History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 477 The Last Emperor Reigns 2
1.4 There was a master named Hu Gao (pronounced the same as "Hu Gao") in Shihao Village, who was proficient in astronomy and astrology. When Li Congke was stationed in Fengxiang, he said to Li Congke: "The king is noble and cannot be spoken of. If he wants to take action, it is better to do it in the year of Yiwei."

When Fengxiang was under siege, Li Congke asked him about good and bad luck. Hu Gao counted with his fingers and said, "This year is not auspicious, and it is not suitable for establishing achievements. If we wait until next year, we can enjoy eternal blessings."

In short, "the throne of Dabao must have a destiny", and Li Congke's political propaganda department also wanted to take advantage of people's feudal superstitions and publicize that Li Congke's ascension to the throne was destined by heaven.

2. Emphasize people’s willingness

The Li Congke group worked hard to portray Li Congke as the legitimate successor of Li Siyuan, emphasizing that Li Congke inherited the mantle of Mingzong Li Siyuan.

First, it is to publicize Li Congke's achievements. The specific content is Li Congke's crying on the top of Fengxiang City. The golden wound on his body is the best military medal.

Secondly, it was the recognition of the "previous emperor". For example, Li Cunxu once praised Li Congke in person, "What a great man, Ah San!" Another example is when "Zhuangzong entered Bian", he excitedly said to Li Siyuan and Li Congke, "I should take turns with you and your son to be the emperor."

Therefore, it is reasonable for Li Congke to inherit the mantle of the "previous emperors" (Zhuangzong and Mingzong).

Finally, he presided over the burial of Li Siyuan.

Li Conghou fell from power so quickly that Emperor Mingzong Li Siyuan had not yet been buried. Li Siyuan became a tool for Li Congke's political show.

The first thing Li Congke did when he entered Luoyang was to cry and offer sacrifices in front of Li Siyuan's coffin, and then ascend the throne in front of the coffin according to traditional etiquette. Ascending the throne in front of the coffin was very ceremonial, like taking an oath under the party flag. Afterwards, Li Congke buried Li Siyuan solemnly, gave his godfather a posthumous title and temple name, and Li Congke personally escorted the coffin to the cemetery in mourning, and stayed there for one night.

Similar scenes have appeared many times in the previous article, such as when Zhu Wen cried and offered sacrifices to Wang Chongrong when he took over Hezhong. But their luck and effect were not as good as Li Congke, who personally wore mourning clothes as a filial son, escorted the coffin, and participated in the burial of the late emperor, which was equivalent to announcing to the world: Li Congke is the legal successor of Li Siyuan.

In sharp contrast, the real "former emperor" Li Conghou was only hastily buried, with only a thin layer of soil on his grave. It was extremely desolate, and all the viewers felt sad.

In her edict, Empress Dowager Cao addressed him as "the eldest prince of the emperor, Prince Lu Congke", emphasizing that Li Congke was the "eldest prince of the emperor". She played a gray area ball, took advantage of the popularity of the "primogeniture system", and intentionally blurred his identity as an adopted son.

"Successor to Emperor Mingzong" is the legal basis of Li Congke's regime and Li Congke's new personality.

By relying on God's will and emphasizing human wishes, Li Congke Group has initially solved the fundamental problem of the legal foundation. However, this alone is not enough. This is only the foundation of the house. No matter how solid the foundation is, it still needs the upper frame and bricks and tiles.

Therefore, Li Congke will start from four dimensions to perfect this imperial palace.

2. Peeling the Onion

The distribution of political power in Li Congke's court can be viewed as an onion. From the inside to the outside, the core is the central court, followed by the internal vassal states (actually controlled by the Later Tang Dynasty), the periphery is the autonomous vassal states, and the outermost are external forces.

"A new emperor appoints his own ministers" is an eternal truth. The new emperor must use either gentle or brutal means to eliminate political enemies, integrate resources, unify the central court's thinking, and implement policies. Otherwise, governing the country is just empty talk.

