Du Rangneng
Encyclopedia
Du Rangneng (841
–893
), courtesy name Qunyi (群懿), formally the Duke of Jin (晉公), was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xizong
and Emperor Xizong's brother Emperor Zhaozong
. Early in Emperor Zhaozong's reign, against Du's recommendations, Emperor Zhaozong planned a campaign against the warlord Li Maozhen
and put Du in charge of the campaign. After Li subsequently defeated the imperial forces, he marched on the capital Chang'an
and demanded Du's death, and Emperor Zhaozong was forced to order Du to commit suicide.
. He was a descendant of the early Tang Dynasty
chancellor Du Ruhui
. His father Du Shenquan
served as a chancellor early in the reign of Emperor Wuzong's cousin Emperor Yizong
.
s in 872, late in Emperor Yizong's reign. He thereafter served as the sheriff of Xianyang County (咸陽, in modern Xianyang
, Shaanxi
). When the former chancellor Wang Duo
served as the military governor (Jiedushi
) of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng
, Henan
), he invited Du to serve on his staff. Subsequently, by which time Emperor Yizong's son Emperor Xizong
was emperor, Du was recalled to the capital Chang'an
to serve as the sheriff of Chang'an County, one of the two counties making up Chang'an, as well as an assistant at Jixian Institute (集賢院). Sometime later, when his mother died, he left governmental service to observe a mourning period for her. After the end of the mourning period, he served on the staff of the former chancellor Liu Ye
while Liu served as the military governor of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou
, Jiangsu
). He was later recalled to Chang'an to serve as an imperial censor with the title Jiancha Yushi (監察御史). Subsequently, when Niu Wei (牛蔚) served as the military governor of Shannan West Circuit (山南西道, headquartered in modern Hanzhong
, Shaanxi
), Du served on his staff.
Du subsequently was recalled to Chang'an, and he went through a progression of offices: You Bujue (右補闕), a low-level advisory official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng); imperial chronicler (起居郎, Qiju Lang); Libu Yuanwailang (禮部員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of rites (禮部, Libu); and Bingbu Yuanwailang (兵部員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of defense (兵部, Bingbu). When Emperor Xizong fled from Chang'an to Chengdu
late in 880 due to an attack by the major agrarian rebel Huang Chao
, Du also fled and caught up with the emperor in Chengdu. When the chancellor Xiao Gou
also served as the director of finances, Du, in addition to his duty at the ministry of defense, also served under Xiao in that capacity. Subsequently, he was also made Libu Langzhong (禮部郎中), a supervisory official at the ministry of rites, as well as an editor of imperial history. Thereafter, he was put in charge of drafting edicts, and was also made Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau. It was said that, at that time, as Emperor Xizong had to often issue edicts in monitoring the Tang forces' campaigns against Huang, many edicts had to be written quickly, and Du wrote effectively and efficiently. Emperor Xizong was happy about his abilities and made him the deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang). After Emperor Xizong was able to return to Chang'an after Huang's defeat, Du was made the minister of rites (禮部尚書, Libu Shangshu), given the honorary title of Yinqing Guanglu Daifu (銀青光祿大夫), and created the Viscount of Jianping. Subsequently, he was made the minister of defense (兵部尚書, Bingbu Shangshu) and chief imperial scholar (翰林學士承旨, Hanlin Xueshi Chengzhi).
In late 885, after the powerful eunuch Tian Lingzi
got into a dispute with the warlord Wang Chongrong
the military governor of Hezhong Circuit (河中, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi) and tried to transfer Wang to another circuit, Wang and his ally Li Keyong
the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan
, Shanxi
) engaged the forces under Tian and Tian's allies Zhu Mei
the military governor of Jingnan Circuit (靜難, headquartered in modern Xianyang) and Li Changfu
the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji
, Shaanxi
). Wang's and Li Keyong's forces defeated those under Tian, Zhu, and Li Changfu, and approached Chang'an. Emperor Xizong fled to Xingyuan (興元, in modern Hanzhong), and initially, very few imperial officials followed, with Du being one of the few. Subsequently, Emperor Xizong made both him and another official who followed to Xingyuan, Kong Wei
, chancellors, with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事).
