China knows everything for 5000 years

Chapter 42

Under the arrangement of Empress Dowager Fu, the young emperor Chai Zongxun announced the throne of Zen. Zhao Kuangyin became the emperor, officially named the country as Song Dynasty, the year name as Jianlong, and the capital in Bianjing (now Kaifeng).Zhao Kuangyin was known as Song Taizu in history.The official name of the country is Dasong, and the name of the year is Jianlong.Later, Zhao Kuangyin issued an edict to the world, implementing amnesty, and named Chai Zongxun King Zheng.

●Taizu releases military power with a glass of wine
Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin wore a yellow robe, supported by the army, and stood on the throne of the emperor on his own behalf on behalf of Zhou.As the saying goes, "One person attains the Tao, chickens and dogs ascend to heaven." Now that Zhao Kuangyin is the emperor, of course he can't let his generals suffer.

After entering Kaifeng, Zhao Kuangyin held a banquet to celebrate, and awarded meritorious officials. Murong Yanzhao, the former deputy governor of the palace, was promoted to inspector of the palace commander. Also reward one by one.Zhao Kuangyin became the emperor, but some generals of the former dynasty and the later Zhou Dynasty believed that Chai Rong and Zhao Kuangyin worshiped the heaven and earth, formed a good relationship with Jinlan, and called them brothers and sisters. The general was unwilling to kneel down and profess his minister.For these people, Zhao Kuangyin is of course merciless.Li Yun, the Jiedu envoy of Luzhou (now Changzhi, Shanxi), and Li Chongjin, the Jiedu envoy of Huainan in Yangzhou, did not want to submit to Zhao Kuangyin, but wanted to be emperors.Zhao Kuangyin ordered General Shi Shouxin and others to attack Li Yun and Li Chongjin. The Song army was strong and strong, and the soldiers fought bravely.Eliminate Er Li, and other people who have different intentions will not dare to have second intentions.At this time, the political situation of the Song Dynasty tended to be stable.

Zhao Kuangyin smoothed out the civil strife, but he was not satisfied with it, and then began to rectify the internal affairs of the court.

In 961 AD, Zhao Kuangyin ordered the transfer of Murong Yanzhao, and sent Murong Yanzhao to other towns as Jiedushi.This official position is inspected in front of the palace, and it has not been established since Murong Yanzhao.

The days passed quickly, and it was autumn in the blink of an eye.On the night of this day, Zhao Kuangyin held a banquet in the palace and called all the generals to drink together. Among the generals were Shi Shouxin, Wang Shenqi and others.Wang Shenqi was in command at the time, the same as Shi Shouxin?Military power is in hand.The hall was full of lanterns, and the whole room was brightly lit. Zhao Kuangyin and the generals exchanged cups and drinks, and the wine was in high spirits.At this time, Zhao Kuangyin raised his glass and said emotionally to everyone: "Today, some of the people I invite are my sworn brothers, and some are old subordinates who have followed me for many years in the South and North and risked their lives to kill the enemy. Today we can sit together I'm really happy to drink so much! Everyone doesn't need to be too polite today, just drink happily and enjoy yourself." The generals all stood up and raised their glasses to toast Zhao Kuangyin: "I wish you the best birthday to Nanshan. What's going on in the future? The Holy Majesty just orders, and we have to do our best for the Holy Majesty." Zhao Kuangyin invited everyone to continue drinking, and the generals were very happy talking.

"Hey!" Zhao Kuangyin sighed for a long time, and everyone put down their wine glasses when they heard the sigh, and said, "The world is peaceful now, what makes the Holy Majesty sigh?"

"You don't know, I haven't had a good night's sleep these days." As soon as Zhao Kuangyin finished speaking, everyone hurriedly asked, "Why is this happening?"

Zhao Kuangyin went on to say: "The ancients said, 'The emperor takes turns and will come to my house next year'. Who doesn't want to be the emperor? Today, I, Zhao Kuangyin, sit on the throne. Who will sit on the throne tomorrow?" Everyone expressed their opinions and said, "We I will support the Holy Majesty until death, and I will never disagree!"

Zhao Kuangyin said: "That's not the case. How can Lian not believe you? It's just that one day your subordinates will put a yellow robe on you. Can you guarantee that you won't be tempted? If that's the case, we will meet each other on the battlefield. , so what should we do?!"

When everyone heard this, they were sweating profusely, which was terrifying enough, "What can we do about this, the Holy One, please find a way, and we will all do it."

