Liu Wu
Encyclopedia
Liu Wu (d. September 25, 825), formally the Prince of Pengcheng (彭城王), was a general of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, whose killing of his superior, the warlord Li Shidao
, and subsequent submission to the imperial government, were the high point of Emperor Xianzong
's campaign to end warlordism. During the subsequent reign of Emperor Muzong
, however, Liu, angered by a conspiracy between an imperial eunuch and one of his subordinates, drifted away from the imperial government and ruled Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, headquartered in modern Changzhi
, Shanxi
) semi-independently.
) of Pinglu Circuit (平盧, then headquartered in modern Chaoyang, Liaoning) during the Anshi Rebellion and combatted the army of the rebel Yan
, but was unable to capture the Yan northern capital Fanyang
before being poisoned by his own subordinate Wang Xuanzhi (王玄志). During the time that Liu Wu's uncle Liu Quanliang (劉全諒) served as the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng
, Henan
), as he valued Liu Wu for Liu Wu's bravery and decisiveness, he made Liu Wu an officer under him, but Liu Wu subsequently committed a crime and fled to Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, headquartered in modern Changzhi
, Shanxi
), where the military governor of Zhaoyi, Wang Qianxiu (王虔休), made him an officer. Liu Wu soon became ill and resigned, and he went to the eastern capital Luoyang
. Liu Quanliang had a storage of money at Luoyang, and Liu Wu broke into it and spent it. Liu Wu also associated with violent young men who killed people and dogs. As a result, Liu Wu was arrested and held at the jail of Henan Municipality (河南, i.e., the Luoyang region), but the defender of Luoyang Wei Xiaqing (韋夏卿) released him.
, Shandong
) to serve under the military governor Li Shigu
, who ruled the circuit in de facto independence from the imperial government. Liu was not initially well-known in the Pinglu army. On one occasion, when the officers were playing polo
, his horse charged Li Shigu's horse, causing Li Shigu's horse to fall. Li Shigu, in anger, was set to execute him. Liu responded with proud words without fear. Li Shigu was amazed and pardoned him, and found a wife for him. He thereafter was promoted several times, until he became army commander (兵馬使, Bingmashi).
In 818, after Emperor Xianzong
declared a general campaign against Li Shigu's brother and successor Li Shidao
, Li Shidao had Liu command troops to defend against imperial armies' attack, in position at Cao Prefecture (曹州, in modern Heze
, Shandong
). It was said that Liu was lenient and simplified the military laws, and as a result the soldiers were happy to be under his command — such that he was referred to as "Father Liu." After Tian Hongzheng
the military governor of Weibo Circuit (魏博, headquartered in modern Handan
, Hebei
) crossed the Yellow River
and pressured Pinglu's capital Yun Prefecture (鄆州) directly in winter 818, Liu stationed his army at Yanggu (陽穀, in modern Liaocheng
, Shandong
) to defend against Tian. Tian's army repeatedly prevailed over Liu's, and there were accusations by some of Li Shidao's associates that Liu was plotting against him. Li Shidao thus summoned Liu back to Yun Prefecture under the guise of a strategic meeting but planned to execute him. Yet other associates of Li Shidao's counseled that if he put Liu to death without proof of treachery, no one would remain faithful to him. After keeping Liu at Yun Prefecture for 10 days, Li Shidao ordered him to return to Yanggu and gave him gifts to try to secure his loyalty. However, because Liu Wu's son Liu Congjian
served in Li Shidao's guard corps, he found out about what Li Shidao had originally intended and reported it to Liu Wu, so Liu Wu secretly took precautions.
In spring 819, Li Shidao became resolved to kill Liu Wu. He sent two messengers to Liu's deputy Zhang Xian (張暹), ordering Zhang to execute Liu and take over the army. When the messengers informed Zhang, Zhang, who was friendly with Liu, secretly informed Liu, who immediately put the two messengers to death. Liu then called a meeting with all of his officers, declaring that he was set to turn against Li Shidao and follow imperial orders. When some officers hesitated, he executed them, as well as a number of others that soldiers had resented. The other officers were intimidated into submission. At night, they launched a surprise attack on Yun Prefecture, and the Yun Prefecture defenders, believing that Liu was returning on Li Shidao's orders, allowed them in. Liu Wu controlled the city and arrested Li Shidao and his two sons, putting them to death. He then sent messengers to surrender to Tian, but continued to maintain control over Yun Prefecture.