the Prince of Xiang the new emperor, and it was said that few circuits remained obedient to Emperor Xizong. With Tian Lingzi realizing that the people of the empire were largely against him and having left Emperor Xizong's presence (to join his brother Chen Jingxuan
the military governor of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu)) and another eunuch, Yang Fugong
having succeeded Tian as the commander of the Shence Armies (神策軍), Du pointed out that Yang Fugong's brother Yang Fuguang
had worked closely with Wang Chongrong and Li Keyong in defeating Huang and recapturing Chang'an. He suggested having Yang write letters to Wang and Li Keyong to persuade them to rejoin Emperor Xizong's cause, and after Yang did so, Wang and Li Keyong redeclared their allegiance to Emperor Xizong and sent material supplies to Xingyuan.
Late in the year, with Zhu's officer Wang Xingyu
, whom Zhu had ordered to try to capture Xingyuan to seize Emperor Xizong, unsuccessful in that task, Wang Xingyu was enticed by Yang's declaration that if anyone killed Zhu, that person would be allowed to succeed Zhu as the military governor of Jingnan. He thus ambushed Zhu at Chang'an and killed him. Li Yun fled to Hezhong and was executed by Wang Chongrong. Thereafter, Emperor Xizong made Du Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎, the deputy head of the legislative bureau) and minister of defense, with the honorary title of Tejin (特進), and created him the Duke of Xiangyang. It was said that at that time, Emperor Xizong initially ordered that all officials who accepted offices from Li Yun be put to death, but Du, intervening for them, were able to get some 70-80% spared. Subsequently, when Emperor Xizong went to Fengxiang on the path back to Chang'an, the imperial guards and Li Changfu's forces got into a conflict and openly battled each other. During the battle, Du walked on foot to Emperor Xizong's provisional palace and attended to the emperor, and it was said that this action helped inspired the imperial guards in defeating Li Changfu, who was subsequently killed by his own subordinate Xue Zhicou (薛知籌). The imperial guard general Li Maozhen
was given Fengxiang instead.
After Emperor Xizong died in 888 was succeeded by his brother Emperor Zhaozong
, Du continued to serve as chancellor, and was created the Duke of Jin. In 890, when Kong and another chancellor, Zhang Jun
advocated a campaign against Li Keyong, Du and another chancellor, Liu Chongwang
opposed, but Emperor Zhaozong declared the campaign over their opposition, putting Zhang in overall command of the operations, which ended in utter failure in 891
, at great losses to the imperial government, which was forced to pardon Li Keyong.
In 892, with Yang Fugong, who had a falling out with Emperor Zhaozong, having started a rebellion against the imperial government at Shannan West with his adoptive nephew Yang Shouliang
(Yang Fuguang's adoptive son), Li Maozhen, Wang Xingyu, Han Jian
the military governor of Zhenguo Circuit (鎮國, headquartered in modern Weinan
, Shaanxi
), Wang Xingyu's brother Wang Xingyue (王行約) the military governor of Kuangguo Circuit (匡國, headquartered in modern Weinan as well), and Li Maozhen's brother Li Maozhuang (李茂莊) the military governor of Tianxiong Circuit (天雄, headquartered in modern Tianshui
, Gansu
) all petitioned Emperor Xizong to declare a general campaign against the Yangs and put Li Maozhen in charge of the overall operations. Emperor Xizong initially was apprehensive that if Li Maozhen defeated the Yangs, he would seize Shannan West and be even harder to control, and so ordered peace negotiations, but Li Maozhen and Wang Xingyu, ignoring the orders, started attacking Yang Shouliang on their own. Li Maozhen further wrote arrogant letters to Du and Ximen Junsui (西門君遂) the new commander of the Shence Armies. Emperor Zhaozong was forced to relent and agree to put Li Maozhen in charge of the operations. By the end of the year, Li Maozhen had defeated the Yangs, who were arrested in flight by Han and delivered to Chang'an to be executed.
the new military governor of Fengxiang, while trying to placate Li Maozhen by also giving him Wuding Circuit (武定, headquartered in modern Hanzhong as well). Li Maozhen, disappointed, refused, and further submitted disrespectful and threatening petitions to Emperor Zhaozong, while also writing threatening letters to Du.
