Zhu Xuan
Encyclopedia
Zhu Xuan (d. 897) was a warlord late in the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, who, from 882
to 897
, controlled Tianping Circuit (天平, headquartered in modern Tai'an
, Shandong
) as its military governor (Jiedushi
). He formed a power bloc with his cousin Zhu Jin
, who ruled neighboring Taining Circuit (泰寧, headquartered in modern Jining
, Shandong
), and subsequently, they, along with their ally Shi Pu
the military governor of Ganhua Circuit (感化, headquartered in modern Xuzhou
, Jiangsu
), engaged in a lengthy war with their former ally Zhu Quanzhong the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng
, Henan
) that ravaged the countryside. By 897, all three had been defeated, and Zhu Xuan was captured and executed by Zhu Quanzhong.
, Anhui
). As of 882
, he was serving under Cao Cunshi (曹存實) the military governor of Tianping Circuit, when Cao was killed in battle when Tianping came under attack by Han Jian
the military governor of neighboring Weibo Circuit (魏博, headquartered in modern Handan
, Hebei
). Zhu took over the defense of Tianping's capital Yun Prefecture (鄆州) after Cao's death and was able to prevent it from falling to Han. Then-reigning Emperor Xizong
thereafter made Zhu the acting military governor.
, Emperor Xizong made Zhu Xuan full military governor of Tianping. Meanwhile, Han Jian continued his siege of Yun Prefecture, but after six months of failing to capture it and Zhu's peace overture to him, abandoned the Yun siege to engage, instead, Zhuge Shuang
, whose Heyang Circuit (河陽, headquartered in modern Luoyang
, Henan
) Han had captured previously but who had recaptured Heyang while Han was sieging Yun. Zhuge defeated Han, who was subsequently assassinated by his own soldiers. Le Xingda
succeeded Han at Weibo.
In 884
, when Zhu Quanzhong the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit was under attack by Qin Zongquan the military governor of Fengguo Circuit (奉國, headquartered in modern Zhumadian
, Henan
), Zhu Quanzhong sought aid from Zhu Xuan. Zhu Xuan sent his cousin Zhu Jin
, who was said to be the most ferocious officer in Zhu Xuan's army, to aid Zhu Quanzhong. After Zhu Jin repelled Qin's attack, Zhu Quanzhong, thanking Zhu Xuan, honored Zhu Xuan as an older brother.
In winter 884, Zhu Xuan made an unsuccessful bid to take over Yicheng Circuit (義成, headquartered in modern Anyang
, Henan
). At that time, An Shiru (安師儒) the military governor of Yicheng had alienated his soldiers by overly entrusting authorities to his officers Xiahou Yan (夏侯晏) and Du Biao (杜標). In response, the officer Zhang Xiao (張驍) raised a group of 2,000 soldiers, rebelled against An, and attacked Yicheng's capital Hua Prefecture (滑州), forcing An to placate the soldiers by executing Xiahou and Du. Zhu Xuan, wanting to work on seizing Yicheng, sent his cousin Zhu Yu (朱裕) to induce Zhang into a military confrontation and kill him. Meanwhile, however, Zhu Quanzhong preempted Zhu Xuan by sending his officers Zhu Zhen (朱珍) and Li Tangbin (李唐賓) to launch a surprise attack on Yicheng. Zhu Zhen and Li were able to surprise An and capture him. Zhu Quanzhong took over Yicheng and made his officer Hu Zhen (胡真) acting military governor.
In 886
, Zhu Jin, under the guise of marrying the daughter of Qi Kerang
the military governor of Taining Circuit, ambushed Qi and expelled him, and then took over Taining, allowing Zhu Xuan and Zhu Jin to each control one circuit.
In 887
, Qin launched another major attack on Zhu Quanzhong, who again sought aid from Zhu Xuan and Zhu Jin. Both of them personally led troops to aid Zhu Quanzhong. Zhu Quanzhong thus was able to engage Qin with the armies of four circuits (Xuanwu, Yicheng, Tianping, and Taining) and defeat Qin. In gratitude, Zhu Quanzhong again honored Zhu Xuan and also honored Zhu Jin as older brothers.
