History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 536: Death of Fan Yanguang

Facing the indignant ministers, Shi Jingtang said: "I have already promised to pardon them. How can I go back on my word?" So Li Yanxun safely took up the leadership position of Fangzhou Governor.

But Ouyang Xiu was so angry that when he was compiling the New History of the Five Dynasties, he cursed Li Yanxun as worse than a beast (to the extreme, making people's hearts worse than beasts, how sad!) and criticized Shi Jingtang for his blind indulgence.

The Old History of the Five Dynasties could not help but curse, "He is not human", this guy is simply not a human. At the same time, it also criticized Shi Jingtang for "being too negligent in punishment".

Shi Jingtang did not kill Li Yanxun in order to appease Fan Yanguang. If he could break his promise to Li Yanxun, he could break his promise to Fan Yanguang. Therefore, in order to make Fan Yanguang believe in the sincerity of the court, Li Yanxun would be pardoned even if he killed his own mother or even his entire family.

Later, Li Yanxun was executed for corruption. It was normal for local officials to be corrupt at that time, and even if they were punished, they would not be sentenced to death. If they were executed for "taking bribes", it was usually not because of "taking bribes", but for other reasons that were not convenient to be made public. As for what the reasons were, you know.

After the Weizhou rebellion was quelled, Shi Jingtang officially issued an order to move the capital. In fact, Shi Jingtang had already moved the entire central government to Bianzhou in order to target Fan Yanguang, but he did not announce the relocation of the capital in order not to further provoke Fan Yanguang.

Yang Guangyuan was also appointed as the new military governor of Weizhou Weizhou. Those who had made contributions in the war to suppress the rebellion were rewarded according to their merits.

Weizhou seems to be under some kind of curse. Like Xichuan, anyone who rules here will have some other little ideas.

After Fan Yanguang went to govern Yunzhou, he was always uneasy. This kind of suspicion between the monarch and his subjects could never be completely eliminated. They were all old hands and knew it tacitly.

Fan Yanguang's life was completely dependent on Shi Jingtang's mercy, and Shi Jingtang's mercy depended on the development of the situation. Politicians have no emotions, no gratitude and mercy, no hatred, only the weighing and game of political interests.

Fan Yanguang was alone and helpless, like a fish on the chopping board, but he still lived in the vassal state, which was extremely dangerous. So since Fan Yanguang went to Yunzhou, he kept submitting petitions, saying that he was old and weak, suffering from various diseases, and was really unable to be competent for the post of Jiedushi, and asked to retire and return home. He wanted to save his remaining life by taking the initiative to withdraw.

Shi Jingtang of course tried to appease him with kind words, repeatedly expressing his sincerity and asking him not to think too much. However, Fan Yanguang insisted.

More than a month after Fan Yanguang surrendered, the court finally agreed to his request to resign and retire, allowing him to retire as the Prince's Grand Tutor.

After retirement, Fan Yanguang moved to Bianzhou and lived under the nose of Shi Jingtang to show that he no longer had the ambition to stir up trouble; Shi Jingtang often invited him to banquets. After all, the two were old colleagues, and there were many old colleagues and old friends from the Later Tang Dynasty in the capital. They often got together to drink and have fun, and sing "Old Boy", which moved them to tears.

At the party, Shi Jingtang treated them no differently from other ministers, as if there had never been any rebellion in Weizhou, and everyone was still the same young man as before.

Once, when Shi Jingtang was alone with Fan Yanguang, he opened his heart to him and told him the truth. The gist of it was that I am now trying to create and maintain the image of an honest and trustworthy benevolent monarch. Even if I want to kill you, I will not do it for the sake of the overall situation and under pressure from public opinion. Just put your mind at ease, it's okay.

In this way, Fan Yanguang gradually calmed down and gradually believed in Shi Jingtang's sincerity.

However, the peace was soon broken.

One night, Liu Churang was drunk and suddenly visited Fan Yanguang's home. Liu Churang said that he attended a banquet in the palace and had a great time drinking, but the banquet suddenly ended. Guess why?
Fan Yanguang had no idea, "Why?"

"Someone is coming from the north. Khitan has sent an envoy, and the emperor must meet him quickly." It makes sense, but what does it have to do with me, Fan Yanguang?
Liu Churang was drunk and said mysteriously, "Guess what the Khitan envoy said to the emperor."

"Don't keep me in suspense. What did you say?"

"That Khitan envoy was very arrogant. He came up and questioned our emperor, saying, 'Where is the traitor in Wei Bo? Since you can't control him, tie him up and take him to the north. We Khitans will help you discipline him so that he won't become a scourge to you.' The emperor talked nonsense and flattered him for a long time. Guess what happened in the end?"

Fan Yanguang was so frightened that his face turned pale, in stark contrast to Liu Churang, who was ruddy from drinking. "My dear ancestor, please stop teasing me. What happened in the end?"

"In the end... in the end... I don't know either. I eavesdropped halfway and came back. The emperor was meeting with the Khitan envoys. How could I dare to eavesdrop openly?"

Fan Yanguang didn't hear a word Liu Churang said next. He looked pale, cold sweat dripped down his chin, and his heart was about to jump out of his mouth.

Suddenly, Fan Yanguang burst into tears and begged Liu Churang to help him find a way out.

Liu Churang thought for a moment and said, "Of the thirty-six strategies, running away is the best one. You might as well just move."

Fan Yanguang thought this was a good idea. Not only did Khitan envoys often come and go in Bianzhou, but he also had his enemy Yang Guangyuan. It was a place of trouble and it was not suitable to stay there for long.

So, Fan Yanguang submitted a memorial, saying that he still had land and houses in his former residence in Heyang and planned to return to Heyang to spend his remaining years in retirement.

Shi Jingtang granted permission.

Fan Yanguang brought his family with him, loaded with gold, silver and treasures, and looked forward to a comfortable and enjoyable life in his later years. According to records, when Fan Yanguang moved, "the road was filled with baggage and luggage", and there were many cars and people transporting gold, silver and treasures. Among the goods transported by the caravan was the cursed wealth.

Dong Wenqi had accumulated the treasure through years of extortion, and Mi Qiong killed his family and took it for himself; Fan Yanguang killed Mi Qiong's family again, and the treasure changed hands again. Now, Fan Yanguang is showing it off in the market, attracting people's envy.

There was a man who coveted Fan Yanguang's concubines and treasures. This man was Fan Yanguang's old enemy - Yang Guangyuan.

The two had recently become enemies, namely the Hedong War. At that time, Shi Jingtang was plotting a rebellion in Hedong, and Yang Guangyuan was ordered to assist Zhang Jingda in attacking Taiyuan, while Fan Yanguang and Zhao Dejun were ordered to come to support him. Yang Guangyuan and Fan Yanguang were comrades-in-arms and had a common enemy, Shi Jingtang.

However, Yang Guangyuan lost the first battle and was surrounded in Jin'an Village with Zhang Jingda. Fan Yanguang and Zhao Dejun had ulterior motives and were reluctant to support Jin'an Village, and just stood by and watched Yang Guangyuan. Yang Guangyuan killed Zhang Jingda and surrendered to the Khitan, which saved his life. He was branded as a traitor and was discriminated and excluded by his former colleagues for killing Zhang Jingda. He could never hold his head up.

One kind of regret is to see someone dying and not help.

(End of this chapter)