Lu Guangchou
Encyclopedia
Lu Guangchou (d. 910) was a warlord late in the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
and who nominally submitted to both the succeeding Later Liang Dynasty
and Later Liang's rival Wu
after the end of Tang, who controlled the Qian Prefecture (虔州, in modern Ganzhou
, Jiangxi
) region from 885 to his death in 910.
, Jiangxi). It was said that Lu had an impressive physique, but was not particularly talented; nevertheless, he impressed fellow Nankang native Tan Quanbo
. In the late Tang Dynasty
, when the southern parts of the Tang realm was overrun by agrarian rebels, Tan encouraged Lu to start a rebellion as well, and Lu did so. When the group of rebels that they gathered wanted to support Tan as their leader instead, Tan yielded the leadership position to Lu, and further threatened to execute those who would not follow Lu's orders, bringing the rebels in line.
In 885, Lu captured Qian Prefecture. He took the title of prefect, and made Tan his chief strategist.
, Guangdong
), and he had his son Lu Yanchang
take control of it. He then put Chao Prefecture (潮州, in modern Chaozhou
, Guangdong) under siege, but was then repelled by Liu Yin
the acting military governor of Qinghai Circuit (清海, headquartered in modern Guangzhou
, Guangdong). Liu Yin then, despite his brother Liu Yan's opposition, attacked Shao Prefecture. Tan Quanbo laid an ambush for the Qinghai troops and defeated them, allowing Lu Guangchou to retain Shao. Despite the victory, Tan did not take credit and instead praised the other officers involved, causing Lu to trust him further.
After the Tang throne was seized by the major warlord Zhu Quanzhong the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng
, Henan
) in 907, ending Tang and starting a new Later Liang Dynasty
with Zhu as its Emperor Taizu, the territory north of Lu's was controlled by the state of Hongnong
(later also known as Wu), which did not submit to Later Liang and instead continued to maintain Tang era name, while the territory to the south was controlled by Liu Yin, then still a Later Liang vassal. Lu submitted tributes to the Later Liang emperor. In response, Emperor Taizu made Qian and Shao into a Baisheng Circuit (百勝) and made Lu its defender (防禦使, Fangyushi).
In 909, after Hongnong defeated and captured the independent warlord Wei Quanfeng
, who had controlled four prefectures centered around Fu Prefecture (撫州, in modern Fuzhou
, Jiangxi), Hongnong took control of Wei's territory. In response, Lu sent a petition submitting to Hongnong's prince Yang Longyan, although he also continued to submit to Later Liang. In 910, Emperor Taizu gave him the title of acting military governor of Zhennan Circuit (鎮南, headquartered in modern Nanchang
, Jiangxi), which was then Hongnong territory.
Later that year, Lu fell ill, and he wanted to yield his position to Tan. Tan declined. When Lu subsequently died, and Lu Yanchang arrived from Shao to mourn his father, Tan supported Lu Yanchang to succeed Lu Guangchou. Subsequently, both Yang Longyan and Later Liang's Emperor Taizu confirmed the succession.
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...
and who nominally submitted to both 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...
and Later Liang's rival Wu
Wu (Ten Kingdoms)
Wu , also referred to as Huainan , Hongnong , Southern Wu , or Yang Wu , was one of the Ten Kingdoms in south-central China which was in existence between the years of 907 and 937. Its capital was Jiangdu Municipality...
after the end of Tang, who controlled the Qian Prefecture (虔州, in modern Ganzhou
Ganzhou
Ganzhou is a prefecture-level city in southern Jiangxi province, People's Republic of China. Its administrative seat is at Zhanggong .-History:...
, Jiangxi
Jiangxi
' is a southern province in the People's Republic of China. Spanning from the banks of the Yangtze River in the north into hillier areas in the south, it shares a border with Anhui to the north, Zhejiang to the northeast, Fujian to the east, Guangdong to the south, Hunan to the west, and Hubei to...
) region from 885 to his death in 910.
Background and seizure of Qian Prefecture
It is not known when Lu Guangchou was born, but it is known that he was from Nankang (南康, in modern GanzhouGanzhou
Ganzhou is a prefecture-level city in southern Jiangxi province, People's Republic of China. Its administrative seat is at Zhanggong .-History:...
, Jiangxi). It was said that Lu had an impressive physique, but was not particularly talented; nevertheless, he impressed fellow Nankang native Tan Quanbo
Tan Quanbo
Tan Quanbo was a ruler of Qian Prefecture from 913 to 918, early in the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. He was a long-time strategist of Lu Guangchou, who ruled Qian Prefecture for 25 years, and after several transitional rulers after Lu's death was supported by the people to...
