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Liu Xun () (858''
Old History of the Five Dynasties The ''Old History of the Five Dynasties'' ( zh, t=舊五代史, pinyin=, p=Jiù Wǔdài Shǐ) was an official history mainly focusing on Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, Five Dynasties era (907–960), which controlled much of northern C ...
'', vol. 23.
-June 10, 921''
Zizhi Tongjian The ''Zizhi Tongjian'' (1084) is a chronicle published during the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127) that provides a record of Chinese history from 403 BC to 959 AD, covering 16 dynasties and spanning almost 1400 years. The main text is ...
'', vol. 271.
Academia Sinica Academia Sinica (AS, ; zh, t=中央研究院) is the national academy of the Taiwan, Republic of China. It is headquartered in Nangang District, Taipei, Nangang, Taipei. Founded in Nanjing, the academy supports research activities in mathemat ...
br>Chinese-Western Calendar Converter
) was a major general of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Later Liang. He was a key commander of Later Liang forces in its struggle with its archenemy Jin, but, after repeated defeats by the Jin prince
Li Cunxu Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang (), personal name Li Cunxu (), nickname Yazi (), stage name Li Tianxia (), was the second ruling prince of the Former Jin dynasty (r. 908–923) who later became the founding emperor of the Later Tang dynasty ...
, Liu sought retirement, and was subsequently poisoned to death by the Later Liang emperor Zhu Zhen, who doubted his loyalty.


During Tang Dynasty


Background

Liu Xun was born in 858, during the reign of
Emperor Xuānzong of Tang Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (27 July 810 – 7 September 859) was an emperor of China's Tang dynasty, reigning from 25 April 846 until his death. Personally named Li Yi, later renamed Li Chen (), and known before his reign as the Prince of Guang, h ...
. His family was from Anqiu (安丘, in modern
Weifang Weifang ( zh, s=潍坊, t=濰坊, p=Wéifāng) is a prefecture-level city in central Shandong province, People's Republic of China. The city borders Dongying to the northwest, Zibo to the west, Linyi to the southwest, Rizhao to the south, Qingdao ...
,
Shandong Shandong is a coastal Provinces of China, province in East China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River. It has served as a pivotal cultural ...
). His grandfather Liu Shou () served as a census administrator for the prefectural government of
Mi Prefecture Mizhou or Mi Prefecture was a ''Zhou (country subdivision), zhou'' (prefecture) in history of China, imperial China in modern southeastern Shandong, China. It existed (intermittently) from 585 until 1368 upon the foundation of the Ming dynasty. ...
, which Anqiu belonged to, and his father Liu Rong () served as the Anqiu County magistrate. It was said that Liu Xun was ambitious in his youth, favored the study of military strategies, and studied histories and biographies. Sometime during the ''Zhonghe'' era (881-885) era of Emperor Xuānzong's grandson Emperor Xizong, Liu became a low-level officer under Wang Jingwu the military governor of Pinglu Circuit (平盧, headquartered in modern Weifang).


