History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 139 Dong Chang Becomes Emperor 2
Since you want to establish a country and become an emperor, you must have a country name and a reign title.

The retainer Ni Deru said: "During the Xiantong period, the Yuezhong Secret Records wrote that 'there is a Luoping bird, which is responsible for Yue's fortune and misfortune.' During the Zhonghe period, a strange bird with four eyes and three legs appeared in the Wuyue region. Its cry was not 'chi chi chi cha' or 'qua qua', but 'Luoping Tiance', and the people offered sacrifices to it and prayed for blessings." He then showed Dong Chang the shadow picture of this strange bird.

Dong Chang summoned civil and military officials and symbolically solicited their opinions on his enthronement.

Huang Jie, the deputy governor, expressed his opposition, saying that although the Tang Dynasty was in decline, it had not been despised by the world. Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin both became overlords by supporting the declining Zhou emperor. Your Majesty, you should learn from them. You were blessed by the emperor and were promoted from a commoner to a governor. You enjoy the title of king and have reached the pinnacle of wealth and glory. Why would you commit an illegal act of executing your entire family?

Every word was true and was spoken for Dong Chang's sake.

Dong Chang was furious and ordered Huang Jie's head to be chopped off and thrown into the pit. He also stood beside the pit and scolded him, "You are a dog slave, you don't know what's good for you! I promoted you to be my deputy envoy, and now I want to promote you to be the prime minister. You give up the glory and wealth, but you choose to die!"

The more he cursed, the more unsatisfied he felt, so he ordered the entire 80 members of Huang Jie's family to be killed and buried in a big pit.

Dong Chang, still furious, turned to ask Wu Liao, the county magistrate of Kuaiji, "What do you mean?"

Wu Liao said righteously, "Your Majesty, this is courting your own destruction!"

Wu Liao's entire family was killed.

Dong Chang then asked Shanyin County Magistrate Zhang Xun, "What about you?"

Zhang Xun was too powerful to yield, "I am only afraid that Your Majesty will become a laughing stock in the world."

Zhang Xun was killed.

Dong Chang: "Who else?"

"Long live my emperor."

On the third day of the second month of the second year of the Qianning reign of the Tang Dynasty (895), which was the Rabbit Year, Rabbit Month and Rabbit Day, Dong Chang wore a dragon robe and a Tianping crown, climbed the gate tower of the inner city of Yuezhou, sat on the dragon throne, and arranged for people to display the auspicious items recently donated by the people (copper, lead and stone seals covering ten beds, and countless birds, beasts, turtles and snakes) in the large courtyard for people to see.

The Rabbit Time had arrived, and Dong Chang announced that he would take the throne in accordance with the will of Heaven and the people. He changed the country's name to "Dai Viet Lo Ping" and established the reign title "Shun Tien". All civil and military officials were required to address him as "Saint" instead of "Your Majesty". A four-inch silver seal was cast with the words "Seal of Governing the Country in Accordance with Heaven" engraved on it.
The city gate tower upon his accession was renamed "Tian Ce Tower", and the palace was renamed "Ming Guang Hall", "Huang Long Hall", etc.

He issued a general amnesty, conferred titles on his ministers, and issued proclamations to all directions.

Upon hearing the news that Dong Chang had proclaimed himself emperor, the military supervisors and officials in the jurisdiction all faced northwest (Chang'an) and cried bitterly, and then reluctantly pledged allegiance to Dong Chang and accepted the false edict.

Dong Chang wrote a letter to his most capable subordinate, Qian Liu, telling him that he was now the emperor of Luoping Kingdom and promoted him to the commander-in-chief of the three armies of Luoping Kingdom (the commander-in-chief of Liangzhe).

Qian Liu first wrote a letter to persuade him to repent and reform, to repay Dong Chang's past support and friendship. He also wrote a letter to persuade Dong Chang to change his mind and not put his whole family and the people of eastern Zhejiang in dire straits.

Dong Chang scolded Qian Liu for being an ungrateful person and rejected Qian Liu's kindness.

In fact, Qian Liu had done his utmost to Dong Chang. In his reply to Dong Chang, he had very tactfully pointed out a way forward for him: "Instead of staying in seclusion and being the emperor, it is better to open a government office and lead the military governorship."

At that time, local vassal states were separatist and powerful, and they acted as emperors in the name of Jiedushi. They had absolute power over finance, administration, military affairs, and justice in their jurisdictions. In today's terms, they were highly autonomous, just like "local emperors". Everyone knew it tacitly, so some people around Dong Chang used Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin to persuade him that the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, like the Emperor of Zhou, had long lost control over the princes of the world, and everyone only respected the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty as the common ruler of the world in name.

Why do you, Dong Chang, insist on asking for the empty title of "emperor" and make yourself the target of public criticism?
Good words can't change a damned ghost.

Qian Liu submitted a memorial to the imperial court, informing it of the situation in Liangzhe.

The imperial court ordered Qian Liu to lead an army to attack.

So Qian Liu personally led 30,000 troops to Ying'en Gate, stopped them from advancing, and said, "Dong Chang has done me a favor, I don't want to fight him. Give me a chance, and I will persuade him again."

Qian Liu was still respectful to his old superior, "bowing again from the tower", and personally shouted to persuade him:

"Your Majesty already has several states, and you are a general and a prime minister. You are not unworthy, and you are not unrich. Once you change your loyalty, disaster will come. I am leading the army here today, not to conquer, but to make a final effort. I hope Your Majesty can stop before it is too late. Otherwise, the emperor will be furious and the royal army will cross the river. At that time, not only will Your Majesty be in danger, but the people of the six states will also suffer! The way of blessing and disaster, Your Majesty, you should carefully consider it!"

