Li Wanchao (李萬超) | 24 Histories

Overview

Li Wanchao was a Military Officer.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 947 開運末
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 125, passages 35, 37-38, 40-42

Career and standing

Commander 指揮使
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 125, passage 35

Works and attributed material

Song History · Biography of Li Wanchao 宋史·李萬超傳
Relation Subject of biography
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 125, passage 37
AD 947 開運末
Speech · Speaker · With Shi Hongzhao (史宏肇) · refused Shi Hongzhao's offer to kill Shou'en and take command
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 125, passage 42
AD 947 開運末
Speech · Speaker · urged men to kill envoy and hold city
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 125, passages 38-39

Events and relationships

Uprising
AD 947 開運末 · Military · Commander · With Zhao Xingqian (趙行遷) · led daytime uprising, killed Zhao Xingqian / Khitan envoy, proclaimed Shou'en
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 125, passages 35, 40

Assessments and attributes

Assessment loyal; refused to murder Shou'en for personal gain · Mode named-source-report Source Work Song History Biography of Li Wanchao 宋史·李萬超傳
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 125, passages 42-43

References in the histories

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 125Volume 125 Book of Later Zhou 27: Biographies 5: Lie Chuanwu, Zhao Hui, Wang Shou'en, Kong Zhijun, Wang Jihong, Feng Hui, Gao Yunquan, Zhe Congruan, Wang Rao, Sun Fangjian · 5 passages

Open chapter

高防與守恩謀，遣指揮使李萬超白晝率眾大噪，斬趙行遷，推守恩權知昭義留後。 Gao Fang plotted with Shou'en and sent the commander Li Wanchao to lead the troops in a loud uprising in broad daylight, execute Zhao Xingqian, and proclaim Shou'en acting regent of Zhaoyi.

《宋史·李萬超傳》云：張從恩將棄城歸契丹，會前驍衛將軍王守恩服喪私第，從恩即委以後事遁去。 The 《Song History · Biography of Li Wanchao》 states: Zhang Cong'en was about to abandon the city and submit to the Khitans. Wang Shou'en, formerly a general of the Valiant Guard, happened to be observing mourning at his home, and Cong'en entrusted him with affairs and fled.

及契丹使至，專領郡務，守恩遂無所預，萬超奮然謂其部下曰：「我輩垂餌虎口，茍延旦夕之命，今欲殺使保其城，非止逃生，亦足建勛業，汝曹能乎？」 When the Khitan envoy arrived and took sole charge of the prefecture, Shou'en was left with no role. Wanchao roused his men and said, "We dangle as bait in the tiger's jaws, barely clinging to life from one day to the next. If we kill the envoy and hold this city, we will not only save ourselves but win real merit. Can you do it?"

漢祖從其請，乃命史宏肇統兵，先渡河至潞，見萬超，語之曰：「收復此州，公之力也，吾欲殺守恩，以公為帥，可乎？」 The Han founder granted the request and ordered Shi Hongzhao to command the army. Hongzhao crossed the river first and reached Luzhou. Seeing Wanchao, he said, "Recovering this prefecture was your doing. I would like to kill Shou'en and make you commander. Would that suit you?"

萬超對曰：「殺契丹使以推守恩，蓋為社稷計耳，今若賊害於人，自取其利，非宿心也。」 Wanchao replied, "We killed the Khitan envoy and raised Shou'en for the sake of the realm. If we now murder a man to seize the reward for ourselves, that was never our purpose."