In anger, Emperor Zhaozong wanted to declare a general campaign against Li Maozhen. Du, pointing out that the imperial armies were no longer, at this point, of battling warlords, advocated restraint. Emperor Zhaozong did not listen, and ordered Du to be in charge of the operations. Du, despite his reluctance, accepted the order. However, Du's chancellor colleague Cui Zhaowei
was conspiring with Li Maozhen and Wang Xingyu, and therefore, everything that Du planned was leaked to Li Maozhen and Wang Xingyu. They reacted by inciting the people at Chang'an to protest against the planned campaign, including violent protests in the presence of Ximen, Cui, and another chancellor, Zheng Yanchang
. Emperor Zhaozong's resolve against Li Maozhen was initially not changed, and he put Li Sizhou (李嗣周) the Prince of Qin in command of 30,000 men to attack Li Maozhen, assisted by the imperial guard general Li Hui (李鐬), to escort Xu to Fengxiang.
Li Maozhen and Wang Xingyu mobilized their forces, some 60,000 strong, to resist Li Sizhou. As the Fengxiang and Jingnan forces were seasoned veterans, and the imperial forces were new recruits with little combat experience, before the armies could engage each other, the imperial forces were stricken with panic and collapsed. Li Maozhen and Wang Xingyu approached Chang'an. Cui, who had long resented Du, informed Li Maozhen that it was not Emperor Zhaozong's idea to attack Li Maozhen, but Du's. Li Maozhen thus submitted a petition listing a number of accusations against Du, demanding Du's death. Du stated to Emperor Zhaozong, "I had long predicted what would happen. Please allow me to trade my life for Your Imperial Majesty's safety." Emperor Zhaozong initially tried to placate Li Maozhen by exiling Du to be the prefect of Wu Prefecture (梧州, in modern Wuzhou
, Guangxi
) while also executing Ximen and two other top eunuchs, Li Zhoutong (李周潼) and Duan Xu (段詡) and blaming the campaign on Ximen, Li Zhoutong, and Duan. But even a further demotion of Du to be the census officer at Lei Prefecture (雷州, in modern Zhanjiang
, Guangdong
) did not placate Li Maozhen, who continued to demand Du's death and announced that he would not withdraw until it occurred. Emperor Zhaozong was forced to order Du, as well as his brothers Du Yanlin (杜彥林) and Du Honghui (杜弘徽), to commit suicide. Subsequently, after Li Keyong defeated and killed Wang Xingyu and forced Li Maozhen into brief submission to the imperial government, Emperor Zhaozong posthumously honored Du. Du's son Du Xiao later served as a chancellor during the succeeding Later Liang Dynasty
.
841
Year 841 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* June 25 – Battle of Fontenay: Louis the German and Charles the Bald defeat Lothar....
–893
893
Year 893 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Council of Preslav: Simeon I succeeds Vladimir as prince of Bulgaria; the capital is moved from Pliska to Preslav....
), courtesy name Qunyi (群懿), formally the Duke of Jin (晉公), was an official 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...
, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xizong
Emperor Xizong of Tang
Emperor Xizong of Tang , né Li Yan , later name changed to Li Xuan , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 873 to 888. He was the fifth son of his predecessor Emperor Yizong and was the elder brother of his successor Emperor Zhaozong...
and Emperor Xizong's brother Emperor Zhaozong
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang , né Li Jie , name later changed to Li Min , yet later name changed to Li Ye , was the penultimate emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 888 to 904...