Service under Wang Shifan

In 889, Wang Jianwu died. The Pinglu soldiers supported his 15-year-old son
Wang Shifan Wang Shifan () (874 – July 10, 908)''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 258.''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 266.
to replace him. However, one of his subordinates, Zhang Chan () the prefect of Di Prefecture (棣州, in modern
Binzhou Binzhou (, ), formerly Putai, is a prefecture-level city in northern Shandong Province in the People's Republic of China. The city proper sits on the northern bank of the Yellow River, while its administrative area straddles both sides of its ...
,
Shandong Shandong is a coastal Provinces of China, province in East China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River. It has served as a pivotal cultural ...
), refused to accept Wang Shifan and requested that then-ruling Emperor Zhaozong (Emperor Xizong's brother and successor) commission a replacement. Emperor Zhaozong thus commissioned the senior official Cui Anqian as the military governor of Pinglu, and Cui went to Di Prefecture to join Zhang in a campaign against Wang Shifan; the sides fought for more than a year. In spring 891, when Wang sent the officer Lu Hong () to attack Zhang, Lu instead turned against Wang and prepared to attack him. Wang pretended to be fearful of Lu and offered to surrender the governorship to Lu if Lu would spare him. Lu believed Wang and prepared to return to the Pinglu capital Qing Prefecture () to take over. Wang instead approached Liu Xun, promising to promote him if he could kill Lu; Liu agreed. At a subsequent feast Wang held for Lu upon Lu's arrival, Liu surprised and killed Lu and several of his key followers. Wang then attacked Di himself and killed Zhang; Cui fled back to the imperial capital
Chang'an Chang'an (; zh, t=長安, s=长安, p=Cháng'ān, first=t) is the traditional name of the city now named Xi'an and was the capital of several Chinese dynasties, ranging from 202 BCE to 907 CE. The site has been inhabited since Neolithic time ...
. Emperor Zhaozong then commissioned Wang as full military governor, and Wang made Liu the deputy commander of the Pinglu infantry and cavalry.''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 258. In 901, the powerful
eunuch A eunuch ( , ) is a male who has been castration, castrated. Throughout history, castration often served a specific social function. The earliest records for intentional castration to produce eunuchs are from the Sumerian city of Lagash in the 2 ...
s led by
Han Quanhui Han Quanhui (韓全誨) (died February 6, 903''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 263.Academia Sinicabr>Chinese-Western Calendar Converter) was a eunuch late in the Chinese Tang dynasty. The struggles by the eunuchs, led by him, against the chancellor Cui Yin ...
, fearing that Emperor Zhaozong and the
chancellor Chancellor () is a title of various official positions in the governments of many countries. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the (lattice work screens) of a basilica (court hall), which separa ...
Cui Yin Cui Yin (崔胤) (854''New Book of Tang'', :zh:s:新唐書/卷223下, vol. 223, part 2. – February 1, 904''Zizhi Tongjian'', :zh:s:資治通鑑/卷264, vol. 264.Academia Sinica]Chinese-Western Calendar Converter), courtesy name Chuixiu (垂休), ...
were about to slaughter them, forcibly seized Emperor Zhaozong and took him to Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern
Baoji Baoji ( zh, s= , t= , p=Bǎojī; ) is a prefecture-level city in western Shaanxi province, People's Republic of China. Since the early 1990s, Baoji has been the second largest city in Shaanxi. Geography The prefecture-level city of Baoji had a ...
,
Shaanxi Shaanxi is a Provinces of China, province in north Northwestern China. It borders the province-level divisions of Inner Mongolia to the north; Shanxi and Henan to the east; Hubei, Chongqing, and Sichuan to the south; and Gansu and Ningxia to t ...
), then ruled by the eunuchs' ally
Li Maozhen Li Maozhen (; 856 – May 17, 924), born Song Wentong (), courtesy name Zhengchen (), formally Prince Zhongjing of Qin (), was the only ruler of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Qi (901–924). He had become a powerful ...
. Cui summoned his ally, the major warlord
Zhu Quanzhong Emperor Taizu of Later Liang (), personal name Zhu Quanzhong () (December 5, 852 – July 18, 912), né Zhu Wen (), name later changed to Zhu Huang (), nickname Zhu San (朱三, literally, "the third Zhu"), was a Chinese military general, mona ...
the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern
Kaifeng Kaifeng ( zh, s=开封, p=Kāifēng) is a prefecture-level city in east-Zhongyuan, central Henan province, China. It is one of the Historical capitals of China, Eight Ancient Capitals of China, having been the capital eight times in history, and ...
,
Henan Henan; alternatively Honan is a province in Central China. Henan is home to many heritage sites, including Yinxu, the ruins of the final capital of the Shang dynasty () and the Shaolin Temple. Four of the historical capitals of China, Lu ...
) to attack Fengxiang. Zhu put Fengxiang's capital Fengxiang Municipality under siege, and by 903, the city was in desperate straits, with the people resorting to cannibalism. Han had Emperor Zhaozong issue an edict ordering all the regional governors throughout the empire to attack Zhu.''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 263. When Wang, who had been a long-time vassal of Zhu Quanzhong's, received the edict, he wept, and with the retired chancellor
Zhang Jun Zhang may refer to: Chinese culture, etc. * Zhang (surname) (張/张), common Chinese surname ** Zhang (surname 章), a rarer Chinese surname * Zhang County (漳县), of Dingxi, Gansu * Zhang River (漳河), a river flowing mainly in Henan * ''Zha ...
also writing him to urge him to act, he decided to send his officers to various cities throughout Zhu's territory to try to simultaneously rise and try to take control of the cities. However, most of the officers he sent failed in their surprise risings and were captured, except Liu, who was able to first send his soldiers disguised as oil merchants into Yan Prefecture (兗州, in modern
Jining Jining () is a former capital of Shandong. Is a prefecture-level city in southwestern Shandong province. It borders Heze to the southwest, Zaozhuang to the southeast, Tai'an to the northeast, and the provinces of Henan and Jiangsu to the no ...
,
Shandong Shandong is a coastal Provinces of China, province in East China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River. It has served as a pivotal cultural ...
), the capital of Taining Circuit (), to survey the situation, and then made a night time attack, seizing the city. At that time, Taining's military governor
Ge Congzhou Ge Congzhou () (died 916Glen Dudbridge (2013). ''A Portrait of Five Dynasties China: From the Memoirs of Wang Renyu (880-956)''. Oxford University Press. p. 98.), courtesy name Tongmei (), formally the Prince of Chenliu (), was a general serving und ...
, a major general under Zhu, was stationed at Xing Prefecture (邢州, in modern
Xingtai Xingtai ( zh, s= , t=邢臺, p=Xíngtái , w=Hsing2-tʻai2), formerly known as Xingzhou and Shunde, is a prefecture-level city in southern Hebei province, People's Republic of China. It has a total area of and administers 4 districts, 2 coun ...
,
Hebei Hebei is a Provinces of China, province in North China. It is China's List of Chinese administrative divisions by population, sixth-most populous province, with a population of over 75 million people. Shijiazhuang is the capital city. It bor ...
). Liu, after he took over the city, went to greet Ge's mother and treated her, as well as Ge's wife and other family members, with respect. Zhu reacted by sending Ge to rendezvous with his nephew Zhu Youning () to attack Wang. Soon thereafter, with aid forces that Wang was trying to send Liu being cut off by Zhu Youning and with Li Maozhen's having sued for peace by surrendering the emperor to Zhu, Ge put Yan Prefecture under siege. Liu had Ge's mother ascend the city walls to inform Ge that Liu had treated her well, and Ge, as a result, slowed down the siege. Liu also reduced the rate of supply attrition by sending the women and the old or weak men out of the city, defending it with the stronger men alone. It was said that during the siege, Liu shared his clothes and food with the men under him and adhered to strict discipline, such that the remaining people were able to continue their livelihoods, untroubled by the soldiers. However, with the outside aid cut off, his deputy Wang Yanwen () descended out of the city walls to surrender to Ge; many soldiers followed Wang out. Liu reacted by sending an emissary to Wang Yanwen to state, "Except for the soldiers you are taking under our plan, do not take any extra ones." He also declared to his own army, "You soldiers who go on your own without having been ordered to follow the deputy military governor will have your families slaughtered!" The soldiers were confused and did not dare to follow Wang in deserting, and the Xuanwu army, believing Wang to be part of a trickery, executed him. The city's defenses held. However, with Wang Shifan's own strength waning, Ge tried to persuade Liu to surrender. Liu pointed out that he was sent by Wang and that he should not surrender unless Wang ordered him to do so. When Wang eventually surrendered to Zhu himself and wrote Liu to tell him to surrender, Liu did.''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 264.


