History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 505: The Last Emperor's Martyrdom 2
Shi Jingtang controlled the important stronghold of Heyang, allowing the Jin-Liao coalition forces to advance and retreat freely without being trapped by the Yellow River. He then sent a task force to guard Mianchi (west of Luoyang) to prevent Li Congke from fleeing westward, and then slowly approached Luoyang.

Li Congke summoned Song Shenqian and other senior generals to discuss the feasibility of personally leading the army to fight for Heyang, but found that all the generals were busy submitting letters of surrender to Shi Jingtang.

This is very similar to the scenario two years ago! At that time, Li Congke traveled eastward, and generals along the way came to him one after another; now, he has been deserted by his friends and relatives, and all the generals have abandoned him. Like a tide, it is unstoppable.

Li Congke knew that the situation was hopeless.

It is said that when Li Congke retreated to Luoyang, the people of Luoyang spontaneously went to the east gate to welcome him. Li Congke, who was deserted by his friends and relatives, could not help crying when he saw his master in the capital who was still loyal to him. He wept uncontrollably. It was all over. It was all over!

An elderly man advised: "I heard that when the emperors before were in trouble, they all went to Sichuan to seek recovery. Your Majesty might as well follow the example of your ancestors and seek refuge in Xichuan."

Li Congke raised his tearful eyes and said, "In this dynasty (Tang Dynasty), the governors of the two Sichuan provinces were all civil officials, so Xuanzong and Xizong could flee to Shu to avoid the invaders. Now, the Meng family has long been the king in Shu, where else can I escape to?"

The people knelt on the ground and cried bitterly. Li Congke also cried as he entered Luoyang City.

Yes, at this moment, in this vast world, where can I find a place to stay? Li Congke was desperate. At the last moment, he did something that frustrated politicians often do - he and his entire family burned themselves to death.

Since King Zhou of Shang burned himself to death, countless warlords have chosen to end their lives by self-immolation at the last moment, such as Shi Pu of Xuzhou in the late Tang Dynasty. Now, Li Congke also chose to end his legendary life in this way.

Before his death, Li Congke enthusiastically invited Yelu Bei to burn himself to death together with him.

Yelu Bei politely declined.

Afterwards, Li Congke sent the eunuch Qin Jimin and the imperial envoy Li Yanshen to kill Yelu Bei.

Since Yelu Bei came to Luoyang during the reign of Emperor Mingzong, he had been keeping in correspondence with the Khitan, and at first he only greeted them politely. After Li Congke usurped the throne, Yelu Bei immediately informed the Khitan of the news, and revealed the true situation of the Central Plains, instigating the Khitan to move south and take advantage of the situation.

Perhaps Li Congke did not know that this high-ranking political refugee, Yelü Bei, was a traitor and a high-ranking spy for the Khitans, but he still wanted to kill Yelü Bei at the last moment. He used such an extremely shameless method to retaliate against Shi Jingtang. You stole my kingdom, so I will kill you!
Of course, Li Congke did not kill his uncle just for the sake of killing his uncle. He wanted to make things difficult for Shi Jingtang.

Li Congke was too young. In fact, keeping Yelü Bei alive was the greatest revenge against Shi Jingtang and the Khitans. Imagine if Shi Jingtang had captured Luoyang and rescued Yelü Bei, what would he do with him? Send him back to his homeland in Khitan? Kill him?
Why did Yelu Bei abandon his country and join the Tang Dynasty? Wasn't it because he was suspected by Yelu Deguang? Moreover, after he came to the Later Tang Dynasty, he presented Khitan maps, official seals and other items full of political and military significance to Mingzong Li Siyuan, which was really a betrayal! Moreover, Yelu Bei was proficient in Chinese studies and Chinese law, and was good at governing the Central Plains. Whether he took the Khitan back or stayed in the Central Plains, Yelu Deguang was worried.

If Shi Jingtang guessed the emperor's intention and secretly killed Yelu Bei, it would be like burying a bomb for himself. Yelu Deguang could "avenge his brother" at any time, remove Shi Jingtang and establish another puppet.

Regardless of what Li Congke thought, he sent people to kill Yelü Bei. Li Congke's queen, Empress Liu, ordered people to pile up firewood in the palace, preparing to burn the palace. Prince Li Chongmei stopped them, saying that after Shi Jingtang entered Luoyang, he would definitely not sleep on the streets. If we burn the palace, he will definitely mobilize the people to build a palace. In the end, innocent people will be hurt. Before we die, we should not burden the people anymore!
So, Empress Liu gave up her plan to destroy the palace.

There are not many records about Li Chongmei in history. Basically, there are two things about him. One is to open the gates of Luoyang and allow the people to flee instead of forcing them to climb the city walls and fight to the death; the other is to preserve the palace for Shi Jingtang instead of destroying him together with the others.

From this brief record, we can see that Li Chongmei was a popular successor to the empire. If he could successfully ascend the throne in the future, he would probably be a wise and holy ruler.

Unfortunately, his life came to an abrupt end at this moment.

Concubine Wang De said to Empress Dowager Cao: "Although the situation is urgent, it is not hopeless. In my opinion, we'd better hide for a while and wait for our son-in-law to come." Empress Dowager Cao was Shi Jingtang's mother-in-law, and Shi Jingtang's wife was Empress Dowager Cao's biological daughter. Concubine Wang De planned to use this relationship to survive.

Empress Dowager Cao had always been a non-confrontational person. When Li Siyuan was alive, she always gave in to Concubine Wang De. Unexpectedly, at the moment of life and death, Empress Dowager Cao was particularly strong-willed.

Queen Mother Cao said, "How can I bear to live alone when my family has come to this? Sister, please do as you please." She was ready to die.

Concubine Wang De took Li Congyi and hid in the stadium, saving their lives.

In 936 AD, on November 11, Li Congke, together with Empress Liu, Empress Dowager Cao, Prince Li Chongmei, his close confidant Song Shenqian and others, carrying the imperial seal and other tokens, climbed up to the north gate tower of the imperial city (Xuanwu Tower) and burned themselves to death.

The second generation of the "Five Dynasties" - "Later Tang", perished and was replaced by Later Jin.

Li Keyong followed the Tibetan customs and adopted many sons. All those who were brave and capable in the army were adopted by him to win them over. No one could tell how many adopted sons Li Keyong had. Li Keyong also organized them into a special combat force named "Yi'er Army". Many well-known adopted sons had served as commanders of this force (Yi'er Army Envoy).

Among them, there are nine most famous adopted sons, such as Li Siyuan, Li Sizhao, Li Cunxiao, Li Cunxin, etc. Ouyang Xiu compiled a separate "Biography of Yi'er" for them in "New History of the Five Dynasties".

Li Keyong relied on these adopted sons to build his country, and the ultimate destruction of the country was also caused by these adopted sons, or the adoption system. Li Keyong's adopted son Li Siyuan ended the rule of Li Keyong's direct bloodline (Li Cunxu), and Li Siyuan's adopted son Li Congke ended the rule of Li Siyuan's direct bloodline (Li Conghou), and eventually led to the demise of the Later Tang Dynasty.

That night, Shi Jingtang entered Luoyang and lived in his old house. The Later Tang army disarmed and waited for punishment. Shi Jingtang appeased and comforted them, announced a general pardon, and ordered his trusted general Liu Zhiyuan to maintain the security of the capital.

Luoyang City successfully completed the transfer of power and was peacefully liberated, and order was restored in the city.

(End of this chapter)