Pang Xun facts for kids

Pang Xun (龐勛) was a leader of a big rebellion in ancient China. He led soldiers from Xu Prefecture (today's Xuzhou, Jiangsu) against Emperor Yizong of Tang of the Tang dynasty. This rebellion happened between 868 and 869. Pang Xun was eventually defeated by a Tang general named Kang Chengxun, who got help from a Shatuo general, Zhuye Chixin.

Who Were the Xu Prefecture Soldiers?

We don't know much about when Pang Xun was born. We only know he was from Xu Prefecture. His father, Pang Juzhi, was still alive during the rebellion.

Xu Prefecture had a long history of strong soldiers in the middle and late Tang dynasty. It was the main city of Wuning Circuit. This area was important for controlling communication between other regions. However, the soldiers from Xu Prefecture became very proud and didn't follow rules well. They often rebelled against the governors sent by the government.

In 862, a group of soldiers called the Yindao (meaning "silver sword") rebelled. They forced out the government's governor, Wen Zhang. The emperor then sent a new general, Wang Shi. When Wang Shi arrived, he had his own soldiers kill thousands of the Yindao soldiers. After this, Emperor Yizong officially closed Wuning Circuit. Xu Prefecture was then placed under a different area called Yanhai Circuit. Other parts of Wuning were also moved to new circuits.

In 863, after some bandits attacked Xu Prefecture, the government decided to restore some order. The main city of the new Susi Circuit was moved back to Xu Prefecture. This meant Xu Prefecture, along with Hao, Su, and Si Prefectures, was again together. But it was still not as important as it used to be. It had a governor, but not a military governor.

In 864, the Tang empire was facing attacks from the Kingdom of Nanzhao in the southwest. Emperor Yizong remembered Xu Prefecture's military history. He ordered 3,000 men to be recruited from Xu Prefecture. These men were sent to Yong Prefecture (today's Nanning, Guangxi) to defend against the Dali attacks. The emperor promised they could return home when the fighting was over.

However, only 2,000 men were actually recruited. Of these, 800 were sent to Gui Prefecture (today's Guilin, Guangxi). They were promised to return home after three years. Pang Xun was one of these soldiers. He worked as an assistant, managing food supplies. After three years, the soldiers hoped to go home. But the governor of Xusi, Cui Yanzeng, decided to keep them in Gui Prefecture. His officer, Yin Kan, advised him that recruiting new soldiers would be too expensive. When the soldiers in Gui Prefecture heard this, they became very angry.

How the Rebellion Started

In the fall of 867, the governor of Gui District had just left, and a new one hadn't arrived. Some Xu Prefecture officers, including Xu Ji, Zhao Keli, Yao Zhou, and Zhang Xingshi, saw this as a chance. These officers had been bandits before but later joined the government. They rebelled, killed their commander, and chose Pang Xun as their leader.

The rebels took weapons from the armory and started marching home. As they traveled, they robbed places, and local governments couldn't stop them. Emperor Yizong first sent a high-ranking official, Zhang Jingsi, to Pang Xun. The emperor offered a pardon, allowing Pang and his soldiers to return to Xu Prefecture. The soldiers stopped robbing in response. When they reached Hunan Circuit, they even turned in their weapons and armor. They then got on ships and headed east on the Yangtze River.

The emperor also told Governor Cui Yanzeng not to scare the rebels. So, Cui sent calm messages to Pang's soldiers, trying to make them feel safe. Pang also sent respectful reports back to Cui.

While on the Yangtze River, the Xu soldiers, especially Xu Ji, thought about their situation. They believed their actions were worse than the Yindao soldiers who were killed earlier. They thought the government's pardon was just a trick to stop them from robbing more. They feared they would be killed when they returned to Xu. So, they used their money to buy new armor and weapons.

When they reached Huainan Circuit, the military governor, Linghu Tao, gave them food. Linghu's officer, Li Xiang, warned that the Xu soldiers would cause more trouble. But Linghu only cared about keeping peace in his own area. Pang also recruited some Yindao soldiers who had escaped the massacre and other bandits. This increased the number of his soldiers.

On October 22, Pang reached Si Prefecture. The prefect, Du Tao, invited the soldiers to a feast. During the entertainment, the soldiers thought an actor was making fun of them. They grabbed him and threatened to kill him. However, Du Tao was prepared, and nothing more happened.

On October 23, Pang reached Xucheng, near Si Prefecture. Pang and Xu Ji told their soldiers they believed they would be killed or exiled upon returning to Xu. They announced their plan: to attack Xu Prefecture and force the government to let them keep it. Most soldiers agreed. Pang executed 12 people who disagreed. He sent their heads to Cui, claiming these 12 had "encouraged" a rebellion, as a sign of his loyalty.

