History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 634 Buy One Get One Free
After Liu Zhiyuan's solemn promise, Zhang Lian led his subordinates to surrender.

However, when they came out, Liu Zhiyuan immediately ordered the execution of dozens of Youzhou officers including Zhang Lian, and only released the remaining Youzhou soldiers.

When this group of Youzhou soldiers were about to leave Weizhou, they smashed, looted and burned in the border area before running back to Youzhou.

Guo Wei suggested to Liu Zhiyuan that Du Chongwei's close associates, totaling more than 100 people, be executed, and all of Du Chongwei's property be confiscated to reward soldiers and subsidize military expenses. Liu Zhiyuan readily accepted the suggestion.

Afterwards, Du Chongwei was appointed as the acting Grand Tutor, the Grand Tutor, the Minister of the Central Secretariat, and the Duke of Chu. He had no real power, but a lot of empty titles, his property was gone, and his followers were uprooted.

Although Du Chongwei was alive, he had been sentenced to death politically, and his era of jumping around was over. The people could finally vent their anger at him. According to records, whenever Du Chongwei appeared on the street, pedestrians would pick up bricks and tiles on the ground and throw them at him while cursing at him. He dared not fight back or say anything back, and could only run away.

After the war, Liu Zhiyuan appointed Gao Xingzhou as the governor of Weizhou and military governor of Weizhou. However, Gao Xingzhou did not want to be neighbors with Murong Yanchao, who was the governor of Chanzhou, so he resolutely submitted a petition to resign. Liu Zhiyuan then moved Murong Yanchao to Yunzhou, and still let Gao Xingzhou stay in Weizhou to guard the northern gate of the Later Han Empire.

On December 12, Liu Zhiyuan set out for Beijing. Halfway through the journey, he received bad news from Bianzhou: Comrade Crown Prince Liu Chengxun died on December 6 at the age of 12 due to illness.

On December 12, Liu Zhiyuan returned to Bianzhou.

Liu Chengxun's untimely death was such a huge blow to Liu Zhiyuan that he offered a buy one get one free deal and took Liu Zhiyuan away with him.

Liu Chengxun was Liu Zhiyuan's eldest son, "gentle and good-looking", handsome, and of good character. Liu Zhiyuan loved him the most. When Liu Zhiyuan left Taiyuan and headed south, he appointed him as the Taiyuan Imperial Household Inspector. After entering Bian, he immediately summoned him to the capital and granted him the title of Kaifeng Prefecture Governor, Inspector of the Imperial Guard, and Co-Prime Minister, making him his successor.

Liu Zhiyuan placed high hopes on Liu Chengxun and tried hard to make him the heir to the throne. When Liu Chengxun was buried, Liu Zhiyuan was heartbroken and "cried so hard that he became ill". Afterwards, he suspended court for three days, posthumously conferred the title of King of Wei on Liu Chengxun, and buried him in his hometown of Taiyuan.

The old man dies the young man, and Liu Zhiyuan cried bitterly at his son's funeral and died directly.

A few days later, on the last day of the year, New Year's Eve, Suzhou reported a severe famine in the country, with 867 people starving to death.

The next day was the New Year's Day of the 948th year of Tianfu (). On the first day of the New Year, Liu Zhiyuan refused to accept court congratulations; on the fifth day of the first lunar month, an edict was issued, a general amnesty was declared, and the reign was changed from "the th year of Tianfu" to "the first year of Qianyou".

On the 14th day of the first lunar month, Liu Zhiyuan's condition worsened;

On the 27th day of the first lunar month, Liu Zhiyuan was already terminally ill and on the verge of death. His close associates knew that his end was near, so they secretly stepped up the internal stability maintenance work of the new regime.

Liu Zhiyuan's cousin Liu Xin is currently the commander-in-chief of the imperial guards' cavalry (the commander of the imperial guards' cavalry), and is also the governor of Xuzhou Zhongwu Army. His position as a local governor is just a remote position. Now that Liu Zhiyuan is critically ill, his close confidant, Privy Councilor Yang Bin, orders Liu Xin to go to Xuzhou to take up his post.

