History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 71 Huang Chao's Opportunity 1
【Chengdu Civil Rebellion】

After Emperor Xizong of Tang fled to Chengdu, he became a puppet of the powerful eunuch Tian Lingzi. Tian Lingzi and his brother Chen Jingxuan joined forces internally and externally to control the country.

Before welcoming Emperor Xizong of Tang to Sichuan, Chen Jingxuan had already set up a dense intelligence network in Chengdu, which was mainly aimed at the royal entourage. After that, in order to further maintain stability, Chen Jingxuan systematized the intelligence agencies and expanded the scope of work, forming an airtight intelligence spy network.

Different from traditional spies, these people are not underground workers but above-ground workers. They reveal their identities and act in a high-profile manner.

They have their own organization, called "trouble-seekers". Their work content is similar to that of the "Central Inspection Team" or "Disciplinary Inspection Commission Supervision Team". Their specific work is to conduct in-depth visits and investigations at the grassroots level, discover and report suspicious persons and incidents.

Those seeking trouble often take advantage of their positions to extort money and openly solicit bribes.

If officials in Shu failed to satisfy their appetites, they would be falsely accused and face the death penalty at the lightest level and the death penalty for their entire family at the worst.

There were also relatively honest comrades among the group of people seeking justice. For example, two people seeking justice did not accept bribes when they visited Ziyang. The officials in Ziyang were also honest and upright, and did not violate laws and disciplines.

Honest officials and good officials were originally good things, but a misunderstanding led to a great chaos.

Xie Hongrang, the general of Ziyang Town, was a clean person, but he was also a man of worldly knowledge and knew the rules. Although he had no stains or bad deeds, he still followed the rules and took out a little gift to show his appreciation to the two people who were causing trouble.

The two people seeking trouble enforced the law impartially and politely declined, saying that we are doing things according to the law and regulations, and it would be meaningless for you to do this.

Xie Hongrang thought that they thought the gift was too small and not good enough, so he offered a bigger gift and intercepted them on their way back to try to bribe them.

The two were honest and upright, and refused bribes. In the end, they waved their sleeves and left without taking a penny.

Xie Hongrang misunderstood, thinking that the two had heard some rumors and were determined to kill him. Otherwise, why didn't they accept my bribe? Since Chen Jingxuan settled in Shu, which temple didn't have ghosts who died unjustly?
The more he thought about it, the more scared he became, and that night, Xie Hongrang "fleeed for fear of being punished."

The local criminal police captain (thief catcher) Yang Qian sent someone to contact Xie Hongrang, persuading him to surrender himself to the police, confess his mistakes to the organization, and guarantee that he would be lenient if he confessed.

Under Yang Qian's persuasion, Xie Hongrang calmed down and thought that what Yang Qian said made sense. A person with a clear conscience has nothing to fear, and right and wrong will be judged by the people in a fair and just manner.

Therefore, Xie Hongrang took the initiative to surrender himself to Yang Qian, explained the problem to the organization, and asked for leniency for his confession.

However, Yang Qian turned his face and refused to admit his mistake. He tied up Xie Hongrang and escorted him to the Xichuan authorities, claiming that Xie Hongrang had joined a group of bandits and was defeated and captured alive by him. He turned black into white and killed an innocent person to claim credit.

Chen Jingxuan, the governor of Xichuan, gave the order without any trial: first, beat Xie Hongrang on the back with 14 military sticks until his skin was torn and flesh was exposed, then nail him to the west city of Chengdu for days, pour boiling oil on him, and then brush his blisters with sticky thorns... It was simply horrible.

The onlookers all shook their heads and sighed. Yang Qian's meanness, Chen Jingxuan's cruelty, Xie Hongrang's grievances and injustice... immediately became hot searches.

At that time, a general in Qiongzhou named Qianneng made a small mistake in his work and should be punished by caning according to the law. In order to avoid punishment, Qianneng fled and became a thief.

Yang Qian also tried to persuade him to surrender.

Qian Neng believed his sweet words at first and was about to turn himself in, but suddenly he heard about Xie Hongrang's tragic experience. He cursed Yang Qian for being despicable and shameless, and then threw himself into the career of a bandit without hesitation.

Qianneng forced the peasants to join the gang, and anyone who refused would have his entire family killed. Using this bloody and horrific method, Qianneng gathered a group of 10,000 people in one month.

Qianneng led his people to wreak havoc between Qiongzhou and Yazhou, burning, killing, looting and committing all kinds of atrocities.

Chen Jingxuan sent troops to attack.

It was such a motley crowd that actually beat Chen Jingxuan's government troops into pieces. Qian Neng's momentum gradually grew.

Three months later, the Shu bandits Luo Hunqing, Juhu monk and Luo Fuzi gathered thousands of people and responded to Qianneng.

Four months later, another group of heroes from Shu, led by their leader Han Qiu, responded to Qian Neng.

