Li Chongjun

Biography

Imperial Clanship and Elevation to Crown Prince Li Chongjun was the third son of Emperor Zhongzong of Tang (Li Xian), born to an imperial consort whose surname remains unrecorded in historical annals. In 698 AD (1st year of Shengli), when Li Xian was summoned back to the eastern capital of Luoyang by Empress Regnant Wu Zetian and reinstated as Crown Prince, Li Chongjun was granted the noble rank of Prince of Yixing. In 701 AD, during Wu Zetian's final years, power was monopolized by her lovers, Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong. Li Chongjun's eldest legitimate brother, Li Chongrun (Prince of Shao), his younger sister Princess Yongtai, and her husband Wu Yanji secretly discussed the brothers' unlawful domination of court affairs. Denounced by the Zhangs, all three young royals were brutally caned to death within the palace by Wu Zetian's order. This horrific tragedy made an indelible impression upon the young Li Chongjun. In January 705 AD (Shenlong 1), Chancellor Zhang Jianzhi led the Shenlong Coup, executing the Zhang brothers, forcing Wu Zetian's abdication, and restoring the Tang dynasty under Emperor Zhongzong. The Emperor shower honors upon his family, advancing Li Chongjun to Prince of Wei and appointing him Governor of Luozhou and Senior General of the Left Guard. With Li Chongrun dead and his second brother Li Chongfu slandered by Empress Wei and exiled to Puzhou, Emperor Zhongzong followed seniority and formally designated Li Chongjun as Crown Prince in July 706 AD. ### The Tyranny of the Wei and Wu Factions Although Li Chongjun was naturally brave, resolute, and intelligent, he had spent his formative years in exile and lacked rigorous grounding by classical Confucian mentors. After moving into the Eastern Palace, Zhongzong assigned his son-in-law Yang Jiao and consort-nephew Wu Chongxun (son of Wu Sansi, married to Princess Anle) as Prince's Companions. Rather than imparting moral wisdom, Yang and Wu spent their days playing football and carousing with the Prince to curry favor. Although Eastern Palace directors Yao Ting and Ping Zhenshen submitted urgent memorials advising study of the classics, Chongjun paid little heed. However, the primary mortal threat to Li Chongjun stemmed from the inner court's ruthless machinations. Following the restoration, the weak-willed Emperor Zhongzong fell completely under the sway of Empress Wei, who dominated state appointments, engaged in scandalous affairs, and aligned with Wu Sansi, Prince of Dejing. Re-establishing the Wu clan's paramount influence, Wu Sansi eliminated the righteous chancellors of the Shenlong Coup. Because Li Chongjun was not Empress Wei's biological son, the Empress despised him bitterly. Wu Chongxun repeatedly incited his wife, Princess Anle, to humiliate the Crown Prince. Puffed up with vanity and maternal indulgence, Anle called Li Chongjun a 'servile slave' at imperial banquets, repeatedly cajoling Zhongzong: "Father, depose Li Chongjun and make me Imperial Crown Princess!" Rather than reprimanding his daughter, Zhongzong merely smiled. Concurrently, Wu Sansi laid plans to frame the Crown Prince for treason. Living in daily terror of assassination or judicial murder, Li Chongjun resolved to strike before his enemies could destroy him. ### The Jinglong Coup and the Assault on Xuanwu Gate In July 707 AD (1st year of Jinglong), Li Chongjun enlisted the commanders of the imperial bodyguard, notably Senior General of the Left Forest Guard Li Duozuo, Prince of Cheng Li Qianli, and commanders Li Chengkuang, Dugu Yizhi, and Shazha Zhongyi. Li Duozuo, a seasoned veteran of Mohe tribal origin, drew his sword and declared: "I received overwhelming favor from Emperor Gaozong; I pledge my life to protect the Crown Prince!" On the night of July 6, Li Chongjun and Li Duozuo mobilized 300 armored cavalry from the Forest Guards and the elite Qianqi cavalry, marching into the northern palaces under forged imperial decrees. The strike force first galloped to the residence of Wu Sansi. Smashing through the gates, Chongjun's men slaughtered Wu Sansi, Wu Chongxun, and more than ten senior conspirators, avenging years of humiliation in a single stroke. Next, while Li Qianli sealed the imperial Suzhang Gate, Li Chongjun and Li Duozuo led their forces into the inner palace to hunt down Empress Wei, Princess Anle, and the court poetess Consort Shangguan Wan'er. Panicked, Empress Wei and Shangguan Wan'er dragged Emperor Zhongzong to the top of Xuanwu Gate tower, summoning General Liu Renjing with a hundred loyal palace archers to barricade the gatehouse ramps. Li Duozuo led charge after charge up the stone ramps under hail of crossbow bolts. At this critical juncture, Emperor Zhongzong leaned over the parapet and called out directly to the rebel cavalry below: > "You are all My personal palace guards who watch over Me day and night! Why do you follow Li Duozuo in treason? If you return to your sovereign and slay the rebels, I guarantee you lasting wealth and honors!" The Qianqi cavalrymen had no wish to rebel against the Emperor himself. Hearing the sovereign's personal appeal, their resolve broke. Turning on their commanders, the guards cut down Li Duozuo at the foot of the tower. Commanders Dugu Yizhi and Shazha Zhongyi were hacked to death, and Li Qianli was slain at Suzhang Gate. With his forces dissolving, Li Chongjun cut his way out through the Right Yeye Gate with a hundred horsemen and fled into the mountains. ### Wilderness Martyrdom and Historical Vindication Chongjun fled south into the rugged gorges of the Zhongnan Mountains. Zhongzong issued decrees offering grand rewards for his capture, mobilizing county squads to scour the wilderness. In August 707 AD, exhausted by days of flight, Li Chongjun stopped to rest beneath a tree. Seeking imperial bounty, several mutinous bodyguards crept upon the sleeping prince, murdering him and severing his head to present to the Emperor. He was in his mid-twenties. Delighted by the news, Empress Wei ordered the Crown Prince's head offered at the Imperial Ancestral Temple before suspending it above the palace gates for public exhibition. The empire lamented the bloody demise of the young prince. In June 710 AD, Prince Li Longji (later Emperor Xuanzong) launched the Tanglong Coup, annihilating Empress Wei, Princess Anle, Shangguan Wan'er, and the entire Wu clan. Emperor Ruizong ascended the throne. Ruizong immediately issued decrees to rehabilitate Li Chongjun, praising his courageous stand against the villainous cabal: "The Crown Prince mobilized troops to eliminate monstrous traitors and preserve the sacred dynastic altars; though his enterprise was cut short, his loyalty was magnificent!" Bestowing the posthumous title 'Crown Prince Jiemin' (The Principled and Sorrowful Crown Prince), the court retrieved his remains and reburied him with imperial honors in an auxiliary tomb at Dingling Mausoleum in Fuping.

