History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 577: Pacification of Qingzhou 2
Gradually, Yang Guangyuan became desperate. He knelt down facing the north, kowtowed and wailed, "Your Majesty (referring to Yelu Deguang), you have made me suffer so much!" He cried bitterly and fell to the ground, unable to get up.

His sons Yang Chengxun, Yang Chengzuo and Yang Chengxin all advised him to surrender in order to gain leniency from the court.

Yang Guangyuan flatly refused. He said to his sons earnestly, "A long, long time ago, when I was still in Daibei, I secretly used paper money to offer sacrifices to Tianchi Lake, but the paper money mysteriously sank to the bottom of the water. At that time, people said that I would become the emperor. I think I can still save myself a little longer, so I will wait a little longer."

Yang Guangyuan was unwilling to admit defeat and turned himself in to seek leniency? We are all monks in the same mountain, so don't say Amitabha. How many years has Fan Yanguang been dead? Fan Yanguang still has the red book and iron certificate, the golden medal of immunity from death. Rebellion is a life-and-death struggle, there is no leniency. The loser must die with his entire family.

When the time entered the twelfth lunar month, Yang Guangyuan's sons could no longer hold out. On December 12, Yang Guangyuan's eldest son Yang Chengxun took the lead in launching a mutiny.

Yang Chengxun beheaded all his cronies who had instigated Yang Guangyuan to betray the court and urged him to fight to the end, including the Jiedushi judge Qiu Tao, the generals Bai Yanzuo, Yang Shan, Du Yantao and others. He also set fire to Qingzhou City to create chaos. Then he took advantage of the situation and led his personal guards to kidnap his father Yang Guangyuan. He then sent his younger brother Yang Chengzuo (Yang Chengzuo's wife was Shi Jingtang's eldest daughter, so he had more face) to deliver the heads of Qiu Tao and others to Li Shouzhen's camp, and wrote a memorial to Shi Chonggui, pushing all the blame on Qiu Tao and other scapegoats, accusing them of being the culprits. He then opened the city gates to welcome Li Shouzhen into the city.

At this point, Yang Guangyuan also sent someone to submit a petition, saying that he knew his crime and would wait for the court's punishment. The rebellion of Yang Guangyuan in Qingzhou was put down.

In the court, Shi Chonggui discussed with the ministers how to deal with Yang Guangyuan.

Shi Chonggui, as the emperor, was compassionate and had a broad mind, so he naturally had to be more righteous. Shi Chonggui said, "When I followed the late emperor to raise the uprising in Taiyuan, if Yang Guangyuan had not surrendered Jin'an Village, there would be no Great Jin. Comrade Yang Guangyuan worked hard and made great contributions. No one is without faults, but it is the greatest virtue to correct them. The late emperor also pardoned Fan Yanguang, so why should I not pardon Yang Guangyuan?"

Therefore, Shi Chonggui pardoned Yang Guangyuan for his contribution in returning Taiyuan to the throne, and granted official positions to his three sons.

In an instant, the court was in an uproar, and everyone was talking at once, saying that Yang Guangyuan had colluded with foreign tribes to cause chaos when the empire was in most danger, and that this was an unforgivable crime, and that killing him would not be enough to appease the public anger.

Shi Chonggui smiled with relief, "Ah, I have promised him that he will not die... Please do as Li Shouzhen sees fit."

In a word, let Li Shouzhen on the front line handle it.

Li Shouzhen laughed after receiving the order. Hey, all leaders are like this. They are whores and still want to be chaste. You be the good guy and I will take the blame.

Of course, Li Shouzhen was willing to take the blame for two reasons. First, Li Shouzhen and Yang Guangyuan had an old grudge, which was why Li Shouzhen was sent to lead the expedition; second, this was a lucrative business.

Li Shouzhen sent his confidant He Yanzuo to see Yang Guangyuan off.

