An Chongrong ( 安重榮 ) (died January 21, 942), nickname Tiehu ( 鐵胡 ), was a major general of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Later Jin . Late in the reign of Later Jin's founding emperor Shi Jingtang , An, discontented with the friendly relations between Later Jin and the Khitan Liao state, often provoked Liao and eventually decided to rebel against Later Jin. He was quickly defeated, however, and then was killed by his own subordinates.
74-517: It is not known when An Chongrong was born. His family was from Shuo Prefecture (朔州, in modern Shuozhou , Shanxi ). His grandfather An Congyi ( 安從義 ) served as the prefect of Li Prefecture (利州, in modern Guangyuan , Sichuan ), while his father An Quan ( 安全 ) served as the prefect of Sheng Prefecture (勝州, in modern Ordos , Inner Mongolia ) and the commander of the infantry and cavalry soldiers at Zhenwu Circuit (振武, then probably headquartered in modern Hohhot , Inner Mongolia ). An Chongrong himself
148-426: A director of palace affairs, for that was the office he was described as having in winter 927. At that time, Li Siyuan publicly declared that he was going from Luoyang to Bian Prefecture (汴州, i.e., Daliang), and there were rumors that he was either intending to attack Later Tang's southeastern neighbor Wu , or to strike at one of the military governors in the east that he suspected the loyalty of. In fear, Zhu Shouyin
222-499: A dream that Fan had where a snake entered his navel, predicted that because snakes and dragons were of the same kind, it was a sign of enthronement. He decided to gather his troops, and he summoned all the prefects of the prefectures within Tianxiong, preparing to rebel. In reaction, Shi decided to move the capital from Luoyang to Daliang, which was closer to Yedu, to prepare for the eventuality of Fan's rebellion, but also created Fan
296-523: A general. After the Later Tang's final emperor Li Congke (Li Siyuan's adoptive son) was overthrown by Li Siyuan's son-in-law Shi Jingtang , who founded Later Jin, Fan initially formally submitted, but later rebelled against Shi. His rebellion, however, was not successful, and after Shi promised to spare him, he surrendered. He was, nevertheless, later killed by Shi's general Yang Guangyuan , probably with Shi's implicit, if not explicit, approval. It
370-563: A military governor. He then hit the targets, so his older brother and mother allowed him to take his soldiers and join Shi's army. Shi was pleased, and promised him that he would be made a military governor. An subsequently served under Shi's general Liu Zhiyuan in defending Hedong's capital Taiyuan against the siege by the Later Tang general Zhang Jingda , whom Li Congke sent to attack Shi. Shi Jingtang sought aid from Later Tang's northern rival Khitan Empire , promising to cede 16 prefectures to
444-530: A new Later Tang , and at that time was facing off against the army of archrival Later Liang across the Yellow River . In spring 923, he sent Li Siyuan to launch a surprise attack across the Yellow River against Later Liang's Tianping Circuit (天平, headquartered in modern Tai'an , Shandong ), and Li Siyuan was able to surprise Tianping's garrison and capture it. In the aftermaths of Tianping's fall,
518-416: A possible Khitan incursion, but mutinied once they reached there and killed the commander of the base, Wu Zhen ( 烏震 ). During the mutiny (which was induced by the general Fang Zhiwen ( 房知溫 ), who however subsequently suppressed it with An Shentong ( 安審通) ), Fan requisitioned Yicheng troops to help defend a potential mutineer return to Yedu. Fan appeared to have then returned to Luoyang to again serve as
592-454: A rivalry, and the rivalry led to suspicion between them. Shi repeatedly tried to test Li Congke by offering to yield Hedong in favor of a smaller circuit. In 936, Li Congke decided to agree, and issued an edict transferring Shi to Tianping. Shi immediately rebelled. Shortly after, the Tianxiong officer Zhang Lingzhao ( 張令昭 ) also mutinied against Tianxiong's military governor Liu Yanhao (a brother of Li Congke's wife Empress Liu ) and seized
666-608: A secret letter to Mi Qiong ( 祕瓊 ), who had taken over Chengde Circuit after Chengde's military governor Dong Wenqi ( 董溫琪 ) had, at Zhao's invitation, joined Zhao's army and was then detained by Khitan along with Zhao, by slaughtering Dong's family and seizing Dong's considerable wealth. Shi subsequently refused to let Mi stay at Chengde, but gave him another post, as the defender of Qi Prefecture (齊州, in modern Jinan , Shandong ). Mi decided to carry his wealth (originally seized from Dong's family) with him. Fan, wanting to silence him and seize his wealth, sent soldiers and surprised Mi on
