History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 182 A big game of chess

After receiving the imperial edict to execute the eunuchs who supervised the army, most of the vassal states strictly followed it, but there were four people who did not, they were Li Keyong of Hedong, Liu Rengong of Youzhou, Yang Xingmi of Huainan, and Wang Jian of Xichuan. They all hid their eunuchs who supervised the army, and found death row prisoners who looked similar to them to execute them, in order to deal with the central inspection team.

Zhang Chengye, the eunuch who supervised the army in Hedong, entered the palace as a castrated child at a young age and was adopted by the eunuch Zhang Tai, so he took the surname Zhang (his original surname was Kang). He was well-educated, intelligent, wise, loyal and upright, and was highly valued by Li Keyong. When Li Keyong died, Zhang Chengye was one of the important ministers entrusted with the care of his son, which shows Li Keyong's affirmation and trust in him. Zhang Chengye assisted Li Keyong and his son for two generations with all his loyalty and wisdom, comparable to Zhuge Liang to Liu Bei and his son, and left a glorious page in history.

The story of Zhang Chengye will be described in detail later.

Another eunuch worth mentioning is Diwu Kefan (with the surname Diwu). After Han Quanhui and other eunuchs were executed, Diwu Kefan and four other eunuchs took over as lieutenants of the Left and Right Shen Ce Army and Privy Councilors. A few days later, Zhaozong returned to Chang'an, and Diwu Kefan and others were massacred. Even Zhaozong felt that their deaths were unjust, and he personally wrote an elegy to mourn them.

Killing all the eunuchs has always been Cui Yin's political slogan and action program. However, "killing all the eunuchs" was only his means, not his goal. His ultimate goal was to confiscate the power held by the eunuchs. Cui Yin wanted to gather the power of the Southern Court and the Northern Court in one person and dominate the court and the country.

With the support of Zhu Wen, Cui Yin wrote a memorial to Emperor Zhaozong, presenting facts and reasoning. He said that since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, the world has been peaceful and eunuchs have never controlled the army. However, after Emperor Xuanzong Li Longji, the power of the eunuchs gradually rose and they gradually took control of the central imperial guards. As a result, the eunuch party began to interfere in politics. Therefore, we must cut the roots and completely eradicate the eunuchs and take their power back to the court.

If it is taken back to the court, who can represent the court? Of course it is Cui Yinwo.

Therefore, after the eunuchs such as Diwu Kefan were executed, the military power of the central imperial guards naturally fell into the hands of Cui Yin.

The lucrative position of Judge of the Three Departments, which had been taken away by the eunuchs, also returned to Cui Yin.

Through the massacre of eunuchs, Cui Yin achieved initial victory in the struggle for power (military power) and profit (judge the three courts). In order to achieve a comprehensive victory with power over the court and the country, it is far from enough to just eliminate the eunuchs. Next, Cui Yin will extend his evil clutches to the civil service group.

For Cui Yin, who had rich experience in political struggles, this kind of scene of fratricide was a piece of cake. He calmly pushed Zhaozong to the front row, used "restoring order out of chaos" as a smokescreen and the "Fengxiang Gang" as an entry point, and quietly launched a large-scale purge.

Emperor Zhaozong issued an edict: All personnel appointments previously issued in Fengxiang are invalid!
There is no doubt that the "Fengxiang Exile Government" was controlled by the eunuchs and the Guanxi Group, and Zhaozong was completely sidelined. Almost all the edicts issued during this period were forged eunuchs from the Guanxi-eunuchs joint reactionary forces. It is reasonable to abolish it now.

Cui Yin cleverly used this "reasonableness" to expand the scope of the struggle and kill people with a borrowed knife.

Prime Ministers Su Jian and Lu Guangqi were ordered to commit suicide because they were appointed by the "Fengxiang Exile Government" and were followers of Li Maozhen and Han Quanhui.

Among the officials who followed Emperor Zhaozong to Fengxiang, more than 30 were demoted and exiled. In the name of purging the "Fengxiang Gang", Cui Yin practiced the way of ganging up on dissidents, doing whatever he wanted without any scruples, and rewarding and punishing were all based on his personal likes and dislikes. The court officials were very afraid of Cui Yin and dared not breathe in front of him.

Senior officials had to be purged, and the grassroots lackeys could not be spared. Song Rou and 11 other palace maids had been used as spies by eunuch Han Quanhui and others to leak Cui Yin's memorials. They, along with monks and Taoist priests who had close contacts with the eunuchs, totaling more than people, were all beaten to death.

In addition, Prime Minister Lu Jian was demoted to the position of Prince Yi's tutor (teacher of Prince Yi), and was assigned to the Eastern Capital (official office in Luoyang), and was kicked out of the political stage; Prime Minister Wang Pu was demoted to the position of Prince's guest, and was assigned to the Eastern Capital.

Only Pei Zhi was "isolated and controllable", so he was able to serve as prime minister together with Cui Yin and put up vases.

