Wu Cheng (Wuyue)

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.''Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms'', vol. 87.As Wu Yue's commission as secretary general was mentioned specifically to be "of Zhendong," rather than of Zhendong's former name Weisheng, this implied that his commission was after the renaming in 896, by which time Zhendong was under Qian Liu's control. See ''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 260.

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''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 266. (later receiving the greater title King of Wuyue in 923 and posthumously known as King Wusu).''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 272. 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.

During Qian Yuanguan's reign

After Qian Liu died in 932 and was succeeded by his son Qian Yuanguan (King Wenmu),''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 277. 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''). Later, during the ''Tianfu'' era (used by two of Qian Yuanguan's suzerains — Shi Jingtang and Shi Chonggui the emperors of Later Jin) (936-947), Qian Yuanguan made one of his sons, Qian Hongxuan (), the prefect of Mu Prefecture (睦州, in modern Hangzhou, Zhejiang), but did not actually send Qian Hongxuan to Mu; instead, he made Wu the acting prefect, being actually in charge there.

During the reigns of the last three kings

It is not clear what role Wu Cheng served in during the subsequent reign of Qian Yuanguan's son Qian Hongzuo (King Zhongxian) (r. 941-947). During the subsequent reign of Qian Hongzuo's younger brother Qian Hongzong (King Zhongxun) (947), Qian Hongzong made Wu in charge of the western headquarters (i.e., Zhenhai Circuit (), headquartered at Wuyue's capital Qiantang (錢塘, in modern Hangzhou)), and shortly after made him a chancellor. Shortly after, when the warlord Li Ruyun, who had actual control of Weiwu Circuit (威武, headquartered in modern Fuzhou, Fujian) but was a Wuyue vassal, tried to turn against Wuyue, the Wuyue general stationed at Weiwu's capital Fu Prefecture (), Bao Xiurang (), assassinated him and took control of the circuit on Wuyue's behalf. Qian Hongzong thereafter sent Wu to Weiwu to take over as acting military governor,''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 287. and apparently thereafter made him full military governor.

In 950, Cha Wenhui (), a general of Wuyue's western neighbor Southern Tang who was serving as Southern Tang's acting military governor of Yong'an Circuit (永安, headquartered in modern Nanping, Fujian), mistakenly believed that Wuyue had abandoned Fu Prefecture and that he could take it over. Cha therefore took his army and headed toward Fu. Hearing that Cha was approaching, Wu decided to mislead him by sending soldiers out of the city to welcome Cha. Cha thereafter entered the city and fell into an ambush set by Wu, and was captured. Wu delivered Cha to Qiantang, where Qian Hongzuo's younger brother and successor Qian Hongchu (King Zhongyi) presented him to the Wuyue royal ancestral temple but then released him.''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 289. Later, Qian Hongchu recalled Wu to Qiantang and again made him chancellor, serving alongside Yuan Dezhao.

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 () argued to Wu that Southern Tang was in shock over the Later Zhou invasion and that its important city Chang Prefecture (常州, in modern Changzhou, Jiangsu) would be defenseless and could easily be taken; subsequently, Chen falsely informed Wu that the Later Zhou emperor had already ordered Wuyue to attack. Wu advocated to Qian that Wuyue launch an attack. Yuan opposed, however, stating to Qian Hongchu: "Tang is a large state, and we cannot take it lightly. If we enter Tang territory and Zhou forces do not arrive, we would be with no other allies, and we would be in danger. Please wait." Qian Hongchu, however, ultimately listened to Wu, and put him in charge of the operations, with Bao and Luo Sheng () serving under Wu. Wu told the soldiers, "Chancellor Yuan does not want to launch the attack." The soldiers became angry and tried to attack Yuan. Qian Hongchu hid Yuan in his palace and ordered that those advocating assaulting Yuan be arrested, while sighing, "Just as the army is launched, the soldiers want to attack the chancellor. This is a sign of misfortune."''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 292.

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.''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 293.

Wu Cheng died in 965,''Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms'', vol. 81. 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.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wu, Cheng
893 births
965 deaths
Politicians from Shaoxing
Generals from Zhejiang
Wuyue chancellors
Wuyue jiedushi of Weiwu Circuit
Wuyue people born during Tang
Later Tang people
Later Jin (Five Dynasties) people
Liao dynasty people
Later Han (Five Dynasties) people
Later Zhou people
Song dynasty people