740-481: A son-in-law of Li Siyuan's, took over as the other chief of staff, serving with Fan. Nevertheless, it was said that because An had suffered his fate due to his domination of the political scene, neither Fan nor Zhao dared to overly involve themselves with policy decisions, such that the eunuch Meng Hanqiong (who took over as the director of palace affairs), and Li Siyuan's favorite concubine Consort Wang , became highly influential in policy decisions. In fall 931, Fan
814-756: A trading post between China and the Xiongnu nomads of the eastern Eurasian steppe . In 201 BC, the founder of the Han dynasty Liu Bang (posthumously known as Emperor Gaozu or the "High Ancestor") moved Han Xin from his fief around Yuzhou in Henan to Mayi, where he was attacked by the Xiongnu. Finding himself distrusted by the Han emperor, Han Xin allied with the Xiongnu instead and joined them on their raids against China until his death in battle in 196 BC. Mayi
SECTION 10
#1732773198476888-465: Is a prefecture-level city in northern Shanxi province, China, bordering Inner Mongolia to the northwest. It is situated along the upper reaches of the Fen River . The prefecture as a whole has an area of about 10,662 km (4,117 sq mi) and, in 2010 , a population of about 1.71 million. The site of Shuozhou was the ancient Chinese frontier town of Mayi ( 马邑 ), which was used as
962-461: Is it that, in anger, you do not think of the troubles you may cause, and think of neither your sovereign and mother? I gained the realm because of the Khitan. You gained honor and wealth because of me. Why do you forget this? I serve the Khitan even though I have the entire realm. How can you resist them with just one circuit? You should carefully think about this, so that you do not regret this in
1036-537: Is not known when Fan Yanguang was born, but it is known that he was from Linzhang (臨漳, in modern Handan , Hebei ). In his youth, he came to serve as a guard at the prefectural government of Xiang Prefecture ( 相州 ), which Linzhang belonged to. When Li Siyuan, then a general of Jin under his adoptive brother Li Cunxu the Prince of Jin, was serving as the prefect of Xiang Prefecture, Fan became part of his guard corps. By 923, Li Cunxu had declared himself emperor of
1110-756: The History of the Five Dynasties ) or Zigui ( 子瓌 ) (per the New History of the Five Dynasties ), formally the Prince of Dongping ( 東平王 ), was a general from the state of Later Tang and Later Jin during the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period . He was a close associate of the Later Tang's second emperor Li Siyuan , serving three terms as Li Siyuan's chief of staff ( Shumishi ), and subsequently continued to serve as
1184-530: The Bian defenders. When Li Siyuan's son-in-law Shi Jingtang subsequently also arrived with reinforcements, followed by Li Siyuan himself, the Bian defenders began surrendering in droves. Zhu, finding the situation hopeless, killed his family and then committed suicide. In 928, Fan was made one of Li Siyuan's chiefs of staff ( Shumishi ). He was soon thereafter made the military governor of Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang , Hebei ). He
1258-414: The Khitan. Despite Li Congrong's honored status, Li Siyuan did not want to name him Crown Prince , believing that if he had a crown prince, it would effectively be a sign that he was old and should be retiring. When the official He Ze ( 何澤 ), trying to ingratiate Li Congrong, nevertheless suggested it in summer 933, Li Siyuan was saddened, but nevertheless felt compelled to have the matter discussed with
1332-502: The Later Jin forces. Shi decided to allow Fan to surrender, and he sent his associate Zhu Xian ( 朱憲 ) to meet Fan, promising to transfer Fan to another large circuit and swearing to the sun that if Fan surrendered and was killed anyway, his own state would not last. Fan agreed, sending his sons Fan Shoutu ( 范守圖 ) and Fan Shouying ( 范守英 ) to Daliang to serve as hostages, and then opened the city and surrendered. Shi commissioned Fan as
