New History of the Five Dynasties (3 Volumes) ((3 Volumes))

Author: Ouyang Xiu
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1974-12-01
Features: Read the excerpt: In March, Renzan fell severely ill and was unconscious. His deputy, Sun Yu, forged Renzan's letter and surrendered the city. Emperor Shizong ordered Renzan to be carried before his tent, where he sighed deeply, bestowed upon him a jade belt and imperial horse, and then allowed him to return to the city to recover. He died that day. The edict said [3]: "Liu Renzan remained loyal to his duty, upheld his integrity without flaw, and was a renowned minister of the previous generations. How many could compare to him! In my southern campaign, having you was of great help." Renzan was appointed as the acting Grand Tutor of the Imperial Academy and Vice Prime Minister, as well as the Military Commissioner of Tianping Army. Renzan could not accept the appointment and died at the age of fifty-eight. Emperor Shizong sent envoys to mourn and provided official support for his funeral. He was posthumously ennobled as the Prince of Pengcheng, and his son Chongzan was appointed as the Prefect of Huaizhou, with a estate and residence granted to them. Li Jing also heard of Renzan's death and posthumously honored him as the Grand Tutor. The former seat of Shouzhou was Shouchun, but Emperor Shizong found it difficult to govern and moved the city to Xiaocai, renaming the military unit as Zhongzheng Army, saying, "I did so to honor Renzan's integrity." Alas, the world has long despised the Later Liang! Yet, scholars who were to live during that time could choose not to serve as officials. Those who accepted the state's salary must die for the state's cause, like Yan Zhang—could he not have died with honor? Renzan had already sacrificed his son to prove his innocence. How could he betray his principles at the brink of death? Now, the "Veritable Records of Emperor Shizong of Zhou" include Renzan's surrender letter, which was clearly forged by his deputy Sun Yu and others. During Emperor Shizong's reign, Wang Huan served as the governor of Qinzhou in Shu, but after failing to conquer it for a long time, he surrendered when his forces were exhausted. Emperor Shizong greatly admired his loyalty but only promoted him to the rank of General. By comparing Emperor Shizong's treatment of these two and examining the edicts, it becomes clear that Renzan did not truly surrender. How rare are loyal ministers and righteous men throughout history! During the chaos of the Five Dynasties, these three men—some from the ranks of soldiers, others from the courts of rogue states—deserve endless admiration! How tragic it is!
Notes on Textual Collation [1] "Zhang" in "Yanzhou Shouzhang" (Yan): The original text in all editions was "Chang." According to the "Biography of Wang Yan Zhang" in Volume 21 of the "New History of the Five Dynasties" and the "Record of Wang Yan Zhang's Portrait" in Volume 39 of the "Collection of Ouyang the Virtuous," it is written as "Yanzhou Shouzhang." The "Zizhi Tongjian" in Volume 267 also refers to "Shouzhang Wang Yan Zhang." Examining the "Geographic Records" of the "New and Old Tang Histories" and the "Taiping Huanyu Ji," Yanzhou only had Shouzhang County under the Henan Circuit; Shouchang County belonged to Shazhou under the Longyou Circuit (the "Old History" placed it under the Hexi Circuit). This should be "Shouzhang," and the text has been corrected accordingly. [2] Fu Cunshen: The "New History of the Five Dynasties" in Volume 29, the "Biography of Tang Zhu Zong" in Volume 52, and the "Zizhi Tongjian" in Volume 272 all write it as "Li Shaobin." [3] "Allowed to return to the city to recover and died that day": The "Biography of Liu Renzan" in Volume 129 of the "New History of the Five Dynasties" states: "(Emperor Shizong) allowed him to return to the city to recover and soon appointed him as the Military Commissioner of Tianping Army and Vice Prime Minister. The edict was issued, and he died at home." According to the "Zizhi Tongjian" in Volume 293, the day Liu Renzan returned to the city to recover was Wuxin; the edict was issued on Xinhai, and he died that day. The chronological order in this history is unclear, and there may be errors.
Read the excerpt: In March, Renzan fell severely ill and was unconscious. His deputy, Sun Yu, forged Renzan's letter and surrendered the city. Emperor Shizong ordered Renzan to be carried before his tent, where he sighed deeply, bestowed upon him a jade belt and imperial horse, and then allowed him to return to the city to recover. He died that day. The edict said [3]: "Liu Renzan remained loyal to his duty, upheld his integrity without flaw, and was a renowned minister of the previous generations. How many could compare to him! In my southern campaign, having you was of great help." Renzan was appointed as the acting Grand Tutor of the Imperial Academy and Vice Prime Minister, as well as the Military Commissioner of Tianping Army. Renzan could not accept the appointment and died at the age of fifty-eight. Emperor Shizong sent envoys to mourn and provided official support for his funeral. He was posthumously ennobled as the Prince of Pengcheng, and his son Chongzan was appointed as the Prefect of Huaizhou, with a estate and residence granted to them. Li Jing also heard of Renzan's death and posthumously honored him as the Grand Tutor. The former seat of Shouzhou was Shouchun, but Emperor Shizong found it difficult to govern and moved the city to Xiaocai, renaming the military unit as Zhongzheng Army, saying, "I did so to honor Renzan's integrity." Alas, the world has long despised the Later Liang! Yet, scholars who were to live during that time could choose not to serve as officials. Those who accepted the state's salary must die for the state's cause, like Yan Zhang—could he not have died with honor? Renzan had already sacrificed his son to prove his innocence. How could he betray his principles at the brink of death? Now, the "Veritable Records of Emperor Shizong of Zhou" include Renzan's surrender letter, which was clearly forged by his deputy Sun Yu and others. During Emperor Shizong's reign, Wang Huan served as the governor of Qinzhou in Shu, but after failing to conquer it for a long time, he surrendered when his forces were exhausted. Emperor Shizong greatly admired his loyalty but only promoted him to the rank of General. By comparing Emperor Shizong's treatment of these two and examining the edicts, it becomes clear that Renzan did not truly surrender. How rare are loyal ministers and righteous men throughout history! During the chaos of the Five Dynasties, these three men—some from the ranks of soldiers, others from the courts of rogue states—deserve endless admiration! How tragic it is!