However, just later that year, the Zhu Xuan/Zhu Jin alliance with Zhu Quanzhong would break up. Zhu Quanzhong had long had designs on capturing both Tianping and Taining, but found no excuse to attack Zhu Xuan and Zhu Jin, given that they had aided him. He thus made up accusations that they had induced Xuanwu soldiers to desert and sent a harshly worded accusation to Zhu Xuan. Zhu Xuan responded with a harsh letter. Zhu Quanzhong used this as an excuse to send Zhu Zhen and Ge Congzhou
to attack Tianping's Cao Prefecture (曹州, in modern Heze
, Shandong
); they captured it and executed Cao's prefect Qiu Hongli (丘弘禮). He then attacked Pu Prefecture (濮州, in modern Heze). Zhu Xuan and Zhu Jin engaged him but were defeated, barely escaping with their lives. This thus started a war that would not end until Zhu Xuan's death. Later that year, when Zhu Xuan sent his brother Zhu Han (朱罕) to try to lift the siege on Pu, Zhu Zhen defeated and killed Zhu Han. Zhu Zhen subsequently captured Pu, forcing Zhu Yu (who was then the prefect of Pu) to flee to Yun Prefecture. Zhu Zhen then attacked Yun. Zhu Xuan had Zhu Yu send a letter to Zhu Zhen, falsely claiming to be ready to surrender Yun to him. When Zhu Zhen sent soldiers to enter the city on Zhu Yu's signal, the Xuanwu soldiers fell into a trap set by Zhu Xuan and were massacred. Having suffered this loss, Zhu Zhen retreated. Zhu Xuan subsequently recaptured Cao as well.
the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan
, Shanxi
). In 891
, when Li Keyong's subordinate An Zhijian (安知建) began to have secret communications with Zhu Quanzhong, Li Keyong found out and tried to replace him with his adoptive son Li Cunxiao
. An, in fear, fled to Pinglu Circuit (平盧, headquartered in modern Weifang
, Shandong
). Then-reigning Emperor Zhaozong
(Emperor Xizong's brother and successor) then gave An a commission as an imperial guard general. When An led his soldiers to try to head to the imperial capital Chang'an
, Zhu Xuan, as he was in alliance with Li Keyong, ambushed him and killed him, delivering his head to Li Keyong.
In 892
, Zhu Quanzhong launched another attack on Zhu Xuan, with Zhu Quanzhong's son Zhu Youyu (朱友裕) serving as the forward commander. Zhu Xuan engaged Zhu Youyu and defeated him, forcing him to flee. Zhu Xuan then took over the camp that Zhu Youyu abandoned. When Zhu Quanzhong arrived, he did not realize that Zhu Youyu had fled, and he sent soldiers into the camp with no precautions. Zhu Xuan then attacked, killing a large number of surprised Xuanwu soldiers. Zhu Quanzhong barely escaped with his life, while his deputy military governor Li Fan (李璠) was killed. However, despite this major defeat, Zhu Quanzhong was still subsequently able to defeat Zhu Xuan's and Zhu Jin's ally Shi Pu
the military governor of Ganhua Circuit (despite Zhu Xuan's, Zhu Jin's, and Li Keyong's attempts to save Shi), forcing Shi to commit suicide and allowing Zhu Quanzhong to take over Ganhua.
