Zhu Wen

  • The Three Arrows of Vengeance: Li Cunxu

    The Feast at Shangyuan and the Birth of a Feud After suppressing the Huang Chao rebellion, Emperor Xizong returned to a ruined Chang’an, a puppet ruler with no real power. The empire was effectively carved up by warlords, among whom Zhu Wen (later named Zhu Quanzhong) and Li Keyong were the most formidable. Zhu…

  • The Golden Armor and the Fallen Capital: The Huang Chao Rebellion

    The Decline from “Little Taizong” to Chaos Emperor Wuzong of Tang began his reign by curbing the power of the dominant eunuch Qiu Shiliang, confiscating his wealth and forcing him into retirement, thereby restoring some dignity to the throne. In a move to boost state revenue, Wuzong initiated a severe persecution of Buddhism, dismantling…