, Henan
). Liu was surprised and decided to submit — and, as soon as he left the city, Tian, approaching with Weibo and other circuits' troops, met him and gave him the seals of the Yicheng governorship. Liu took with him several colleagues who had unsuccessfully counseled Li Shidao not to resist imperial authority — Li Gongdu (李公度), Li Cun (李存), Guo Hu (郭昈), and Jia Zhiyan (賈直言) — with him, and invited them to serve under him at Yicheng. Liu's submission to imperial authority was considered the apex of Emperor Xianzong's campaign to end warlordism in his realm, referred to historians as the Yuanhe Restoration (元和中興, Yuanhe being Emperor Xianzong's era name). Emperor Xianzong created Liu the Prince of Pengcheng and awarded him a mansion and an estate. In spring 820, Liu went to Chang'an to pay homage to Emperor Xianzong.
Late in 820, by which time Emperor Xianzong had died and been succeeded by his son Emperor Muzong
, Wang Chengzong
the military governor of Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang
, Hebei
) died. His brother Wang Chengyuan
, fearing the fate of Li Shidao, offered to surrender the circuit's control to the imperial government. Emperor Muzong, as a result, made a number of transfers of military governors around Chengde — transferring Tian to Chengde, Wang Chengyuan to Yicheng, Liu to Zhaoyi Circuit, and Li Su
the military governor of Wuning Circuit (武寧, headquartered in modern Xuzhou
, Jiangsu
), and also making Tian's son Tian Bu
the military governor of Heyang Circuit (河陽, headquartered in modern Luoyang). In 821, after soldiers at Lulong Circuit (盧龍, headquartered in modern Beijing
) mutinied and put the imperially-commissioned military governor Zhang Hongjing
under house arrest and supported the officer Zhu Kerong
to take over the circuit, Emperor Muzong made Liu the military governor of Lulong, intending to have him suppress the mutiny, but Liu, fearing the strength of Zhu's troops, declined, suggesting that Zhu be commissioned. Emperor Muzong thus allowed Liu to remain at Zhaoyi.
Meanwhile, the eunuch monitor of the army that Emperor Muzong stationed at Zhaoyi, Liu Chengjie (劉承偕), because of the favor that both Emperor Muzong and the emperor's mother Empress Dowager Guo
showed him, was arrogant and often insulted Liu Wu, and allowed his subordinates to disobey the law. He also conspired with Liu Wu's subordinate Zhang Wen (張汶) the prefect of Ci Prefecture (磁州, in modern Handan) to arrest Liu Wu and let Zhang replace him. When Liu Wu found out about this, he encouraged his subordinates to act against Liu Chengjie and Zhang, and in a subsequent mutiny, soldiers killed Zhang and arrested Liu Chengjie, intending to kill him as well. Jia, however, warned Liu Wu:
Liu Wu thanked Jia for his honest advice and did not kill Liu Chengjie, but instead only kept him under arrest. Emperor Muzong ordered Liu Wu to deliver Liu Chengjie to Chang'an, and Liu Wu refused, claiming that if he did, the soldiers would mutiny again. At the advice of the chancellor Pei Du
, who was also aware of Liu Chengjie's arrogance and improper activities, suggested to Emperor Muzong that he ordered that Liu Chengjie be executed, to maintain the faith of not only Liu Wu but other military governors who resented eunuch monitors' interference with them. Emperor Muzong, however, declined to do so, but at Pei's further advice ordered Liu Chengjie exiled. Only after receiving such an order did Liu Wu release Liu Chengjie back into imperial custody. Emperor Muzong subsequently gave Liu Wu the honorary title of acting Situ (司徒, one of the Three Excellencies
, as Sikong was). It was said that after this incident, Liu Wu became arrogant and no longer obedient of the imperial government, often gathering bandits to serve under his command. In 823
, he was further given the honorary chancellor title of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事).