Yang Guangyuan was packing his beloved horse in the stable in the backyard. He Yanzuo bowed and said, "The army outside the city is about to return. Can you bear to let us go back empty-handed?"

Yang Guangyuan laughed, "I have been in the officialdom for most of my life, how could I not understand this?" He quickly called the servants to fill the leaders' cars with gold and silver, "If it's not enough, come and fill it up."

He Yanzuo waved his hand and said, "Forget about the yellow and white things. The journey is long and the things are too heavy to be transported. Don't get me wrong, we just want to bring something light."

"Something light?" Yang Guangyuan was puzzled. "Please forgive my ignorance. Please tell me clearly, sir."

"Haha, what you said, you have been in the officialdom for most of your life, but you still don't understand this?" Yang Guangyuan had a bad premonition.

"I won't play dumb with you any more. Let me be frank. I only want one thing, and that is your head!"

Yang Guangyuan burst into tears and trembled all over. According to historical records, he was not trembling because of fear, but because of anger. He was extremely angry and roared: "What crime have I committed? In the past, I surrendered to the Khitan in Jin'an Village, which made your family Shi the emperor for generations. I just want to live a rich and prosperous life. Why do you want to kill me? Besides, the emperor has promised me that I will not die! You can't do this."

He Yanzuo was still leisurely and replied, "May I ask where Fan Yanguang is enjoying his wealth and honor now? I believe you know the reason best. After all, you are a general, a prime minister, and a king, so you should be more respectable."

"No!"

He Yanzuo hinted that he should commit suicide, but Yang Guangyuan firmly refused and claimed that he would go to the capital to confront Shi Chonggui face to face.

"Since you don't want to be decent, then I can only help you be decent - come, wait."

Several warriors appeared from behind and strangled Officer Yang to death on the spot.

At that time, Li Shouzhen reported to the court that Comrade Yang Guangyuan had unfortunately died of a sudden illness.

Yang Guangyuan's group was liquidated, some were killed, some were exiled. Those who were exiled did not enjoy the benefits of amnesty, "even if they were pardoned, they were not subject to release."

According to historical records, Yang Guangyuan's three sons did not support his rebellious behavior, especially the eldest son Yang Chengxun. He hated the treacherous villains around his father very much and always wanted to kill them. Whenever Yang Guangyuan went home to visit his relatives, Yang Guangyuan would hide those treacherous villains in advance to prevent him from catching them.

Yang Chengxun's real name was Yang Chenggui, which was changed to Yang Chengxun to avoid taboos.

After Yang Guangyuan's death, Yang Chengxun was granted the title of Ruzhou Defense Commissioner, while Yang Chengxin and Yang Chengzuo were placed in the Central Imperial Guard. Later, the Khitan destroyed the Later Jin Dynasty, arrested Yang Chengxun, accused him of betraying his father and the Liao Dynasty, cut him into pieces, and ate his flesh alive.

Yang Chengxin later inherited his father's position and became the military governor of Qingzhou Pinglu Army. During the Jin, Later Han, and Later Zhou dynasties, he was awarded the title of Prime Minister and the title of Duke of Lu for his meritorious service. After the establishment of the Northern Song Dynasty, Yang Chengxin was appointed as the Minister of the Interior and moved to Hezhong. He was further awarded the title of Duke of Zhao. He died of illness in the second year of Qiande (964) and was posthumously awarded the title of Minister of the Central Secretariat at the age of .

Although Yang Chengxin was the son of a traitor, he had good governance in his vassal state. When he died, the people of Hezhong built a temple to commemorate him. During the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of Song, the court appreciated his merits and promoted his grandson Yang Song to a civil servant as a reward for his loyalty.

At the end of this year, Yelu Deguang made a comeback.

Shi Chonggui had no time to indulge in the joy of pacifying Qingzhou. "The various states in Hebei are in emergency," and he ordered Ma Quanjie and An Shenqi to lead troops to station in Xingzhou.

The second of the three major battles is about to begin.

(End of this chapter)