There were a total of 83 dynasties in ancient China, a total of 559 emperors, among the many emperors, no one dared to say that they had killed people, and no one dared to say that they killed less people, after all, behind every emperor's ascension to the throne, there were many stories of swords and lights.
For example, Qin Shi Huang and Tang Taizong Li Shimin, although they were literate and martial arts, but the evaluation of them by later generations was mixed, because Qin Shi Huang had a cruel personality and Li Shimin was fratricidal.
But in history, there is such a legendary emperor, who reigned for only 6 years, but was praised by later generations, which can be called the most perfect emperor in ancient times, until now posterity has not accused him of insults. This person is Zhou Shizong Chai Rong.
Chai Rong (27 October 921 – 27 July 959), whose original surname was Chai and later changed his surname to Guo, was a politician during the Five Dynasties period and the second emperor of the Later Zhou Dynasty.
Sima Guang once commented:
If Zhou Shizong is a benevolent person! He loves the people without loving his body; if Zhou Shizong is the one who knows!
Do not waste the benefits of uselessness. Sejong ordered his subjects by letter, rebuked the kingdoms with justice, Wang Huan was rewarded for not surrendering, Liu Renzhen was praised for his perseverance, Yan continued to be loyal to his survival, Shu Bing was repeatedly reprimanded, Feng Dao was abandoned for being out of control, and Zhang Mei was neglected by private grace.
If Jiangnan does not obey, he will personally commit a crime against Yashi, expect to be in Bike, and if he obeys, he will love like a son, and he will do his best to speak sincerely and worry about it. Its grandeur and generosity, how can it be the same as Zhuangzong in Japanese!
According to historical records, Chai Rong was born into a famous family, but unfortunately his family fell in the middle of the road, in order to make money when he was young, he sold tea for a living, because he ran around all year round to see too many people who died in the chaotic world and were killed, so he had the ambition to support the world and return to Taiping very early.
Fortunately, Chai Rong had a good uncle, Guo Wei, who saw that Chai Rong was extraordinary, so he adopted him as a righteous son and put him in charge of major affairs in the palace.
During this period, Chai Rong created a lot of wealth for Guo Fu, used the opportunity to continuously learn and increase his talents, and later followed Guo Wei in the southern conquest of the northern war, after the experience of time, not only can he write and fight, but also fight very strongly.
After the establishment of the Later Han Dynasty, Chai Rong began a legendary life, and in 905, Guo Wei killed Kaifeng in the name of the Qing Emperor, killed the Later Han Yin Emperor, and established the Later Zhou regime.
Guo Wei died four years after becoming emperor, and Chai Rong, as a righteous son, inherited the imperial title of Zhou Shizong, and during his reign, the whole army was trained, the redundancy was eliminated, the exile was invited, and the taxes were reduced.
In addition, vigorous efforts have been made to build water conservancy and reward farming and weaving, so that the economy has developed rapidly, peasants have lived and worked in peace and contentment, and national strength has also been rising.
During his reign, he was interested in clarifying the rule of officials, and repeatedly increased his responsibility for the corrupt officials of literature and martial arts, and achieved certain results, but the "History of the Old Five Dynasties" believes that he was "wounded by Tai Cha, lost to Tai Jun with torture, and after his execution, he also regretted himself a lot."
Militarily, Chai Rong learned the lesson that the Zhou army in the Battle of Gaoping would not have to die and soldiers could not fight, and ordered Zhao Kuangyin to recruit the world's heroes to "choose the best ones as the classes in front of the palace" and reorganize the forbidden army into an army that threatened neighboring countries.
Under his leadership, he personally conquered the Southern Tang three times, seized all the land of Huainan north of the Yangtze River, and forced the Southern Tang to submit, and the Northern Expedition to the Liao State, in forty-two days, three consecutively, three prefectures, a total of seventeen counties, so that the territory of Later Zhou has been greatly expanded.
But unfortunately, when Chai Rong planned to retake Youyun Sixteen Prefectures, he suddenly fell seriously ill and returned to China, because of the backward medical conditions in ancient times, he eventually died at the age of 39, and he was only emperor for 6 years.
After Chai Rong's death, Zhao Kuangyin bullied orphans and widows, and finally seized his world, which made future generations deeply sympathetic, but it is undeniable that Chai Rong was a rare good emperor, not only diligent and loving the people, but also concerned about the suffering of the people.