Bai Wenke (白文珂) | 24 Histories

Overview

Bai Wenke was a general.

PeriodFive Dynasties

IdentityHistorical · Male

Roles

Found in

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 950 將白文珂等軍
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 46, passage 176

References in the histories

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 46Volume 46 Miscellaneous Biographies 26: Zhao Zaili, Huo Yanwei, Fang Zhiwen, Wang Yanqiu, An Zhongba, Wang Jianli, Kang Fu, Guo Yanlu · 4 passages

Open chapter

時周太祖以樞密使將白文珂等軍西平三叛，還過洛陽，守恩以使相自處，肩輿出迎。 Zhou’s Taizu, as Bureau of Military Affairs, led Bai Wenke and others west to pacify the three rebellions. Returning through Luoyang, Shou’en treated himself as envoy-minister and came out in a shoulder carriage to welcome him.

太祖怒，即日以頭子命文珂代守恩為留守，而守恩方詣館謁，坐於客次以俟見，而吏馳報新留守視事於府矣。 Taizu was angry. That very day with a head-crest token he ordered Wenke to replace Shou’en as regent. Shou’en was at the guest lodge, sitting in the outer hall to await audience, when clerks galloped word that the new regent was already conducting affairs at the office.

若文珂、守恩皆位兼將相，漢大臣也，而周太祖以一樞密使頭子易置之，如更戍卒。 Wenke and Shou’en both held rank combining general and minister—Han’s great ministers—yet Zhou’s Taizu with one Bureau head-crest token shifted them as easily as changing garrison soldiers.

蓋其習為常事，故特發於喜怒頤指之間，而文珂不敢違，守恩不得拒。 Because it had become routine, it burst forth only between anger, pleasure, and a nod—and Wenke did not dare disobey, Shou’en could not refuse.