The historical Song Dynasty really made posterity bow to tears of sympathy: the emperors of the Northern Song Dynasty could be captured by the enemy and then wantonly humiliated, which is really one of the few examples in history. The reason why the Emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty had such an encounter was inseparable from the heavy literature and suppression of martial arts in the early Northern Song Dynasty. After Zhao Kuangyin experienced the change of the yellow robe and his body, he deeply realized that if the power of the military generals was too large, it would be a threat to the imperial power. In order to reduce this threat, Zhao Kuangyin not only released the military power with a glass of wine, but also inhibited the development of military generals in the court.
It was also Zhao Kuangyin's move that made the combat ability of the imperial court in the late Northern Song Dynasty worse and worse, and then the embarrassing situation of the emperor being captured occurred. However, even in the case of the excessive suppression of the power of the military generals, the Northern Song Dynasty still had a very good general, and in the case of direct violation of the holy will, he was not only not punished, but also added officials to the knighthood, why is this? And who is this very good general?
This very bullish Northern Song general is Li Jilong, who is the most famous in history. Li Jilong, the eldest son of Li Chuyun, the deputy privy councillor, and the eldest brother of Empress Mingde, wife of Zhao Guangyi, the wife of Song Taizu Zhao Guangyi. Such a prominent life gave Li Jilong a proud capital. However, Li Jilong's pride was not only because he was born into an aristocracy, but also because he had excellent military ability, and he had repeatedly accomplished great feats on the battlefield, so he was not punished in the case of violating the holy will. Moreover, the reason why Li Jilong violated the Holy Will was also because he had to disobey the Holy Will.
In the First Battle of Youzhou, because of Song Taizong's decision-making mistakes, the Song army was attacked by the famous Khitan general Yelü Hugo in the Battle of the Sorghum River. In this battle, the Song army was defeated miserably, and among the people who rushed to retreat, only Li Jilong's troops were able to withdraw safely. After this battle, Li Jilong was appointed as the governor of Zhenzhou for his merits. Later, the Liao army turned to a counter-offensive, and the Song army, in accordance with Emperor Taizong's orders, divided the army into eight fronts and confronted each other. However, in the face of such military instructions, some people have questioned: If the soldiers are too dispersed, will they not have an advantage in war?
However, the generals of the time did not dare to disobey the holy will. At the moment of everyone's dilemma, Li Jilong, who is a supervisor, said on the spot: If there is a response, an appointment can be made, and the crime of violating the edict is set, please be alone! It was precisely because of Li Jilong's assurance that the generals had the courage to change their positions and subsequently won the battle. In the winter of the third year of Yongxi, the Liao army and the Song army fought a decisive battle at the Junziguan between the rivers. Due to the cold and freezing weather, the Song army could not even open the bow and arrow, and in the face of such a situation, the direction of the battle could be imagined: the Song army was severely damaged by the Liao army and lost tens of thousands of people.
Li Jilong was also ambushed on the way to the aid, and then Li Jilong judged that even if he rushed to reinforcements, it would not necessarily have a good effect, and he would also put his own army into it. For the sake of the lives of his soldiers, and in order to prevent them from making innocent sacrifices, Li Jilong once again violated the holy will. After the war, the emperor was furious and ordered Li Jilong to be summoned back to Beijing, conducted a detailed investigation of him, and after understanding the facts, he released Li Jilong. Judging from these two violations of the Holy Will, Li Jilong's disobedience to the Holy Will was also for the development of the country, not because of personal life and death problems to disobey the monarch's orders.
It was precisely because of Li Jilong's correct decision that the Northern Song Dynasty reduced a lot of unnecessary losses. Moreover, li Jilong stood in such a sensitive position, and dared to make such a decision regardless of his own safety for the sake of the lives and deaths of the soldiers, how could such dedication not be admired? In the second year of Jingde, Li Jilong died, and was given the zhongshu ling, the nickname "Zhongwu", at the age of fifty-six, which can be called a good beginning and a good end from his posthumous events. Such a generation of famous generals, with such a good ending, can not be regarded as living up to his lifelong dedication to the Northern Song Dynasty.