Li Te (李特, died 303), courtesy name Xuanxiu (玄休), posthumously King Jing of Chengdu (成都景王) and later Emperor Jing (景皇帝), was the spiritual founder of the Ba-Di-led Cheng-Han dynasty during the Sixteen Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Under the ruling Jin dynasty (266–420), he and many people from present-day Gansu sought refuge in Yizhou due to Qi Wannian's rebellion. In 300, he ousted the rebelling provincial Inspector, Zhao Xin, and established a strong presence in the region. He initially agreed to coexist with the new Inspector, Luo Shang, but due to conflicting interests, they eventually went to war with each other. Li Te had the upper hand early on, and in 303, he hinted at the formation of a new state. However, before he could do so, he was abruptly killed in an ambush by Jin forces. Regardless, his brother Li Liu and his son Li Xiong continued the war, with the latter finally forcing Luo Shang out from the provincial capital, Chengdu in 304. Li Xiong established the state of Cheng (later named Han in 338), and posthumously honoured his father as a king and later an emperor.
Background and early life
Li Te's ancestors were Cong (賨) or Bandun people originally from Baxi commandery (巴西郡; around present-day Langzhong, Sichuan). After Cao Cao captured Hanzhong during the end of the Han dynasty, his grandfather Li Hu (李虎) led his people north to submit to Cao Cao. Because of this, Li Te's family began living in Lüeyang County, where they mingled with the Di people of Qinzhou (秦州, modern eastern Gansu). Li Te and others similar to him were referred to as the Ba-Di, Ba being the region that their ancestors originated from. Li Te was the second of five sons of Li Mu (李慕). He was described as 8 chi tall (6 ft 2) and displayed martial talents such as horseback archery.
In 296, a Di chieftain named Qi Wannian led a major revolt around Li Te's area. The land was struck by famines and military occupation, so many of its inhabitants decided to migrate including Li Te, who led his followers back to his ancestral homeland in Yizhou. While passing through Jian'ge Pass (劍閣關, in modern Guangyuan, Sichuan), he was marvelled by the sturdy defenses that the region possessed, saying, "Liu Shan had such defenses as this, and yet he still gave himself over in surrender to others. How could he not have been a man of inferior talents?"
Zhao Xin's rebellion
At the start of the 4th century in 300, the Inspector of Yizhou, Zhao Xin rebelled against the Jin dynasty and declared himself Grand General and Governor of Yizhou. Among the first to support him was Li Te's brother, Li Xiáng, who brought along Te and their other brothers, Li Liu and Li Xiāng (note the different pinyin), to join as well. Zhao made Xiáng his General Who Vanquishes Invaders and had him defend the north. Li Xiáng was very liked among the people for his kind administration, which made Zhao Xin very jealous of him. In the end, Zhao had Li Xiáng killed without his brothers' knowledge in 301.
Yet, Zhao Xin was still determined to ensure both Li Te and Li Liu's loyalty to him. He sent messengers to console the brothers and tried to justify his actions, but this only angered then. The pair led their forces to attack Zhao Xin's base in Mianzhu. They first raided Zhao Xin's forces at Shiting during the night, setting fire to it and killing many of the soldiers before setting out to Chengdu. Li Te's arrival threw the city into panic, and many of Zhao Xin's officials abandoned him. Zhao Xin fled to Guangdu (廣都; in modern Shuangliu District, Sichuan) by boat with his family but was killed by his subordinates along the way. Li Te entered Chengdu, sacking the city before sending a list of crimes that Zhao Xin had committed to the Jin capital in Luoyang.
Opposing orders to return north
Despite Li Te's attempt to establish friendly relations with the Jin court, the court dispatched an army led by Luo Shang in order to crush Li Te and his forces. Li Te sent his brother Li Xiāng to welcome Luo Shang along the road and gift him with presents. Luo Shang was pleased and accepted his token of friendship in spite of objections from his subordinates Wang Dun (王敦, not to be confused with the more famous Wang Dun) and Xin Ran (辛冉). Luo Shang even made Li Xiāng his own officer, but suspicion between the two sides remained.