1406-420: The Later Jin realm. Shi's advisor Sang Weihan , then the military governor of Taining Circuit (泰寧, headquartered in modern Jining , Shandong ), wrote him and suggested that he (Shi) head to Yedu (鄴都, Tianxiong's capital) and take up court there, so that he could react quickly if An did rebel. Shi did so. Once he reached Yedu, he wrote An, stating: You are an honored official. You have a mother at home. Why
1480-488: The Later Liang officer Kang Yanxiao , formerly a Jin subject, sent a secret letter to Li Siyuan, offering to surrender. Li Siyuan believed that it was important to inform Li Cunxu right away, but as Tianping was deep in Later Liang territory, he did not know whom he could send to deliver the letter. Fan volunteered, and was able to deliver the letter to Li Cunxu. As the Later Liang general Wang Yanzhang at that time
1554-401: The Later Tang imperial government, then located at Luoyang , to appeal for his life. Li Siyuan's chief of staff An Chonghui protected An Chongrong, and An Chongrong was not put to death. It was not known what the aftermaths of that incident exactly were, but apparently at some point An Chongrong was free and became an officer at Zhenwu again. In 936, Shi Jingtang (Li Siyuan's son-in-law),
SECTION 20
#17327731984761628-557: The Later Tang lands. During the transition from Later Tang to Later Jin, the Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang , Hebei ) officer Mi Qiong ( 秘瓊 ) used the opportunity to seize control of the circuit (with Chengde's military governor Dong Wenqi ( 董溫琪 )'s having been captured by the Khitan) while trying to aid Zhang). In spring 937, Shi commissioned An Chongrong as the military governor of Chengde and Mi as
1702-626: The Liao Dynasty, is one of the main sites of the region. It was built entirely of wood, without using nails, and serves as a museum of calligraphy . There are also some paleolithic ruins, and ancient gravesites from the Dongyi people. The Dayun Expressway ( Datong — Yuncheng ) passes through it, and it has 5 specialized train lines. Shuozhou Zirun Airport opened on December 18, 2023. Fan Yanguang Fan Yanguang ( 范延光 ) (died September 30, 940), courtesy name Zihuan ( 子環 ) (per
1776-490: The Prince of Linqing to try to assuage him. Fan's subordinates Sun Rui ( 孫銳 ) and Feng Hui ( 馮暉 ), however, continued to press him to rebel, and Fan, continuing to be enticed by what fortuneteller Zhang said, agreed. He launched his troops in summer 937 and headed toward the Yellow River ford at Liyang (黎陽, in modern Hebi , Henan ), with Sun and Feng serving as his commanders. Shi's general Zhang Congbin ( 張從賓 ) joined Fan's rebellion, killing Shi's son Shi Chongxin ( 石重信 )
1850-408: The Prince of Song, who was then the military governor of Tianxiong Circuit (天雄, headquartered at Yedu), from there, and left Meng temporary in charge of Tianxiong. When Li Siyuan died shortly after, Li Conghou became emperor. It was said that Zhu Hongzhao and Feng Yun, then the dominant figures at court, did not want Shi Jingtang to stay long at Hedong, and also wanted to recall Meng Hanqiong back to
1924-517: The Tuyuhun and sent them back to Liao. This aggravated An, who had long been (at least publicly) ashamed of how Shi had submitted to Emperor Taizong, not only as subject, but also titularly as son. (However, despite public protestations against Liao, he was also in secret communications with the Liao military governor of Lulong Circuit (盧龍, headquartered in modern Beijing ), Liu Xi ( 劉唏). ) He himself
1998-671: The annual mean is 7.42 °C (45.4 °F). Typifying the influence of the East Asian Monsoon , over three-fourths of the annual 399 millimetres (15.7 in) of precipitation occurs from June to September. It is a centre of industry, and its notable industries are primarily mining of coal and other ores such as iron , bauxite , mica , manganese , and graphite . Other economic sectors include agriculture , chemical industry , ceramics , and fishing . Western tourists rarely come to this area of China, but there are some attractions. The Yingxian Tower , built in 1056 during
2072-470: The armies encountered each other, An's officer Zhao Yanzhi ( 趙彥之 ) surrendered to Du (although he was nevertheless killed after the surrender), causing a general rout of An's army. An fled back to Zhen and took up defense there. In spring 942, a Chengde officer opened a water gate and allowed Du's army into the city, and An was captured and executed. Shi had An's head painted (for preservation) and delivered it to Emperor Taizong. Shuozhou Shuozhou
