In 944 the upstart Zhu Wenjin executed Wang Yanxi. A revolt incited by Wang Yanzheng deposed Zhu in February 945, reuniting Min and Yin shortly before the impending attack by Li Jing. The defending Min forces were led into an engagement by Yang Sigong that ended in disastrous rout. Southern Tang armies soon encircled Jianzhou. Outside help wasn't forthcoming and the trapped Wang Yanzheng surrendered in October 945.
Initially the Southern Tang appeared to have successfully incorporated Min within their empire. This situation quickly changed after Chen Jue instigated the Battle of Fuzhou with Li Renda. The besieged port city received Wuyue relief forces which in 947 forced the Southern Tang to withdraw. The former Min kingdom became partitioned as the Wuyue secured their gains around Fuzhou.
Background
In 940 Wang Yanzheng revolted against his brother Wang Yanxi. Li Bian mediated between the feuding Wang Brothers. He was motivated to end the conflict quickly lest Wuyue take advantage of the civil war and seize territories near the Southern Tang border.[1][2] This peace didn't last long and Min was torn apart from further feuding between the siblings.[3] In 943 Yanzheng seized the northwest regions of Min and formed the Kingdom of Yin.
Li Jing initially pressed for the brothers to stop feuding as his father had done previously. Yet both of them refused this attempt at mediation. Yanzheng sent a particularly provocative response. Consequently, Li Jing ordered for Yin and Min territories to be forcibly incorporated into his realm.[4]
In April 944 Zhu Wenjin and Lian Chongyu dethroned Wang Yanxi. Zhu sent emissaries to try to establish friendly relations with the Southern Tang. Li Jing put his emissaries under arrest and intended to attack him, but could not do so immediately due to the heat and spread of disease at the time.[5]
Min officials executed Zhu Wenjin in February 945. The throne was offered to Wang Yanzheng, reuniting the split kingdoms. At this point the Southern Tang invasion was imminent. Wang Yangzheng continued to rule from Jianzhou rather than the Min capital of Changle and prepared his forces for the coming attack.[4] He put his nephew Wang Jichang in command of Fuzhou.
Invasion
The Wuyi Mountains of modern Fujian. The Southern Tang campaign against Wang Yanzheng took place nearby.
Zha Wenhui (查文徽) was appointed to lead the Southern Tang invasion. A merchant gave valuable intelligence on traversing the mountainous terrain of Min. In early 945 the Southern Tang armies began to cross into Min territory. Wang Yanzheng enlisted Yang Sigong to lead the counterattack the Southern Tang.
For over a week the rival forces encamped on either side of a river without combat. Yang Sigong became impatient and ordered an army under Chen Wang (陳望) to cross the river and attack the Southern Tang. In the ensuing battle Chen Wang died and Min forces suffered a disastrous rout. Afterwards Zha Wenhui captured Jianyang.[6][7] The Southern Tang advanced onto Jianzhou and encircled the city. A Min relief force dispatched from Quanzhou failed to break the siege. Wang Yanzheng was desperate for help and offered to become a vassal of Wuyue.[4]
Rebellion by Min military officers broke out in two major port cities. Li Renda murdered Wang Jichang and seized Fuzhou. The Min official in control of Quanzhou was killed by Liu Congxiao. Both men contacted Zha Wenhui with pledges of loyalty to the Southern Tang.[8] The Southern Tang continued their attack on Jianzhou, which finally fell on 2 October 945. Wang Yanzheng was captured and deported to Jinling. The majority of Min territory was now under Southern Tang rule.[4] Yang Sigong was executed to placate the discontented populous of Jianzhou.[9]
The affluent port of Fuzhou was controlled by Li Renda, who initially submitted to the Southern Tang. After a cold reception from Li Renda, Chen Jue fabricated orders for Southern Tang armies to attack Fuzhou. The neighboring Wuyue sent relief forces on naval transports after Qian Hongzuo received an appeal from the embattled Li Renda. In 947 the opposing forces clashed in a pitched battle where the Southern Tang lost over 20,000 troops and were forced to withdraw.[10][7]
Aftermath
While the Southern Tang were successful in deposing Wang Yanzheng they did not accomplish all of their strategic goals. They gained control of the Jianzhou and Tingzhou prefectures but were forced out of Fuzhou by the neighboring Wuyue.[7] The Quanzhou and Zhangzhou prefectures were controlled by a former Min officer, Liu Congxiao. Li Jing appointed him the Jiedushi of Qingyuan Circuit, which largely operated autonomously from the Southern Tang.[11]
In subsequent months the Southern Tang court debated the proper punishment for those involved with the Battle of Fuzhou. Subordinate officers were declared innocent but the fate of Chen Jue and his cohorts remained to be determined. Both he and Feng Yanlu were forced to wear shackles for their trip to Jinling on the orders of an irate Li Jing. Song Qiqiu had originally promoted Chen and took the blame for the latter's actions. Along with Feng Yanji, Song convinced the emperor to merely exile Chen and Feng Yanlu. Han Xizai and Xu Xuan (徐鉉) wrote a memorial demanding that Chen Jue and Feng Yanlu be executed. They stated that if military officials weren't punished for deploying troops without prior court approval "then there will be unrest in the border regions." This notion was undoubtedly informed by the disintegration of the Tang dynasty, where autonomous Jiedushi officials acted without imperial oversight.[12][13]
Many expenses were incurred during the conflict that depleted the Southern Tang treasuries.[14][15] Granaries were burdened with supplying the Southern Tang armies which left people in the Fuzhou (in modern Jiangxi), Hongzhou, Raozhou, and Xinzhou prefectures particularly destitute.[5][16] Despite difficulties experienced during the campaign officials such as Feng Yanji encouraged Li Jing to aspire for further territorial aggrandizement.[17][7] In 951 the Southern Tang campaign against Chu began, a venture that ended largely in failure.
