Wang Yan was a descendant of the Langya clan and followed Xiao Zhao (later Emperor Wu of Qi) during the Liu Song Dynasty. After Xiao Daocheng established Southern Qi, he naturally became the crown prince Zhongshuzi and assisted Xiao Zhao. After Xiao Zhao ascended the throne, he successively served as Danyang Yin and Official Shangshu, and finally promoted to right servant and became a close confidant of Emperor Qiwu. On the deathbed of Emperor Xiao Zhao of Qiwu, he was also ordered to assist Xinjun. However, a heavy courtier who was so trusted and used by Emperor Qiwu saw that Xiao Luan had not only done nothing to seize power.
When Xiao Luan plotted to depose Xiao Zhaoye (Xiao Zhaoye, the prince of Yulin), Wang Yan immediately turned to Xiao Luan and advised Xiao Luan.
After Xiao Zhaoye was deposed, Wang Yan often said excitedly in front of Xiao Luan: "You often say that I Wang Yan is timid, but what do you think of me today?" "The pride is palpable.
Soon, Xiao Luan seized the throne for Emperor Qiming. Wang Yan thought that he had done a great service to Xiao Luan, and often talked about the affairs of Emperor Qiwu during his lifetime, which was always mostly derogatory.
At first, Xiao Luan still trusted him and made him Shang Shuling, the highest position among the courtiers. Wang Yan began to be proud of his achievements, acting arbitrarily and arbitrarily, and extensively placing his cronies in important positions in the imperial court. Not only that, he even often quarreled with The Qi Ming Emperor Xiao Luan in the employment of personnel.
Emperor Qi Ming had to rely on and reuse Wang Yan because of the beginning of the matter, and tolerated him more, but he was very disgusted with Wang Yan in his heart.
Later, Emperor Qi Ming sorted out the edict documents and other materials of Emperor Qiwu's time, including more than 300 handwritten letters from Emperor Qiwu to Wang Yan. These handwritten letters, in addition to talking about state affairs, also found that Wang Yan had advised Emperor Qiwu not to let Xiao Luan be in charge of the selection of officials. As a result, Xiao Luan became more and more suspicious and cold to Wang Yan.
Xiao Yaoguang(Xiao Luan's nephew), the king of Shi'an, persuaded Emperor Ming to kill Wang Yan, and Emperor Xiao Luan of Qiming said, "Wang Yan is meritorious to me, and since he is not guilty, how can I kill him?" Xiao Yaoguang added, "Wang Yan can't be loyal to Emperor Wu, so how can he be loyal to His Majesty?" Emperor Ming listened silently.
Emperor Qi Ming sent his confidant Chen Shifan and others to the Nanjing street market to inquire about Wang Yan's rumors and rumors. This inquiry really knows a lot of things.
Wang Yan was a rash and shallow man, and he did not take precautions, he wanted to open a government office for himself, and several times summoned warlocks to check feng shui; warlocks said that he would be rich and wealthy. Whenever Wang Yan talks to guests, he always likes to separate his subordinates and then talk with the guests in silence. After the Qi Ming Emperor Xiao Luan learned of these circumstances, he suspected that Wang Yan wanted to rebel, and at this time he finally had the idea of killing Wang Yan.
Feng Chao (honorary official position, qualified to participate in the imperial meeting) Xian Yu Wen yue guessed the mind of Emperor Qi Ming, and told Wang Yan that he had a different plan. At this time, Chen Shifan reported to Emperor Ming: "Wang Yan plotted to take advantage of the opportunity of the southern suburbs of Jianwu in the fourth year of Jianwu (497 AD) to start an incident with Emperor Wu's former commander in Daozhong. ”
At this time, the relevant departments reported that a tiger had broken into the altar in the southern suburbs, and Emperor Qi Ming became more and more afraid.
The day before the suburban festival, Emperor Qi Ming ordered that he not go to the southern suburbs to sacrifice, and sent people to tell Wang Yan and Xu Xiaosi first. Xu Xiaosi did not say anything after receiving the will, while Wang Yan believed that Emperor Ming should not go, and stated his reasons: "The matter of the suburban shrine is very important, and the saint must personally go there." ”
As a result, Emperor Qi Ming believed more and more what Chen Shifan said, and he made up his mind to kill Wang Yan.
On the 28th day of the first month of 497, Emperor Qi Ming summoned Wang Yan and immediately ordered him to be killed, and Wang Yan's sons Wang Deyuan and Wang Dehe, as well as Wang Yan's younger brother Wang Xu, were killed. Emperor Qi Ming announced to the government and the public that Wang Yan had committed the crime of treason.
Wang Yan was a close confidant of the former king, but he was not loyal to his affairs, so he was not recognized by the new king. In addition, he was proud of his achievements and did not restrain his behavior, and he was finally accused of treason and killed.
However, the Langya Wang clan has experienced various turmoil since the Eastern Jin Dynasty, and has no one seen the danger of Wang Yan's situation? Yes, he had already been persuaded.
Before Xiao Zhaoye, the king of Yulin, was about to be deposed, Wang Yan's cousin Yushi Zhongzhong Wang Siyuan said to Wang Yan: "Brother, you have inherited the favor of Emperor Wu, and now once you help someone else (Xiao Luan) usurp the throne, you may be able to temporarily use your brother for that person, but I don't know if the brother has done this, how will others be self-reliant in the future?" If you can pick up a knife and kill yourself now, you can also save the portal and not lose the honorific name of future generations. Wang Yan ignored it and replied, "I am drinking porridge and have no time to take care of this." After Emperor Qi Ming ascended the throne, Wang Yan was still in a high position, and he proudly said to Wang Siyuan's brother Wang Sizheng: "At the end of Longchang, Siyuan advised me to cut myself, if I listen to his words, where can there be today?" Wang Siyuan answered from the side: "It is not too late to do as the younger brother said." ”
Wang Siyuan knew that Emperor Ming was very kind to Wang Yan on the outside and had already begun to doubt him in his heart, so he took the opportunity to say to Wang Yan: "At present, things are gradually different, is the brother aware of it?" Most people are clumsy with themselves and clever at calculating others. Wang Yan did not say a word after listening. After Wang Siyuan left, Wang Yan sighed and said, "There are people in the world who persuade people to die. Ten days later, Wang Yan was killed.
Emperor Qi Ming heard Wang Siyuan's advice to Wang Yan, so Wang Siyuan was not implicated, but was promoted to a waiter.
Wang Yan had a cousin named Ruan Xiaoxu, and he also judged that Wang Yan would definitely fall, so every time Wang Yan went to his house, he avoided it. Once, when he ate the sauce, he felt that the taste was very fragrant, and when he asked, he knew that it was obtained from Wang Yan's family, so he immediately threw it up and poured out the rest. After Wang Yan was killed, people were worried about Ruan Xiaoxu, but he did not think so, saying: "Although I am a relative, I am not his party, what is there to be afraid of?" In the end he was not implicated.
Ordinary people also know that it is a matter of being entrusted to be loyal to others, let alone accepting the entrustment of the monarch?
Even if Mingzhe protects himself, it is better than being a wall grass like this. Like the Xie Brothers, they thought that the things entrusted by Emperor Xiao Zhao of Qiwu could not be done, so they refused Xiao Luan's solicitation, stayed away from the center of power, and chose Mingzhe to protect himself. Even so, they were criticized by Sima Guang, believing that they were not loyal. In such a comparison, Wang Yan can be called a seller seeking glory.