Lu Yanhong
Encyclopedia
Lu Yanhong (d. 886) was a warlord late in the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, who controlled Shannan West Circuit (山南西道, headquartered in modern Hanzhong
, Shaanxi
) from 883 to 884 and Zhongwu Circuit (忠武, headquartered in modern Xuchang
, Henan
) from 884 to 886.
and the New Book of Tang
). It is known that he was from Zhongwu Circuit's capital Xu Prefecture (許州) and initially served as an officer in the Zhongwu army.
As of 881, Tang was facing the crisis of the agrarian rebel Huang Chao
's having captured the imperial capital Chang'an
(forcing then-reigning Emperor Xizong
to flee to Chengdu
) and declared himself the emperor of a new state of Qi. At that time, one of the Tang generals who had been battling Huang's forces, the eunuch Yang Fuguang
, was stuck at Zhongwu Circuit, and the military governor (Jiedushi
) Zhou Ji
had submitted to Qi as a subject. In summer 881, though, Yang was able to persuade Zhou to renounce his allegiance to Qi and redeclare for the Tang cause. Further, Zhou contributed 8,000 men from the Zhongwu army to serve under Yang in the campaign against Huang. The 8,000 men were organized into eight corps, with Lu, Jin Hui (晉暉), Wang Jian, Han Jian
, Zhang Zao (張造), Li Shitai (李師泰), and Pang Cong (龐從) commanding the eight corps. They subsequently followed Yang in the region, fighting against Qi forces, eventually becoming stationed at Hezhong Circuit (河中, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi).
), Deng (鄧州, in modern Nanyang
, Henan), Jin (金州, in modern Ankang
, Shaanxi), and Yang (洋州, in modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi) Prefectures, pillaging them and killing many, while claiming that he was heading west to Chengdu to join the imperial cause. He reached Xingyuan (興元, in modern Hanzhong) around new year 884 and expelled Niu Xu (牛勗) the military governor of Shannan West Circuit (which was headquartered at Xingyuan), claiming the title of acting military governor. Emperor Xizong thereafter named him acting military governor.
After taking over Shannan West Circuit, Lu named Wang, Han, Zhang, Jin, and Li the prefects of the prefectures in the circuit, but did not allow them to go to their posts. He also grew suspicious of people, and lost the heart of his followers. He was particularly suspicious of Wang and Han due to their close friendship with each other, but tried to endear them by treating them well. Wang and Han, however, could tell that he was suspecting them, and therefore they, after enticement by the powerful eunuch Tian Lingzi
, fled to Chengdu in fall 884, along with Zhang, Jin, and Li, to join Tian's troops. Tian thereafter sent forces to attack Lu and defeated him. Lu then abandoned Xingyuan and fled east.
Lu next attacked Xiang Prefecture, in conjunction with Qin Gao (秦誥) and Zhao Deyin
, who were officers of the warlord Qin Zongquan the military governor of Fengguo Circuit (奉國, headquartered in modern Zhumadian
, Henan). They captured Xiang, forcing Liu Jurong (劉巨容) the military governor of Shannan East Circuit (山南東道, headquartered at Xiang Prefecture) to flee to Chengdu and allowing Zhao to take over Shannan East Circuit. Lu then pillaged Xiang, Deng, Jun (均州, in modern Shiyan
, Hubei), Fang (房州, in modern Shiyan), Lu (廬州, in modern Hefei
, Anhui
), and Shou (壽州, in modern Lu'an
, Anhui
) Prefectures, before heading for Xu Prefecture. Zhou Ji, upon hearing that Lu was approaching Xu, abandoned Xu and fled. Lu then took Xu and claimed the title of acting military governor of Zhongwu. The imperial government, unable to attack him, named him military governor. He remained in control until fall 886, when Qin Zongquan, who had by that point claimed imperial title, attacked him and killed him, taking over Zhongwu Circuit.
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...
, who controlled 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...
) from 883 to 884 and Zhongwu Circuit (忠武, headquartered in modern Xuchang
Xuchang
Xuchang is a prefecture-level city in central Henan province in Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the northwest, Kaifeng to the northeast, Zhoukou to the east, Luohe to the southeast, and Pingdingshan to the southwest....
, 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...
) from 884 to 886.
Background and service under Yang Fuguang
Little is known about Lu Yanhong's background, including when he was born, as he did not have a biography in either of the official histories of Tang Dynasty (the Book of TangBook of Tang
The Book of Tang , Jiu Tangshu or the Old Book of Tang is the first classic work about the Tang Dynasty. The book began when Gaozu of Later Jin ordered its commencement in 941...
and the New Book of Tang
New Book of Tang
The New Book of Tang , is a classic work of history about the Tang Dynasty edited by Ouyang Xiu and Song Qi and other official scholars of the Song Dynasty. The emperor called for a revision of the former Book of Tang in 1044. The New Book was presented to the throne in 1060. It was given its...
). It is known that he was from Zhongwu Circuit's capital Xu Prefecture (許州) and initially served as an officer in the Zhongwu army.
As of 881, Tang was facing the crisis of the 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...
's having captured the imperial 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...
(forcing then-reigning 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...
to flee to Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
) and declared himself the emperor of a new state of Qi. At that time, one of the Tang generals who had been battling Huang's forces, the eunuch 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 :...
, was stuck at Zhongwu Circuit, and 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...
