The rise and fall of historical dynasties, as well as the succession of vivid historical figures, have left deep imprints in the long river of history. Next, the History Encyclopedia editor will take you into the story of Zhu Wen, the founding emperor of Later Liang in the Five Dynasties period.
He can be said to be notorious in history for his personal ethics. Zhu Wen was originally an important general of the Huangchao Uprising Army, but he betrayed his trust and surrendered to the Tang army during the crisis of the uprising army. Later, Zhu Wen’s power gradually grew stronger, so he killed Tang Zhaozong Li Ye and declared himself emperor, poisoning Emperor Ai Li Bai. After Zhu Wen declared himself emperor, he was arrogant, extravagant, and debauched, not even sparing his courtiers, women, and his own daughter-in-law. His debauchery was astonishing. Many unjust deeds will lead to death. In his later years, Zhu Wen died in the struggle for his son’s throne. His son Zhu Wengui killed him and declared himself emperor.
Zhu Wen was born in the sixth year of the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Chen. Zhu Wen was the third son in his family. Due to the early death of her father Zhu Cheng, Zhu Wen’s mother and three sons worked for landlord Liu Chong to make a living.
The young Zhu Wen was already arrogant and conceited, but Liu Chong’s mother treated him very well and saw that the future Zhu Wen would not be a mediocre person.
In the fourth year of the Qianfu reign of Emperor Xizong of Tang Dynasty (877 AD), Zhu Wen and his second brother Zhu Cun joined the Huangchao Uprising Army. Zhu Wen fought fiercely and bravely, and after three years, he became a leading general of Huang Chao. By 882, Zhu Wen had been promoted to the position of Tongzhou Defense Commissioner and was deeply trusted and valued by Huang Chao.
In the second year of Zhonghe (882 AD), the military governor of Hezhong, Wang Chongrong, launched a heavy attack on Zhu Wen in Tongzhou. At that time, the Huangchao Uprising was also in a low tide, so Zhu Wen judged the situation and surrendered to Wang Chongrong with his army, recognizing him as his uncle.
After Zhu Wen surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, he was quickly rewarded with high officials and generous salaries. Emperor Xizong of Tang conferred upon him the titles of Grand General of the Left Jin Wuwei and Deputy Commander in Chief of the Hezhong Expeditionary Force, and bestowed upon him the name Zhu Wen as’ Quanzhong ‘. Subsequently, Zhu Wen turned around and cooperated with the Tang army to brutally suppress the Huang Chao Uprising.
The following year after Zhu Wen surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, he was appointed as the Governor of Bianzhou and the Military Governor of Xuanwu. Later, Zhu Wen expelled Li Keyong, the military governor of Hedong, from Henan. By the second year of Guanghua (899 AD), Zhu Wen had already been appointed as the military governor of the Hezhong National Protection Army. Zhu Wen held great power, and Tang Zhaozong became a de facto puppet.
In the fourth year of Tianfu (904 AD), Zhu Wen intended to replace Tang Dynasty. In August, Emperor Zhaozong of Tang died from the assassination of Zhu Wen. Subsequently, Li Bai, the ninth son of Emperor Zhaozong of Tang and thirteen years old, was appointed as a puppet emperor by Zhu Wen.
The following year, various separatist forces united to oppose Zhu Wen’s usurpation of power. Zhu Wen set an example by killing over a hundred Tang royal family members and courtiers. In April of the same year, Zhu Wen deposed Tang and declared himself emperor. Emperor Ai Li Bai was deposed as the Prince of Jiyin. One year later, Emperor Ai was poisoned to death by Zhu Wen.
When Zhu Wen was serving as the defense history of Tongzhou in Huangchao’s army, he married Zhang Hui, the daughter of the governor of Songzhou. Zhang Hui has a gentle temperament, and Zhu Wen, who is rough and straightforward, treats her very kindly.
The military governor of Yunzhou, Zhu Jin, fled due to defeat, and his wife was forcibly occupied by Zhu Wenqiang. After meeting Zhu Jin’s wife, Zhang Hui said that if Bianzhou fell (Zhu Wen was stationed in Bianzhou at that time), I would also end up like my sister. One sentence made Zhu Wen feel ashamed and ashamed, so he had to send Zhu Jin’s wife to the nunnery as a nun. But Zhang Hui, with a red face and a thin fate, died of illness before Zhu Wen declared himself emperor. After Zhu Wen proclaimed himself emperor, Zhang Hui was posthumously honored as a virtuous concubine.
During Zhang Hui’s lifetime, Zhu Wen’s licentious nature was somewhat restrained and restrained. After Zhang Hui’s death, Zhu Wen completely disregarded human ethics and indulged in outrageous debauchery.
In 912, Zhu Wen returned to the capital after being defeated and recuperated at the home of Minister Zhang Quanyi. Zhu Wen stayed at his home for more than ten days and even slept with all the women in Zhang Quanyi’s mansion. Even Zhang Quanyi’s son blushed, wielding a knife to fight Zhu Wen desperately. Unfortunately, their arms couldn’t twist their thighs, so Zhang Quanyi and his son had to swallow their pride and silently put on their green hats.
The most despicable thing is that Zhu Wen had incest with his daughters in law. Surprisingly, Zhu Wen’s sons, in order to compete for favor in front of their father, never tire of supporting their own wives in incestuous relationships with Zhu Wen.
Zhu Wen has an adopted son, Zhu Youwen, and his wife, Wang Shi, is a beautiful and beautiful woman who has won Zhu Wen’s favor. So Zhu Wen intended to pass on the throne to Zhu Youwen, which naturally caused strong dissatisfaction among Zhu Wen’s parents, Zhu Yougui. Zhu Yougui took advantage of Zhu Wen’s serious illness to kill Laozi and ascend to the throne. Afterwards, Zhu Wen’s sons fell into a power struggle and were ultimately executed by Li Cunxu. The Later Liang established by the debauched Emperor Zhu Wen also declared its downfall.
Zhu Wen is indeed capable in the military field, but he is good at political speculation and has a fluctuating stance. In terms of private life, he indulged in excessive indulgence, even his courtiers and daughters in law were killed by him, and he has always been despised by the world as a rogue emperor.