At this time, Zhao Kuangyin said calmly: "People are nothing more than pursuing happiness and wealth, and children and grandchildren will not be punished. If everyone returns the military power, it would be great if there is no suspicion between you and me! I will give you a lot of money. , Let you buy more land and houses, buy some singers and dancers, and enjoy yourself every day. In that way, I have no doubts about you, so I can rest assured that you are also living a good life, do you think it is good?" Everyone listened and talked together Zhao Kuangyin said: "Everything is arranged by Long Live." Zhao Kuangyin said with a smile: "Everyone don't have to be like this, get up quickly, and let our monarchs and ministers have a drink."

The next day, the generals asked the court to take back their military power under the pretext of being ill. Song Taizu readily agreed. He appointed the generals as high-ranking officials, and rewarded them with a lot of money and land.Since then, Zhao Kuangyin has taken over the military power to himself.This is the famous story of "a cup of wine releases the power of soldiers" in history.

Song Taizu still felt that it was not enough to take back the military power of the forbidden army in the capital.In 969 A.D., Song Taizu took back the military power of some veteran local Jiedu envoys with the method of "releasing military power with a cup of wine".

●The Heroine Empress Dowager Xiao
In 969 AD, Emperor Jingzong of Liao Dynasty Yeluxian came to the throne and changed the Yuan to Baoning, and the internal affairs of the Liao Kingdom gradually stabilized.After Yeluxian's death, Yelulongxu, who was only 12 years old, came to the throne as the emperor of the Liao Dynasty, with Empress Dowager Xiao Chuo as regent.Xiao Chuo is a famous female politician in history, and she is the daughter of Xiao Siwen, the privy envoy of the Northern Court of the Liao Kingdom and the Prime Minister of the Northern Mansion.

Xiao Chuo's family is the most prominent Xiao Aguzhi family in the Liao Kingdom.During the 9 years of the rule of the 200 emperors of the Liao Kingdom, this family produced 17 prime ministers and 21 sons-in-law. Of the 20 concubines recorded in "Liao History", 18 were all surnamed Xiao, and 5 of them were queens. The Xiao family has the reputation of "National Uncle Account".Looking through the "History of Liao", you will find that there are "Empress Xiao" everywhere, but only Xiao Chuo is the most capable.Once, several daughters of Xiao Siwen swept the floor at home, the other daughters were perfunctory, only Xiao Chuo swept the floor spotlessly.Xiao Siwen couldn't help saying happily: "This woman will be the master of the family in the future!" Later, Xiao Chuo entered the palace and became Yeluxian's queen.

As early as when Ye Luxian was in power, the frail and sick Ye Luxian let Empress Xiao preside over the state affairs.Later, Song Taizong Zhao Guangyi attacked Liao Nanjing (now Beijing), and Empress Xiao ordered Yelu Xiuge and Yelu Xiezhen to fight, and defeated the Song army at Gaoliang River (now outside Xizhimen, Beijing), which showed his political ability of knowing people and doing well.

When Emperor Shengzong of Liao came to the throne, Xiao Chuo was only 30 years old when she was honored as the Queen Mother. She cried and said to the ministers: "We are orphans and widowed mothers. The tribesmen are not convinced. I heard that there will be wars outside. What should we do?" Yelu Xie Zhen, Han Derang and others hurriedly said: "We are all veterans of the late emperor, as long as you trust us, everything will be fine!" Especially Han Derang was loyal to Xiao Chuo, and Xiao Chuo loved him very much.Once in a polo match, a nobleman named Hu Lishi accidentally knocked Han Derang off his horse. Xiao Chuo was so angry that he ordered Hu Lishi to be pushed out and beheaded.Later, Xiao Chuo also ordered Han Derang to change his name to Yelu Longyun, as a direct descendant of Yelu Abaoji, and asked Shengzong to treat Han Derang like his father.Han Derang was also loyal and devoted himself to helping Xiao Chuo's mother and son. He went out to fight in person when he was more than a few years old. Unexpectedly, he fell seriously ill on the way home and was buried next to Xiao Chuo's tomb after his death.

Later, Xiao Chuo personally drove the chariot and led the troops to the south, approaching Chanzhou (now Puyang, Henan). The Liao and Song Dynasties signed the "Chanyuan Alliance". .Xiao Chuo has been in power for 27 years and has been loved by the people.She formulated a policy of emphasizing farming and reducing taxes, and educated her son to learn the culture of the Central Plains.After her hard work, Liao's economy is prosperous and its national power is strong.She has made great contributions to the prosperity of the Khitan nation and is a rare female hero in history.

