After Emperor Taizong of Song had solved his two nephews and a younger brother, he thought that no one could threaten the throne. He didn't expect that something was wrong inside his house.
Song Taizong stills
Zhao Yuanzuo, the eldest son of Emperor Taizong of Song, was particularly favored because he looked like his father.
Zhao Yuanzuo was dissatisfied with his father's practice of framing his uncle, when Zhao Tingmei was demoted to Fangzhou, no one dared to intercede for Zhao Tingmei, Zhao Yuanzuo saw that his uncle was so persecuted, bravely stood up and interceded for Zhao Tingmei, and Emperor Taizong did not listen at all.
In the first month of the first year of Yongxi, Zhao Tingmei died of fear. Zhao Yuanzuo was stimulated, suffered a psychotic attack, and after seeing that the internal servant had made a small mistake, he took a knife and slashed and injured people, and in September of the following year, he set fire to his own Chu Palace with the strength of wine.
Under the impeachment of the chancellor, Emperor Taizong had no choice but to "abolish Yuanzuo as a Shuren and resettle in Junzhou", and under the intercession of the prime minister and others, he recalled Zhao Yuanzuo halfway and changed it to "abolished Residence in the Nangong". The first heir chosen by Emperor Taizong withdrew.
Then the second son, Zhao Yuanyuan, was made heir, and in September of the third year of Chunhua (992), he suddenly felt unwell when he went to the court, returned home, and died soon after. The second heir of Emperor Taizong of Song died early.
With the early death of his second son, Song Taizong was deeply saddened, and sometimes he could not sleep until dawn. Soon, someone reported to Emperor Taizong that Yuan Shu was addicted to the beauty of his concubine Zhang Shi and died of daily labor. Zhang Shi relied on the favor of Yuan Shu and acted behind his back.
Emperor Taizong was furious and sent Wang Ji'en to hang Zhang Shi to death. Some of the officials around Yuan Xian were dismissed and some were degraded. At this time, Lü Duan, as a judge of Kaifeng Province and a right counselor, was demoted to wei wei shaoqing.
Soon after Lü Duan was demoted, Emperor Taizong of Song planned to appoint him as prime minister, but some people said that Lü Duan was confused, and Emperor Taizong said: "Lü Duan is confused about small things, and big things are not confused."
Lü Duan is a heavy one, a general understanding, and a simple business. There was a small thing that reflected that Lü Duan's insight was higher than Kou Zhun's.
Kou Zhun's theatrical image
The security forces captured Li Jiqian's mother, and Song Taizong discussed with the Privy Councillor Kou Zhun to kill her, and when Kou Zhun returned to the government affairs hall, Lü Duan asked Kou Zhun: "Didn't the official family warn you not to tell me?" "
Kou Zhun said, "No. "
Lü Duan: "If it is a small matter on the border, I don't need to know, if it is a major military and national affair, I, as the prime minister, must not know." "
Kou Zhun then told him about the arrest of Li Jiqian's mother.
Lü Duan asked, "What does the official family want to do?" "
Kou Zhun: "I plan to behead li jiqian outside the north gate of the security army." "
Lü Duan: "This is not the best way to deal with it, don't give an order first, I will go to see the official's house." Lü Duan entered the palace and saw Emperor Taizong and said, "Those who have done great things since ancient times have disregarded their family affection, let alone Li Jiqian's rebellious people?" His Majesty killed his mother today, can he capture Li Jiqian tomorrow? If it is not caught, the result of this will only make Li Jiqian's rebellious heart more firm. "
Statue of Lü Duan
Taizong: "If you don't do this, how can you be good?" "
Lü Duan: "Put it in Yanzhou, raise it well, and recruit and relocate." Even if he does not surrender, it can also make him have some scruples, and his mother's life and death are in the hands of our great Song. "
Taizong patted his thigh: "Good plan! Without you, I almost missed a big thing. Emperor Taizong adopted Lü Duan's strategy and raised Li Jiqian's mother in Yanzhou, Li Jiqian's mother later fell ill and died in Yanzhou, Li Jiqian also died soon after, Li Mingde in order to ease relations with the Song Dynasty, sent envoys to seek peace, the Song History believes that this is, "Duan Zhili also".
In August of the first year of the Dao Dynasty (995), the third son, Zhao Yuan, was established as the heir and changed his name to Zhao Heng.
However, Zhao Heng almost failed to inherit the throne. Zhao Heng was able to ascend to the throne of God, and Lü Duan made a great contribution.
In March of the third year of the Dao Dynasty, Song Taizong's arrow wound recurred and he died. When he was critically ill, Wang Ji'en, the internal servant who had helped Emperor Taizong seize the throne, jumped out again and secretly plotted with Li Changling, the governor of the government, Hu Dan, the warlord Li Jilong, and others to ascend the throne of the deposed Zhao Yuanzuo (some accounts are that Zhao Dezhao's son Zhao Weiji).
Empress Li of Emperor Taizong was unsure of his attention, so he ordered Wang Ji'en to summon the chancellor Lü Duan into the palace for consultation. Lü Duan was suspicious of Wang Ji'en, put him under house arrest, and sent someone to strictly guard him, before Lü Duan entered the palace.
Empress Li asked Lü Duan, "Your Majesty has died, since ancient times it was the eldest son who inherited the throne, and now there is a crown prince, what should I do?" "
Lü Duan said: "The first emperor created the crown prince in order to prepare for today, and now he is letting the prince not stand up and setting up another person, is this not against the will of the former emperor?" "
Inner Servant Wang Ji'en (stills)
Empress Li was persuaded, so she invited the crown prince Zhao Heng to the Funing Palace to succeed him.
However, Lü Duan was still very cautious and did not let down his vigilance, when Zhenzong ascended the throne, there was a curtain in front of him, Lü Duan stood still, asked the curtain to be pulled open, and went forward to see clearly that it was Zhenzong himself, before leading the group of courtiers to kneel.
It was precisely because Lü Duan handled it correctly that a palace change was avoided.