History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 821: The Old Taoist Turns Back
【Old Taoist betrayal】

Due to the special political environment of Southern Tang, the actual commander of the army in this military operation to rescue Shouzhou was the military supervisor Chen Jue, while Li Jingda was only the nominal commander-in-chief and only played the role of a spiritual leader. As mentioned earlier, Li Jingda's only job was to sign and seal documents. If he really did not approve an order, Chen Jue would sign and seal it on his behalf.

The "Four Evils and Five Demons" group united to attack dissidents, based on the principle of "either our friend or our enemy". From the emperor's younger brother Li Jingda to Li Deming and Xiao Yan, no one could escape their clutches. Zhu Yuan and Li Ping, who lacked foundation, were even more vulnerable.

The "Four Evils and Five Ghosts" group represented by Chen Jue has always been a "war faction" with extremely aggressive political views. Their slogans are to fight against the heavens, the earth, and the air, and to destroy Fujian, Chu, and the Central Plains. However, the actual operations of the "Four Evils and Five Ghosts" group are ultimately guided by political interests. They don't care about "hawks" or "doves". For example, now, based on political interests, they are actually doves in hawkish clothing.

In the early stages of this military operation, Zhu Yuan and Li Ping, who were Taoist priests, made great contributions, recovered lost territories one after another, and became fast-rising stars in the political arena of Southern Tang, directly challenging the authority of the "Four Evils and Five Ghosts" group.

The two were messengers sent by Li Shouzhen of Hezhong to ask for help. They had no relatives in Southern Tang, were unfamiliar with the place, had no roots, and were outspoken. As lonely keyboard warriors, they were suppressed by the "Four Evils and Five Ghosts" group and had to stand aside for a long time.

After regaining Shuzhou, Hezhou and Qizhou, the two men finally felt proud and thought they had the capital to challenge the "Four Evils and Five Ghosts" group, especially Zhu Yuan. According to records, "Zhu Yuan relied on his merits in regaining Shu and He and disobeyed the orders of the Marshal." The two men disobeyed Chen Jue's orders, which Chen Jue absolutely could not tolerate.

Previously, Chen Jue and others had repeatedly made slanderous remarks, saying that Zhu Yuan and Li Ping were outsiders and could not be entrusted with military power. Now, the two of them had a large number of troops under their command, but they really did not obey orders. How could this be tolerated? So Chen Jue kept submitting memorials to the court, saying that Zhu Yuan held military power but did not obey orders, and that he had the intention of colluding with the enemy and rebelling, and that he must be deprived of his military power to avoid disaster!

Li Jing, who had always obeyed the orders of the "Four Evils and Five Demons", immediately ordered Yang Shouzhong, the military governor of Wuchang Army in Ezhou, to go to Haozhou to take their place.

After Yang Shouzhong arrived at the headquarters in Haozhou, Chen Jue summoned Zhu Yuan to Haozhou to discuss matters in the name of Li Jingda.

When Zhu Yuan heard about it, he was filled with grief and indignation. He knew that this was a Hongmen Banquet and that it would be disastrous. In desperation, he drew his sword and prepared to commit suicide by cutting his own throat.

At the critical moment, a retainer named Song Li dissuaded him in time, "Why doesn't a real man seek wealth and honor for himself?"

Zhu Yuan paused and asked, "Where can I get wealth and honor?"

We are all smart people, why pretend to be confused?
However, Zhu Yuan still had concerns, because when the generals were away on the battlefield, their wives and children were left behind as hostages. If they turned against their own side in battle, their families would be slaughtered, while if they committed suicide for their country, their families would at least be considered as martyrs' families. This was the main reason why he wanted to commit suicide in desperation.

Song Li shook his head mockingly, "A man lives to seek wealth and honor, why would he die for his wife?"

Where there is a will, there is a way. Emperor Gaozu of Han kicked his son off the carriage. Heaven will reward those who work hard. Uncle Liu Bei abandoned his wife and children.

Zhu Yuan summoned his men and said that he planned to abandon his evil ways and surrender to the Later Zhou Dynasty.

"I've finished my words. Who agrees and who opposes?"

"I object." - Deputy General Shi Yanhou (also known as "Shi Houqing").

Shi Yanhou died.

On the evening of March 3, Zhu Yuan led more than 4 troops to surrender to the Later Zhou Dynasty in an organized manner.

Chai Rong anticipated the Southern Tang's plan and sent General Zhao Chao to lead thousands of naval forces to the east along the Huai River, while he himself led the infantry to station on the north bank of the Huai River. Afterwards, he launched a campaign to wipe out the remaining Southern Tang troops hiding in Zijin Mountain.

