History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 534: Three Towns Rebellion 8
The battle of Huazhou-Liyang made Shi Jingtang realize the vulnerability of the Weizhou rebels. He believed that Yang Guangyuan would surely crush Fan Yanguang with overwhelming force, so he would not have to worry about it and could just kill him. Moreover, this would have a deterrent effect on other vassal states. Otherwise, if they were promoted and given titles as soon as they rebelled, what kind of example would that set?

However, Yang Guangyuan's military talent and dirty inner demons poured cold water on Shi Jingtang. Under Shi Bo's bitter admonition, Shi Jingtang had to re-weigh the pros and cons.

Finally, Shi Jingtang thought that accepting Fan Yanguang's surrender would be relatively less costly. So he decided to use political means to induce surrender and peacefully resolve the Weizhou rebellion. He sent the eunuch Zhu Xian into the city to communicate and convey Shi Jingtang's intention that as long as Fan Yanguang was willing to surrender, Shi Jingtang would guarantee the safety of his life and property, and promised to exchange him for a military town of the same size and let him continue to serve as a military governor.

This condition was something Fan Yanguang would never have dared to dream of. After making such a big fuss, he only wanted to move the town. Isn't this just a foolish dream? I don't believe it, I don't believe it, I don't believe it.

Shi Jingtang: If I lie to you, I am a puppy!
According to historical records, Shi Jingtang first said a lot of heartfelt words to Fan Yanguang, all of which were great principles. The gist of it was that you were out of ammunition and food, and in danger. If you didn't surrender, you would be dead. I decided to leave you a way out for the sake of our friendship as old colleagues and old friends. No one is without faults, and it is a great virtue to correct one's faults. A comrade who knows his faults and can correct them is a good comrade.

Finally, Shi Jingtang swore a poisonous oath:
"If we kill them after they surrender, how can we enjoy the country? Let's ask them about this on a bright day!" - "Old History of the Five Dynasties"

"If I surrender and kill you, I will not be able to enjoy my country in broad daylight." - "Zizhi Tongjian"

I swear to the sun in the sky - damn it, if I kill you after you surrender, I will lose this country and my people!

Fan Yanguang looked up at the sun in the sky and said, "Fuck... I still don't believe it."

Shi Jingtang then gave Fan Yanguang a red-lettered iron certificate and a gold medal of immunity from death, changed his title to Prince of Dongping, and appointed him as the governor of Tianping Army in Yunzhou. He also told Fan Yanguang that he did not need to come to the capital to meet the emperor, but could go directly from Weizhou to Yunzhou to take up his post.

"Well, you should believe me now, right?"

Fan Yanguang accepted it. It can't be said that he was half-believing and half-doubting, but at least he had no other choice.

Fan Yanguang said to Li Shi, the deputy governor of the Jiedushi: "Our lord is the most trustworthy. If he says he won't kill me, then he will definitely not kill me." So he withdrew the outer layer of fortifications, but still had doubts.

His doubts were not unfounded. Shi Jingtang would indeed keep his promises until he broke them. He would never break his promises until he broke them.

Shi Jingtang sent Liu Churang, the envoy of the Southern Court of Xuanhui, to the city again to comfort Fan Yanguang. After meeting Liu Churang, Fan Yanguang finally made up his mind and surrendered.

Who is Liu Churang and why does he have such a great reputation?

Liu Churang's ancestral home was Cangzhou. He originally served in Cangzhou and was a subordinate of Zhang Wanjin.

Zhang Wanjin was a subordinate of Liu Shouguang. After Liu Shouguang captured his father and seized power, he also seized Cangzhou, where his brother Liu Shouwen was in charge, and made his son Liu Jiwei the governor of Cangzhou Yichang Army. Because Liu Jiwei was young and ignorant and could not take charge of things on his own, he specially arranged for Zhang Wanjin to stay in Cangzhou to assist his son Liu Jiwei. Although Liu Jiwei was young and ignorant in military and political affairs, he was an experienced driver in other aspects. It is said that he raped Zhang Wanjin's wife and daughter, so Zhang Wanjin launched a mutiny, killed Liu Jiwei, took over Cangzhou, and then expressed his allegiance to Houliang and Li Cunxu of Hedong at the same time.