●"The Sound of the Ax and the Shadow of the Candle" Taizu died
On the night of October 976th, the ninth year of Song Taizu Kaibao (November 11, 14 AD), the founding emperor of the Song Dynasty, Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin, died suddenly at the age of 50.Two days later, Zhao Kuangyin's younger brother Jin Wang Zhao Guangyi came to the throne as Song Taizong.

On the night of the [-]th, Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin summoned Jin Wang Zhao Guangyi, who was then the governor of Kaifeng, into the palace.After Zhao Guangyi entered the palace, Zhao Kuangyin stepped back and drank wine with his younger brother.In the swaying candle shadows, the maids and eunuchs outside saw Zhao Guangyi leaving the table from a distance, waving his hands and retreating, as if avoiding and refusing something; smell.At the same time, these maids and eunuchs also heard Zhao Kuangyin shouting: "It's good, it's good." The two drank until late at night, Zhao Guangyi left, and Zhao Kuangyin undressed and went to bed.

However, in the early morning, Zhao Kuangyin, who had always been in good health, passed away.Upon learning of Zhao Kuangyin's death, the queen immediately ordered the eunuch Wang Jien to call the prince Zhao Defang into the palace to preside over the event.However, Wang Jien went to invite Zhao Guangyi, and Zhao Guangyi had already arranged for Cheng Dexuan, a confidant who was skilled in medicine, to wait outside his house.The three of them rushed to the palace in the wind and snow.When the queen heard that Wang Jien was back, she asked, "Is Defang here?" But Wang Jien said, "The King of Jin is here." The queen was stunned when she saw Zhao Guangyi. , Then wept and said: "The lives of our mother and child are entrusted to the official family." The official family is the title of the emperor. Worry."

Therefore, Zhao Guangyi ascended the throne as emperor, Taizong.The death of Zhao Kuangyin was bizarre, and the "sound of the ax and the shadow of the candle" has become a mystery that future generations will never be able to figure out and solve.

●Song Taizong wiped out the Northern Han Dynasty
AD 978 was the third year of Song Taizong Zhao Guangyi's succession to the throne. Wuyue King Qianjiao went to Beijing to meet the new emperor in order to continue to please the Song Dynasty.When Zhao Guangyi saw it, he found a reason to detain Qianjiao in the capital, and then forced him to hand over the prefectures and counties under his jurisdiction.Qianjiao had no choice but to hand over the prefectures and counties under the jurisdiction of Wuyue Kingdom.According to Chen Hongjin who guarded Quanzhou and Zhangzhou, he knew that Zhao Guangyi's next target was himself, and his power was not as good as that of the small Wuyue Kingdom, so he also offered to donate two states to Song Dynasty.At this point, Zhao Guangyi pointed his finger at the Northern Han and Liao in the north.

In the spring of 979 AD, Zhao Guangyi launched a large-scale attack on the Northern Han Dynasty.He appointed Pan Mei as the emissary of Beilu, and led Cui Yanjin, Li Hanqiong and others to attack Taiyuan in four directions; he ordered Guo Jin, the judge of Xingzhou (now Xingtai, Hebei), to deploy at Shiling Pass in Taiyuan to intercept the reinforcements of the Liao army.Liu Jiyuan, the lord of the Northern Han Dynasty, learned that the Song army was attacking aggressively, and he really asked for help from the Liao Dynasty, which had a "long history" with him.The ruler of the Liao Dynasty knew that if the Great Song Dynasty destroyed the Northern Han Dynasty, it would definitely commit another crime against the Great Liao Dynasty.With his lips dead and his teeth cold, he actively sent troops to assist the Northern Han Dynasty.Liao Taizong's fourth son, Yelv Dilie, joined forces with General Yelusha to lead the army.

When Zhao Guangyi learned that the Liao army was coming, he sent Guo Jin to lead the army to stop it, and the two armies met at Baimaling (in today's Shanxi).Yelv Dilie refused to listen to Yelusha's advice, and led his troops to attack Guo Jin's army, but Guo Jin chopped him off his horse.The Liao soldiers died a lot and had to retreat. The Song army won a complete victory.