2146-404: The chancellors and chiefs of staff. Li Congrong, however, thought that it was Fan and Zhao who drove the proposal, and was not happy himself with it, both because he knew it displeased his father and because he saw as an attempt to have him confined to the crown prince's palace and unable to command troops. Fan and Zhao, knowing that both Li Siyuan and Li Congrong were displeased, moved to withdraw
2220-448: The circuit, in case it creates other problems." This caused An to lose respect for Shi, believing that if Shi was easily intimidated by Mi — viewed by An to be an aged administrator — then he himself could more easily intimidate the emperor with his military abilities. Mi did not dare to resist An, however, and he allowed An to take control of the circuit and departed himself for Qi. (Mi was subsequently ambushed and killed by Fan Yanguang
2294-683: The circuit. Li Congke commissioned Fan as the military governor of Tianxiong and the commander of the forces against Zhang, with Li Zhou ( 李周 ) serving as his deputy. Fan quickly defeated and killed Zhang, ending that rebellion. The rebellion by Shi, however, was much stronger and difficult to defeat. Moreover, Shi resolved to seek Khitan aid, offering to cede to Khitan's Emperor Taizong (Yelü Deguang) 16 prefectures on Later Tang's northern borders (in effect, Lulong Circuit (盧龍, headquartered in modern Beijing ) and other prefectures north of Yanmen Pass ) if Emperor Taizong would help him overthrow Li Congke. Emperor Taizong agreed, and went to aid Shi, while
An Chongrong - Misplaced Pages Continue
2368-430: The defender of Qi Prefecture (齊州, in modern Jinan , Shandong ), sending An to seize control from Mi. He also first sent the officer Wang Jingchong to Chengde's capital Zhen Prefecture ( 鎮州 ) to persuade Mi to submit, while sending the Khitan officer Zhao Siwen ( 趙思溫 ) with An to intimidate Mi. However, he secretly told An, "If Mi Qiong refuses to receive you, I will give you a different circuit. Do not forcibly seize
2442-700: The defender of Yao Prefecture (耀州, in modern Tongchuan , Shaanxi ), to all launch troops toward Jin'an to aid Zhang. Fan therefore took his army and advanced to Liao Prefecture (遼州, in modern Jinzhong , Shanxi ). Zhao, however, had other ideas—he wanted to take over other armies to join his own, so that he could then use the joint armies as his own, and therefore, instead of directly heading toward Jin'an, he advanced south, requisitioning troops of Yiwu (義武, headquartered in modern Baoding , Hebei ), Chengde, and Zhaoyi (昭義, headquartered in modern Changzhi , Shanxi ) Circuits and merging them into his own army, before also requesting to rendezvous with Fan's army. Fan, however,
2516-604: The defender of Yedu and had Fan command troops to escort him to Yedu, while commissioning Zhao Zaili as the military governor of Henghai Circuit (橫海, headquartered in modern Cangzhou , Hebei ) and two of the main rebel officers under him, Huangfu Hui ( 皇甫暉 ) and Zhao Jin ( 趙進 ) as prefectural prefects elsewhere. Apparently in fear of the troops that Fan and Li Congrong had with them, the Yedu troops did not dare to resist. Upon Fan's arrival, nine corps of Yedu troops were dispatched to Lutai Base (蘆臺軍, in modern Cangzhou) to defend against
2590-446: The future. The letter, however, did not change An's mind, and he became even more arrogant. He also heard that An Congjin the military governor of Shannan East Circuit (山南東道, headquartered in modern Xiangyang , Hubei ) was also planning to rebel against Shi, and therefore sent secret messengers establishing an alliance with An Congjin. At the same time, Shi sent Liu Zhiyuan to Hedong to serve as its military governor, to also monitor
2664-448: The general commissioned by Li Congke to attack Shi, Zhang Jingda , put Hedong's capital Taiyuan under siege. Once Emperor Taizong arrived at Taiyuan, the joint Khitan/Hedong forces defeated Zhang, and subsequently had Zhang's forces surrounded at Jin'an Base (晉安寨, in modern Taiyuan). The news of Zhang's defeat and envelopment greatly troubled Li Congke, and he ordered Fan, Zhao Dejun the military governor of Lulong, and Pan Huan ( 潘環 )
2738-469: The heart to do so." The mother cursed at the father and took the sword herself, chasing the father away. An, finding this illogical, inquired further, and found out that she was a stepmother, not the son's birth mother. He chased her out and then shot her to death with an arrow. This much impressed the people of the realm, and he initially enjoyed popularity. As a result, however, he became arrogant, and he began to gather troops, believing that he could seek
