Background

Wu Chongyin was born in 761, during the reign of Emperor Suzong. His father Wu Chengbi (烏承比) was an army officer at Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi). From Wu Chongyin's youth, he served as an officer at Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, headquartered in modern Changzhi, Shanxi).

During Emperor Xianzongs reign

As of 810, Wu Chongyin was serving under then-military governor (Jiedushi) of Zhaoyi, Lu Congshi, in a campaign declared by Emperor Suzong's great-great-grandson Emperor Xianzong against the warlord Wang Chengzong the military governor of Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang, Hebei), which Lu had initially encouraged Emperor Xianzong to engage in. Once the campaign was underway, however, Lu was in secret communication with Wang and interfered with the progress of the imperial forces, commanded by the eunuch general Tutu Chengcui. After this was revealed by Lu's staff member Wang Yiyuan (王翊元) to the chancellor Pei Ji, Tutu persuaded Wu to join his plan to act against Lu. Tutu endeared himself to Lu by offering Lu a number of precious gifts; after Lu's guard was down, Tutu had Lu seized while the two were at a feast in the army camp. When Lu's soldiers were set to act against Tutu, Wu rebuked them, and they did not dare to do so, but followed Wu's orders.

Tutu put Wu temporarily in charge of the Zhaoyi forces, and Emperor Xianzong contemplated making Wu the military governor of Zhaoyi, before, at Li Jiang's advice, he shifted Wu to Heyang Circuit (河陽, headquartered in modern Jiaozuo, Henan) while making Heyang's military governor Meng Yuanyang (孟元陽) the military governor of Zhaoyi. In 814, Wu's headquarters was moved to Ru Prefecture (汝州, in modern Pingdingshan, Henan), which was added to Heyang Circuit, in anticipation of a campaign against another warlord, Wu Yuanji, who took control of Zhangyi Circuit (彰義, headquartered in modern Zhumadian, Henan) without imperial approval after the death of Wu Yuanji's father Wu Shaoyang.

Later that year, the imperial campaign against Zhangyi began in earnest, and Wu Chongyin was one of the key imperial generals against Zhangyi, frequently prevailing over Zhangyi forces in association with another imperial general, Li Guangyan the military governor of Zhongwu Circuit (忠武, headquartered in modern Xuchang, Henan), although neither was without their defeats. After Wu Yuanji was captured by another imperial general, Li Su, in 817, Wu Chongyin was given the honorary title of acting Puye (僕射), and then Sikong (司空, one of the Three Excellencies). It was said that because he rose from low ranks, he was willing to share all of the difficulties of his soldiers, and he was humble despite his accomplishments. Therefore, talented staff members were willing to serve under him. In 818, his headquarters were moved back to Huai Prefecture (懷州, in modern Luoyang, Henan).

Later in 818, with Zheng Quan (鄭權) the military governor of Henghai Circuit (橫海, headquartered in modern Cangzhou, Hebei) unable to get one of his subordinates, Li Zongshi (李宗奭) the prefect of Henghai's capital Cang Prefecture (滄州), to follow his orders, Emperor Xianzong made Wu Chongyin was made the military governor of Henghai Circuit. He was taking 3,000 Heyang soldiers with him to Henghai, but these soldiers did not wish to follow him for such distance. Soon after they left Heyang's headquarters, these soldiers deserted and considered pillaging the region; they were persuaded by the new Heyang military governor, Linghu Chu, to submit to him. As Wu was arriving at Henghai, Li's subordinates, in fear, expelled him, and Li was arrested and executed.

Once Wu took over at Henghai, he became convinced the reason why so many warlords rose north of the Yellow River and resisted imperial authorities was because of the great powers the military governors wielded. He recommended to Emperor Xianzong that the prefectural prefects be given full authority over their prefectural militias, and he started by granting the prefects in Henghai such authority. It was said that with Wu's actions, Henghai became the circuit most obedient to imperial authority north of the Yellow River thereafter.

During Emperor Muzongs reign

In 820, Emperor Xianzong died and was succeeded by his son Emperor Muzong. Later that year, Wang Chengzong also died, and his brother Wang Chengyuan offered control of the circuit to the imperial government, and Emperor Muzong commissioned Tian Hongzheng to succeed Wang Chengzong. In 821, however, the Chengde officer Wang Tingcou mutinied and killed Tian, and then took over the circuit. Emperor Muzong declared a general campaign against Chengde, and Wu Chongyin was considered the leader of the imperial generals against Chengde. With Wang Tingcou's troop strength at its peak at the moment, Wu believed that he needed to wait out the situation, and therefore slowed his attack to try to wear out the Chengde troops. Emperor Muzong, displeased with Wu's slow progress, replaced Wu with Du Shuliang (杜叔良) and moved Wu to be the military governor of Shannan West Circuit (山南西道, headquartered in modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi) and the mayor of its capital Xingyuan Municipality (興元). When Wu arrived at the capital Chang'an, he further stripped Wu's military command and had him made a senior advisor to the Crown Prince. Subsequently, Wu was made the military governor of Tianping Circuit (天平, headquartered in modern Tai'an, Shandong).

