Luo Yi

Luo Yi (Chinese: 羅藝) (died 627), known during service to the Tang dynasty as Li Yi (李藝), courtesy name Ziyan (子延) or Ziting (子廷),[a] was a Sui dynasty official who rose against the rule of Emperor Yang of Sui and occupied the modern Beijing region.

He subsequently submitted to Emperor Gaozu of Tang and was created the Prince of Yan and granted the imperial surname of Li.

Luo Yi's clan was originally from Xiangyang (襄陽, in modern Xiangfan, Hubei), but moved from there to the Sui capital Chang'an.

Due to his contributions on the battlefield, by the latter part of the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, Luo was a key army officer at Beiping (北平, in modern Qinhuangdao, Hebei), under the command of the general Li Jing (李景).

By 616, nearby Zhuo Commandery (涿郡, roughly modern Beijing) was constantly under pillaging attacks by agrarian rebels, as Emperor Yang had stored much military supplies and placed many soldiers at Zhuo Commandery for his campaigns against Goguryeo, and nearby Linshuo Palace (臨朔宮) contained much imperial treasure.

The military officers in charge of defending the city, Zhao Shizhu (趙什住), Helan Yi (賀蘭誼), and Jin Wenyan (晉文衍) were all unable to stop the pillaging raids, but Luo often battled these agrarian rebels and prevailed, earning him greater reputation than the others.

Luo distributed the stored wealth and food to the soldiers and the people and executed several officials who were not willing to follow his orders.

Liu, however, was successful in defeating all Tang generals sent against him, including Li Yi, and regaining all of Dou's territory.

Li Yi was pleased, and he sent three thousand men with several hundred wagons and over 1,000 horses and donkeys to Wei Prefecture to transport food.

In summer 625, with Tang's capital region Guanzhong being under constant raids by Eastern Tujue, Emperor Gaozu repositioned a number of generals to try to defend against these raids, and as part of the movement, forces under Li Yi's command were placed at Huating (華亭, in modern Pingliang, Gansu) and Tanzheng Canyon (彈箏峽, in modern Guyuan, Ningxia).

Li Yi tried to flee to Eastern Tujue, but when he arrived at Wushi (烏氏, in modern Pingliang), his associates assassinated him and cut off his head to be delivered to Chang'an.

Emperor Taizong had his head hung in the streets and changed his name back to Luo, excising him from the imperial clan rolls.