2812-421: The honorary titles Yinqing Guanglu Daifu ( 銀青光祿大夫 ) and minister of public works (工部尚書, Gongbu Shangshu ). In 926, Li Cunxu was killed in a mutiny at then-Later Tang capital Luoyang . Li Siyuan, who had led one of the rebellions against him, quickly arrived at Luoyang and claimed imperial title. He commissioned Fan Yanguang as one of the directors of palace affairs (宣徽使, Xuanhuishi ). Meanwhile, one of
2886-437: The imperial court to avoid confrontations with Li Congrong, but Li Siyuan would not allow them to leave. However, when Khitan apparently was preparing an incursion, Li Siyuan, at Fan's and Zhao's recommendation that the only appropriate commanders would be Shi or Kang Yicheng ( 康義誠 ), relented at least as to Shi, making Shi the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan , Shanxi ), to defend against
2960-429: The imperial government again. By late 932, it was said that Li Congrong, as Li Siyuan's oldest son and presumed heir, as well as the Prince of Qin, as well as the commander of the imperial guards, was becoming very dominant at court, and used that domination to bully the imperial officials. Shi (who was then the deputy to Li Congrong as the deputy commander of the imperial guards), Zhao, and Fan were all wanting to leave
3034-437: The imperial government. In spring 934, without officially having Li Conghou issue edicts to those effects, issued a series of transfer orders—transferring Fan Yanguang from Chengde to Tianxiong; transferring Li Conghou's adoptive brother Li Congke the Prince of Lu from Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji , Shaanxi ) to Hedong; and transferring Shi from Hedong to Chengde. While Fan's reaction to these transfers
An Chongrong - Misplaced Pages Continue
3108-419: The long-term maintenance of peace in the region was not mentioned. Also in 932, Dong Zhang the military governor of Dongchuan Circuit (東川, headquartered in modern Mianyang , Sichuan ) was attacking Meng Zhixiang the military governor of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu , Sichuan ). (Both Dong and Meng were by that point de facto independent from the imperial government, although Dong
3182-545: The military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan , Shanxi ) rebelled against then-emperor Li Congke (Li Siyuan's adoptive son). He sent his officer Zhang Ying ( 張穎 ) to entice An Chongrong to join his rebellion. Both An Chongrong's older brother and mother tried to stop him from doing so, and tried to kill Zhang. However, An Chongrong persuaded his older brother and mother that if he could use two arrows to hit targets 100 steps away, they would be signs that Shi would become emperor and that he would be
3256-409: The military governor of Heyang Circuit (河陽, headquartered in modern Luoyang) and Shi Chong'ai ( 石重乂 ) the defender of Luoyang, taking over both Heyang Circuit and Luoyang itself. A number of former aristocrats who had lost power under Shi's new regime also joined the rebellion. However, as Fan's army was crossing the Yellow River, Yang Guangyuan attacked Sun and Feng, crushing Fan's army, which he then
3330-644: The military governor of Tianping and bestowed on him an iron certificate, promising to pardon a future death sentence. He was also created the Prince of Dongping. In winter 938, however, he went to Daliang to pay homage to Shi and repeatedly asked to retire. Shi allowed him to retire as a senior advisor to the Crown Prince (a completely honorary post as there was no crown prince at the time) and kept him at Daliang, while treating him no differently from any other senior official. In fall 940, Fan asked to retire to his mansion at Heyang, and Shi agreed. Fan carried
3404-399: The military governor of Tianxiong Circuit (天雄, headquartered in modern Handan , Hebei ), as Fan had unsuccessfully tried to persuade Mi into a joint rebellion against Later Jin and feared that Mi would leak the news, and was also enticed by the wealth — which Mi gained by killing Dong's family and seizing Dong's wealth — that Mi was carrying.) At Chengde, An was said to be diligent — whereas
