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Liang Zhen AI simulator
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Liang Zhen
Liang Zhen (Chinese: 梁震), né Liang Ai (梁靄), known as the Hermit of Jing Tower (荊臺隱士) after retirement, was the chief strategist for Gao Jixing (Gao Jichang), the founding prince of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state of Jingnan (Nanping).
It is not known when Liang Ai was born, but it is known that he was from Yizheng (依政, in modern Chengdu, Sichuan). During the time when Emperor Xizong of Tang was at Chengdu, fleeing from the agrarian rebellion led by Huang Chao, Liang had the chance to meet the imperial official Liu Xiang (劉象) and present his poetry to Liu. Liu complimented him on his poetry, but urged him to change his name as portending poor fortune in politics — pointing out that Ai (靄) was made up of the character parts "rain" (雨) and "meet" (謁), which suggested that he would be meeting people in the rain — in other words, not being very successful, politically. Liu suggested that Liang change his name to Zhen (震), made up of "rain" and "dragon" (辰), as dragons thrived in the rain. Liang agreed. Shortly after, Liang passed the imperial examinations in the Jinshi class, but apparently did not succeed in an official career, as he was said to be living in the imperial capital Chang'an (apparently after Tang imperial forces recaptured it) and not holding offices.
In or around 908, by which time Tang had been destroyed and its central region been taken over by the succeeding Later Liang, Liang Zhen was trying to return to his homeland (which was then ruled by Later Liang's rival Former Shu). When he went through the city of Jiangling, the Later Liang military governor (Jiedushi) of Jingnan Circuit (荊南, headquartered at Jiangling), Gao Jichang, was impressed by his talent. Gao kept Liang at Jiangling and wanted to make Liang his secretary. Liang found this humiliating (as Gao, while a prominent general at the time, was of a low social station by birth and had served as a servant before) but did not dare to leave against Gao's wishes, fearful that Gao might get angry and kill him. He thus stated to Gao:
I, Liang Zhen, had long not wanted glory and titles. If you, Lord, do not consider me foolish and want me to participate in policy decisions, I can serve you wearing the white clothes of a civilian, and I do not need to serve on your staff.
Gao agreed. Therefore, for the rest of Liang's life, he referred to himself as "former Jinshi" and did not accept titles offered him by Gao. Gao valued him greatly and made him chief strategist, referring to him as "senior sir."
In 923, Later Liang was conquered by its northern rival Later Tang. When Gao Jichang heard this, he was fearful, and he sent articles of submission to Later Tang's emperor Emperor Zhuangzong; he also changed his name to Gao Jixing (to observe naming taboo for Emperor Zhuangzong's grandfather Li Guochang). He further prepared to go to pay homage to Emperor Zhuangzong at the former Later Liang capital Daliang (where Emperor Zhuangzong was at that time). Liang advised against it, stating:
Tang has the ambitions of swallowing up all that is under heaven. Even if you prepare your troops and defend the passes, you still have to fear that you will not be protect yourself, and instead you go thousands of li to greet him! Further, you, Lord, are an old general of the Zhus [(i.e., the imperial family of the destroyed Later Liang)]. How do you know that he will not treat you as an enemy?
Gao did not listen, and he went to greet Emperor Zhuangzong. Emperor Zhuangzong treated him with great honor, but for months kept him at the imperial court and did not return him to Jingnan, and had him follow the emperor to the new Later Tang capital Luoyang. Emperor Zhuangzong further considered keeping him at Luoyang permanently. Emperor Zhuangzong's chief of staff, Guo Chongtao, however, argued that keeping Gao at the imperial court would discourage other former Later Liang subjects from fully devoting themselves to Later Tang, so Emperor Zhuangzong allowed Gao to leave to return to Jingnan around the new year 924. When Gao reached Jiangling, he held Liang's hands and stated, "I did not follow your words, sir, and I almost got stuck in the tiger's mouth."
Liang Zhen
Liang Zhen (Chinese: 梁震), né Liang Ai (梁靄), known as the Hermit of Jing Tower (荊臺隱士) after retirement, was the chief strategist for Gao Jixing (Gao Jichang), the founding prince of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state of Jingnan (Nanping).
It is not known when Liang Ai was born, but it is known that he was from Yizheng (依政, in modern Chengdu, Sichuan). During the time when Emperor Xizong of Tang was at Chengdu, fleeing from the agrarian rebellion led by Huang Chao, Liang had the chance to meet the imperial official Liu Xiang (劉象) and present his poetry to Liu. Liu complimented him on his poetry, but urged him to change his name as portending poor fortune in politics — pointing out that Ai (靄) was made up of the character parts "rain" (雨) and "meet" (謁), which suggested that he would be meeting people in the rain — in other words, not being very successful, politically. Liu suggested that Liang change his name to Zhen (震), made up of "rain" and "dragon" (辰), as dragons thrived in the rain. Liang agreed. Shortly after, Liang passed the imperial examinations in the Jinshi class, but apparently did not succeed in an official career, as he was said to be living in the imperial capital Chang'an (apparently after Tang imperial forces recaptured it) and not holding offices.
In or around 908, by which time Tang had been destroyed and its central region been taken over by the succeeding Later Liang, Liang Zhen was trying to return to his homeland (which was then ruled by Later Liang's rival Former Shu). When he went through the city of Jiangling, the Later Liang military governor (Jiedushi) of Jingnan Circuit (荊南, headquartered at Jiangling), Gao Jichang, was impressed by his talent. Gao kept Liang at Jiangling and wanted to make Liang his secretary. Liang found this humiliating (as Gao, while a prominent general at the time, was of a low social station by birth and had served as a servant before) but did not dare to leave against Gao's wishes, fearful that Gao might get angry and kill him. He thus stated to Gao:
I, Liang Zhen, had long not wanted glory and titles. If you, Lord, do not consider me foolish and want me to participate in policy decisions, I can serve you wearing the white clothes of a civilian, and I do not need to serve on your staff.
Gao agreed. Therefore, for the rest of Liang's life, he referred to himself as "former Jinshi" and did not accept titles offered him by Gao. Gao valued him greatly and made him chief strategist, referring to him as "senior sir."
In 923, Later Liang was conquered by its northern rival Later Tang. When Gao Jichang heard this, he was fearful, and he sent articles of submission to Later Tang's emperor Emperor Zhuangzong; he also changed his name to Gao Jixing (to observe naming taboo for Emperor Zhuangzong's grandfather Li Guochang). He further prepared to go to pay homage to Emperor Zhuangzong at the former Later Liang capital Daliang (where Emperor Zhuangzong was at that time). Liang advised against it, stating:
Tang has the ambitions of swallowing up all that is under heaven. Even if you prepare your troops and defend the passes, you still have to fear that you will not be protect yourself, and instead you go thousands of li to greet him! Further, you, Lord, are an old general of the Zhus [(i.e., the imperial family of the destroyed Later Liang)]. How do you know that he will not treat you as an enemy?
Gao did not listen, and he went to greet Emperor Zhuangzong. Emperor Zhuangzong treated him with great honor, but for months kept him at the imperial court and did not return him to Jingnan, and had him follow the emperor to the new Later Tang capital Luoyang. Emperor Zhuangzong further considered keeping him at Luoyang permanently. Emperor Zhuangzong's chief of staff, Guo Chongtao, however, argued that keeping Gao at the imperial court would discourage other former Later Liang subjects from fully devoting themselves to Later Tang, so Emperor Zhuangzong allowed Gao to leave to return to Jingnan around the new year 924. When Gao reached Jiangling, he held Liang's hands and stated, "I did not follow your words, sir, and I almost got stuck in the tiger's mouth."