Late in 893
, Ge Congzhou attacked Qi Prefecture (齊州, in modern Jinan
, Shandong
). Zhu Xuan and Zhu Jin came to the aid of Qi's prefect Zhu Wei (朱威). In spring 894
, however, Zhu Quanzhong personally engaged them and defeated them, killing more than 10,000 Tianping and Taining soldiers. Zhu Xuan and Zhu Jin were forced to seek aid from Li Keyong, who sent a small group of elite cavalry soldiers, commanded by his officer An Fushun (安福順) and An Fushun's brothers An Fuqing (安福慶) and An Fuqian (安福遷), to aid Zhu Xuan and Zhu Jin. However, in 895
, when Zhu Quanzhong sent his adoptive son Zhu Yougong (朱友恭) to put Taining's capital Yan Prefecture (兗州) under siege and Zhu Xuan tried to aid Zhu Jin, they were ambushed by Zhu Yougong, and An Fushun and An Fuqing were captured. Zhu Quanzhong then personally arrived and defeated Zhu Xuan, forcing Zhu Xuan to return to Yun.
Later in the year, Zhu Xuan attempted to again force Zhu Quanzhong to lift the siege on Yan, by sending his officers He Gui (賀瓌) and Liu Cun (柳存), along with Li Keyong's officer He Huaibao (何懷寶), to attack Cao Prefecture, which had fallen into Zhu Quanzhong's hands by this point. Zhu Quanzhong heard this, and, without Tianping forces' knowledge, set a trap for them and ambushed them; he slaughtered the Tianping soldiers and captured He Gui, Liu, and He Huaibao. He showed them to Zhu Jin and stated to Zhu Jin, "Your cousin has already been defeated. Why not surrender?" Zhu Jin offered to do so, but requested that Zhu Quanzhong send Zhu Xuan's and Zhu Jin's cousin Zhu Qiong (朱瓊), who earlier that year had surrendered Qi Prefecture to Zhu Quanzhong, to take control of the Taining circuit seal (signifying surrender of authority). When Zhu Qiong prepared to enter the city, however, Zhu Jin ambushed him and killed him. With his morale deflated, Zhu Quanzhong withdrew. By this point, however, with the constant campaigns against Zhu Quanzhong, it was said that both Tianping and Taining Circuits had been laid waste, with the people unable to grow crops and the circuit treasuries expended. Zhu Xuan and Zhu Jin again thought aid from Li Keyong, and Li Keyong sent the officers Shi Yan (史儼) and Li Chengsi (李承嗣) to aid them, getting permission from Le Xingda's successor Luo Hongxin
for passage through Weibo Circuit. In 896
, Li Keyong tried to send more reinforcement through Weibo again, commanded by his adoptive son Li Cunxin (李存信). However, Li Cunxin angered Luo by allowing his soldiers to pillage the Weibo countryside, and Luo ambushed and defeated him. When Li Keyong personally attacked Luo, a joint force of Luo's and Zhu Quanzhong's defeated Li Keyong. With the path from Hedong thus cut off, no further reinforcement from Li Keyong could arrive, and it was said that thereafter, the situation became hopeless for Tianping and Taining.
, Zhu Quanzhong's officers Ge Congzhou and Pang Shigu (龐師古) jointly again sieged Yun Prefecture. Zhu Xuan ran out of food supplies and decided to dig a deep moat around the city for defensive purposes only, not intending to again engage Zhu Quanzhong's forces. However, Pang soon built a mobile bridge over the moat and crossed it in the dark. He captured the city, forcing Zhu Xuan to flee. When Zhu Xuan reached Zhongdu (中都, in modern Tai'an), the people in the countryside captured him and his wife Lady Rong, and surrendered them to Ge. Zhu Quanzhong subsequently executed Zhu Xuan at Xuanwu's capital Bian Prefecture (汴州) and took Lady Rong as a concubine. Zhu Jin, meanwhile, could also not hold Taining, and he fled, along with Shi and Li Chengsi, south to Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou
, Jiangsu
) to submit to Huainan's military governor Yang Xingmi
, allowing Zhu Quanzhong to take over the entire Yellow River
-Huai River
region.
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, from 882
882
Year 882 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Carloman, King of the West Franks, becomes sole king upon the death of his brother....
to 897
897
Year 897 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Emperor Uda of Japan is succeeded by Emperor Daigo....