. Early in Emperor Zhaozong's reign, against Du's recommendations, Emperor Zhaozong planned a campaign against the warlord Li Maozhen
Li Maozhen
Li Maozhen , né Song Wentong , courtesy name Zhengchen , formally Prince Zhongjing of Qin , was the only ruler of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Qi...
and put Du in charge of the campaign. After Li subsequently defeated the imperial forces, he marched on the 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 demanded Du's death, and Emperor Zhaozong was forced to order Du to commit suicide.
Background
Du Rangneng was born in 841, during the reign of Emperor WuzongEmperor Wuzong of Tang
Emperor Wuzong of Tang , né Li Chan , later changed to Li Yan just before his death, was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, reigning from 840 to 846. Emperor Wuzong is mainly known in modern times for the religious persecution that occurred during his reign...
. He was a descendant of the early 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...
chancellor Du Ruhui
Du Ruhui
Du Ruhui , courtesy name Keming , formally Duke Cheng of Lai , was one of the most celebrated chancellors of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, and he and his colleague Fang Xuanling, both serving during the reign of Emperor Taizong, were often asserted to be ideal models for chancellors.- During...
. His father Du Shenquan
Du Shenquan
Du Shenquan , courtesy name Yinheng , formally Duke De of Xiangyang , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Yizong.- Background :...
served as a chancellor early in the reign of Emperor Wuzong's cousin Emperor Yizong
Emperor Yizong of Tang
Emperor Yizong of Tang , né Li Wen , later changed to Li Cui , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 859 to 873. Yizong was the eldest son of Emperor Xuānzong...
.
Early career
Du Rangneng himself passed the imperial examinationImperial examination
The Imperial examination was an examination system in Imperial China designed to select the best administrative officials for the state's bureaucracy. This system had a huge influence on both society and culture in Imperial China and was directly responsible for the creation of a class of...
s in 872, late in Emperor Yizong's reign. He thereafter served as the sheriff of Xianyang County (咸陽, in modern Xianyang
Xianyang
Xianyang is a former capital of China in Shaanxi province, on the Wei River, a few kilometers upstream from Xi'an. It has an area of...
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
). When the former chancellor Wang Duo
Wang Duo
Wang Duo , is a Chinese calligrapher, painter, and poet in Ming Dynasty.Wang was born in Mengjin in the Henan province. His style name was 'Juesi' or 'Juezhi' and his sobriquets were 'Songqiao', 'Chi'an', or 'Yantan Yusou'...
served as the military governor (Jiedushi
Jiedushi
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 Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng
Kaifeng
Kaifeng , known previously by several names , is a prefecture-level city in east-central Henan province, Central China. Nearly 5 million people live in the metropolitan area...
, Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
), he invited Du to serve on his staff. Subsequently, by which time Emperor Yizong's son Emperor Xizong
Emperor Xizong of Tang
Emperor Xizong of Tang , né Li Yan , later name changed to Li Xuan , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 873 to 888. He was the fifth son of his predecessor Emperor Yizong and was the elder brother of his successor Emperor Zhaozong...
was emperor, Du was recalled to the 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...
to serve as the sheriff of Chang'an County, one of the two counties making up Chang'an, as well as an assistant at Jixian Institute (集賢院). Sometime later, when his mother died, he left governmental service to observe a mourning period for her. After the end of the mourning period, he served on the staff of the former chancellor Liu Ye
Liu Ye (Tang Dynasty)
Liu Ye , courtesy name Hanfan , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Yizong and Emperor Yizong's son Emperor Xizong.- Background :...
while Liu served as the military governor of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou
Yangzhou
Yangzhou is a prefecture-level city in central Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China. Sitting on the northern bank of the Yangtze River, it borders the provincial capital of Nanjing to the southwest, Huai'an to the north, Yancheng to the northeast, Taizhou to the east, and Zhenjiang across...
, Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
). He was later recalled to Chang'an to serve as an imperial censor with the title Jiancha Yushi (監察御史). Subsequently, when Niu Wei (牛蔚) served as the military governor of Shannan West Circuit (山南西道, headquartered in modern Hanzhong
Hanzhong
Hanzhong is a municipality in southwest Shaanxi Province, China, occupying a historically significant valley in the mountains between the Xi'an area, home to many Chinese capitals, and the fertile but isolated Sichuan Basin...
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
), Du served on his staff.
Du subsequently was recalled to Chang'an, and he went through a progression of offices: You Bujue (右補闕), a low-level advisory official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng); imperial chronicler (起居郎, Qiju Lang); Libu Yuanwailang (禮部員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of rites (禮部, Libu); and Bingbu Yuanwailang (兵部員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of defense (兵部, Bingbu). When Emperor Xizong fled from Chang'an to Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
late in 880 due to an attack by the major agrarian rebel Huang Chao
Huang Chao
Huang Chao was the leader of the Huang Chao Rebellion , known in mainland China as the Huang Chao Revolution in China that seriously weakened the once mighty Tang Dynasty of China...
, Du also fled and caught up with the emperor in Chengdu. When the chancellor Xiao Gou
Xiao Gou
Xiao Gou , courtesy name Desheng , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong. He was later forced to accept a commission from the pretender Li Yun and, after Li Yun's defeat and death, was forced to commit suicide.- Background...
also served as the director of finances, Du, in addition to his duty at the ministry of defense, also served under Xiao in that capacity. Subsequently, he was also made Libu Langzhong (禮部郎中), a supervisory official at the ministry of rites, as well as an editor of imperial history. Thereafter, he was put in charge of drafting edicts, and was also made Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau. It was said that, at that time, as Emperor Xizong had to often issue edicts in monitoring the Tang forces' campaigns against Huang, many edicts had to be written quickly, and Du wrote effectively and efficiently. Emperor Xizong was happy about his abilities and made him the deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang). After Emperor Xizong was able to return to Chang'an after Huang's defeat, Du was made the minister of rites (禮部尚書, Libu Shangshu), given the honorary title of Yinqing Guanglu Daifu (銀青光祿大夫), and created the Viscount of Jianping. Subsequently, he was made the minister of defense (兵部尚書, Bingbu Shangshu) and chief imperial scholar (翰林學士承旨, Hanlin Xueshi Chengzhi).
In late 885, after the powerful eunuch Tian Lingzi
Tian Lingzi
Tian Lingzi , courtesy name Zhongze , formally the Duke of Jin , was a powerful eunuch during the reign of Emperor Xizong of Tang...
got into a dispute with the warlord Wang Chongrong
Wang Chongrong
Wang Chongrong , formally the Prince of Langye , was a warlord of the late Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who controlled Hezhong Circuit...
the military governor of Hezhong Circuit (河中, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi) and tried to transfer Wang to another circuit, Wang and his ally Li Keyong
Li Keyong
Li Keyong was a Shatuo military governor during the late Tang Dynasty and was key to developing a base of power for the Shatuo in what is today Shanxi Province in China...
the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan
Taiyuan
Taiyuan is the capital and largest city of Shanxi province in North China. At the 2010 census, it had a total population of 4,201,591 inhabitants on 6959 km² whom 3,212,500 are urban on 1,460 km². The name of the city literally means "Great Plains", referring to the location where the Fen River...
, Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
) engaged the forces under Tian and Tian's allies Zhu Mei
Zhu Mei
Zhu Mei was a warlord of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. Disillusioned with Emperor Xizong and the powerful eunuch Tian Lingzi, he tried to support Emperor Xizong's distant relative Li Yun the Prince of Xiang as the new emperor, but was soon thereafter killed by his own officer Wang Xingyu.-...
the military governor of Jingnan Circuit (靜難, headquartered in modern Xianyang) and Li Changfu
Li Changfu
Li Changfu was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who ruled Fengxiang Circuit from 884 to 887...
the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji
Baoji
Baoji is a prefecture-level city in Shaanxi province, China.-Geography:The prefecture-level city of Baoji has a population of 3,716,731 according to the 2010 Chinese census, inhabiting an area of . The city itself has a population of approximately 800,000. Surrounded on three sides by hills,...
