Chen Xianqi
Encyclopedia
Chen Xianqi (died 786
) was a general of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
. He had served under Li Xilie
, who had rebelled against Emperor Dezong
and claimed the title of emperor of his own state of Chu. Li Xilie, however, by 786, had become repeatedly defeated by Tang forces. When Li Xilie grew ill, Chen had him poisoned and then submitted to Tang, but was himself in turn assassinated by Wu Shaocheng
later in the year.
) of Huaixi Circuit. His wife carried the surname Dou, the same surname as Li Xilie's favorite concubine, a daughter of the official Dou Liang (竇良), whom Li Xilie had forced to become his concubine during the time he claimed imperial title at the emperor of his own state of Chu (a title he claimed in 784
). Dou Liang's daughter, however, was secretly plotting against Li Xilie, and she persuaded Li Xilie that Chen was faithful and capable and thus should be trusted. Because she and Chen's wife shared the same surname, she informed Li Xilie that she would try to enter a friendship with Chen's wife in order to ensure his loyalty. After she befriended Chen's wife, she instead involved Chen and Chen's wife in the plot to destroy Li Xilie. When Li Xilie grew ill after eating beef in summer 786
, at Chen's instigation, Li Xilie's physician poisoned him to death.
After Li Xilie's death, Li Xilie's son did not announce his death and was planning to kill officers who would not submit to him, and then declare himself Li Xilie's successor. Li Xilie's concubine Lady Dou, who had just received some peaches as tribute, wrote down the son's plans and hid the plan in a wax ball, and then hid the wax ball in a peach which she then gave to Chen's wife. Chen, realizing what Li Xilie's son was planning, entered the mansion along with fellow officer Xue Yu (薛育) and killed Li Xilie's son. He then killed Li Xilie's wife, brothers, and sons, and delivered the heads of Li Xilie, his wife, and his sons to the Tang capital Chang'an
and submitted to Emperor Dezong
. Emperor Dezong made him military governor of Huaixi.
, killed him and took over as acting military governor. Li Xilie's concubine also died in the coup. Emperor Dezong, while mourning Chen, did not dare to wage a campaign against Wu, and he made his own son Li Liang (李諒) the Prince of Qian the nominal military governor and Wu the deputy military governor, thus effectively allowing Wu to take over the circuit.
786
Year 786 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 786 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- By place :Byzantine Empire* A council is organized in...
) 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...
. He had served under Li Xilie
Li Xilie
Li Xilie was a general of the Chinese Tang Dynasty who, believing himself to be strong enough to claim imperial title, did so as the emperor of a new state of Chu...
, who had rebelled against Emperor Dezong
Emperor Dezong of Tang
Emperor Dezong of Tang , personally name Li Kuo , was an emperor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty and the oldest son of his father Emperor Daizong. His reign of 26 years was the third longest in the Tang dynasty...
and claimed the title of emperor of his own state of Chu. Li Xilie, however, by 786, had become repeatedly defeated by Tang forces. When Li Xilie grew ill, Chen had him poisoned and then submitted to Tang, but was himself in turn assassinated by Wu Shaocheng
Wu Shaocheng
Wu Shaocheng , formally the Prince of Puyang , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who, as the military governor of Zhangyi Circuit , ruled the circuit in a de facto independent manner from the imperial regime, at one point engaging a campaign against imperial forces.- Background :Wu...
later in the year.
Service under and killing of Li Xilie
Virtually nothing is known about Chen Xianqi's background, including his birth date or his family origin. It is known that he had risen from soldier ranks to serve as an officer below Li Xilie while Li Xilie was the Tang military governor (JiedushiJiedushi
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 Huaixi Circuit. His wife carried the surname Dou, the same surname as Li Xilie's favorite concubine, a daughter of the official Dou Liang (竇良), whom Li Xilie had forced to become his concubine during the time he claimed imperial title at the emperor of his own state of Chu (a title he claimed in 784
784
Year 784 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 784 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* The Japanese capital moves away from Nara,...
). Dou Liang's daughter, however, was secretly plotting against Li Xilie, and she persuaded Li Xilie that Chen was faithful and capable and thus should be trusted. Because she and Chen's wife shared the same surname, she informed Li Xilie that she would try to enter a friendship with Chen's wife in order to ensure his loyalty. After she befriended Chen's wife, she instead involved Chen and Chen's wife in the plot to destroy Li Xilie. When Li Xilie grew ill after eating beef in summer 786
786
Year 786 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 786 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- By place :Byzantine Empire* A council is organized in...
, at Chen's instigation, Li Xilie's physician poisoned him to death.
After Li Xilie's death, Li Xilie's son did not announce his death and was planning to kill officers who would not submit to him, and then declare himself Li Xilie's successor. Li Xilie's concubine Lady Dou, who had just received some peaches as tribute, wrote down the son's plans and hid the plan in a wax ball, and then hid the wax ball in a peach which she then gave to Chen's wife. Chen, realizing what Li Xilie's son was planning, entered the mansion along with fellow officer Xue Yu (薛育) and killed Li Xilie's son. He then killed Li Xilie's wife, brothers, and sons, and delivered the heads of Li Xilie, his wife, and his sons to the Tang 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 submitted to Emperor Dezong
Emperor Dezong of Tang
Emperor Dezong of Tang , personally name Li Kuo , was an emperor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty and the oldest son of his father Emperor Daizong. His reign of 26 years was the third longest in the Tang dynasty...
. Emperor Dezong made him military governor of Huaixi.
As Jiedushi
As military governor, Chen tried to show loyalty to the imperial government immediately, and he sent troops to Tang's western borders that fall to help defend against attacks by Tufan. Just three months after he killed Li Xilie, however, one of LI Xilie's close associates, Wu ShaochengWu Shaocheng
Wu Shaocheng , formally the Prince of Puyang , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who, as the military governor of Zhangyi Circuit , ruled the circuit in a de facto independent manner from the imperial regime, at one point engaging a campaign against imperial forces.- Background :Wu...
, killed him and took over as acting military governor. Li Xilie's concubine also died in the coup. Emperor Dezong, while mourning Chen, did not dare to wage a campaign against Wu, and he made his own son Li Liang (李諒) the Prince of Qian the nominal military governor and Wu the deputy military governor, thus effectively allowing Wu to take over the circuit.