History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 694: Wang Yin, the Second Minister

Wang Jun once worked under Zhao Yan, a relative of the Later Liang Dynasty, and was favored and promoted by Zhao Yan. Now that Wang Jun has become successful, he wants to ask Guo Wei to posthumously award Zhao Yan an official title and erect a monument to commemorate him.

His staff tried to dissuade him, saying that although Zhao Yan had done you a favor, he did not have a good reputation. He relied on nepotism to gain power and flattery to gain favor. He was also responsible for the demise of the Later Liang Dynasty. What exactly were you trying to commemorate by erecting a monument for him? Aren't you afraid of attracting criticism?

Wang Jun then gave up the idea of ​​bestowing an official title and erecting a monument, but he still requested to arrange a job and give land and houses to Zhao Chongxun, Zhao Yan's nephew. Guo Wei approved all of his requests.

Wang Jun sent a message to Zhao Shangjiao, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, who was in charge of this year's imperial examinations, asking him to take good care of a certain candidate. He wanted to use his connections to place a direct descendant in the civil service group.

Zhao Shangjiao was upright and loyal. He ignored Wang Jun's "greeting" and handled his affairs impartially. In the end, the candidate failed the exam based on his own strength.

Wang Jun was furious.

According to the procedure, after the list of successful candidates is posted, the chief examiner (Zhi Gongju) will lead the successful candidates to report to the Secretariat. After all, they will be colleagues in the future, so they should first get to know each other and exchange courtesies.

Zhao Shangjiao led the candidates to the Secretariat. Before they even entered the room, they were greeted by Wang Jun's loud scolding. Wang Jun shouted, "This exam is unfair. We must retake it!" Colleagues hurried to persuade him, but Wang Jun's voice became even louder. He pointed at Zhao Shangjiao and scolded him, and the scolding was even more unbearable to hear.

Wang Jun was originally a grassroots singer with a good voice. He was also a general who had served in the army for many years, and his voice was like a bell. According to records, his cursing voice spread from the Zhongshu Office to the streets and alleys, and he wished that half of Bianzhou City could hear it.

The next day, Wang Jun submitted a memorial, accusing Zhao Shangjiao of corruption and unfair examination, and that the examination should be invalidated and retaken. In addition, Zhao Shangjiao's qualification as the chief examiner of the imperial examination must be revoked and he must be handed over to the relevant departments for severe punishment!
Under the tremendous pressure from Wang Jun, Guo Wei nodded in agreement.

Wang Jun was greedy, power-hungry, arrogant, and domineering... Guo Wei could tolerate and condone all of this. But he took Guo Wei's tolerance as cowardice and pressed his limits. He didn't know the limits, because there were some things that could be compromised, but there were some things that touched the red line that Guo Wei would never compromise.

Wang Jun's suppression of Chai Rong was already on the red line, because he was not competing with Chai Rong for power, but challenging Guo Wei's right to choose the successor to the throne.

Guo Wei could still tolerate this, but Wang Jun began to interfere too much in the court's personnel appointments and dismissals, disintegrated Guo Wei's civil service group, and placed his own direct subordinates in the court to expand his own wings and cultivate his own party members. This touched Guo Wei's red line.

In February of the third year of Guangshun (953), this Cold Food Festival was destined to be the end of Wang Jun's political career.

When the Ministry of Personnel handed the personnel appointment and dismissal list to Wang Jun, Wang Jun was very dissatisfied because there were almost no of his people on the list and all of them were Guo Wei's people. So he used his old tricks again and angrily denounced the Ministry of Personnel for its bad practices of corruption, relying on connections and using backdoors. He picked up a pen and erased the names of more than 30 people.

He brutally interfered with the imperial examinations; brutally interfered with the appointment and removal of court officials; brutally demanded that the prime minister be replaced by his own cronies... Wang Jun was heading further and further down the path to his own death.

The reason why it is called "rude" is that he did not "petition" Guo Wei, but "ordered" and "notified" Guo Wei.

