History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 676 Zhou Ge Han Ming 2
"In that case, please enter the city and explain in detail, General."

Liu Yun invited Guo Chongwei to enter the city alone to learn about the situation from him.

What a joke! I came here to catch the turtle in the jar, not to be caught by the turtle. Guo Chongwei politely declined.

The atmosphere suddenly became awkward and strange. Guo Chongwei was a Han minister, but he did not obey the orders of the Han emperor, so he could not be called loyal; but he led his troops to attack the emperor, but kept saying that he was under orders to protect him. The two sides did not tear each other apart, and there was no war, so it was hard to say that he was treasonous.

At this time, Feng Dao took the initiative to volunteer and broke the deadlock. Feng Dao went out of the city alone and came to Guo Chongwei's military camp. The two of them dismissed all outsiders and talked in secret for a long time.

Afterwards, Guo Chongwei agreed to follow Feng Dao into the city and meet with Liu Yun to explain and communicate.

Liu Yun held Guo Chongwei's hand tightly, tears flowing out uncontrollably.

Guo Chongwei comforted Liu Yun in the name of Guo Wei. After a brief communication, Guo Chongwei quickly left the city and camped outside the city.

Liu Yun just kept crying.

His important confidant, Chief Advisor (Jiedu Judge) Dong Yi, was very clear-headed and said to Liu Yun: "From what I saw from Guo Chongwei's eyes and behavior just now, he must have another conspiracy! Rumor has it that Guo Wei has ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor. Now, Your Majesty has entered deep into enemy territory, and the situation is extremely dangerous!"

"What can I do?"

The counselor Dong Yi suggested that we immediately summon Zhang Lingchao, the officer in charge of the guards, to raid the camp tonight and capture Guo Chongwei alive. The next morning we will plunder Songzhou, and then use the money to recruit soldiers and expand our strength while marching towards Taiyuan to join your biological father, Liu Chong, the governor of Hedong. Even if Guo Wei enters Bianzhou now, we will have no time to catch up. We must race against time and make plans when we reach Hedong. This is the best strategy!
The best strategy was to surrender to Hedong, the middle strategy was to return to Xuzhou, but Liu Yun himself came up with the worst strategy - hoping for the enemy's mercy and continuing to stay in Songzhou.

Liu Yun was indecisive and didn't dare to take risks. Apart from crying, he could only pray to God.

That night, Guo Chongwei had successfully instigated the rebellion of Zhang Lingchao, the head of Liu Yun's guard regiment. The guard regiment as a whole surrendered to Guo Chongwei, and Liu Yun was completely reduced to a fish on the chopping board.

Until this time, Liu Yun and his team finally understood a cruel truth, that is, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Guo Wei had not been planning well from the beginning. From the very beginning, he had no intention of letting Liu Yun ascend the throne.

At this time, Guo Wei sent someone to deliver another letter, telling him in person that he would be forced to become emperor, and asked Feng Dao to return to the central government first, while leaving Zhao Shangjiao and Wang Du to accompany Liu Yun.

Liu Yun's team was furious, "We were betrayed by Feng Dao!"

Feng Dao came to say goodbye to Liu Yun.

Liu Yun held Feng Dao's hands tightly with tears in his eyes and said, "I didn't want to leave Xuzhou. The reason I agreed to go west to Bianzhou was because you have been the prime minister for nearly 30 years. I came here boldly out of trust in you. Now, my personal guards have been transferred away by Guo Chongwei. The situation is precarious. Old sir, please tell me, what should I do now?"

Feng Dao lowered his head in shame and said nothing.

Liu Yun's staff gnashed their teeth, staring at Feng Dao with angry eyes, and hinted that Liu Yun should kill Feng Dao. Liu Yun waved his hand and said to them: "Don't be reckless, this matter has nothing to do with Feng Dao. Well, forget it, let him go."

