Li Kaigu

Li Kaigu (李楷固), formally the Duke of Yan (燕公), was a general during the reign of Wu Zetian. He was of Khitan ethnicity.

In 696, the Khitan rose against Chinese hegemony under the leadership of Li Jinzhong and Li Jinzhong's brother-in-law Sun Wanrong. Li Kaigu was then a general under Li Jinzhong. By 697, Li Jinzhong had died and Sun had been defeated and killed. Li Kaigu and fellow Khitan general Luo Wuzheng (駱務整) surrendered to Wu Zetian's Zhou Dynasty. Initially, Zhou generals wanted to put Li Kaigu and Luo to death, in retaliation for their victories over Zhou forces previously, but the chancellor Di Renjie intervened and persuaded Wu Zetian to make them her generals. Li Kaigu was subsequently able to suppress the remaining Khitan forces who were still resisting Zhou forces, and in 700 was created the Duke of Yan and bestowed the surname of Wu. (Presumably, he changed his surname back to Li after Wu Zetian's son Emperor Zhongzong of Tang returned to the throne in 705 after a coup and restored Tang Dynasty.) However, he was unable to defeat Dae Jo-yeong, who eventually established the kingdom of Balhae. It is not known when Li Kaigu died.

Media interpretations

Li Kaigu is a character in the Korean television drama, Dae Jo Yeong (TV series) portrayed by Bo-seok Jeong. He was voted by many Dae Jo Yeong fans as the most ferocious rival of Jo Yeong. He is also the husband of Chu-lin and a father of Geom (although not his biological father. His real father is Dae Jo Yeong). He once followed Tang empress to get the land of "Yeongzu" but realizing Tang wouldn't give them the land, he left Tang.

The drama tells that he is a soft person, like when the part he is falling in love with Chu-lin and doing everything good for her. But when his servant, Sinhong a wicked and diligent person comes, Li Kaigu also becomes wicked little by little. Although he is working for Khitan, he has the blood of Goguryeo.

After the Khitan crumbles which leaves him being a capture of Tang and Eastern Tujue. But Dae Jo Yeong comes to save him, upon learning that Geom is his son. Jo yeong rescues him and tries to get him as his follower and succeeds in making Kaigu vow him but Li Kaigu betrays Dae Jo yeong, go to Xue Rengui to get one more chance to restore his tribe. He takes one eye off to prove Xue Rengui that he will not betray him. (In reality, Xue Rengui was long deceased prior to the Khitan defeat.)

He tries to block Dae Jo Yeong of trying to establish new Goguryeo and instead build his own Kingdom. But this fails as he wasn't able to defeat Dae Jo Yeong. He loses and when hiding in Yoha Castle and Dae Jo Yeong after him, Li Kaigu challenges Dae Jo Yeong in a fight. He is the first to get enemy hurt. The battle is fierce and they both get injured. However, Dae Jo Yeong manages to win, killing Li Kaigu and being the winner.