At that time, the main force of Xichuan had been transferred to Chang'an in batches, and the military strength was relatively empty. Chen Jingxuan had no soldiers to send. In desperation, he could only recruit the old man who was guarding the warehouse and send him to the front line. His combat effectiveness can be imagined.

In order to avoid the blame for the defeat, the government troops went to the countryside to arrest innocent people. Dozens or hundreds of innocent people were handed over to the government every day to be labeled as "rioters" and to receive rewards.

Chen Jingxuan also ordered the execution without any interrogation.

Among these villagers, there were many elderly, weak, sick and disabled people and women. The people watching outside the execution ground were puzzled and asked why they were arrested. The arrested villagers were even more puzzled. They all said, "We were farming and weaving when the soldiers suddenly entered the village and arrested us. We don't know what crime we have committed."

In this way, under the "heroic fighting" of the Xichuan government troops, the situation became more chaotic. Chengdu Qianneng could cooperate with Huang Chao in Henan and Li Keyong in Hebei, which directly threatened the safety of the exiled court in Chengdu.

Chen Jingxuan was forced to change his commander and appointed General Gao Renhou to lead the fight against the enemy.

Gao Renhou gathered 500 people and captured a suspicious person before leaving. The person was disguised as a rice and flour vendor. From morning to noon, he went in and out of the military camp many times, and his behavior was suspicious. After interrogation, the person admitted that he was a spy sent by Qianneng to gather intelligence.

Unlike his previous brutality and harshness, Gao Renhou showed a broad mind, freed the spy, and in a friendly manner asked him about his life, exchanged feelings, and discussed life.

The spy was flattered and confessed the truth, saying that I was a good citizen and lived in a certain village. He said that Qian could arrest my entire family and force me to come here to spy on information. As long as I brought back valuable information, my family would be safe, otherwise, he would kill my entire family. I was not willing to work for him.

Gao Renhou believed him, said he could understand his difficulties, and taught him a set of rhetoric, "When you go back, tell Qianneng that I, Gao Renhou, only brought 500 people and will set out tomorrow. In this way, I can save your whole family. However, you also have to help me do one thing. You have to secretly tell those who are coerced by Qianneng like you, saying that Chen Jingxuan knows that you are all good people forced by bandits, and Gao Renhou is here to save you. As long as you throw away your weapons and surrender voluntarily when the two armies fight, we will forgive you. Gao Renhou will only kill Qianneng, Luo Hunqing, Ju Huseng, Luo Fuzi and Han Qiu."

At the same time, Gao Renhou secretly taught him a code, which was to let them write the word "surrender" on their backs to distinguish them.

The spy burst into tears and said that this is what we ordinary people want. I guarantee that one person will tell ten people, and ten people will tell a hundred people. After Gao Renhou comforted him with kind words, he released him.

The next day, Gao Renhou led 500 soldiers to Shuangliu County and inspected the camp. He found that the trenches were wide and deep, the fences were high and wide, and the fortifications were very solid.

The accompanying officials could not help but nod their heads in praise, but Gao Renhou was furious.

Gao Renhou called their chief general and scolded him, "The Qianneng criminal gang is just a group of farmers. You have a large number of elite soldiers and well-equipped, but you have spent more than a year and still haven't been able to defeat them. Are you just eating for free? With such a strong camp, you can rest easy, right? Are you trying to keep the enemy at bay?"

So he gave the order to drag the commander out and behead him.

The eunuch supervising the army pleaded for mercy and persuaded him for a long time before Gao Renhou finally spared him.

Gao Renhou ordered that all the trenches and fences be leveled, leaving only 500 soldiers to defend, and the rest of the people would follow him into battle.

This is a heroic fight to the death, a brave move to survive at the risk of one's life.

Qianneng got the news that Gao Renhou had set out, so he sent Luo Hunqing to set up five camps to the west of Shuangliu and ambushed more than a thousand soldiers in preparation for assassinating Gao Renhou.

Gao Renhou surrounded Luo Hunqing's camp and sent people to sneak into the camp to pass on the same message as he had told the spy yesterday. In this way, the rebels responded to each other and shouted loudly. They threw down their weapons and rushed down the mountain like a tide to surrender to the government troops.

Gao Renhou comforted them with kind words, wrote the word "surrender" on their backs, and then asked them to return to the enemy camp to tell the people who were still skeptical.

So, except Luo Hunqing himself, everyone else laid down their weapons and surrendered.

Number one BOSS Luo Hunqing was unable to stop the attack and had to abandon his position and flee in a panic. He was eventually caught by his subordinates and sent to Gao Renhou's army to report his merit and ask for reward.

Gao Renhou said to the surrendered soldiers: "I should have let you go home immediately, but the people in Chuankou and Xinjin don't know my policy yet and still have doubts. Now, please tell them that I will let you go home after they have surrendered and arrived at Yangong. How do you think?"

The surrendered soldiers went there happily, running in groups towards the camp with a hole in front of them, exposing their backs, revealing the word "surrender", and explaining the court's lenient policy in person.

