Empress Li (Later Han)
Empress Li , known as Empress Dowager Zhaosheng during Later Zhou, was an empress of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Later Han. She was the wife of Later Han's founder Liu Zhiyuan and the mother of its second emperor Liu Chengyou. She served as regent n the interregnum of 951, after the death of her son until the installation of his successor.
Background
It is not known when the future Empress Li was born, but it is known that she was from Jinyang and that her father was a farmer. Her future husband Liu Zhiyuan was then a soldier in the army of Jin, which had its capital at Taiyuan, and one night, when he was out letting his horses graze, he intruded into her house, seized her, and made her his wife. Of his three sons — Liu Chengxùn, Liu Chengyou, and Liu Chengxūn — it is known that Liu Chengyou was born of her, but it is not known whether Liu Chengxùn or Liu Chengxūn was. After Liu Zhiyuan became a prominent general during Later Jin, she was given the title of Lady of Wei. She had six brothers, of whom Li Hongjian, Li Hongyi, and Li Ye were known in history and all of whom were younger. The oldest brother was named Li Hongxin, and it is not known whether he was older or younger than she.During Later Han
During Liu Zhiyuan's reign
In 947, Later Jin fell to an invasion by the Khitan Liao dynasty. Liao's Emperor Taizong declared himself the emperor of central China as well, and Liu Zhiyuan, then the military governor of Hedong Circuit, after some initial hesitations, rose in resistance against Liao, declaring himself emperor. To fund his resistance of Liao, he considered forcibly borrowing money from the general populace so that he could give the money as reward to the soldiers. Lady Li opposed, stating:Liu accepted her suggestion and cancelled the plan to forcibly borrow money. He gave out what was stored in the personal headquarters, and when the news spread, the people were impressed, both at Hedong and elsewhere. Shortly after, he created her empress.
Liu was able to unite the people rising against Liao rule under his authority, and his Later Han state was able to take over central China, with Kaifeng serving as its capital. However, he ruled only a year before he died in spring 848. Liu Chengxùn predeceased him, so Liu Chengyou became the new emperor. Liu Chengyou honored Empress Li as empress dowager. Per Liu Zhiyuan's directions, the authority over the imperial government largely rested in the hands of several generals and officials — Su Fengji, Yang Bin, Shi Hongzhao, and Guo Wei.
During Liu Chengyou's reign
However, soon a dispute arose between Su Fengji, who was then the leading chancellor and Yang Bin, over the fact that Su was filling many official positions that had long been left open, but Yang, who was then one of the chiefs of staff, believed that these were unnecessary positions that were waste of government resources, and therefore often criticized Su's requests. Another chancellor, Li Tao, submitted a petition to Liu Chengyou, arguing that Yang and Guo, who was also serving as Yang's deputy, should be relieved of their positions and made military governors of key circuits, while the chief of staff positions should be entrusted to Su Fengji and Su Yugui. When Yang and Guo became aware of Li Tao's petition, they went to Empress Dowager Li and stated to her, weepingly:Empress Dowager Li was angered, and she went to Liu Chengyou, stating to him,
When Liu Chengyou blamed the matter on the chancellors in general, Li Tao took the blame by himself, and was relieved of his chancellor position. Subsequently, Yang was given an additional chancellor position, while Guo was made co-chief of staff, such that Yang became the main decision-maker, with the two Su chancellors no longer having real chancellor authority.
With Wang Jingchong soon rising in rebellion at Fengxiang Circuit in alliance with Li Shouzhen the military governor of Huguo Circuit and Zhao Siwan, an officer who then controlled Yongxing Circuit, Guo was sent against Li Shouzhen. Guo defeated Li Shouzhen in 849, and Li committed suicide, as did Wang. Zhao surrendered, but then considered rebelling again, and was executed. With the three rebels defeated, it was said that Liu Chengyou became arrogant and frivolous, spending much time with his favorite attendants Hou Kuangzan and Guo Yunming. Empress Dowager Li frequently tried to correct his ways, but he did not listen to her.