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
). Wang's and Li Keyong's forces defeated those under Tian, Zhu, and Li Changfu, and approached Chang'an. Emperor Xizong fled to Xingyuan (興元, in modern Hanzhong), and initially, very few imperial officials followed, with Du being one of the few. Subsequently, Emperor Xizong made both him and another official who followed to Xingyuan, Kong Wei
Kong Wei
Kong Wei , courtesy name Huawen , formally the Duke of Lu , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xizong and Emperor Xizong's brother Emperor Zhaozong.- Background and early career :Kong Wei's family was descended from the Spring...
, chancellors, with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事).
As chancellor
By this time, however, Zhu Mei had occupied Chang'an and declared Emperor Xizong's distant relative Li YunLi Yun
Li Yun is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 97th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 61st of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Green Eyed Tiger".-Background:...
the Prince of Xiang the new emperor, and it was said that few circuits remained obedient to Emperor Xizong. With Tian Lingzi realizing that the people of the empire were largely against him and having left Emperor Xizong's presence (to join his brother Chen Jingxuan
Chen Jingxuan
Chen Jingxuan was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who came to control Xichuan Circuit Chen Jingxuan (陳敬瑄) (d. April 26, 893) was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who came to control Xichuan Circuit Chen Jingxuan (陳敬瑄) (d. April 26, 893) was a general of the Chinese...
the military governor of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu)) and another eunuch, Yang Fugong
Yang Fugong
Yang Fugong , courtesy name Zike , formally the Duke of Wei , was an eunuch official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, playing key roles in the imperial administrations of Emperor Xizong and Emperor Xizong's brother Emperor Zhaozong...
having succeeded Tian as the commander of the Shence Armies (神策軍), Du pointed out that Yang Fugong's brother Yang Fuguang
Yang Fuguang
Yang Fuguang , formally Duke Zhongsu of Hongnong , was an eunuch general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who was considered a major contributor to the Tang cause in finally defeating Huang Chao's rebellion.- Background :...
had worked closely with Wang Chongrong and Li Keyong in defeating Huang and recapturing Chang'an. He suggested having Yang write letters to Wang and Li Keyong to persuade them to rejoin Emperor Xizong's cause, and after Yang did so, Wang and Li Keyong redeclared their allegiance to Emperor Xizong and sent material supplies to Xingyuan.
Late in the year, with Zhu's officer Wang Xingyu
Wang Xingyu
Wang Xingyu was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who controlled Jingnan Circuit from 887 to his death in 895...
, whom Zhu had ordered to try to capture Xingyuan to seize Emperor Xizong, unsuccessful in that task, Wang Xingyu was enticed by Yang's declaration that if anyone killed Zhu, that person would be allowed to succeed Zhu as the military governor of Jingnan. He thus ambushed Zhu at Chang'an and killed him. Li Yun fled to Hezhong and was executed by Wang Chongrong. Thereafter, Emperor Xizong made Du Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎, the deputy head of the legislative bureau) and minister of defense, with the honorary title of Tejin (特進), and created him the Duke of Xiangyang. It was said that at that time, Emperor Xizong initially ordered that all officials who accepted offices from Li Yun be put to death, but Du, intervening for them, were able to get some 70-80% spared. Subsequently, when Emperor Xizong went to Fengxiang on the path back to Chang'an, the imperial guards and Li Changfu's forces got into a conflict and openly battled each other. During the battle, Du walked on foot to Emperor Xizong's provisional palace and attended to the emperor, and it was said that this action helped inspired the imperial guards in defeating Li Changfu, who was subsequently killed by his own subordinate Xue Zhicou (薛知籌). The imperial guard general Li Maozhen
Li Maozhen
Li Maozhen , né Song Wentong , courtesy name Zhengchen , formally Prince Zhongjing of Qin , was the only ruler of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Qi...
was given Fengxiang instead.