3478-506: The military governor of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered at Bian Prefecture) decided to resist his arrival, and put up defenses to do so. Li Siyuan was initially sending Fan to try to see if he could persuade Zhu not to resist, but Fan believed that he needed to attack the Bian defenses quickly so that the defenses could not be solidified, and so, at his request, he was given 500 soldiers to accompany him. When he arrived at Bian, he launched an attack with his limited number of troops, surprising
3552-449: The north to the Khitan if the Khitan would support him as the emperor of China. Khitan's Emperor Taizong agreed and, in fall 936, arrived at Taiyuan and crushed Zhang Jingda's troops. He then declared Shi emperor of a new state of Later Jin . The joint Khitan/Later Jin forces then advanced toward Luoyang. Believing defeat to be inevitable, Li Congke committed suicide with his family, ending Later Tang. Shi entered Luoyang and took over
3626-463: The other military governors of the time often took bribes and ruled according to the amount of bribes they received, An was attentive to the administration of laws and often used logic in ruling on cases. His subordinates therefore also did not dare to receive bribes. There was one occasion when a couple was claiming that their son was not filially pious. An gave the father a sword and said, "Kill him yourself." The father wept and stated, "I do not have
3700-527: The proposal, and further to have Li Congrong named the commander of all armed forces. Shortly after, Fan and Zhao were both given the greater chancellor designation Shizhong (侍中, head of the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng )). Despite this, Fan and Zhao were continuing to be fearful of Li Congrong, who was privately threatening to act against them once he was in power. They continued to try to resign, but this drew Li Siyuan's anger, believing that they were trying to abandon him. Finally, at
3774-457: The rebel leaders against Li Cunxu at Yedu (鄴都, in modern Handan), Zhao Zaili ( 趙在禮 ), had wanted to accept Li Siyuan's subsequent commission as military governor ( Jiedushi ) of Yicheng Circuit (義成, headquartered in modern Anyang , Henan ), but was coerced by the Yedu troops into not accepting it. However, he sent secret messengers to Li Siyuan, again requesting to be moved. In spring 927, Li Siyuan thus commissioned his own son Li Congrong as
SECTION 50
#17327731984763848-750: The situation with An. Liu enticed the Tuyuhun chieftain Bai Chengfu ( 白承福 ), who had previously submitted to An Chongrong, into joining the Hedong army with his tribesmen. That, and the failure of Dada and Qibi ( 契苾 ) tribesmen to join An Chongrong (as he had claimed that they would), hampered the impact of An's public pronouncements. Nevertheless, when An Congjin shortly after rebelled against Later Jin, An Chongrong resolved to rebel anyway. Shi sent his brother-in-law Du Chongwei against An Chongrong, with Ma Quanjie ( 馬全節 ) serving as Du's deputy. When
3922-458: The territory that Shi ceded to the Khitan (which, by this point, has renamed their state Liao) included territory inhabited by the Tuyuhun tribespeople. The Tuyuhun were mistreated by the Liao. An enticed them to join his army, and so large Tuyuhun contingents fled to his territory in or about 940. Subsequently, Emperor Taizong angrily rebuked Shi, and Shi, under Liao pressure, forcibly expelled
3996-545: The throne (just as Li Congke and Shi did), stating, "The Son of Heaven 's throne is based on those who have strong armies and healthy horses, not based on preordination." However, the people began to see him as overly harsh when, on one occasion, he, out of anger, killed his officer Jia Zhang ( 賈章 ) on false excuse of Jia's committing treason, and slaughtered Jia's entire household, except for Jia's daughter. Jia's daughter, however, did not want to live alone, and sought to share her father's fate, so he killed her as well. Part of
4070-518: The tower, ending Later Tang. Shi thereafter entered Luoyang and took over Later Tang territory. After Zhao Dejun's defeat, Fan Yanguang returned from Liao Prefecture to Yedu, and sent a petition to Shi Jingtang, submitting to him as a subject. However, he continued to be uncomfortable with the situation because he had resisted Shi and because he was friendly with Li Congke, with his daughter having married Li Congke's son Li Chongmei Prince of Yong, who had committed suicide along with Li Congke. He sent
