Jing Yanguang (Chinese: 景延廣) (892-January 28, 947), courtesy name Hangchuan (航川), was a general and official of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period Later Jin state. He was instrumental in the enthronement of Later Jin's second emperor Shi Chonggui, and therefore became a powerful chancellor early in Shi Chonggui's reign. Under his advocacy, Shi Chonggui turned away from the peaceful, submissive relationship that Later Jin had with its northern neighbor Liao (whose Emperor Taizong's support had been essential in the establishment of Later Jin by Shi Chonggui's uncle and predecessor Shi Jingtang) and became confrontational against Liao. The adversarial relationship continued even after Jing's removal as chancellor, such that Later Jin was eventually destroyed by a Liao invasion. Emperor Taizong took Jing captive, intending to deliver him to Liao proper, but Jing committed suicide.
Jing Yanguang was born in 892, during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong of Tang. His family was from Shan Prefecture (陝州, in modern Sanmenxia, Henan), but all that is said about his family in traditional sources is that his father Jing Jian (景建) was a capable archer and trained Jing Yanguang to be one as well.
During the time of Tang's successor state Later Liang, Zhu Youhui (朱友誨) the Prince of Shao, a nephew to Later Liang's founding emperor Zhu Quanzhong, served as the military governor (Jiedushi) of Zhenguo Circuit (鎮國, headquartered at Shan Prefecture). He took Jing to be an officer under him. Later, after Zhu Youhui was accused of plotting a rebellion and was put under house arrest, Jing fled to avoid arrest. He later served under Yin Hao (尹皓), who commanded the army at Hua Prefecture (華州, in modern Weinan, Shaanxi). Yin was apparently impressed with him sufficiently to recommend him to be transferred to the Later Liang imperial guard corps at Bian Prefecture (汴州, i.e., the Later Liang capital Daliang). Jing later served under the prominent general Wang Yanzhang in resisting the army of Li Cunxu, the prince of Later Liang's archrival Jin. Later, after Li Cunxu claimed the title of emperor of a new state of Later Tang and launched a surprise attack into Later Liang territory, Wang made a futile attempt to try to stop him at Zhongdu (中都, in modern Jining, Shandong). Wang's army was crushed, and Wang was captured and executed after refusing to surrender. Jing suffered several serious wounds during this battle, and was captured by the Later Tang army and taken by them to Daliang, which fell to Li Cunxu. (Later Liang's last emperor Zhu Zhen committed suicide as the city fell, ending Later Liang, whose territory was taken over by Later Tang.)
After Later Liang's fall, Jing Yanguang apparently returned to serve in the army at Bian (which Later Tang converted back to the Tang-established Xuanwu Circuit (宣武), as Later Tang placed its capital at Luoyang, not Daliang). In 927, by which time Li Cunxu's adoptive brother Li Siyuan was emperor, Li Siyuan decided to visit Bian. Then-military governor of Xuanwu, Zhu Shouyin, believed that Li Siyuan was intending to act against him, rebelled, but was quickly defeated, and he committed suicide. Many of Zhu's officers, including Jing, were set to be executed. These executions were set to be carried out by Li Siyuan's son-in-law Shi Jingtang. When Shi saw Jing, however, he took pity on Jing, and secretly released him and told him to flee. Later, apparently after Shi became the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi), Jing came to serve under him as a "guest general" (客將, kejiang).
When Shi rebelled against then-emperor Li Congke (Li Siyuan's adoptive son) in 936, Li Congke sent the general Zhang Jingda to siege Hedong's capital Taiyuan. Jing participated in the city's defense and had much accomplishment during the siege, during which Zhang almost, but was never able to, capture the city. Subsequently, Emperor Taizong of Later Tang's northern rival Khitan Empire came to Shi's rescue and defeated Zhang. He then declared Shi the emperor of China (as emperor of a new state of Later Jin).
