History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 31 Extremely ill
【Monk Matchmaking】

Gao Pian is indeed an outstanding conspirator. His wisdom was fully demonstrated in this diplomatic activity.

At that time, Nanzhao and the Tang Dynasty had long been at odds. Shilong sought political independence and equality, so when he met with the Tang envoys, he deliberately violated the old rules.

According to the etiquette of the vassal state, the minister of the upper state is the lord of the lower state, and Shilong should serve the Tang envoy like serving his own father, or at least be on equal terms. However, when Shilong met the Tang envoy, he actually sat on the "dragon chair" and ordered the Tang envoy to kneel and kowtow to him.

In response to this, Gao Pian came up with a clever idea that would not disgrace the national dignity, taking into account the fact that the Nanzhao people believed in Buddhism: sending monks as envoys.

The person who was responsible for this important task was the chief engineer of the city-building project - the eminent monk Jingxian.

When Monk Jingxian arrived in Nanzhao, he was no longer a secular diplomatic envoy, but a great monk from the Tang Dynasty in the East, like a deity who had descended to earth.

As expected, Shilong led the civil and military ministers to meet Gao Ying from afar, kneeling down and kowtowed.

Sixteen years after Shilong openly rebelled against the Tang Dynasty, the ruler of Nanzhao and his senior officials finally knelt down and kowtowed to the Tang envoys once again.

Gao Pian, you are so talented!

Gao Pian's condition for pacifying Nanzhao was even more brilliant: marriage alliance.

Monk Jingxian acted as a matchmaker and used the Tang princess as bait to deceive the border into stability.

Shilong believed it and allowed Chengdu to complete the construction of fortifications. But what about marriage? Of course, it was out of reach.

Shilong sent envoys again and again to urge the Tang princess to marry, but the Tang side evaded the question and played Tai Chi.

When ordinary people marry their daughters, they have to discuss matters such as betrothal gifts, betrothal gifts, and dowry. How can the emperor marry a princess without any care? There are too many red tapes, not to mention that when marrying a foreign country with different customs and cultures, they have to do a lot of homework on etiquette and manners. How about this excuse, doesn't it sound real?

Gao Pian from Chengdu Prefecture also smiled and said, "I have already built the fortifications, why should I marry a princess? Little Shilong, you are so silly and naive, hahahaha..."

Shilong could never let go of the Tang princess, but he never realized that he had been deceived. Because only half a year later, he was completely free.

In February of the fourth year of Qianfu in the Tang Dynasty (877), the ruler of Nanzhao, Shilong, passed away.

Since he came to the throne, he had been harassing the borders of the Tang Dynasty for nearly twenty years, including three large-scale military invasions (one in Annan and two in Chengdu). His aggressive military policy caused Nanzhao's national power to decline and fall.

His successor was his son, Long Shun, who was only 16 years old.

Long Shun was arrogant and extravagant, and ignored state affairs. The country gradually declined and became irreversible. He reigned for 20 years before being murdered by the powerful official Zheng Maisi.

Afterwards, Zheng Maisi supported Longshun's son Shun Huazhen to ascend the throne. Five years later, the 25-year-old puppet ruler Shun Huazhen died suddenly under mysterious circumstances.

Zheng Maisi then massacred more than 800 members of the Nanzhao royal family.

At this point, Nanzhao officially disappeared in the long river of history.

Putting Nanzhao and Datang side by side, we can find that there are many surprising coincidences between the two:
In 1, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang died; the ruler of Nanzhao, Quan Fengyou, also passed away.

2. Emperor Yizong's successor was Emperor Xizong, who was 12 years old; Shilong's successor was Longshun, who was 16 years old. Both young monarchs were arrogant and extravagant, and ignored state affairs.

3. The last two emperors of the Tang Dynasty were murdered by powerful ministers; the last two rulers of Nanzhao were also murdered by powerful ministers.

Shilong disturbed the Tang Dynasty for twenty years, and in the end both sides suffered losses.

If they knew about this after death, I really don’t know what Shilong would say to Emperor Yizong of Tang after they met.

Gao Pian made great contributions to the stabilization of the southwestern border of the Tang Dynasty by recovering Annan and defeating Nanzhao repeatedly. Although he was not perfect, his later flaws even overshadowed all his achievements.

For many years, he has never forgotten that dawn. That night, he slaughtered the restless death squad with blood, exterminated them all, including women and children, leaving no one alive. Before being executed, a woman pointed to the sky and the earth, denounced Gao Pian's cruelty and brutality, and cursed him.

Gao Pian had never been afraid of the enemy's swords, spears, and halberds, or even the silence of thousands of horses, despite his entire military career. However, a woman's curse before her death became Gao Pian's lingering nightmare. Is there anyone in the world who can make that curse come true?
Have.

This person is Gao Pian himself.

Gao Pian's self-righteousness, cruelty, tyranny, and superstition of ghosts and gods... formed a powerful combination that, 12 years later, plunged him into an abyss of no return and made the woman's curse come true.

It was not just Gao Pian. The Tang Empire was also like the setting sun, fading away.

Emperor Xuanzong

The Tang Dynasty still has a chance to turn the tables.

