Emperor Wu (武皇) | 24 Histories

Overview

Emperor Wu was a ruler.

PeriodFive Dynasties

IdentityHistorical · Male

Roles

Found in

Life and dates

Death

AD 908 啟手之夕
Cause illness 病篤
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 72, passage 14

Attested activity

AD 908 啟手之夕
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 72, passage 14
AD 895 武皇之討王行瑜
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 72, passage 4

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang (後唐莊宗)
son 吾兒
my son 吾兒
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 72, passage 14

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · With Zhang Chengye (張承業) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 72, passage 14

Events and relationships

Campaigned against
AD 895 武皇之討王行瑜 · Military · Commander · With Wang Xingyu (王行瑜)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 72, passage 4

References in the histories

Search passages

History

9 passages

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 72Volume 72 Book of Later Tang 48: Biographies 24: Zhang Chengye, Zhang Juhan, Ma Shaohong, Meng Hangqiong · 9 passages

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武皇之討王行瑜，承業累奉使渭北，因留監武皇軍事，賊平，改酒坊使。 When Emperor Wu marched against Wang Xingyu, Chengye was sent repeatedly as envoy to the country north of the Wei River and then stayed on to supervise the army. After the rebels were crushed, he was made Commissioner of the Wine Monopoly.

三年，昭宗將幸太原，以承業與武皇善，用除為河東監軍，密令迎駕。 In the third year, as Emperor Zhaozong prepared to visit Taiyuan, Chengye—who was on good terms with Emperor Wu—was appointed Hedong army supervisor and secretly ordered to welcome the emperor.

崔魏公之誅宦官也，武皇偽戮罪人首級以奉詔，匿承業於斛律寺，昭宗遇弑，乃復請為監軍。 When Duke Cui moved against the eunuchs, Emperor Wu pretended to execute condemned criminals' heads to satisfy the edict and hid Chengye at Huli Temple. After Emperor Zhaozong was murdered, Chengye again asked to serve as army supervisor.

使還，武皇病篤，啟手之夕，召承業屬之曰：「吾兒孤弱，群臣縱橫，後事公善籌之。」 When he returned from the mission, Emperor Wu was dying. On the night of his death he summoned Chengye and said, "My son is young and weak, and the ministers are unruly. You must plan carefully for what comes next."

承業感武皇厚遇，自莊宗在魏州垂十年，太原軍國政事，一委承業； Grateful for Emperor Wu's generous treatment, and with Zhuangzong at Weizhou for nearly ten years, all military and civil affairs at Taiyuan were entrusted entirely to Chengye;

承業引莊宗衣，泣而言曰：「仆荷先王遺顧，誓為本朝誅汴賊，為王惜庫物，斬承業首，死亦無愧於先王，今日請死！」 Chengye seized Zhuangzong's robe and said through tears, "Your servant received the late king's dying charge and swore to destroy the Bian rebels for the dynasty and to guard the treasury for the king. Cut off Chengye's head and I will die without shame before the late king — I ask to die today!"

老夫是閹官，不愛大王官職富貴，直以受先王付屬之重，欲為大王立萬年之基爾。」）〉 I am an old eunuch — I care nothing for Your Highness's offices and riches. I speak only because I bore the late king's heavy charge and wish to lay a foundation that will endure ten thousand years.")〉

天祐三年，汴人攻滄州，仁恭求援於武皇，乃遣居翰與書記馬鬱等率兵助武皇同攻潞州，武皇因留之不遣。 In the third year of Tianyou, when the Bian army attacked Cangzhou, Rengong sought aid from Emperor Wu and sent Juhan with secretary Ma Yu and others to lead troops to help Emperor Wu jointly attack Luzhou. Emperor Wu then retained Juhan and would not send him back.

史臣曰：承業感武皇之大惠，佐莊宗之中興，既義且忠，何以階也。 The historiographer says: Chengye, grateful for Emperor Wu's great kindness, assisted Zhuangzong's restoration — righteous and loyal. To what rank could such a man be compared?