During Emperors Jingzongs and Wenzongs reigns

Around the new year 825, by which time Emperor Muzong's son Emperor Jingzong was emperor, Wu Chongyin, then still at Tianping, was given the honorary chancellor title of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi.

In 826, Li Quanlüe (李全略) the military governor of Henghai died. His son and deputy military governor Li Tongjie seized control of the circuit without imperial approval, and initially the imperial government did not act on his seizure of the circuit. In spring 827, by which time Emperor Jingzong's brother Emperor Wenzong was emperor, Wu was made the military governor of Henghai, and Li Tongjie was given the title of military governor of Yanhai Circuit (兗海, headquartered in modern Jining, Shandong). When Li Tongjie subsequently refused to report to Yanhai and refused to turn control of Henghai to Wu, Wu was given the additional command of Yanhai forces to attack Henghai along with other military governors around Henghai. Wu, after some initial successes, died in winter 827, while still on campaign against Li Tongjie. He was given posthumous honors, and it was said that more than 20 officers, missing him bitterly, cut off flesh from their thighs and burned them as offering to him.

Family

Younger Brother

• Wu Chongyuan (烏重元)

Sons

• Wu Hanhong (烏漢弘), Zuoyulin Jiangjun(左羽林將軍), an imperial general

• Wu Xingzhuan (烏行專), prefect of Mi Prefecture

• Wu Hanzhen (烏漢貞), general of the imperial guards

• Wu Xingfang (烏行方), advisor in Henan

• Wu Hanfeng (烏漢封), advisor in Weiweisi (衛尉寺)

• Wu Hanzhang (烏漢章), Youxiaowei Cancao Canjun (右驍衛倉曹參軍), a military advisor

• Wu Xingsi (烏行思), Zuowei Cangcao Canjun(左衛倉曹參軍), a military advisor

Notes and references

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 161.

• New Book of Tang, vol. 171.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243.

背景

烏重胤出生于唐肅宗上元二年（761年），父親烏承玭是河東的一位將領。烏重胤年輕時在潞州擔任牙將。

唐憲宗年間

唐憲宗元和五年（810年）四月，烏重胤在昭義節度使盧從史手下參與討伐成德節度使王承宗。盧從史又和王承宗勾結。當時神策行營與盧從史軍相近，左神策軍護軍中尉吐突承璀打算先剷除盧從史，與時任都知兵馬使的烏重胤合謀。烏重胤為盧從史委任親信，讓他負責保衛自己。吐突承璀故意給盧從史很多禮物，然後借在軍營設宴時將其捕縛，帳下士兵持武器聚集躁動，烏重胤發布戒嚴，喝叱說：「天子有命，從者賞，違者斬！」士卒收斂返回各部，無人敢輕舉妄動。吐突承璀讓烏重胤代領昭義軍，唐憲宗嘉獎烏重胤功績，授潞州府左司馬，封張掖郡公，翰林學士李絳不欲烏重胤從割據故事，憲宗從李絳奏，于是烏重胤以昭義軍節度右廂都押衙、兼馬軍都知兵馬使、同州節度副使、銀青光祿大夫、檢校太子賓客、兼潞州大都督府左司馬、御史中丞、上柱國、張掖郡開國公遷使持節、懷州刺史、兼御史大夫、充河陽三城懷州節度營田等使，散官勛並如故；時任河陽節度使孟元陽調任昭義節度使。

元和九年（814年）閏八月，彰義軍節度使吳少陽死，子攝蔡州刺史吳元濟秘不發喪，自領軍務，割據自立、縱兵劫掠。憲宗下詔以烏重胤兼汝州（今河南平頂山）刺史，將河陽軍部移到汝州，參與討伐吳元濟。烏重胤請寧州刺史曹華為懷汝節度行營副使。

烏重胤以重兵鎮壓蔡州境，與忠武軍節度使李光顏互為犄角，于十年（815年）十一月合敗彰義軍于小溵水，破城。十一年（816年）四月，烏重胤與李光顏合敗彰義軍于陵雲柵，斬首三千級，五月又合敗之于陵雲柵，斬首二千餘級，九月攻克陵雲柵。三年之內，大小戰鬥一百餘次，以大功加檢校尚書右僕射。元稹代山南東道節度使嚴綬作《代諭淮西書》，勸說吳元濟以烏重胤為榜樣。元和十二年（817年）八月，裴度被任為宣慰處置使，行淮西行營元帥事，烏重胤和李光顏為爭功，搶在裴度到任之前作戰，結果在賈店戰敗。九月，吳元濟屬下將領李湍渡過溵河投降烏重胤，李湍之妻被叛軍束縛在樹上，臠食（凌遲）而死，死前還呼告丈夫李端：「善事烏僕射。」看到的人都認為她是義女。十月，吳元濟被另一員將領唐隨鄧節度使李愬所俘殺，十一月，烏重胤遷檢校司空，進封邠國公。因為是從行伍之間升上來的，烏重胤能和士卒共患難，也很謙和，不居功，有能力的人都樂意為他效力。

