In June of the sixth year of Xiande (959), Chai Rong of Zhou Shizong of the Northern Expedition of Youyan fell seriously ill, and the Liao War stopped, and he himself returned from Xiongzhou to Beijing. After returning to Beijing, Chai Rong became more and more serious, collapsing on June 19, and he was only thirty-nine years old. Later Zhou's throne passed to Chai Zongxun, the eldest son of the emperor, who was only seven years old.
At the time of Chai Rong's Northern Expedition, an extremely strange thing happened. According to the "Old Five Dynasties History, Zhou Shu, Sejong Ji":
(June 6 of the sixth year of Xiande) Zhang Yongde, the envoy of the Lanzhou Festival, who was also the inspector of the former temple, and Zhang Yongde, the lieutenant of the horse capital, was dismissed from the military post, and the inspector of the school was added to the inspection of the taiwei and tongping zhangshi; The Emperor's Northern Expedition, all the things offered to the army, were ordered to be delivered from Beijing. One day, a tree was suddenly obtained in the middle of the ground, two or three feet long, like a person who revealed things, and the whole title cloud on it was: "Point inspection to do", and the viewer could not guess what was also.
An inexplicable piece of wood, only the three words "point inspection and doing", aroused the vigilance of Zhou Shizong, perhaps because the ancient saying of Wei Wei still had a certain influence in the five generations. Suspecting that those who held the position of "dian inspection" would rebel, but there was no trace of any clues, Zhou Shizong had no choice but to move Zhang Yongde, who was at that time a high-ranking and powerful dianqian diandian inspector, to the position of inspector of the dianqian school, and instead commanded Zhao Kuangyin to succeed him as the dianqian inspector.
Chen Jianbin's version of Zhao Kuangyin
Such inexplicable supernatural events are generally man-made, and the purpose is naturally to create a political trend. Zhang Yongde was the son-in-law of Guo Wei, the grandfather of Zhou, and the commander of sejong's pro-military palace, with a high position of authority, and at the same time "Tomorrow's Literary Arts", good at magic numbers. Was he the proverb "spot check to do"? Looking at the history behind it, Zhang Yongde cannot be a rumor maker, but a victim. Zhang Yongde was deprived of his military powers, and after Sejong's death, he did not mutiny to seize the throne.
Another important minister who had no relations with Zhang Yongde, The Guards Si Du, commanded Li Chongjin, who was once suspected of being the creator of this political rumor, in order to frame Zhang Yongde. However, according to the "Biography of Li Chongjin attached to the biography of Song Shi And Wednesday Chen", although Zhang Yongde and Li Chongjin had a bad relationship, when the Later Zhou Dynasty conquered the Southern Tang Dynasty, Li Chongjin once rode from Shouyang to Zhang Yongde's military camp and talked deeply with him: "I and gong are the heart of the country, and we are fighting with each other, and we are the same as the royal family, and the public doubts the depth of my heart." This communication is effective, "Yongde understands, both armies are safe."
Judging from the process of communication between the two, Li Chongjin could no longer frame Zhang Yongde with a curse. Li Chongjin was the nephew of Zhou Taizu Guo Wei and was once regarded as a competitor to Chai Rong, but after determining the title of emperor, Li Chongjin remained loyal to Chai Rong. After Zhao Kuangyin usurped the throne of Chen Qiao, Li Chongjin also gathered troops to fight against him, and finally died at the hands of Zhao, which shows that he was loyal to Hou Zhou.
If we look at the fact that Zhao Kuangyin took the throne as the capital of the palace and the later Chen Qiao mutiny, Zhao Kuangyin, who has been on the front line of the Northern Expedition, is most likely the creator of this "spot inspection" rumor incident. Through the operation of this matter, Zhao Kuangyin grasped the military power, and could lay the groundwork for the so-called fulfillment of future rumors.
Zhao Kuangyin, who was born as an old vassal of Chai Rong's domain, rose to prominence at the Battle of Gaoping, and after the great battle, he was recommended by Zhang Yongde and rose rapidly to become a new upstart in the Later Zhou military circles. Since the Battle of Gaoping, Zhao Kuangyin has been operating in the front of the palace for many years, "the soldiers obey his grace and power, and the people have returned to it." After the Dianqian Army gained a firm foothold, Zhao Kuangyin began to have the intention of managing his own forces, forming the "Ten Brothers of the Righteous Society" group headed by himself. Civilian officials and officials only formed parties for political struggles, and military generals formed parties only for the purpose of usurping power, especially in the five generations where force was the king's way.
Chai Rong died suddenly, and Hou Zhou faced a dangerous period of doubt in the lord and the country. In fact, at the time of his death, Chai Rong arranged an auxiliary political structure for his son. The Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 294, records an interesting incident in which Sejong, on his deathbed, prepared to arrange for the old shogunate to be the prime minister, saying, "The deceased of the king's residence, if he does not rise, should be compared." However, Fan Qian, the prime minister who accepted the will, and others hid Sejong's will on the grounds that Wang Zhu "spent all day drunk in the countryside, and it is not worth it", and also agreed to "be careful not to leak this word".
