Duan Ning

Who is Duan Ning?

Duan Ning, né Duan Mingyuan, known as Li Shaoqin during the reign of Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang, was a general of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period states Later Liang Dynasty and Later Tang Dynasty. He became an official under Later Liang's founder Emperor Taizu of Later Liang based on his sister's being a concubine to Emperor Taizu, and later became a major general during the reign of Later Liang's last emperor Zhu Zhen. The failure in his ambitious plan to counterattack against Later Liang's northern rival Later Tang enabled Later Tang to defeat and conquer Later Liang, but despite such failure, he became a trusted general under Later Tang's founder Emperor Zhuangzong as well. After Emperor Zhuangzong's own fall and death, and succession by his adoptive brother Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang, Emperor Mingzong exiled Duan and later forced him to commit suicide.