Liu Wu died suddenly in 825. A final request to then-reigning Emperor Jingzong
(Emperor Muzong's son) in Liu Wu's name requested that Liu Congjian be allowed to inherit the command. The officials in the imperial government argued among each other about whether Liu Wu's son Liu Congjian should be allowed to do so, but finally, with the chancellor Li Fengji
and the powerful eunuch Wang Shoucheng
in favor, Liu Congjian was allowed to inherit the circuit. Liu Wu was given posthumous honors.
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...
, whose killing of his superior, the warlord Li Shidao
Li Shidao
Li Shidao was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who, as the successor to his brother Li Shigu, ruled Pinglu Circuit in a de facto independent manner from the imperial government...
, and subsequent submission to the imperial government, were the high point of Emperor Xianzong
Emperor Xianzong of Tang
Emperor Xianzong of Tang , personal name Li Chun , né Li Chun , was an emperor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty...
's campaign to end warlordism. During the subsequent reign of Emperor Muzong
Emperor Muzong of Tang
Emperor Muzong of Tang , personal name Li Heng , né Li You , was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 821 to 824. Emperor Muzong was the son of Emperor Xianzong...
, however, Liu, angered by a conspiracy between an imperial eunuch and one of his subordinates, drifted away from the imperial government and ruled Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, headquartered in modern Changzhi
Changzhi
Changzhi is a prefecture-level city in Shanxi Province, People's Republic of China. It lies between the city of Huozhou in Shanxi and the city of Hebi in Henan....
, 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....
) semi-independently.
Background
It is not known when Liu Wu was born. His grandfather Liu Zhengchen (劉正臣) had served as 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 Pinglu Circuit (平盧, then headquartered in modern Chaoyang, Liaoning) during the Anshi Rebellion and combatted the army of the rebel Yan
Yan (Anshi)
Yan , also known as the Great Yan , was a state established in 756 by the Tang Dynasty general An Lushan, after he rebelled against the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang in 755. The state was extinguished in 763, with the death of An Lushan's former subordinate, Shi Siming's son, Shi Chaoyi, who...
, but was unable to capture the Yan northern capital Fanyang
Fanyang
Yanjing for administrative purposes was an ancient city and capital of the State of Yan in northern China. It was located in modern Beijing.- History :...
before being poisoned by his own subordinate Wang Xuanzhi (王玄志). During the time that Liu Wu's uncle Liu Quanliang (劉全諒) served as the military governor 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...
), as he valued Liu Wu for Liu Wu's bravery and decisiveness, he made Liu Wu an officer under him, but Liu Wu subsequently committed a crime and fled to Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, headquartered in modern Changzhi
Changzhi
Changzhi is a prefecture-level city in Shanxi Province, People's Republic of China. It lies between the city of Huozhou in Shanxi and the city of Hebi in Henan....
, 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....
), where the military governor of Zhaoyi, Wang Qianxiu (王虔休), made him an officer. Liu Wu soon became ill and resigned, and he went to the eastern capital Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
. Liu Quanliang had a storage of money at Luoyang, and Liu Wu broke into it and spent it. Liu Wu also associated with violent young men who killed people and dogs. As a result, Liu Wu was arrested and held at the jail of Henan Municipality (河南, i.e., the Luoyang region), but the defender of Luoyang Wei Xiaqing (韋夏卿) released him.
Service under Li Shigu and Li Shidao
Liu Wu subsequently fled to Pinglu Circuit (by this point headquartered in modern Tai'anTai'an
Tai'an is a prefecture-level city in western Shandong province, People's Republic of China.Centered around Mount Tai, the city borders the provincial capital of Jinan to the north, Laiwu to the northeast, Zibo to the east, Linyi to the southeast, Liaocheng to the extreme west and Jining to the south...
, Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
) to serve under the military governor Li Shigu
Li Shigu
Li Shigu was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who, as the military governor of Pinglu Circuit , ruled the circuit in a de facto independent manner from the imperial regime.- Background :Li Shigu was born in 778, during the reign of Emperor Daizong...
, who ruled the circuit in de facto independence from the imperial government. Liu was not initially well-known in the Pinglu army. On one occasion, when the officers were playing polo
Polo
Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Sometimes called, "The Sport of Kings", it was highly popularized by the British. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a...
