History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 408: A proud dragon has regrets
【The arrogant dragon will regret】

Xu Wen, who was more like Cao Cao than Zhu Wen, suddenly passed away at the age of 66. His life was full of controversy, and there were many different opinions on his loyalty, treachery, righteousness and evil.

In his early years, Xu Wen had a promising job as a private salt dealer, a job that gave birth to countless heroes in Chinese history, such as Cheng Yaojin and Huang Chao.

At first, Xu Wen just wanted to be a handsome man quietly, and honestly "sold salt as a thief". According to records, he was low-key, introverted, and taciturn, and he did not show his emotions. He was a deep-minded gangster boss, ruthless and taciturn. His eyes were extremely sharp, and people nicknamed him "Xu Cang", which means "Xu who kills with a glare".

Like many private salt dealers, in that turbulent era, Xu Wen resolutely changed his career and engaged in the livelihood of a "bandit", and with unique foresight, he clung to a strong supporter - Yang Xingmi.

At that time, Yang Xingmi had just taken the lead and was in the early stages of his business. Xu Wen became one of the earliest founders of Yang Xingmi's group and was listed as one of the "Thirty-six Heroes" along with Tian Yu, Liu Wei, Tao Ya, Li Jian, Li Yu and others.

However, Xu Wen was so low-key that he did not make any contribution in the early days of Yang Xingmi's group. When the "36 heroes" were ranked, Xu Wen was the last. This was also the reason why Liu Wei and other elders were dissatisfied when he later took power.

It was not until Yang Xingmi captured Xuanzhou (889) that other generals entered the city and were busy robbing money, grain, and women, but Xu Wen led his troops to control the granary and cooked porridge to feed the hungry people in the city. Only then did Yang Xingmi begin to notice Xu Wen's existence.

Historians generally believe that it was around 902 AD that Xu Wen officially entered the periphery of the decision-making level, "slightly contributed his strategies", "began to make plans and make decisions", and began to participate in some decision-making as a military strategist and think tank.

As for the landmark event, some say it was during the "Siege of Fengxiang", when Yang Xingmi was ordered to lead an expedition against Zhu Wen in the north, all the generals advocated using large ships to transport food and grass, but Xu Wen advocated using small boats. Facts proved that Xu Wen was right. The incident happened in 902 AD.
Other historical sources believe that Yang Xingmi adopted Xu Wen's strategy and used the method of pretending to be blind to successfully trick Zhu Yanshou into death in 903. However, Yang Xingmi pretended to be blind for more than three years, that is, around 900, he adopted Xu Wen's strategy and ended the murder in 903. It is also worth mentioning that the strategy of pretending to be blind was also proposed by Yan Keqiu for Xu Wen.

In any case, after Yang Xingmi successfully eliminated Zhu Yanshou, Xu Wen entered the periphery of the decision-making circle.

The time when Xu Wen actually entered the core decision-making circle was when the issue of establishing a crown prince was being discussed during the period when Yang Xingmi was seriously ill.

At that time, there was a strong call within the group to pass the throne to meritorious veterans, such as Liu Wei, so that the founding veterans could supervise the country and act as regents. However, Xu Wen firmly advocated passing the throne to Yang Xingmi's son, and thus gained Yang Xingmi's trust and became one of the important ministers entrusted with the care of the young emperor.

With Xu Wen's strong support, Yang Xingmi's eldest son Yang Wo successfully succeeded to the throne (905).

Less than two years later (907), Xu Wen and Zhang Hao murdered Yang Wo and supported Yang Xingmi's second son Yang Wei. From then on, the Yang family lost power and the military and political power was controlled by Xu Wen and Zhang Hao. Soon (908), Xu Wen sent Zhong Taizhang to assassinate Zhang Hao, and from then on he monopolized the military and political power in Huainan and further undermined the Yang family.

In the more than ten years that followed, Xu Wen further weakened the Yang family and consolidated his own power.

In order to enhance his own power, Xu Wen constantly instigated Yang Wei to establish a new state and become emperor. Yang Wei refused to do so and only allowed the establishment of a new era name. Thus, the Wu State was established in 919. In the second year (920), Yang Wei died of illness, and Xu Wen supported Yang Xingmi's fourth son Yang Pu to become emperor. In 927, Xu Wen forced Yang Pu to become emperor, but suddenly died of illness before Yang Pu could do so.