Zhou Shizong
Dare to hide the emperor's will, is definitely not something that Fan Qian alone dares to do. The Zizhi Tongjian only says that when Sejong was dying, he "summoned Fan Qian and others to be ordered", and the hidden message here is who is "waiting"? If according to the high and low relatives of the Wen and Wu ministers of the Zhou Dynasty at that time, this gu order team should include Zhao Kuangyin in front of the palace. At the time when Sejong was critically ill, Zhao Kuangyin was probably ready for a coup d'état, and Even if he was not his accomplice, Zhao Kuangyin had already watched from the sidelines. The purpose of abolishing Sejong's will is to eliminate the power that will balance himself in the future.
The two major systems of the Later Zhou Forbidden Army, the Front Division and the Bodyguard Division, have always been a relationship of mutual checks and balances under the intentional operation of Sejong. However, shortly after Chai Rong's death, the senior generals of the Guards Division who could balance the front division of the palace were all transferred out of the capital. The general Yuan Yan (袁彦) was transferred to Shaanzhou Jiedushi, while Li Chongjin was transferred to Huainan Jiedushi.
Correspondingly, Zhao Kuangyin's own confidant Gao Huaide served as the commander of the guards and horses, and Zhang Lingduo served as the commander of the guards and infantry. In this way, the deputy commander of the Guards Division, the Deputy Commander of the Guards Army, Ma Bujun, made Han Tong empty. The military power of the entire capital forbidden army system was mastered by Zhao Kuangyin, and it only needed a proper time to seize the throne.
The time soon came. The incident called the "Chen Qiao Mutiny" in the later history books was a plot carefully planned by Zhao Kuangyin to seize power by force, and its operation was perfect. In December of the sixth year of the Later Zhou Dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin first ordered his subordinates Han Lingkun and Zhang Lingduo to lead a forbidden army out of Hebei and garrison the town of Chengde in Hebei.
If you are familiar with the history of hegemonic changes in the early five generations, you will understand the cleverness of Zhao Kuangyin's move. Over the past five generations, the political center has changed from Guanzhong to Zhongyuan Luo and Bei. However, the armed forces of the feudal towns that dominate Hebei are often the key forces that determine the political situation in the world, as Gu Zuyu's "Minutes of Reading the History of Fang Public Opinion" said, "Fu Hebei is enough to control Henan." The Southern Song Dynasty Zhang Ruyu also said in the famous "Treatise on the Three Capitals", "Therefore, since ancient times, the disasters of Luojing have often arisen from Hefen, and the changes in The Capital have often arisen from Yan Zhao."
Understanding the importance of Hebei to the political situation in Beijing, one will understand why Zhao Kuangyin arranged for his own people to tour the towns of Hebei, in order to prevent forces opposing him in Hebei and ensure the success of the coup. On the first day of the first lunar month of the seventh year of Xiande (960), the court of Fenjing received information on the so-called invasion of the Khitan and Northern Han forces from the south, and the provider of this information was Zhao Kuangyin.
Under the arrangement of Zhao Kuangyin and Fan Qian, on the second day of the first lunar month, Murong Yanzhao, the deputy capital of the palace, led the forbidden army to advance, and the destination was Zhending, Hebei. The next day, on the third day of the first lunar month, Zhao Kuangyin led a large army from Beijing and arrived at Chen Qiaoyi, which was not far from the capital in the afternoon. Zhao Kuangyin's confidant Zhao Pu had already received information from the front at this time, and Murong Yanzhao's army had crossed the Yellow River and entered the territory of Hebei. In the early morning of the fourth day, the famous "Chen Qiao Mutiny" in history finally took place. The situation in Hebei was controlled by Murong Yanzhao and Han Lingkun, and Zhao Kuangyin could rest assured that he would seize the throne in Henan.
Chen Qiao mutinied
The record of this mutiny in the "History of Song" is full of mysticism, which echoes the supernatural event that was originally "checked and done". When Zhao Kuangyin's army arrived at Chen Qiaoyi that night, Zhao Kuangyin was drunk and fell asleep, "Miao Xun, the star-aware official in the army, led the doorman Chu Zhaofu to see that there was a day under the sun, and the black light was long." At the time of the five drums in the night, the soldiers gathered outside the inn and "declared that the inspection was the son of heaven", and the noise of the crowd could not be stopped. At dawn, Zhao Kuangyin's younger brother Zhao Guangyi entered his brother's bedroom, and Zhao Kuangyin woke up from drunkenness. The soldiers outside the door all "showed their blades in the courtroom" and said, "The armies have no masters, and may the lieutenant be the son of heaven." Zhao Kuangyin disagreed, "There is a yellow robe and a Taizu body, and everyone is praying to long live."
