Li Cunjin


Li Cunjin , originally Sun Chongjin, was a military general in imperial China's Tang Dynasty, and later the Jin territory in the ensuing Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period after Tang's collapse. He served the Shatuo leaders Li Keyong — who adopted him as a son — and Li Keyong's biological son and successor Li Cunxu. He died in the battles against Zhang Chujin.

Biography

Sun Chongjin was a native of the northern territory called Zhenwu. He began following Li Keyong when the latter attacked Shuozhou and became an adopted son some time later with the new name Li Cunjin. After the suppression of the rebel Huang Chao, Li Cunjin rose to a commissioner of Army of Righteous Sons.
After the death of Li Keyong, Li Cunjin served Li Keyong's successor Li Cunxu when their Jin state fought the Later Liang. In 910, Li Cunjin helped his lord win the battle at Baixiang County, and was promoted to inspector-in-chief of forces at large to govern Cizhou and Qinzhou. After 915, he became a chief officer of the newly conquered Tianxiong Command. There he instilled strict measures on the surrendered Later Liang troops: anyone violating the regulations would be openly beheaded or dismembered, and this approach effectively prevented any possible unrest. He was promoted to military governor of Zhenwu Command after participating in the battles along the Yellow River.
In 921, Zhang Wenli usurped the power in Zhao, eliciting a military response from Li Cunxu. The attacks were unsuccessful as many Jin generals died in battles, including Li Sizhao. Li Cunxu then asked Li Cunjin to replace Li Sizhao as the commissioner of bandit suppression. As the soil was poor at the crossing where he quartered his men, he was not able to construct ramparts, so palisades were made instead. When the palisade went under attack by the troops of Zhang Wenli's son Zhang Chujin, Li Cunjin rose atop a bridge to direct his troops and died in the battles. He was conferred a grand marshal posthumously.
His son Li Hanshao, later renamed Sun Hanshao, also became a military general.