Zhao Zhen, formerly known as Zhao Beneficiary. A song dynasty man, the sixth son of Zhao Heng of The Song Dynasty, his birth mother was originally Concubine Li Chen, and later, because of the favor of tianzi, liu shimei, that is, Empress Zhang Xianmingsu. Because he had no children under his knees, Zhao Heng declared to the outside world: "He is from the Liu clan." In this way, he left his birth mother and went to the queen.
Li Shi was intimidated by Liu Hou's power, and naturally did not dare to show any dissatisfaction.
This son of Zhao Heng has a gentle and benevolent personality since he was a child, treats people with humility and courtesy, attaches great importance to filial piety, is moody and angry, advocates frugality, does not like extravagance and waste, is strict with himself, and is a talent who governs the country. He was deeply favored by the emperor, and at the age of four, he was named the Duke of Qingguo, and in the second year of his appointment, he was crowned the King of Shouchun County, and entered the "Zishan Hall" to learn knowledge.
When Zhao Was seven years old, he was given the title of king a year later, and in August of the same year, he sat on the throne of the crown prince and was given the name Zhao Zhen. In order to cultivate his successor well, the emperor also sent Li Di, the governor of the government, to accompany him and counsel the crown prince. In the second year of Qianxing, Zhao Heng drove the crane to the west, and Zhao Zhen's dragon robe was added to his body and sat on the emperor's throne.
According to the "Records of Shao's Hearing and Seeing", the Liao Dynasty sent emissaries to ask for a portrait of Zhao Zhen. Therefore, Zhao Zhen sent envoys to present their portraits to the Liao Dynasty, and the Liao Daozong Yelü Hongji held a solemn ceremony to personally welcome zhao Zhen's portraits. When the Liao Daoist Emperor Yelü Hongji saw the portrait, he "prayed again in amazement, saying, 'If I am born in China, but I hold on to it, Gai Yidu Yu Hou'er.' ...’”
However, it was also because Zhao Zhen was still young when he ascended the throne, and it was the empress dowager Liu Shi who handled political affairs on his behalf. More than ten years later, when Empress Liu died, he took real power and began his rule. After holding the power, Zhao Zhen still had the original intention unchanged, as always advocating frugality, strictly demanding himself, sympathizing with subordinates, deeply familiar with the sufferings of the people, and was praised by future generations.
At the same time, he was good at using talented people, and during his reign, famous ministers and good generals were born, the world was peaceful, the people were rich, and culture and science and technology developed rapidly, which was a beautiful scene of national peace and security. Everything is developing well, but this wise emperor is not satisfied with the status quo and always thinks that he can do better.
Therefore, in response to the successive peasant uprisings and mutinies in various places and the increasingly serious phenomenon of land annexation, he was determined to do something to solve these endless and difficult problems, make his country better, and let his people live and work in peace and contentment.
First of all, he appointed Fan Zhongyan as the governor of the government, and promoted Ouyang Xiu, Wang Su and four others as advisors. Under the emperor's order, Fan Zhongyan and Fu Bi put forward opinions and reform measures for the current problems, and the four counselors also submitted their own views, which were basically adopted by the emperor.
Then, one after another, the New Deal swept the country.
Suddenly, the bureaucratic aristocracy was anxious like ants on a hot pot, so uneasy. Because as long as the reform matters are implemented and the stone hammer is set, their good days will come to an end, and in order to continue the rich and luxurious life of the past, the bureaucrats and aristocrats huddled together to hinder the implementation of the New Deal. Together, they expelled Fan Zhongyan, Ouyang Xiu, and others from the imperial court, making it impossible for them to speak in front of the emperor.
The advocates of reform disappeared, the systems became useless, and in the end, they had to be abolished, and the first reforms were declared a failure. Although the first attempt failed, it accumulated experience for the later generation, Wang Anshi's transformation method, which made him take many detours.
The counselor Wang Su once advised Zhao Zhen not to get close to the female color, and Zhao Zhen replied: "Wang De really has a beautiful woman to offer me, so you let me keep her." Wang Su said: "The reason why the minister came to counsel today is precisely because I am afraid that Your Majesty will be confused by the female sex." Zhao Zhen listened, and although his face was difficult, he still ordered the eunuch to say: "Wang De used the women sent by Wang De, each of whom gave three hundred yuan of money, and immediately sent them away from the palace." Tears rippled after saying that.
On a certain day in the first month of the third year, Zhao Zhen got up as usual to wash up and go to the court. Suddenly, when he was receiving the worship of hundreds of officials, he spat out white foam, his body was out of control, and he waved it wantonly. However, due to too many political affairs, the Xuanyu Doctor simply handled the official affairs. Immediately afterward, the envoys of the Great Liao came to visit and were arranged to meet the Saint at the Purple Palace, and the alarming situation reappeared.
Zhao Zhen spoke incoherently in front of the envoy, speaking the bull's head against the horse's mouth. The chancellor who accompanied him had to lie that the emperor had to say something that was unclear because he had drunk too much alcohol and was slightly drunk. In the days that followed, the emperor's condition became more and more serious, and he talked nonsense all day long, such as the empress and her courtiers getting together and preparing to rebel.
The chancellor and Fu Bi and others had full authority over the affairs of the imperial court, and also organized hundreds of officials to carry out prayers in Kyoto. A month later, Zhao Zhen slowly recovered, returned to his post, and began to deal with government affairs. After Zhao Zhen recovered from his serious illness for seven years, his life was over and he went to the Western Elysium, when Zhao Zhen was fifty-four years old.
The History of Song praises: "The Biography says: 'For a man to be a king, to stop at benevolence.'" 'Emperor Cheng is not ashamed. Historians summarize the period of his reign and pro-political state as "Emperor Renzong Shengzhi".
Soon, the news of the emperor's death spread throughout the streets, and the people spontaneously rose up to mourn for the former emperor, burning paper money, and smoke filled the city of Luoyang, a whimpering and wailing sound. People living in remote areas have also heard about it, and the women in the ravines have also wore filial piety hats to mourn for him. It can be seen that the weight of this emperor in people's hearts is extraordinary.
The obituary of Zhao Zhen's death was sent to the Liao Kingdom, and the people of Yanjing who heard about it were also in pain, and the Emperor of the Liao State was also very sad, grabbing the arm of the envoy of the Great Song Dynasty and crying: "Because of him, the two countries have not had a war for forty-two years, and I must build him a crown tomb to send his thoughts." Since then, successive successors of the Liao state have regarded him as their ancestor to worship.
This also can't help but make people sigh what kind of existence Zhao Zhen really is, and how can his opponent do such a job for him.
Resources:
"Shao's After-record of Hearing and Seeing", "History of Song"