The Southern Tang army had just experienced the defeat at Zijin Mountain and was already a frightened bird. Zhu Yuan's surrender at this time caused the Southern Tang army to collapse instantly, and their escape direction was eastward along the Huai River. Chai Rong personally led hundreds of cavalry to pursue on the north bank of the Huai River, and the generals led the infantry and cavalry to pursue on the south bank of the Huai River, while Zhao Chao led the navy to intercept and kill in the Huai River. The three-way attack, land and water, north and south, the Southern Tang army was helpless.

More than 10,000 Southern Tang soldiers were captured and killed on Zijin Mountain. During their rout, they were surrounded and killed, and another 40,000 were captured and killed. Hundreds of thousands of warships, food, and supplies were seized by the Later Zhou. Generals Bian Hao, Xu Wenzhen, Yang Shouzhong and others were all captured alive.

The "Battle of Yangzhou-Liuhe" left the Southern Tang without any soldiers to fight; the "Battle of Purple Mountain" left the Southern Tang without any generals to appoint.

At this point, Southern Tang was no longer able to rescue Shouzhou.

After Zhu Yuan surrendered, he resumed his original surname Shu. Chai Rong was very grateful for his contribution and appointed him as the commander of the Caizhou militia. When he heard that his mother was still in Shenqiu (now Shenqiu County, Zhoukou City, Henan Province), he immediately sent people to welcome and provide for her. After Zhao Kuangyin established the Song Dynasty, Zhu Yuan was promoted to the defense commander of Tingzhou. He died of illness in the second year of Taipingxingguo (977) at the age of 55. He was posthumously awarded the title of Jiedushi of Wutai Army. His second son Shu Zhixiong also served as an official in the Song Dynasty. Later, during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of Song, he petitioned to become a monk and follow the Tao, which was considered to be the son inheriting his father's career.

In the Battle of Purple Mountain, Chai Rong and Zhao Kuangyin reduced the health of Southern Tang to a low level, but Zhu Yuan counterattacked the Water God in time to make the final move.

When Li Jing heard the news, he was furious and immediately ordered the entire family to be executed.

Zhu Yuan's wife was the daughter of Cha Wenhui. Cha Wenhui, once a prominent figure in Southern Tang and one of the core members of the "Four Evils and Five Ghosts" group, was captured by Wuyue during the Second Battle of Fuzhou. Before the two countries exchanged prisoners of war, he was poisoned by Wuyue. Although his life was saved, his throat was severely damaged and he lost his voice. After returning to China, he was held responsible for the defeat and then faded out of politics to recuperate at home.

Cha Wenhui petitioned for his daughter's life. It was not known whether Cha Wenhui did not explain clearly or Li Jing pretended to be confused. Li Jing promised to spare his daughter's life and agreed to "only behead Yuan's wife" in his reply.

Cha Wenhui was so anxious that he almost shouted, "Wrong, wrong, Zhu Yuan's wife is my daughter!" Before he could explain, the head fell to the ground.

He used to be a king, dominating the world, powerful and influential, with his spit hitting a nail, and his stomping his feet shaking the whole city. Now, he is gray-haired and staggering in the downtown area, and the onlookers make way for him, whispering and pointing.

He walked tremblingly, tears of despair flowing from his turbid eyes. He covered his daughter's body with a pearl-decorated sheet, then knelt on the ground and wept over the corpse.

He had lost his voice long ago, and the great pain of losing his daughter made him howl in a strange and miserable way, which was even more moving.

Cha Wenhui cried until she fainted, and the onlookers were also moved to tears and sighed.

Li Jing took into account that Li Ping and Zhu Yuan were good friends who shared weal and woe, and was worried that Li Ping would be uneasy because of Zhu Yuan's defection to Zhou, so he hurriedly summoned him back to the capital.

When the messenger arrived at the front line, he tied Li Ping up with ropes and shackles, and took Li Ping back to Shengzhou.

Li Jing was shocked and quickly untied him and comforted him with kind words.

According to records, the envoy misunderstood Li Jing's intention, and Li Jing was willing to "invite" Li Ping back to clear up his misunderstanding. But this is likely to be a beautification of Li Jing. A reasonable guess is that the envoy received secret instructions from Li Jing to quickly and decisively capture Li Ping, and then Li Jing pretended to be a good person in front of him and let the envoy take the blame.

Although Li Jing said he trusted Li Ping, Li Ping no longer held military power. During the reign of Emperor Li Yu, Li Ping actively promoted reforms, but was imprisoned for his failed reforms and then hanged himself in prison.

(End of this chapter)