, his horse charged Li Shigu's horse, causing Li Shigu's horse to fall. Li Shigu, in anger, was set to execute him. Liu responded with proud words without fear. Li Shigu was amazed and pardoned him, and found a wife for him. He thereafter was promoted several times, until he became army commander (兵馬使, Bingmashi).
In 818, after Emperor Xianzong
Emperor Xianzong of Tang
Emperor Xianzong of Tang , personal name Li Chun , né Li Chun , was an emperor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty...
declared a general campaign against Li Shigu's brother and successor Li Shidao
Li Shidao
Li Shidao was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who, as the successor to his brother Li Shigu, ruled Pinglu Circuit in a de facto independent manner from the imperial government...
, Li Shidao had Liu command troops to defend against imperial armies' attack, in position at Cao Prefecture (曹州, in modern Heze
Heze
Heze is a prefecture-level city in southwestern Shandong province, People's Republic of China. The westernmost prefecture-level city in Shandong, it borders Jining to the east and the provinces of Henan and Anhui to the west and south respectively. The old name of Heze was Caozhou and now a part...
, Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
). It was said that Liu was lenient and simplified the military laws, and as a result the soldiers were happy to be under his command — such that he was referred to as "Father Liu." After Tian Hongzheng
Tian Hongzheng
Tian Hongzheng , né Tian Xing , courtesy name Andao , formally Duke Zhongmin of Yi , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty...
the military governor of Weibo Circuit (魏博, headquartered in modern Handan
Handan
Handan is a prefecture-level city located in the southwestern part of Hebei Province of China.- History :Handan was the capital of the State of Zhao during the Warring States period , after the capital moved from Zhongmu. The city was conquered by the State of Qin after the virtual annexation of...
, Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
) crossed the Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
and pressured Pinglu's capital Yun Prefecture (鄆州) directly in winter 818, Liu stationed his army at Yanggu (陽穀, in modern Liaocheng
Liaocheng
Liaocheng , also known as the Water City, is a prefecture-level city in western Shandong province, People's Republic of China. It borders the provincial capital of Jinan to the southeast, Dezhou to the northeast, Tai'an to the south, and the province of Hebei and Henan to the west...
, Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
) to defend against Tian. Tian's army repeatedly prevailed over Liu's, and there were accusations by some of Li Shidao's associates that Liu was plotting against him. Li Shidao thus summoned Liu back to Yun Prefecture under the guise of a strategic meeting but planned to execute him. Yet other associates of Li Shidao's counseled that if he put Liu to death without proof of treachery, no one would remain faithful to him. After keeping Liu at Yun Prefecture for 10 days, Li Shidao ordered him to return to Yanggu and gave him gifts to try to secure his loyalty. However, because Liu Wu's son Liu Congjian
Liu Congjian
Liu Congjian , formally the Duke of Pei , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who is most known for his term as the military governor of Zhaoyi Circuit , during which he was viewed as a warlord who maintained a tight hold on the circuit but also as someone who served as a...
served in Li Shidao's guard corps, he found out about what Li Shidao had originally intended and reported it to Liu Wu, so Liu Wu secretly took precautions.
In spring 819, Li Shidao became resolved to kill Liu Wu. He sent two messengers to Liu's deputy Zhang Xian (張暹), ordering Zhang to execute Liu and take over the army. When the messengers informed Zhang, Zhang, who was friendly with Liu, secretly informed Liu, who immediately put the two messengers to death. Liu then called a meeting with all of his officers, declaring that he was set to turn against Li Shidao and follow imperial orders. When some officers hesitated, he executed them, as well as a number of others that soldiers had resented. The other officers were intimidated into submission. At night, they launched a surprise attack on Yun Prefecture, and the Yun Prefecture defenders, believing that Liu was returning on Li Shidao's orders, allowed them in. Liu Wu controlled the city and arrested Li Shidao and his two sons, putting them to death. He then sent messengers to surrender to Tian, but continued to maintain control over Yun Prefecture.
