| Wu-ning province, in which this thesis refers to, is one of the Zhongyuan-type nilitary provinces. Its provincial capital is Xu-zhou. The jurisdictions of Wu-ning province this thesis researched are Xu-zhou, Su-zhou, Hao-zhou and Si-zhou controlled by Xu-Si military governor established in 788. And the time range in discussion is from the An-shi Rebellion till 893 when Wu-ning province was annexed by Zhu Wen. Being an important military base of Tang court to protect Bian Canal route and pacify interior rebellions, Wu-ning province is on a vital strategic position to both politics and military affairs in late Tang dynasty, many weighty military operations directly relate to it during the late Tang and Five Dynasties. Aimed at specifically analyze the cause of Wu-ning province's essential role in the political changes, this thesis would discuss its organizational system and geographical conditions, the relationship between its establishment, development, extinction and the political changes of the late Tang and Five Dynasties. The thesis is divided into five portions:Introduction; Chapter 1, "Organizational system and evolution of Wu-ning province"; Chapter 2, "Establishment of Wu-ning province"; Chapter 3, "Development of Wu-ning province"; Chapter 4, "Extinction of Wu-ning province" and Epilog.Introduction. Based on introducing previous research achievements, covering fundamental studies and case studies of military province and correlation studies of Wu-ning province, come up with the significance of the topic selection, research object and scope of the thesis. Chapter 1, "Organizational system and evolution of Wu-ning province". Firstly, summarize the developing and changing process of Wu-ning province by the clue of its historical transition. Secondly, explore the geographical evolution of Wu-ning province's jurisdictions in Tang Dynasty, separated into three periods: governments-general era, circuit era and military governor era. Lastly, analyze the effect of geographical conditions on the evolvement of Wu-ning province.Chapter 2, "Establishment of Wu-ning province". This chapter begins by expounding the military situation along the Yangtze and Huaihe River after the An-shi rebellion. The Xu-zhou-centerted force organized by Tang court had effectively resisted the expansion of An-shi mutinous troops and protected the Bian Canal route. Tang court gradually realizes the necessity of setting up a military province in Xu-zhou. Secondly, rather than supporting the strategic location along Bian Canal and Huai-nan, Xu-zhou Army itself was repeatedly attacked during the Jian-zhong rebellion in De-zong's reign. Although Xu-zhou is a strategic spot, it failed to play a proper role. It is thus evident that Xu-zhou is weak in military strength as a prefecture and has not yet formed a military bloc. This experience was absorbed by Tang court, the process of establishing a military province in Wu-ning region is inevitable. Thirdly, after becoming a military province, Wu-ning province gradually developed under the elaboration of the first military governor Zhang Jianfeng and his son Zhang Yin. Consequently lead to a much better protection of Bian Canal route and become a vigorous power.Chapter 3, "Development of Wu-ning province". Sice Yuan-he(806), Wu-ning province has been frequently ordered by the court to crusade against rebellions, playing a major role in the operations such as suppressing the rebellion of three military provinces in He-shuo area, putting down the revolt of Huai-xi and Zi-qing, defensing the authority of the central government. However, although Wu-ning is a non-separatist-type military province, in its crusade against other provinces, it has strengthened its military power. Another effect is that its unruly garrison frequently expelled their governor. Consequently, Wu-ning becomes a trouble spot in the late Tang. Chapter 4, "Extinction of Wu-ning province". After mid-Tang, professional soldiers of Wu-ning not only directly affect its governor, but also become a powerful social force that has great impact on Wu-ning province and even national politics. Dealing with the unruly Xu-zhou garrison, the court takes different approaches: tolerance or uncompromised. Accordingly, Wu-ning has suffered three oppressive assailments. The first one is slaughter of Yin-dao Army designed by Wang Shi, thousands of unruly Xu-zhou garrison were killed. The second one comes after the court's operation to put down the Pang-xun Rebellion. The third one occurs in the separatist phenomenon of military provinces in late Tang, Wu-ning professional garrison bloc extincted along with Zhu Wen's annexing Wu-ning province. Zhu Wen failed to tenaciously control the jurisdictions of Wu-ning after he eliminated Shi Pu and took control of Xu-zhou, including Si-zhou, Hao-zhou and Su-zhou. These three jurisdictions have passed through a number of owners. Two blocs, Xuan-wu and Huai-nan, have chronically seesawed along the north bank area of Huai-he River. Undoubtedly, Wu-ning, which is an important military strategic spot connecting the south and north, is a vital factor maintaining the division of north and south until the early years of Song Dynasty.Through specific analysis of Wu-ning province in the above sections, a conclusion that the destiny of Wu-ning directly relate to the policies Tang court established on military provinces can be drew. Namely, strategy swifts of the court to military provinces would immediately reflect in the deployment of Wu-ning province. Simultaneously, the political orientation and development of Wu-ning, and its attitude towards the central government, would directly influence the political landscape of the last years of Tang and Five Dynasties. |
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