Feng Dao thanked him quickly and escaped from the tiger's mouth without stopping. On the way back to Bianzhou, Feng Dao suddenly remembered a poem he wrote when he was young, which unexpectedly corresponded to the situation today, and he couldn't help chanting:

"Don't be depressed in times of crisis, as there is always a reason for your future.

Finally I heard that the mountains and seas returned to their wise master, but I didn't realize that the world had fallen into the hands of a lucky person.

When did morality die? Boats and carriages can travel everywhere.

As long as there is no evil in your heart, you can stand firm even among wolves and tigers."

I don't know whether Feng Dao was secretly glad that he had escaped from the jaws of death, or was saddened by the disgraced emperor, or was self-mocking about being used as bait. The country was under the control of a wise ruler, and Feng Dao also escaped from the wolf and tiger. What about Liu Yun?
Liu Yun's words were heartbreaking. I was living happily in Xuzhou, but I ended up in this dangerous situation because I trusted you. You hurt me and laughed it off. Old senior in the political arena, an old prime minister who has served several dynasties and several kings, ask yourself, don't you have a guilty conscience?
Liu Yun was indecisive and was manipulated by Guo Wei, and eventually died in Songzhou. However, his kindness is undeniable. When he knew that he was deceived and betrayed by Feng Dao and his life was about to be in danger, he did not kill Feng Dao, but generously let him leave safely.

He may not be a good politician, but he must be a good person.

After Feng Dao left, Guo Chongwei immediately killed Liu Yun's confidants Dong Yi and others. Without his guards and advisers, Liu Yun really became a lonely man, only one step away from death.

On December 12, Empress Dowager Li issued an imperial decree, deposing Liu Yun as Duke of Xiangyin. The next day (26), Guo Wei was announced as regent.

Less than a month later, on the 951th day of the first lunar month of the next year (), Guo Wei sent someone to poison Liu Yun, who was under house arrest. The assassin was carried out by Empress Dowager Li's younger brother, Li Hongyi.

Li Hongyi was originally the governor of Chanzhou. He received a secret decree from Liu Chengyou, asking him to kill Wang Yin first, then Guo Wei and Wang Jun. Li Hongyi decisively leaked the secret to Wang Yin and betrayed Liu Chengyou. At this time, he followed Guo Wei's secret order and poisoned Liu Yun to death.

Why didn't Guo Wei send his own direct confidants, but instead sent Li Hongyi, a member of his former "uncle's clan"?

One of the reasons is that Liu Yun was under house arrest in Songzhou, and the governor of Songzhou at that time was Li Hongyi, so he could use materials from nearby.
The second reason was to let Li Hongyi take Liu Yunna as a token of his loyalty to Guo Wei's group.

The third reason is that he was the younger brother of Empress Dowager Li, the uncle of the previous emperor, and a relative of the Han Dynasty. Therefore, if he executed Liu Yun, it would mean that the Han Dynasty had been completely abandoned, which was a strong political signal. If Guo Wei's direct confidants did it, Guo Wei would be accused of "plotting to usurp the throne".

Guo Wei moved Li Hongyi from Chanzhou to Songzhou to pave the way for this matter.

2.2 Liu Xin of Xuzhou
Liu Xin was Liu Zhiyuan's cousin. He was first appointed as the governor of Huazhou and later as the governor of Xuzhou. Liu Zhiyuan was not allowed to return to his hometown until he became seriously ill.

In fact, he was not allowed to return to the town, but expelled, fearing that this brother of the emperor would take advantage of the chaos to cause trouble. Of course, letting him leave the capital to go to the town was not necessarily Liu Zhiyuan's real intention, because Liu Zhiyuan was dying at the time, unable to recognize people, unable to speak, and was barely breathing. The order to send him to the town was the opinion of the important ministers who were entrusted with the care of the young emperor. Shi Hongzhao, Yang Bin and others used Liu Zhiyuan's name to ensure the smooth accession of the young emperor Liu Chengyou.

(End of this chapter)