Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (五代十国) was a period of Chinese history between the end of the Tang dynasty to the start of the Song-Liao-Jin (pre-Yuan) era. During this period, China was divided into several warring factions that gradually coalesced into several larger states (the Song, Liao, Xia, and later the Jin, etc.). These larger states would later battle each other for centuries until China was finally once again reunified under the Mongol Yuan empire.

## Description

“There has been such a battle in the history of our human world. The king of a small country died of illness. The confidant assisted his young son on the throne. Then a general rebelled, and the young king was unable to fight against the general, so he immediately asked for help from the neighboring country. The neighboring country’s king immediately sent troops and eliminated the rebels. However, the elimination of the rebels was only the first step. The army of the neighboring country used the excuse to counter the rebellion, but they actually wanted to occupy the entire country. As a result, the young king was captured and the country was also destroyed.”

The battle that Chen Rui mentioned was a battle during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. When Wuping Jiedushi’s (武平军节度使) Zhou Xingfeng (周行逢) was seriously ill, he asked his confidant subordinate to assist the 11 year-old Zhou Baoquan (周保权) to command the military affairs. He also said that Hengzhou’s (衡州) governor, Zhang Wenbiao (张文表) would definitely turn against him in the future, so he could send Yang Shifan (杨师璠) to crusade. After Zhou Xingfeng died, Zhang Wenbiao indeed rebelled. Zhou Baoquan ordered Yang Shifan to crusade. At the same time, he asked Jingnan (荆南) and Zhao Kuangyin (赵匡胤), Emperor Taizu of Song (宋太祖), for help. As a result, Zhao Kuangyin ostensibly named Zhou Baoquan as Wuping Jiedushi, but he used the excuse to settle the chaos and sent troops to occupy the land occupied by Jingnan and Zhou Baoquan in Hunan. Zhou Baoquan himself was also captured.

## Notes

* Jiedushi (节度使) refer to regional military governors during the Tang. The Wuping Jiedushi refer to those who ruled over a region of China's south (Hunan, Guangxi) during the five dynasties period.
* Hengzhou (衡州) is around Hunan.
* Jingnan (荆南) or Nanping is one of the ten kingdoms in South China during this period.
* Zhao Kuangyin is the founding emperor of the Song.

## Analogy with Blue Lava Estate

As Isabella’s thoughts turned, she understood. Her eyes lit up, “You mean, the Blue Lava Estate asked the Dark Moon for help?”

Shea frowned, “The Blue Lava Estate is not asking for our help right now.”

“No, we have now received a letter asking for help from the Blue Lava Estate. It is written by Chandler.” Chen Rui smiled slightly, “As for the request… He just wanted to seek help from the Dark Moon to put down the rebellion caused by the ex-Azure Legion deputy commander, Sumen.”

Although Shea’s thought did not turn as fast as these two conspirators, she still understood a little and said, “Our power is rising very fast now, and the outsiders are all in our favor. If we openly send troops to occupy another estate at this time, I’m afraid the gains do not make up for the losses.”

Chen Rui shook his head and said, “Who said we are going to occupy the Blue Lava Estate?”

Isabella continued, “That’s right, we are just helping Chandler out of ‘friendship’.”