When Pang's messengers reached Cui, he arrested them and found out the truth. Pang also sent another demand to Cui. He wanted Cui to remove Yin Kan and two other officers, Du Zhang and Xu Xingjian. He also demanded that the returning soldiers be stationed separately. Cui discussed this with his officers. Most officers realized Pang's true intentions and wanted to attack him. So, Cui sent an officer named Yuan Mi with 3,000 men to attack Pang. He also ordered Su and Si Prefectures to block Pang's paths.

News of Yuan's approach reached Pang's soldiers. They quickly attacked Su Prefecture and captured it on November 4. They took all the wealth in the city and announced that anyone could come and take it. People from nearby areas rushed to Su Prefecture. Pang's soldiers then forced strong young men among them to join their army, killing anyone who refused. Thousands quickly joined this way.

When Yuan arrived on November 6, he attacked Su Prefecture but couldn't capture it quickly. The rebels were also scared of Yuan. So, they released Zhang Jingsi and left Su on the night of November 6, planning to escape on Bian River. On the morning of November 7, Yuan realized they had fled and chased them without letting his soldiers eat. When they caught up, the rebels used their ships for defense. They also used the swampy land to their advantage, surprising Yuan. Yuan and most of his soldiers were killed, and the survivors surrendered to Pang. The survivors told Pang that Xu Prefecture had almost no defenses. Pang then decided to attack Xu Prefecture.

On November 8, Pang marched quickly toward Xu Prefecture. Cui only heard about Yuan's army being destroyed that night. He immediately sent urgent requests for help to nearby regions. On November 9, Xu city gates were closed. The government gathered strong young men to improve defenses, but the city lacked the will to fight. Cui refused to flee, saying it was his duty to die in the city. On November 10, Pang's soldiers arrived at Xu. They comforted the people nearby, and many joined the rebels. Within an hour, the outer city fell. Soon after, the inner city also fell. The rebels arrested Cui and executed Yin, Du Zhang, and Xu Xingjian. It is said that 10,000 men joined the rebel army that day.

Fighting Imperial Forces

Pang Xun took control of the circuit headquarters. He called himself the acting military governor. He first tried to get the emperor to officially approve him. He asked Cui Yanzhen's assistant, Wen Tinghao, to write a request for him. But Wen refused. So, Pang's advisor, Zhou Chong, wrote a very demanding request. It threatened more military action if the government didn't approve Pang.

At first, people in Xusi Circuit and nearby areas thought the emperor would approve Pang. So, many people, including farmers who were already rebelling, went to Xu Prefecture and joined Pang's forces. Pang also sent his officers to take control of Hao, Si, and Su Prefectures. His officers took Hao and Su, but Du Tao, the prefect of Si, fought back. He prepared his defenses to resist Pang. When an official named Kang Daowei arrived to try to calm Pang, Pang showed off his army's strength. He sent another request through Kang. Meanwhile, he attacked and captured several nearby towns.

However, the imperial government rejected Pang's demands. On December 2, the emperor's order arrived. It only blamed Cui and another official, Zhang Daojin, and demoted them. Pang was disappointed and arrested the official who delivered the order. Emperor Yizong then appointed Kang Chengxun, an imperial guards general, to lead the fight against Pang. He also sent two other imperial guard generals, Wang Yanquan and Dai Keshi, to command two smaller armies. Kang asked for help from the Shatuo chieftain Zhuye Chixin, and other tribal leaders.

Meanwhile, Pang's forces surrounded Si Prefecture and almost captured it. Even though military governors from Zhenhai and Huainan Circuits sent forces to help Si, Pang's armies crushed them. Pang's forces couldn't capture Si Prefecture, but they did capture other prefectures nearby. Dai tried to recapture Duliang, where the rebels had defeated Huainan forces, before helping Si Prefecture. The rebels at Duliang pretended to surrender, then ambushed Dai. Dai's army was also crushed, and Dai was killed.

Linghu Tao, the governor of Huainan, worried the rebels would attack his area next. He sent messages to Pang, offering to ask the emperor to approve him. So, Pang stopped advancing on Huainan but continued to surround Si Prefecture. To the north, Wang was also repeatedly defeated by the rebels. He was replaced by Cao Xiang, the military governor of Taining Circuit. He Quanhao, the military governor of Weibo Circuit, which was almost independent, also sent forces to help Cao.

By early 869, Pang's forces were still winning most battles, except for Si Prefecture. But then, Kang Chengxun began to approach Xu Prefecture with about 70,000 men. He set up camp near a rebel stronghold called Liuzi. Pang became scared because of this huge army and because his own soldiers were spread out. Also, people were no longer joining him in large numbers. His army's attacks on Hai and Shou Prefectures were also stopped by loyal government forces, with heavy losses for the rebels.

Meanwhile, Zhuye Chixin, the Shatuo general, fought very well. When a rebel officer, Wang Hongli, attacked an imperial camp, Zhuye's Shatuo soldiers fought back hard. They caused heavy losses for Wang. Kang's main forces then attacked Liuzi. When Yao Zhou tried to help Liuzi, Kang defeated him. When Yao fled to Su Prefecture, Liang killed him because of an old personal conflict.

