Sichuan Basin, one of the four major basins in China, is located in the central and eastern part of Sichuan Province. Surrounded by the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Daba Mountain, Huaying Mountain, and Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, the terrain is unique, with an area of about 100,000 square kilometers. Its terrain is low and can be divided into two parts: marginal mountains and basin floors. This topographical feature contributed to the rise of several separatist forces in ancient history, the most notable of which were the Shu Han and Later Shu.
Later Shu, also known as Meng Shu, existed in the period of five dynasties and ten kingdoms (934 966), founded by Meng Zhixiang, a native of Longgang, Xingzhou, and the capital was Chengdu. Its territory included most of present-day Sichuan, southeastern Gansu, southwestern Shaanxi, and western Hubei. Meng Zhixiang, the founder of Later Shu, was valued by Li Keyong, the king of Jin, in the last years of the Tang Dynasty, and even consolidated his relationship with the king of Jin through in-laws.
After the Later Tang Dynasty destroyed the former Shu, Meng Zhixiang was appointed as the envoy of the Xichuan Festival. His performance in the process of destroying Shu was highly praised, but as the suspicion of the Later Tang Mingzong towards the heroes deepened, Meng Zhixiang chose to divide the land of Shu and establish the Later Shu. However, he died of illness after only 114 days of reign and was succeeded by his son Meng Chang.
After Meng Chang succeeded to the throne, he faced political chaos and internal and external threats. The young Meng Chang could not be pro-government, and most of the ministers were Meng Zhixiang's old people, arrogant and lawless. In the fierce struggle, Meng Chang finally consolidated his dominance and began to pro-government. Unlike other monarchs who ascended to the throne at a young age, Meng Chang's firmness and decisiveness ensured the continuation of Later Shu.
However, in the face of the chaos of the Central Plains and the opportunity of the Northern Expedition, Hou Shu chose to stick to Shuzhong and did not show the ambition to seize the Central Plains. This is similar to other forces in history that seized the Shu region, and often lost their yearning for the Central Plains. This limitation became particularly evident in the process of the demise of Later Shu.
In the last years of the Later Jin Dynasty, the Central Plains was chaotic, although the strength of the Southern Tang Dynasty was weakened, but it was unable to make the Northern Expedition, and the Later Shu only coveted the immediate small profits and missed the good opportunity of the Northern Expedition to the Central Plains. Eventually, after the establishment of the Northern Song Dynasty, the demise of Hou Shu became an inevitable fate.
In the twenty-eighth year of the Guangzheng reign of Later Shu (965), Wang Quanbin, a general of the Northern Song Dynasty, led a large army to attack Houshu, and Meng Chang led the people to surrender. It took only 66 days from the Anti-Japanese War to the demise of Houshu, completely ending its existence for more than 30 years. After Meng Chang surrendered, the local soldiers recommended Wenzhou Assassin Shi Quan Shixiong to persist in the war of resistance, and it was not completely pacified until the next year.
During the period of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms of the historical change, Later Shu failed to advance into the Central Plains due to its insistence on separating Shu land, which eventually led to its demise. This history provides us with a valuable lesson that we should remain aggressive when separating one side, or we are doomed to decline.
Through the historical investigation of Later Shu, we have a deeper understanding of the political, military, and social changes of this period. Although Houshu failed to gain a foothold in the Central Plains, its persistence in secession still left unique traces in the long river of history.
In this article, the author delves into a relatively unpopular period in Chinese history - the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, with a special focus on the rise and fall of Later Shu. Based on solid historical knowledge, the article presents readers with a life and death process about Hou Shu through detailed narration and analysis.
Firstly, the geographical environment of the Sichuan Basin is introduced, which provides a background for the rise of the Later Shu Basin. Subsequently, through the description of Meng Zhixiang, the founder of Later Shu, and his son Meng Chang, the process of the establishment and governance of this separatist force is shown. It is particularly worth mentioning that Meng Chang, as a young monarch, finally consolidated his dominance after a fierce struggle, which laid the foundation for the continuation of Later Shu.
Secondly, this paper analyzes why Houshu missed the opportunity of the Northern Expedition to the Central Plains. This point reveals the possible strategic mistakes of Hou Shu and the influence of internal and external factors. At the same time, Meng Chang's firmness and decisiveness, as well as Hou Shu's decision to stick to Shu when the Central Plains was chaotic, all reflect a monarch's deep thinking about the future of the country.
In the second half of the article, the author describes in detail the process of the demise of Later Shu. This part emphasizes the powerlessness and passivity shown by Later Shu in the face of the Northern Song Dynasty attack. In particular, Meng Chang's surrender marked the end of Later Shu. This has also led to reflections on other separatist forces in history, that is, whether they should remain aggressive when separating one side, lest they be doomed to decline.
Overall, this article profoundly reflects the rise and fall of Shu after the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Through the description of the founders, rulers, and decisions of Later Shu, readers are able to better understand this history. At the same time, the article makes an in-depth analysis of the reasons why Hou Shu missed the opportunity and perished, which triggers thinking about the deep-seated reasons behind history. This depth and comprehensiveness is the highlight of this review, which enables readers to understand and think more comprehensively about this special period in Chinese history.
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