元和十三年（818年）六月，烏重胤複為懷州刺史。他請求李湍妻事列入史冊，憲宗下詔從之。十一月，滄州刺史李宗奭不聽從上司橫海節度使鄭權的命令，憲宗任烏重胤為橫海節度使。烏重胤率三千精兵赴任，但士兵不願離鄉，在途中逃亡，不敢回河陽，屯于城北擄掠，後歸順了新任河陽節度使令狐楚。當烏重胤到橫海軍任上後，十四年（819年）正月，李宗奭部下將吏懼怕烏重胤，驅逐了李宗奭，李宗奭奔京師，被斬。

烏重胤領橫海鎮之後，認為河北軍閥自立、對抗朝廷是因為藩鎮權力過大，三月上疏：「臣以河朔能拒朝命者，其大略可見。蓋刺史失其職，反使鎮將領兵事。若刺史各得職分，又有鎮兵，則節將雖有祿山、思明之奸，豈能據一州為叛哉？所以河朔六十年能拒朝命者，只以奪刺史、縣令之職，自作威福故也。臣所管德、棣、景三州，已舉公牒，各還刺史職事訖，應在州兵，並令刺史收管。又景州本是弓高縣，請卻廢為縣，歸化縣本是草市，請廢縣依舊屬德州。」建議憲宗讓刺史全權處理軍務，並且率先放權給橫海的刺史，憲宗聽從之，繼而修訂法令，詔諸道節度、都團練、都防禦、經略等使將所統支郡兵馬給刺史管領。從此橫海成為河北對朝廷最恭順的藩鎮。

唐穆宗年間

元和十五年（820年）正月，唐憲宗駕崩，唐穆宗繼位。十月，王承宗也去世，其弟王承元投降朝廷。穆宗命田弘正接替王承宗。長慶元年（821年）七月，田弘正被成德軍都知兵馬使王廷湊所殺，王廷湊自稱留後。穆宗決定討伐成德鎮，詔魏博、橫海、昭義、河東、義武諸軍共十五萬征討。八月，王廷湊引盧龍叛帥朱克融軍圍深州。十月，烏重胤敗成德軍于饒陽，率軍救深州，為諸軍所倚重。烏重胤認為朝廷處置失當，王廷湊軍氣勢正盛，未可擊破，應該等待時機，未可輕進，于是按兵觀望。穆宗急于平叛，怒，下詔以深冀行營節度使杜叔良代烏重胤為橫海軍節度使，以烏重胤為太子太保。長慶末年改充山南西道節度使、檢校司徒、興元尹。又召烏重胤至京師，以本官位授天平軍節度使（天平軍部在今山東泰安）、鄆曹濮等州觀察使。

烏重胤在天平軍任上賞識書生程驤，給他錢數十萬令他買書。

三年（823年）二月，烏重胤病，牙將王贄割大腿肉以療之。

唐敬宗、唐文宗年間

四年（824年）十二月，唐敬宗即位，仍在天平軍任上的烏重胤拜為同中書門下平章事。

寶曆二年（826年），橫海節度使李全略病死，其子李同捷據守滄州，奏請承襲節度使之位。十二月，唐文宗即位，五月，烏重胤以天平軍節度使、守司徒、同平章事被加太子太師兼領橫海節度使，仍舊割齊州隸屬橫海，烏重胤又以橫海軍節度滄、德、棣等州觀察、處置等使、銀青光祿大夫、檢校司空、使持節滄州諸軍事兼滄州刺史、御史大夫、上柱國、邠國公、食邑三千戶獲實授司徒；烏重胤父已贈工部尚書，再行追贈。文宗另改授李同捷為兗海節度使（治今山東濟寧），李同捷抗命，被削官爵，烏重胤受命統領鄆州、齊州兵聯合周邊藩鎮攻打橫海。十月，打了幾場勝仗，卻在十一月去世于軍中，年六十七，贈太尉，謚懿穆。有20餘名將領割下大腿肉來為他獻祭，以表懷念，堪比古代名將。

家庭

父

• 烏承玭，河東將，追贈工部尚書

母

• 追贈國郡太夫人

妻

• 張氏，鄧國夫人

子

• 烏漢弘，左羽林將軍。

• 烏行專，密州刺史。

• 烏漢貞，左金吾將軍。

• 烏行方，河南丞。

• 烏漢封，衛尉寺丞。

• 烏漢章，右驍衛倉曹參軍。

• 烏行思，左衛倉曹參軍。

• 烏行初，佐衛曹參軍。

女

• 烏氏，張掖郡君，嫁朝散大夫、使持節丹州諸軍事守丹州刺史充本州防禦使上柱國弘農楊乾光

注釋