Background

Wu Chongyin was born in 761, during the reign of Emperor Suzong. His ancestors were Proto-Mongolic Wuluohou (乌洛侯) tribesmen who migrated to Zhangye and shortened their surname to Wu. His father Wu Chengbi (乌承比) was an army officer at Hedong Circuit (河东, headquartered in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi). From Wu Chongyin's youth, he served as an officer at Zhaoyi Circuit (昭义, 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 (河阳, headquartered in modern Jiaozuo, Henan) while making Heyang's military governor Meng Yuanyang (孟元阳) 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 (彰义, 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 (仆射), 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 (怀州, in modern Luoyang, Henan).

Later in 818, with Zheng Quan (郑权) the military governor of Henghai Circuit (横海, 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 (沧州), 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 (兴元). 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 (兖海, 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 (乌重元)

Sons

• Wu Hanhong (乌汉弘), Zuoyulin Jiangjun(左羽林将军), an imperial general

• Wu Xingzhuan (乌行专), prefect of Mi Prefecture

• Wu Hanzhen (乌汉贞), general of the imperial guards

• Wu Xingfang (乌行方), advisor in Henan

• Wu Hanfeng (乌汉封), advisor in Weiweisi (卫尉寺)

• Wu Hanzhang (乌汉章), Youxiaowei Cancao Canjun (右骁卫仓曹参军), a military advisor

• Wu Xingsi (乌行思), Zuowei Cangcao Canjun(左卫仓曹参军), 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

他的先世为乌洛侯人，以国为氏。迁居张掖后，改单姓乌。另说其先出自姬姓，黄帝之后。乌重胤出生于唐肃宗上元二年（761年），父亲乌承玭是河东的一位将领。乌重胤年轻时在潞州担任牙将。后任都知兵马使。

唐宪宗年间

唐宪宗元和五年（810年）四月，乌重胤在昭义节度使卢从史手下参与讨伐成德节度使王承宗。卢从史又和王承宗勾结。当时神策行营与卢从史军相近，左神策军护军中尉吐突承璀打算先铲除卢从史，与乌重胤合谋。乌重胤为卢从史委任亲信，让他负责保卫自己。吐突承璀故意给卢从史很多礼物，然后借在军营设宴时将其捕缚，帐下士兵持武器聚集躁动，乌重胤发布戒严，喝叱说：「天子有命，从者赏，违者斩！」士卒收敛返回各部，无人敢轻举妄动。吐突承璀让乌重胤代领昭义军，唐宪宗嘉奖乌重胤功绩，授潞州府左司马，封张掖郡公，翰林学士李绛不欲乌重胤从割据故事，宪宗从李绛奏，于是乌重胤以昭义军节度右厢都押衙、兼马军都知兵马使、同州节度副使、银青光禄大夫、检校太子宾客、兼潞州大都督府左司马、御史中丞、上柱国、张掖郡开国公迁使持节、怀州刺史、兼御史大夫、充河阳三城怀州节度营田等使，散官勋并如故；时任河阳节度使孟元阳调任昭义节度使。任上邀请进士李珏以为幕僚。

元和九年（814年）闰八月，彰义军节度使吴少阳死，子摄蔡州刺史吴元济秘不发丧，自领军务，割据自立、纵兵劫掠。宪宗下诏以乌重胤兼汝州（今河南平顶山）刺史，将河阳军部移到汝州，参与讨伐吴元济。乌重胤请宁州刺史曹华为怀汝节度行营副使。

乌重胤以重兵镇压蔡州境，与忠武军节度使李光颜互为犄角，于十年（815年）十一月合败彰义军于小溵水，破城。十一年（816年）四月，乌重胤与李光颜合败彰义军于陵云栅，斩首三千级，五月又合败之于陵云栅，斩首二千馀级，九月攻克陵云栅。三年之内，大小战斗一百馀次，以大功加检校尚书右仆射。元稹代山南东道节度使严绶作《代谕淮西书》，劝说吴元济以乌重胤为榜样。元和十二年（817年）八月，裴度被任为宣慰处置使，行淮西行营元帅事，乌重胤和李光颜为争功，抢在裴度到任之前作战，结果在贾店战败。九月，吴元济属下将领李湍渡过溵河投降乌重胤，李湍之妻被叛军束缚在树上，脔食（凌迟）而死，死前还呼告丈夫李湍：「善事乌仆射。」看到的人都认为她是义女。十月，吴元济被另一员将领唐随邓节度使李诉所俘杀，十一月，乌重胤迁检校司空，进封邠国公。因为是从行伍之间升上来的，乌重胤能和士卒共患难，也很谦和，不居功，有能力的人都乐意为他效力。