) Zhou Ji
Zhou Ji (Tang Dynasty)
Zhou Ji was a warlord of the late Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who seized control of Zhongwu Circuit in 880, briefly submitted to the agrarian rebel Huang Chao's new state of Qi, and later returned the Tang fold, controlling Zhongwu until he was forced to abandon it in 884 due to an attack by Lu...
had submitted to Qi as a subject. In summer 881, though, Yang was able to persuade Zhou to renounce his allegiance to Qi and redeclare for the Tang cause. Further, Zhou contributed 8,000 men from the Zhongwu army to serve under Yang in the campaign against Huang. The 8,000 men were organized into eight corps, with Lu, Jin Hui (晉暉), Wang Jian, 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...
, Zhang Zao (張造), Li Shitai (李師泰), and Pang Cong (龐從) commanding the eight corps. They subsequently followed Yang in the region, fighting against Qi forces, eventually becoming stationed at Hezhong Circuit (河中, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi).
As independent warlord
In fall 883, Yang Fuguang died at Hezhong. The soldiers of the eight Zhongwu corps abandoned their post in response and scattered. Lu Yanhong gathered those who were willing to follow him — including Wang Jian, Han Jian, Zhang Zao, Jin Hui, and Li Shitai — and headed south, raiding Xiang (襄州, in modern Xiangfang, HubeiHubei
' Hupeh) is a province in Central China. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Lake Dongting...
), Deng (鄧州, in modern Nanyang
Nanyang
Nanyang may refer to:* Nanyang is a Chinese term denoting the greater Nusantara region including Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, but excluding other Southeast Asian nations, especially the other nations on the Indochinese peninsula-China:* Nanyang, Henan , prefecture-level...
, Henan), Jin (金州, in modern Ankang
Ankang
Ankang is a city in Shaanxi province, China.- Geography :Ankang is geographically considered to be part of southern China. However, on administrative terms, as Shaanxi is officially part of Northwestern China, it is considered to be part of the Northwest....
, Shaanxi), and Yang (洋州, in modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi) Prefectures, pillaging them and killing many, while claiming that he was heading west to Chengdu to join the imperial cause. He reached Xingyuan (興元, in modern Hanzhong) around new year 884 and expelled Niu Xu (牛勗) the military governor of Shannan West Circuit (which was headquartered at Xingyuan), claiming the title of acting military governor. Emperor Xizong thereafter named him acting military governor.
After taking over Shannan West Circuit, Lu named Wang, Han, Zhang, Jin, and Li the prefects of the prefectures in the circuit, but did not allow them to go to their posts. He also grew suspicious of people, and lost the heart of his followers. He was particularly suspicious of Wang and Han due to their close friendship with each other, but tried to endear them by treating them well. Wang and Han, however, could tell that he was suspecting them, and therefore they, after enticement by 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...
, fled to Chengdu in fall 884, along with Zhang, Jin, and Li, to join Tian's troops. Tian thereafter sent forces to attack Lu and defeated him. Lu then abandoned Xingyuan and fled east.
Lu next attacked Xiang Prefecture, in conjunction with Qin Gao (秦誥) and Zhao Deyin
Zhao Deyin
Zhao Deyin , formally the Prince of Huai'an , was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who initially served as a general under the pretender emperor Qin Zongquan...
, who were officers of the warlord Qin Zongquan the military governor of Fengguo Circuit (奉國, headquartered in modern Zhumadian
Zhumadian
Zhumadian is a prefecture-level city in southern Henan province, People's Republic of China. It borders Xinyang to the south, Nanyang to the west, Pingdingshan to the northwest, Luohe to the north, Zhoukou to the northeast, and the province of Anhui to the east.Its population is 7,230,744 at the...
, Henan). They captured Xiang, forcing Liu Jurong (劉巨容) the military governor of Shannan East Circuit (山南東道, headquartered at Xiang Prefecture) to flee to Chengdu and allowing Zhao to take over Shannan East Circuit. Lu then pillaged Xiang, Deng, Jun (均州, in modern Shiyan
Shiyan
Shiyan is a prefecture-level city in northwestern Hubei province, People's Republic of China.-Geography:The Wudang Mountains run approximately east-west through the territory of the "Prefecture-level city" of Shiyan, crossing several of its county-level divisions...
, Hubei), Fang (房州, in modern Shiyan), Lu (廬州, in modern Hefei
Hefei
Hefei is the capital and largest city of Anhui Province in Eastern China. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, and cultural centre of Anhui...
, Anhui
Anhui
Anhui is a province in the People's Republic of China. Located in eastern China across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, it borders Jiangsu to the east, Zhejiang to the southeast, Jiangxi to the south, Hubei to the southwest, Henan to the northwest, and Shandong for a tiny...
), and Shou (壽州, in modern Lu'an
Lu'an
Lu'an , is a prefecture-level city in western Anhui Province, People's Republic of China, with a population of 5,612,590 inhabitants at 2010 census. Its built up area is home to 1,482,729 inhabitants spread out on 2 urban districts...
, Anhui
Anhui
Anhui is a province in the People's Republic of China. Located in eastern China across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, it borders Jiangsu to the east, Zhejiang to the southeast, Jiangxi to the south, Hubei to the southwest, Henan to the northwest, and Shandong for a tiny...
) Prefectures, before heading for Xu Prefecture. Zhou Ji, upon hearing that Lu was approaching Xu, abandoned Xu and fled. Lu then took Xu and claimed the title of acting military governor of Zhongwu. The imperial government, unable to attack him, named him military governor. He remained in control until fall 886, when Qin Zongquan, who had by that point claimed imperial title, attacked him and killed him, taking over Zhongwu Circuit.