4144-600: The treasures that he had accumulated through the years with him. Yang Guangyuan, who was then Luoyang's defender as well as Heyang's military governor, repeatedly submitted petitions to have Fan killed, as he coveted Fan's treasures and also feared that Fan would create problems for him. Shi refused, but when Yang subsequently requested to have Fan moved to Luoyang, Shi agreed. Shortly after, Yang had his son Yang Chenggui ( 楊承貴 ) take soldiers and surround Fan's mansion, trying to force him to suicide. Fan, citing Shi's promise to him, refused. Yang Chenggui then forced Fan to march to
4218-470: The urging of Zhao's wife the Princess Qi, Li Siyuan agreed to let one of them leave—and made Zhao the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit and replacing him with Zhu Hongzhao . Subsequently, in winter 933, Fan was also allowed to resign, and was made the military governor of Chengde; he was replaced by Feng Yun . (Only as Li Siyuan was sending him off did Fan dare to bring up the fact that Meng Hanqiong
4292-406: The way, killing him and seizing his wealth, while claiming to Shi that the killing was accidental. Shi chose not to react to Mi's killing. Meanwhile, Fan was also enticed by the fact that when he was still a common citizen, one fortuneteller named Zhang had predicted that he would become general and chancellor, and then once he reached those positions, Zhang visited him again and, when interpreting
4366-464: Was also given the honorary title of acting Taibao ( 太保 ). He was apparently subsequently recalled to the imperial government, for, as of fall 930, he was referred to as the former military governor of Chengde without being referred to by other titles. At that time, Li Siyuan was considering replacing then-chief of staff An Chonghui (who was the most dominating figure at court for Li Siyuan's entire reign up to that point) due to accusations that An
4440-404: Was arrogant to Liao emissaries whenever they passed through Chengde, and, if they were particularly distasteful to him, would kill them. In 941, he submitted a lengthy, public petition to Shi, in which he urged, in harsh terms, the repudiation of the alliance with Liao. He also wrote letters with similar contents to the important officials at the imperial court and the military governors throughout
4514-435: Was at Huai Prefecture (懷州, in modern Jiaozuo , Henan ), received this news, and considered heading to Tianxiong to rendezvous with Fan, but soon gave up the idea and returned to Luoyang. Once back at Luoyang, however, he saw that his own army generals were surrendering to the new Later Jin emperor in droves. Finding the situation hopeless, he gathered his family, ascended a tower in the palace, and committed suicide by burning
SECTION 60
#17327731984764588-623: Was attacking the Yangliu (楊劉, in modern Liaocheng , Shandong ), a fort on the Yellow River then held by Later Tang, hoping to cut off the supply route between Tianping and Later Tang proper entirely, Fan argued that Yangliu's defense was strong and suggested to Li Cunxu that another fort be built at Majiakou (馬家口, also in modern Liaocheng) while Yangliu was being sieged, rather than to go to Yangliu's aid immediately. Li Cunxu agreed and built Majiakou, which Wang then attacked. Li Siyuan again sent Fan to suggest to Li Cunxu to reinforce Majiakou, but Fan
4662-412: Was being too dominant in the palace, but even then he only did so circumspectly). Not long after Fan's departure, Li Siyuan fell seriously ill. Li Congrong, believing that Li Siyuan's associates, including Zhu and Feng, might try to divert the succession away from him, tried to seize the throne by force, but was defeated and killed. Li Siyuan thereafter summoned Li Congrong's younger brother Li Conghou
4736-401: Was captured by Later Liang sentry soldiers on the way and taken to the Later Liang capital Daliang . There, he was whipped several hundred times and threatened with swords, but did not reveal Later Tang military secrets. After Li Cunxu captured Daliang in a surprise attack later in the year and the Later Liang emperor Zhu Zhen committed suicide, ending Later Liang, Li Cunxu rewarded him with
4810-447: Was eventually killed in flight. Li Congke took the throne. Shortly after taking the throne, Li Congke recalled Fan from Tianxiong to again serve as chief of staff. In spring 935, however, he sent Fan back out to serve as the military governor of Xuanwu, also giving him the greater honorary chancellor title of Zhongshu Ling ( 中書令 ). In the aftermaths of Li Conghou's death, Li Congke returned Shi to Hedong. However, they had long had
