Wang Yanzheng

Wang Yanzheng (died 951?

The first reference to Wang Yanzheng in historical sources was in 931, when another older brother, Wang Yanjun, then ruling but carrying only the title of Prince of Min as a vassal of Later Tang, had defeated and executed their adoptive brother, Wang Yanbing, who had controlled the Jian Prefecture region and had tried to seize control of the Min state from Wang Yanjun. After Wang Yanbing's death, Wang Yanjun sent Wang Yanzheng to Jian to try to comfort the people, and he later commissioned Wang Yanzheng as the prefect of Jian, a post that Wang Yanzheng then appeared to remain at for the next several years.

Service under and civil war with Wang Xi In 939, Wang Yanxi became Min's ruler (and changed his name to Wang Xi) after the prior emperor of Min, their nephew Wang Chang, had been overthrown and killed. It was said that after taking the throne (using, at that time, the title of king), Wang Xi became arrogant and cruel, taking grudges out on people, including his clan members. Wang Yanzheng wrote several letters to him urging him to change his behavior. Wang Xi did not listen, and wrote back angry letters to rebuke Wang Yanzheng. He also sent his close associate Ye Qiao to monitor Wang Yanzheng's army, and the officer Du Hanchong to monitor the nearby Nanzhen Base (南鎮, in modern Ningde, Fujian). Ye and Du submitted numerous reports alleging misdeeds by Wang Yanzheng, exacerbating the suspicions between the brothers. One day, Wang Yanzheng and Ye were discussing matters of governance, and it escalated into an argument. Ye stated, "Are you rebelling, Lord?" Wang Yanzheng, in anger, tried to arrest and kill Ye. Ye fled to Nanzhen. Wang Yanzheng then attacked Nanzhen and defeated the central government-controlled army there. Ye and Du fled back to Min's capital Fu Prefecture (福州, in modern Fuzhou, Fujian). Wang Yanzheng then also defeated the other central government-controlled forces in the region.

In response, Wang Xi sent his generals Pan Shikui and Wu Xingzhen to attack Wang Yanzheng with 40,000 men. Wang Yanzheng sought aid from Qian Yuanguan, the king of Min's northern neighbor Wuyue. Qian sent the general Yang Renquan with 40,000 men to aid Wang Yanzheng. Before Yang could arrive, though, Wang Yanzheng had already defeated the Min central government army, killing Pan and forcing Wu to flee. Wang Yanzheng also used the opportunity to also capture the cities of Yongping and Shunchang (both in modern Nanping). When Yang's army arrived, Wang Yanzheng tried to send him away by offering beef and wine to the troops, but Yang refused, instead setting his camp outside the city, posturing to get ready to besiege it. In fear, Wang Yanzheng wrote Wang Xi, requesting aid. Wang Xi sent their nephew Wang Jiye with an army to aid him, and also wrote Qian to rebuke him and sent another army to cut off the Wuyue army's food supply route. Once the Wuyue army's food supply ran out, Wang Yanzheng attacked, defeating it. Yang then withdrew. Subsequently, Li Jing, the emperor of Min's northwestern neighbor Southern Tang, sent the emissary Shang Quangong to both Wang Xi and Wang Yanzheng, urging them to make peace with each other. With Li Jing's moderation, Wang Yanzheng sent officers and female servants to submit a statement of oath and an incense censer to Wang Xi. Subsequently, Wang Yanzheng's emissaries and Wang Xi swore an oath at their father Wang Shenzhi's tomb. However, despite this oath, the suspicions between the brothers remained.

As Emperor of Yin

In 943, Wang Yanzheng declared himself emperor of a new state of Yin. He created his wife Lady Zhang as empress, and commissioned Pan Chengyou and Yang Sigong as his chancellors. However, it was said that while he wore the red robe of an emperor, in his embassies to neighboring states and receiving such embassies from them, he still used the ceremony only of a military governor. Meanwhile, it was said that because the state is small but had large military expenditures, Yang received his favor by imposing heavy taxes on the people, on real property as well as even fish, salt, vegetables, and fruits, such that the resentful people referred to Yang as "Yang the Skinner."

Zhu, faced with these prefectures' turning against him, sent the generals Lin Shouliang and Li Ting'e to attack Quan, and Wang Yanzheng sent the general Du Jin to aid Liu in defending Quan. Liu engaged Lin and Li, defeating Lin and capturing Li. Wang Yanzheng then sent Wu to attack Fu again, and Zhu sought aid from Wuyue. Meanwhile, the Southern Tang general Cha Wenhui launched an attack on Jian, but when he heard that Zhang, Quan, and Ting had all submitted to Yin, he withdrew to Jianyang (建陽, in modern Nanping).

In 951, Li commissioned Wang to be the military governor of Shannan West Circuit (山南西道, headquartered in modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi) — a completely honorary title as Shannan West was then under the rule of Later Shu. He also created Wang the Prince of Guangshan. It was said that Wang died not long after, implying that it was that year. He was posthumously created the Prince of Fu, and given the posthumous name of Gongyi (恭懿, "respectful and benevolent").

Notes and references

History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 134. New History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 68. Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms, vol. 92. Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 277, 282, 283, 284, 285, 287, 290.