Wang Chucun: Difference between revisions

'''Wang Chucun''' ({{zh|t=王處存}}) ([[831]]-[[895]]831–895) was a general of the [[History of China|Chinese]] dynasty [[Tang Dynastydynasty]], who controlled Yiwu Circuit (義武, headquartered in modern [[Baoding]], [[Hebei]]) in late Tang. He was one of the main contributors in Tang's eventual defeat of the agrarian rebel [[Huang Chao]].

Wang Chucun was born in [[831]], during the reign of [[Emperor Wenzong of Tang|Emperor Wenzong]]. His family was from the [[Tang Dynastydynasty]] capital [[Chang'an]], and his ancestors had served as officers in the imperial [[Shence Armies (神策軍)]] for generations. His father Wang Zong ({{lang|zh|王宗}}) was not only a highly- ranked general in the Shence Armies,armies but was also a skillful merchant. It was said that Wang Zong became so rich that he was able to be extravagant in his food and to have thousands of servants. Wang Chucun himself started his career as the commander at a Shence Army base, and he later became a general and a patrol commander.<ref name=BT182>''[[Old Book of Tang]]'', [[:zh:s:舊唐書/卷182|vol. 182]].</ref> Yet later, he was made the overseer (制置使, ''Zizhishi'') of the army at Ding Prefecture (定州, in modern [[Baoding]], [[Hebei]]), then the capital of Yiwu Circuit.<ref name=NBT186>''[[New Book of Tang]]'', [[:zh:s:新唐書/卷186|vol. 186]].</ref>

In [[879]], Wang Chucun was made the military governor (''[[Jiedushijiedushi]]'') of Yiwu Circuit.<ref>''[[Zizhi Tongjian]]'', [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷253|vol. 253]].</ref>

Around the new year [[881]], the major agrarian rebel [[Huang Chao]] captured Chang'an, forcing then-reigning [[Emperor Xizong of Tang|Emperor Xizong]] to flee to [[Chengdu]]. Huang declared himself the emperor of a new state of Qi. Wang Chucun, upon hearing the news of Chang'an's fall, decided to head to Chang'an to aid the imperial cause even before Emperor Xizong sent any orders, and he also sent 2,000 men to Xingyuan (興元, in modern [[Hanzhong]], [[Shaanxi]]), where Emperor Xizong was at the time onen route to Chengdu, to protect the emperor. He entered into an alliance with [[Wang Chongrong]] the military governor of Hezhong Circuit (河中, headquartered in modern {{city-state|[[Yuncheng|, Shanxi}}]]), who had briefly submitted to Huang's Qi state but then reverted to Tang allegiance due to Huang's heavy tax and conscription burdens; they launched their armies and approached Chang'an, camping north of the [[Wei River]].<ref name=ZZTJ254>''Zizhi Tongjian'', [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷254|vol. 254]].</ref>

By summer 881, several Tang generals had congregated near Chang'an, preparing to recapture it. These include, in addition to Wang Chucun and Wang Chongrong, Tang Hongfu ({{lang|zh|唐弘夫}}), Cheng Zongchu ({{lang|zh|程宗楚}}), [[Li Sigong|Tuoba Sigong]], and [[Zheng Tian]]. Huang, fearful of the Tang forces, abandoned Chang'an and fled; during their flight, the Chang'an residents tried to aid the Tang forces by throwing rocks and bricks at Qi forces. Cheng, Wang Chucun, and Tang Hongfu entered the city to the celebration of the residents. However, instead of comforting the residents, the soldiers began pillaging the city, and became bogged down with treasures they looted. The Qi forces, discovering this, counterattacked, and in the subsequent street battles, the Tang forces were crushed. Cheng and Tang Hongfu were killed, and Wang Chucun barely escaped. The Qi forces retook Chang'an and slaughtered the residents for their aiding of Tang forces during the battle. The Tang forces were subsequently unable to launch another attack to recapture Chang'an for some time.<ref name=ZZTJ254/> Meanwhile, the [[Shatuo]] chieftain [[Li Keyong]], who had previously rebelled against Tang rule as well, was offering to resubmit to the imperial government and aid in the operations against Huang, but had also seized Xin ({{lang|zh|忻州}}) and Dai (代州, both in modern {{city-state|[[Xinzhou|, Shanxi}}]]) Prefectures and pillaged the surrounding regions. Wang Chucun's and Li Keyong's families had intermarried for generations and were friendly to each other, so Emperor Xizong had Wang Chucun write Li Keyong in fall [[882]], rebuking him for the pillages and instructing him to await instructions if he were truly interested in aiding the imperial government.<ref name=ZZTJ255>''Zizhi Tongjian'', [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷255|vol. 255]].</ref>

In [[883]], with Li Keyong arriving in Chang'an's vicinities, the Tang forces attacked Chang'an again, this time recapturing it for good. Huang fled east, and would eventually be killed in [[884]].<ref name=ZZTJ255/><ref name=ZZTJ256>''Zizhi Tongjian'', [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷256|vol. 256]].</ref> When the [[chancellor of the Tang Dynastydynasty|chancellor]] [[Wang Duo]], who oversaw the operations against Huang, subsequently honored the generals with achievements during the campaign, Li Keyong was honored the most for his battlefield accomplishments, but Wang Chucun was honored the most for his quick reaction and loyalty to the emperor.<ref name=BT182/>

[[Category:Tang Dynastydynasty Jiedushijiedushi of Yiwu Circuit]]

[[Category:Tang Dynastydynasty Jiedushijiedushi of Hezhong Circuit]]

[[Category:PeoplePoliticians from Xi'an]]