Kurz, Johannes L. (2011). China's Southern Tang Dynasty (937-976). Routledge. ISBN9780415454964.
Kurz, Johannes (1997). "The Yangzi in the Negotiations between the Southern Tang and Its Northern Neighbors (Mid-Tenth Century)". In Dabringhaus, Sabine; Ptak, Roderich; Teschke, Richard (eds.). China and Her Neighbours: Borders, Visions of the Other, Foreign Policy 10th to 19th Century. South China and maritime Asia. Vol.6. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz. ISBN3447039426.
Mote, F. W. (1999). Imperial China (900-1800). Harvard University Press. ISBN0674012127.
Ouyang, Xiu (2004). Historical Records of the Five Dynasties. Translated by Davis, Richard L. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN0-231-12826-6.
Worthy, Edmund H. (1983). "Diplomacy for Survival: Domestic and Foreign Relations of Wu Yüeh, 907-978". In Rossabi, Morris (ed.). China among Equals: The Middle Kingdom and Its Neighbors, 10th–14th Centuries. Berkley and Los Angeles: University of California Press. pp.17–46. ISBN0520043839.
Southern Tang was a dynastic state of China that existed during Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Located in southern China, the Southern Tang proclaimed itself to be the successor of the Tang dynasty. The capital was located at Nanjing in present-day Jiangsu Province. At its territorial peak in 951, the Southern Tang controlled the whole of modern Jiangxi, and portions of Anhui, Fujian, Hubei, Hunan, and Jiangsu provinces.
Li Jing, originally Xu Jingtong (徐景通), briefly Xu Jing (徐璟) in 937–939, courtesy name Boyu (伯玉), also known by his temple name Yuanzong (元宗), was the second ruler of imperial China's Southern Tang state during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. He reigned his state from 943 until his death.
The Yin was a short-lived kingdom during China's Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period which lasted from 907 to 960 and bridged the time between the fall of the Tang dynasty and the foundation of the Song dynasty.
Wang Yanzheng (王延政), known as Tiande Emperor (天德帝) after his era name of Tiande, formally Prince Gongyi of Fu (福恭懿王), also known during Min as the Prince of Fusha (富沙王), was the last ruler of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Min. In 943, he, then in civil war with his brother Wang Yanxi, declared himself emperor of a new state of Yin at his base Jian Prefecture, but after Wang Yanxi was killed by the general Zhu Wenjin, who was himself assassinated thereafter, Wang Yanzheng reclaimed the title of Emperor of Min. His reign would last less than three years overall, though, as Min's northwestern neighbor Southern Tang bore down militarily on him and forced his surrender, ending Min.
Chen Jue (陳覺) was a key official of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period states Wu and Wu's successor state Southern Tang, becoming chief of staff to Southern Tang's second emperor Li Jing. He was considered an ally of the senior statesman Song Qiqiu, and after Song lost power, Chen was exiled and killed on the way to exile.
Wang Yanxi (王延羲), known as Wang Xi (王曦) during his reign, formally Emperor Jingzong of Min (閩景宗), was an emperor of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Min. He became Min's ruler after a coup that overthrew his nephew Wang Jipeng in 939. With his reign being a cruel one, the imperial guard officers Zhu Wenjin and Lian Chongyu assassinated him and slaughtered the imperial Wang clan. Zhu thereafter claimed the title of Emperor of Min.
Zhu Wenjin (朱文進) was a general of, and later a claimant of the throne of, the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Min. In 944, he assassinated the emperor Wang Yanxi and tried to take over control of the Min state, but his officer Lin Renhan (林仁翰) assassinated him less than a year later and submitted to Wang Yanxi's brother Wang Yanzheng, who had been warring with Wang Yanxi.