Emperor Zhaozong wanted to promote Han Wei to be the prime minister, but Han Wei declined the offer and recommended his teacher, Imperial Censor Zhao Chong (who was the chief examiner when Han Wei passed the imperial examination), and Vice Minister of the Ministry of War Wang Zan to replace him as prime minister.

Zhaozong fully affirmed Han Wei's noble character and integrity and planned to accept Han Wei's recommendation.

Cui Yin immediately informed his backer, Zhu Wen, and hinted that the fruits of the revolution would be stolen by Han Wei, Zhao Chong, Wang Zan and others.

So Zhu Wen told Emperor Zhaozong that Zhao Chong was a frivolous person and Wang Zan was incompetent and useless, so why did Han Wei recommend them to be prime ministers?
This time, Zhu Wen changed his style of crying bitterly and became angry and vicious.

Zhaozong did not dare to go against Zhu Wen's will, so he could only temporarily put the appointment of prime minister on hold and demoted Han Wei from the court to the position of Sima of Puzhou.

In return, Zhu Wen wrote a letter to Li Maozhen on behalf of Emperor Zhaozong, ordering Li Maozhen to send Princess Pingyuan back. Li Maozhen did not dare to disobey the order and obediently sent Princess Pingyuan back from Fengxiang. Note that this was not Zhu Wen's simple "repaying the emperor's favor", but he deliberately laid a minefield in Guanxi area, leaving it as a foreshadowing, which will be expanded later.

Cui Yin suggested that a prince be chosen as the Grand Marshal of the Army of the World (Marshal of the Army of All Provinces), and that the Prime Minister Pei Shu be the Deputy Marshal. Pei Shu was also attached to Zhu Wen, so he and Cui Yin were comrades in arms.

Zhaozong naturally intended to let his eldest son, Prince De Li Yu, be the Grand Marshal, but Cui Yin insisted on letting the younger Prince Hui Li Zuo take the position. Li Yu was the oldest among the princes, only 11 years old, but Cui Yin followed Zhu Wen's secret order and insisted on using Li Zuo, who was younger and dumber, so that he would be easier to control (because of Zuo's youth, Cui Yin insisted on asking for it). The history books did not specify Li Zuo's age, but in any case, he was definitely less than 10 years old. How crazy!
Afterwards, during a football game in Baoning Palace, Comrade Zhu Wen won the MVP award, so he was rewarded with fine wine and was awarded the title of Deputy Marshal of the Army.

Someone reported Cui Yin's tyranny to Li Keyong, who smiled contemptuously and said, "Cui Yin is a minister, but he relies on the local vassal and coerces his own king. He is in charge of the government and holds military power. With his high position and power, many people will be jealous of him. Once his power is close to that of his patron (Zhu Wen), it will be time for Zhu Wen to kill him. Just wait and see. His family will be destroyed and his people will die."

Sharp vision, incisive comments, and accurate predictions - these are Li Keyong's political wisdom.

If the ten-character comment "Power brings resentment, and power brings conflict" could reach Zhu Wen's ears, he would definitely sigh "My parents gave me life, but Li Keyong knows me best." [Same bed, different dreams]

Even Li Keyong, an outsider in Taiyuan Prefecture in Hedong, could see through the chaos of Chang'an. Could Cui Yin and Zhu Wen really be the ones who were in control of the situation? Of course not. They were all the same.

Compared with Cui Yin's blatant behavior, Zhu Wen seemed more moderate. Apart from obstructing Zhao Chong and Wang Zan from becoming prime ministers, he hardly interfered in the central government's affairs. He only helped his confidants to obtain some local official positions, such as his eldest son Zhu Youyu as the governor of Huazhou Zhenguo Army, his nephew Zhu Youning as the governor of Ningyuan Army in Hezhou (Guangxi) (an empty title in name only), and he recommended Li Jizhao as the governor of Tianxiong Army in Qinzhou (also an empty title in name only). By the way, he cheated an empty title of "Deputy Marshal of the Army of the World".

This was not Zhu Wen's change of heart, nor was it out of concern. He was setting up a bigger chess game and using Cui Yin as a chess piece to play a big game.

In simple terms, Zhu Wen treated Cui Yin as a "dual puppet". Since monopolizing power was Cui Yin's dream political ambition, Zhu Wen let him do whatever he wanted. It was also because of Zhu Wen's support and acquiescence that Cui Yin was able to achieve a high degree of central power in just over a month.

On the surface, Zhaozong and the Tang central government became puppets of Cui Yin, but in reality, Zhu Wen wanted to turn Cui Yin into his own puppet, thereby achieving indirect control over the central court. Just like Russian nesting dolls.

The advantage of doing this is that Cui Yin will bear all the accusations and infamy for Zhu Wen. From the emperor to the common people, everyone hates Cui Yin's tyranny and disloyalty.

