The Southern Tang was one of the Ten Kingdoms during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. We are more familiar with its last ruler, Li Yu, but we lack knowledge about his family and life. In future blog posts, I will join you all in a very relaxed, easy, and popular tone to discuss together. Of course, this is just my personal opinion, and any inappropriate places hope that you scholars will give guidance.
Li Yu, the last ruler of the Southern Tang, was originally from Xuzhou. His grandfather, Li Bian, was an orphan when he was young, wandering between Huai River and Yangtze River. He was captured by Yang Xingmi, the military governor of Huainan, who adopted him as a foster son. Because Yang's biological son could not tolerate him, he was given to General Xu Wen, becoming Xu's adoptive son. Xu Wen thought this boy was quite smart, talented in literature, strategic, and brave, both literary and martial arts proficient. Besides, Li Bian knew how to please people, flattering Xu Wen everywhere, so Xu Wen regarded him as a confidant, renamed him Xu Zhigao, and assigned him to guard a region.
Yang Xingmi was enfeoffed as the King of Wu, while Xu Wen actually held the power. The cunning Xu Wen had ambition but also feared suspicion. He let his son guard the then capital of Southern Wu, Yangzhou, while he himself stationed in Jinling, not far from the capital city, to deal with contingencies. His son was killed by a subordinate general due to arrogance and debauchery. At that time, Xu Zhigao was guarding Zhenjiang, close to Yangzhou. With his brother killed, he naturally went to revenge. He led troops to Yangzhou and killed the enemy Zhu Jin before Xu Wen arrived. Xu Wen directly handed over Yangzhou for him to manage.
Xu Zhigao carried out reforms in Yangzhou, reducing taxes, rewarding agriculture and sericulture, respecting literati, living frugally, treating subordinates kindly, leading by example, deeply winning the love of soldiers and civilians. Not long after, Yangzhou was full of treasury, rich country and strong people. After Xu Wen's death, he preemptively seized the military and political power of Southern Wu before other sons of Xu Wen, being enfeoffed as the King of Qi.
Xu Zhigao was also ambitious. He saw the continuous warfare in Central Plains, dynastic changes often happened overnight, and he himself was getting older. Thinking about the cause after his death, he couldn't help but sigh. His confidant Zhou Zong had already seen his concerns. Therefore, he joined other ministers to take turns persuading Xu Zhigao to ascend the throne. Xu Zhigao was secretly pleased, but still made some excuses. Finally, he agreed.
In 937 AD, the King of Southern Wu, Yang Pu, was forced to abdicate, and Xu Zhigao officially ascended the throne, establishing the state name as Da Qi, with Jinling as the capital. After the great cause was established, Xu Zhigao always felt heavy doubts. One reason was that he originally did not surnamed Xu, having become emperor without restoring his original surname; another was his lowly origin after a lifetime of hardship, making it difficult for him to be orthodox in the future. Therefore, he claimed to be the descendant of Li Yuan and Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty, finding a solid basis for the cause of Southern Tang. Then he changed his surname to Li, named Bian, and changed the state name to Tang, historically known as the Southern Tang.
Li Bian was actually a capable and benevolent emperor, much wiser than his descendants. Li Bian had a strong literary gene. He once wrote a poem: "A point clearly worth ten thousand gold, afraid of cold wind when lit. If the master frequently stirs, dare not spare efforts before the wine." (Praising the lamp).