For example, Emperor Wuzong of Tang, who had a unique vision and saw through the fatal hidden danger of the Tang Empire - the growing power of the feudal lords.

Emperor Wuzong of Tang successively put down the rebellions of the Lulong Army and the Zhaoyi Army. In particular, the suppression of the Zhaoyi Army greatly deterred the various vassal states and consolidated the central power. At the same time, he also cracked down on Buddhism, the eunuchs' power, and repelled the invasion of the Uighurs... creating the "Huaichang Restoration."

Wuzong died and Xuanzong succeeded to the throne.

Emperor Xuanzong was taciturn and wise, and people in the palace thought he was mentally retarded (people in the palace thought he was not smart when he was young). He never spoke when he accompanied the ministers and kings to banquets and outings (the ministers and kings never spoke when they were out and about). He was the son of Emperor Xianzong and the brother of Emperor Muzong. In terms of seniority, he was the uncle of Emperor Jingzong, Emperor Wenzong, and Emperor Wuzong, but he was actually one year younger than Emperor Jingzong and Emperor Wenzong. In the first year of Changqing (821), he was conferred the title of Prince Guang.

When Emperor Wenzong and Emperor Wuzong went to the Sixteen Mansions (the residential area of ​​the Tang Dynasty kings) for a banquet and party, one of the most interesting entertainment activities was to play tricks on their silly uncle and call him "Uncle Guang" (forcing him to speak as a drama, calling him Uncle Guang). Among them, Emperor Wuzong did the most excessive and outrageous thing (Emperor Wuzong was arrogant and especially unceremonious).

After Emperor Wuzong passed away, this "Grand Uncle" took over from his nephew. The reason why he was able to inherit the throne was because he was "mentally retarded". The eunuchs thought that this fool was easy to control and could be used as an ideal puppet, so he was supported by the eunuchs.

No one expected that this silly and stupid "Uncle Guang" was actually a scheming boy! All his "lack of wisdom" and "serious silence" were all fake. He started pretending since he was a child, and he has been pretending for more than 30 years, deceiving everyone!

Emperor Xuanzong "loved Confucian scholars and paid close attention to the imperial examinations". Whenever a minister submitted a memorial, he would burn incense and wash his hands before reading it respectfully. He also often visited the grassroots in disguise to understand the sufferings of the people and investigate the gains and losses of officials.

During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, he defeated the Northern Di and stabilized the north; expelled the Tubo and recovered the old territory of Longyou; pacified Annan; and subdued the Dangxiang...creating a relatively peaceful external environment.

Internally, he rectified the administration of officials, accepted criticism readily, and loved the people like his own children. This period was called the "Dazhong Reign" in history. Until the end of the Tang Dynasty, the people still missed him and praised Emperor Xuanzong as the "Little Taizong", comparing him with Emperor Taizong Li Shimin.

"At that time, the policies of Dazhong had the spirit of Zhenguan."

Wuzong initiated the "Huaichang Restoration", Xuanzong continued the tradition and created the "Dazhong Reign". It seemed that the fortunes of the Tang Dynasty were about to rebound and return to the Kaiyuan and Zhenguan periods.

However, history played a trick on him. It was Emperor Yizong of Tang who inherited Emperor Xuanzong's will.

When Emperor Yizong of Tang ascended the throne, he was full of confidence and determined to be a wise and holy ruler. However, after three minutes of enthusiasm, his licentious and immoral nature was exposed.

Li Keji, a royal musician in the palace, was deeply favored by Emperor Yizong of Tang. The emperor was a die-hard fan, and giving him airplanes and rockets was nothing compared to what Emperor Yizong gave him. He gave him real money, so much that he had to use a car to transport it.

Money is a thing outside of one's body, and Emperor Yizong of Tang, who was the emperor, regarded it as dirt. In addition to the huge amount of gold, silver and jewelry, Emperor Yizong of Tang also wanted to promote Li Keji to a higher position. Emperor Yizong of Tang used his own strength to become the most powerful star chaser in history.

The prime minister dissuaded him by citing the stories of Emperor Taizong and Emperor Wenzong. Emperor Taizong of Tang, in particular, made it clear to Fang Xuanling: "I have wise men to look after, and I cannot keep business people who are not from the same class."

Faced with pressure from two generations of wise emperors, Emperor Yizong of Tang responded elegantly - "No."

In the historical records of Emperor Yizong of Tang, in addition to "exhibitions without restraint", "fond of music and banquets", and "wild banquets", the words "disobey" and "do not listen" are also often seen. He would not listen to any good advice or loyal suggestions.

During his 14-year reign, he appointed a total of 21 prime ministers, including Lu Yan and Wei Baoheng.

He was so cruel that he created the bloodiest medical dispute in history, and he was also determined to welcome the Buddha's bones... Emperor Yizong of Tang was finally recorded in history as a complete tyrant and incompetent ruler.

Emperor Yizong of Tang once again destroyed the Tang Empire that had been painstakingly supported by Emperor Wuzong and Emperor Xuanzong, cutting off the last hope of Tang fans.

The Tang Dynasty was destroyed at the hands of Emperor Yizong.

(End of this chapter)