Emperor Shi Jingyao

The thirteenth day of the first month of the third year of the reign of Emperor Qingtai of the late Tang Dynasty (936 AD) was the birthday of Emperor Li Congke. Li Congke held a banquet in the palace to celebrate. Friends and family came to congratulate. Drinking heavily, her sister Princess Jinguochang made a toast and planned to bid farewell and return to Jinyang (Taiyuan City). At this time, Li Congke was already drunk, and he said: "Why don't you stay a few more days, so anxious to go back, is it planning to rebel with your husband?"

Why did Li Congke say this?

Shi Jingyao was Li Congke's brother-in-law, and at this time he served as an envoy to Hedong Jiedushi.

The matter also began two years ago when Li Congke usurped power and ascended the throne.

In the past, Li Congke and Shi Jingyao were both generals under Li Siyuan, born strong, brave, belligerent, and secretly competing with each other, psychologically no one liked anyone.

In April 934, Li Congke led an army into Luoyang, and the Min Emperor Li Conghou fled, and on April 5, Li Congke ascended the throne and sent people to hang Li Conghou and kill Empress Kong and her four sons at the same time.

After Li Congke ascended the throne, he was very jealous of Shi Jingyao. Shi Jingyao went to Beijing as a last resort, and after burying his father-in-law, he did not dare to propose to return to his original post immediately. At that time, Shi Jingyao had just finished being ill, his health was not very good, his face was haggard, his mother-in-law Empress Cao and his wife Princess Wei guo repeatedly interceded in front of Li Congke, Li Congke saw that Shi Jingyao was thin and boneless, and did not think that he would cause any trouble, so he pushed the boat along the water and said: "Shi Lang is not only a close relative, but also has followed me since childhood to share happiness and hardships, and now that I am the son of heaven, I do not rely on Shi Lang, who else can I rely on?" "Reappointed Shi Jingyao as the envoy of Hedong (Taiyuan) Jiedushi.

After Shi Jingyao returned to Taiyuan, he secretly arranged to protect his military plan, and Shi Jingyao's two sons, Shi Zhongyin and Shi Chong, were both on errands in the palace, and Empress Cao was Shi Jingyao's wife and the mother of Princess Chang of the Jin Dynasty (formerly princess of wei). Shi Jingyao bribed Empress Cao's left and right handmaidens to secretly observe Li Congke's movements. So Li Congke's every word and deed, no matter how big or small, Shi Jingyao knew it all. Shi Jingyao often admitted in front of the guests that he was weak and unable to hold the position of commander-in-chief, hoping to rely on this small action to eliminate the suspicion of the imperial court.

At the beginning of 936, at Li Congke's birthday party, Li Congke wanted to knock on the mountain and shock the tiger, so he said the above words.

When Shi Jingyao heard this news, he became more and more frightened. Shi Jingyao then transported all his assets in Luoyang and scattered around the country to Jinyang, claiming that it was to supplement the military salary, but everyone knew that he was preparing for the rebellion.

At this time, Li Congke was also very anxious. One day, after talking with his close relatives from the official, he said by the way: "Shi Jingyao is my closest person, there is nothing to suspect, but the rumors are like snowballs, rolling bigger and bigger, in case something unpleasant in the future, what is the way to resolve it?" "No one dared to speak.

At this time, Li Song and Lü Qi devised a strategy, they believed that if Shi Jingyao plotted against us, he would definitely unite with the Khitan as foreign aid, and if we sent Yelü, the eldest son of empress Dowager Shulu of khitan who had fled to China before, to return to the Khitan and reconcile with the Khitan and send some gifts, the Khitan would definitely ally with us, in this case, Shi Jingyao, even if he wanted to rebel, would not be able to do it.

The two told Li Congke about their plans, and Li Congke was first overjoyed and praised the loyalty of the two.

After some time, Li Congke informed Xue Wenyu of this plan, and Xue Wenyu resolutely opposed it. He said: "Doesn't It not at all humiliating that Your Majesty, with the dignity of the Son of Heaven, has wronged himself and flattered the barbarians?" Moreover, in case the barbarians want to marry a princess according to the old custom, what can we do to refuse? ”

Li Congke then changed his mind. Li Song and Lü Qi were scolded. He said, "You are all well versed in ancient and modern times, and you should assist the king in establishing peace in all the worlds, and now you have come up with such a terrible idea." I have only one daughter, and I still have a milky smell in my mouth, but you plan to abandon her to the desert, and you want to give the barbarians the funds to support the officers and men of the Wehrmacht. From then on, the two were alienated.

Shi Jingyao intended to test the true intentions of the imperial court, and repeatedly submitted the song chapter, claiming that he was weak and sick, requesting the dismissal of military powers, and willing to fall to other areas with a more relaxed mission. Li Congke planned to accept his request and transfer Shi Jingyao to Tianping (Yun County, Shandong), but Fang Wei, Li Song, Lü Qi, and others strongly discouraged him, believing that they must not believe it to be true, and Li Congke hesitated for a long time and could not decide.

On the night of May 2, 936, Li Congke and Xue Wenyu discussed the situation in Hedong. Xue Wenyu said: "There is a proverb that goes: 'If you build a house on the road, you can't build it in three years.' 'The matter of Hedong should be decided by yourself, and the officials left and right are all planning for their own wealth, how to do their best!' From my observation, Shi Jingyao's rebellion has become a foregone conclusion, you can't adjust, he will rebel, but the time is only sooner or later, it is better to seize the opportunity, the killer is stronger. This remark was exactly in line with Li Congke's intentions.

Li Congke immediately wrote down the edict and handed it to the Hanlin Yuan, ordering them to draft personnel orders.

