Zhu Wen's luck was never in Huainan.
Yang Xingmi has been seriously ill for a long time, and his death is only around the corner. The choice of successor has always troubled him. As he said to Mrs. Zhu, these sons of his are all cowards who are embarrassed by their big responsibilities and may not be able to inherit the legacy he created. In particular, his eldest son Yang Wo had a particularly bad reputation. Huainan civil and military officials always looked down upon him.
As Yang Xingmi's body deteriorated day by day, undercurrents surged within the Huainan Group, and ulterior secrets were brewing among different factions. Previously, Yang Wo was sent to another place, which was a side reflection of the political struggle. As the counselor Xu Wen said, if the eldest son was sent away because the master was seriously ill, there must be something fishy in it, and we must be on guard against it.
Now, Yang Xingmi was bedridden, so he ordered his aide Zhou Yin to summon Yang Wo to Yangzhou, intending to let his eldest son Yang Wo inherit the inheritance.
Zhou Yin is upright and simple. He was upright and undisguised, so simple that he was close to stupidity. He actually said to Yang Xingmi: "The eldest son always listens to slander easily and is addicted to playing ball and drinking. He is not the person to protect the family. And your other sons are young and ignorant. Not even enough to control the generals. In my opinion, Liu Wei, the governor of Luzhou, is the earliest hero to follow you from Conglong. He is a comrade who has been tested by the organization. No matter in terms of personal ability, qualifications, prestige or loyalty, he is worthy of trust. It is not as good as You ask him to be the regent for the time being, and then ask Liu Wei to hand over the power to them when the young masters grow up."
The political factions within the Huainan Group are very complex. I personally make a rough division based on the development process of the Yang Xingmi Group. If you don’t like it, don’t criticize it. Discussions are welcome:
The first is the "direct lineage of Luzhou".
For example, the "Thirty-Six Heroes" who first followed Yang Xingmi, such as Tian Kai, Zhu Yanshou, Liu Wei, Tao Ya, Li Jian, Li Yu, Xu Wen, etc., were the founders of the Huainan Group and the direct descendants of Yang Xingmi.
Secondly, there is the "Yangzhou Clan" from the time when they rose to prominence in Luzhou to when they took over Yangzhou.
This is the road for Huainan Group to go public. Mainly because Yang Xingmi, with the help of the "Legends of Luzhou", caught the investment trend (Bi Shiduo and Qin Yan rebelled) and used high-leverage financing (borrowing troops) to invest in the old Huainan Group (Gao Pian). ) carried out mergers and reorganizations, and finally used the means of killing angel investors and venture capital partners (such as Gao Ba and Lu Yongzhi) to monopolize the listing dividends. Those who were poached or took the initiative to change jobs during this period can be roughly classified into the category of "Yangzhou Clan".
The third is the "Xuanzhou Department".
This includes the fresh blood who competed with Sun Ru for Yangzhou and annexed Xuanzhou, and most of them were Sun Ru's old troops, who were reused like firewood.
Finally, Zhu Jin who sought political asylum in Huainan, Hedong general Li Chengsi who stayed in Huainan and transferred to Huainan, and generals who surrendered during the tug-of-war with Hangzhou Qian Liu, etc., were no longer established separately because of their complexity and weak political energy. The portal is divided into the above three mountains based on the time of surrender.
After a rough combing, it is not difficult to see that among the three main mountains within the Huainan Group, the "Xuanzhou Clan" with the least seniority has the largest number of people and is the main component of the group and the backbone of society; the "Yangzhou Clan" Although they have earlier qualifications, their status within the group is the lowest, because most of them were forced to join the Huainan Group, and their sense of identity and belonging has always been questioned; although the "Luzhou direct lineage" has good roots, it has always been This is Yang Xingmi's heartache, because these elders are proud of their merits and often rebellious.
Yang Xingmi's management ideas are also obvious: suppress and contain the hard-working "Luzhou direct lineage", carefully appease the "Yangzhou lineage", and vigorously promote the "Xuanzhou lineage". Whether they are feudal princes, business leaders, or leaders or presidents of civil organizations, they are all inseparable from this management idea.