If Cui Yin continued to obey Zhu Wen, he would be exhausted by the endless political purge, which would cause greater resentment and abuse, like adding fuel to the fire, and eventually he would be burned; if Cui Yin tried to get rid of Zhu Wen's control, Zhu Wen would follow the will of heaven and the will of the people, eliminate the thieves for the country and the harm for the people, remove Cui Yin, and become a hero of the Jingnan Rebellion. Regardless of the outcome, Zhu Wen would have the benefit of monopolizing power and enjoy the reputation of a hero of the country, truly gaining both fame and fortune.

Li Keyong understood it, Zhu Wen understood it, and Cui Yin also understood it.

What Cui Yin had to do was to grow stronger before becoming a discarded pawn and break free from Zhu Wen's control, just like Liu Rengong broke free from Li Keyong.

The situation between Zhu Wen and Cui Yin can be perfectly interpreted by a popular online illustration. Two people wearing smiling masks shake hands with each other as a gesture of humility and friendship, while they each hold a sharp knife behind their backs.

Who of this pair of partners, each with their own ulterior motives, will have the last laugh? Let us wait and see.

Zhu Wen left behind 10,000 elite infantry and cavalry, who were stationed in the former barracks of the Left and Right Shenshen Armies; he appointed his nephew Zhu Youlun as the commander-in-chief of the Imperial Palace Guard; he appointed his confidant Zhang Tingfan as the manager of the Imperial Garden (Palace Garden Envoy), Wang Yin as the manager of the Imperial City (Imperial City Envoy), and Jiang Xuanhui as the manager of the streets (Street Envoy).

At first glance, it seems that only Zhu Youlun holds the formidable military power, but don't ignore the three "envoys" behind it. Don't take it literally and think that they are the head of the Garden Bureau, the captain of the Urban Management Team, and the director of the Street Committee. In fact, their official powers are much greater than this. Their actual powers should be understood as today's Public Security Bureau Chief, Armed Police Special Police Team Leader, militia and even more pervasive spy intelligence chiefs. They are all powerful departments.

In this way, Zhu Wen's followers were spread all over Chang'an City and beyond, closely monitoring every move of the central court.

Afterwards, in order to "avoid suspicion", Zhu Wen bid farewell to Zhaozong and led the main force back to Bianzhou.

Zhaozong first held a farewell banquet in Shouchun Palace and then held a second farewell banquet in Yanxi Tower to express his reluctance to part with his great contributor. When Zhu Wen officially left, Zhaozong climbed onto the high platform, bid farewell in tears, and ordered Zhu Wen to mount his horse in front of the tower instead of walking out of the palace gate. This was the highest courtesy Zhaozong could give.

not enough.

Emperor Zhaozong also personally composed five poems for Zhu Wen, praising his merits; Zhu Wen also composed poems to present. This was still the "rule" left by the ancestors. In fact, these cliché poems had been prepared in advance by the Hanlin scholars. The two protagonists memorized the lines in advance, and then "personally" composed poems at the right time to express their aspirations.

Afterwards, civil and military officials lined up at Changle Posthouse in the east of Chang'an City to send Zhu Wen back to the city. Prime Minister Cui Yin escorted Zhu Wen to Baqiao alone, and then held a farewell banquet for his master, drinking until midnight (second watch) before returning to Chang'an.

Emperor Zhaozong did not fall asleep either. He waited anxiously for Cui Yin to come back, and then summoned Cui Yin to the palace to ask about Zhu Wen's well-being. After receiving a positive reply, he ordered a banquet to watch singing and dancing, and did not clear the table until the fourth watch. This was the highest level of courtesy, to show respect and concern for Zhu Wen. Again, it was still the rule left by the ancestors.

However, I would rather believe that Zhaozong was silently humming the tune of "Sending Away the God of Plague" in his heart.

Before leaving, Zhu Wen completed the control of Chang'an City through a series of deployments, laying the groundwork for future "big events". At the same time, he also did two things for Zhaozong: one was to get the "hostage" Princess Pingyuan back, and the other was to entrust Zhaozong to write a mediation letter to Li Keyong of Hedong.

Zhu Wen reported to Emperor Zhaozong that there was no deep hatred between him and Li Keyong, and it was just a small misunderstanding. In addition, he was young, immature and ignorant at that time. He asked His Majesty to send a senior official to Hedong to help him convey a message to Comrade Li Keyong that it is better to resolve a feud than to create one. He is willing to meet him and laugh off all grudges, and let us put aside the past grudges from now on.

Zhaozong was of course pleased with what he had done, and he immediately sent a special mediator with generous gifts to Taiyuan Prefecture to express his condolences to Li Keyong and to convey Zhu Wen's intention to reconcile with him.

Facing Zhu Wen's initiative to show his goodwill, Li Keyong just smiled coldly and said, "This grandson is just planning to attack Qingzhou, and he is afraid that I will attack him from behind."

(End of this chapter)