History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 442: An Zhonghui Steps Down from the Altar 2
3. Kong Xun

Li Siyuan and An Zhonghui were both Shatuo people from the frontier. They had little education and knew nothing about court etiquette and central affairs. Kong Xun, who had lived in the palace and held a high position for a long time, became An Zhonghui's "court affairs advisor." Therefore, An Zhonghui relied on him very much, regarded him as his right-hand man, consulted him on everything, and obeyed his advice.

At the beginning of the founding of the country, the two had a certain common language. They both wanted to exclude the old ministers of the previous dynasty and gain benefits from the integration and redistribution of power. Therefore, An Zhonghui and Kong Xun each got what they needed and had a sweet honeymoon period.

When Li Siyuan was looking for a father-in-law for his son Li Conghou, he first thought of An Zhonghui and wanted Li Conghou to marry An Zhonghui's daughter. An Zhonghui consulted Kong Xun about this matter, and Kong Xun advised him to refuse to avoid suspicion. An Zhonghui believed it and politely declined the marriage.

Afterwards, Kong Xun hurriedly bribed Li Siyuan's favorite concubine, Concubine Wang De, and married his daughter to Li Conghou.

After the marriage, An Zhonghui fell out with Kong Xun and exiled Kong Xun to the local area, excluding him from the core power circle. Later, Kong Xun bribed Concubine Wang De heavily and asked to return to the central government, but in the face of An Zhonghui's powerful power, he was unable to do so.

4. Hua Wenqi
Hua Wenqi is a man with a story. He has a very bizarre experience that even novels dare not write about.

He was born a bandit and worked as a minor official under Huang Chao. After Huang Chao's defeat, he fled to Huazhou. He thought he was too easy to recognize (he was more than seven feet tall and had a strong appearance - he didn't look like a good person), and was afraid of being reported by the Chaoyang people. In desperation, he jumped into the Yellow River to commit suicide, but was washed to the shallows by the turbulent water. By chance, some kind-hearted people passed by and bravely rescued the drowning man.

After thanking the kind people, Hua Wenqi ran to an uninhabited grove and picked a crooked mulberry tree. "Mulberry trees represent mourning!" Hua Wenqi tied his belt around his neck, intending to hang himself. But with a "crack", the branch broke. He failed to die again.

He passed through the gates of hell twice in one day, he must have saved the earth in his previous life. Hua Wenqi felt hungry at this time, and he wanted to die with a full stomach, so he walked towards the village where the smoke from cooking rose, and ate his fill before he could set off.

That night, he arrived at Zao County and explained his purpose to an old farmer. The kind-hearted Zao County old man patiently advised him, "It is better to live a miserable life than to die a good death. You are so big, you can't do anything to survive." Then he took him in and hid him.

More than a year later, Zhu Wen attacked the two Zhus in Yan and Yun, and appointed his eldest son Zhu Youyu as the governor of Puzhou. Zhu Youyu recruited soldiers and horses, and Hua Wenqi happily went there. He was appointed as a junior officer and soon promoted to cavalry commander. Later, Hua Wenqi was promoted for his merits and became the governor of Dizhou.

Dizhou suffered from floods for many years, and the people suffered greatly. Hua Wenqi petitioned to move the city, solving the long-standing problem that had plagued the local area for many years. Zhu Wen was very satisfied and erected a monument to commemorate his achievements.

Later, he defeated Li Cunxu of Hedong and was promoted to the Jiedushi of Dingchang Army in Jinzhou due to his merits.

While serving in Jinzhou, Hua Wenqi committed a crime by robbing a woman. The woman's husband went to the court to file a complaint. The then Later Liang Emperor Zhu Youzhen dismissed him as Jiedushi, summoned him to Beijing, and appointed him as Jinwu General, depriving Hua Wenqi of his real power. Zhu Youzhen said to him with great sorrow: "If I punish you severely according to the law, I will not care about my meritorious service; if I protect you, I will not care about the people. Is it easy to be an emperor? It's too hard for me!"

After hearing this, Hua Wenqi felt so ashamed that she didn't know where to stand.

When Zhu Youqian rebelled against Liang and returned to Jin, the talented Hua Wenqi was able to resume his career and was granted the title of Defense Commissioner of Ruzhou and Surveillance Commissioner of Yaozhou.

