Career
He served the Shatuo leaders Li Keyong — who adopted him as a son — and Li Keyong"s biological son and successor Li Cunxu. He died in the battles against Zhang Chujin. Sun Chongjin was a native of the northern territory called Zhenwu (振武.
Around modern Hohhot, Inner Mongolia).
He began following Li Keyong when the latter attacked Shuozhou (in modern Shanxi) and became an adopted son some time later with the new name Li Cunjin. After the suppression of the rebel Huang Chao, Li Cunjin rose to a commissioner of Army of Righteous Sons (義兒軍使).
After the death of Li Keyong, Li Cunjin served Li Keyong"s successor Li Cunxu when their Jin state fought the Later Liang. After 915, he became a chief officer (都部署) of the newly conquered Tianxiong Command (天雄軍).
There he instilled strict measures on the surrendered Later Liang troops: anyone violating the regulations would be openly beheaded or dismembered, and this approach effectively prevented any possible unrest.
He was promoted to military governor of Zhenwu Command (振武軍. Headquartered in modern Hohhot) after participating in the battles along the Yellow River. In 921, Zhang Wenli usurped the power in Zhao, eliciting a military response from Li Cunxu.
The attacks were unsuccessful as many Jin generals died in battles, including Li Sizhao.
Li Cunxu then asked Li Cunjin to replace Li Sizhao as the commissioner of bandit suppression (招討使). As the soil was poor at the crossing where he quartered his men, he was not able to construct ramparts, so palisades were made instead.
When the palisade went under attack by the troops of Zhang Wenli"s son Zhang Chujin, Li Cunjin rose atop a bridge to direct his troops and died in the battles. He was conferred a grand marshal (太尉) posthumously.
Although by no means as popular as Guan Yu or other famed historical Chinese military leaders, Li Cunjin seems to still have some name recognition in modern China.
Zhanjiang city, Guangdong province, has named both the Cunjin Bridge and Cunjin Bridge Park after him, commemorating his display of heroism in his famous last battle.
