Five Dynasties · General

Li Yun 李筠

First attested AD 955; died AD 960

Passages: 22
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Li Yun was a general.

Life and dates

Death

AD 960 建隆元年
Drowned himself · At Zezhou 澤
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 125

Attested activity

AD 955 二年
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 85
AD 959 六年
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 91
AD 960 建隆初
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 95

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of Li Shoujie (李守節)
son 子
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passages 100, 116

Career and standing

Director of the Secretariat 中書令
AD 960 建隆初 · Appointed
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 95
Honorary Grand Commandant 檢校太尉
AD 959 恭帝即位 · Appointed
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 93
Prince of Xiping 西平王
AD 960 建隆元年 · Enfeoffed
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 112

Places and affiliations

Polity Later Zhou 後周 · Relation Served
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passages 92, 106
Polity Northern Han 北漢 · Relation Allied with
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passages 111-112
Polity Song 宋 · Relation Rebelled against
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passages 102, 117

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 106

Events and relationships

Raised rebellion
AD 960 建隆元年 · Military · Rebel leader
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 102
Siege of Ze
AD 960 建隆元年 · Military · Defeated
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passages 123, 125
Relation Opponent of · Person Emperor Taizu of Song (太祖)
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passages 102, 117
Relation Sworn like brother of · Person Emperor Shizong of Later Zhou (世宗)
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 106
Relation Vassal of · Person Liu Jun (劉鈞)
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passages 111-112
Relation Superior of · Person Dan Gui (儋珪)
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 107

Assessments and attributes

Assessment arbitrary taxation; disrespectful toward Song succession; loyal to Zhou memory · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passages 92, 96-97
Item Bo Han the charger 撥汗 · Relation Possessed
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 108

References in the histories

Search passages

History

22 passages

History of Song, Chapter 484Volume 484 Biographies 243: Three Zhou Officials Han Tong, Li Yun, Li Zhongjin · 22 passages

二年，筠破並軍於榆社，獲其將安濬、康超等七十餘人。 In the second year he routed the Northern Han at Yushe and took more than seventy officers, including An Jun and Kang Chao.

三年，筠遣行軍司馬範守圖率兵入遼州界，殺並卒三百餘，獲小校數人以獻。 In the third year he sent his campaign marshal Fan Shoutu into Liaozhou, killed over three hundred enemy troops, and presented several captured junior officers to court.

五年，筠自將入石會關，破並人六砦。 In the fifth year Yun led the assault through Shihui Pass and stormed six Northern Han stockades.

筠在鎮擅用征賦，頗集亡命，嚐以私忿囚監軍使，世宗心不能堪，但詔責而已。 In his command Yun levied taxes on his own authority, gathered fugitives, and once imprisoned the army inspector in a private vendetta. Shizong was deeply displeased but issued only a reprimand.

恭帝即位，加檢校太尉。 When Emperor Gong succeeded, Yun was made Honorary Grand Commandant.

筠即欲拒命，左右為陳曆數，方僶俛下拜，貌猶不恭。 Yun was ready to refuse outright until his advisers pleaded the mandate of Heaven; he bowed only with reluctance, his manner still openly disrespectful.

及太原劉鈞以蠟書結筠共舉兵，筠雖緘書上太祖，心已畜異謀，太祖手詔慰撫之。 When Liu Jun of Taiyuan sent a sealed letter proposing a joint rebellion, Yun forwarded a loyal report to the founder even as he nursed treason in his heart. The founder answered with a personal edict of reassurance.

是時，筠子守節為皇城使，嚐泣諫，筠不聽。 Yun's son Shoujie, then commissioner of the Imperial City, pleaded with tears again and again, but Yun would not heed him.

守節白筠，筠謀愈甚，遂起兵，令幕府為檄書，辭多不遜。 Shoujie reported this to his father. Yun's conspiracy deepened; he raised an army and had his staff draft a proclamation full of defiant language.

從事閭丘仲卿獻策於筠曰：“公以孤軍舉事，其勢甚危，雖倚河東之援，亦恐不得其力。 His aide Lüqiu Zhongqing urged him: "You are committing a lone army to rebellion — the odds are desperate. Even with Hedong's help, you may not get the support you need.

筠曰：“吾周朝宿將，與世宗義同昆弟，禁衛皆舊人，聞吾之來，必倒戈歸我，況有儋珪槍、撥汗馬，何憂天下哉。” Yun replied: "I am a veteran of Zhou, sworn to Shizong like a brother. The palace guards are my old comrades — they will turn their spears to me at once. With Dan Gui's spear and Bo Han's horse, what have I to fear?"

儋珪，筠愛將，有勇力，善用槍； Dan Gui was his favorite officer — strong, brave, and master of the spear;

撥汗，筠駿馬，日馳七百里，故筠誇焉。 Bo Han was his charger, said to cover seven hundred li in a day — hence his boast.

劉鈞遂率兵與契丹數千眾來援，至太平驛，筠以臣禮迎謁，見鈞兵衛寡弱，甚悔之，而業已然矣。 Liu Jun marched to his aid with several thousand Khitans. Yun met him at Taiping Post with the deference of a vassal, then saw how few and weak Jun's troops were and bitterly regretted his choice — but it was too late.

鈞封筠西平王，賜馬三百匹，召與之語，筠自言受周祖大恩，敢愛死不寤。 Jun made him Prince of Xiping and gave him three hundred horses. In private audience Yun declared that the Zhou founder's kindness bound him to give his life without flinching.

命其宣徽使盧讚監筠軍，筠心不能平，頗與讚不協，鈞復命平章事衛融和解之。 Jun appointed his palace commissioner Lu Zan to oversee Yun's army. Yun resented the intrusion and clashed with Zan until Jun sent Grand Councilor Wei Rong to patch the quarrel.

筠有馬三千匹，辟鞠場閱習，日夜謀畫為寇。 He kept three thousand horses, drilled them on a polo ground, and plotted rebellion day and night.

敕曰：“勿縱筠下太行，急進師扼其隘，破之必矣。” The edict ran: "Do not let Yun descend the Taihang. Strike quickly and seal the passes — his defeat is certain."

又遣慕容延釗、王全斌由東路會守信，與監軍李崇矩破筠眾於長平，斬首三千級。 Murong Yanzhao and Wang Quanbin were sent by the eastern route to join Shouxin. With the inspector Li Chongju they routed Yun at Changping and took three thousand heads.

與守信、懷德會，破筠眾三萬於澤南，降者三千餘，殺筠監軍使盧讚，擒筠河陽節度範守圖，筠走還保澤。 Joining Shouxin and Huaide, he shattered thirty thousand of Yun's men south of Ze. Over three thousand surrendered; Lu Zan was killed and Fan Shoutu captured. Yun fled back into Ze.

太祖至，列柵圍之，筠龍捷使王廷魯、吐渾留後汾州團練使王全德率所部自昭義來降，筠益失援。 The founder arrived and invested the city. Wang Tinglu of the Dragon Swift Corps and the Tuguhun regent Wang Quande of Fenzhou defected from Zhaoyi with their commands. Yun's isolation deepened.

太祖親督戰，拔其城，筠赴水死，獲鈞相衛融，鈞懼而遁歸。 The founder directed the final assault himself. The city fell; Yun drowned himself. Wei Rong, Liu Jun's councilor, was taken prisoner, and Jun fled north in terror.