Song Taizong knew that the Liao army had been defeated, so he sent troops to attack Taiyuan City.Emperor Liu Jiyuan of the Northern Han Dynasty had no choice but to surrender to the Song Dynasty when he heard the news of the defeat of the Liao army.Therefore, Liu Jiyuan led all the civil and military officials to greet the emperor of the Song Dynasty respectfully and respectfully outside the northern city, and waited for his decision.Unexpectedly, just as the surrender ceremony was coming to an end, a loud shout came from the Taiyuan city tower: "Master surrenders, I will not surrender! I swear to fight the Song Dynasty to the death!" Everyone looked towards the tower, and Zhao Guangyi couldn't help but look up. see.I saw a general in gold and silver armor on the Taiyuan city tower, majestic and majestic, truly majestic.An insider next to him immediately told Zhao Guangyi that this person was Liu Jiye.Liu Jiye's original surname was Yang, but he was given the surname Liu by Liu Chong, the Lord of the Northern Han Dynasty, because of his bravery, resourcefulness and repeated military exploits.He is currently Jianxiong Jiedushi of the Northern Han Dynasty, famous in the north and south.Zhao Guangyi had heard about him for a long time, and he loved his talents, so he sent people with high morals from the court and China to the city to persuade him with kind words, especially pointing out that in order to protect the people in the city, they should not fight any more.Liu Jiye was a loyal man, so he cried a lot and opened the door to let the Song army enter the city.Zhao Guangyi was very happy to see that General Liu Jiye had been recruited, and immediately named him General Wei, the right leader, and rewarded him generously.From then on, Liu Jiye restored his original surname to Yang, and he was the legendary Yang Linggong praised by the world.At this point, the Northern Han Dynasty perished.

●Yang Ye’s Bloody Battle at Yanmen Pass

After the battle of Gaolianghe in Song and Liao, another battle was fought, and the Liao army was defeated, so they decided to retaliate.In 980 A.D., Xiao Duo Li, the Jiedu envoy and son-in-law of Datong Mansion in Xijing, Liao Kingdom, led 10 troops to kill and rush to Yanmen Pass, attacking Song Dynasty on a large scale.Song General Yang Ye (Liu Ji,? Ye) immediately led hundreds of elite cavalry to bypass the Liao army, detoured behind the enemy, and attacked the Liao army from the north entrance of Yanmen Pass southward by surprise.The Liao army was frustrated in tackling key problems, and when there was a "fire in the backyard", it suddenly collapsed.The guards of Yanmen Gate took advantage of the situation and charged forward. The Song army attacked back and forth, and the Liao army was defeated and fled.Yang Ye won the victory at Yanmen Pass and was known as "Yang Wudi".

Soon, Zhao Guangyi sent troops to attack Liao in three ways.Yang Ye served as Pan Mei's deputy commander in the West Route Army. The morale of the 3rd Song soldiers was high, and they won consecutive battles, and quickly regained most of the lost land in Shanxi.The Empress Dowager Xiao of the Liao Kingdom learned that the military situation was urgent, so she personally led the troops to the south. The famous general of the Liao Kingdom, Yeluxiu, captured Peckzhou and won every victory.At this time, Yang Ye suggested to pretend to attack Yingzhou to attract the enemy to fight. Pan Mei firmly disagreed, and sent Yang Ye to lead the troops from Yanmenguan Road to attack Shuozhou to attack the Liao army.Yang Ye led the attack, but unfortunately he was ambushed by Liao soldiers on the way. For a while, Liao troops swarmed from all sides and surrounded him.When Yang Ye fought bloody and outnumbered, Pan Mei and his troops waited in Chenjiagu for a short time and then withdrew.Yang Ye felt that the situation was extremely bad, so he led the remaining soldiers to fight the enemy to the death.In the end, Yang Ye was captured by an arrow because his strength was exhausted.Yang Ye sighed: "The emperor has treated me like a mountain of kindness. I wanted to kill the enemy and make meritorious deeds, but was jealous of the treacherous ministers and forced me to die. As a result, I was defeated in a fierce battle. How can I live in this world!" So, after being captured, Yang Ye went on a hunger strike for three days and died unyielding.

