles of Shizhong and Zhongshu Ling, and wrote an edict to defend himself against rumors of patricide. He also summoned Zhu Youqian to Luoyang for a meeting. Zhu Youqian refused, stating:

In 920, Zhu Youqian launched a surprise attack on Zhongwu Circuit's capital Tong Prefecture , expelling its military governor Cheng Quanhui . He then made his son Zhu Lingde Zhongwu's acting military governor and submitted a petition to Zhu Zhen, requesting that Zhu Lingde be made full military governor. Zhu Zhen was angered and initially refused, but later, fearful that Zhu Youqian would resent him, issued an edict making Zhu Youqian military governor of Zhongwu as well. However, by the time that he issued the edict, Zhu Youqian had resubmitted his own circuit to Jin, and Li Cunxu issued an edict in the name of the Tang emperor (as Jin had been existing under the theory that Li Cunxu was exercising powers for the Tang emperor in hopes of Tang's reestablishment) making Zhu Lingde military governor of Zhongwu.

Zhu Zhen reacted by ordering Liu Xun, assisted by other generals Yin Hao , Wen Zhaotu , and Duan Ning, to attack Tong Prefecture. Zhu Youqian sought aid from Li Cunxu, who sent Li Cunshen, his cousin Li Sizhao, as well as Li Jianji and another adoptive brother, Li Cunxian , to aid Zhu Youqian. They fought the Later Liang forces under Liu to an initial stalemate, and then eventually tired Liu's troops out such that Liu withdrew. The Jin forces then attacked Liu's forces as they withdrew, inflicting great losses. However, during the stalemate, as a result of the warfare, food supplies in Huguo dwindled. Zhu Youqian's sons tried to persuade him to resubmit to Later Liang. Zhu Youqian, however, responded: He stated to Li Jilin, "My great accomplishment is due to your contribution, Lord."

Death Meanwhile, as the years went by in Emperor Zhuangzong's reign, his favorite performers and eunuchs became powerful figures at court. They repeatedly demanded gifts from regional governors, including Li Jilin, and Li Jilin eventually was fed up with their requests and stopped giving them gifts. During Later Tang's 925 campaign against Former Shu (which resulted in Former Shu's destruction), titularly commanded by Li Jiji but with Emperor Zhuangzong's chief of staff Guo Chongtao as the actual commander, Li Jilin held a ceremonial examination of the Huguo troops before sending Zhu Lingde with his troops to follow Li Jiji and Guo. Emperor Zhuangzong's favorite performer Jing Jin and the eunuchs used the opportunity to falsely accuse Li Jilin of preparing to rise against Emperor Zhuangzong and being in league with Guo (whom the performers and eunuchs were also falsely accusing of treason and planning to secede with the Former Shu territory). Li Jilin decided that the way to end the rumors was to go Luoyang to personally meet with Emperor Zhuangzong, and he went to Luoyang in spring 926, despite his close associates' attempts to persuade him not to, under the belief that his going to Luoyang might allow him not only to save himself but also Guo.

Notes and references

History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 63. New History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 45. Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 261, 262, 266, 267, 268, 271, 272, 273, 274.