Meng Zhixiang - As Emperor of Independent Later Shu State

As Emperor of Independent Later Shu State

Shortly after Meng Zhixiang claimed the Later Shu throne, the Later Tang imperial succession was thrown into turmoil when Emperor Min's chiefs of staff, Zhu Hongzhao and Feng Yun, who suspected both Shi Jingtang and Emperor Min's adoptive brother Li Congke the Prince of Lu, tried to move their commands — Shi from Hedong to Chengde (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang, Shanxi) and Li Congke from Fengxiang to Hedong. Li Congke, fearing that this move was intended to trick him to his death, rebelled; he subsequently defeated the imperial forces sent against him and advanced toward Luoyang, eventually killing Emperor Min and taking the throne himself. As he was doing so, Zhang Qianzhao (張虔釗) the military governor of Shannan West and Sun Hanshao (孫漢韶) the military governor of Wuding Circuit (武定, headquartered in modern Hanzhong), who had been part of the imperial forces against him and who feared reprisals, surrendered their circuits to Later Shu, allowing Later Shu to take the region south of the Qinling Mountains.

Meanwhile, Meng, who was said to have suffered from a stroke for over a year, became gravely ill. In fall 934, he created Meng Renzan Crown Prince. He died the same day, and Meng Renzan (whose name was then changed to Meng Chang) took the throne.