The History of the Song Dynasty, which was revised in the Yuan Dynasty, inherits the song dynasty's official tone for the Chen Qiao mutiny - an accidental accident, Zhao Kuangyin said that the emperor was forced to do so, "the soldier pushed and wore, inevitable." Emperor Taizong of Song had clear instructions on this matter, "Because when it comes to Taizu's appointment, it is not a matter of conspiracy ... Taizu's affairs zhou dynasty also tried its best to the royal family, known at home and abroad. As for Dabao, it was unintentional. "If you compare all the events that appear to be in the first month of the seventh year, it is not difficult to find that Zhao Kuangyin's mutiny is a conspiracy that has been brewing for many years.
After Chen Qiaoyi's "yellow robe plus body", did Zhao Kuangyin become emperor so smoothly? The truth of history is far more complex than a linear textual narrative. After Zhao Kuangyin mutinied, he immediately returned to Shijing. Unexpectedly, at the Chen Qiao Gate leading to the Beijing Division, the Chen Qiao Gate was ordered to close the door, "At the beginning of Yizu's support, the Chen Qiao Gatekeeper refused to accept it." In desperation, Zhao Kuangyin turned to Feng QiuMen again. When he returned to the Xuanyou Gate of the Imperial City, Zhao Kuangyin was unexpectedly met with armed resistance, and "the guards of the pass used bows and arrows against each other." This shows a problem, the system of guards and pro-army in the forbidden army is not completely controlled by Zhao Kuangyin.
After sealing the Qiu Gate, Zhao Kuangyin's men and horses only entered the outer city of Beijing, and the next step was to enter the inner city, Zhao Kuangyin "the whole army entered the door with benevolence and the door, and Qiu did nothing." Why is Renhe Gate so smooth? Because this gate was controlled by Wang Zhenqi, who was waiting for the palace, this gate was open as part of the mutiny plan. After passing through the Renhe Gate, the Zhao army entered the imperial city through the Zuoye Gate, which had long been controlled by Shi Shouxin. Shi Shouxin was guarding the inner court at that time, and after receiving the news of Chen Qiao's mutiny, he immediately "boarded the left gate to strictly guard the equipment of the troops, closed to guard", and when Zhao Kuangyin led the army arrived, he "opened the pass and accepted it".
When things got to this point, the mutiny was basically successful. However, there was also a bit of bloodshed. The deputy commander of the guards, Ma Bujun, made Han Tong a fierce general and a die-hard fan of Zhou Chamber. Upon learning of Zhao Kuangyin's mutiny, Han Tong, who actually controlled few troops in his hands, "returned from the inner court in a panic and will lead the crowd to prepare for the imperial palace." However, while passing through the left gate, Han Tong was blocked by Shi Shouxin's ambush crossbow, and the two sides engaged in a fierce battle. After the breakout, Han Tong took people to arrest Zhao Kuangyin's mother Du Shi and other family members who lived in the Dingli Courtyard of the Fenjing Temple. After a fruitless search, Han Tong happened to encounter Zhao Kuangyin's confidant Wang Yansheng, who was chased to his home, and Han Tong and his eldest son, second son, and third son were all killed by Wang Yansheng, but Han Tong's three-year-old young son and four daughters were not killed.
Yellow robe plus body
Han Tong's death eliminated the only force in the capital that could resist Zhao Kuangyin, and the change of dynasty was already a foregone conclusion. Under the manipulation of Zhao Kuangyin, the young emperor Chai Zongxun of later Zhou had to hand over the throne because Zhao Kuangyin had previously served as an envoy to the German army in Song Prefecture, so the Zhao Dynasty set the name of the country as Great Song, changed the yuan to "Jianlong", and did the inspection really as the Son of Heaven. Chai Zongxun, who ceded the throne, was demoted to king zheng and moved to Fangzhou, where he lived only to be twenty years old, and died in the sixth year of the Northern Song Dynasty (973), the cause of death is not clear.
With the Great Song replacing the Great Zhou, will the Zhao Dynasty also rise and fall like the Five Dynasties Dynasty? Unlike the general mutinies of the five generations, after Zhao Kuangyin mutinied into Beijing, except for the armed conflict with Han Tong, the rest were almost all bloodless blades. At first, the people of Beijing thought that Zhao Kuangyin's army would also "follow the evils of the five generations and plunder the soldiers and soldiers."
However, what they saw was that "the soldiers were immediately disarmed and returned to the camp, and the city was not moving and there was no harassment." Kyoto's fathers and elders all praised: "The five generations of heavenly sons have all forced the world with military might, and there is no decha Lishu." Now that the heavens are not dying, but there is a heart of love for the people, my generation is old, how fortunate to see the true son of heaven? Li Hao, the Later Shu chancellor who was far away in Chengdu, also vaguely felt that the world of division and chaos was about to end, "The song clan of the chancellor is about to end, not like Han Zhou, the heavens are tired of war and chaos for a long time, and the unification of the sea, where is it?" ”