Shi Jingtang commissioned Jing Yanguang as the commander of his infantry. He was also given the honorary titles of acting Situ (司徒) and military prefect (團練使, Tuanlianshi) of Guo Prefecture (果州, in modern Nanchong, Sichuan, then ruled by Later Shu). Later (it is unclear whether this was before or after the Khitan/Later Jin forces destroyed Later Tang later in the year, allowing Later Jin to take over Later Tang's territory), he was given the honorary titles of acting Taibao (太保) and military governor of Ningjiang Circuit (寧江, headquartered in modern Chongqing, then also ruled by Later Shu).
In 939, Jing was sent out of then-capital Daliang to serve as the military governor of Yicheng Circuit (義成, headquartered in modern Anyang, Henan). In 940, he was given the honorary title of acting Taifu (太傅) and transferred to Baoyi Circuit (保義, headquartered in modern Sanmenxia, i.e., the same circuit formerly known as Zhenguo during Later Liang). In 941, he was recalled to serve as the disciplinary officer for the imperial guards. He was also made the military governor of Heyang Circuit (河陽, headquartered in modern Jiaozuo, Henan).
In 942, Shi Jingtang fell deathly ill. He initially entrusted his young (and only surviving) son Shi Chongrui (石重睿) to the senior chancellor Feng Dao, intending that Feng support Shi Chongrui in succeeding to the throne. However, after Shi Jingtang died shortly after, Feng discussed the matter with Jing, and they decided that as the realm was troubled at the time, the state needed an older emperor. They thus supported Shi Jingtang's biological nephew and adoptive son Shi Chonggui the Prince of Qi as emperor.
It was said that Jing Yanguang considered Shi Chonggui's ascension to the throne to be his doing, and used that to become involved in the key decisions in Shi's administration. Shortly after Shi took the throne, he was made the commander of the imperial guards, as well as chancellor (with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事). He was also apparently given the military governorship of Tianping Circuit (天平, headquartered in modern Tai'an, Shandong), but remained at Daliang.
One of the immediate diplomatic decisions was how Shi Jingtang's death and Shi Chonggui's ascension was to be reported to Khitan (which has renamed itself Liao by this point). Most officials suggested submitting a report to Emperor Taizong and having Shi Chonggui refer to himself as "your subject" in the report, to show submission. Jing, however, advocated a letter (to show equality between the states) and having Shi Chonggui refer to himself as "your grandson" and not "subject." (The reference to being "grandson" was based on the fact that Shi Jingtang referred to himself as "your son" when corresponding with Emperor Taizong). Fellow chancellor Li Song argued that Jing's suggestion would eventually lead to war, but Jing insisted. With Feng neither agreeing nor disagreeing with Jing, Shi Chonggui accepted Jing's proposal. This caused Emperor Taizong to be angered. He sent an emissary rebuking Shi Chonggui for taking the throne without first seeking his approval. Jing wrote back an impudent response, although the text of the response was not recorded.
With this apparent break in relations, Jing persuaded Shi Chonggui to arrest Liao's trade liaison officer at Daliang, Qiao Rong (喬榮), and seize all of property owned by the Liao liaison office. Further, all of the other Liao-authorized merchant officers within the Later Jin realm were seized and executed, and their property was seized. With the other officials pointing out that it was Liao aid that led to Later Jin's establishment, Shi released Qiao in 943, comforted him with kind words, and returned him to Liao. However, before Qiao's departure, Qiao went to bid Jing farewell. Jing, arrogantly, stated to him:
Tell your master: the deceased emperor [(i.e., Shi Jingtang)] was placed in his position by the northern dynasty [(i.e., Liao)], and that is why he claimed himself to be a subject and submitted reports. The current emperor was placed in his position by China itself. The only reason why he subordinated himself to the northern dynasty is that he did not forget the alliance the deceased emperor entered. It was enough for him to claim himself to be a grandson; there is no reason for him to claim himself to be a subject. The emperor of the northern dynasty should not be deluded by [Liao general] Zhao Yanshou such that he insults China. You have seen the soldiers and horses that China possesses. If the grandfather is angry, he can come and battle us. The grandson has 100,000 sharpened swords waiting for him. If he were defeated by his grandson, he would become the laughing stock of the entire world. Do not forget this!