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Liu Congjian (劉從諫) (803–843〔''New Book of Tang'', vol. 214.〕), formally the Duke of Pei (沛公), was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who is most known for his term as the military governor (''Jiedushi'') of Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, headquartered in modern Changzhi, Shanxi), during which he was viewed as a warlord who maintained a tight hold on the circuit but also as someone who served as a counterbalance to the eunuchs who controlled the imperial government. == Background and early career == Liu Congjian was born in 803, during the reign of Emperor Dezong. His father Liu Wu was then serving as an officer under Li Shigu the military governor of Pinglu Circuit (平盧, headquartered in modern Tai'an, Shandong), who ruled the circuit in ''de facto'' independence from the imperial government.〔〔''Old Book of Tang'', vol. 161.〕 As of 819, Li Shigu's brother and successor Li Shidao was in a war against the imperial government, then under the rule of Emperor Dezong's grandson Emperor Xianzong, and the imperial forces were converging on Pinglu. He commissioned Liu Wu to command troops to resist the forces commanded by Tian Hongzheng, the military governor of Weibo Circuit (魏博, in modern Handan, Hebei). To endear himself to Liu Wu, he had Liu Congjian made a junior officer at his headquarters. However, Liu Wu was repeatedly losing battles to Tian, and Li became suspicious of Liu Wu's intentions. At one point, Li decided to have Liu Wu executed, so he recalled Liu Wu from Yanggu (陽穀, in modern Liaocheng, Shandong), where his troops were stationed, under the guise of consultation, intending to execute Liu Wu when he got to the circuit capital Yun Prefecture (鄆州). Once Liu Wu arrived, however, Li, being counseled by some that executing Liu Wu without evidence of treachery so would destroy morale, changed his mind, and he sent Liu Wu back to Yanggu and gave Liu Wu much treasure. Meanwhile, Liu Congjian, who spent much time with Li's servants, was able to learn what had happened, and informed all of it to his father.〔''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 241.〕 Soon thereafter, Li became resolved to kill Liu Wu. He sent two messengers to Liu's deputy Zhang Xian (張暹), ordering Zhang to execute Liu and take over the army. When the messengers informed Zhang, Zhang, who was friendly with Liu, secretly informed Liu, who immediately put the two messengers to death. Liu then called a meeting with all of his officers, declaring that he was set to turn against Li Shidao and follow imperial orders. When some officers hesitated, he executed them, as well as a number of others that soldiers had resented. The other officers were intimidated into submission. At night, they launched a surprise attack on Yun Prefecture, and the Yun Prefecture defenders, believing that Liu was returning on Li Shidao's orders, allowed them in. Liu Wu controlled the city and arrested Li and his two sons, putting them to death. He then sent messengers to surrender to Tian. To reward Liu for his actions, Emperor Xianzong made Liu the military governor of Yicheng Circuit (義成, headquartered in modern Anyang, Henan).〔 Liu Wu was initially obedient to the imperial government, and continued to be after he was transferred to Zhaoyi Circuit in 820, by which time Emperor Xianzong's son Emperor Muzong was emperor. However, after an incident where the imperial eunuch monitor of the army, Liu Chengjie (劉承偕), conspired with Liu Wu's subordinate Zhang Wen (張汶) to seize control of Zhangyi, Liu Wu killed Zhang and arrested Liu Chengjie. While, under the counsel of his staffer Jia Zhiyan (賈直言), Liu Wu returned Liu Chengjie to the imperial government, he subsequently began to rule Zhaoyi semi-independently from the imperial government.〔''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 242.〕 Liu Wu died suddenly in 825. Liu Congjian initially did not announce his death except to the 2,000 soldiers that Liu Wu had brought from Pinglu Circuit initially and, after consulting with the officer Liu Wude (劉武德), submitted a petition in Liu Wu's name requesting that Liu Congjian be allowed to succeed him. Jia, however, rebuked Liu Congjian and pointed out that it was improper for him not to publicly mourn his father. Liu Congjian had no response, and so publicly declared Liu Wu's death. When the imperial government, then ruled by Emperor Muzong's son Emperor Jingzong, received the petition in Liu Wu's name, there was much debate among the imperial officials. The former chancellor Li Jiang advocated that the request be denied, and that Liu Congjian be placated by making him a prefect. However, the chancellor Li Fengji and the powerful eunuch Wang Shoucheng, who opined otherwise, prevailed, and Emperor Jingzong made Liu Congjian the acting military governor, and soon thereafter made him military governor. It was said that while Liu Wu was tedious and harsh, Liu Congjian was lenient and graceful toward the soldiers, and the soldiers supported him.〔''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 243.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Liu Congjian」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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