As Jiedushi
Because Emperor Xianzong had previously issued an edict stating that whoever killed Li Shidao would be conferred all of Li Shidao's titles, Liu Wu believed that he would be given Pinglu's 12 prefectures, and therefore started making personnel changes for the entire circuit. Meanwhile, though, Emperor Xianzong was secretly planning to divide Pinglu into three circuits and transferring Liu elsewhere, but was concerned that Liu might resist. He ordered Tian to evaluate the situation, and Tian thus sent messengers to Liu, ostensibly to befriend Liu, but secretly to observe Liu. As Liu was strong and liked arm wrestling, within three days, he was encouraging soldiers to arm wrestle and watching them doing so in excitement. When the Weibo messengers reported this back to Tian, Tian opined to Emperor Xianzong that Liu, if transferred elsewhere, would not resist. Soon thereafter, Emperor Xianzong issued an edict commissioning Liu as the military governor of Yicheng Circuit (義成, headquartered in modern AnyangAnyang
Anyang is a prefecture-level city in Henan province, People's Republic of China. The northernmost city in Henan, Anyang borders Puyang to the east, Hebi and Xinxiang to the south, and the provinces of Shanxi and Hebei to its west and north respectively....
, 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...
). Liu was surprised and decided to submit — and, as soon as he left the city, Tian, approaching with Weibo and other circuits' troops, met him and gave him the seals of the Yicheng governorship. Liu took with him several colleagues who had unsuccessfully counseled Li Shidao not to resist imperial authority — Li Gongdu (李公度), Li Cun (李存), Guo Hu (郭昈), and Jia Zhiyan (賈直言) — with him, and invited them to serve under him at Yicheng. Liu's submission to imperial authority was considered the apex of Emperor Xianzong's campaign to end warlordism in his realm, referred to historians as the Yuanhe Restoration (元和中興, Yuanhe being Emperor Xianzong's era name). Emperor Xianzong created Liu the Prince of Pengcheng and awarded him a mansion and an estate. In spring 820, Liu went to Chang'an to pay homage to Emperor Xianzong.
Late in 820, by which time Emperor Xianzong had died and been succeeded by his son Emperor Muzong
Emperor Muzong of Tang
Emperor Muzong of Tang , personal name Li Heng , né Li You , was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 821 to 824. Emperor Muzong was the son of Emperor Xianzong...
, Wang Chengzong
Wang Chengzong
Wang Chengzong was a general of the Chinese Tang Dynasty who served a military governor of Chengde Circuit...
the military governor of Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang
Shijiazhuang
Shijiazhuang is the capital and largest city of North China's Hebei province. Administratively a prefecture-level city, it is about south of Beijing...
, Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
) died. His brother Wang Chengyuan
Wang Chengyuan
Wang Chengyuan , formally the Duke of Qi , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. His family had, for generations, controlled Chengde Circuit , but he declined the command of Chengde after the death of his older brother Wang Chengzong...
, fearing the fate of Li Shidao, offered to surrender the circuit's control to the imperial government. Emperor Muzong, as a result, made a number of transfers of military governors around Chengde — transferring Tian to Chengde, Wang Chengyuan to Yicheng, Liu to Zhaoyi Circuit, and Li Su
Li Su
Li Su was a military general serving under the warlord Dong Zhuo during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history.Li Su originally served as a Commandant of Cavalry under Dong Zhuo. He later assisted Lü Bu, who was from the same village as him, in the assassination of Dong Zhuo...
the military governor of Wuning Circuit (武寧, headquartered in modern Xuzhou
Xuzhou
Xuzhou , otherwise known as Pengcheng in ancient times, is a major city in and the fourth largest prefecture-level city of Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China...
, 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...
