Wu Cheng

Wu Cheng ( ; 893 – September 14, 965), courtesy name Zhengchen , was a politician of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Wuyue, serving as a chancellor during the reign of its last two kings, Qian Hongzong (King Zhongxun) and Qian Chu (King Zhongyi).

Background Wu Cheng was born in 893, during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong of Tang. He was from Shanyin (山陰, in modern Shaoxing, Zhejiang). His grandfather Wu Kexin was a county magistrate during Tang, and his father Wu Yue passed the Tang imperial examinations in the Jinshi class during Emperor Zhaozong's Dashun era (890–891). After passing the imperial examinations, Wu Yue was made the secretary general of Zhendong Circuit (鎮東, headquartered in modern Shaoxing), then under the control of the warlord Qian Liu.

During Qian Liu's reign In 907, the Tang throne was seized by the major warlord Zhu Quanzhong, who established a new state of Later Liang as its emperor. Qian Liu became a vassal of Later Liang, and was created the Prince of Wuyue (later receiving the greater title King of Wuyue in 923 and posthumously known as King Wusu). Sometime during Qian Liu's reign, Wu Cheng, apparently on account of his father's service to the king, was given the offices of Xiaoshu Lang , and then acting Hubu Yuanwailang , by the king under the authority of the emperor. Toward the end of Qian's Baozheng era (926–931), Qian was trying to find an appropriate husband for one of his daughters. He summoned Wu, along with two other sons of prominent officials, Meng Can and Yu Bao , to his presence. He examined the three of them, particularly Wu, and then chose Wu to be his daughter's husband. He bestowed (in the emperor's authority) the title of Jinbu Langzhong on Wu. As he considered Wu capable in administrative matters, he put Wu in charge of overseeing the paperwork from various departments of his government. Qian Yuanguan bestowed (in the emperor's authority) the title of Zhifang Langzhong on Wu Cheng, and made Wu his assistant in both of his roles as governor (觀察使, Guanchashi) and military governor (Jiedushi). and apparently thereafter made him full military governor. Later, Qian Hongchu recalled Wu to Qiantang and again made him chancellor, serving alongside Yuan Dezhao.

Wu's attack on Chang was initially successful, as the outer city fell. The Southern Tang military prefect of Chang, Zhao Renze , was captured by Wuyue forces and delivered to Qiantang. However, Wu, who had previous disputes with Bao and Luo, humiliated them, causing them to be displeased. Meanwhile, the Southern Tang general Chai Kehong arrived at Chang, but, hiding most of his troops, claimed to be merely there to escort the Southern Tang emissary Qiao Kuangshun , whom Southern Tang's emperor Li Jing had previously sent to Wuyue, back to Southern Tang. Wu did not appreciate the risk and took no precautions. When Chai then launched a surprise attack on the Wuyue camp, Luo did not engage fully and allowed the Southern Tang army to head toward Wu's headquarters. Wu barely escaped the attack, but the Wuyue forces were routed. When Wu returned to Qiantang, Qian Hongchu stripped him of his offices.

Wu Cheng died in 965, at the age of 72. At his death, Qian Hongchu (whose name had been changed to Qian Chu by that point) restored his titles and gave him the posthumous name of Zhonglie (忠烈, "faithful and achieving").

Notes and references

Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms, vol. 87. Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 287, 289, 292, 293.