Wen Tianxiang

Wen Tianxiang (1236.6.6-1283.1.9), also known as Lushan and Songrui, named himself Wenshan and was a Taoist in Fuxiu. Han nationality, native of Luling, Jizhou (now Ji'an County, Jiangxi Province), minister, writer and national hero in the late Southern Song Dynasty. In the fourth year of Baoyou's reign (1256), he became a Jinshi and became the Prime Minister and Privy Secretary. He was sent to the Yuan army's camp to negotiate and was detained. After escaping the danger, he passed through Jizhuang, Gaoyou, to Tangwan, Tai County, and returned south from Nantong, persisting in resisting the Yuan Dynasty. In the first year of Xiangguang (1278), he was defeated and captured by Zhang Hongfan. He persisted in fighting in prison for more than three years and later died calmly in Chaishi. He is the author of "Crossing the Lingding Ocean", "Wenshan Poetry Collection", "Guide Record", "Guide Post Record", "Song of Righteousness" and other works.


Biography of the character

Early experience
Wen Tianxiang, first named Yunsun, also given the courtesy name Lushan and Songrui, and his Taoist names were Wenshan and Fuxiu Taoist. After being selected as a tribute, he changed his name to Tianxiang and changed his name to Lushan. He has a dignified appearance, a tall figure, his skin is as white as jade, his eyebrows are delicate and his eyesight is bright and vivid. When I was a child, I saw the portraits of Ouyang Xiu, Yang Bangyi and Hu Quan, the local gentlemen enshrined in the academy, all with the posthumous title of "Zhong". I was very happy and envious of them. Said: "If you don't become one of them, you are not a real man." He passed the Jinshi examination at the age of twenty and answered the questions in Jiying Hall. At that time, Emperor Lizong of the Song Dynasty had been in power for a long time and was gradually becoming lazy in governing political affairs. Wen Tianxiang discussed and countermeasures with the theme of Fa Tian's Endlessness. His article of more than 10,000 words was written in one go without any draft. Emperor Lizong of the Song Dynasty personally selected him as the first. Examiner Wang Yinglin reported: "This test paper is based on ancient events. He is as loyal as stone. I think it is gratifying to get such a talent." After Baoyou won the top prize in the fourth year (1256), he changed his name to Song Rui. Soon, his father passed away and he returned home to mourn.

In the early years of Kaiqing (1259 AD), the Yuan Dynasty’s army invaded the Song Dynasty. The eunuch Dong Songchen told the emperor that he wanted to move the capital, but no one dared to argue that this was wrong. At that time, Wen Tianxiang entered the court and was appointed as the judge of Ning Haijun Jiedu, and wrote a letter "requesting that Dong Songchen be killed to unify people's hearts." Because he was not accepted, he asked to be dismissed and returned to his hometown. Later, he was gradually promoted to the Minister of Justice. Dong Songchen was promoted to the capital magistrate again, and Wen Tianxiang once again wrote a letter listing his crimes one by one, but there was no response. Therefore, he went out to serve as the magistrate of Ruizhou, moved to Jiangnan West Road for punishment, and was promoted to Shangshu Zuosilangguan. He was dismissed by Taiwanese officials many times. Served as Ordnance Supervisor and concurrently as Acting Direct Bachelor. Jia Sidao claimed to be ill and asked to retire in order to blackmail the emperor, but the edict was not heeded. Wen Tianxiang drafted the imperial edict, and the words he wrote were all satirical to Jia Sidao. At that time, the internal system of drafting imperial edicts had to be submitted for review. Wen Tianxiang did not write it. Jia Sidao was unhappy and ordered Taiwan minister Zhang Zhili to impeach and remove him. Wen Tianxiang has been reprimanded several times, citing the example of Qian Ruoshui, who retired when he was thirty-seven years old.

In the ninth year of Xianchun (1273 AD), Jinghu South Road was appointed as the punishment. So he met the original prime minister Jiang Wanli. Jiang Wanli had always been surprised by Wen Tianxiang's ambition and integrity. When he talked about state affairs with him, he said with a sad expression: "I am old. When I observe the weather and personnel, there should be changes. I see many people who are responsible for governing the country." The responsibility lies with you, doesn't it? I hope you will work hard.

In the first year of You (AD 1275), there was an emergency in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, and the emperor was ordered to be diligent. Wen Tianxiang cried while holding the edict, and sent Chen Jizhou to lead the heroes in the county. At the same time, he contacted the Xidong Man and sent Fang Xing to summon soldiers from Jizhou. The heroes responded and gathered tens of thousands of soldiers. The matter was reported to the imperial court, and he was ordered to lead the army into the Wei capital in the name of Jiangnan West Road's punishment and appeasement envoy. His friend stopped him and said: "Now the Yuan soldiers are attacking south in three groups, breaking through the suburbs of the capital and marching into the interior. You go to the capital with more than ten thousand people to defend it. This is no different from driving sheep to fight tigers." Wen Tianxiang replied: "I also know this is the case. However, the country has raised and cultivated its subjects for more than three hundred years. Once there is a crisis, no one of the soldiers from all over the world can be recruited to defend the country. Capital Master, I feel deeply sorry for this. So I overestimated my ability and sacrificed my life for the country. I hope that loyal ministers and righteous men in the world will rise up after hearing about this. You can be independent by relying on benevolence and righteousness, and you can achieve success by relying on people. If you act according to this, then the country will be protected. At this time, he sadly punished himself and used all his family's assets as military expenses. Whenever he talked about national affairs with guests and staff, he cried bitterly and said: "Those who take other people's happiness as their happiness also worry about other people's worries. Those who take other people's food and clothing as their source of food and clothing should work for other people's affairs until death." At that time, because Prime Minister Chen Yizhong did not return to the court, he was not dispatched. In October, Chen Yizhong arrived and was sent to serve. During the court meeting, Lu Shimeng was promoted to Minister of War, and Lu Wende was granted the title of Prince of Heyi County, hoping to seek reconciliation. Lu Shimeng became more arrogant and presumptuous.

Fighting hard in the southeast
Wen Tianxiang said goodbye to the emperor, and Shangshu said: "The imperial court has many intentions of appeasement and containment, and there are few examples of working hard and decisively. He requested that Meng beheaded as a war sacrifice to boost the morale of the soldiers." He also said: "The Song Dynasty accepted the lessons of the Five Dynasties of separatism, eliminated vassal towns, and established counties, counties, and cities. Although Although the disadvantages that could not be eliminated were completely eliminated for a while, the country was gradually weakened. Therefore, every prefecture was conquered, and every county was conquered. There was no time to regret and feel sad about the fall of the Central Plains. Now we should divide the country into four towns and set up a governor to be its commander. Merge Guangnan West Road with Jinghu South Road and establish a government office in Changsha; merge Guangnan East Road. They merged Fujian Road with Jiangnan East Road and established a government office in Fanyang. They merged Huainan West Road with Huainan East Road and established a government office in Yangzhou. They ordered Changsha to capture Ezhou, Longxing to capture Qizhou and Huangzhou, Fanyang to capture Jiangdong, and Yangzhou to capture Lianghuai, making the area under their jurisdiction wide and powerful enough to resist the enemy. On the following day, we all rose up together, only moving forward, not retreating, and working day and night to regain the ground. The enemy troops were numerous, but their strength was scattered and exhausted. However, the heroes of the Song Dynasty people were waiting for opportunities to attack the enemy. In this way, the enemy soldiers could be easily driven back. "At that time, Wen Tianxiang's opinions were too broad and difficult to implement, so his petition had no results.