Youzhou Jiedushi

Yōuzhōu Jiédùshǐ (幽州), also known as Yōujì Jiédùshǐ (幽薊), Yānjì Jiédùshǐ (燕薊), Fànyáng Jiédùshǐ (范陽), and Lúlóng Jiédùshǐ (盧龍), was a military district during the Tang dynasty. It covered the area of Yānjì (燕薊) in what is now the Beijing and Hebei region. Youzhou was the base of operations for An Lushan as well as one of the revolting three garrisons of Hebei.

History

Pre-An Lushan

Tang Xuanzong created the Youzhou Jiedushi in the year 713 as a buffer against the Kumo Xi and Khitans.

In the year 742 the jiedushi's name was changed to Fanyang Jiedushi.

An Lushan

An Lushan and Shi Siming used the Fanyang, Hedong, and Pinglu regions as the base of their rebellion and in 756 the Great Yan dynasty was established. The dynasty was extinguished in 763 with the death of Shi Siming's son, Shi Chaoyi, who was the last person to claim the title as Yan's emperor.

Post-An Lushan

After the Anshi Rebellion had ended the military district was renamed Youzhou Jiedushi. However, due to the prominence of the Lulong Army and its association with the place, it came to be known as Lulong Jiedushi.

In 763 Lǐ Huáixiān (李懷仙) presented Shi Chaoyi's head to the Tang and surrendered. Due to the volatile situation in Hebei, the court decided to appease the Yan dynasty's former allies and appointed Li Huaixian as the jiedushi of Youzhou-Lulong with semi-autonomous authority. Li Huaixian was assassinated 768 by his subordinates Zhu Xicai, Zhu Ci, and Zhu Tao.

Zhu Xicai subsequently took over command and solidified his rule over the region after defeating an army sent by Li Baochen, a friend of Li Huaixian's seeking revenge over his death. The Tang court appointed Wang Jin as military governor of Youzhou and sent him there. Xicai showed him respect but made it clear that real power remained in his hands. Wang Jin left after a few days and the Tang acknowledged Xicai as military governor in 768. It was said that Xicai was extravagant and arrogant, mistreating his soldiers. In 772, his secretary Li Huaiyuan killed him. Zhu Ci succeeded Xicai.

In 774, Zhu Ci submitted to Tang authority while his brother, Tao, remained as acting jiedushi of Youzhou. Tao rebelled in 782 and declared himself Prince of Ji, resulting in Ci's removal from his post. Ci also rebelled. They were defeated by 785.

The Zhus were succeeded by Liu Peng, a commander in the Lulong army. He served for only three months before dying of illness. His son Liu Ji succeeded him. Ji originally promised his brother, Yong, that he would succeed him, but then designated his son, Gun, as successor. In 792, Yong submitted to the Tang court and took his troops with him. In 800, another brother rebelled and was given a minor office in the Tang court. In 810, Ji attacked Chengde (Shijiazhuang). During the campaign, Ji was poisoned by one of his sons, Liu Zong, and died. Zong then had Gun caned to death, taking control of Youzhou. Zong aided the Tang in their campaign against Chengde in 816. After killing his father and brother, Zong had difficulty sleeping, often dreaming of his dead family members. He resigned from his post in 821 and became a monk. He died in Dingzhou (Baoding).''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 238.''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 241.

After Liu Zong's resignation, Yingzhou and Mozhou (both in Cangzhou), were split off from Youzhou, which was given to the court appointed Zhang Hongjing. Unlike previous military governors, Hongjing was far removed from the common people and his subordinates mistreated the soldiers. He had the caskets of An Lushan and Shi Siming, who were revered in Youzhou, exhumed. The soldiers rebelled and removed Hongjing from power, putting control in Zhu Kerong's hands. In 826, the soldiers mutinied once again, killing Kerong, in favor of his son Zhu Yansi. Yansi lasted less than four months before he was also killed in another mutiny led by the officer Li Zaiyi.''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 243. Zaiyi participated in a Tang campaign against Li Tongjie