Li Jue (Han dynasty)

Li Jue
After Dong Zhuo's death, Guo Si and Li Jue sacked the Han capital at Chang'an. This is a Qing dynasty illustration depicting the attack.
Co-regent of the Han dynasty
Born	Unknown
Died	198
Names
Traditional Chinese	李傕
Simplified Chinese	李傕
Pinyin	Lǐ Jué
Wade–Giles	Li Chüeh
Courtesy name	Zhiran (Chinese: 稚然; pinyin: Zhìrán; Wade–Giles: Chih-jan)

Li Jue (died 198), courtesy name Zhiran, was a descendant of Li Guang, and a military general serving under the autocratic warlord, Dong Zhuo, in the late Eastern Han dynasty. He later succeeded Dong Zhuo as the leader of the Liang Province faction after Dong was murdered in a coup d'état, and was able to take over the Han capital Chang'an, keeping Emperor Xian as a hostage. Despite being adept in military affairs, he was inept at politics, quarrelling with his fellow generals and making the bad decision to let Emperor Xian escape, greatly decreasing his power and precipitating his downfall.

Originating from Beidi Commandery of Liang Province, Li Jue entered Dong Zhuo's Liang Province army as one of the earliest recruits. In helping Dong Zhuo in his many campaigns, including the suppression of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the Liang Province Rebellion, and the war with the coalition against Dong Zhuo, Li Jue had earned himself a military reputation.

After Dong Zhuo relocated the capital from Luoyang to Chang'an, Li Jue, along Guo Si and Zhang Ji, were sent to the frontline against the eastern warlords. At the time the alliance had been having internal conflicts, and would not unite in fighting Dong Zhou; as a result, a senior imperial officer, Zhu Jun, could only ask his old friend, Tao Qian, to give him a hand in a futile effort to fight the pillaging forces under Li Jue. Tao Qian, despite having a general alliance with Dong Zhuo, indeed sent 3,000 elite Danyang troops to Zhu Jun to battle Guo Si and Li Jue at Zhongmu County, where Zhu Jun's force was totally crushed. Li Jue and his comrades then performed raids around Chenliu and Yingchuan commanderies, wherein the defenders, Cao Cao and Xiahou Yuan (Administrator of Chenliu) were also unable to stop them. Many residents there were hijacked and enslaved by Li Jue's forces.