Yuan · Named Commoner

Wu Youwen 吳友文

Wú Yǒuwén

Attested AD 1322

Passages: 4
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Wu Youwen was a Named Commoner.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 1322 至治二年
Dated from the passage context · History of Yuan 192, passages 73-74

Family

Kinship Role concubines · Count 11
Directly stated · History of Yuan 192, passage 75

Career and standing

Sentenced
Arrested and punished · Authority Lin Xingzu (林興祖)
Directly stated · History of Yuan 192, passages 80-81

Events and relationships

Counterfeited paper money
Criminal · Ringleader
Directly stated · History of Yuan 192, passages 74-75

References in the histories

History of Yuan, Chapter 192Volume 192 Biographies 79: Virtuous Officials 2 · 4 passages

鉛山素多造偽鈔者，豪民吳友文為之魁，遠至江淮、燕薊，莫不行使。 Qianshan had long been notorious for counterfeit paper money; a powerful local named Wu Youwen led the ring, and his notes circulated as far as the Jiang-Huai region and the Yan-Ji area.

友文姦黠悍鷙，因偽造致富，乃分遣惡少四五十人，為吏於有司，伺有欲告之者，輒先事戕之，前後殺人甚眾，奪人妻女十一人為妾，民罹其害，銜冤不敢訴者十餘年。 Youwen was cunning, fierce, and ruthless; enriched by counterfeiting, he placed forty or fifty ruffians as clerks in government offices to watch for accusers and kill them first; they murdered countless people and he seized eleven women as concubines; for more than ten years the people suffered under him, yet those who had grievances dared not bring suit.

友文自至官，為之營救，興祖命並執之。 Youwen came in person to the yamen to arrange their release; Xingzu ordered him arrested as well.

須臾，來訴友文者百餘人，擇其重罪一二事鞫之，獄立具，逮捕其黨二百餘人，悉置之法。 Within moments more than a hundred people came forward to accuse Youwen; he tried one or two of the gravest charges, the case was swiftly concluded, more than two hundred accomplices were arrested, and all were punished according to law.