Preface
During the Northern Song Dynasty, Zhang Qiong was a high-profile tiger general, who bravely rescued Zhao Kuangyin many times and made great achievements for the country. However, as fate would have it, when he was framed for rebellion, Zhao Kuangyin only said two words.
What kind of profound meaning do these two words contain? How did Zhang Qiong's fate go to the bottom step by step? Let us uncover the legendary life of Zhang Qiong and explore the magnificent history of the Northern Song Dynasty.
Zhao Kuangyin's difficult choice
At the beginning of the founding of the Northern Song Dynasty, the situation was difficult. Enemies on all sides are always on the lookout. Zhao Kuangyin knows that only by uniting as one and helping each other can we survive this crisis-ridden moment. Therefore, he especially cherishes those cronies who share his life and death.
Among them, the one who worries Zhao Kuangyin the most is Zhang Qiong. This general is not only excellent in martial arts, but also loyal to Zhao Kuangyin. In those battles of attacking the city, Zhang Qiong was born and died many times, and solved Zhao Kuangyin's urgent needs many times.
Once, a small group of troops led by Zhao Kuangyin was surrounded by the enemy, and it was about to be annihilated, Zhang Qiong stepped forward, used exquisite bow and arrow techniques, and shot several arrows in a row, instantly opening up a way for Zhao Kuangyin to survive.
It was with the company of a loyal dead soldier like Zhang Qiong that Zhao Kuangyin was able to retreat in those difficult years and finally ascend the throne as emperor. But just when he was sitting on the throne, a difficult problem was placed in front of him: how to deal with Zhang Qiong, a former cronie?
Zhao Kuangyin knew that in order to consolidate his dominance, he must first deal with those potentially dangerous elements that could threaten him. But at the same time, he couldn't bear to hurt those comrades-in-arms who had lived and died with him. This is a dilemma, which makes Zhao Kuangyin feel unprecedentedly entangled.
He knew that if he did not deal with these former cronies decisively, he would definitely suffer their revenge in the future. But on the other hand, he really can't hurt his old comrades-in-arms who have made great contributions to him. This kind of inner struggle made Zhao Kuangyin feel extremely painful.
In the end, at the instigation of the ministers, Zhao Kuangyin still made up his mind to completely eliminate these potentially dangerous elements that might threaten his rule.
Zhang Qiong's arrogance and willfulness
Zhang Qiong, as Zhao Kuangyin's most trusted confidant, is naturally detached in the court. Not only is he in charge of elite troops, but he is also extremely prestigious in the army. But it was this prestige that made Zhang Qiong begin to be arrogant.
He was arrogant to the ministers, and even Zhao Kuangyin's younger brother Zhao Guangyi didn't pay attention to him. Once in the court, Zhang Qiong had a fierce dispute with Zhao Guangyi because of some trivial matters, and the two sides fought and made Zhao Kuangyin half angry. Zhang Qiong simply put the emperor's authority at his feet, which made Zhao Kuangyin feel an unprecedented threat.
Although Zhao Kuangyin has always been wary of Zhang Qiong, it was only then that he realized that this former cronie had completely changed his taste, and he was likely to be eyeing his throne.
The reason why Zhang Qiong has become so arrogant and domineering is that he is too conceited. As Zhao Kuangyin's trusted general, he made great achievements on the battlefield and won Zhao Kuangyin's trust. This elevation of status made Zhang Qiong gradually forget his duty, and began to look at no one in his eyes, and he commanded the ministers in the court.
He didn't even pay attention to Zhao Kuangyin's younger brother Zhao Guangyi, and fought with him in the court. This kind of behavior is also openly challenging the authority of the emperor, which makes Zhao Kuangyin feel very uneasy.
What worries Zhao Kuangyin even more is that Zhang Qiong secretly raises dead soldiers at home and specializes in building weapons. This is undoubtedly preparing for a rebellion, and this potential threat makes Zhao Kuangyin feel an unprecedented sense of crisis. He began to wonder if he could really fully trust his former cronies.