Those who plant trees will enjoy the shade. Ten days after Xu Wen's death, his adopted son Xu Zhigao forced Yang Pu to ascend the throne and become emperor.

Xu Wen possesses all the characteristics of a warlord in troubled times. He has both the masks of gentleness and tolerance and cold-bloodedness and ruthlessness.

Zhong Taizhang made great contributions in the assassination of Zhang Hao, but Xu Wen was so overwhelmed by the victory that he only cared about seizing Zhang Hao's power and ignored the reward for Zhong Taizhang. At that time, Zhong Taizhang said nothing and silently accepted all the sorrow. After a while, one day, Zhong Taizhang got drunk and complained to his left and right, saying that he helped Xu Wen kill Zhang Hao and made great contributions, but he didn't expect Xu Wen to be a person who would hide his bow after the bird was killed and destroy the bridge after crossing the river!
People around Xu Wen immediately advised Xu Wen to kill him to silence him because he knew too much, so as to prevent him from "talking nonsense". However, Xu Wen felt very guilty and said that it was all his fault. He actually forgot the kindness of others, so how could he kill them again? So he was immediately rewarded and gradually promoted to a deputy provincial-level cadre (Shouzhou Tuanlianshi). Later, Xu Zhigao wanted to get rid of Zhong Taizhang by "anti-corruption". Xu Wen personally came forward to protect him and warned Xu Zhigao to never forget Zhong Taizhang's great kindness in helping him kill Zhang Hao.

In 913, Xu Wen sent Li Tao to attack Hangzhou. During the battle, his deputy Cao Yun defected and surrendered to Hangzhou. Huainan was defeated and Li Tao was captured. Xu Wen pardoned Cao Yun's wife and children and treated them well. He sent a spy to secretly bring a message to Cao Yun to apologize, saying that it was my fault for not listening to your advice and not providing you with military supplies in time, which led to your leaving in anger. I'm sorry, I was wrong.

Cao Yun was so moved that he cried tears of joy. In the same year, during the Battle of Langshan-Wuxi, Cao Yun once again changed sides on the battlefield and returned to Huainan. He then defeated the Hangzhou soldiers and used his merit to atone for his crime.

Also returning with Cao Yun was Chen Shao.

When Wang Maozhang was conquering Huai, Xu Wen was in a dilemma. Thanks to the wise and brave Chen Shao, Xu Wen turned defeat into victory. However, Chen Shao later defected to Hangzhou. Xu Wen offered a reward of one million for the capture of Chen Shao. In the "Battle of Langshan-Wuxi", the rebel general Chen Shao was captured alive by Huainan. Xu Wen not only did not kill him, but continued to let him lead the troops.

This is Xu Wen's tolerant and kind side. The experience of Li Yu, a founding member of the Huainan Group and one of the top five of the "36 Heroes", shows us Xu Wen's ruthless side. Li Yu was declared a "traitor" just because he expressed dissatisfaction with Xu Wen's latecomer status. Even though he surrendered, his entire family was still executed.

Another example is Zhao Kuangning, the former governor of Xiangzhou, a political refugee living in Huainan. Zhu Wen sent General Yang Shihou to lead the attack on Jingxiang. Zhao Kuangning was defeated and fled to Huainan, where he was treated with courtesy by Yang Xingmi. However, when Yang Wo succeeded to the throne, he was not very friendly to this old political veteran and former warlord.

Once, at a banquet, Yang Wo was eating green plums with gusto. When Zhao Kuangning saw this, he said in a caring tone of an elder: "Eat less of this. Children will get irritated if they eat too much. (Don't eat too much, it will give children a fever.)" All the generals in Huainan were indignant and believed that Zhao Kuangning had violated the etiquette between the monarch and his subjects.

So, Zhao Kuangning was moved to Hailing and then killed by people sent by Xu Wen.

Xu Wen was pragmatic. When his mother died, his subordinates covered paper figures with luxurious clothes made of fine silk in order to please him. Xu Wen stopped them. Xu Wen said that these were the people's money and it would be a waste to burn them in vain. During funerals, one should be sincere and not extravagant or show off. So he ordered the clothes to be taken off and distributed to the poor people.

(End of this chapter)