History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 218 Huainan Changes Ownership
Zhu Wen's luck was never in Huainan.

Yang Xingmi had been seriously ill for a long time and was about to die. The choice of an heir had been bothering him. As he told Mrs. Zhu, his sons were all incompetent and unworthy of inheriting the business he had created. In particular, his eldest son, Yang Wo, had a particularly bad reputation and was looked down upon by the civil and military officials in Huainan.

As Yang Xingmi's health deteriorated day by day, undercurrents surged within the Huainan Group, and different factions were brewing unspeakable secrets. Previously, Yang Wo was sent to a remote place, which was a side reflection of the political struggle. As the counselor Xu Wen said, the lord was seriously ill, but he sent his eldest son to a remote place. There must be something fishy about it, and we must be on guard.

Now, Yang Xingmi was bedridden, so he ordered his aide Zhou Yin to summon Yang Wo to Yangzhou, intending to let his eldest son Yang Wo inherit his legacy.

Zhou Yin was honest and upright. He was so honest that he didn't try to disguise his uprightness, and so honest that he was almost stupid. He actually said to Yang Xingmi, "The eldest son always easily believes in slander, and is addicted to playing ball and drinking. He is not the kind of person who can protect the family. Your other sons are young and ignorant, and are not qualified to lead the generals. In my opinion, Liu Wei, the governor of Luzhou, is the first meritorious official who followed you. He is a comrade who has been tested by the organization. Whether in terms of personal ability, qualifications, prestige or loyalty, he is trustworthy. Why don't you let him be the regent temporarily, and when the other sons grow up, let Liu Wei hand over power to them."

The political factions within the Huainan Group are very complex. I have made a rough division based on the development process of Yang Xingmi's Group. If you don't like it, please don't criticize. Discussion is welcome:

First is the "Luzhou direct lineage".

For example, the "Thirty-Six Heroes" who first followed Yang Xingmi, such as Tian Yu, Zhu Yanshou, Liu Wei, Tao Ya, Li Jian, Li Yu, Xu Wen, etc., were the founders of the Huainan Group and the direct descendants of Yang Xingmi.

Secondly, there is the "Yangzhou Group", which started in Luzhou and took control of Yangzhou.

This is the road to the listing of Huainan Group. It was mainly because Yang Xingmi, with the help of the "Luzhou direct line", caught the investment trend (Bi Shiduo and Qin Yan rebelled), used high-leverage financing (borrowing troops) to merge and reorganize the old Huainan Group (Gao Pian), and finally killed angel investors and venture capital partners (such as Gao Ba and Lu Yongzhi) to take the listing dividends alone. Those who were poached or actively jumped to other companies during this period can be roughly classified as "Yangzhou line".

Third, it is the “Xuanzhou system”.

This includes fresh blood who competed with Sun Ru for Yangzhou and annexed Xuanzhou, and most of them are Sun Ru's old subordinates, such as Chai Zaiyong.

Finally, those who went to Huainan to seek political asylum, such as Zhu Jin, the Hedong general Li Chengsi who stayed and defected to Huainan, and the surrendered generals in the tug-of-war with Qian Liu in Hangzhou, etc., because they were redundant and had weak political power, they no longer set up their own factions, but were divided into the above-mentioned three factions according to the time of their surrender.

After a rough combing, it is not difficult to see that among the three major factions within the Huainan Group, the "Xuanzhou faction" with the least seniority has the largest number of people, is the main component of the group, and the backbone of society; although the "Yangzhou faction" has earlier seniority, its status in the group is the lowest, because most of them joined the Huainan Group out of helplessness, and their sense of identity and belonging has always been questioned; although the "Luzhou direct lineage" has a good origin, it has always been a concern for Yang Xingmi, because these veterans are arrogant and often rebellious.

Yang Xingmi's management ideas were also very clear: suppress and contain the "Luzhou clique" who had made great contributions, appease the "Yangzhou clique", and vigorously promote the "Xuanzhou clique". Whether it was feudal princes, corporate leaders, or the bosses and presidents of folk groups, they all relied on this management idea.

