History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 48: The Sky-Rising Fragrance Array Penetrates Chang'an 2 Tian Lingzi's Conspiracy
【Tian Lingzi's conspiracy】

In the 873th year of the Tang Dynasty's Xiantong reign (41 AD), the 12-year-old Emperor Yizong of Tang passed away, and the -year-old Li Yan succeeded to the throne.

Strictly speaking, "12 years old" is just a virtual age, Li Yan was only 11 years old at that time. Of course, an 11-year-old child could not preside over the country's military and political affairs, so since he ascended the throne, the real power was in the hands of court officials and eunuchs. Many policies at that time were the result of the game between the two major groups of civil officials and eunuchs. For example, the treatment of Nanzhao and Caojun.

Of course, there are different factions within the two major groups, with conflicts of interest, which are complicated and fierce. In short, the water is deep.

Among these, the eunuch group has a unique advantage, that is, they are deeply favored by the emperor and are often regarded by the emperor as "his own people."

Among the eunuchs, Tian Lingzi was the most prominent one and was a popular figure around Emperor Xizong of Tang. Tian Lingzi had been with Li Yan since before he ascended the throne, taking care of his daily life, playing with his children, and keeping him happy. The two even slept in each other's arms on the same bed, with Li Yan sleeping in Tian Lingzi's arms.

Therefore, Li Yan trusted Tian Lingzi from the bottom of his heart and recognized him as his godfather.

Tian Lingzi had been educated and had some culture, so it was no problem for him to coax a 10-year-old child. In the eyes of the young emperor Li Yan, his "godfather" was knowledgeable and omniscient, a trustworthy person, and he was willing to let Tian Lingzi intervene in military and national affairs.

In the little emperor's mind, he was the incompetent Liu Adou, and Tian Lingzi was Zhuge Liang.

Tian Lingzi also carried the important task of teaching the young emperor. Under his careful training, the young emperor quickly mastered goose fighting, polo, music, Go, gambling... and enjoyed them so much that he often lingered there. In short, he had a strong interest in everything except state affairs.

The young emperor loved goose fighting and often fought geese for entertainment with princes and nobles. If the superiors were interested, the subordinates would be even more interested. Goose fighting became the most popular sport at the time, and the price of geese was driven up to a sky-high price, as high as half a million per goose!
The recreational activity that Xizong was most proficient in was playing ball. Once, he boasted to the entertainer Shi Yezhu beside him that if playing ball was also included in the scope of the imperial examination, he would definitely be able to pass the "ball-playing Jinshi" exam and get the top prize.

The Stone Boar smiled slightly and shook his head, "Not necessarily. If Yao or Shun were the examiners, Your Majesty would have failed the exam."

Lingguan, a member of the Imperial Opera Troupe, was a royal comedian. Their main job was to perform musical songs, or to make jokes to liven up the atmosphere. In general, they were dedicated to pleasing others, so in the feudal period, the status of Lingguan was very humble, very similar to the "clowns" in the Western court. Because "making jokes" was one of their main jobs, they sometimes dared to advise the emperor in the form of jokes.

The stone boar reminded Emperor Xizong of Tang by using Yao and Shun as examples: "Look at Yao, Shun and Yu, and then look at you! You are so shameless!"

Although the little emperor loved to play, he was not stupid. Facing the "elegant scolding" of the entertainer, he just smiled bitterly.

The actor can say this, but what about someone else?
At the same time, Hou Changye, the left picker of the Ministry of Personnel, wrote a memorial to the emperor to persuade him to stop playing around and to be diligent in government affairs. Emperor Xizong summoned Hou Changye and ordered him to commit suicide.

The crime that Emperor Xizong of Tang charged Hou Changye with was: Dare to scold me? I'll kill you!

The great eunuch Tian Lingzi was all-powerful, selling official positions and titles, being arbitrary and authoritarian, and intentionally cultivating his own cliques. He was a smart man, knowing that if he wanted to keep his wealth and glory, he couldn't just rely on the "emperor" as a backer, but he had to have his own trusted minions inside and outside the court.

For example, the former prime minister Lu Xie, and the current prime ministers Dou Luhong and Cui Hang, have become obedient children who flatter Tian Lingzi and follow Tian Lingzi's lead.

Tian Lingzi's original surname was Chen, but he later recognized a eunuch named Tian as his godfather and followed him into the palace, so he changed his surname to Tian. Tian Lingzi had an older brother named Chen Jingxuan. When one person succeeds, the whole family will benefit. After Tian Lingzi gained power, he naturally could not forget his brother.

As early as when Cui Anqian was still the governor of Zhongwu, Tian Lingzi wanted to place Chen Jingxuan into the Zhongwu Army, but was rejected by Cui Anqian.

Since he failed to join the Zhongwu Army, Chen Jingxuan was arranged to join the Central Imperial Guards (Zuo Shence Army). In just a few years, he was promoted rapidly and was promoted to the high position of general without any merit.

