History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 96: Bi and Lu's Enmity

【At the height of his career】

Lu Yongzhi was almost crazy in his factionalism. In addition to suppressing and persecuting his peers (such as Shentu Sheng), he also ruthlessly suppressed Gao Pian's former subordinates, which aroused the disgust of some upright people.

For example, Yu Gongchu, the commander of the Zuo Xiaoxiong Army, was Lu Yongzhi's guide and a great benefactor in his life.

Lü Yongzhi's family had been doing business in Yangzhou for generations. After his parents died, Lü Yongzhi went to live with his uncle, but had an affair with his aunt, which was shameful. When discovered by his uncle, Lü Yongzhi fled to Jiuhua Mountain to hide. During that time, he became a disciple of the famous alchemist Niu Honghui, and learned many underworld tricks (including the art of controlling ghosts). After completing his studies, he returned to Yangzhou and started selling fake medicine.

By chance, he was spotted by Yu Gongchu, who recommended him to Gao Pian. From then on, Lü Yongzhi reached the peak of his life.

Therefore, Yu Gongchu was Lu Yongzhi's great benefactor.

Yu Gongchu, who thought he had a lot of face in Lu Yongzhi's eyes, warned Lu Yongzhi several times to stop and take care of himself.

Yao Guili, the commander of the Right Xiaoxiong Army, was bold and straightforward. He particularly disliked what Lu Yongzhi did. He had repeatedly denounced Lu Yongzhi's evil deeds to his face and even wanted to kill Lu Yongzhi himself.

One day, Lü Yongzhi gathered his followers and had a good time in a bathing center. Yao Guili finally launched a surprise attack, setting fire and killing several people who looked similar to Lü Yongzhi. Lü Yongzhi then changed into other clothes and escaped in the chaos.

Lü Yongzhi sent people to investigate secretly and arrested several people who participated in the attack. They found that they were soldiers of the Xiaoxiong Army. He immediately realized that Yao Guili and Yu Gongchu were the masterminds. So he made slanderous statements to Gao Pian and framed the two old ministers.

Soon after, Gao Pian dispatched 3,000 brave soldiers to suppress the bandits. Lü Yongzhi secretly informed Yang Xingmi, the governor of Luzhou, that Yao Guili and Yu Gongchu were preparing to lead the brave soldiers to attack Luzhou. Yang Xingmi hurriedly launched a self-defense counterattack, preemptively attacking the brave soldiers.

Yao Guili and Yu Gongchu were completely unprepared and were wiped out by Yang Xingmi without knowing why.

Later, according to Lu Yongzhi's instructions, Yang Xingmi reported that the two were plotting rebellion, which was discovered and suppressed in time.

Gao Pian actually rewarded Yang Xingmi heavily.

Yao Guili and Yu Gongchu, together with Zhang Lin, Liang Zun and Chen Gong, were known as the "Five Tigers" under Gao Pian. They had always followed Gao Pian through thick and thin and were deeply trusted by him.

Among them, Zhang Lin died for his country in the battle with Cao's army and died in the "false surrender in Xinzhou". The remaining four people failed to escape the clutches of Lu Yongzhi.

Liang Zun was stripped of his military power; Chen Gong and his entire family were executed; Yao Guili and Yu Gongchu were framed and died in unclear circumstances.

With a little trick, Lu Yongzhi wiped out Gao Pian's closest and most trusted "Five Tigers", let alone the rest of the generals, and no one dared to say a word.

Gao Pian's nephew Gao Xun hated this so much that he listed all of Lu Yongzhi's crimes, filling more than 20 sheets of paper. He secretly presented them to Gao Pian and cried, "Lu Yongzhi pretended to be a ghost and deceived the people. He deceived your mind and devoured the military and political power and harmed the people. Civil and military officials and trusted generals dared not tell the truth because of fear. If we don't stop him, when Lu Yongzhi becomes powerful, I'm afraid our Gao family's achievements will be destroyed!"

As he spoke, Gao Xi became so grief-stricken and angry that he burst into tears.

Gao Pian's face was gloomy and he was very unhappy. "Have you drunk too much? Get out of here!" He ordered his men to carry him out by force.

The next day, Gao Pian handed the twenty-plus pages of indictment written by Gao Yu to Lu Yongzhi, "Look, someone actually wants to sow discord between us."

