Yuan Dezhao
Yuan Dezhao (
Background[edit]
Yuan Dezhao was born in 891, during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong of Tang, probably under the name of Wei Dezhao. While he was described to be "from Nancheng (
In 909, by which time Tang dynasty had fallen, Wei Quanfeng tried to take over the rest of Zhennan Circuit (鎮南, headquartered in modern Nanchang, Jiangxi), mostly possessed by one of Tang's successor states Hongnong at that point. He was defeated and captured by the Hongnong general Zhou Ben, and his Fǔ Prefecture was taken over by Hongnong. Wei Zaichang initially submitted to Hongnong's prince Yang Longyan, but when Hongnong forces then approached Xin, Wei Zaichang decided to flee to Hongnong's southeastern neighbor Wuyue. Wuyue's prince Qian Liu gave Wei Zaichang the title of deputy military governor of Huainan Circuit (
It is not known when Yuan Dezhao entered governmental service, but it was said that he started as a surveyor for Qian Liu under Qian's role as the military governor (Jiedushi) of Zhendong Circuit (鎮東, headquartered in modern Shaoxing, Zhejiang), as well as the magistrate of Qiantang County (
During Qian Yuanguan's and Qian Hongzuo's rules[edit]
After Qian Liu's son and successor Qian Yuanguan (King Wenmu) succeeded Qian Liu in 932,[5] he found it difficult to find people to draft his orders for him. His assistant Lin Ding recommended Yuan Dezhao to him. After Qian Yuanguan had a lengthy conversation with Yuan Dezhao, he told Lin, "Yuan Dezhao has the ability to serve as a guide of the state. My descendants will not need to worry." He then put Yuan in charge of drafting his orders.[1] It is not clear whether Yuan continued those responsibilities after Qian Yuanguan died in 941 and was succeeded by his son Qian Hongzuo (King Wenxian).[6]
In 946, when Li Da, the former Min general then occupying Min's capital Fú Prefecture (
During Qian Hongzong's rule[edit]
After Qian Hongzuo died in 947 and was succeeded by his brother Qian Hongzong (King Zhongxun),[8] Qian Hongzong continued to entrust Yuan Dezhao with the military matters in campaigns involving the former Min territory. He soon thereafter made Yuan chancellor.[1]
Around the new year 948, Qian Hongzong considered killing the powerful guard general Hu Jinsi, but could not resolve to do so immediately. When the news leaked to Hu, Hu put Qian Hongzong under house arrest and forced him to pass the throne to his younger brother Qian Hongchu, under the guise that Qian Hongzong had suffered a stroke and could no longer attend to the affairs of the state. Before the order could be issued, Hu, in Qian Hongzong's name, summoned Qian Hongchu and Yuan. When Yuan arrived at the palace, he looked at the screen outside the hall and could determine that both Qian Hongchu and Hu were inside, so he refused to bow (effectively, to Hu), stating, "I need to see the new lord." Only after Hu exited from the screen (leaving Qian Hongchu inside alone) did Yuan bow to him. Thereafter, Qian Hongchu, after extracting an assurance from Hu that Hu would not try to kill Qian Hongzong, took the throne.[8]
During Qian Chu's rule[edit]
Qian Hongchu continued to treat Yuan Dezhao with great respect, and Yuan remained chancellor. As chancellor, he was said to be kind, serious, and full of strategies. He was also said to be decisive, and whenever there were disputes between other officials on policy decisions, his arrival would allow decisions to be reached. He favored drinking, but it was said that while he was frequently drunk, he did not fail to carry out his duties.[1]
In 956, when Southern Tang's northern neighbor Later Zhou, to which Wuyue was a vassal, launched a major attack on Southern Tang, Qian Hongchu launched his army and stationed it on the border with Southern Tang, waiting for orders from the Later Zhou emperor Guo Rong on whether to attack Southern Tang. The army officer Chen Man (
Wu's attack on Chang was initially successful, as the outer city fell. The Southern Tang military prefect of Chang, Zhao Renze (
In Yuan's late years, he appeared weary and tired. When Qian Hongchu saw Yuan, he quietly spoke and wept to his attendants, "Yuan Dezhao's expressions looked weak and tired. If the unspeakable happened to him, who can assist me?" When Yuan subsequently fell ill, he made preparations for his own burial and tomb inscriptions. He died in 968, and was given posthumous honors, including the posthumous name Wenzhen (
Notes and references[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms, vol. 87.
- ^ Academia Sinica Chinese-Western Calendar.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 255.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 267.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 277.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 282.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 285.
- ^ a b Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 287.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 292.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 293.