History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 108: Cutting Zhu Zhen with Tears

When Zhu Zhen saw Li Tangbin, he was already furious. When he saw that Li Tangbin was protecting his subordinates and committing treason and making trouble unreasonably, he immediately flew into a rage and accused him of being lawless.

The scolding made Li Tangbin, who came to seek face, even more embarrassed. He was furious, but he could not get the upper hand in punishing Yan Jiao. In a hurry, he lost his composure and said something irrelevant:
"Zhu Zhen, don't go too far! You are clearly resentful of my previous report and exposure, and you are using this as an excuse to make things difficult for me. You are abusing your power and taking revenge!"

Li Tangbin was trying to make trouble without any reason, trying to cover up his shame with words, but one of his words hit the nail on the head.

Just because Li Tangbin made groundless accusations, he almost killed Zhu Zhen. He hadn't come to settle the score with him yet, but today he brought it up first. All of a sudden, new and old hatreds surged into Zhu Zhen's heart. Zhu Zhen could no longer suppress his anger and ordered Li Tangbin to be tied up, and then he personally swung his sword and killed him.

When Li Tangbin's blood splattered on Zhu Zhen's face, Zhu Zhen woke up.

Zhu Zhen could kill anyone in the army except Li Tangbin. But he killed Li Tangbin anyway.

Li Tangbin was Zhu Wen's spy planted beside Zhu Zhen, equivalent to a military supervisor and political commissar. If Li Tangbin killed Zhu Zhen, it would be considered as performing official duties and clearing up internal troubles, which is reasonable and legal; but if Zhu Zhen killed Li Tangbin, it would be a conspiracy and rebellion, which could not be washed away even if he jumped into the Yellow River.

It's too late to regret now.

Zhu Zhen hurriedly sent his confidant to report to Zhu Wen, saying that Li Tangbin was plotting a rebellion and was discovered and killed in time. Zhu Zhen repeatedly told him to report to the great military advisor Jing Xiang first.

If Jing Xiang could mediate this matter, there might be a glimmer of hope.

Zhu Zhen's confidant rode non-stop to Bianzhou, but fell off his horse and anxiously recounted what had happened to Jing Xiang, with a look of "the sky is falling" on his face.

Jing Xiang was horrified when he heard this, thinking to himself that something was wrong, but he pretended to be calm on his face, as if it was not a big deal at all.

"Oh...what happened? I didn't hear it clearly."

"Oh no! Something terrible has happened!" The envoy repeated it anxiously, his mouth dry and breathless.

"Oh... I still don't quite understand..."

Jing Xiang patiently asked him to repeat it over and over again until night fell.

No matter how funny a joke is, if it is repeated a thousand times, it will become boring. No matter how urgent a matter is, if it is repeated a thousand times, it will become calm.

If the envoy were allowed to meet Zhu Wen in this state and with this kind of emotion, wouldn't that just add fuel to the fire? He must be allowed to calm down first.

Furthermore, delaying the report to Zhu Wen until night would prevent Zhu Wen's order from being executed immediately, and time could be used as a buffer to offset Zhu Wen's impulse.

Jing Xiang met Zhu Wen alone and told him the whole story in the calmest tone possible.

Jing Xiang and Zhu Zhen, one a scholar and the other a warrior, were Zhu Wen's right-hand men. They both had the experience of accompanying Zhu Wen for a long time and knew him well. However, Zhu Zhen only knew his appearance, while Jing Xiang knew his inner qualities.

Zhu Zhen believed that Zhu Wen would be furious, so he asked Jing Xiang to mediate.

In fact, Zhu Wen’s first reaction was not anger, but surprise.

The last time Zhu Zhen privately welcomed his family, he violated a taboo in the army, and this was a knot between the two. Until Li Tangbin broke through the gate and fled at night, reporting that Zhu Zhen had a private banquet and was plotting something bad, Zhu Wen also believed that it was a misunderstanding and comforted him with kind words.

This time, Zhu Zhen impulsively killed Li Tangbin, but it was definitely not a rebellion. Otherwise, he would not have sent someone to report the situation as soon as possible and turned himself in.

Zhu Wen believed that Zhu Zhen would not rebel, but the question was whether Zhu Zhen believed that Zhu Wen believed that Zhu Zhen would not rebel?

