China has a long history, having given birth to dozens of large and small dynasties, and hundreds of emperors, and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms were a period of great turmoil. In the last years of the Tang Dynasty, social unrest broke out, first the Huangchao Rebellion broke out, and then Zhu Wen usurped the Tang, so the various local separatist forces occupied the territory as kings, and finally broke away from the Tang Dynasty and established themselves as a state.
During the reign of Emperor Tang, Li Ke used to lead the Shatuo army south to suppress the Huangchao Rebellion, and three times qin wang defeated Huangchao, forced him to commit suicide, and recaptured Chang'an.
Two years later, Li Maozhen, Wang Xingyu, and Han Jianshuai entered Beijing to hold Tang Zhaozong hostage, and Li Keyong once again led an army to serve the king, defeated the three marshals, rescued Tang Zhaozong, and was crowned king of Jin for his merits.
In the following years, Li Keyong confronted Zhu Wen and became each other's biggest rivals for the world.
Later, Li Keyong died of poisonous sores, and before his death, he entrusted his son Li Cunxun to his younger brother Li Kening. Although Li Kening led the army for many years, he did not have any greed for the throne, and this person was benevolent and filial, and he was cautious and never slack when serving Li Ke.
But within a few years, Li Kening actually had the heart to kill his nephew and seize the throne. Could it be that Li Kening's cowardice is just a disguise for himself? What's the hidden story?
When Li Ke was dying, he passed the throne of Jin to Li Cunxun, and repeatedly instructed his younger brother Li Kening, "This son has great ambitions and will be able to become my business, and Er Caoshan will teach him!" Although Li Cunxun had his father's will and his uncle's guidance, he still could not serve the public because he was still young. There was a lot of discussion in the army about Li Cunxun's succession to the throne, and as time went on, he lost his confidence and planned to cede the throne to Li Kening.
The New Five Dynasties History, Volume XIV, Biography of the Tang Family, records that Emperor Zhuangzong (Li Cunxun) told Yu Kening: "When he was a child, he was lonely and naïve, and he did not pass through the government, although he had the orders of the previous kings, I am afraid that it was not enough to be a major event." The uncle was highly virtuous, and the former king tried to appoint a government official, and dared to annoy Ji Father with a military palace, so as to wait for his son to stand. ”
Knin said, "My brother's destiny belongs to me, and who dares to change it!" "Because of this, he went north to pay homage to him, and Zhuangzong was the throne of Jin.
The meaning is probably that Li Cunxun told Li Kening: "The child is young and lonely, does not understand state affairs, although there is an order from the previous king, I am afraid that he will not be able to take on a big responsibility." Uncle Xunde is high, the previous king once entrusted the big government to you to manage, I think the military government troubles uncle to manage, wait until the child is older. ”
But Li Kening replied: "My brother's order entrusted me with his son, who dares to change people?" "Immediately go down to the north and pay homage to him, Li Cunxun is the throne of Jin."
Later, Li Cunxun was worried that he was not qualified enough to serve the public, and Li Kening said: "Ru family heirs, and there is the order of the first king, who dares to disobey it!" ”
There were also people around him who constantly offered rumors to Li Kening to replace him, and Li Kening obeyed his brother's will and said angrily: "My family has heard the world with kindness and filial piety, and the karma of the first king has returned, so why should I ask for it!" Don't say it again, I'll cut you off! ”
Roughly speaking, my family has been known for its father's kindness and filial piety for generations, and the inheritance of the previous king now has belonged, so what do I seek! You dare to talk nonsense again. I'll cut you off''!
Li Kening, who has always been cowardly, said such murderous words, which shows the greatness of his anger. But when everyone thought that he had no intention of vying for power, he quietly planned an assassination.
His adopted son Li Cunhao plotted for him, set up a banquet for the King of Jin, took the opportunity to behead Zhang Chengye, Li Cunzhang, and other old ministers who had been favored by the previous king, supported Li Kening as the new King of Jin, and escorted Li Cunxun and his wife to Daliang.
Unexpectedly, their plan was learned by Shi Jingrong, who had been favored by Li Keyong, and he did not want to see his heirs brutally killed, so he quietly told his wife about this plan. Lady Tai was shocked to learn of Li Kening's wolf ambitions, and quickly summoned Zhang Chengye to impress him with the kindness of the former king and pray that he would get rid of Li Kening.
In order to smash Li Kening's plot, Zhang Chengye took the lead, put on a banquet in the name of the King of Jin, and secretly lined up troops to prepare to assassinate Li Kening. Li Kening felt that there would be no conspiracy for a yellow-mouthed child like Li Cunxun, so he went to the banquet frankly, and before the third round of the wine, Li Kening and others were arrested by the armored soldiers. As Li Kening was dying, he shouted: "These are all people who are hungry, what does fufu say!" ”
As far as Li Kening's usual performance is concerned, no one could have imagined that he would have such ambitions, was Li Kening good at disguise, or was he framed by the hungry people as he said when he was dying?
In fact, Li Kening had no intention of rebellion, and it was Li Kening's adopted son who had this ambition. Li Kening's adopted sons were all strong and strong men, and Li Ke was very dependent on them when he was there, and they always looked down on weak children like Li Cunxun. Li Cunhao often privately persuaded Li Kening: "Brothers and brothers, since ancient times, worship their nephews as uncles, yu Li'anhu!" Heaven and no, regret is not enough! ”
It is to persuade his adoptive father Li Kening: "The elder brother died, and the younger brother succeeded to the throne, and there have been such examples since ancient times." How can one be at ease as an uncle and bow to a nephew of one's lower generation? Now is the opportunity given by God, if you do not accept it, I am afraid that it will be too late to regret it in the future"!
Although Li Kening was not moved, he also produced some ripples as time went on.
However, these adopted sons were not dead-hearted, and seeing that they did not move their adoptive fathers, they asked their wives to persuade Li Kening's wife Meng Shi. Meng Shi has always been arrogant, and when she learned that she could also have a chance to go further, she was naturally very happy, and in order to sit on a high position, she forced Li Kening many times.
Under the bombardment of this sugar-coated shell, Li Kening finally became impatient and had the heart of rebellion, and finally the news leaked, and he was preempted by people and sent his life.
Li Kening could have lived his life in peace, but he was wrongly accused of being a traitor and a thief because of the villain's rumors. These villains ruined not only Li Kening's reputation, but also Li Kening's fist love and respect for his brother.
References: Zizhi Tongjian, History of the New Five Dynasties, Volume IV, Tang Benji Iv