The reason is very simple. The "Xuanzhou Clan" believes that everything they have was given by Yang Xingmi, so they will be grateful to Yang Xingmi from the bottom of their hearts, wholeheartedly safeguard the interests of the Huainan Group, and support Yang Xingmi's rule; while the "Luzhou Clan" They think that everything Yang Xingmi had was given by them. Without their help, Yang Xingmi would be where he is today? Where will Huainan Group be today?
For example, after many years of hard work and hard work in a civil society, it finally became famous throughout the country. Some senior members felt that the salary was unfair, so they announced their withdrawal. However, the group leader strongly promoted an apprentice with no family, no background, and no foundation. Because Because he is a product of the "Three Nos", he will have a strong dependence on the group and the leader. As long as his brain is not short-circuited, he should know that once he deviates from the group, he will be knocked back to his original shape overnight and become destitute. Therefore, no matter how popular he becomes in the future, he will not run away like the previous senior brothers.
Zhou Yin was not presumptuous and actually pushed Liu Wei, who was "a direct descendant of Luzhou", in front of Yang Xingmi, but rejected Yang Xingmi's eldest son. Looking at Liu Wei's position, a small governor, this veteran official who first followed Yang Xingmi, captured Luzhou, defeated Sun Ru, captured Yangzhou, and laid the foundation of Huainan, is actually only a small governor today. This is enough to show that Yang Xingmi Attitude towards "direct descendants of Luzhou".
Hearing what Zhou Yin said, Yang Xingmi was so shocked that he was speechless and stopped talking.
Even though Yang Xingmi has deliberately suppressed and contained the "Luzhou direct lineage" for many years, Liu Wei still reached the point where his achievements shocked the master. Liu Wei's reputation was so high that he could usurp his own inheritance with just one shout!
Seeing that Yang Xingmi stopped talking, Zhou Yin thought that his words had moved his lord, and that his lord was seriously considering letting Liu Wei be the regent.
Zhou Yin opened a tragic ending for himself.
Xu Wen and Zhang Hao, Yang Xingmi's important confidants, said to Yang Xingmi: "The king has been born and died all his life, with bullets and bullets flying, and the blade of a knife licking blood. Don't you just want to create a foundation for your descendants? How can you give it up to others!"
Hearing these words, Yang Xingmi breathed a long sigh of relief, with a slightly relieved expression on his face, and said to Xu Wen and Zhang Hao: "With your words, I can die in peace."
If Yang Xingmi was found out after his death, the coffin board would not be able to hold it down. The following article will detail what Xu Wen and Zhang Hao did to the Yang family's heirs.
A few days later, the generals visited Yang Xingmi's condition. Yang Xingmi secretly winked at his aide Yan Keqiu and asked him to stay alone. After everyone left, Yan Keqiu took a step closer and lowered his voice, "Lord, if something happens to you, how should you deal with major military and political matters?"
Yang Xingmi told the truth, "I have ordered Zhou Yin to summon the eldest son Wo'er to Yangzhou. The reason why I hold on and refuse to die is because I am waiting for Wo'er!"
Yan Keqiu, Xu Wen and others visited Zhou Yin to observe his actions. As expected, Zhou Yin actually withheld the official document summoning Yang Wo without authorization. The official document was placed on Zhou Yin's desk, and Zhou Yin happened to not be at the scene.
Therefore, Yan Keqiu and Xu Wen "stole" the official documents, sent people to Xuanzhou, and urgently summoned Yang Wo back to Yangzhou. Yang Xingmi ordered General Wang Maozhang to serve as the observer of Xuanzhou to replace Yang Wo.
Yang Wo firmly remembered Xu Wen's words, and when he saw that it was an envoy sent by Xu Wen, he came with confidence. After arriving in Yangzhou, Yang Xingmi announced that Yang Wo would be retained in Huainan and handed over the military and political power to him.
At the same time, Zhu Wen pacified Jingxiang and marched eastward to Huainan, but returned without results, as mentioned above.