Major Activities

Liquidation of the Wu Clan Traitors During the Jinglong Coup of July 707 AD, Li Chongjun spearheaded a daring assault on the mansion of Wu Sansi. Eliminating both Wu Sansi and his son Wu Chongxun along with their core clique, Li Chongjun extinguished the immediate threat of a Wu clan dynastic usurpation. ### The Desperate Charge on Xuanwu Gate Following the execution of Wu Sansi, Li Chongjun stormed Xuanwu Gate to capture Empress Wei and Princess Anle. Although thwarted by Emperor Zhongzong's personal appeal to the imperial guards, his audacious armed resistance struck terror into the corrupt palace factions and served as the direct precursor to Li Longji's definitive coup in 710 AD.

Personal Relations

• Father: Emperor Zhongzong of Tang (Li Xian)
• Stepmother: Empress Wei (Hostile antagonist)
• Brothers: Crown Prince Yide (Li Chongrun, killed in 701 AD), Prince of Qiao (Li Chongfu), Emperor Shang (Li Chongmao)
• Half-Sister: Princess Anle (Li Guo'er, political rival who sought the crown) ### Coup Companions - Vanguard General: Li Duozuo (Senior General of Left Forest Guard, Mohe tribal warrior)
• Royal Clan Ally: Li Qianli (Prince of Cheng, Senior General of Gold Guard)
• Field Officers: Li Chengkuang, Dugu Yizhi, Shazha Zhongyi ### Slain Enemies - Conspirators: Wu Sansi (Prince of Liang), Wu Chongxun (Husband of Princess Anle)
• Palace Nemeses: Empress Wei, Princess Anle, Shangguan Wan'er ### Exonerating Sovereigns - Emperor Ruizong of Tang (Uncle who restored his honor as Crown Prince Jiemin)
• Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (Cousin who purged the Wei faction in 710 AD)

Historical Assessment

Official Dynastic Histories Old Book of Tang (Volume 86):

"Crown Prince Jiemin held the position of the imperial heir, yet encountered the usurpations of the Wu family and Empress Wei. Lacking the patience to endure humiliation until victory was assured, he gave vent to his wrath, mobilizing troops to execute Sansi and corner the sovereign before the palace towers. Though he failed, the elimination of these traitors caused loyal men to weep in reverence!" New Book of Tang (Volume 81):

"Chongjun possessed no profound foresight; yet in a single burst of indignation, he decapitated the traitorous Wu Sansi and his son, bringing rejoicing across the realm. How tragic that he was defeated and slain! Emperor Ruizong honored him with the posthumous title 'Min', which truly captured his heroic integrity." ### Later Historical Appraisals - Sima Guang in Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance: "Chongjun's execution of Sansi washed away Emperor Zhongzong's disgrace. His intention was admirable, though his tactical preparations were flawed, leading to his undoing."