Service under Zhu Quanzhong

Ge Congzhou held a feast for Liu Xun for him to be prepared to be sent to Xuanwu's capital Bian Prefecture (), and prepared good clothes for Liu. However, Liu, believing that he needed to show humility before Zhu Quanzhong, opted to wear clothes fit for those waiting for punishment and to ride a donkey. When he met Zhu, Zhu gave him good clothes (which he again declined) and invited him to drink. When Liu stated that he did not have the capacity (for alcohol), Zhu responded, "But when you captured Yan Prefecture, what great capacity you showed!" He made Liu the commander of the Yuancong Corps () of the Xuanwu army — commanding some officers who had followed Zhu for a long time. Liu accepted this post without hesitation, and this impressed Zhu further. Soon thereafter, Zhu made him the acting military governor of Baoda Circuit (保大, headquartered in modern
Yan'an Yan'an; ; Chinese postal romanization, alternatively spelled as Yenan is a prefecture-level city in the Shaanbei region of Shaanxi Province of China, province, China, bordering Shanxi to the east and Gansu to the west. It administers several c ...
,
Shaanxi Shaanxi is a Provinces of China, province in north Northwestern China. It borders the province-level divisions of Inner Mongolia to the north; Shanxi and Henan to the east; Hubei, Chongqing, and Sichuan to the south; and Gansu and Ningxia to t ...
). Liu later became Baoda's military governor, but in 904, as part of Zhu's defensive realignment against a potential joint attack by Li Maozhen, Li Maozhen's adoptive son
Li Jihui Li Jihui () (died 914), né Yang Chongben () (and usually referred to by that name in historical sources), was a Chinese politician and warlord in the late Chinese Tang dynasty and early Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Qi, who ruled ...
the military governor of Jingnan Circuit (靜難, headquartered in modern
Xianyang Xianyang ( zh, s=咸阳 , p=Xiányáng) is a prefecture-level city in central Shaanxi province, situated on the Wei River a few kilometers upstream (west) from the provincial capital of Xi'an. Once the capital of the Qin dynasty, it is now int ...
,
Shaanxi Shaanxi is a Provinces of China, province in north Northwestern China. It borders the province-level divisions of Inner Mongolia to the north; Shanxi and Henan to the east; Hubei, Chongqing, and Sichuan to the south; and Gansu and Ningxia to t ...
), and Wang Jian the military governor of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern
Chengdu Chengdu; Sichuanese dialects, Sichuanese pronunciation: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: ; Chinese postal romanization, previously Romanization of Chinese, romanized as Chengtu. is the capital city of the Chinese province of Sichuan. With a ...
,
Sichuan Sichuan is a province in Southwestern China, occupying the Sichuan Basin and Tibetan Plateau—between the Jinsha River to the west, the Daba Mountains to the north, and the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau to the south. Its capital city is Cheng ...
), Zhu ordered him to abandon Baoda's capital Fu Prefecture () and withdraw with his army to Tong Prefecture (同州, in modern
Weinan Weinan ( zh, s=渭南 , p=Wèinán) is a prefecture-level city in east-Guanzhong, central Shaanxi, Shaanxi province, northwest China. The city lies on the lower section of the Wei River confluence into the Yellow River, about east of the provinc ...
,
Shaanxi Shaanxi is a Provinces of China, province in north Northwestern China. It borders the province-level divisions of Inner Mongolia to the north; Shanxi and Henan to the east; Hubei, Chongqing, and Sichuan to the south; and Gansu and Ningxia to t ...
).''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 265. In 905, Liu was made a general of the imperial guards and the commander of the police of then-capital
Luoyang Luoyang ( zh, s=洛阳, t=洛陽, p=Luòyáng) is a city located in the confluence area of the Luo River and the Yellow River in the west of Henan province, China. Governed as a prefecture-level city, it borders the provincial capital of Zheng ...
(as Zhu had forced Emperor Zhaozong to move the capital from Chang'an there). In 906, when Zhu, who had assassinated Emperor Zhaozong, was made the generalissimo of all armed forces by Emperor Zhaozong's son and successor Emperor Ai, Liu was given the additional post of the commander of the generalissimo's guards.


