Chengde (Tang dynasty)

Chengde (成德), situated in modern Shijiazhuang, was an independent Chinese polity in the post-An Lushan Rebellion (755-763) Tang dynasty. The former generals of An Lushan allied with each other to negotiate the existence of their independent realms in northeast China.

History

The adopted son of An Lushan, Li Baochen of Kumo Xi stock, surrendered to the Tang in order to keep control of Chengde. Baochen entered marriage alliances with Tian Chengsi of Weibo and Li Zhengji of Pinglu (Tai'an). The alliance with Tian ended in 775 when Baochen's nephew accidentally caused the death of Tian's son in a game of polo. Baochen joined a coalition force of jiedushi and Tang imperial forces against Tian, but eventually turned on them. Tian ceded Cangzhou to Baochen. Near the end of his life, Baochen started killing the most powerful officers in his army so that they would not be able to contest the succession of his son, Li Weiyue. He also became superstitious, believing that sorcerers could grant him long life and supreme power. In 781, the sorcerers made him a potion that was supposed to prolong his life, but he died three days after drinking it.''Old Book of Tang''
vol. 142
. Emperor Dezong of Tang refused to recognize Weiyue as military governor and declared him a renegade. Weiyue began suffering military defeats until his officer, Wang Wujun, killed him in 782.''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 227.

However both Wang Wujun and Zhu Tao of Youzhou (who had sided with the Tang court) were disappointed in the rewards they received for their service and rebelled against the Tang in 782. By the end of the year, the jiedushi of Huaixi, Li Xilie, had also rebelled, cutting off the Bian Canal. In 784, Dezong pardoned Wang Wujun, who then turned against Zhu Tao and defeated him on 29 May. Wujun died in 801 and was succeeded by his son Shizhen. Having suffered great difficulties on his father's campaigns, Shizhen was more inclined to peace and actively submitted tribute to the Tang court. He died in 809 and was succeeded by his son Wang Chengzong. Emperor Xianzong of Tang ordered Chengzong to surrender Dezhou and Dizhou (Binzhou) to be formed into a new circuit. Chengzong initially agreed to the demand but later refused to have one of his relatives assigned to the prefectures. The Tang attacked Chengde but the campaign ended in failure and the two prefectures were returned to Chengde in 810. In 815, Xianzong issued an edict calling on Chengzong to repent. Another campaign against Chengde was called but most of the forces did not advance far and were defeated. The campaign was called off in 817. When Wu Yuanji) was defeated by Tang forces, Chengzong became fearful of his position and surrendered Dezhou and Dizhou as well as sent his sons to the Tang as hostages in return for imperial recognition. Chengzong died in 820 and his brother, Wang Chengyuan, succeeded him. However Chengyuan did not want to rule Chengde. He sent secret communications to Emperor Muzong of Tang, ceding Chengde to Tang control. Chengyuan was transferred to Yicheng Circuit (Anyan), then Fufang (Yan'an), Fengxiang (Baoji), and finally Pinglu (moved to Weifang). He died in 834. It was said that he was lenient and gracious, governing well wherever he went.

The court appointed governor of Chengde, Tian Hongzheng, was killed by the Uyghur Wang Tingcou in 821. Tingcou's family had served as cavalry officers in Chengde since the time of Li Baochen. Tang forces as well as Tian Hongzheng's son Tian Bu attacked Tingcou but failed to make it past the first key outpost, at which point their supplies ran out. Tingcou aided the rebel Li Tongjie

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