Lu Yongzhi took a quick look and broke out in a cold sweat, but pretended to be calm on the surface and said, "Hey - Xin'er made careless friends, went astray, and got into bad habits. He indulged in drinking, whoring, gambling, and squandering money... He borrowed money from me many times, and occasionally failed to get what he wanted in time, so he held a grudge and framed me behind my back to retaliate against me."

After saying that, he took out a few IOUs from his pocket, signed by Gao Xi.

Gao Pian was so ashamed that he said, "Mr. Lu, this incident has caused misfortune to our family. I am ashamed of myself." So he ordered Gao Yu not to enter the house again. Gao Pian was so obsessed that he could not see the loopholes in his excuse.

In fact, Lu Yongzhi had already received the information about Gao Yu's complaint to Gao Pian. Don't forget, Gao Pian was surrounded by Lu Yongzhi's spies. So he prepared several pieces of "evidence" overnight. It was clear that he came prepared today.

About a month later, Gao Yu was sent to Shuzhou as governor.

Shuzhou was being attacked by many bandits, and Gao Yu was unable to resist and had to abandon the city and flee. Gao Pian used this as an excuse to send someone to kill Gao Yu on the spot.

Similarly, just one word from Lu Yongzhi was enough to persecute Gao Pian's nephew to death.

Gao Yu was right. Soon, Lü Yongzhi would become more powerful and completely replace Gao Pian. When Gao Pian realized this and prepared to take back power, he found that Lü Yongzhi was already deeply rooted and difficult to shake.

However, Gao Pian's awakening also made Lu Yongzhi feel frightened, and he quickly sought the advice of his staff. The staff told him one thing,

"Cao Cao once said, 'I would rather let the world betray me than let the world betray me.'"

I would rather let me let Gao Pian down than let Gao Pian let me down!

After careful consideration, Lu Yongzhi's gang formulated an assassination plan: on the night of the Ghost Festival (July 15th), they would invite Gao Pian to Lu Yongzhi's home and hold the "Huanglu Dazhai", which was to summon the gods from the three realms of heaven, earth and man, set up incense tables for sacrifice, confess and atone for sins, and when Gao Pian "entered into tranquility" (a Taoist term, similar to the Buddhist "entering meditation"), they would strangle him to death, and announce to the outside world that the old man had attained enlightenment and ascended to heaven. Then the direct descendants "Left and Right Moye Du" would take the lead, and the various armies would jointly nominate Lu Yongzhi as the "Reign of Huainan".

In this way, Lu Yongzhi could legitimately become the governor of Huainan.

The conspiracy took place in May of the second year of the Guangqi reign (886), but perhaps due to time constraints, the crime was not carried out in July of this year.

Lu Yongzhi's gang no longer had the chance to commit crimes, and a disaster was about to happen.

【The End of the World】

Lu Yongzhi frantically excluded Gao Pian's former subordinates. Even the lives of the "Five Tigers" were in danger, and the rest of the meritorious old ministers were in danger, not to mention the surrendered generals of the Cao army who were already unpopular.

Before Huang Chao moved to Guangzhou (878), he suffered repeated heavy losses at the hands of Gao Pian. Dozens of Cao army generals surrendered to Gao Pian, the most famous of whom were Bi Shiduo, Zheng Hanzhang, and Qin Yan.

Relying on his understanding of Cao's army and Huang Chao himself, Bi Shiduo repeatedly offered advice and inflicted heavy damage on Cao's army, which earned him a great favor from Gao Pian.

As Lu Yongzhi's persecution of meritorious old ministers intensified, Bi Shiduo and other surrendered generals of the Cao army became more terrified and lived in fear every day.

Bi Shiduo had a concubine who was said to be extremely beautiful. Lu Yongzhi asked Bi Shiduo to borrow her for one night and return her after using her.

Bi Shiduo flatly refused.

Lu Yongzhi did not give up. His powerful intelligence network came into play again. When Bi Shiduo was out for something, Lu Yongzhi acted as the old man next door.

Bi Shiduo was so ashamed and angry that he drove the concubine out of the house, but as for the culprit, Lu Yongzhi, he of course chose to forgive him.

The two became enemies because of this.

(End of this chapter)