During Later Liang


During Emperor Taizu's reign

In 907, Zhu Quanzhong had Emperor Ai yield the throne to him, ending Tang and starting a new Later Liang with him as its Emperor Taizu, but was not recognized by several warlords who continued to wage war with him. In 908, when the major general
Liu Zhijun Liu Zhijun ( zh , s = 刘志军 , t = 劉志軍 , p = Liú Zhìjūn; born 29 January 1953) is a former Chinese politician who served as Ministry of Railways of the People's Republic of China, Minister of Railway. Liu was a peasant's son who le ...
, then stationed at Tong Prefecture, rebelled against Emperor Taizu and aligned himself with Qi (i.e., Li Maozhen's state) and Jin (then ruled by
Li Cunxu Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang (), personal name Li Cunxu (), nickname Yazi (), stage name Li Tianxia (), was the second ruling prince of the Former Jin dynasty (r. 908–923) who later became the founding emperor of the Later Tang dynasty ...
), Liu Zhijun induced Qi forces to seize Chang'an while he himself quickly seized Hua Prefecture (華州, in modern Weinan) and
Tong Pass Tongguan or Tong Pass, was a former mountain pass and fortress located south of the confluence of the Wei and Yellow Rivers, in today's Tongguan County, Weinan, Shaanxi, China. It was an important chokepoint, protecting Xi'an and the surroundi ...
. Emperor Taizu commissioned the general
Yang Shihou Yang Shihou () (died April 23, 915Academia Sinicabr>Chinese-Western Calendar Converter), formally the Prince of Ye (), was a major general of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Later Liang, serving as the main obstacle to ...
to attack Liu Zhijun, and Liu Xun served under Yang in this campaign. When Liu Xun reached the east side of Tong Pass, he captured Liu Zhijun's sentry soldiers but let them stay free to serve as his guides, and then had them approach Tong Pass. The soldiers Liu Zhijun sent to defend Tong Pass did not know that the sentry soldiers had turned against them, and opened the pass to welcome them. Liu Xun followed and entered, capturing the pass and taking Liu Zhijun's brother Liu Zhiwan () captive. With Later Liang forces converging on him, Liu Zhijun fled to Qi, and Yang subsequently recaptured Chang'an. Emperor Taizu made Liu Xun the acting military governor of Youguo Circuit (佑國, headquartered at Chang'an).''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 267. Soon thereafter, Emperor Taizu renamed the circuit to Yong'an Circuit () and made Liu Xun its military governor, as well as the mayor of Da'an Municipality (大安, i.e., Chang'an) and the governor (觀察使, ''Guanchashi'') of Jin Prefecture (金州, in modern
Ankang Ankang ( zh , c = 安康 , p = Ānkāng ) is a prefecture-level city in the south of Shaanxi Province in the People's Republic of China, bordering Hubei province to the east, Chongqing municipality to the south, and Sichuan province to the s ...
,
Shaanxi Shaanxi is a Provinces of China, province in north Northwestern China. It borders the province-level divisions of Inner Mongolia to the north; Shanxi and Henan to the east; Hubei, Chongqing, and Sichuan to the south; and Gansu and Ningxia to t ...
); he also bestowed the title of acting ''Situ'' (司徒, one of the
Three Excellencies The Three Ducal Ministers (), also translated as the Three Dukes, Three Excellencies, or the Three Lords, was the collective name for the three highest officials in Ancient China and Imperial China. These posts were abolished by Cao Cao in 208 AD a ...
) on Liu Xun. In 910, Emperor Taizong bestowed the honorary chancellor designation of ''Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi'' () and the title of acting ''Taibao'' () on him.