Yang Shihou, a fierce general of the Later Liang Dynasty, led a large army to take over in a timely and domineering manner. Zhang Wanjin was frightened and surrendered the city. Yang Shihou recommended him to be the governor of Qingzhou and later moved him to Yanzhou.

Later, Zhang Wanjin rebelled and surrendered to Li Cunxu in Hedong. The Later Liang Dynasty sent General Liu Xun to attack him. Zhang Wanjin closed the city and held his ground, and sent Liu Churang to Hedong to ask for reinforcements.

At that time, Li Cunxu was fighting fiercely with the Later Liang Dynasty, and the famous "Battle of Huliupi" broke out. The famous Hedong general Zhou Dewei was killed. Li Cunxu marched into Deshengdu at a heavy price. He was unable to support Yanzhou, so he said to Liu Churang that he could not help and asked Comrade Zhang Wanjin to fend for himself.

Liu Churang cut off his ear outside Li Cunxu's tent, begging Li Cunxu to send troops to help him. He shouted: "My master Zhang Wanjin was besieged by the army because he wanted to submit to you, but you ignored him and put him in danger. If you are unwilling to send troops, please kill me first!"

Then, Liu Churang, covered in blood, turned around and cried loudly towards Yanzhou, "My lord, I am sorry for you, and I am too ashamed to go back to see you. Let me die here to apologize for my sins!"

The soldiers of Hedong were moved by his loyalty. Li Cunxu was also moved by his loyalty and righteousness. In the tense situation of the "Battle of Huliupi", he squeezed out thousands of soldiers and horses from his teeth to rush to Yanzhou for assistance. However, before they arrived, Liu Xun conquered Yanzhou and Zhang Wanjin was killed. So Liu Churang stayed in Hedong.

Li Cunxu appointed Liu Churang as a "guest envoy", equivalent to a diplomat. The story of Liu Churang "cutting off his ear to complain to the military" was widely circulated, and people admired him as a righteous man of the time, with a heroic aura, and his diplomatic work was carried out very smoothly. Therefore, for many years, a group of people engaged in this work have been promoted repeatedly in the diplomatic system.

During the reign of Li Congke, Liu Yanhao of Weizhou encountered a mutiny and was expelled by the rebel army. Li Congke sent Fan Yanguang to quell the rebellion and sent Liu Churang as the Hebei Transport Commissioner. At this time, Liu Churang had further interactions with Fan Yanguang, and the two worked together to quell the military rebellion in Weizhou.

After the incident, Fan Yanguang was appointed as the Jiedushi of Weizhou, while Liu Churang was promoted to the Envoy of the Southern Court of Xuanhui and returned to the central government.

After Fan Yanguang's rebellion, Shi Jingtang sent Yang Guangyuan to command and Liu Churang to be his advisor, and the two teamed up to pacify Weizhou again. During this period, because of the rebellion of Zhang Congbin in Luoyang, Shi Jingtang arranged for Liu Churang to send troops to Sishui Pass to assist. After Zhang Congbin was pacified, Liu Churang returned to the front line of Weizhou.

Now, Fan Yanguang was hesitant about surrender, so Shi Jingtang arranged for Liu Churang to make a final effort.

Liu Churang, the "earless hero", is the embodiment of loyalty and righteousness. He represents honesty and trustworthiness. In fact, it doesn't matter what he says, as long as he appears, it represents Shi Jingtang's sincerity. Moreover, Liu Churang once worked closely with Fan Yanguang. In public and private, Liu Churang is Shi Jingtang's last trump card.

Sure enough, Liu Churang’s actions worked.

Fan Yanguang finally made up his mind to surrender. He first sent his two sons, Fan Shoutu and Fan Shouying, to Yang Guangyuan's camp, who were then transferred to Bianzhou and held hostage. He then sent his trusted generals to Bianzhou with a "surrender and apology letter" to express his willingness to accept punishment from the organization.

(End of this chapter)