Historically, the succession to the throne has often been a key matter for successive rulers. Sometimes, however, the road to such succession is full of twists and turns. Song Taizong Zhao Guangyi's deathbed choice, passing the throne to the third son Zhao Heng instead of the eldest son Zhao Yuanzuo, has triggered countless conjectures and discussions among historians and observers. Zhao Yuanzuo, as the eldest son, should naturally be the most qualified to inherit his father's throne.

Why did Zhao Guangyi, Taizong of the Song Dynasty, pass the throne to his third son, Zhao Heng, and not his eldest son, Zhao Yuanzuo?

In order to pass the throne to his son, Zhao Guangyi tried his best to let his nephews and younger brothers all die inexplicably, but there is a reincarnation in heaven, and he opened the way for his son, but his two favorite sons all had accidents, and in the end he could only cheapen the third child.

One thing to say, although Zhao Guangyi himself is not good, his sons are still good, even the third son Zhao Heng is also at the upper middle level among the emperors of China.

The eldest son, Zhao Yuanzuo

Zhao Yuanzuo has been smart and clever since he was a child, and he looks very much like Zhao Guangyi, and Zhao Guangyi also likes his eldest son very much. Since childhood, no matter what you do, you have to take him with you.

Yuan Zuo can be literate and martial, at the age of thirteen he can ride a horse to shoot and hunt, and his archery skills are superb, which once made the Liao envoys who grew on horseback all admired.

At the age of fourteen, he followed Zhao Guangyi to the north to conquer the Northern Han Dynasty and Khitan, and experienced more than half a year in an army of hundreds of thousands.

In general, as the successor of the empire, Zhao Yuanzuo's experience on the battlefield since he was a child is beyond the reach of many princes and grandsons in history.

In the practice of Wenzhi, Zhao Yuanzuo is also very good, as soon as he leaves the cabinet, he goes to work under the door of Zhongshu, and deals with Lu Duan, Zhao Pu and other famous people all day long.

In terms of conduct, Zhao Yuanzuo was also far beyond everyone at that time, when his father Zhao Guangyi rectified his uncle Zhao Tingmei, everyone did not speak out, these people may be afraid of Zhao Guangyi, or they may see that what Zhao Guangyi did was obviously beneficial to his sons, only Zhao Yuanzuo went to Zazi to defend his uncle.

Later, Zhao Tingmei died suddenly, coupled with the inexplicable death of his cousins Zhao Dezhao and Zhao Defang, Zhao Yuanzuo suffered from mental illness under multiple stimuli, often angry and hurtful, and even did things to burn the palace, Zhao Guangyi had no choice but to abolish his heir.

Maybe it's because Zhao Yuanzuo is too smart and kind, knowing that his uncle and cousin's death is not normal, and also knowing that the reason why they died is to make room for themselves, he really can't go with his conscience, he is mentally tortured, and he drives himself crazy.

Motosuke Tsugiko

Zhao Yuanyou is almost funny compared to his brother, but after Yuanzuo went crazy, Zhao Guangyi trained Yuanyou as a successor. assigned him Lu Duan, Zhang Quhua and other famous ministers to assist in teaching, and also gave him a big favor, asked him to speak for Zhao Pu, and helped Zhao Pu pay homage to the prime minister for the third time.

Although Zhao Yuanyou is not as colorful as his brother's experience, he was not at fault when he was in charge of Kaifeng Mansion, and he cherished the people's power, and repeatedly wrote to request the suspension of labor in Henan, which was much stronger than his third brother who devoted the country to the immortal visit and build the Taoist temple.

But this character is indeed flawed compared to his eldest brother, first his uncle kept silent when he was in trouble, and later when he made a mistake and was impeached by the imperial history, he actually hoped to use his privileges to avoid punishment. Of course, it is also human nature to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages, after all, it is rare in the world to attach such importance to affection and righteousness as his brother Yuanzuo.

After Zhao Yuanzuo went crazy, Zhao Yuanyou was appointed as the Yin of Kaifeng Mansion, which was the standard configuration of the heirs of the five generations of the early Song Dynasty. Unfortunately, in 992 AD, Zhao Yuanyou contracted an illness and died soon after.

Zhao Yuanzuo and Zhao Yuanyou are both deeply loved by Zhao Guangyi, but one is crazy and the other dies, and the next third Zhao Yuankan, who is later the true sect Zhao Heng, is very unpleasant in Zhao Guangyi's eyes.

First of all, he repeatedly violated his father's orders and hooked up with a folk girl (Liu E) from Sichuan, and then he was hesitant to do things and couldn't stick to the end. Zhao Guangyi was very unaccustomed to it, and often said to the minister: This son is impermanent!

Zhao Guangyi's words are really too predictable!

But there is no way, his favorite and most capable, excellent Yuan Zuo was driven crazy by him, and the old two Yuan You died violently and died young. This throne is in the hands of Zhao Heng.

Of course, after Zhao Heng became the emperor, although he signed the alliance of Lanyuan, repaired the Yuqing Zhaoying Palace, wrote, directed and acted in the Dazhong auspicious talisman, poured the whole country into the immortal visit to the Tao, sealed Zen Taishan, gave up the opportunity to eliminate the party, and took back Yanyun, and did a lot of things that were out of tune, and the famous minister Kou Zhun was once ready to organize a coup d'état and respected him as the emperor.

However, he also worked hard in the middle of his reign, plugged a bunch of holes that his father had made with great joy, and created the rule of Xianping in the case of the enemy in the northwest and north, and the rebellion of Sichuan and Shu in the southwest. In the face of the enemy from the north, although his legs and stomach cramped with fear, he also held on to two personal expeditions and defended the country that his uncle and father had conquered. Although the alliance of the Yuan Yuan is not glorious, but every year at a small price to buy back the peace between the Song and Liao countries for more than 100 years, laying the foundation for the later prosperity of Renzong, and the Song Liao is about a country of brothers, it is completely equal in status, and the Song Dynasty also took a little advantage to be an elder brother.

Summary: Song Zhenzong Zhao Heng purely picked up a leak.

Chunhua has been five years, and there is not much time left before Song Taizong ascends to heaven. At this time, Zhao Guangyi finally came out of the pain of losing his son, and he decided to make his third son Zhao Heng the Yin of Kaifeng Mansion and the king of Shou. In this way, Zhao Heng inexplicably got the opportunity of Prince Yin Jing and became the prince of the Song Dynasty.

After a year of inspection, Song Taizong officially established Zhao Hengli as the crown prince. To be honest, Song Zhenzong Zhao Heng really picked up a throne. If there is nothing wrong with his two brothers, where will it be his turn?