), and also making Tian's son Tian Bu
Tian Bu
Tian Bu , courtesy name Dunli , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. He was the son of the general Tian Hongzheng, and after Tian Hongzheng's death at the hands of Chengde Circuit mutineers was put in command of Tian Hongzheng's old command Weibo Circuit Tian Bu (田布) (785 –...
the military governor of Heyang Circuit (河陽, headquartered in modern Luoyang). In 821, after soldiers at Lulong Circuit (盧龍, headquartered in modern Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
) mutinied and put the imperially-commissioned military governor Zhang Hongjing
Zhang Hongjing
Zhang Hongjing , courtesy name Yuanli , formally the Marquess of Gaoping , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xianzong...
under house arrest and supported the officer Zhu Kerong
Zhu Kerong
Zhu Kerong , formally the Prince of Wuxing , was a military governor of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who ruled Lulong Circuit independent of the imperial authority during the reigns of Emperor Muzong and Emperor Jingzong, until he and his son Zhu Yanling were killed by their own soldiers in...
to take over the circuit, Emperor Muzong made Liu the military governor of Lulong, intending to have him suppress the mutiny, but Liu, fearing the strength of Zhu's troops, declined, suggesting that Zhu be commissioned. Emperor Muzong thus allowed Liu to remain at Zhaoyi.
Meanwhile, the eunuch monitor of the army that Emperor Muzong stationed at Zhaoyi, Liu Chengjie (劉承偕), because of the favor that both Emperor Muzong and the emperor's mother Empress Dowager Guo
Empress Dowager Guo (Muzong)
Empress Dowager Guo , formally Empress Yi'an , was an empress dowager of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty...
showed him, was arrogant and often insulted Liu Wu, and allowed his subordinates to disobey the law. He also conspired with Liu Wu's subordinate Zhang Wen (張汶) the prefect of Ci Prefecture (磁州, in modern Handan) to arrest Liu Wu and let Zhang replace him. When Liu Wu found out about this, he encouraged his subordinates to act against Liu Chengjie and Zhang, and in a subsequent mutiny, soldiers killed Zhang and arrested Liu Chengjie, intending to kill him as well. Jia, however, warned Liu Wu:
Liu Wu thanked Jia for his honest advice and did not kill Liu Chengjie, but instead only kept him under arrest. Emperor Muzong ordered Liu Wu to deliver Liu Chengjie to Chang'an, and Liu Wu refused, claiming that if he did, the soldiers would mutiny again. At the advice of the chancellor Pei Du
Pei Du
Pei Du , courtesy name Zhongli , formally Duke Wenzhong of Jin , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xianzong, Emperor Xianzong's son Emperor Muzong, and Emperor Xianzong's grandsons Emperor Jingzong and Emperor Wenzong...
, who was also aware of Liu Chengjie's arrogance and improper activities, suggested to Emperor Muzong that he ordered that Liu Chengjie be executed, to maintain the faith of not only Liu Wu but other military governors who resented eunuch monitors' interference with them. Emperor Muzong, however, declined to do so, but at Pei's further advice ordered Liu Chengjie exiled. Only after receiving such an order did Liu Wu release Liu Chengjie back into imperial custody. Emperor Muzong subsequently gave Liu Wu the honorary title of acting Situ (司徒, one of the Three Excellencies
Three Excellencies
The Three Ducal Ministers , also translated as the Three Dukes, Three Excellencies, or the Three Lords, was the collective name for the three highest officials in ancient China...
, as Sikong was). It was said that after this incident, Liu Wu became arrogant and no longer obedient of the imperial government, often gathering bandits to serve under his command. In 823
823
Year 823 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Byzantine Empire :...
, he was further given the honorary chancellor title of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事).
Liu Wu died suddenly in 825. A final request to then-reigning Emperor Jingzong
Emperor Jingzong of Tang
Emperor Jingzong of Tang , personal name Li Zhan , was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 824 to 827...
(Emperor Muzong's son) in Liu Wu's name requested that Liu Congjian be allowed to inherit the command. The officials in the imperial government argued among each other about whether Liu Wu's son Liu Congjian should be allowed to do so, but finally, with the chancellor Li Fengji
Li Fengji
Li Fengji , courtesy name Xuzhou , formally Duke Cheng of Zheng or Duke Cheng of Liang , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xianzong, Emperor Xianzong's son Emperor Muzong, and grandson Emperor Jingzong...
and the powerful eunuch Wang Shoucheng
Wang Shoucheng
Wang Shoucheng was a powerful eunuch of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, wielding substantial powers during the reigns of Emperor Xianzong, Emperor Muzong, Emperor Jingzong, and Emperor Wenzong...
in favor, Liu Congjian was allowed to inherit the circuit. Liu Wu was given posthumous honors.