When Emperor Zhuangzong entered Luoyang, Hua Wenqi came to pay homage and surrendered to the Later Tang. Li Cunxu changed Yaozhou into Shunyi Army, appointed Hua Wenqi as the governor, and granted him the honorary title of "loyal and righteous meritorious official".

After destroying Former Shu, he was changed to the Jiedushi of Qinzhou Xiongwu Army.

After Li Siyuan proclaimed himself emperor, Hua Wenqi came to the court from Qinzhou, and then took the initiative to ask to hand over the Qinzhou Xiongwu Army and requested to be an official in Beijing, which was equivalent to taking the initiative to reduce the power of the vassal state.

This was undoubtedly a timely help for the weak Li Siyuan. Li Siyuan was very moved and praised his initiative to resign and return to the court. He gave him a generous salary and kept him in the capital. A year later, Li Siyuan consulted with An Zhonghui and said, "Hua Wenqi is loyal, honest and reliable. He is an old comrade who is trustworthy. If you find a vacant position in a military town, assign him there."

An Zhonghui's answer was also very straightforward, "There are no vacancies at the moment!"

Afterwards, Li Siyuan asked many times, but An Zhonghui always gave the same answer: there was no vacancy and no way to fill the position.

Li Siyuan was a little anxious. "Today you ask, but tomorrow you ask, but there is no vacancy. How can there be no vacancy in such a huge empire?"

An Zhonghui also lost his temper, "Your Majesty, what do you mean? I said no, that's it! If you insist on placing him, then fine, I will give him my position as the 'Privy Envoy'!"

"That's a solution!"

This sentence choked An Zhonghui so much that he couldn't speak for a long time, and his face turned pale and blue. The king and his minister parted unhappily.

Hua Wenqi, who was a surrendered general, was terrified when he heard that the emperor and the powerful minister An Zhonghui were arguing and angry about him. He was so frightened that he put on a heavy armor and did not dare to go out for several months (he was afraid of the powerful minister's anger and almost fell ill, so he did not go out for several months).

Although Li Siyuan and An Zhonghui were emperor and his subject, and master and servant, they were old friends for many years and had a very close relationship in private. They could be said to be close buddies who called each other brothers. So sometimes when they quarreled and bickered, they would say some excessive angry words, but they were like a couple in love and would make up after a while.

An Zhonghui's behavior of giving up the responsibility to Li Siyuan was actually just a way of acting coquettishly and sulking, just like a daily pout.

An Zhonghui was not only Li Siyuan's best friend, but also sometimes played the role of a mentor. He was Li Siyuan's mentor and helpful friend.

Once, Li Renfu of Xiazhou presented a rare white eagle to An Zhonghui, but An Zhonghui refused to accept it and returned it, and severely reprimanded the tribute envoy, "Have you forgotten how Li Cunxu was defeated? You still teach the emperor to hunt!" When he went to court the next day, An Zhonghui reported to Li Siyuan.

Li Siyuan praised An Zhonghui. But after the court was dismissed, Li Siyuan secretly sent people to chase the Xiazhou envoy and secretly took the white eagle back. Two days later, he took the white eagle to the western suburbs to hunt. Li Siyuan repeatedly warned his entourage, "Don't let An Zhonghui know!"

At first glance, this record feels like an elementary school student sneaking into an Internet cafe.

5. Wang Defei
An Zhonghui not only advised Li Siyuan, but also advised Li Siyuan's favorite concubine, Consort Wang De.

Concubine Wang De pursued extravagance and her life became increasingly corrupt and decadent. An Zhonghui repeatedly advised her against it. On one occasion, Concubine Wang De embezzled public funds and used silk from the treasury to make carpets. An Zhonghui tried his best to dissuade her and cited the example of "beating her father to plot against Liu" in the hope that she would learn from it.

The reason why Concubine Wang De was able to get close to Li Siyuan was because of An Zhonghui's connections, so An Zhonghui also regarded himself as a matchmaker and believed that he had done a favor to Concubine Wang De. Therefore, he was a little disrespectful in his attitude and words towards Concubine Wang De, and occasionally he would advise her as a benefactor or elder. This made Concubine Wang De very disgusted.

Later, Concubine Wang De played a significant role in the persecution of An Zhonghui.

(End of this chapter)