Adulthood of Liu Chengyo
By winter 950, Liu Chengyou, growing into adulthood, had tired of the control that the key officials that Liu Zhiyuan left had. At that time, Liu Chengyou's favorite attendants were trying to assert authority, and Empress Dowager Li's relatives were also trying to be involved in government, but Yang curbed these attempts. Empress Dowager Li's younger brother Li Ye, in particular, who had been serving as the director of miscellaneous affairs inside the palace, was hoping to become the director of palace affairs, and both the emperor and the empress dowager were in favor, but Yang and Shi decided against it, believing that it was improper to promote Li Ye. Yang and Shi further angered the emperor by telling him to simply be silent. Liu Chengyou thus plotted with Li Ye, Nie Wenjin, Hou, and Guo Yunming, to kill Yang, Shi, and Wang. Liu Chengyou reported his plans to Empress Dowager Li, who responded,Li Ye, however, again spoke in favor, and when Empress Dowager Li again tried to speak, Liu Chengyou responded angrily,
Shortly after, under Liu Chengyou's orders, the imperial guard soldiers killed Yang, Shi, and Wang near the palace as they were coming to the palace for an imperial gathering. Liu Chengyou further sent out orders to have Guo Wei, who was then serving as the military governor of Tianxiong Circuit, Guo's army monitor Wang Jun, and Shi's favored imperial guard general Wang Yin, then stationed at Chan Prefecture, killed. However, when the orders leaked, the generals to whom the orders were issued refused to carry out the orders. However, Guo's and Wang Jun's families remaining at Kaifeng were slaughtered. Guo thereafter rose in rebellion and headed south toward Kaifeng. )
Guo's army soon approached Kaifeng. Liu Chengyou responded with an army of his own, with Liu Zhiyuan's half-brother Murong Yanchao in command. Empress Dowager Li tried to dissuade Liu Chengyou from going himself, instead hoping that some form of rapprochement could still be reached with Guo, but he did not listen to her. When the armies engaged, Guo's army defeated the emperor's, which scattered, and Murong fled back to his own circuit. Liu Chengyou was essentially left alone with his close attendants, and in the subsequent confusion, he was killed by soldiers. Guo subsequently entered the capital.
Regency
Guo Wei and his soldiers effectively controlled the capital, but for some time, there was still an appearance that normal governance could be returning. Guo led the officials in paying homage to Empress Dowager Li and formally requested her to name a new emperor. She initially issued an edict asking the officials to select an emperor among Liu Zhiyuan's brother Liu Chong the military governor of Hedong, cousin Liu Xin the military governor of Zhongwu Circuit, and sons Liu Chengxūn and Liu Yun the military governor of Wuning Circuit.Guo and Wang Jun initially wanted Liu Chengxūn to be named emperor, but Empress Dowager Li revealed to them privately, and later, when needed to, publicly, that Liu Chengxūn had been so ill that he was constantly bedridden, so instead, they asked for Liu Yun to be named emperor. Under Guo's suggestion, the senior official Feng Dao, along with other officials Wang Du and Zhao Shangjiao, were sent to Wuning's capital Xu Prefecture to welcome Liu Yun to the capital. For the time being, the empress dowager served as the regent for the state, and it was to her that all important state businesses were submitted for decision. Her brother Li Hongjian was among the conspirators who were executed, while Li Ye initially fled to Li Hongxin, who was then military governor of Baoyi Circuit, but after Li Hongxin refused to shelter him, was killed in flight.
Shortly after, news came that there was a Liao incursion. Empress Dowager Li ordered Guo to lead an army to resist it, while authorizing Dou Zhengu, Su Yugui, and Wang Jun to oversee affairs of state, and Wang Yin to oversee military matters. However, when Guo reached Chan, his army generals rose and wanted him to take the throne. They robed him in a yellow flag. Guo then advanced south back toward the capital. As he approached the capital, he submitted a note to Empress Dowager Li, promising to continue to serve her as if she were his mother. Guo soon entered the capital and was welcomed by the officials. Empress Dowager Li soon issued edicts deposing Liu Yun and making Guo regent, while the military governors displayed support for Guo. On Lunar New Year 951, she issued an edict passing the throne to Guo, who took the throne, establishing Later Zhou. Liu Chong shortly after claimed the Han throne at Hedong, but his state was typically viewed by historians not as a continuation of the Later Han state, but as a splinter state known as Northern Han.