The emperor who is the successor to the throne usually uses gentle means. The "gentle" here refers to the appearance. The procedures seem reasonable and legal, but behind them there are often more sinister and cruel conspiracies.

Emperors who seized power by force did not have to rack their brains to fabricate charges. They could just do it. It was simple and crude, and it worked. Li Cunxu and Li Conghou belonged to the former, while Li Siyuan and Li Congke obviously belonged to the latter.

Therefore, when dealing with the issue of redistribution of central power, Li Congke showed due strength. The closer he was to the core, the more ruthless he was, and the further he extended outward, the more gentle his attitude was. Geopolitics determines political attitude.

1. Fight against the local tyrants and divide the land
The central court was the nerve center and core power of the empire. Li Congke used "eliminating traitors" as a starting point to complete the strong integration of the central power resources.

1.1 “Rocket Pie”

There is no doubt that the "Rocket Faction" has encountered a catastrophe. They have the most resources but the weakest strength, so they are naturally the big tycoons who will be beaten. The leaders Zhu Hongzhao and Feng Yun were killed before Li Congke entered Luoyang, and their followers could not escape the bad luck either.

The same month that Li Congke ascended the throne, he executed the entire family of Kang Yicheng and Yao Yanchou. When An Zhonghui framed Li Congke, Yao Yanchou was An Zhonghui's vanguard and made great efforts. This time, he was forced to rebel, and Yao Yanchou personally led the army to fight. If he is not killed now, will he be kept alive for the New Year?
He then issued an imperial decree: Zhu Hongzhao, Feng Yun, Meng Hanqiong, Wang Sitong, and Yao Yanchou "colluded with each other to instigate war, plotted discord among each other, and almost caused the country's downfall." These people were identified as the culprits and the death penalty was announced to be executed "to satisfy the public sentiment."

In fact, except for Yao Yanchou, the first four had been killed before this, and Wang Sitong's death was not Li Congke's original intention, but due to political needs, he had to make such a judgment.

1.2 Chu Kuangzuo

Li Congke wanted to kill Chu Kuangzuo because he was the murderer of Li Chongji. His aide Han Zhaoyin dissuaded him, saying that Chu Kuangzuo was just following orders at the time, and it was Li Conghou who ordered the confiscation of the family and the execution of Li Chongji. If Your Majesty massacred Chu Kuangzuo's family out of personal grudges, it would be a loss of trust in the world. Your Majesty should consider the overall situation and think twice before acting.

Therefore, Li Congke commuted the death sentence to exile and exiled Chu Kuangzuo to Dengzhou.

1.3 Li Congzhang and Li Congmin
Both were nephews of Li Siyuan, and both enjoyed the title of king and were stationed in important cities of the empire. Li Congzhang was stationed in the Hezhong Huguo Army and was given the title of Yang Wang; Li Congmin was stationed in the Songzhou Guide Army and was given the title of Jing Wang.

Especially this comrade Li Congzhang, how did he become the governor of the Hezhong National Defense Army? He killed the former governor An Zhonghui. Later, Li Conghou ordered him to go to Fengxiang to replace Li Congke. When Li Congke heard that it was him, he became more determined to rebel.

Comrade Li Congmin participated in the execution of Li Chongji in Songzhou.

Therefore, Li Congke hated these two people very much. After he ascended the throne, he immediately dismissed them from their official positions and always had a murderous look in his eyes, as if he wanted to kill them.

One day, at a private banquet of the royal family, Li Congzhang and Li Congmin were present. Halfway through the drinking, Li Congke suddenly lost his temper and cursed at the two of them, saying, "Who the hell are you two! You actually occupied an important city in the empire..." The executioner next to them held his steel knife tightly and glared at the two of them viciously.

The two were frightened to the point of paleness.

Empress Dowager Cao slammed the table and yelled at the two of them: "The Emperor is drunk, what are you two still doing? Get out! Get out!"

The two of them suddenly realized what was going on and managed to escape, finally saving their lives. From then on, they stayed at home in fear and anxiety all day long.

(End of this chapter)