, controlled Tianping Circuit (天平, headquartered in modern Tai'an
Tai'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...
) as its 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...
). He formed a power bloc with his cousin Zhu Jin
Zhu Jin
Zhu Jin was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who would later be a major general of the Wu state during the subsequent Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period...
, who ruled neighboring Taining Circuit (泰寧, headquartered in modern Jining
Jining, Shandong
Jining is a prefecture-level city in southwestern Shandong province, People's Republic of China. It borders Heze to the southwest, Zaozhuang to the southeast, Tai'an to the northeast, and the provinces of Henan and Jiangsu to the northwest and south respectively...
, 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...
), and subsequently, they, along with their ally Shi Pu
Shi Pu
Shi Pu , formally the Prince of Julu , was a warlord of the late Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who controlled Ganhua Circuit as its military governor...
the military governor of Ganhua Circuit (感化, 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...
), engaged in a lengthy war with their former ally 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...
) that ravaged the countryside. By 897, all three had been defeated, and Zhu Xuan was captured and executed by Zhu Quanzhong.
Background
It is not known when Zhu Xuan was born, but it is known that he was from Xiayi (下邑, in modern SuzhouSuzhou, Anhui
-Administration:Suzhou administers five county-level divisions, including one district and four counties.*Yongqiao District *Dangshan County *Xiao County *Lingbi County *Si County...
, 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...
). As of 882
882
Year 882 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Carloman, King of the West Franks, becomes sole king upon the death of his brother....
, he was serving under Cao Cunshi (曹存實) the military governor of Tianping Circuit, when Cao was killed in battle when Tianping came under attack by Han Jian
Han Jian (Weibo)
Han Jian , formally the Prince of Changli or Prince of Wei Commandery , was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who controlled Weibo Circuit...
the military governor of neighboring 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...
). Zhu took over the defense of Tianping's capital Yun Prefecture (鄆州) after Cao's death and was able to prevent it from falling to Han. 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...
thereafter made Zhu the acting military governor.
Initial rule of Tianping
In 883883
Year 883 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Oldest known mention of the city of Duisburg.* Monte Cassino is sacked and burned down by the Saracens....
, Emperor Xizong made Zhu Xuan full military governor of Tianping. Meanwhile, Han Jian continued his siege of Yun Prefecture, but after six months of failing to capture it and Zhu's peace overture to him, abandoned the Yun siege to engage, instead, Zhuge Shuang
Zhuge Shuang
Zhuge Shuang was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who controlled Heyang Circuit for some time and who vacillated between allegiance to Tang and to the Qi state of the agrarian rebel Huang Chao.- Background and early career :It is not known when Zhuge Shuang was born, but it is...
, whose Heyang Circuit (河陽, headquartered in modern 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...
, 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...
) Han had captured previously but who had recaptured Heyang while Han was sieging Yun. Zhuge defeated Han, who was subsequently assassinated by his own soldiers. Le Xingda
Le Yanzhen
Le Yanzhen , né Le Xingda , was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who ruled Weibo Circuit as its military governor from 883 to 888.- Background :...
succeeded Han at Weibo.
In 884
884
Year 884 was a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* March 1 – Diego Rodríguez Porcelos founds and repopulates Burgos....
, when Zhu Quanzhong the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit was under attack by 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
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...
), Zhu Quanzhong sought aid from Zhu Xuan. Zhu Xuan sent his cousin Zhu Jin
Zhu Jin
Zhu Jin was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who would later be a major general of the Wu state during the subsequent Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period...
, who was said to be the most ferocious officer in Zhu Xuan's army, to aid Zhu Quanzhong. After Zhu Jin repelled Qin's attack, Zhu Quanzhong, thanking Zhu Xuan, honored Zhu Xuan as an older brother.
In winter 884, Zhu Xuan made an unsuccessful bid to take over Yicheng Circuit (義成, headquartered in modern Anyang
Anyang
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...