. In the late 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...
, when the southern parts of the Tang realm was overrun by agrarian rebels, Tan encouraged Lu to start a rebellion as well, and Lu did so. When the group of rebels that they gathered wanted to support Tan as their leader instead, Tan yielded the leadership position to Lu, and further threatened to execute those who would not follow Lu's orders, bringing the rebels in line.
In 885, Lu captured Qian Prefecture. He took the title of prefect, and made Tan his chief strategist.
Governance of Qian Prefecture
In 902, Lu Guangchou made an attack south to enlarge his territory. He first captured Shao Prefecture (韶州, in modern ShaoguanShaoguan
Shaoguan , historically known as Shaokwan and Shao-chow, is a prefecture-level city in the north of Southern China's Guangdong province...
, 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...
), and he had his son Lu Yanchang
Lu Yanchang
Lu Yanchang was a ruler of the Qian Prefecture region early in the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period...
take control of it. He then put Chao Prefecture (潮州, in modern Chaozhou
Chaozhou
Chaozhou is a city in eastern Guangdong province of the People's Republic of China. It borders Shantou to the south, Jieyang to the southwest, Meizhou to the northwest, the province of Fujian to the east, and the South China Sea to the southeast...
, Guangdong) under siege, but was then repelled by Liu Yin
Liu Yin (Southern Han)
Liu Yin , formally Prince Xiang of Nanhai , later further posthumously honored Emperor Xiang with the temple name of Liezong by his younger brother Liu Yan, was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty and Tang's succeeding dynasty Later Liang Dynasty of the Five Dynasties and Ten...
the acting military governor of Qinghai Circuit (清海, headquartered in modern Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, Guangdong). Liu Yin then, despite his brother Liu Yan's opposition, attacked Shao Prefecture. Tan Quanbo laid an ambush for the Qinghai troops and defeated them, allowing Lu Guangchou to retain Shao. Despite the victory, Tan did not take credit and instead praised the other officers involved, causing Lu to trust him further.
After the Tang throne was seized by the major warlord Zhu Quanzhong 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...
) in 907, ending Tang and starting a new 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...
with Zhu as its Emperor Taizu, the territory north of Lu's was controlled by the state of Hongnong
Wu (Ten Kingdoms)
Wu , also referred to as Huainan , Hongnong , Southern Wu , or Yang Wu , was one of the Ten Kingdoms in south-central China which was in existence between the years of 907 and 937. Its capital was Jiangdu Municipality...
(later also known as Wu), which did not submit to Later Liang and instead continued to maintain Tang era name, while the territory to the south was controlled by Liu Yin, then still a Later Liang vassal. Lu submitted tributes to the Later Liang emperor. In response, Emperor Taizu made Qian and Shao into a Baisheng Circuit (百勝) and made Lu its defender (防禦使, Fangyushi).
In 909, after Hongnong defeated and captured the independent warlord Wei Quanfeng
Wei Quanfeng
Wei Quanfeng was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who controlled Fu Prefecture for over two decades, from 882 to 909, and who, at the prime of his power, also controlled three nearby prefectures...
, who had controlled four prefectures centered around Fu Prefecture (撫州, in modern Fuzhou
Fuzhou, Jiangxi
Fuzhou is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Jiangxi province, People's Republic of China.It is located to the south of the provincial capital Nanchang. Its total area is 18,800 km². Its population is 3,700,000 people...
, Jiangxi), Hongnong took control of Wei's territory. In response, Lu sent a petition submitting to Hongnong's prince Yang Longyan, although he also continued to submit to Later Liang. In 910, Emperor Taizu gave him the title of acting military governor of Zhennan Circuit (鎮南, headquartered in modern Nanchang
Nanchang
Nanchang is the capital of Jiangxi Province in southeastern China. It is located in the north-central portion of the province. As it is bounded on the west by the Jiuling Mountains, and on the east by Poyang Lake, it is famous for its scenery, rich history and cultural sites...
, Jiangxi), which was then Hongnong territory.
Later that year, Lu fell ill, and he wanted to yield his position to Tan. Tan declined. When Lu subsequently died, and Lu Yanchang arrived from Shao to mourn his father, Tan supported Lu Yanchang to succeed Lu Guangchou. Subsequently, both Yang Longyan and Later Liang's Emperor Taizu confirmed the succession.