The reason is simple. The "Xuanzhou faction" believes that everything they have is given by Yang Xingmi, so they are grateful to Yang Xingmi from the bottom of their hearts, wholeheartedly safeguard the interests of the Huainan Group, and support Yang Xingmi's rule; while the "Luzhou direct line" believes that everything Yang Xingmi has is given by them. Without their help, Yang Xingmi would not be where he is today? Would the Huainan Group be where it is today?

For example, after years of hard work, a certain folk group finally became famous throughout the country. However, some veterans felt that their salary and benefits were unfair, so they announced their withdrawal. However, the group owner strongly supported an apprentice who had no connections, no background, and no foundation. Precisely because he was a "three-no" product, he had a strong dependence on the group and the group owner. As long as he was not short-circuited in the brain, he should know that once he betrayed the group, he would be beaten back to his original form overnight and become penniless. Therefore, no matter how popular he became in the future, he would not leave like his previous senior brothers.

Zhou Yin was so presumptuous that he pushed Liu Wei, the "direct descendant of Luzhou", in front of Yang Xingmi, and rejected Yang Xingmi's eldest son. Looking at Liu Wei's position, he was just a small governor. This old official who first followed Yang Xingmi, captured Luzhou, defeated Sun Ru, seized Yangzhou, and laid the foundation for Huainan, is now just a small governor. This is enough to explain Yang Xingmi's attitude towards the "direct descendant of Luzhou".

Hearing Zhou Yin say this, Yang Xingmi was so shocked that he was stunned and speechless and stopped talking.

Even though Yang Xingmi had deliberately suppressed and contained the "Luzhou lineage" for many years, Liu Wei was still so successful that he threatened the emperor. Liu Wei's reputation was so high that someone could usurp his own foundation with just a wave of his hand!

Seeing that Yang Xingmi stopped talking, Zhou Yin thought that his words had moved his lord and that his lord was seriously considering letting Liu Wei be regent.

Zhou Yin started a tragic ending for himself.

Yang Xingmi's important confidants Xu Wen and Zhang Hao said to Yang Xingmi: "Your Majesty has gone through life and death all your life, through bullets and swords, to create a foundation for your descendants. How can you hand it over to others?"

Hearing this, Yang Xingmi breathed a sigh of relief, a slightly relieved expression on his face, and said to Xu Wen and Zhang Hao: "With your words, I can die with my eyes closed."

If Yang Xingmi knew after his death, his coffin would not be able to hold him down. The following article will detail what Xu Wen and Zhang Hao did to Yang's descendants.

A few days later, the generals came to visit Yang Xingmi to check on his condition. Yang Xingmi secretly winked at his aide Yan Keqiu and asked him to stay alone. After everyone left, Yan Keqiu stepped forward and lowered his voice, "My lord, if something happens to you, how should we deal with the military and political affairs?"

Yang Xingmi told the truth, "I have ordered Zhou Yin to summon the eldest son Woer to Yangzhou. The reason why I am holding on and refusing to die is because I am waiting for Woer!"

Yan Keqiu and Xu Wen went to visit Zhou Yin to observe his actions. As expected, Zhou Yin had withheld the official document for summoning Yang Wo without authorization. The document was on Zhou Yin's desk, and Zhou Yin happened to be away from the scene.

Therefore, Yan Keqiu and Xu Wen "stole" the official documents and sent people to Xuanzhou to urgently summon Yang Wo back to Yangzhou. Yang Xingmi ordered the general Wang Maozhang to replace Yang Wo as the governor of Xuanzhou.

Yang Wo remembered Xu Wen's words, and when he saw that it was an envoy sent by Xu Wen, he felt relieved to come. After arriving in Yangzhou, Yang Xingmi announced that Yang Wo would be the governor of Huainan and handed over the military and political power to him. At the same time, Zhu Wen pacified Jingxiang and marched east to Huainan, but returned without success, as mentioned above.

