Wang Chengxiu (王承休)

Overview

Wang Chengxiu was an eunuch and Official.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 924 to AD 925 同光二年東師入討
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 61, passages 87, 93
AD 918 to AD 924 王衍之世
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 61, passages 74, 78-79

Career and standing

commander of the Dragon Martial Division 龍武都軍帥
Held · At Tianshui 天水
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 61, passage 78
powerful court eunuch 宦官居中用事
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 61, passage 74

Places and affiliations

Polity Former Shu 蜀 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 61, passages 74, 87

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Addressed to Wang Yan (王衍) · Direct quotation · Mode named-source-report Source Work Wangshi Jianwenlu via Taiping Guangji 太平廣記引王氏見聞錄
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 61, passage 82

Events and relationships

Gathered entertainers and beauties to secure the ruler's favor
Political · Favorite · With Wang Yan (王衍)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 61, passage 74
Marched toward Shu with the Dragon Martial army and recruits, nearly ten thousand, then went on alone after Zhongba refused to leave Qinzhou
AD 924 to AD 925 同光末 · Travel · Commander · At Qinzhou 秦州
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 61, passages 93-95
Sought a full military commission, sent Longxi plants as tribute, and asked the Later Lord to visit Qinzhou
AD 923 to AD 924 歲餘 · Political · Petitioner · With Wang Yan (王衍)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 61, passage 79
Terrified by the eastern invasion, asked Zhongba for a plan and accepted his advice as loyalty
AD 924 同光二年 · Political · Petitioner · With An Zhongba (安重霸)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 61, passages 87, 91
Relation Patron of · Person An Zhongba (安重霸)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 61, passage 76
Relation Ally of · Person Han Zhao (韓昭)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 61, passage 74

Source notes

The Taiping Guangji citing Wangshi Jianwenlu gives a parallel account of Chengxiu selecting troops, commanding the Dragon Martial army, requesting Qinzhou, and inviting the ruler to Tianshui.
Field Dragon Martial recruitment and Qinzhou request · Source Work Taiping Guangji / Wangshi Jianwenlu 太平廣記／王氏見聞錄
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 61, passages 81-84

References in the histories

Search passages

History

13 passages

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 61Volume 61 Book of Later Tang 37: Biographies 13: An Jinquan, An Yuanxin, An Zhongba, Liu Xun, Zhang Jingxun, Liu Yancong, Yuan Jianfeng, Xifang Ye, Zhang Zunhui, Sun Zhang · 13 passages

Open chapter

宦官王承休居中用事，與成都尹韓昭內外相結，專采擇聲色，以固寵幸。 The eunuch Wang Chengxiu dominated the court, conspiring with the Chengdu prefect Han Zhao to stock the palace with entertainers and secure their hold on the emperor's favor.

重霸諂事承休，特見委信。 Zhongba curried favor with Chengxiu and won his special trust.

梁末，岐下削弱，蜀人奪取秦、成、階等州，重霸說承休求鎮秦州。 Late in Liang, as Qi weakened, Shu seized Qin, Cheng, Jie, and neighboring prefectures; Zhongba urged Chengxiu to seek the Qinzhou commission.

仍於軍中選山東驍果，得數千人，號龍武都，以承休為軍帥，重霸副焉，俱在天水。 From the army he picked several thousand fierce fighters from the east, called them the Dragon Martial Division, made Chengxiu their commander with Zhongba as deputy, and stationed them at Tianshui.

歲餘，承休欲求旄鉞，乃以隴西花木入獻，又稱秦州山水之美，人物之盛，請後主臨幸，而韓昭讚成之。 After a year Chengxiu wanted a full military commission; he sent Longxi flowers and trees as tribute, praised Qinzhou's scenery and beauties, and asked the emperor to visit in person, with Han Zhao seconding the plan.

〈（《太平廣記》引《王氏見聞錄》云：承休請從諸軍揀選官健，得驍勇數千，號龍武軍，承休自為統帥，並特加衣糧，日有優給。 (The 《Taiping Guangji》, citing the 《Wangshi Jianwenlu》: Chengxiu asked to select troops from every army and gathered several thousand elite fighters called the Dragon Martial army under his own command, with extra rations and daily allowances.)

承休遽聞東師入討，大恐，計無從出，問於重霸。 Chengxiu heard abruptly that the eastern armies were advancing, was terrified, and asked Zhongba what to do.

對曰：「開府何患？ Zhongba answered, "What is there to fear, Commissioner?

然國家有患，開府特受主知，不得失於奔赴，此州製置事定，無虞得失，重霸願從開府赴闕。」 But the realm is in peril and you enjoy the emperor's special trust—you must not fail to go to him. Once affairs here are settled there is nothing to lose; Zhongba will accompany you to court."

承休素信以為忠赤。 Chengxiu, who had always trusted him, took this for loyal devotion.

承休擁龍武軍及招置僅萬人從行，令重霸權握部署，州人祖送，秦州軍亦列部隊。 Chengxiu marched with the Dragon Martial division and recruits, nearly ten thousand men, leaving Zhongba in charge of arrangements; the prefectural populace and Qinzhou troops turned out to see them off.

承休登乘，重霸馬前辭曰：「國家費盡事力，收獲隴西，若從開府南行，隴州即時疏失，請開府自行，重霸且為國守藩。」 As Chengxiu mounted his horse, Zhongba bowed from the stirrup and said, "The state spent everything to win Longxi. If you march south, Longzhou will be left empty at once. Go on alone, Commissioner—I will hold the frontier for the realm."

承休既去，重霸在秦州，聞明宗起河北，即時遣使以秦、成等州來降。 Once Chengxiu had departed, Zhongba heard that Mingzong had risen in Hebei and immediately sent envoys offering Qin, Cheng, and the other prefectures in surrender.