Pang Xun Declares Independence

When Pang Xun heard that Liuzi had fallen and Yao Zhou was dead, he became very afraid. He thought about gathering all his remaining troops for a big battle against Kang Chengxun. Zhou Chong, his advisor, suggested that to show how serious they were, Pang should officially declare independence from the Tang empire.

Following Zhou's advice and a sorcerer named Cao Junzhang, on May 19, 869, Pang executed Cui Yanzeng, Zhang Daojin, and some of Cui's helpers. He also cut off the limbs of Li Xiang and another official, Guo Houben, who were captured. He sent these limbs to Kang's camp to show his determination. Pang declared that he didn't originally want to rebel against the emperor, but he was doing so now.

They forced about 30,000 more men from Xu Prefecture to join the army. Xu Ji and others offered Pang the titles of General Tiance and "Brilliance Prince of the Congregation." Pang only accepted the General Tiance title at that time.

Pang left Xu Ji and his father, Pang Juzhi, in charge at Xu Prefecture. On May 23, he left Xu Prefecture. He first attacked the Weibo troops, who were attacking a rebel-controlled area. He surprised and crushed the Weibo forces. The Taining forces, hearing of this defeat, also left. Pang took the food left by the Weibo and Taining forces. Then, he prepared for a major attack on Kang's main forces.

He left Feng on June 3. He called on other rebel forces nearby to join him for an attack on Kang at Liuzi on June 12. However, some Huainan soldiers he had captured escaped. They told Kang about Pang's plans. When the rebels from Xiangcheng arrived first, Kang defeated them. When Pang arrived later, his own forces fell apart without even fighting. Kang's forces then completely defeated them. Pang fled back to Xu Prefecture. Meanwhile, Ma Ju, who had replaced Linghu Tao as governor of Huainan, attacked the rebels surrounding Si Prefecture. He defeated them and ended the siege. The rebels who were at Si Prefecture, led by Wu Jiong, went to Hao Prefecture. Ma then surrounded Hao Prefecture.

Meanwhile, Kang advanced on Su Prefecture. It was defended by rebel officers Zhang Xuanren, Zhang Ru, and Zhang Shi. Kang surrounded the city but couldn't capture it quickly. Zhang Shi sent a message to Pang, suggesting that Pang should surprise attack Song and Bo Prefectures. This would make Kang lift the siege on Su Prefecture. Kang, who was worried that Cao Xiang had captured Feng County and was nearing Xu Prefecture, agreed.

Pang Xun's Death

Pang Xun didn't know that Zhang Xuanren had not joined him willingly. Soon, Zhang Xuanren convinced his own soldiers to join him. He then secretly offered to surrender Su Prefecture to Kang Chengxun. On October 11, while Zhang Ru and Zhang Shi were drinking, Zhang Xuanren had them surrounded. He announced that Pang had already died and ordered Zhang Ru and Zhang Shi killed. The soldiers rushed in and killed them.

Zhang Xuanren took full control of the city. The next day, he opened the city gates and surrendered to Kang. Kang immediately made him an imperial officer. Then, Zhang Xuanren suggested a plan. He took 30,000 of his own soldiers and 500 imperial soldiers. He pretended to be a rebel army fleeing Su Prefecture after the imperial forces captured it. He headed for a rebel base at Fuli, near Su Prefecture. When Fuli welcomed him, he killed the rebel commanders there and took over. He then headed toward Xu Prefecture, planning to use the same trick. However, when he reached Xu, Pang Juzhi and Xu Ji had already heard the news. They had set up defenses.

On October 15, Zhang reached Xu Prefecture and surrounded it. But he didn't attack right away. Instead, he announced to the defenders that the government would not punish anyone who surrendered. Rebel soldiers began to surrender in large numbers. Pang Juzhi and Xu Ji first retreated into the inner city. But seeing their soldiers losing morale, they tried to fight their way out. Zhang intercepted and killed them. Thousands of the rebels' family members were killed, and the imperial forces soon controlled the city.

Meanwhile, Kang chased Pang. Pang had made a surprise attack on Song Prefecture, capturing the southern part of the city. But Song's prefect, Zheng Chuchong, defended the northern city. Pang gave up trying to capture it and continued west toward Bo Prefecture. By this time, the Shatuo forces under Zhuye Chixin had already arrived.

Pang tried to head back to Xu Prefecture. But when he reached Qi County, a local leader named Zhang Gun lifted the floating bridge. This stopped Pang from crossing the Huan River. The imperial forces then attacked and killed many rebel soldiers. The rest threw themselves into the river and mostly drowned. Pang Xun also died in this battle. Wu Jiong held out at Hao Prefecture for some time, but Hao Prefecture fell after another month. This finally ended the rebellion.