Wenchen's ruse
Although Zhao Kuangyin is resentful of Zhang Qiong's actions, after all, the two have a life-and-death relationship, and he has never been ruthless to Zhang Qiong. Until one day, some civil servants slandered Zhao Kuangyin, saying that Zhang Qiong was secretly raising dead soldiers at home and building weapons, which was very likely to be a rebellion.
Among these ministers, the most active are Shi Qi and Shi Hanqing. They have always had conflicts with Zhang Qiong, and when they saw Zhang Qiong arrogant and domineering in the court, they wanted to take the opportunity to get rid of this big trouble. So, they made up some rumors and slandered Zhao Kuangyin.
The reason why these Wenchen are so active in slandering Zhang Qiong is actually out of their own selfish interests. As Wenchen, they have always had conflicts with the military general Zhang Qiong, and feel that their status is threatened.
Zhao Kuangyin has always been obedient to Wenchen, and he himself is wary of Zhang Qiong, so this time he quickly believed the slander of Shi Qi and others. He ordered Zhang Qiong's immediate arrest and torture in an attempt to extract a confession. This is a very dangerous decision, because once Zhang Qiong is wrongly blamed, it will be a huge loss.
However, in the political environment at the time, Zhao Kuangyin seemed to have no choice. He had to rely on the support of his ministers in order to consolidate his dominance. Therefore, even though he had some concerns in his heart, he still chose to believe the slander of the ministers and ordered the arrest of Zhang Qiong.
Zhang Qiong's last years
Although Zhang Qiong is strong in martial arts, he is an honest person after all, and he doesn't know what scheming is. After he was arrested and imprisoned, he always flatly denied that he had any intention to rebel and refused to admit his guilt. However, Zhao Kuangyin didn't want to believe his defense at all.
In prison, Zhang Qiong was tortured by all kinds of torture, but he never gave in. Until the end, Zhao Kuangyin issued a holy decree of execution, with only two cold words on it, "Give death". Seeing this old friend who had saved him countless times being sentenced to death like this, Zhao Kuangyin felt so painful in his heart, but he had no choice but to cut off this last "tiger wolf" that threatened his imperial power with his own hands.
The reason why Zhang Qiong suffered such an fate was that he was too simple and didn't understand what scheming was. As a military general, he has spent his life on the battlefield and has never been exposed to the intrigues of the imperial court. Therefore, when he was framed as a rebel by the ministers, he couldn't deal with it at all, so he could only blindly deny it.
This simple character has become his fatal wound. In Zhao Kuangyin's view, Zhang Qiong has become an uncontrollable potential threat that must be completely eliminated. Therefore, no matter how unbearable he was in his heart, he still ordered Zhang Qiong to be executed.
Seeing this old friend who had saved him countless times being sentenced to death like this, Zhao Kuangyin was undoubtedly in great pain in his heart. However, as a monarch, he must make difficult choices to ensure that his dominance is not shaken.
It was a very cruel decision, but in the political environment at the time, Zhao Kuangyin seemed to have no choice. He had to rely on the support of his ministers in order to consolidate his rule.
Therefore, even though he had some concerns in his heart, he still chose to believe the slander of the ministers and ordered Zhang Qiong to be executed. This is a difficult choice, but in Zhao Kuangyin's view, this is a sacrifice he has to make for his imperial power.
epilogue
Life is like chess, and there are no regrets. In order to consolidate his imperial power, Zhao Kuangyin had to personally cut off the relationship with those cronies who had lived and died together. It was a difficult choice, but in his opinion, it had to be made.
Only in this way can he avoid being bitten by these "tiger wolves" in the future. Zhang Qiong's tragedy was destined to happen, because he was too simple and didn't understand what scheming was. In contrast, Zhao Kuangyin is more sophisticated and tactful, and he clearly knows that if he wants long-term peace and stability, he must first cut the grass and eradicate the roots, and strangle all potential threats in the cradle.
The wheels of history are rolling forward, and we have no way to comment on whether Zhao Kuangyin's choice is correct. But one thing is certain, that is, in that iron-blooded era, if you want to survive, you must be like Zhao Kuangyin, ruthless, and even betray the former friend of life and death.