Before and after the separation of Wang Huangcao's army, they wreaked havoc in Henan, but they did not dare to invade the Zhongwu Army led by Cui Anqian. The then Prime Minister Zheng Ting tried his best to recommend Cui Anqian and suggested that Cui Anqian play a bigger role in the fight against bandits.

Even though Zheng Ting argued for his position and even threatened to resign, Emperor Xizong of Tang did not agree to his request. Instead of re-employing Cui Anqian, he sent him to Chengdu and made him the governor of Xichuan, replacing Gao Pian.

Cui Anqian was transferred from the front line of fighting against bandits to the distant Chengdu Prefecture. Later, he was marginalized, demoted, and bullied everywhere despite his meritorious service in governing Shu. In the end, he was deprived of all his real power. All this was related to Tian Lingzi. It was just to avenge Cui Anqian's refusal to allow Chen Jingxuan to join the Zhongwu Army.

As Huang Chao's army was increasingly encroaching, Tian Lingzi keenly felt that the Central Plains region was about to be lost, so he quietly began his layout.

Shu Road is difficult, and it is difficult to ascend to the sky.

Objective geographical conditions determined that the Bashu region became a royal refuge. During the "Anshi Rebellion", Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji, once visited Shu.

In peacetime, Chang'an is the imperial court; in wartime, Shu is the imperial court. Tian Lingzi knew this very well.

He recommended his brother Chen Jingxuan and three other confidants: Yang Shili, Niu Xi, and Luo Yuangao, to garrison Sanchuan (Dongchuan, Xichuan, and Shannan West Road) respectively in order to control Shu.

When faced with the appointment of a provincial governor, Emperor Xizong of Tang's absurd behavior was even more jaw-dropping. It was an unprecedented move: betting on Sanchuan by hitting the ball.

Emperor Xizong of the Tang Dynasty used the Jiedushi's military axe as a prize and asked the four candidates nominated by Tian Lingzi to be contestants in a ball game. He awarded official positions according to the order of the winners.

In the end, Tian Lingzi's elder brother Chen Jingxuan won the first place and was awarded Xichuan, the best of the "Three Sichuans". He was appointed as the Jiedushi of Xichuan, replacing the current Jiedushi of Xichuan Cui Anqian.

As for Cui Anqian, it was easy. Tian Lingzi fabricated a few charges and demoted Cui Anqian to a guest of the emperor. He took away all his real power and sent him to the eastern capital Luoyang to live out his life.

After the "Ball Hitting Bet in Sanchuan", the Bashu area became Tian Lingzi's private backyard. So when Huang Chao crossed the Huaihe River to the north, Tian Lingzi strongly advocated fleeing to the Bashu area for refuge.

Emperor Xizong of Tang was already 18 years old this year. He loved to play, he neglected state affairs, he was "impulsive and stupid" (New Book of Tang), but he was at least the legitimate emperor of the Tang Empire, an -year-old boy, full of vigor and vitality.

Since Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Taizong founded the country, the country has been prosperous for a long time. How can I let the three hundred years of foundation of my ancestors perish in my hands? Chang'an is the place where the emperor's spirit is, where the mausoleum of the previous emperor is, and where the ancestral temple is located. How can I easily abandon it to the bandits? How can I face my ancestors in the underworld after a hundred years?
No, I will never be a king who destroys my country!

I won't leave. I will have a decisive battle with the Cao army!
Tian Lingzi warned him, "Young people should not be too impetuous."

Emperor Xizong of Tang retorted: "Aren't you angry enough to call me a young man?"

At this moment, Tian Lingzi did not dare to openly hostage the emperor, so he could only obey the order reluctantly and organize the defense of Tongguan.

Just as the central court was urgently deploying the Tongguan defense line, battle news came from the eastern capital Luoyang: Luoyang had fallen!

Due to internal strife between the Ganhua Army and the Zhongwu Army, the Mengshui defense line collapsed without a fight. The gates of the Eastern Capital Luoyang were suddenly opened and directly exposed to the guns of the Cao Army, becoming an almost undefended city.

Under the leadership of Liu Yunzhang, the governor of Luoyang, all the civil and military officials welcomed Huang Chao into the city and surrendered to Cao's army. Huang Chao took over the eastern capital of the empire without any effort.

Huang Chao continued to package himself as a generous and people-loving person, and strictly ordered the Cao army not to harass the people and strictly prohibited burning, killing and looting. After entering the city, the Cao army posted a notice to reassure the people, and the streets and villages were full of joy and peace.

Huang Chao was full of vigor and vitality. He climbed the city wall and looked west, watching the red sun slowly setting in the west. "Chang'an, how far is it?"

"General, if you go west, you will reach Tongguan. After Tongguan, you will reach Chang'an. It's not far away."

"Hmm..." Huang Chao nodded and murmured, "Not far away, not far away."

(End of this chapter)