Truth is always within the range of the cannon, and caliber is justice. With 30,000 elite soldiers behind him, Qian Liu is a warning; otherwise, it is nonsense.

With the support of 30,000 elite soldiers, Dong Chang sent 2 million strings of cash to reward the army, and tied up Ying Zhi, Wang Wen and other "Lü Yongzhi" in Qian Liu's army, saying that it was these evil people who had bewitched him and that he would reform himself, turn over a new leaf and become a new man.

Qian Liu beheaded Ying Zhi, Wang Wen and others in public, then withdrew his troops and reported the latest situation to the court.

Qian Liu was a smart man.

Usurping the throne was the imperial court's red line, which must not be crossed. Once someone broke the law, he would become the target of public criticism and be attacked by everyone. In the end, the powerful vassals around the usurper would naturally share the fruits of victory and reap the dividends of suppressing the rebellion. For example, Qin Zongquan helped Zhu Wen grow up.

Dong Chang proclaimed himself emperor in Yuezhou. To his east was the sea, and to his west and north were two neighbors, Qian Liu and Yang Xingmi, of which Qian Liu was closer. Moreover, Yang Xingmi was actively fighting in the north, with his strategic goal set on the north, encroaching on Zhu Wen's territory, and had no time to look south.

Therefore, Dong Chang's enthronement was a great opportunity for Qian Liu to annex the eastern Zhejiang region! Qian Liu's annexation of Dong Chang would be a replica of Zhu Wen and Qin Zongquan.

When Dong Chang had the intention to usurp the throne, historical records recorded that "the lower officials were tired of his cruelty and advised him to become emperor." This sentence is very interesting. Who does "lower officials" refer to?
It can be understood that it refers to his generals, staff, subordinates, and even the people. There was an endless stream of people offering him auspicious signs, and there were records of people gathering at the gate of the government office, firmly demanding that Dong Chang "follow the will of the people" and ascend the throne to become emperor. Of course, there were evil people such as Ying Zhi and Wang Wen who were at work, and of course there were also people who were "disgusted with his cruelty", that is, some people deliberately led Dong Chang into a ditch, instigated him to become emperor and bring about his own destruction.

So would “they” be ordinary people?

Absolutely not. When a war breaks out, the people are the most unlucky ones, being robbed, killed, and eaten. How could they incite rebellion? The king's army descends from the sky, and everything will be destroyed.

Let’s think about it from another angle. Who would benefit the most from Dong Chang’s enthronement?

Qian Liu!

I dare not say that Qian Liu was the one who secretly fanned the flames, but he must have been the one who hoped to see Dong Chang become emperor.

But when Dong Chang really proclaimed himself emperor, Qian Liu became the one who tried his best to protect Dong Chang. This is not contradictory, because this is Qian Liu's brilliance.

The reason is very simple, he pleaded for mercy because he knew he would die, just like Li Maozhen pleaded for Tian Lingzi.

The attempt to usurp the throne was intolerable in every dynasty and was the most sensitive red line in the feudal dynasty. Whether it was Huang Chao, Qin Zongquan, or Dong Chang, if they dared to claim to be emperor, they would inevitably die.

Qian Liu repeatedly told his subordinates that Dong Chang was his benefactor and that he should not be abandoned, and that he should do his utmost to persuade him to turn back. This fully demonstrated his gratitude and nostalgia.

In this way, he could not only use the court to get rid of Dong Chang and expand his sphere of influence, but also create a glorious image of a kind-hearted person who cares about his old master. Killing two birds with one stone.

Qian Liu and Li Maozhen had the same plan, but their opponent was Emperor Zhaozong.

Zhaozong pardoned Tian Lingzi and sprained Li Maozhen's waist; this time, he would also slap Qian Liu in the face.

Zhaozong "believed" that Dong Chang had been actively paying tribute to the central court for years and had made great contributions. He must have suddenly proclaimed himself emperor this time because he had a temporary brain failure and was bewitched and instigated by evil villains and was confused for a moment. Since he had expressed his desire to reform, the court should give him a chance. It is a great virtue to be able to correct one's mistakes.

So he actually issued an imperial edict to pardon Dong Chang's crime of treason, but only dismissed him from his post and allowed him to retire and return to his hometown to reflect on his mistakes.

The cooked duck flew away.

Flying?!
Qian Liu hurriedly reported to the court, saying that the usurpation of the throne was unforgivable! This was intolerable, what could not be tolerated? He also requested the court to approve his leading his troops to fight against the rebels.

The character collapsed. Slap in the face.

At that time, Yang Xingmi's strategic focus moved northward, and he was encroaching on Zhu Wen's territory, including Sizhou, Haozhou, Shouzhou, etc. He did not want a fire in his backyard, did not want to see Qian Liu's family dominate, and did not want to see the fat meat Dong Chang being swallowed up by Qian Liu alone.

So Yang Xingmi wrote to Qian Liu, saying that since the court had pardoned Dong Chang and Dong Chang had expressed repentance, he should stop holding on to him and give him a chance. He wanted to be a good person.
He also wrote a letter to Dong Chang, urging him to pay tribute to the court as soon as possible and repent and reform through practical actions.

Thanks to my old friend "纯正lsp" for his 12 recommendation votes, "卧室大王" for his 9 recommendation votes, and "雨中追风男" for his valuable monthly votes and generous rewards! I will add more chapters today to show my gratitude!

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