Beigong Chun
Beigong Chun | |
|---|---|
| 北宮純 | |
| Protector under the Inspector of Liangzhou (涼州刺史督護) | |
| In office ?–311 | |
| Monarch | Emperor Huai of Jin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Unknown |
| Died | c.September 318 Linfen, Shanxi |
Beigong Chun (died c.September 318) was a military general of the Jin dynasty (266–420) and Han-Zhao dynasty during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. He was a subordinate of the Inspector of Liang province, Zhang Gui who led cavalry from Liang to help lift the siege of the Jin capital, Luoyang by Han-Zhao forces in 308 and 309. After the Disaster of Yongjia, he surrendered to Han and became an official before he was killed during Jin Zhun's rebellion in 318.
Life
[edit]Nothing is known regarding Beigong Chun's background except that he served as a Protector under the Inspector of Liang province, Zhang Gui, who took the office in 301.
In 308, the bandit, Wang Mi submitted to the Han-Zhao dynasty and wreaked havoc in Qing and Xu provinces. Wang Mi was even able to capture the city of Xuchang, sending shockwaves to the Jin capital, Luoyang. With Wang Mi advancing towards Luoyang, Zhang Gui sent Beigong Chun with his provincial army to aid the Jin defenders. Beigong Chun was able to link up with the city commanders, Wang Yan and Wang Bin (王斌) when Wang Mi arrived at the Jinyang Gate (津陽門; westernmost gate on the southern wall). The Jin forces went out to engage the rebels, during which Beigong Chun led more than a hundred warriors to break the rebels' formation, contributing to a great defeat for Wang Mi.[1] Wang Mi retreated eastward and was pursued by the Jin general, Wang Bing (王秉). Meanwhile, Beigong Chun and others marched to Hedong Commandery where they defeated the Han general, Liu Cong, who had come to support Wang Mi.[2]
In 309, the emperor of Han, Liu Yuan ordered Liu Cong, Liu Yao and Wang Mi to attack Luoyang with 50,000 soldiers, so Liu Yuan once again sent Beigong Chun to defend the capital. During the siege, while Liu Cong was camping at the Ximing Gates (西明門; the southmost end of the western wall), Beigong Chun launched a night raid on his camp with more than a thousand warriors, killing Liu Cong's general, Huyan Hao (呼延顥). The Han forces were eventually ordered to withdraw a few weeks later, and Luoyang was once again saved.[3]
Beigong Chun and the generals and soldiers of Liang province were praised as heroes around this time, and a song was composed to commemorate their deeds:[4]
|
涼州大馬，橫行天下。 |
The great horses of Liangzhou, running wild across the world. |
|
涼州鴟苕，寇賊消； |
The mighty owls of Liangzhou, causing bandits to disperse; |
|
鴟苕翩翩，怖殺人。 |
When the owls come to swoop, beware, for they kill. |
In 311, Liu Cong, now Emperor of Han, sent Huyan Yan to capture Luoyang and ordered Wang Mi, Liu Yao and Shi Le to join him. Zhang Gui sent Beigong Chun and his other generals with 5,000 of his troops to once more rescue the capital. However, this time, Luoyang was practically defenseless and suffering from a famine, while the Jin imperial army had been annihilated by Shi Le. Luoyang thus fell and Emperor Huai of Jin was captured by Han forces in the Disaster of Yongjia.[5] Beigong Chun decided to retreat to Chang'an, which was under the control of the Prince of Nanyang, Sima Mo.
In October of that year, Han forces led by Liu Can and Zhao Ran also descended upon Chang'an. After Zhao Ran defeated Sima Mo at Tong Pass, Beigong Chun took his troops from Chang'an to surrender to Han.[6] Sima Mo was killed and Chang'an came under Han's control, after which Beigong Chun was sent to the Han capital, Pingyang.[7]
After his capture, Beigong Chun worked for the Han government as a Master of Writing. In 318, after Liu Cong's death, the consort kin, Jin Zhun launched a coup against the new emperor, Liu Can and slaughtered the Han aristocracy in Pingyang. Beigong Chun gathered the Han Chinese within Pingyang and attempted to defend themselves in the Eastern Palace (東宮). However, Jin Zhun's cousin, Jin Kang (靳康), attacked them and had them all killed.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ (太傅越遣司馬王斌帥甲士五千人入衞京師，張軌亦遣督護北宮純將兵衞京師。五月，彌入自轘轅，敗官軍于伊北，京師大震，宮城門晝閉。壬戌，彌至洛陽，屯于津陽門。詔以王衍都督征討諸軍事。北宮純募勇士百餘人突陳，彌兵大敗。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.86
- ^ (北宮純等與漢劉聰戰於河東，敗之。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.86
- ^ (辛酉，聰屯西明門。北宮純等夜帥勇士千餘人出攻漢壁，斬其征虜將軍呼延顥。) Jin Shu, vol.87
- ^ (俄而王彌寇洛陽，軌遣北宮純、張纂、馬魴、陰浚等率州軍擊破之，又敗劉聰於河東，京師歌之曰：「涼州大馬，橫行天下。涼州鴟苕，寇賊消；鴟苕翩翩，怖殺人。」) Jin Shu, vol.86
- ^ (策未至，而王彌遂逼洛陽，軌遣將軍張斐、北宮純、郭敷等率精騎五千來衛京都。) Jin Shu, vol.86
- ^ (是歲，北宮純降劉聰。) Jin Shu, vol.86
- ^ (染送模於粲，粲害模及其子范陽王黎，送衛將軍梁芬、模長史魯繇、兼散騎常侍杜驁、辛謐及北宮純等於平陽。) Jin Shu, vol.102
- ^ (尚書北宮純、胡崧等招集晉人，保于東宮，靳康攻滅之。) Jin Shu, vol.102
- Fang, Xuanling (ed.) (648). Book of Jin (Jin Shu).
- Sima, Guang (1084). Zizhi Tongjian.