As a result, all the eleven camps set up by the second BOSS Ju Huseng in Chuankou surrendered in an instant.

Monk Ju Hu was holding a sword and wanted to stop them, but his soldiers hit him with bricks, cracked his head and beat him half to death, and then took him back to Gao Renhou.

On the third day, Gao Renhou arrived at Xinjin, where the third BOSS Han Qiu was, and he had set up thirteen camps. He followed the instructions and surrendered. Han Qiu committed suicide by jumping into a deep ditch. His body was pulled up by his subordinates with an iron hook, and his head was cut off and sent to Gao Renhou.

On the fifth day, Gao Renhou arrived at Yangong. According to his previous promise, he released the surrendered soldiers at the first pass, Shuangliu, and the second pass, Chuankou, and sent the surrendered soldiers at the third pass, Xinjin, to persuade them to surrender.

The fourth BOSS entrenched in Yangong was Luo Fuzi, who had nine camps. The soldiers surrendered like a mountain. Luo Fuzi was fast and was not captured and killed. He ran to the final BOSS Qian Neng at the end of the level.

On the sixth day, Luo Fuzi and Qian Neng held a military meeting to discuss how to repel the enemy. Before they could come to a conclusion, Gao Renhou arrived with the surrendered soldiers from Yangong. The two bosses deployed troops and commanded the resistance, but the bandits did not obey their orders. After learning that Gao Renhou was approaching, the bandits rushed to abandon their camp and surrender, while some smart ones quickly captured Qian Neng and Luo Fuzi to ask for rewards.

Qian Neng tried to commit suicide by jumping into a well, but failed. He was rescued in time and taken to Gao Renhou. Luo Fuzi was one step faster and succeeded in committing suicide.

Under Gao Renhou's generous, benevolent and pragmatic policy, the "Qian Neng Civil Rebellion" instance was almost given away by the system for free. Without bloodshed, the mission was passed along the way and the level was cleared peacefully.

The people surrounded Gao Renhou, crying with joy, and the cheers continued for a long time.

Gao Renhou, with 500 men, took only six days to quell the "Qianneng Rebellion" that the Xichuan army had failed to quell in a year, and made an unprecedented contribution to stabilizing Xichuan and defending Chengdu.

At the same time, Gao Renhou's brilliant achievements also illustrate a problem: the common people really don't want to rebel. As long as there is a way to survive, no matter how hard it is, the peasants will not revolt. The reason why the "Qian Neng Min Uprising" lasted for more than a year was really because Chen Jingxuan, Yang Qian and other corrupt officials forced the people to rebel.

This also gives us a glimpse into the stupidity and corruption of the Chengdu exiled court represented by Chen Jingxuan and Tian Lingzi.

Among the five bosses of Qianneng Group, three were captured alive. These three were nailed to the west of the city for seven days as a display for public display, and then they were executed by slow slicing seven days later. Two were shot to death, and their heads were hung in the streets for public display. Qianneng's strategist was also nailed to death in the horse market.

The government posted a notice stating that only the main culprit would be executed. Apart from the six main culprits, no more would be killed. Even Qian Neng’s family members, relatives and friends would no longer be held accountable.

However, the governor of Qiongzhou arrested Qianneng's uncle Qian Xingquan and his family of 35 people, reported to the Xichuan Jiedufu, and requested their execution.

Chen Jingxuan was undecided, so he asked his staff. Staff member Tang Xi said, "You just posted a notice to pacify the people, saying that no more people would be killed, but the governor immediately arrested more than 30 people. There must be something fishy going on! If you kill them, wouldn't it be a slap in the face in public? A slap in the face is a small matter, but what if the remaining members of Qian Neng are in danger and rebel again?"

"That makes sense." Chen Jingxuan sent people to Qiongzhou and called all the people to the county government office. He smashed the handcuffs and shackles of 35 people in public and released them without charge. He also explained the meaning of the People's Peace List to the people again and investigated the real reason why Qian Xingquan's family was arrested.

It turned out that Qianxing was full of wealthy families with a lot of good farmland. The governor wanted to buy it, but they refused to sell it. So the governor held a grudge against Qianneng. When Qianneng was in turmoil, the governor took advantage of the situation to take revenge and seize the farmland.

Chen Jingxuan then summoned the governor of Qiongzhou to confront him. The governor of Qiongzhou knew Chen Jingxuan's attitude and methods of treating prisoners very well, and out of fear of punishment, he committed suicide.

After Qian Xingquan knew what had happened, he sent someone to give Tang Xi a hundred taels of gold as a thank you.

Tang Xi said that I was only upholding the laws of the court, and that Lord Chen Jingxuan was kind and wise, so what did it have to do with me? Are you giving me a gift? You are bringing disaster to me!
Tang Xi did not take a penny, returned it all, and severely reprimanded the people sent by the Qian family.

Thanks to old friends "Feitian Shenlongzhan" and "feitian" for their recommendation votes and support!


(End of this chapter)