Five Dynasties · Aide and envoy of Min

Zheng Yuanbi 鄭元弼

Zhèng Yuánbì

Attested AD 937

Passages: 4
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Zheng Yuanbi was an Aide and envoy of Min.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 937 天福二年
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 68, passage 109

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 68, passage 112

References in the histories

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 68Volume 68: Hereditary House of Min · 4 passages

而其子繼恭遣其佐鄭元弼隨損至京師貢方物，致書晉大臣，述昶意求以敵國禮相往來。 Meanwhile his son Jigong sent aide Zheng Yuanbi to accompany Sun to the capital with tribute goods and a letter to Jin ministers asking that Min and Jin exchange embassies as equal states.

兵部員外郎李知損上書請籍沒其物而禁錮使者，於是以元弼下獄。 Li Zhisun, Vice Director of the Ministry of War, memorialized asking that the goods be confiscated and the envoys imprisoned. Yuanbi was thrown into jail.

獄具引見，元弼俯伏曰：「昶，夷貊之君，不知禮義，陛下方示大信，以來遠人，臣將命無狀，願伏斧鑕，以贖昶罪。」 When the case was concluded Yuanbi was brought before the throne. He prostrated himself and said, "Chang is a barbarian ruler who knows nothing of propriety. Your Majesty is showing great faith to draw distant peoples to your court. I have failed in my mission and beg to accept the axe in Chang's stead."

高祖乃赦元弼，遣歸。 Gaozu pardoned Yuanbi and sent him home.