11 Facts About Li Guochang

Li Guochang, ne Zhuye Chixin, courtesy name Dexing, posthumously honored by the Later Tang dynasty as Emperor Wenjing with the temple name of Xianzu, was a Chinese general of Shatuo ethnicity during the waning years of the Tang dynasty.

Li Guochang demanded official imperial sanction in taking over Xusi, threatening to attack the imperial capital Chang'an if Emperor Yizong refused.

Li Guochang subsequently contributed greatly to Kang's battles against Pang, including the final battle at Bo Prefecture, in which Pang was killed.

Li Guochang claimed to be ill and refused to report to Datong.

Li Guochang was apparently thereafter allowed to remain at Zhenwu, and subsequently sent soldiers to participate in the imperial campaign against the agrarian rebel Wang Xianzhi.

Li Guochang initially pledged continued faith to the imperial government, asking it to appoint a new defender of Datong and offering to attack Li Keyong himself if Li Keyong refused to comply.

However, Li Guochang actually hoped for an arrangement where both he and Li Keyong would be each allowed to keep control of a circuit, and therefore, when he received the edict, he, in anger, tore the edict and killed the eunuch monitor of the army.

Li Guochang then joined forces with Li Keyong in raiding the other circuits of the region.

Li Keyong and Li Guochang initially gained successes in their raids on the neighboring circuits, and the Hedong soldiers were repeatedly intimidated into disturbances themselves, causing the successive expulsions or deaths of several Hedong military governors.

Meanwhile, Li Zhuo and Helian attacked Wei Prefecture, where Li Guochang had stationed himself at the time, defeating Li Guochang.

In 882, Li Guochang, who was then still with the Dada, took his family and settled at Dai Prefecture.