History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 503 Little Emperor, Big Eyes and Cuteness

【Little emperor, big eyes and cute】

Shi Jingtang sent envoys to lobby the surrounding states and explain the benefits and disadvantages.

Zhang Lang, the governor of Daizhou, directly killed the envoy; Lu Qi, who was visiting the troops in Xinzhou, also killed Shi Jingtang's envoy without hesitation.

Lü Qi said to Ding Shenqi, the governor of Xinzhou: "When the Khitans passed through our city on their way south, they didn't even bother to look at us. Their intention is very clear, they want to kill us all when we return. Now, the best way is to lead all the soldiers and civilians in the city to move to Zhenzhou."

Ding Shenqi thought it made sense, but before leaving, he suddenly regretted it and closed the inner city gates, refusing to move with Lu Qi. The Xinzhou army planned to launch an attack and kill the traitor, but was stopped by Lu Qi, who said sadly: "The country has fallen to such a point, so don't kill each other. Everyone has his own aspirations, let him go."

Afterwards, the soldiers and civilians who were unwilling to surrender to the Khitan followed Lu Qi to Zhenzhou; the rest of the people, led by Ding Shenqi, surrendered the city to the Khitan.

After defeating Jin'an Village and pacifying Xinzhou, Shi Jingtang and the Khitan coalition army prepared to march south. Before marching south, Shi Jingtang had to follow the custom of leaving one of his sons in Taiyuan Prefecture in Hedong. The "child emperor" Shi Jingtang did not dare to take the throne, so he asked his godfather, who was ten years younger than him, "Dear father, which grandson do you think should be made emperor?"

Yelu Deguang asked Shi Jingtang to call out all his sons, line them up, and hold a talent show.

The disciples stood in line. Yelu Deguang immediately noticed a handsome young man with good spirits. The most distinctive feature of this boy was his big, cute eyes. Yelu Deguang pointed at him and said, "This one with big eyes is good."

This big-eyed boy is called Shi Chonggui. He is actually the nephew of Shi Jingtang. His father is Shi Jingru, Shi Jingtang's elder brother. Shi Jingru was originally a cavalry general of Li Cunxu, but died very early. So Shi Jingtang raised Shi Chonggui and treated him as his own son.

The financial sponsor nominated him personally, so Shi Chonggui was promoted to Taiyuan governor, Taiyuan prefect, and Hedong governor. Generally speaking, when the emperor led the army in person, the son who stayed behind would be the heir to the throne. Shi Chonggui really took over Shi Jingtang's position and became the second emperor of the Later Jin Dynasty.

When Zhao Dejun heard the news of Jin'an Village's surrender, he was terrified and quickly ordered a retreat.

Yelu Deguang and Shi Jingtang took advantage of this opportunity to rush forward and kill indiscriminately.

Zhao Dejun and his son, the commanders of the army, fled first, followed by Fu Yanrao, Zhang Yanqi, Liu Yanlang, Liu Zaiming and other major generals. Afterwards, the army was completely disbanded, like a turtle eating a watermelon - some rolled and some crawled. The army threw away their armor and weapons, and more than 10,000 people died just from trampling on each other.

Liu Yanlang and Liu Zaiming fled to Huaizhou in one breath and brought back the news of Shi Jingtang's ascension to the throne. Only then did Li Congke and the civil and military officials learn that Yang Guangyuan had surrendered and Shi Jingtang had become emperor.

Li Congke summoned all the officials to discuss countermeasures. Everyone believed that the Khitans would not dare to cross the Taihang Mountains rashly. In the area east of the Taihang Mountains and north of the Yellow River, only the Weizhou army was not affected by the war. In addition, Fan Yanguang, the governor of Weizhou, and Li Congke were in-laws, so they suggested setting up an exile government in Weizhou.

Li Song had once been Fan Yanguang's confidential secretary and chief adviser, and they had a good personal relationship. So Li Congke summoned Li Song to discuss with him the feasibility of joining Fan Yanguang.

Li Song walked inside. Xue Wenyu, who was self-righteous, didn't know that this was a private meeting with Li Congke. He felt good about himself and followed Li Song to meet Li Congke. When Li Congke saw Xue Wenyu, his face changed drastically and he kept roaring. Li Song quietly kicked Xue Wenyu, and Xue Wenyu quickly said goodbye and left.

Li Congke was still furious and trembling all over. He said to Li Song, "When I saw this thing, I was so angry that I was shaking all over. I almost drew my knife and chopped him off!"

Li Song said a few words of persuasion, and finally Li Congke gradually calmed down.

In fact, we can also see from this little story that Li Congke is not a tyrant who kills without blinking an eye. Even though Xue Wenyu's bad idea "harmed the country and the emperor", and even though he wanted to kill him with a knife, he still held back and spared Xue Wenyu's life. To be honest, just based on this point, Li Congke is more merciful and tolerant than most emperors in history.

Previously, Li Congke did not follow the strategies of Lü Qi and Li Song, but followed Xue Wenyu, which led to the situation today. Now Li Congke has begun to trust Lü Qi and Li Song.

Is it too late? No, it is not too late.

At this point, even if a god descended to earth, let alone Li Song, it would be difficult to save Li Congke from danger. But it was still death, and Li Song's words made Li Congke die more dignified and not become a laughing stock.

Li Song firmly opposed joining Fan Yanguang of Weizhou.

"Your Majesty, do you remember Emperor Min Li Conghou?"

Li Congke raised an army in Fengxiang and approached Luoyang. Li Conghou fled and surrendered to Shi Jingtang. What was the result? The shame of Weizhou was a laughing stock. Now, do you want to follow in Li Conghou's footsteps?
As one of the three "powerful" giants, Fan Yanguang seemed to be a loyal minister compared with Shi Jingtang and Zhao Dejun, but it is hard to say in the current situation; besides, Li Conghou is Shi Jingtang's brother-in-law, didn't he still have the Weizhou incident?
This is not Li Song's alarmist talk. In fact, Fan Yanguang's character is indeed questionable. Later, he did rebel, but that is another story.

Li Congke accepted Li Song's suggestion and returned to Luoyang.

Luoyang was already in chaos and panic. After hearing the news of the great defeat on the front line, the people ran around, abandoned their property, and fled into the valley to escape the war. The officials guarding the city planned to strictly prohibit it, but the prince Li Chongmei who stayed in Luoyang said: "The country is in trouble, the government not only cannot make decisions for the people, but also prohibits people from fleeing. How can this be possible?" He ordered the city gates to be opened and the people to flee.

Li Congke retreated to Heyang. At the same time, Zhao Dejun and his son retreated to Luzhou.

Shi Jingtang and the Khitan coalition forces were like a mad dog, biting Zhao Dejun's tail tightly and chasing him all the way to Luzhou.

Shi Jingtang sent the surrendered general Gao Xingzhou as a vanguard to arrive at the foot of Luzhou City first, and shouted to Zhao Dejun above to persuade him to surrender, "Your Majesty (Zhao Dejun was given the title of King of Beiping) and I are from the same hometown, and I am willing to analyze the pros and cons for you. Now there is not even a bushel of food in Luzhou City, how can you hold on? It would be better to welcome the emperor, please think twice!"

The next day, Shi Jingtang and Yelu Deguang led the main force to approach Luzhou. Zhao Dejun and his son left the city and headed for Gaohe (northwest of Luzhou) to welcome the surrender.

(End of this chapter)