Zhu Wen lacked luck in the Huainan area. Whether it is the right time, the right location, or the right people, this is the best time to attack Huainan: Yang Xingmi is critically ill, the idiot Yang Wo succeeds to the throne, undercurrents are surging within the group, and there are many civil strife and crises. Zhu Wen has newly appointed Jingxiang, and Huainan loses the natural protection of the Huaihe River. , Zhu Wen strengthened the power of Jingxiang and shocked all parties. Isn't it a good time to bring peace to Huainan?
In theory, this is indeed the case. But as the saying goes, you can’t eat hot tofu in a hurry. Zhu Wen lacked sufficient pre-war preparations, so he made a spur-of-the-moment idea and rushed eastward. Logistics supply became Zhu Wen's biggest shortcoming in "Three Expeditions to Huainan" and directly led to his failure.
Not only was there a lack of food and grass, the soldiers were not even given winter coats, and the route was not well scouted. They were lost for more than a hundred miles, which made the severely insufficient logistics supply even worse.
It has been described in the previous article, so I won’t repeat it again.
Just after Zhu Wen retreated in anger, Yang Xingmi finally closed his eyes forever and passed away at the age of 54.
Yang Xingmi was originally named Yang Xingmin. After occupying Luzhou, Gao Pian, then the governor of Huainan, changed his name to his current name. A farmer who has been a farmer for generations, is not proficient in martial arts, but has a burly figure and can lift three hundred kilograms with his hands. He relies on his bravery to get through society, and because of his broad mind and wisdom, he has attracted a large number of smart and capable younger brothers. With the help of the "Thirty-Six Heroes" Next, they developed and grew through gangsterism, and finally occupied Luzhou and used Luzhou as a revolutionary base. They seized the opportunity of Bi Shiduo's mutiny and achieved breakthrough development.
According to records, one time, his men cut off the bridle of his horse and stole the gold used for decoration. Yang Xingmi turned a blind eye and refused to investigate. As the saying goes, adults don't care about the faults of villains.
His rebel general Cai Chou dug up his ancestral graves. After Cai Chou was pacified, his tribe persuaded him to dig up Cai Chou's ancestral graves as revenge, but Yang Xingmi refused.
Earlier, a personal bodyguard named Zhang Hong, for unknown reasons, suddenly attacked Yang Xingmi with a sword, but Yang Xingmi dodged it. Zhang Hong was subdued on the spot and executed. Later, Yang Xingmi asked Zhang Hong's good buddy Chen Shao to Zhen continued to be his personal bodyguard, still serving with his sword behind his back, without any doubt.
During the tug-of-war with Hangzhou Qian Liu, Qian Liu's famous general Cheng Ji was unfortunately captured. Yang Xingmi gave Cheng Ji a large villa in Yangzhou City. Since Cheng Ji was a military general, various weapons were placed inside and outside the house. Yang Xingmi often went to visit alone, without wearing armor or weapons. He drank with Cheng Ji, talked and laughed happily, and fell asleep in Cheng Ji's bedroom after getting drunk.
In addition to being generous, another characteristic of Yang Xingmi is that he is diligent and thrifty and never forgets his original intention. Once, Yang Xingmi inspected Taimeng's work. Taimeng prepared a grand welcome ceremony and a sumptuous banquet, but Yang Xingmi looked unhappy. After Yang Xingmi left, Taimeng discovered that Yang Xingmi had left behind a piece of underwear, which was a piece of tattered clothing that was fully patched. Taimeng hurriedly caught up with Yang Xingmi and returned the property to its original owner. Yang Xingmi held the patched lining and said with a smile: "I'm making you laugh. I came from a poor peasant family and I dare not forget my roots!" Tai Meng was ashamed and ashamed. From then on, he gave up extravagance and waste, and also advocated frugality.
Yang Xingmi also invented an entertainment activity: threading copper coins with a thick rope, which is called "piercing the money eye". Therefore, his neighbor Qian Liu also invented a cultural activity: using a huge ax to chop poplar trees, which is called "poplar head cutting". The two feudal lords were flirting with each other.