During Zhu Yougui's reign

In 912, Emperor Taizu was assassinated by his son
Zhu Yougui Zhu Yougui () (886 – March 27, 913), nickname Yaoxi (), often known by his princely title Prince of Ying (), was briefly an emperor of the Chinese Later Liang dynasty during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. He became emperor a ...
the Prince of Ying, who, after blaming the assassination on his adoptive brother
Zhu Youwen Zhu Youwen (; died 912), né Kang Qin (康勤), courtesy name Deming (德明), formally the Prince of Bo (博王), was an imperial prince of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Later Liang. He was an adoptive son of the fou ...
the Prince of Kang and executing Zhu Youwen, took the throne.''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 268. Zhu Yougui bestowed the title of acting ''Taifu'' () on Liu Xun. When Liu's mother died in spring 913 and Liu left governmental service briefly to observe a mourning period for her, Zhu Yougui recalled him back to governmental service.


During Zhu Zhen's reign


Rise to greater authority

Later in 913, Zhu Yougui's brother
Zhu Youzhen Zhu Zhen () (20 October 888 – 18 November 923), often referred to in traditional histories as Emperor Mo of Later Liang (後梁末帝, "last emperor") and sometimes by his princely title Prince of Jun (均王), né Zhu Youzhen (朱友貞), know ...
the Prince of Jun killed him in a coup and became the new Later Liang emperor (changing his name to Zhu Zhen), and it was said that he trusted Liu Xun even more than Zhu Yougui did. In 914, he recalled Liu from Yongping and made him the mayor of
Kaifeng Kaifeng ( zh, s=开封, p=Kāifēng) is a prefecture-level city in east-Zhongyuan, central Henan province, China. It is one of the Historical capitals of China, Eight Ancient Capitals of China, having been the capital eight times in history, and ...
(which Zhu Zhen made the capital), while still maintaining a military governorship — albeit an honorary one, as the military governor of Zhennan Circuit (鎮南, headquartered in modern
Nanchang Nanchang is the capital of Jiangxi, China. Located in the north-central part of the province and in the hinterland of Poyang Lake Plain, it is bounded on the west by the Jiuling Mountains, and on the east by Poyang Lake. Because of its strate ...
,
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) as Zhennan then was ruled by Later Liang's rival Wu. With Jin thereafter making an incursion into Later Liang territory, Zhu Zhen stationed Liu at the northern frontier to assist Yang Shihou in defending against Jin, which then withdrew its army. Late in 914, Zhu Zhen tried to recall Wang Yin () from the military governorship of Wuning Circuit (武寧, headquartered in modern
Xuzhou Xuzhou ( zh, s=徐州), also known as Pengcheng () in ancient times, is a major city in northwestern Jiangsu province, China. The city, with a recorded population of 9,083,790 at the 2020 Chinese census, 2020 census (3,135,660 of which lived in ...
,
Jiangsu Jiangsu is a coastal Provinces of the People's Republic of China, province in East China. It is one of the leading provinces in finance, education, technology, and tourism, with its capital in Nanjing. Jiangsu is the List of Chinese administra ...
) and replace Wang with his brother Zhu Youzhang () the Prince of Fu. Wang, who had been commissioned by Zhu Yougui, was fearful and therefore refused to accept the order, instead submitting to Wu. Zhu Zhen ordered Niu Cunjie () and Liu to attack Wuning. When the Wu general
Zhu Jin Zhu Jin () (867–918) was a warlord late in the Chinese Tang dynasty who would later be a major general of the Wu (also known as Hongnong) state during the subsequent Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. In the late Tang years, Zhu Jin, a ...
, trying to save Wang, attacked them, they repelled him. They captured Wuning's capital
Pengcheng Xuzhou ( zh, s=徐州), also known as Pengcheng () in ancient times, is a major city in northwestern Jiangsu province, China. The city, with a recorded population of 9,083,790 at the 2020 census (3,135,660 of which lived in the built-up area m ...
in early 915, and Wang committed suicide.''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 269.


