Background

It is not known when Li Quanzhong was born, but it is known that he was from Lulong Circuit's capital Fanyang (范阳). During Emperor Xizong's Guangming era (880-881), he served as the military advisor to the prefect of Di Prefecture (棣州, in modern Binzhou, Shandong). After that term, he returned to Lulong and served under the military governor Li Keju.

Seizure of Lulong

In spring 885, Li Keju and his ally Wang Rong the military governor of Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang, Hebei), were apprehensive that Wang Chucun the military governor of Yiwu Circuit (义武, headquartered in modern Baoding, Hebei), was allied with the powerful warlord Li Keyong the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河东, headquartered in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi), as they feared that Li Keyong would eventually have designs on their territory. They therefore entered into a pact to jointly attack Yiwu (which lay between Lulong and Chengde), conquer it, and divide its territory.

To that end, Li Keju had Li Quanzhong take 60,000 soldiers and attack Yiwu's Yi Prefecture (易州, in modern Baoding). Li Quanzhong's subordinate Liu Rengong dug a tunnel into Yi Prefecture's city walls, and the Lulong troops were able to use the tunnel to capture it. However, after the Lulong troops took Yi Prefecture, they became arrogant and did not take precautions against an Yiwu counterattack. Wang Chucun thereafter had his soldiers put on sheepskin at night to appear to be sheep and approached Yi. The Lulong troops thought that there was a large herd for them to pillage, and therefore came out of the city to seize it. They were surprised by the Yiwu soldiers, who attacked and retook Yi. Li Quanzhong, after the defeat, fled back toward You Prefecture (幽州, i.e., Fanyang).

Fearing that Li Keju would punish him for the defeat, Li Quanzhong decided to instead attack You Prefecture. He caught Li Keju by surprise, and Li Keju, despondent over the situation, committed suicide with his family by climbing up a tower and setting fire to it. Li Quanzhong took over the circuit and claimed the title of acting military governor; this act was then confirmed by the imperial government.

Brief rule

In spring 886, Emperor Xizong officially commissioned Li Quanzhong as the military governor of Lulong. Li Quanzhong died in fall 886, and the imperial government then commissioned his son Li Kuangwei as acting military governor, and later full military governor.

Notes and references

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 180.

• New Book of Tang, vol. 212.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 256.

背景

李全忠生年不详，卢龙军部范阳人。父李慕勋，守平州刺史，累迁检校左散骑常侍。李全忠年轻时通《春秋》，好鬼谷子之学。唐僖宗广明年间（880年—881年），李全忠为棣州司马。他家中长出一尺三节的芦，他心里很讨厌它，对别驾张建章说：「我家生芦，不是怪事吗？」张建章说：「芦是茅类，得泽而滋，公家有茅土之庆，这不是天意吗！它生有三节，必意味著公家有三个传节钺者。公要勉树功名，别忘了我的话。」李全忠任满（三年）回乡，事节度使李可举为牙将。

夺取卢龙

光启元年（885年）二月，李可举和盟友成德军节度使王熔害怕河东节度使李克用有意于他们的领地，为义武军节度使王处存与李克用结盟而担忧，于是两镇相约合攻夹在卢龙与成德之间的义武，灭之，分其地。

为达目的，李可举派李全忠率军六万攻易州。五月，李全忠裨将刘仁恭挖地道进入易州城墙内，卢龙军因而克易州。但卢龙军之后就变得骄傲懈怠，不备义武军反攻。王处存趁夜派三千士兵蒙羊皮到易州城下，在其他道路埋伏精骑。卢龙军以为是羊，争著出城掠之，被义武军伏兵突袭，义武军攻易州，复夺之。李全忠大败，刍粮仗铠尽失，逃往幽州（即范阳）。

因害怕李可举会因他战败而惩罚他，李全忠反而决定率馀众掩袭幽州。李可举猝不及防，六月，绝望举族登楼自焚。李全忠接管军镇，在三军推戴下自称留后，七月得到朝廷认可。

短暂统治

成德军节度使王熔曾上表推荐李全忠。次年（886年）春，僖宗正式任李全忠为卢龙节度使。后又加检校太尉。八月，李全忠卒，三军立其子李匡威为留后，朝廷认可，后以为全权节度使。

评价

• 《旧唐书》

　• 史臣曰：（幽州）二百馀年，自相崇树，虽朝廷有时命帅，而土人多务逐君。习苦忘非，尾大不掉，非一朝一夕之故也。……如朱克融、杨志诚、史元忠、张公素、李可举、李全忠，以不仁得之，靡更曩志。或寻为篡夺，或仅传子孙，咸非令终，盖其宜也。

　• 赞曰：……余因篡得，不仁何逃？

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