The cultural invasion of "piercing money eyes" and "cutting Yang's head" did not end until the "Xu Xu Rebellion", when Qian Liu's son Qian Yuanhuang married Yang Xingmi's daughter. There is poetry to prove it:
"There are old rumors about Qianyan Yangtou, and the resentment between Jiangnan and Jiangbei is hard to eliminate.
Nowadays, jade has returned to Xiao Shi, and dragon seeds can harmoniously lead to phoenix flutes. "
Dragon seed is what Yang Xingmi praised Qian Yuanhuang. "Ten Kingdoms Spring and Autumn" records Yang Xingmi's original words as "This is the dragon seed! I should give birth to a son like a money man. My son has the ears of a dolphin and a dog!"
There is another interesting thing related to Yang Xingmi: In the Huainan, Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas, there are some inscriptions on documents and unearthed cultural relics, including "Yu Shi Da Qing" or "Yu Shi Da Xian", "Yu Shi Da", "Guang Lu Da", etc. The historian at that time looked puzzled. What kind of official was this? There is no relevant record in the "Zhiguanzhi" of the past dynasties. Later, after extensive collection and compilation of information from all parties, it was discovered that Yang Xingmi's father was named Yang Xing, and "椤" was the same as "husband", so to avoid taboos, he was named The word "husband" is changed to "qing" in writing, or it is omitted directly.
In addition, during the reign of the Yang family, the homophones of "Xing" and "Mi" were also taboo, so "Lingxi" was renamed "Lingxi", and "honey" was also called "bee sugar". There is poetry to prove it:
"The king's bravery frightens Chu, and the honeysuckle in water and water changes his call."
Taboos are the dross of feudal traditional culture that have been optimized.
During the separatist rule of Huainan, Yang Xingmi implemented light corvees and low taxes, and recruited immigrants, which healed the wounds of the war since the "Huangchao Rebellion". It only took a few years to restore the Huainan area to pre-war levels. The reason why the Jianghuai region has become an economic center is inseparable from Yang Xingmi's good governance.
Historically, Yang Xingmi's evaluation has been relatively high, mostly positive. "Ten Kingdoms Spring and Autumn" concluded that Yang Xingmi was an unparalleled and outstanding figure.
"The Thirty-six Heroes started from Cao Jian, annihilated Sun Ru, captured Zhao Kun, defeated Du Hong, and destroyed Tian Kai. They condemned Bianqiang, and marched across the Yangtze and Huaihe Rivers with their glorious troops. They flattened the north and south one after another. They can be said to be extraordinary heroes. That's it." - "Spring and Autumn of the Ten Kingdoms"
Yang Xingmi loved Huainan, and the people of Huainan also loved Yang Xingmi.
In fact, less than two years after Yang Xingmi's death, the military and political power was controlled by the powerful minister Xu Wen. However, Xu Wen still did not dare to usurp the throne rashly. Instead, he supported Yang Wo, Yang Wei, and Yang Pu successively. After the reign of the four generations of the Yang family, After that, Xu Wen's adopted son Xu Zhigao dared to officially replace the Yang family. It was 32 years after Yang Xingmi's death.
It took 32 years for the powerful Xu family to basically eliminate (but not completely eliminate) the Yang family's prestige in Huainan, which shows the feelings of the people of Huainan towards Yang Xingmi. This is something.
After Yang Xingmi's death, Li Yan, the envoy in Yangzhou, represented the Tang Dynasty and appointed Yang Wo as the military envoy to Huainan and granted him the title of Prince of Hongnong County. It was November of the second year of Tianyou in the Tang Dynasty (905).
This Li Yan, whose real name is Zhang Yan, is the son of former prime minister Zhang Jun and was given the national surname. When Zhu Wen besieged Fengxiang and robbed Zhaozong with Li Maozhen, he went to Yangzhou as the "Jianghuai Propaganda Envoy" and gave Yang Xingmi royal robes. He worshiped Yang Xingmi as the commander-in-chief of the Zhengdong Front Army (the commander of the east camp) and was named "King of Wu". Yang Xingmi was ordered to attack Zhu Wen. Since then, Li Yan has been representing the imperial court as an envoy and stayed in Yangzhou for a long time.