As commander of the Later Liang army against Jin

In 915, Yang Shihou died. At the time of Yang's death, he was the military governor of Tianxiong Circuit (天雄, headquartered in modern
Handan Handan is a prefecture-level city located in the southwest of Hebei province, China. The southernmost prefecture-level city of the province, it borders Xingtai on the north, and the provinces of Shanxi on the west, Henan on the south and Shando ...
,
Hebei Hebei is a Provinces of China, province in North China. It is China's List of Chinese administrative divisions by population, sixth-most populous province, with a population of over 75 million people. Shijiazhuang is the capital city. It bor ...
), which had a powerful army and which had thus allowed it to be largely ''de facto'' independent of the Tang imperial government for about two centuries. Zhu Zhen's brother-in-law Zhao Yan and secretary Shao Zan () thus suggested to him that he divide Tianxiong's six prefectures into two circuits to weaken it, to prevent it slipping out of imperial control again in the future. Zhu Zhen agreed, and he transferred He Delun () the military governor of Pinglu to Tianxiong, but created a new Zhaode Circuit () to be headquartered at Tianxiong's Xiang Prefecture (相州, in modern
Anyang Anyang ( zh, s=安阳, t=安陽; ) is a prefecture-level city in Henan, China. Geographical coordinates are 35° 41'~ 36° 21' north latitude and 113° 38'~ 114° 59' east longitude. The northernmost city in Henan, Anyang borders Puyang to the eas ...
,
Henan Henan; alternatively Honan is a province in Central China. Henan is home to many heritage sites, including Yinxu, the ruins of the final capital of the Shang dynasty () and the Shaolin Temple. Four of the historical capitals of China, Lu ...
), to include Xiang, Chan (澶州, in modern Anyang), and Wei (衛州, in modern
Xinxiang Xinxiang ( zh, s= , t= , p=Xīnxiāng ; Postal romanization, postal: Sinsiang) is a prefecture-level city in northern Henan provinces of China, province, China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to its southwest, Kaifeng to its sou ...
,
Henan Henan; alternatively Honan is a province in Central China. Henan is home to many heritage sites, including Yinxu, the ruins of the final capital of the Shang dynasty () and the Shaolin Temple. Four of the historical capitals of China, Lu ...
) Prefectures, with the official Zhang Yun () as its military governor. He further ordered that Tianxiong's army be divided in half, with half of the army and half of the circuit treasury be transferred to Zhaode. In order to try to intimidate the Tianxiong army into complying, he also sent Liu Xun with 60,000 men north of the
Yellow River The Yellow River, also known as Huanghe, is the second-longest river in China and the List of rivers by length, sixth-longest river system on Earth, with an estimated length of and a Drainage basin, watershed of . Beginning in the Bayan H ...
, while claiming that Liu's mission was to attack Jin's allies Zhao and Yiwu Circuit (義武, headquartered in modern
Baoding Baoding is a prefecture-level city in central Hebei province, approximately southwest of Beijing. As of the 2020 census, Baoding City had 11,544,036 inhabitants, of which 2,549,787 lived in the metropolitan area made of 4 out of 5 urban distri ...
,
Hebei Hebei is a Provinces of China, province in North China. It is China's List of Chinese administrative divisions by population, sixth-most populous province, with a population of over 75 million people. Shijiazhuang is the capital city. It bor ...
). Despite Liu's army's presence, the Tianxiong army, angry and distressed over the order to divide itself, mutinied under the leadership of the officer Zhang Yan (). Zhang put He Delun under house arrest and, when his subsequent request to Zhu Zhen that the division be reversed went unheeded, forced He Delun to write to Li Cunxu to submit Tianxiong to Jin. Li Cunxu's army quickly advanced to Tianxiong's capital Wei Prefecture (魏州, not the same prefecture as the prefecture to be under Zhaode's control), as did Liu's, and the two armies initially stalemated outside the city. (In an ambush, Liu nearly captured Li Cunxu when Li Cunxu was out to survey Liu's army, but Li Cunxu fought out of the ambush with the help from his officer Xia Luqi () Believing that he could not defeat Li Cunxu quickly and wanting to catch Jin by surprise, Liu decided to pretend that his army was still in its camp — by putting flags on the backs of donkeys and having the donkeys walk around in the camp — while he took his army and headed straight into the
Taihang Mountains The Taihang Mountains () are a Chinese mountain range running down the eastern edge of the Loess Plateau in Shanxi, Henan and Hebei provinces. The range extends over from north to south and has an average elevation of ; its principal peak is ...
, intending to attack Jin's capital
Taiyuan Taiyuan; Mandarin pronunciation: (Jin Chinese, Taiyuan Jin: /tʰai˦˥ ye˩˩/) is the capital of Shanxi, China. Taiyuan is the political, economic, cultural and international exchange center of Shanxi Province. It is an industrial base foc ...
. Several days later, however, Li Cunxu discovered that Liu's camp had in fact been abandoned, and he sent his adoptive brother Li Si'en () to warn Taiyuan of the impending attack while sending his cavalry to pursue Liu's army. Meanwhile, Liu's army was impeded by rainstorms and illness, and nearly became stuck in the Taihang Mountains, only fighting its way out when Liu pointed out to the soldiers that there was no escape otherwise. Hearing of Liu's movements, Li Cunxu's general
Zhou Dewei Zhou Dewei () (died January 28, 919''Zizhi Tongjian'', :zh:s:資治通鑑/卷270, vol. 270.Academ ...
the military governor of Lulong Circuit (盧龍, headquartered in modern
Beijing Beijing, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's List of national capitals by population, most populous national capital city as well as ...
) also arrived quickly and cut off Liu's access to food supply. When Zhu Zhen sent messengers to rebuke Liu for not engaging the Jin army quickly and leading to the loss of the soldiers and supplies, Liu requested more food supplies from Zhu Zhen to allow him to slow down the Jin army, causing Zhu Zhen to send back a sarcastic rebuke, "You, General, want this much rice. Is it to defeat the enemy, or to fill your stomach?" With his own officers also clamoring for a confrontation with the Jin army, Liu attacked the camp of the soldiers sent by Zhao and Yiwu, believing that they were more easily defeated than the main Jin army, but the Jin generals
Li Cunshen Li Cunshen (; 862'' History of the Five Dynasties'', vol. 56. – June 16, 924Academia Sinicabr>Chinese-Western Calendar Converter), né Fu Cun (), often referred to in historical sources as Fu Cunshen (), courtesy name Dexiang (), was a Chine ...
(also an adoptive brother of Li Cunxu's) and Li Jianji () defeated him. (During this, Liu also sent chefs to pretend to surrender to the Jin army, planning to have them poison Li Cunxu to death. This was discovered, however, and the Jin army put the chefs to death.) After his defeat by Li Cunshen and Li Jianji, Liu went back into his defensive posture, hoping to wear out the Jin army. Li Cunxu, in spring 916, pretended to return to Taiyuan to draw Liu's attention. Liu thereafter decided to attack Wei Prefecture to try to capture it. When he reached the city, however, Li Cunxu was there waiting for him, along with the armies under Li Cunshen and another adoptive brother,
Li Siyuan Li Siyuan (李嗣源, later changed to Li Dan (李亶)) (10 October 867 – 15 December 933), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang (後唐明宗), was the second emperor of the Later Tang dynasty of China, reign ...
. Liu was surprised, and the Jin army quickly surrounded his. He fought his way out of the trap, but his army, then numbering about 70,000, was nearly completely destroyed. He withdrew to Hua Prefecture (滑州, in modern Anyang, not the same Hua Prefecture Liu had been stationed at years earlier), leaving virtually the entire territory north of the Yellow River in Jin hands.