●Song Zhenzong Taishan Fengchan
After the Chanyuan alliance, the situation of the Song Dynasty tended to be stable. In order to exclude the prime minister Kou Zhun, Wang Qinruo urgently said that the Chanyuan alliance was a great shame, and Kou Zhun was dismissed as prime minister. unhappy.Wang Qinruo and others catered to Zhenzong's psychology of wanting to make great achievements, and tried their best to agitate public opinion on the saint's Shinto teaching.At that time, Prime Minister Wang Dan objected to this. Zhenzong specially ordered Wang Dan to drink together, and gave him a jar of Huangfeng Royal Wine before leaving.Wang Dan opened it and saw that it was a jar of dazzling pearls!Wang Dan let out a long sigh: "The emperor bribed me, so what can I do?" From then on, he obeyed Zhenzong against his will and no longer expressed any objection to such stupid things.

In 1008 A.D., it was formally agreed to enshrine Zen. Song Zhenzong ordered Wang Qinruo of the Privy Council and Zhao Anren, a political adviser, to set up envoys for the meridian system of enshrining Chan. Quan San Si Dingwei handed over the food and grass needed for enshrining Chan, and Wang Dan and others presided over the relevant etiquette.All kinds of preparatory activities for the eastward trip to Mount Tai to enshrine Zen were fully launched.In October of the same year, Zhenzong and his party traveled from Chanzhou (now Puyang, Henan) to Mount Tai, and held a solemn Fengchan ceremony.Afterwards, the activities of offering sacrifices to Confucius were carried out. Zhenzong personally visited the Confucius Temple and posthumously named Confucius Xuansheng King Wenxuan.Dongyue returned to Beijing, 47 days before and after.Since the return of Zen, the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty rushed to offer their congratulations, and Zhenzong rewarded him a lot, and the whole country was crazy.A total of more than 830 million yuan was spent on Fengchan this time, which became a heavy burden for the people.

●Bao Qingtian is stern and selfless
In feudal society, the ruling class was not monolithic, and honest and corrupt officials always existed relatively.Different life experiences and cultural accomplishments give everyone the possibility to walk out of different life paths.Some people choose to be corrupt officials who harm the country and the people for their own self-interest, while others choose to be honest and law-abiding officials who are close to the people.Bao Zheng is the latter type of person, and his image of "Bao Qingyao" who is stern and selfless is almost a household name.

Bao Zheng, courtesy name Xiren, was born in Hefei, Luzhou (now Hefei, Anhui).In 999 AD, he was born in an official family.Bao Zheng strictly abided by his father's education since he was a child, studied hard, and passed the Jinshi examination at the age of 28, thus embarking on his official career.Bao Zheng served as a local official for many times, and also served in various important positions such as Quanzhi Kaifeng Mansion, the third secretary envoy, and the deputy envoy of the Privy Council.Because he was awarded the official titles of Tianzhangge Daizhi and Longtuge Direct Bachelor, he was also called "Baodaizhi" and "Baolongtu".During Bao Zheng's official career, there were many qualities that the officials at that time could hardly possess, among which the most commendable ones were his uprightness, law enforcement like a mountain, and his stern and selfless face.

Bao Zheng's honesty and uprightness were not only out of concern for the safety of the Song Dynasty's rule, but also out of deep sympathy for the suffering of the people.He opposed "seeking punishment from the people without discipline", and asked Song Renzong to "comfort the plight of the soul".For this reason, he pleaded for the people many times, asking the imperial court to remove all kinds of unknown officials, to provide relief to the people affected by the disaster, and not to send cruel and mean people as transshipment envoys, so as not to harass the people.He hated corrupt officials who harmed the people even more.In the early years of Song Renzong Qingli, Bao Zheng was transferred to Duanzhou as the magistrate.Duanzhou is located in the south of the Five Ridges and is a well-known origin of Duan inkstone.The original Zhizhou asked the people to use excellent Duan inkstones to pay tribute to the emperor every year. In addition, dozens of times more Duan inkstones were required to be given to the dignitaries of the dynasty.After Bao Zheng took office, he learned that the inkstone craftsmen spent a lot of blood and effort in making Duan inkstones from surveying, quarrying to processing into inkstones. Zhizhou collected Duan inkstones from the people in large quantities, which increased their labor and caused endless burdens on the people.Many ordinary people have been searched so that they can't uncover the pot and can't eat salt.Bao Zheng personally counted the Duan inkstones in the warehouse, and ordered the clerks to tell the facts about the use of Duan inkstones and the payment of inkstone workers over the years, as well as the corruption of officials and gentry.Then it was clearly stipulated that all Duan inkstones corrupted by officials and gentry in the state should be handed over to the government;A few years later, when Bao Zheng left Duanzhou, he did not take a single Duanzhou famous inkstone with him.

(End of this chapter)