After Emperor Xizong died in 888 was succeeded by his brother Emperor Zhaozong
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang , né Li Jie , name later changed to Li Min , yet later name changed to Li Ye , was the penultimate emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 888 to 904...
, Du continued to serve as chancellor, and was created the Duke of Jin. In 890, when Kong and another chancellor, Zhang Jun
Zhang Jun (Tang Dynasty)
Zhang Jun , courtesy name Yuchuan , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xizong and Emperor Xizong's brother Emperor Zhaozong...
advocated a campaign against Li Keyong, Du and another chancellor, Liu Chongwang
Liu Chongwang
Liu Chongwang , courtesy name Xitu , formally the Baron of Pengcheng , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong.- Background :...
opposed, but Emperor Zhaozong declared the campaign over their opposition, putting Zhang in overall command of the operations, which ended in utter failure in 891
891
Year 891 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Arnulf of Carinthia defeats the Normans at the Battle of Leuven....
, at great losses to the imperial government, which was forced to pardon Li Keyong.
In 892, with Yang Fugong, who had a falling out with Emperor Zhaozong, having started a rebellion against the imperial government at Shannan West with his adoptive nephew Yang Shouliang
Yang Shouliang
Yang Shouliang , né Zi Liang , was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who controlled Shannan West Circuit from 887 to 892. He was initially an agrarian rebel under Wang Xianzhi, but later came to serve under the imperial eunuch general Yang Fuguang, becoming Yang Fuguang's...
(Yang Fuguang's adoptive son), Li Maozhen, Wang Xingyu, Han Jian
Han Jian (Tang Dynasty)
Han Jian , courtesy name Zuoshi , was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who eventually became a subject of the succeeding Later Liang Dynasty...
the military governor of Zhenguo Circuit (鎮國, headquartered in modern Weinan
Weinan
Weinan is a Municipality in the province of Shaanxi, PRC. The Grand Historian Sima Qian was born in Weinan.-Administration:...
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
), Wang Xingyu's brother Wang Xingyue (王行約) the military governor of Kuangguo Circuit (匡國, headquartered in modern Weinan as well), and Li Maozhen's brother Li Maozhuang (李茂莊) the military governor of Tianxiong Circuit (天雄, headquartered in modern Tianshui
Tianshui
Tianshui is the second largest city in Gansu province in northwest China. Its population is approximately 3,500,000.Tianshui lies along the route of the ancient Northern Silk Road at the Wei River, through which much of trade occurred between China and the west...
, Gansu
Gansu
' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
) all petitioned Emperor Xizong to declare a general campaign against the Yangs and put Li Maozhen in charge of the overall operations. Emperor Xizong initially was apprehensive that if Li Maozhen defeated the Yangs, he would seize Shannan West and be even harder to control, and so ordered peace negotiations, but Li Maozhen and Wang Xingyu, ignoring the orders, started attacking Yang Shouliang on their own. Li Maozhen further wrote arrogant letters to Du and Ximen Junsui (西門君遂) the new commander of the Shence Armies. Emperor Zhaozong was forced to relent and agree to put Li Maozhen in charge of the operations. By the end of the year, Li Maozhen had defeated the Yangs, who were arrested in flight by Han and delivered to Chang'an to be executed.
Death at Li Maozhen's insistence
In the aftermaths of LI Maozhen's victory over the Yangs, however, as Emperor Zhaozong feared, he became even more arrogant in his communications with the imperial government. In spring 893, after he sent a petition stating that he wanted to be the military governor of Shannan West — i.e., intending to control both Fengxiang and Shannan West — Emperor Zhaozong issued an edict transferring Li Maozhen to Shannan West while naming the chancellor Xu YanruoXu Yanruo
Xu Yanruo , courtesy name Yuzhi , formally the Duke of Qi , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong.- Background and early career :...
the new military governor of Fengxiang, while trying to placate Li Maozhen by also giving him Wuding Circuit (武定, headquartered in modern Hanzhong as well). Li Maozhen, disappointed, refused, and further submitted disrespectful and threatening petitions to Emperor Zhaozong, while also writing threatening letters to Du.