Removal

After Liu Xun's defeat by the Jin army, Zhu Zhen summoned him to Kaifeng, but Liu found excuses not to report, apparently fearful of the consequences and ashamed of his defeat. Zhu Zhen, fearing that he would defect to Jin,''
Bo Yang Bo Yang ( zh , t = 柏楊 , s = 柏杨 , p = Bó Yáng ; 7 March 1920 – 29 April 2008), sometimes also erroneously called Bai Yang, was a Chinese people, Chinese historian, novelist, philosopher, poet based in Taiwan. He is also regarded as a ...
Edition of the Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 66 16
made him the military governor of Xuanyi Circuit (宣義, headquartered at Hua Prefecture), stationing him at Liyang (黎陽, in modern Anyang). When Li Cunxu attacked Liyang in spring 917, Liu resisted him, and after several days of attacks, Li Cunxu withdrew. In fall 917, Liu finally went to Kaifeng to pay homage to the emperor. The opinion of the imperial officials at that time was to hold him responsible for the losses to Jin. Zhu Zhen thus stripped him of the honorary ''Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi'' title and demoted him to be the military prefect (團練使, ''Tuanlianshi'') of Bo Prefecture (亳州, in modern
Bozhou Bozhou () is a prefecture-level city in northwestern Anhui province, China. It borders Huaibei to the northeast, Bengbu to the southeast, Huainan to the south, Fuyang to the southwest, and Henan to the north. Its population was 4,996,844 at ...
,
Anhui Anhui is an inland Provinces of China, province located in East China. Its provincial capital and largest city is Hefei. The province is located across the basins of the Yangtze and Huai rivers, bordering Jiangsu and Zhejiang to the east, Jiang ...
).''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 270.