4884-470: Was forced to withdraw to Yedu. Shi's other generals Du Chongwei and Hou Yi ( 侯益 ) then defeated and killed Zhang Congbin, quelling that part of the rebellion. Believing the situation to be hopeless, Fan blamed the rebellion on Sun and slaughtered him and his family, and submitted a petition to surrender to Yang. Yang relayed it to Shi, but Shi initially rejected it. However, a subsequent siege of Yedu by Later Jin forces dragged on to fall 938 and wore out
4958-603: Was given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi ( 同中書門下平章事 ), thus also designating him as a chancellor . In 932, it was said that it was at Fan's urging that Li Siyuan sent the generals Yao Yanchou ( 藥彥稠 ) and Kang Fu ( 康福 ) against Dangxiang tribesmen, to try to stop them from pillaging against imperial messengers and foreign ambassadors in the region between Ling (靈州, in modern Yinchuan , Ningxia ) and Bin (邠州, in modern Xianyang , Shaanxi ) Prefectures. Yao and Kang were said to be successful in their mission in defeating and capturing Dangxiang tribesmen, although
5032-408: Was in a confrontational posture with the imperial government while Meng was more conciliatory.) Fan advocated trying to take advantage of Dong's attack to try to recapture both circuits. However, when Meng quickly defeated Dong thereafter, Fan changed his recommendation and recommended taking a conciliatory posture with Meng, which Li Siyuan accepted. Subsequently, Meng became nominally submissive to
5106-434: Was not clearly stated in history, Li Congke suspected that this series of orders were targeted toward him, and therefore rebelled. The imperial forces sent against him, commanded by the general Wang Sitong , was initially successful against Li Congke, but during the siege of Fengxiang, a group of soldiers turned against Wang and submitted to Li Congke, leading to a collapse of the imperial army in general. Li Conghou fled, but
5180-454: Was overly domineering of the political scene. Fan urged against removing An, and when Li Siyuan responded, "Can you not do so?" Fan responded, "I, your subject, have not served you as long, and I am not as talented as An Chonghui. How would I dare replace him?" Li Siyuan subsequently kept An as chief of staff, but also made Fan a chief of staff, serving with An. After An was finally removed (and subsequently killed) in 931, Zhao Yanshou , also
5254-545: Was said to be strong and good at both archery and horsemanship. During the Changxing era (930-933) of the Later Tang emperor Li Siyuan , An Chongrong served as a military commander at Zhenwu (which was then headquartered in modern Shuozhou). He had once committed an offense and was imprisoned, and then-military governor ( Jiedushi ) of Zhenwu, Gao Xingzhou , wanted to put him to death. An Chongrong's mother went to
5328-927: Was subsequently the capital of Dai Prefecture and the scene of an attempted ambush of the Xiongnu by Chinese troops in 133 BC. During the chaos between the fall of the Sui and rise of the Tang , Mayi was the base of the would-be emperor Liu Wuzhou . The seat of government is in Shuocheng District , the urban core of the city. Shuozhou has a continental, monsoon -influenced semi-arid climate ( Köppen BSk ), with cold, very dry, and somewhat long winters, and warm, somewhat humid summers. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from −9.8 °C (14.4 °F) in January to 21.9 °C (71.4 °F) in July, and
5402-504: Was suspicious of Zhao's intentions, and refused the overture, claiming that his army was deep in enemy territory already and could not rendezvous with Zhao's, preventing his army from being merged into Zhao's. Zhao thereafter advanced to Tuanbo Gorge (團柏谷, in modern Jinzhong), but stopped there, not advancing further toward Jin'an, while engaging in secret negotiations with Emperor Taizong, hoping that Emperor Taizong would support him , instead of Shi, in overthrowing Li Congke. Emperor Taizong
5476-492: Was tempted, but eventually turned down Zhao's overture. To further affirm his support of Shi, he created Shi emperor of China, founding a new Later Jin . With Zhao not heading to aid the Later Tang imperial army at Jin'an, Zhang was killed by his deputy Yang Guangyuan , who then surrendered to the joint Khitan/Later Jin forces. The Khitan/Later Jin forces then attacked Zhao, defeating him and forcing him to surrender as well. Li Congke, who had by that point departed Luoyang and
#475524