Xue Ju rose against Sui rule in 617 and soon controlled modern eastern Gansu, but while he had some successes against Tang forces, was not able to push toward the Tang capital Chang'an before dying of illness in 618.
21 Facts About Xue Ju
1.
2.
Xue Ju's clan was originally from Hedong Commandery, but his father Xue Wang moved the family to Jincheng.
3.
Xue Ju was said to be brave and strong, and because his family was wealthy, he was able to use the wealth to establish relationships with other people, making himself an influential member of the gentry, eventually becoming a commander of the local militia.
4.
Xue Ju arrested the local officials and opened the food storages to aid those who were poor.
5.
Xue Ju created Xue Rengao the Duke of Qi and a younger son, Xue Renyue the Duke of Jin.
6.
Xue Ju gathered the local agrarian rebels to fall under his command in pillaging the Sui governmental grazing ranches.
7.
Xue Ju promoted Xue Rengao, Xue Renyue, and Zong to princes.
8.
In fall 617, Xue Ju claimed the title of Emperor of Qin.
9.
Xue Ju made his wife Lady Ju an empress, and Xue Rengao a crown prince.
10.
Xue Rengao subsequently captured Tianshui, and Xue Ju moved his capital to Tianshui.
11.
Xue Ju sent his general Chang Zhongxing west of the Yellow River to attack Li Gui, who had by then seized the territory west of the Yellow River.
12.
Around the new year 618, Xue Ju sent Xue Rengao to attack Fufeng Commandery, but Xue Rengao was blocked by the rebel leaders Li Hongzhi, who had claimed the title of Emperor of Chu, and Tang Bi, who had claimed the title of Prince of Tang under Li.
13.
Xue Ju sent messengers to persuade Tang to submit, and Tang killed Li and then offered to surrender.
14.
Xue Ju then proceeded himself to Fufeng, intending to next attack the Sui capital Chang'an, which had been captured by the Sui general Li Yuan, who declared Emperor Yang's grandson Yang You the Prince of Dai emperor.
15.
Xue Ju saw the fallacy in asking the question, and he greatly rewarded Hao and made Hao his chief strategist.
16.
Subsequently, when Li Yuan sent his generals Jiang Mo, Dou Gui, and Liu Shirang against Xue Ju, Xue Ju defeated them and captured Liu, and Jiang and Dou withdrew.
17.
Subsequently, under Hao's suggestion, Xue Ju sought to enter a three-way alliance with Eastern Tujue's forces and those of another rebel leader, Liang Shidu the Emperor of Liang, to try to capture Chang'an.
18.
In summer 618, Xue Ju launched an attack on Tang's Jing Prefecture, and Tang's Emperor Gaozu sent Li Shimin to resist Xue Ju.
19.
When Xue Ju first rose against Sui rule in summer 617 and claimed the title of "Hegemonic Prince of Western Qin", there was no record of his giving her any titles.
20.
In fall 617, when Xue Ju claimed the title Emperor of Qin, he made her an empress.
21.
Xue Ju liked to whip and batter her servants, and when those who could not endure her beating would roll in pain on the ground, she would bury their feet in dirt so that they would be immobile and resume the beating.