Restoration, retirement, and death

In fall 918, Later Liang's military governor of Taining Circuit, Zhang Wanjin (), believing that Jin army was about to attack south of the Yellow River, defected from Later Liang and submitted to Jin. Zhu Zhen sent Liu Xun to attack Zhang. Liu put Taining's capital Yan Prefecture under siege for more than a year, and Jin was unable to send an army to save Zhang. In winter 919, the city fell. Liu slaughtered Zhang's family. Zhu Zhen made Liu the military governor of Taining and restored him to the honorary ''Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi'' title. In 920, Later Liang's military governor of Huguo Circuit (護國, headquartered in modern
Yuncheng Yuncheng () is the southernmost prefecture-level city in Shanxi province, People's Republic of China. It borders Linfen and Jincheng municipalities to the north and east, and Henan (Luoyang and Jiyuan to the east, Sanmenxia to the south) and ...
,
Shanxi Shanxi; Chinese postal romanization, formerly romanised as Shansi is a Provinces of China, province in North China. Its capital and largest city of the province is Taiyuan, while its next most populated prefecture-level cities are Changzhi a ...
),
Zhu Youzhen Zhu Zhen () (20 October 888 – 18 November 923), often referred to in traditional histories as Emperor Mo of Later Liang (後梁末帝, "last emperor") and sometimes by his princely title Prince of Jun (均王), né Zhu Youzhen (朱友貞), know ...
, defected and submitted to Jin. Zhu Zhen commissioned Liu to command an army against Zhu Youqian, with the generals Yin Hao (), Wen Zhaotu, and
Duan Ning Duan Ning () (died November 8, 928?''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 276.Academia Sinicabr>Chinese-Western Calendar ConverterNovember 8, 928 was the date when Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang issued an edict ordering Duan Ning and Wen Tao to commit suicide ...
serving under him. Liu initially sent Zhu Youqian, to whom he was connected by marriage (one of Liu's children married one of Zhu Youqian's children), a letter urging him to resubmit to Later Liang, but receiving no response, he put Tong Prefecture, which Zhu Youqian had recently seized, under siege. Soon, however, the Jin army under Li Cunshen and Li Sizhao arrived and defeated him, forcing him to withdraw with heavy losses. After the defeat, Yin and Duan sent accusations to Zhu Zhen, stating their belief that due to the marital connection to Zhu Youqian, Liu intentionally delayed his attack so that the Jin army could come to Zhu Youqian's aid. Meanwhile, Liu himself claimed to be ill and sought to retire. Zhu Zhen agreed and had him retire to Luoyang, but then secretly ordered the defender of Luoyang, Zhang Zongshi, to poison Liu to death.''
New History of the Five Dynasties The ''Historical Records of the Five Dynasties'' (''Wudai Shiji'') is a Chinese history book on the Five Dynasties period (907–960), written by the Song dynasty official Ouyang Xiu in private. It was drafted during Ouyang's exile from 1036 t ...
'', vol. 22.
(A slightly different version of the account indicates that Zhang forced Liu to commit suicide.) Despite this, Zhu Zhen still gave Liu posthumous honors. Liu Xun's
concubine Concubinage is an interpersonal relationship, interpersonal and Intimate relationship, sexual relationship between two people in which the couple does not want to, or cannot, enter into a full marriage. Concubinage and marriage are often regarde ...
Lady Wang Lady Wang (王夫人) is a character in the classic Chinese 18th century novel ''Dream of the Red Chamber''. She is the wife of Jia Zheng, and mother of Jia Zhu (dead at the start of the novel), Jia Yuanchun and Jia Baoyu. She is the elder sister ...
later became a favorite consort of Li Siyuan's after Li Siyuan became emperor (as Emperor Mingzong) of
Later Tang Tang, known in historiography as the Later Tang, was a short-lived imperial dynasty of China and the second of the Five Dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period in Chinese history. The first three of the Later Tang's four ...
(which Li Cunxu would found in 923 as its Emperor Zhuangzong), and therefore, Liu Xun's sons Liu Suining () and Liu Suiyong () continued to gain the Later Tang emperor's favor.


Notes and references

* ''
Old History of the Five Dynasties The ''Old History of the Five Dynasties'' ( zh, t=舊五代史, pinyin=, p=Jiù Wǔdài Shǐ) was an official history mainly focusing on Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, Five Dynasties era (907–960), which controlled much of northern C ...
'', vol. 23. * ''
New History of the Five Dynasties The ''Historical Records of the Five Dynasties'' (''Wudai Shiji'') is a Chinese history book on the Five Dynasties period (907–960), written by the Song dynasty official Ouyang Xiu in private. It was drafted during Ouyang's exile from 1036 t ...
'', vol. 22. * ''
Zizhi Tongjian The ''Zizhi Tongjian'' (1084) is a chronicle published during the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127) that provides a record of Chinese history from 403 BC to 959 AD, covering 16 dynasties and spanning almost 1400 years. The main text is ...
'', vols.
258 Year 258 ( CCLVIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Tuscus and Bassus (or, less frequently, year 1011 ''Ab urbe condita''). The denomination 258 for this yea ...
,
263 __NOTOC__ Year 263 (Roman numerals, CCLXIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Albinus and Dexter (or, less frequently, year 1016 ''Ab urbe condita''). The ...
,
264 __NOTOC__ Year 264 (Roman numerals, CCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Gallienus and Saturninus (or, less frequently, year 1017 ''Ab urbe condita''). The ...
,
265 __NOTOC__ Year 265 (Roman numerals, CCLXV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Valerianus and Lucillus (or, less frequently, year 1018 ''Ab urbe condita''). Th ...
,
267 __NOTOC__ Year 267 ( CCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known in Rome as the Year of the Consulship of Paternus and Arcesilaus (or, less frequently, year 1020 ''Ab urbe condita''). The d ...
,
269 Year 269 ( CCLXIX) was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Claudius and Paternus (or, less frequently, year 1022 ''Ab urbe condita''). The denomination 269 for this ...
,
270 __NOTOC__ Year 270 ( CCLXX) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Antiochianus and Orfitus (or, less frequently, year 1023 ''Ab urbe condita''). The denominati ...
,
271 __NOTOC__ Year 271 ( CCLXXI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Aurelianus and Bassus (or, less frequently, year 1024 ''Ab urbe condita''). The denomination 2 ...
. {{DEFAULTSORT:Liu, Xun 858 births 921 deaths Tang dynasty jiedushi of Baoda Circuit Mayors of Xi'an Zhennan jiedushi Yicheng jiedushi Later Liang (Five Dynasties) jiedushi Taining jiedushi People executed by poison People executed by Later Liang (Five Dynasties) Politicians from Weifang Tang dynasty generals from Shandong Executed people from Shandong