). At that time, An Shiru (安師儒) the military governor of Yicheng had alienated his soldiers by overly entrusting authorities to his officers Xiahou Yan (夏侯晏) and Du Biao (杜標). In response, the officer Zhang Xiao (張驍) raised a group of 2,000 soldiers, rebelled against An, and attacked Yicheng's capital Hua Prefecture (滑州), forcing An to placate the soldiers by executing Xiahou and Du. Zhu Xuan, wanting to work on seizing Yicheng, sent his cousin Zhu Yu (朱裕) to induce Zhang into a military confrontation and kill him. Meanwhile, however, Zhu Quanzhong preempted Zhu Xuan by sending his officers Zhu Zhen (朱珍) and Li Tangbin (李唐賓) to launch a surprise attack on Yicheng. Zhu Zhen and Li were able to surprise An and capture him. Zhu Quanzhong took over Yicheng and made his officer Hu Zhen (胡真) acting military governor.
In 886
886
Year 886 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :...
, Zhu Jin, under the guise of marrying the daughter of Qi Kerang
Qi Kerang
Qi Kerang was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who was part of Tang's resistance against the major agrarian rebel Huang Chao, as the military governor of Taining Circuit...
the military governor of Taining Circuit, ambushed Qi and expelled him, and then took over Taining, allowing Zhu Xuan and Zhu Jin to each control one circuit.
In 887
887
Year 887 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The city of Toledo rises against the Umayyad leader....
, Qin launched another major attack on Zhu Quanzhong, who again sought aid from Zhu Xuan and Zhu Jin. Both of them personally led troops to aid Zhu Quanzhong. Zhu Quanzhong thus was able to engage Qin with the armies of four circuits (Xuanwu, Yicheng, Tianping, and Taining) and defeat Qin. In gratitude, Zhu Quanzhong again honored Zhu Xuan and also honored Zhu Jin as older brothers.
However, just later that year, the Zhu Xuan/Zhu Jin alliance with Zhu Quanzhong would break up. Zhu Quanzhong had long had designs on capturing both Tianping and Taining, but found no excuse to attack Zhu Xuan and Zhu Jin, given that they had aided him. He thus made up accusations that they had induced Xuanwu soldiers to desert and sent a harshly worded accusation to Zhu Xuan. Zhu Xuan responded with a harsh letter. Zhu Quanzhong used this as an excuse to send Zhu Zhen and Ge Congzhou
Ge Congzhou
Ge Congzhou , courtesy name Tongmei , formally the Prince of Chenliu , was a general serving under Emperor Taizu of Later Liang while Zhu Quanzhong was a warlord late in the Tang Dynasty...
to attack Tianping's 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...
); they captured it and executed Cao's prefect Qiu Hongli (丘弘禮). He then attacked Pu Prefecture (濮州, in modern Heze). Zhu Xuan and Zhu Jin engaged him but were defeated, barely escaping with their lives. This thus started a war that would not end until Zhu Xuan's death. Later that year, when Zhu Xuan sent his brother Zhu Han (朱罕) to try to lift the siege on Pu, Zhu Zhen defeated and killed Zhu Han. Zhu Zhen subsequently captured Pu, forcing Zhu Yu (who was then the prefect of Pu) to flee to Yun Prefecture. Zhu Zhen then attacked Yun. Zhu Xuan had Zhu Yu send a letter to Zhu Zhen, falsely claiming to be ready to surrender Yun to him. When Zhu Zhen sent soldiers to enter the city on Zhu Yu's signal, the Xuanwu soldiers fell into a trap set by Zhu Xuan and were massacred. Having suffered this loss, Zhu Zhen retreated. Zhu Xuan subsequently recaptured Cao as well.
War with Zhu Quanzhong
Meanwhile, Zhu Xuan had also entered into an alliance with Zhu Quanzhong's archrival Li KeyongLi 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....
). 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....
