Li Ju

Li Ju (died 325), courtesy name Shihui, was a Chinese military general and warlord of the Jin dynasty (266–420). During the Upheaval of the Five Barbarians, he became a powerful wuzhu (塢主; literally "castle master") and contested with the Han-Zhao and Later Zhao states over the Luoyang region, which Jin had lost control over after the Disaster of Yongjia in 311. He found much success initially, even briefly recovering the city of Luoyang for Jin. However, with little support from the court in Jiankang, his forces were eventually overwhelmed and he was forced to withdraw. While traveling to Jiankang in 325, he was involved in a horse riding accident and died from his injuries. Early life Li Ju was a native of Pingyang Commandery (平陽; west of present-day Linfen, Shanxi). When he was a child, it was said that he displayed adult-like leadership whenever he played with the other children. After growing up, he became a local official and was later appointed by Sima Rong as a General of the Serrated Gates for escorting his county prefect to Chang'an. Li distinguished himself during the campaign against Qi Wannian in the late 290s, which earned him the title of Marquis of Dongming Village. When he returned to Pingyang, he was made the commandery's new Protector. It was then when an attempt on Li's life was made. The Administrator of Pingyang, Song Zhou (宋胄), wanted to replace Li with his kinsman Wu Ji (吳畿). Li thus pretended to be ill to allow Wu to replace him. Wu received the position, but became afraid that Li may one day return to retake his office. For good measures, Wu sent an assassin after Li but with the help of a friend, he barely escaped with his life. As a wuzhu Amidst the War of the Eight Princes, a Xiongnu noble named Liu Yuan established his state of Han-Zhao in 304. Liu began his conquest of northern China, with Pingyang being one of his targets. Many of Pingyang's inhabitants fled while others went to Li Ju, who they acclaimed as a wuzhu. Soon, refugees from other parts of the north affected by war flocked to Li Ju due to his popularity. Li later shifted his base to Xingyang and then to Xinzheng. The Prince of Donghai, Sima Yue, took notice of him and made him Inspector of Ruyin (汝陰, in modern Fuyang, Anhui). In 307, Li Ju was ordered by Sima Yue to fix the Qianjin Dam (千金堨) at Luoyang with Yuan Fu (袁孚) to improve supply routes.