Zhu Wen lacked luck in the Huainan area. Whether it was the right time, the right place, or the right people, this was the best time to attack Huainan: Yang Xingmi was critically ill, the foolish Yang Wo succeeded to the throne, the group was in turmoil, and there were many crises. Zhu Wen had just conquered Jingxiang, and Huainan had lost the natural barrier of the Huai River. Zhu Wen used the remaining power of Jingxiang to intimidate the four directions. Wasn't this a good time to conquer Huainan?
In theory, this is true. But as the saying goes, you can't eat hot tofu in a hurry. Zhu Wen lacked sufficient pre-war preparations and made a hasty decision to march east. Logistics and supply became the biggest shortcoming of Zhu Wen's "Three Expeditions to Huainan" and directly led to his failure.

Not only was there a shortage of food and fodder, but even the soldiers' winter clothes were not issued, and the route was not well scouted, so they actually got lost for more than a hundred miles, which made the severely insufficient logistical supply even worse.

This has been discussed in the previous article, so I will not repeat it here.

Just after Zhu Wen retreated in frustration, Yang Xingmi finally closed his eyes forever and passed away at the age of 54.

Yang Xingmi, originally named Yang Xingmin, was renamed after he occupied Luzhou by Gao Pian, then governor of Huainan. Coming from a farming family, he was not proficient in martial arts, but he was strong and could lift 300 kilograms. He relied on his bravery to get through the society, and because of his broad mind and wisdom, he won over a large number of smart and capable younger brothers. With the help of the "36 Heroes", he grew stronger by robbing his fellow thieves, and finally occupied Luzhou. He used Luzhou as a revolutionary base, seized the opportunity of Bi Shiduo's mutiny, and achieved breakthrough development.

According to records, one time, his men cut off the bridle of his horse and stole the gold used for decoration. Yang Xingmi turned a blind eye and did not pursue the matter. As the saying goes, a great man does not take the fault of a small man seriously.

His rebel general Cai Chou dug up his ancestral graves. After pacifying Cai Chou, his subordinates advised him to dig up Cai Chou's ancestral graves as revenge, but Yang Xingmi refused.

Earlier, a personal bodyguard named Zhang Hong, for unknown reasons, suddenly swung a sword to attack Yang Xingmi, but Yang Xingmi dodged. Zhang Hong was subdued on the spot and executed. Afterwards, Yang Xingmi asked Zhang Hong's good friend Chen Shaozhen to continue to be his personal bodyguard, still carrying a sword and serving without any suspicion.

In the tug-of-war with Qian Liu of Hangzhou, Cheng Ji, a famous general under Qian Liu, was unfortunately captured. Yang Xingmi gave Cheng Ji a large villa in Yangzhou City. Because Cheng Ji was a military general, various weapons were placed inside and outside the house. Yang Xingmi often visited Cheng Ji alone, without armor or weapons, and chatted and laughed with Cheng Ji. After getting drunk, he fell asleep in Cheng Ji's bedroom.

In addition to being generous, another characteristic of Yang Xingmi is that he is frugal and never forgets his original intention. Once, Yang Xingmi inspected Tai Meng's work. Tai Meng prepared a grand welcome ceremony and a sumptuous banquet, but Yang Xingmi looked unhappy. After Yang Xingmi left, Tai Meng found that Yang Xingmi had left behind a close-fitting lining, which was a patched and torn piece of clothing. Tai Meng hurriedly caught up with Yang Xingmi and returned the item to its original owner. Yang Xingmi held the patched lining and smiled, "I'm sorry to embarrass you. I was born in a poor peasant family and I dare not forget my roots!" Tai Meng was ashamed and gave up extravagance and waste, and advocated frugality.

Yang Xingmi also invented an entertainment activity: using a thick rope to thread copper coins, which was called "threading the money eye". So his neighbor Qian Liu also invented a cultural activity: using a huge axe to chop down poplar trees, which was called "chopping the poplar head". The two vassal bosses fantasized about each other and had verbal battles.

