Zhao Kuangyin, founding emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty. In 960, during the Chen Qiao Mutiny, Zhao Kuangyin was proclaimed emperor. During his reign, he conquered the south and fought the Northern War, ending most of the political power that had been divided for a long time since the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, and unifying most of the country. Later, the release of military power through a glass of wine was even more effectively resolved by the situation of the generals and the self-respect of the supporting troops.
In 976, Zhao Kuangyin died, and the temple name was Taizu. After Zhao Kuangyin's death, his brother Zhao Guangyi succeeded him as emperor and was known as Emperor Taizong of Song.
Throughout history, before the Song Dynasty, the succession to the throne was inherited by father and son. In the dynasties after the Song Dynasty, there were a few brothers who died on the throne, and most of them were childless. When this happened in the Song Dynasty, did Zhao Kuangyin have no heirs?
The answer is no, not only yes, but four more. Among Zhao Kuangyin's four sons, the eldest son Zhao Dexiu died early, the third son Zhao Delin also died early, and only the second son Zhao Dezhao and the fourth son Zhao Defang successfully grew up.
Since he had a son, why didn't Zhao Kuangyin let his son succeed to the throne?
First of all, before Zhao Kuangyin became emperor, during the later Zhou Dynasty Emperor Chai Rong's southern expedition to the north, zhao Kuangyin made many military achievements and was very trusted by Chai Rong, and later served as the commander of the forbidden army. After Chai Rong's death, his seven-year-old son Chai Zongxun succeeded to the throne, and Zhao Kuangyin was appointed as the head of the palace, and because of Zhao Kuangyin's perennial conquests and the power of the forbidden army, some ministers suggested to the emperor that Zhao Kuangyin be removed from his position as commander of the forbidden army.
In the end, the emperor heeded the advice of his ministers and renamed Zhao Kuangyin as an envoy. Although Zhao Kuangyin's commander of the Forbidden Army was removed, the generals of the Forbidden Army were all old acquaintances who were good friends with Zhao Kuangyin.
In 960, because of the invasion of foreign enemies, the emperor sent Zhao Kuangyin to block it. Zhao Kuangyin obeyed the order and led the troops on the expedition. In the afternoon of the same day, Chen Qiaoyi, who was dozens of miles away from the seal, was sleepy and tired because of the marching for dozens of miles, so he rested here at night. In the evening, the soldiers were rested, and some of the generals gathered to talk without resting. Between the conversations, these generals said that the young lord was young and did not know how to employ people, and even if he worked for his life, he would not necessarily have a high-ranking official Houlu in the future, so it was better to support Zhao As the emperor.
After listening to the two of them, they also agreed, so the generals went to Zhao Kuangyin's room with the two of them and woke up Zhao Kuangyin, who was resting, and Zhao Guangyi and the others draped the yellow robe prepared by the generals in advance on Zhao Kuangyin, and everyone knelt down and prostrated in unison, which was the famous Chen Qiao Mutiny in history.
After the Chen Qiao mutiny, Zhao Kuangyin led his troops back to Kaifeng. Because Zhao Kuangyin had heavy troops, Chai Zongxun had to give the throne to Zhao Kuangyin, and Zhao Kuangyin ascended the throne as emperor. With the lesson of the previous state-owned young lords, Zhao Kuangyin did not make a prince. Zhao Dezhao was still relatively young at that time, and later after Zhao Dezhao grew up a little, in order to hone, he only granted some official positions that were not in the core, such as Shannan's Western Dao Jiedushi, Xingyuan Yin, and Defense Envoy.
On the other hand, Zhao Guangyi, because with Zhao Kuangyin's eastern expedition to the west, the battle results were rich, coupled with the Chen Qiao mutiny, Zhao Kuangyin granted Zhao Guangyi tongping Zhangshi, Kaifeng Fuyin, Zhongshu Ling, and later crowned the King of Jin, which can be described as a real one person under ten thousand people. Such a configuration, in the eyes of the ministers, was a signal to establish Zhao Guangyi as the heir to the throne, so the ministers also took sides to Zhao Guangyi.
And Zhao Dezhao, because of his long-term position in a marginal position, coupled with no military achievements and the formation of his own team, compared with his uncle, regardless of ability or means, there is a greater difference. Zhao Guangyi's side has long formed a power group with him as the core, and it is more stable in the later stage. Even Zhao Kuangyin could hardly shake his position. In order to protect his son, but also because of the founding of the country, the foundation is unstable. Strengthening a son is bound to lead to internal friction in the country, which is also what Zhao Kuangyin does not want to see.
Of course, the reason why Zhao Kuangyin did not pass the throne to his son was also related to his bizarre cause of death. Historically, the cause of Zhao Kuangyin's death is unknown, and in the history of the opposition, it has always been rumored that Zhao Guangyi killed him. Therefore, after Zhao Kuangyin's death, Zhao Guangyi, who was highly powerful, naturally ascended the throne smoothly.