29 Facts About Yang Pu

Yang Pu was born in 900, during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong of Tang, as the fourth son of the major late-Tang warlord Yang Xingmi the military governor of Huainan Circuit, whose domain would become Wu eventually.

In 919, during the reign of his older brother Yang Longyan, Yang Pu was created the Duke of Danyang.

Yang Longyan died shortly after, and Yang Pu took the throne as King of Wu.

Yang Pu honored his mother Lady Wang as queen dowager.

In 923, Wu's nominal ally Later Tang's emperor Emperor Zhuangzong, in his campaign against their joint enemy Later Liang, had just captured the strategically important city of Yun Prefecture, and he personally wrote to Yang Pu, asking for the two states to jointly attack Later Liang.

Xu, who was then stationed at Jinling with Xu Zhigao at Jiangdu overseeing the government on his behalf, came to pay homage to him, and Yang Pu used this chance to complain about Xu's associate Zhai Qian, whom Xu had put in control of the palace, as Zhai had put much restrictions on the King's movements and was spying on the King's moves.

Yang Pu sent an emissary to him to establish friendly relations, but internally declared a period for Emperor Zhuangzong.

Yang Pu issued an edict declining any punishment, but Xu Zhigao insisted on being punished by being stripped of one month's salary.

However, by late 927 he had resolved to do so, so he was preparing to go to Jiangdu from Jinling to urge Yang Pu to declare himself as emperor, and then use that opportunity to reassign both Xu Zhixun and Xu Zhigao.

Shortly after, pursuant to Xu Wen's last wishes, Yang Pu declared himself emperor.

Yang Pu posthumously honored his father Yang Xingmi and brothers Yang Wo and Yang Longyan emperors as well.

Yang Pu, after taking imperial title, honored his mother Queen Dowager Wang as empress dowager.

Yang Pu created his brothers, his sons, and Yang Longyan's son Yang Fen imperial princes.

Yang Pu took over the command of Xu Zhixun's army, thus consolidating power into his own hands.

In 930, Yang Pu created his oldest son Yang Lian, whom he had previously created the Prince of Jiangdu, crown prince.

Yang Pu built a mansion for himself, preparing to welcome Yang Pu to Jinling.

Also in 933, Yang Pu created his wife Consort Wang, who had previously carried the title of Defei, empress.

Yang Pu treated Zhang and the other survivors well, giving him gifts and notified Wuyue to send a delegation to receive Zhang and his followers on Wu and Wuyue's border.

Meanwhile, Xu Zhigao had long had designs on the throne himself, but as Yang Pu was considered virtuous and without fault, he initially decided to wait until after Yang Pu's reign to take the throne, and this plan was agreed with by his chief strategist Song.

Yang Pu summoned Xu Jingtong back to Jinling to serve as his deputy, while sending another son, Xu Jingqian, to Jiangdu to oversee the government.

In winter 935, when Yang Pu again issued an edict granting Xu Zhigao the titles of Shangfu, Taishi, Grand Chancellor, Generalissimo, and Prince of Qi, carving 10 prefectures out of Wu territory to constitute the Principality of Qi.

In summer 936, due to Xu Jingqian's suffering from an illness, Yang Pu relieved him from his posts; the posts, as well as the responsibility of overseeing the Wu government, were given to his brother Xu Jingsui.

In fall 937, Yang Pu Meng, believing that Xu Gao was about to take the throne, decided to take one last chance to save Wu.

Yang Pu assassinated the commander of the guard corps left to guard him, Wang Hong, and then fled to the territory of the senior Wu general Zhou Ben the military governor of Desheng Circuit.

Xu Gao, in Yang Pu's name, ordered Yang Meng demoted to commoner rank and executed.

Shortly after, Yang Pu issued an edict passing the throne to Xu Gao.

Yang Pu, finding it untenable for the Southern Tang emperor to still be claiming to be his subject, wrote a letter back declining this humility.

Apparently to ward off any beliefs that he would have designs on taking power back, Yang Pu often wore robes made of feathers and spent his time studying Taoist disciplines that purportedly would lead to divinity.

Shortly after, all members of the imperial Yang Pu clan were moved into the Danyang Palace, which was then put under heavy guard.