According to the custom, when an official from the capital was sent to a distant place, he had to bid farewell to the emperor. Liu Xin requested to bid farewell to Liu Zhiyuan, but was rejected by Yang Bin, who said, "Stop talking nonsense and leave quickly." Liu Xin probably understood the situation, so he burst into tears and went from Bianzhou to Xuzhou crying.

Liu Zhiyuan urgently summoned his confidants, Su Fengji, Yang Bin, Shi Hongzhao, and Guo Wei, and announced his will. Liu Zhiyuan, who was lying on the sickbed, was already on the verge of death, his voice was weak and intermittent, "I am dying, now, even breathing is difficult. Chengyou is still young, you must assist him well!"

Several people nodded vigorously with tears in their eyes.

Liu Zhiyuan closed his eyes slightly, took two breaths with great effort, and suddenly opened his eyes again, adding weakly but firmly: "Be careful of Du Chongwei!"

"We understand, brother, just go on your way with peace of mind."

On that day, Liu Zhiyuan died in Wansui Hall at the age of 54.

Su Fengji and others strictly blocked the news and continued to issue orders in the name of Liu Zhiyuan.

On the 30th day of the first lunar month, an imperial edict was issued in the name of Liu Zhiyuan: During my illness, Du Chongwei and his son made false comments about the central government, spread rumors and slander, incited the masses, and shook the military morale... The verdict is as follows: Du Chongwei and his sons Du Hongzhang, Du Honglian, and Du Hongcan will be beheaded; Du Chongwei's wife Shi (Shi Jingtang's sister) and other relatives and friends will not be implicated.

At first glance, the suspect Du Chongwei is simply an unforgivable criminal, but a closer look at the verdict reveals that it is all just a false accusation. In short, Du Chongwei must die.

After the beheading, Du Chongwei's body was dragged to the street, his limbs were cut off and displayed to the people. The people rushed forward and tore Du Chongwei to express their hatred for him. The officers and soldiers on the scene could not stop them. Soon, Du Chongwei was left with only a skeleton.

On February 2, "Liu Zhiyuan" issued another decree: the emperor's second son Liu Chengyou was granted the title of special advancement, inspecting grand marshal, and was granted the title of King of Zhou and co-prime minister.

A few days later, the news of Liu Zhiyuan's death was officially announced to the public, and the "last will" was read out: Liu Chengyou, the King of Zhou, would ascend the throne in front of the coffin and inherit the throne. Liu Chengyou then sat on the throne with the support of civil and military officials, becoming the second emperor of the Later Han regime, known in history as the "Hidden Emperor of the Later Han".

Liu Zhiyuan was emperor for less than a year, and in the first four months he only controlled a corner of Hedong. He was nominally the emperor of Jin, but in reality he was a military governor. He took control of Bianzhou in June, and although he nominally owned the world, he still did not gain effective control of the entire country until his death six months later.

Later historians did not think highly of him.

"He took advantage of the situation to seize the sacred weapon and took advantage of the chaos to establish his imperial ambitions. Although it was said to be a man-made plan, it was certainly inspired by heaven." Liu Zhiyuan's throne was obtained by taking advantage of the situation. Mainly because he was lucky, as he caught up with the great turmoil when the Khitan destroyed the Later Jin Dynasty.

"I have always been disappointed with people's expectations... I have never tired of people's hearts... I am anxious to stop killing and have no time to promote benevolence." Liu Zhiyuan did not gain widespread support from the people of the world. The "heroes" had their own ulterior motives. People's allegiance to him was just like the Khitan generals' allegiance to Yelu Ruan. It was not what people expected, but just political speculation. When Liu Zhiyuan's group dealt with the messy internal affairs, they were eager for quick success and quick profit, reckless and arbitrary, which gave people a very bad impression. I will elaborate on this in detail later. The Later Han regime was known for its "harshness and cruelty."

(End of this chapter)