Li Xun

Biography

Early Official Career and Benevolent Governance in Dunhuang

Li Xun was the son of Li Gao, Wuzhao Wang of Western Liang, and the younger brother of Li Xin, the last ruler of Western Liang. While Li Xin reigned, Li Xun was appointed as the Prefect of Dunhuang. According to historical records, during his tenure in Dunhuang, he governed with generosity and kindness, implementing benevolent policies that benefited the populace, thereby earning immense prestige and public support in the region.

Fall of Western Liang and Exile to Beishan

In the first year of Yongchu (420), Wu Xuanwang Juqu Mengsun launched a massive invasion against Western Liang. Li Xin led thirty thousand infantry and cavalry eastward in an attempt to engage the Northern Liang army in a decisive battle. However, after suffering a crushing defeat at the Battle of Liaoquan, Li Xin was killed by Juqu Mengsun. Subsequently, Juqu Mengsun captured Jiuquan, the capital of Western Liang. Li Fan and other elder brothers of Li Xun fled west toward Dunhuang to seek refuge with him. Shortly thereafter, facing intense pressure from the Northern Liang military, Li Xun and his followers abandoned Dunhuang and retreated to Beishan for safety. Juqu Mengsun then appointed Suo Xu, the son of Suo Si, as the acting Prefect of Dunhuang.

Restoration and Establishment of the Yongjian Regime

In the winter of the first year of Yongchu (420), the newly appointed Prefect of Dunhuang, Suo Yuanxu, proved to be violent, treacherous, and murderous, causing widespread resentment among the people. In stark contrast, Li Xun enjoyed a stellar reputation for benevolence in Dunhuang. Local figures such as Song Cheng and Zhang Hong sent secret letters to Li Xun, requesting his return to govern the area. Li Xun entered Dunhuang leading dozens of cavalrymen. Seeing the tide turning, Suo Yuanxu fled east toward Liangxing. Consequently, Song Cheng and others proclaimed Li Xun as their ruler. Li Xun declared himself General Who Conquers the West and Inspector of Liangzhou, establishing the Yongjian era.

Siege of Dunhuang and Suicide

Upon learning of Li Xun's restoration, Juqu Mengsun dispatched his heir apparent, Juqu Decheng, to attack Dunhuang. Li Xun kept the city gates closed and avoided direct combat. In the spring of the second year of Yongjian (421), Juqu Mengsun personally commanded twenty thousand soldiers to assault Dunhuang. In March of that year, Juqu Mengsun constructed long embankments on three sides of Dunhuang and employed hydraulic warfare to submerge the city. Although Li Xun requested terms for surrender, Juqu Mengsun rejected them.

During this critical juncture, Li Xun's general Song Cheng betrayed him again, surrendering the city to Juqu Mengsun. In a desperate final act, Li Xun dispatched one thousand brave warriors who connected wooden planks to form makeshift bridges, attempting to breach the dikes and release the waters. However, they were met by Juqu Mengsun's forces and ultimately defeated. As the city fell, Li Xun committed suicide, bringing about the total destruction of the Western Liang regime. Juqu Mengsun subsequently ordered a massacre within the city.

Major Activities

Implementation of Benevolent Policies

While serving as the Prefect of Dunhuang, Li Xun focused heavily on the welfare of the people and practiced benevolent governance. Book of Jin notes that "Xun had implemented benevolent policies in the commandery," and Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance also records that "Li Xun provided benevolent administration while in Dunhuang." This compassionate rule granted him exceptional authority and established the grassroots foundation necessary for his later restoration.

Self-Proclamation and Restoration

Against the backdrop of mass unrest caused by the tyranny of Suo Yuanxu, Li Xun was covertly escorted into the city by local powers like Song Cheng and Zhang Hong. This event represented not only a rejection of Suo Yuanxu’s rule but also a concerted effort by former officials of Western Liang to revive the Li family dynasty. Upon declaring himself ruler, although he nominally restored the Western Liang state, his territory remained effectively encircled by Northern Liang.

Death Amidst City Collapse

Faced with both the hydraulic siege by Northern Liang and internal betrayal, Li Xun attempted to organize a breakout in his final hours but was unsuccessful. Ultimately, choosing martyrdom over capture, Li Xun committed suicide. His death signaled the definitive termination of the Western Liang political entity.

The course of his time at Dunhuang was as follows: in 420 (first year of the Yongchu era, Liu Song), after the Western Liang capital Jiuquan was taken by the Northern Liang, he fled with his brothers to the Northern Mountains; in the same year the Dunhuang men Song Cheng, Zhang Hong and others brought him into the city, Suo Yuanxu fled, and Li Xun was raised as general of the champions and governor of Liangzhou, changing the era name to Yongjian; in the spring of 421 (second year of Yongjian) Juqu Mengxun besieged Dunhuang and he shut the gates and refused battle; in the third month of that year the Northern Liang built dikes and diverted water into the city, his request to surrender was refused and he killed himself after the city fell, ending the Western Liang. He had earlier been governor of Dunhuang, and the Book of Jin summarises his administration there as benevolent, so that the people of Dunhuang, alienated by Suo Yuanxu, brought him back; his restoration, however, remained under Northern Liang pressure throughout and could not change the outcome for the Western Liang.

As regards the survival of the Western Liang, his restoration at Dunhuang was an attempt at continuity after the fall of Jiuquan: the trust he had won among the local gentry and people as governor of Dunhuang was the basis on which the men of Dunhuang brought him back in 420 and drove Suo Yuanxu out; in the same year he was raised as general of the champions and governor of Liangzhou, changing the era name to Yongjian, so that the Western Liang title was prolonged at Dunhuang for another year. The pressure from the Northern Liang never lifted, however, and in 421 Juqu Mengxun built dikes and diverted water into the city; his request to surrender was refused and he killed himself, ending the Western Liang. The political order in the Dunhuang region thereafter passed to the Northern Liang until the Northern Wei entered the Hexi corridor.

His restoration at Dunhuang prolonged the Western Liang title by another year, after which the Northern Liang dominated eastern Hexi until the Northern Wei entered the corridor.

His restoration was short-lived because a single city could not sustain a polity and because the Northern Liang already controlled the Jiuquan and Zhangye line, leaving Dunhuang without strategic depth.

Personal Relations

• Father**: Li Gao (Wuzhao Wang of Western Liang)
• Legal Mother**: Empress Yin (Lady Yin, Empress Dowencer of Emperor Taizong of Song - Note: Contextually refers to the consort of Li Gao)
• Brothers**:
• Li Tan (Eldest brother, originally Crown Prince, died young)
• Li Xin (Second brother, Last Ruler of Western Liang)
• Li Fan (Prefect of Jiuquan)
• Li Yu (Prefect of Xincheng)
• Li Mi (Junior Guardian of the Right Imperial Guards)
• Li Chao (General Left)
• Li Liang (General Right)
• Sister**: Li Jingai (Empress of King Uija of Baekje / Juju Mujian)
• Adversaries**:
• Juqu Mengsun (Wu Xuanwang of Northern Liang)
• Suo Yuanxu (Appointed Prefect of Dunhuang by Northern Liang)

Historical Assessment

• Book of Jin (by Fang Xuanling): "He [Xun] exercised benevolent governance in the commandery."
• Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance (by Sima Guang): "Li Xun administered Dunhuang with benevolent policies."