In this situation, any small action of Zhu Wen could provoke Zhu Zhen, leading to his real rebellion. This was what Zhu Wen and Jing Xiang were most worried about.

Zhu Zhen must not be provoked. Since Zhu Zhen had accused Li Tangbin of treason, he should do as he said. The next morning, Zhu Wen issued an order: arrest Li Tangbin's wife, children, and elders, take them to prison, and interrogate them strictly.

Everything Zhu Wen did was to try to prove to Zhu Zhen: I not only believe that you will not rebel, but I also believe that you believe that I believe that you will not rebel...

Zhu Zhen was moved. He believed that his revolutionary friendship with Zhu Wen was unbreakable and could withstand any test.

He is childish.

"Trusting you" and "killing you" are not contradictory.

In July of the first year of the Longji Period of the Tang Dynasty (889), the weather was clear and crisp in autumn. Zhu Wen led a large group of people to the front line of Xiao County to inspect the work as originally planned.

Zhu Zhen went thirty miles out of the city to welcome him. The guard of honor was in neat order, with shining helmets and armor, and clean water was poured on the streets and yellow earth was used to pave the road.

Zhu Zhen was full of joy to welcome the inspection of the great leader, expecting to see Zhu Wen's happy smile like a good harvest. However, what he saw was a solemn face, which made him feel the chill of autumn wind sweeping fallen leaves.

"Why do you want to kill Li Tangbin?" Zhu Wen was furious and shouted loudly.

Zhu Zhen's tongue seemed to be covered with super glue, firmly sticking to his upper teeth, and he couldn't say a word. He didn't have the chance to defend himself, because strong guards had already appeared on both sides and tied him up with ropes.

There was no specious defense, nor any tearful pleas. Zhu Zhen was shocked and stunned, and only sighed.
"Hey--"

Previously, when Zhu Zhen went to Shandong to recruit soldiers, his lieutenant Zhang Renyu wanted to apply for the privilege of beheading first and reporting later, citing the ever-changing situation of the war. At that time, Zhu Zhen asked coldly, "Why, a lieutenant wants to kill people?" Then he beheaded Zhang Renyu in public to rectify military discipline.

Zhang Renyu only applied for a title of a killer, but you, Zhu Zhen, killed him. Now that you have the actual power to kill, do you still expect to be forgiven?
Zhu Zhen knew that he would definitely die today. Forget it, be brave, like a man, and face it with the last bit of dignity.

In the central army tent, Zhu Wen was still furious and announced Zhu Zhen's crime - killing a general without authorization. Then he announced his decision - beheading.

Dozens of generals including Huo Cun knelt down and pleaded for Zhu Zhen.

This person said that considering that Zhu Zhen had followed the lord for many years and had made countless military achievements, he should be spared.

That said, beheading the main general before the enemy is defeated will be disadvantageous to the army. I hope you will think twice...

Zhu Wen was furious. He kicked over the table in front of him and shouted, "Why didn't you plead for mercy when he killed Li Tangbin!" He picked up the small stool he was sitting on and threw it at the generals (Taizu was so angry that he picked up the Hu couch and threw it at them).

In the end, Zhu Wen, out of consideration for their old friendship, changed the execution to hanging, leaving Zhu Zhen's body intact.

After Zhu Zhen was executed, Zhu Wen promoted another direct cadre, Pang Shigu, as the commander-in-chief of the Xuzhou front to replace Zhu Zhen.

The successive deaths of Li Tangbin and Zhu Zhen cast an indelible shadow over the Bian Army.

Under the dark clouds, the Bian Army was ordered to launch a new round of offensive against Xuzhou, and Zhu Wen personally went to the city to supervise the battle.

The silent drizzle was generous and persistent, and it continued. The continuous autumn rain became the strongest line of defense for Xuzhou City, forcing Zhu Wen to retreat with hatred.

Xuzhou is another piece of fat meat that is at the mouth but cannot be swallowed.

The dark clouds brought to Xuzhou by Xiaoxian's killing announced the end of Zhu Wen's VIP membership. From then on, Zhu Wen's luck took a sharp turn for the worse and he was plagued by bad luck.

(End of this chapter)