On May 3, the personnel appointment order was issued, and Shi Jingyao was appointed as the envoy of the Balance Festival. When the edict was promulgated, when the Manchu officials heard Shi Jingyao's name read, you looked at me, I looked at you, and looked at each other.

On May 6, Li Congke urged Shi Jingyao to go to Yun Prefecture to take up his post.

Shi Jingyao was shocked and frightened. He consulted with the general and said, "When I come back to Hedong, the Holy Father allows me in person not to send anyone to replace me in my lifetime." Now that there is a sudden order, could it be related to the words told to the princess at the emperor's birthday party this year? I will never commit a crime, but the court acts first, how can I tie my hands and send them to death on the road. I will now go up to him to test his intentions by claiming to be ill, and if I can tolerate him, I will continue to serve him, and if someone is sent to coerce me, I will change my mind. ”

The general Liu Zhiyuan and the secretary Sang Weihan advocated bowing to the Khitan in the north and claiming subjection, distorting and seeking perfection, uniting with the Khitan and rebelling. Shi Jingyao agreed.

On May 10, Zhaoyi Jiedu made Emperor Fuli report that Shi Jingyao had rebelled.

Shi Jingyao accused: "Li Congke is the righteous son of Emperor Xian, and he cannot inherit the throne, please pass the throne to Li Congyi, the Prince of Xu." ”

Li Congke was furious and ordered Shi Jingyao to be stripped of his official title. The general Zhang Jingda was ordered to lead a large army to attack Shi Jingyao.

Shi Jingde's younger brother Shi Jingde was arrested on the way to escape and died in prison. Cousin Shi Jingwei committed suicide. When his two sons, Shi Chongyin and Shi Chong, heard the news of their father's rebellion, they immediately abandoned their official posts and fled to the people, where they were captured and beheaded. The peasant families that hid them were also wiped out.

In the context of a very disparity in strength, Shi Jingyao sent secret envoys from The Trail to the Khitan capital Linhuang Province (present-day Balin Zuoqi, Inner Mongolia) to request rescue. Sang Weihan was ordered to write a song to the Khitan Yelü Deguang, emphasizing the etiquette of voluntarily serving his father as a son, serving Yelü Deguang, and promising to cede Lulong (Beijing) along with the prefectures north of Yanmen Pass to the Khitan after success.

The recital was sent to Linhuang, and Yelü Deguang was very happy. He wrote back, agreeing to wait until the Mid-Autumn Festival, when the grass grew and the horses were fat, when the national army was dispatched to the south to support.

While providing foreign rescue, Shi Jingyao also listened to the advice of the general Liu Zhiyuan, gave full play to his personal advantages, and sent envoys to move to various parties to persuade him.

Li Congke heard that the Khitan had promised Shi Jingyao to send troops in the Mid-Autumn Festival, and constantly urged Zhang Jingda to attack Jinyang fiercely and could not conquer it. But the city's food and daily necessities in Jinyang also gradually decreased.

In September, Yelü Deguang led 50,000 cavalry from Yangwu Valley (northwest of Yuanping County, Shanxi) to the south, and the flag was unfurled, covering the sky and the sun, and continued for more than fifty miles.

Arrived in Jinyang on the fifteenth, lined up at the north bank of the Fenshui Hubeikou, and launched an attack on the besieging forces of later Tang Jinyang City, and the Later Tang army was defeated, and nearly 10,000 infantry were killed.

On September 16, Shi Jingyao led his army and the Khitan Army to launch a fierce attack on the Later Tang army. Jointly besieged Jin'an Zhai (southwest of Taiyuan, south of jinci), camped in Jin'an zhai, more than a hundred miles from east to west, about fifty miles deep, densely tied with bell ropes, and military dogs patrolled around, not even half a step across.

Zhang Jingda's troops at this time still had 50,000 people and 10,000 war horses, but they were dazed and had no way to escape. Soon surrounded by closures.

On September 18, Zhang Jingda sent envoys to report the bad news of the defeat to the imperial court, and since then he has lost news with the government.

In November, Yelü Deguang issued a proclamation that Shi Jingyao was made emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty, and he ascended the throne as emperor on the same day.

Shi Jingyao promised to cede 16 prefectures, including You (Beijing), Ji (Tianjin Jixian County), Hao (Hebei Hejian), Mo (Renqiu Mozhou Town, Hebei), Zhuo (Zhuozhou, Hebei), Tan (Beijing Miyun), Shun (Shunyi), Xin (Hebei Zhuolu), Hui (Huailai, Hebei), Ru (Beijing Yanqing), Wu (Xuanhua, Hebei), Yun (Datong, Shanxi), Ying (Ying County, Shanxi), Huan (East of Shuozhou City, Shanxi), Wei (Wei County, Hebei), and Shuo (Shuozhou City, Shanxi), and promised to pay 300,000 silk satin to the Khitan every year.

On the fourteenth day, shi Jingyao ordered all the measures of the imperial court to comply with the laws and regulations of the later Tang Dynasty Li Siyuan's reign. Princess Li of the Jin Dynasty was made empress.

After the Tang army was besieged from September, nearly four months, reinforcements never arrived. Eventually, internal unrest broke out, and the general Yang Guangyuan killed Zhang Jingda and surrendered to the Khitans.

Shi Jingyao's army continued to advance towards Luoyang.

On November 26 of that year, Li Congke saw that the general trend had gone, and together with Empress Cao, Empress Liu, Li Chongmei the Prince of Yong, and Song Xianqian, they carried the Chuanguo Jade Seal, climbed the Xuanwu Building, and set themselves on fire. He was fifty-one years old.

The Later Tang Dynasty lasted fourteen years from 923 to 936 AD, and then officially perished.