Meng Xuanzhe

Meng Xuanzhe (937–991), courtesy name Zunsheng, formally the Duke of Teng, was a crown prince of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period Later Shu state under his father Meng Chang, the last emperor of the state. After Later Shu was destroyed by the Song dynasty, Meng Xuanzhe served as a general and official for Song. During Later Shu Meng Xuanzhe was born in 937, during the early reign of his father Meng Chang, as Meng Chang's oldest son. His mother's identity was lost to history. He was said to be intelligent in his youth and capable in calligraphy. In 950, when Meng Chang created his brothers and sons imperial princes, Meng Xuanzhe was created the Prince of Qin; he was also given the titles of acting Taiwei, commander of the imperial guards, and honorary chancellor (Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi, 同中書門下平章事). There was a time that he wrote out, in calligraphy, the instructions that the famous Tang dynasty chancellor Yao Chong left his sons, and then had the calligraphy carved onto rocks. Meng Chang, for this work, awarded him silver vessels and colored silk. In 958, Meng Chang gave Meng Xuanzhe the title of military governor (Jiedushi) of Wude Circuit (武德, headquartered in Mianyang, Sichuan). In 961, he was given the greater honorary chancellor title of Shizhong. In 962, Meng Chang created him Crown Prince. For reasons unclear to history, Meng Chang also ordered that his attendants and people who announced his arrival should refer him as "His Imperial Highness" rather than "the Crown Prince." The chancellor Li Hao, believing this to be irregular, argued against the order, and the order was rescinded. In spring 964, in the middle of the invasion by Later Shu's northeastern neighbor Song dynasty, the commanding general of the Later Shu troops Wang Zhaoyuan was suffering multiple defeats at the hands of the Song army. Meng Chang became fearful, and commissioned another army to head to defend Jianmen Pass and put Meng Xuanzhe in titular command of it, with the generals Li Tinggui and Zhang Hui'an in actual command. Meng Xuanzhe's banners were all adorned with silk, but when the army encountered rain, he had the silk removed and then replaced when the rain stopped — but doing so caused the silk to be hung upside down. He also took his concubines and entertainers with him, such that he became a laughing stock for doing so.