In anger, Emperor Zhaozong wanted to declare a general campaign against Li Maozhen. Du, pointing out that the imperial armies were no longer, at this point, of battling warlords, advocated restraint. Emperor Zhaozong did not listen, and ordered Du to be in charge of the operations. Du, despite his reluctance, accepted the order. However, Du's chancellor colleague Cui Zhaowei
Cui Zhaowei
Cui Zhaowei , courtesy name Yunyao , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong...
was conspiring with Li Maozhen and Wang Xingyu, and therefore, everything that Du planned was leaked to Li Maozhen and Wang Xingyu. They reacted by inciting the people at Chang'an to protest against the planned campaign, including violent protests in the presence of Ximen, Cui, and another chancellor, Zheng Yanchang
Zheng Yanchang
Zheng Yanchang , courtesy name Guangyuan , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong.- Background :It is not known when Zheng Yanchang was born...
. Emperor Zhaozong's resolve against Li Maozhen was initially not changed, and he put Li Sizhou (李嗣周) the Prince of Qin in command of 30,000 men to attack Li Maozhen, assisted by the imperial guard general Li Hui (李鐬), to escort Xu to Fengxiang.
Li Maozhen and Wang Xingyu mobilized their forces, some 60,000 strong, to resist Li Sizhou. As the Fengxiang and Jingnan forces were seasoned veterans, and the imperial forces were new recruits with little combat experience, before the armies could engage each other, the imperial forces were stricken with panic and collapsed. Li Maozhen and Wang Xingyu approached Chang'an. Cui, who had long resented Du, informed Li Maozhen that it was not Emperor Zhaozong's idea to attack Li Maozhen, but Du's. Li Maozhen thus submitted a petition listing a number of accusations against Du, demanding Du's death. Du stated to Emperor Zhaozong, "I had long predicted what would happen. Please allow me to trade my life for Your Imperial Majesty's safety." Emperor Zhaozong initially tried to placate Li Maozhen by exiling Du to be the prefect of Wu Prefecture (梧州, in modern Wuzhou
Wuzhou
Wuzhou , historically known as Wuchow, is a prefecture-level city in China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.-Geography and climate:Wuzhou is located in eastern Guangxi bordering Guangdong province. It is at the confluence of the Gui River and the Xun River where they form the Xi River; 85% of all...
, Guangxi
Guangxi
Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
) while also executing Ximen and two other top eunuchs, Li Zhoutong (李周潼) and Duan Xu (段詡) and blaming the campaign on Ximen, Li Zhoutong, and Duan. But even a further demotion of Du to be the census officer at Lei Prefecture (雷州, in modern Zhanjiang
Zhanjiang
Zhanjiang , formerly known as Tsamkong, Tsankiang, Fort-Bayard, and Kwang-Chou-Wan, is a prefecture-level city at the southwestern end of Guangdong province of Southern China, facing the island of Hainan to the south....
, Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
) did not placate Li Maozhen, who continued to demand Du's death and announced that he would not withdraw until it occurred. Emperor Zhaozong was forced to order Du, as well as his brothers Du Yanlin (杜彥林) and Du Honghui (杜弘徽), to commit suicide. Subsequently, after Li Keyong defeated and killed Wang Xingyu and forced Li Maozhen into brief submission to the imperial government, Emperor Zhaozong posthumously honored Du. Du's son Du Xiao later served as a chancellor during the succeeding Later Liang Dynasty
Later Liang Dynasty
The Later Liang was one of the Five Dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period in China. It was founded by Zhu Wen, posthumously known as Taizu of Later Liang, after he forced the last emperor of the Tang dynasty to abdicate in his favour...
.