元和十三年（818年）六月，乌重胤复为怀州刺史。他请求李湍妻事列入史册，宪宗下诏从之。十一月，沧州刺史李宗奭不听从上司横海节度使郑权的命令，宪宗任乌重胤为横海节度使。乌重胤率三千精兵赴任，但士兵不愿离乡，在途中逃亡，不敢回河阳，屯于城北掳掠，后归顺了新任河阳节度使令狐楚。当乌重胤到横海军任上后，十四年（819年）正月，李宗奭部下将吏惧怕乌重胤，驱逐了李宗奭，李宗奭奔京师，被斩。

乌重胤领横海镇之后，认为河北军阀自立、对抗朝廷是因为藩镇权力过大，三月上疏：「臣以河朔能拒朝命者，其大略可见。盖刺史失其职，反使镇将领兵事。若刺史各得职分，又有镇兵，则节将虽有禄山、思明之奸，岂能据一州为叛哉？所以河朔六十年能拒朝命者，只以夺刺史、县令之职，自作威福故也。臣所管德、棣、景三州，已举公牒，各还刺史职事讫，应在州兵，并令刺史收管。又景州本是弓高县，请却废为县，归化县本是草市，请废县依旧属德州。」建议宪宗让刺史全权处理军务，并且率先放权给横海的刺史，宪宗听从之，继而修订法令，诏诸道节度、都团练、都防御、经略等使将所统支郡兵马给刺史管领。从此横海成为河北对朝廷最恭顺的藩镇。

唐穆宗年间

元和十五年（820年）正月，唐宪宗驾崩，唐穆宗继位。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。长庆元年（821年）七月，田弘正被成德军都知兵马使王廷凑所杀，王廷凑自称留后。穆宗决定讨伐成德镇，诏魏博、横海、昭义、河东、义武诸军共十五万征讨。八月，王廷凑引卢龙叛帅朱克融军围深州。十月，乌重胤败成德军于饶阳，率军救深州，为诸军所倚重。乌重胤认为朝廷处置失当，王廷凑军气势正盛，未可击破，应该等待时机，未可轻进，于是按兵观望。穆宗急于平叛，怒，下诏以深冀行营节度使杜叔良代乌重胤为横海军节度使，以乌重胤为太子太保。年末改充山南西道节度使、检校司徒、兴元尹。次年又召至京师，以本官位授天平军节度使（天平军部在今山东泰安市东平县）、郓曹濮等州观察使。

乌重胤在天平军任上赏识书生程骧，给他钱数十万令他买书。

三年（823年）二月，乌重胤病，牙将王贽割大腿肉以疗之。

唐敬宗、唐文宗年间

四年（824年）十二月，唐敬宗即位，仍在天平军任上的乌重胤拜为同中书门下平章事。

宝历二年（826年），横海节度使李全略病死，其子李同捷据守沧州，奏请承袭节度使之位。十二月，唐文宗即位，次年五月，乌重胤以天平军节度使、守司徒、同平章事被加太子太师兼领横海节度使，仍旧割齐州隶属横海，乌重胤又以横海军节度沧、德、棣等州观察、处置等使、银青光禄大夫、检校司空、使持节沧州诸军事兼沧州刺史、御史大夫、上柱国、邠国公、食邑三千户获实授司徒；乌重胤父已赠工部尚书，再行追赠。文宗另改授李同捷为兖海节度使（治今山东济宁），李同捷抗命，被削官爵，乌重胤受命统领郓州、齐州兵联合周边藩镇攻打横海。十月，打了几场胜仗，却在十一月去世于军中，年六十七，赠太尉，谥懿穆。有20馀名将领割下大腿肉来为他献祭，以表怀念，堪比古代名将。

家庭

父

• 乌承玭，河东将，追赠工部尚书

母

• 追赠国郡太夫人

妻

• 张氏，邓国夫人

子

• 乌汉弘，左羽林将军。

• 乌行专，密州刺史。

• 乌汉贞，左金吾将军。

• 乌行方，河南丞。

• 乌汉封，卫尉寺丞。

• 乌汉章，右骁卫仓曹参军。

• 乌行思，左卫仓曹参军。

• 乌行初，佐卫曹参军。

女

• 乌氏，张掖郡君，嫁朝散大夫、使持节丹州诸军事守丹州刺史充本州防御使上柱国弘农杨乾光，杨乾光为河西节度使杨休明之孙

• 乌氏，嫁河阳军节度都衙押陈专

• 乌氏，嫁河阳军节度衙押李昌

注释

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