, when Li Keyong's subordinate An Zhijian (安知建) began to have secret communications with Zhu Quanzhong, Li Keyong found out and tried to replace him with his adoptive son Li Cunxiao
Li Cunxiao
Li Cunxiao , né An Jingsi , was an adoptive son of the late-Tang Dynasty warlord Li Keyong who contributed much to Li Keyong's campaigns, but who later rebelled against his adoptive father...
. An, in fear, fled to Pinglu Circuit (平盧, headquartered in modern Weifang
Weifang
Weifang is a prefecture-level city in central Shandong province, People's Republic of China. It borders Dongying to the northwest, Zibo to the west, Linyi to the southwest, Rizhao to the south, Qingdao to the east, and looks out to the Laizhou Bay to the north.-History:Weifang is a historical city...
, 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...
). Then-reigning 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...
(Emperor Xizong's brother and successor) then gave An a commission as an imperial guard general. When An led his soldiers to try to head to 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...
, Zhu Xuan, as he was in alliance with Li Keyong, ambushed him and killed him, delivering his head to Li Keyong.
In 892
892
Year 892 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Poppo of Thuringia, count of the march in Thuringia, is deposed by the German Carolingian king Arnulf of Carinthia....
, Zhu Quanzhong launched another attack on Zhu Xuan, with Zhu Quanzhong's son Zhu Youyu (朱友裕) serving as the forward commander. Zhu Xuan engaged Zhu Youyu and defeated him, forcing him to flee. Zhu Xuan then took over the camp that Zhu Youyu abandoned. When Zhu Quanzhong arrived, he did not realize that Zhu Youyu had fled, and he sent soldiers into the camp with no precautions. Zhu Xuan then attacked, killing a large number of surprised Xuanwu soldiers. Zhu Quanzhong barely escaped with his life, while his deputy military governor Li Fan (李璠) was killed. However, despite this major defeat, Zhu Quanzhong was still subsequently able to defeat Zhu Xuan's and Zhu Jin's ally Shi Pu
Shi Pu
Shi Pu , formally the Prince of Julu , was a warlord of the late Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who controlled Ganhua Circuit as its military governor...
the military governor of Ganhua Circuit (despite Zhu Xuan's, Zhu Jin's, and Li Keyong's attempts to save Shi), forcing Shi to commit suicide and allowing Zhu Quanzhong to take over Ganhua.
Late in 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....
, Ge Congzhou attacked Qi Prefecture (齊州, in modern Jinan
Jinan
Jinan is the capital of Shandong province in Eastern China. The area of present-day Jinan has played an important role in the history of the region from the earliest beginnings of civilisation and has evolved into a major national administrative, economic, and transportation hub...
, 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...
). Zhu Xuan and Zhu Jin came to the aid of Qi's prefect Zhu Wei (朱威). In spring 894
894
Year 894 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Northumbrians and East Angles swear allegiance to Alfred the Great, but promptly break their truce by attacking the south-west of England.* Mojmír II becomes King of Great Moravia after the death of his father...
, however, Zhu Quanzhong personally engaged them and defeated them, killing more than 10,000 Tianping and Taining soldiers. Zhu Xuan and Zhu Jin were forced to seek aid from Li Keyong, who sent a small group of elite cavalry soldiers, commanded by his officer An Fushun (安福順) and An Fushun's brothers An Fuqing (安福慶) and An Fuqian (安福遷), to aid Zhu Xuan and Zhu Jin. However, in 895
895
Year 895 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The seven tribes of the Magyars settle in the Carpathian Basin under the leadership of Árpád...
, when Zhu Quanzhong sent his adoptive son Zhu Yougong (朱友恭) to put Taining's capital Yan Prefecture (兗州) under siege and Zhu Xuan tried to aid Zhu Jin, they were ambushed by Zhu Yougong, and An Fushun and An Fuqing were captured. Zhu Quanzhong then personally arrived and defeated Zhu Xuan, forcing Zhu Xuan to return to Yun.