Guo Wei verbally agreed to banish Zhao Shangjiao from the court, and promised him to replace the prime minister after the Cold Food Festival holiday. Wang Jun, Guo Wei will not let you wait until the Cold Food Festival holiday is over.

On February 2, Guo Wei summoned the prime minister, privy councilor and other senior officials to the palace for a meeting, saying that there was important matter to discuss with everyone.

Wang Jun thought it was an announcement of a change of prime minister, so he went there happily. However, a group of warriors suddenly rushed out of the palace, arrested him on the spot, and secretly imprisoned him.

Later, Guo Wei said to the prime ministers with tears in his eyes: "Wang Jun is really bullying the emperor! He wants to drive away all the civil servants. I only have one son (Chai Rong) now, but he is suppressing him. A few days ago, Chai Rong came to the capital to do business and stayed for a few days, but Wang Jun complained about everything. Wang Jun is already the privy envoy and prime minister, and he wants to be a local commander. Since ancient times, where has such a thing happened? I think he is greedy and his ambitions are not limited to this."

The next day, Guo Wei issued an edict to demote Wang Jun to the position of Sima of Shangzhou.

After Wang Jun was demoted to Shangzhou, he suffered from abdominal disease and stomachache. Guo Wei, grateful for his past contribution to his life, specially allowed his wife to visit him in Shangzhou. After the couple reunited in Shangzhou, Wang Jun died in Shangzhou due to ineffective treatment.

It is not known whether he died of illness by chance or was poisoned by Guo Wei.

The historical books have a very low evaluation of Wang Jun, saying that he "has little talent but holds a high position, is frivolous and has few plans, and listens to others' advice. After he holds the power of the country, he bends to those who seek profit to make trouble for him, and even baits his ministers and alienates his close friends..."

After Wang Jun was convicted, Wang Yin, who was also a meritorious official, was very frightened. In order to prevent Wang Yin from being suspicious, Guo Wei sent his son Wang Chenghui, who was in the capital, to Weizhou to explain the whole story to Wang Yin.

Wang Jun is dead, so how long will Wang Yin be far behind?
2. Wang Yin

During the Xiaoqiang Incident, Liu Chengyou sent his uncle Li Hongyi to Chanzhou to kill Wang Yin first, and then to Weizhou to kill Guo Wei and Wang Jun. Li Hongyi failed to do so and took the initiative to reveal the secret to Wang Yin and surrender. Wang Yin then took Li Hongyi to reveal the secret to Guo Wei urgently. Only then did Guo Wei, with the support of Wang Jun and Wang Yin, lead his troops south and take control of Bianzhou.

After Guo Wei proclaimed himself emperor, he appointed Wang Yin as the governor of Weizhou, the commander of the imperial guards, the inspector of the imperial tutor, and the co-prime minister. He was sent to Weizhou and was also the commander-in-chief of the imperial guards, holding the title of prime minister. He was favored for a time.

After Wang Yin went to Weizhou, he became a replica of Guo Wei. Although he was in Weizhou, all affairs north of the Yellow River were under his control. He was the uncrowned king of Hebei.

Wang Yin could not resist the temptation of power, and he plundered the people's wealth in Hebei, accepted bribes, and became notorious. When Guo Wei heard about this, he was very unhappy and sent someone to tell him that Wang Yin helped conquer the country, and that he and the country shared the same fate. All the money in the treasury was his, and he could spend as much as he wanted. Why bother harassing the people?

However, Wang Yin did not listen to the advice and continued to do as he pleased. This is just like a rich man stealing. His purpose of stealing is not for money, but to enjoy the process of stealing and pursue the excitement and tension. Another example is cheating. He enjoys the process of cheating, not the person he is cheating with.

As Guo Wei said, Wang Yin's legal income was enough to make him rich enough to rival a country, and it was almost inexhaustible, but he still used improper means to make money. Legal money is not sweet, and it must be "earned" through one's own efforts.

(End of this chapter)