The Rise of an Unlikely Heir

In June 942, Shi Chonggui ascended the throne as the second emperor of the Later Jin dynasty (936–947), succeeding his adoptive father Shi Jingtang—the infamous “Son Emperor” who had ceded strategic territories to the Khitan-led Liao dynasty. The circumstances of Chonggui’s rise reveal much about the chaotic politics of the Five Dynasties period.

Born to Shi Jingru (Shi Jingtang’s elder brother), a promising cavalry commander under Later Tang’s Emperor Li Cunxu, Chonggui was orphaned young and raised by Jingtang. Though lacking scholarly aptitude—his adoptive father once abandoned attempts to educate him—Chonggui distinguished himself militarily during the siege of Jinyang, where his battlefield bravery and tactical suggestions impressed the future emperor. When Jingtang prepared to march south, it was Chonggui who was chosen to defend the critical northern stronghold.

His path to succession became clear after a rebellion led by Fan Yanguang eliminated other potential heirs. Appointed Kaifeng governor, Chonggui seemed the natural successor—until 938, when Jingtang surprisingly fathered a biological son. The dying emperor’s last-minute hesitation between a 29-year-old battle-hardened nephew and a 5-year-old toddler exposed the dynasty’s instability. Ultimately, court officials like the pragmatic chancellor Feng Dao ensured Chonggui’s accession.

A Kingdom on the Brink

Chonggui inherited a catastrophically weakened state. Six major rebellions during Jingtang’s reign had drained the treasury, while the new emperor’s first year saw biblical-scale disasters:

– June 942: Simultaneous locust plagues reported across Henan, Hebei, and Guanxi
– July: 17 provinces overrun by swarms
– August: Widespread crop failures from Hedong to Hubei
– Winter: “Tens of millions” starved—figures comparable to Wang Mang or Emperor Yang’s reigns

The Later Jin’s vassalage to the Liao had become politically untenable. As scholar-officials whispered that “no one respected even Shi Jingtang, let alone his adopted son,” Chonggui faced an existential choice: continue humiliating tributary relations or reclaim sovereignty.

The Gamble for Sovereignty

Chonggui’s government chose defiance, led by the brash general Jing Yanguang. A survivor of multiple regime changes (having narrowly escaped execution under three dynasties), Jing rose through military prowess and Shi Jingtang’s patronage. His 943 ultimatum to Liao Emperor Yelü Deguang became legendary:

“Our current emperor was enthroned by China itself. Calling you ‘Grandfather’ suffices—we’ll never kneel as subjects! If you doubt our strength, remember this: Your grandson has 100,000 sharpened swords awaiting your visit.”

This calculated provocation—delivered to Khitan merchant Qiao Rong with written documentation—forced Yelü Deguang’s hand. The Liao ruler, already eyeing direct control over China through puppet Zhao Yanshou (a turncoat official), now had casus belli.

The Devastating War of 944

The conflict exposed both sides’ weaknesses:

Liao Advantages
– Early success capturing Beizhou (critical grain depot) via traitor Shao Ke
– Five-pronged invasion across Hebei and Shanxi

Jin Resilience
– Battle of Majiakou: Jin forces annihilated Khitan river-crossing attempts, drowning thousands
– Siege of Chanzhou: Emperor Shi personally led reinforcements to break encirclement
– Morale: Khitan massacres of Han civilians galvanized Jin troops

The tide turned at the Battle of Chanzhou (March 944), where:
– 100,000 Khitan troops faced fortified Jin positions
– Jin crossbowmen created “arrow blizzards” against cavalry charges
– Nighttime Khitan flanking maneuvers were countered by elite Jin reinforcements

Yelü Deguang’s shocked admission—”Yang Guangyuan told me half Jin troops starved to death! Who dares call these men weak?”—marked the campaign’s failure. The Khitan retreated, burning everything in a 1,000-li (300-mile) scorched-earth withdrawal.

Legacy of a Doomed Defiance

Though militarily inconclusive, the war had profound consequences:

1. Political Fallout
– Jing Yanguang was disgraced for cowardice during battles
– General Gao Xingzhou emerged as national hero
– Regional governors like Liu Zhiyuan quietly built independent forces

2. Structural Weaknesses
– The Later Jin’s emptied treasury could never recover
– 945 locust plagues compounded famine casualties

3. Strategic Lessons
– Demonstrated that Khitan forces could be resisted without walled-city defenses
– Inspired future Song dynasty’s Chanyuan Treaty strategies

When the Khitan returned in 946-947, exploiting Jin internal divisions, the dynasty collapsed swiftly. Yet Chonggui’s defiance became a template for later Northern Song resistance—proving that even tributary states could momentarily shake Khitan dominance through determined leadership and tactical innovation.

The tragic irony? The very locust swarms that crippled Chonggui’s reign may have saved countless lives—by making the Central Plains too resource-depleted to sustain prolonged Khitan occupation after their eventual victory. Nature, as much as human decisions, shaped this pivotal moment in China’s struggle against northern conquest.