Death
Meanwhile, it was said that Emperor Jingzong endeared himself to eunuchs, polo players and strong men who would arm wrestle with him by rewarding them greatly, but being impulsive, if he ever became angry at them, he would often exile them, seize their households, or batter them. It was said that these attendants began to resent and fear him. On January 9, 827, Emperor Jingzong was out hunting, and after finishing the hunt, he returned to the palace and was drinking with 28 people, including the eunuchs Liu Keming (劉克明), Tian Wucheng (田務澄), Xu Wenduan (許文端), and the polo players Su Zuoming (蘇佐明), Wang Jiaxian (王嘉憲), Shi Congkuan (石從寬), and Yan Weizhi (閻惟直). At one point, he got up from his seat to go to the latrine — and as he did, the candles suddenly went out, and Su and his colleagues took the opportunity to kill him. After that occurred, Liu summoned the imperial scholar Lu Sui to draft a will for Emperor Jingzong, putting Emperor Muzong's younger brother Li Wu the Prince of Jiàng in charge of the state.
The next morning, the will was issued, and Li Wu, while not yet ascending the throne, received the chancellors and the other officials, acting as if he were emperor. Meanwhile, Liu intended to eliminate the most powerful eunuchs. In response, the directors of palace communications Wang Shoucheng and Yang Chenghe (楊承和), and the commanders of the Shence Armies Wei Congjian (魏從簡) and Liang Shouqian (梁守謙) reacted by gathering the Shence Armies, as well as the Flying Dragon Soldiers (飛龍兵), to attack Liu's group and to escort Emperor Jingzong's younger brother Li Han the Prince of Jiāng (note different tone) to the palace. The Shence Armies and the Flying Dragon Soldiers attacked Liu's party, killing most of them, including Li Wu. Liu tried to commit suicide by jumping into a well, but was dragged out and beheaded. Subsequently, under the advice of Wei Chuhou, Wang publicly declared what had occurred, and had Grand Empress Dowager Guo name Li Han the new emperor. Li Han subsequently took the throne (as Emperor Wenzong).
Read more about this topic: Emperor Jingzong Of Tang
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