Later in the year, Zhu Xuan attempted to again force Zhu Quanzhong to lift the siege on Yan, by sending his officers He Gui (賀瓌) and Liu Cun (柳存), along with Li Keyong's officer He Huaibao (何懷寶), to attack Cao Prefecture, which had fallen into Zhu Quanzhong's hands by this point. Zhu Quanzhong heard this, and, without Tianping forces' knowledge, set a trap for them and ambushed them; he slaughtered the Tianping soldiers and captured He Gui, Liu, and He Huaibao. He showed them to Zhu Jin and stated to Zhu Jin, "Your cousin has already been defeated. Why not surrender?" Zhu Jin offered to do so, but requested that Zhu Quanzhong send Zhu Xuan's and Zhu Jin's cousin Zhu Qiong (朱瓊), who earlier that year had surrendered Qi Prefecture to Zhu Quanzhong, to take control of the Taining circuit seal (signifying surrender of authority). When Zhu Qiong prepared to enter the city, however, Zhu Jin ambushed him and killed him. With his morale deflated, Zhu Quanzhong withdrew. By this point, however, with the constant campaigns against Zhu Quanzhong, it was said that both Tianping and Taining Circuits had been laid waste, with the people unable to grow crops and the circuit treasuries expended. Zhu Xuan and Zhu Jin again thought aid from Li Keyong, and Li Keyong sent the officers Shi Yan (史儼) and Li Chengsi (李承嗣) to aid them, getting permission from Le Xingda's successor Luo Hongxin
Luo Hongxin
Luo Hongxin , courtesy name Defu , formally Prince Zhuangsu of Beiping , was a warlord in the late Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who controlled Weibo Circuit as its military governor after seizing control in 888 after taking advantage of the soldiers' discontent with the prior military governor...
for passage through Weibo Circuit. In 896
896
Year 896 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Decisive Bulgarian victory over Magyars in the Battle of Southern Buh....
, Li Keyong tried to send more reinforcement through Weibo again, commanded by his adoptive son Li Cunxin (李存信). However, Li Cunxin angered Luo by allowing his soldiers to pillage the Weibo countryside, and Luo ambushed and defeated him. When Li Keyong personally attacked Luo, a joint force of Luo's and Zhu Quanzhong's defeated Li Keyong. With the path from Hedong thus cut off, no further reinforcement from Li Keyong could arrive, and it was said that thereafter, the situation became hopeless for Tianping and Taining.
Defeat and death
In 897897
Year 897 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Emperor Uda of Japan is succeeded by Emperor Daigo....
, Zhu Quanzhong's officers Ge Congzhou and Pang Shigu (龐師古) jointly again sieged Yun Prefecture. Zhu Xuan ran out of food supplies and decided to dig a deep moat around the city for defensive purposes only, not intending to again engage Zhu Quanzhong's forces. However, Pang soon built a mobile bridge over the moat and crossed it in the dark. He captured the city, forcing Zhu Xuan to flee. When Zhu Xuan reached Zhongdu (中都, in modern Tai'an), the people in the countryside captured him and his wife Lady Rong, and surrendered them to Ge. Zhu Quanzhong subsequently executed Zhu Xuan at Xuanwu's capital Bian Prefecture (汴州) and took Lady Rong as a concubine. Zhu Jin, meanwhile, could also not hold Taining, and he fled, along with Shi and Li Chengsi, south to 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...
) to submit to Huainan's military governor Yang Xingmi
Yang Xingmi
Yang Xingmi , né Yang Xingmin , courtesy name Huayuan , formally Prince Wuzhong of Wu , later posthumously honored King Xiaowu of Wu then Emperor Wu of Wu with the temple name of Taizu , was a military governor of...
, allowing Zhu Quanzhong to take over the entire 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...
-Huai River
Huai River
The Huai River is a major river in China. The Huai River is located about mid-way between the Yellow River and Yangtze River, the two largest rivers in China, and like them runs from west to east...
region.