Qian Hongzuo, courtesy name Yuanyou (元祐), formally King Zhongxian of Wuyue (吳越忠獻王), possibly with the temple name of Chengzong (成宗), was the third king (王) of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Wuyue.
Pan Chengyou (潘承祐) was an official of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period states Wu, Min, and Southern Tang, briefly serving as a chancellor during the reign of Yin's only emperor Wang Yanzheng.
Yang Sigong (楊思恭), nicknamed Skinner Yang, was an official of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Min and Min's branch state Yin. He became a trusted official during the reign of Yin's only emperor Wang Yanzheng and became known for harsh taxes against the people, leading to the people turning against Wang Yanzheng and welcoming an invading Southern Tang army, leading to Min's fall.
Lian Chongyu was a general of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Min. In 944, he and another general, Zhu Wenjin, assassinated the emperor Wang Yanxi. He then supported Zhu as the new emperor of the Min state, but the officer Lin Renhan (林仁翰) assassinated him and Zhu less than a year later and submitted to Wang Yanxi's brother Wang Yanzheng, who had been warring with Wang Yanxi.
Liu Congxiao, formally the Prince of Jinjiang, was a general of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Min and the first ruler of Qingyuan Circuit. After Min's fall, he initially submitted to Southern Tang, but eventually, taking advantage of Southern Tang's inability to fully control the region, took the southern part of the former Min realm under his own control, albeit in nominal submission to Southern Tang. After Southern Tang's repeated defeats by Later Zhou, he also nominally submitted to Later Zhou's successor state Song.
Chen Hongjin (914–985), courtesy name Jichuan (濟川), formally Duke Zhongshun of Qi (岐國忠順公), was a warlord late in the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, who controlled Qingyuan Circuit. After a series of conquests by the Song dynasty, Chen, who was a vassal to Song, believed that it would be wise for him to surrender his realm, and did so. He subsequently remained honored as a Song general until his death.
Wang Jichang (王繼昌) was a general and chancellor of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Min. He was a nephew of its last emperor Wang Yanzheng, and briefly served as chancellor and general during Wang Yanzheng's reign.
Li Renda (李仁達), also known by the names of Li Hongyi (李弘義) (945–946), Li Hongda (李弘達) (946), Li Da (李達) (946–947), and Li Ruyun (李孺贇) (947), was a warlord of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. He was initially an officer for the state of Min. In Min's last years, he rebelled against its last emperor Wang Yanzheng and seized control of the Fu Prefecture region, initially in nominal allegiance to both Southern Tang and Later Jin. When Southern Tang's emperor Li Jing tried to force to yield actual control to the Southern Tang imperial government, however, he turned his allegiance to Wuyue and fought off the Southern Tang attack with Wuyue aid. When his relationship with the Wuyue general Bao Xiurang (鮑修讓) eventually broke down, he considered killing Bao and resubmitting to Southern Tang, but Bao discovered this and killed him first, allowing Wuyue to take actual control over the region.
How Much Sorrow Do You Have, also known as The Real Warrior in some countries, is a 2005 Chinese historical drama produced by Beijing HualuBaina Film & TV Co. It was first broadcast on China Television in Taiwan in August 2005. In mainland China it was first broadcast on CCTV-8 in 2006. The title is directly taken from a poem by Li Yu, the protagonist of the drama.
Feng Yanji or Feng Yansi (馮延巳) (per the New History of the Five Dynasties and Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms, alternative name Feng Yansi, courtesy name Zhengzhong, was a famed poet and politician of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Southern Tang, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Southern Tang's second emperor Li Jing.
Feng Yanlu (馮延魯), also known as Feng Mi (馮謐), courtesy name Shuwen (叔文), was an official of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Southern Tang, and briefly of Southern Tang's northern neighbor Later Zhou.
The Battle of Fuzhou was a major military engagement during the Southern Tang conquest of Min. The Southern Tang took advantage of instability in the Min Kingdom and launched an invasion in 945. During the campaign Li Renda seized Fuzhou and pledged loyalty to the Southern Tang. After a hostile reception by Li Renda, Chen Jue forged documents that called for the capture of Fuzhou. Infuriated at the insubordination, Emperor Li Jing nonetheless sent reinforcements. Fuzhou became encircled by the Southern Tang armies.
The Later Zhou conquest of Huainan was a conflict during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period of China. Huainan was the territories south of the Huai River and north of the Yangtze then controlled by the Southern Tang. In 956, Chai Rong ordered an invasion of the region. The defending Southern Tang forces were consistently crushed as their military leadership was inept. However the advancing Later Zhou forces were imperiled by the staunch resistance of Shouzhou which threatened to cut supply lines. Initial Southern Tang peace offerings were spurned by Chai Rong and the conflict continued until spring 958. The defeated Southern Tang ceded Huainan and became a vassal of the Later Zhou.
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