The cultural invasion of "piercing the money hole" and "cutting off Yang's head" did not end until the "Xu-Xu Rebellion" when Qian Liu married his son Qian Yuanling to Yang Xingmi's daughter. There is a poem as evidence:
"There is an old rumor about the money-grubbing Yang Tou, and the resentment from south to north of the river is hard to dispel.

Now Nongyu has returned to Xiao Shi, and the dragon seed can play the phoenix flute in harmony. "

The term "dragon seed" was used by Yang Xingmi to praise Qian Yuanling. The "Ten Kingdoms Spring and Autumn Annals" recorded Yang Xingmi's original words as "This is a dragon seed! If he has a son, he will be like Qian Lang. My son is really a pig and a dog!"

There is another interesting thing about Yang Xingmi: in the Huainan, Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas, some documents and inscriptions on unearthed cultural relics have the words "Yushi Daqing" or "Yushi Daxian", "Yushi Da", "Guanglu Da", etc. The historians at that time were confused. What kind of official was this? The "Official Records" of all dynasties did not have relevant records. Later, after extensive collection and collation of various materials, it was figured out that Yang Xingmi's father was called Yang 怤, and "怤" and "夫" are homophones, so in order to avoid taboos, the word "夫" was changed to "卿" or simply omitted.

In addition, during the reign of the Yang family, the homophones of "行" and "密" were also taboo, so "荇溪" was changed to "菱溪" and "蜜蜜" was also called "蜂糖". There is a poem to prove it:
"The king's heroic spirit frightened Yangchu, and the water chestnuts and honey were all changed."

Taboo is the dregs of feudal traditional culture and has been optimized.

During his rule over Huainan, Yang Xingmi implemented a policy of light taxation and pacification of the displaced people, which healed the war trauma since the "Huang Chao Rebellion". In just a few years, the Huainan region was restored to its pre-war level. The reason why the Jianghuai region could become an economic center was closely related to Yang Xingmi's good governance.

Historically, Yang Xingmi has been highly regarded, with the majority being positive. The "Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms" concluded that Yang Xingmi was an extraordinary genius who had never appeared in the world.

"Thirty-six heroes rose from the grass, annihilated Sun Ru, captured Zhao Xun, defeated Du Hong, and annihilated Tian Yu. They accused the powerful of Bian and marched across the Yangtze and Huaihe Rivers, conquering the north and south one after another. They can be said to be extraordinary and rare." - "Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms"

Yang Xingmi loved Huainan, and the people of Huainan also loved Yang Xingmi.

In fact, less than two years after Yang Xingmi's death, the military and political power was controlled by the powerful official Xu Wen. However, Xu Wen still did not dare to usurp the throne rashly. Instead, he supported Yang Wo, Yang Wei, and Yang Pu successively. After four generations of rule by the Yang family, Xu Wen's adopted son Xu Zhigao dared to officially replace the Yang family. It was 32 years after Yang Xingmi's death.

It took the powerful official Xu 32 years to basically eliminate (not completely eliminate) the prestige of the Yang family in Huainan, which shows how much the people of Huainan felt for Yang Xingmi.

After Yang Xingmi's death, Li Yan, the imperial envoy in Yangzhou, appointed Yang Wo as the governor of Huainan and conferred him the title of Prince of Hongnong on behalf of the Tang Dynasty. This was in November of the second year of the Tianyou reign of the Tang Dynasty (905).

Li Yan, whose real name was Zhang Yan, was the son of former Prime Minister Zhang Jun and was given the imperial surname. When Zhu Wen was besieging Fengxiang and fighting with Li Maozhen for the throne of Emperor Zhaozong, Li Yan went to Yangzhou as the "Jianghuai Envoy", gave Yang Xingmi imperial robes, appointed him as the commander-in-chief of the Zhengdong Front Army (the commander-in-chief of the Eastern Camp), conferred him the title of "King of Wu", and ordered Yang Xingmi to attack Zhu Wen. Since then, Li Yan has been representing the court as an envoy and has been stationed in Yangzhou for a long time.

(End of this chapter)