Empress Dowager Liu was a very important and special figure in the Northern Song Dynasty. She holds great power and can almost be said to be equivalent to the emperor, but she does not dare to be the emperor until she dies, why is this?
Empress Dowager Liu of the Northern Song Dynasty was the wife of Zhao Heng of Song Zhenzong, and had another title called "Empress Zhang Xianmingsu", who was the first empress dowager in the Song Dynasty to listen to the government.
Empress Dowager Liu lowered the curtain to listen to the government
In the first year of Qianxing in the Northern Song Dynasty (1022), Zhao Heng of Song Zhenzong was ill and left an edict to respect the empress (Liu E) as the empress dowager, and all military and political affairs were handled by the empress dowager.
At this time, Song Renzong Zhao Zhen was only thirteen years old, and he would definitely not be able to cope with most things after succeeding to the throne, and the empress dowager should share the burden for the country.
Since then, there has been such a scene above the court, with the young Zhao Zhen sitting on the dragon chair, and the queen mother on the side is more imposing, the emperor is on the left, and the queen mother is on the right.
The ministers have something to report, so let the Empress Dowager Liu decide, on the surface it is peaceful, but in fact it is constantly suspicious.
For example, Ding Wei has always been not very satisfied with the ruling power of Empress Dowager Liu, thinking that she should return power to Song Renzong, and Empress Dowager Liu said, I don't want the Zhao family, I just manage it on my behalf.
Ding Wei didn't believe it, so he wanted to set up the Empress Dowager Liu, and even became more and more ambitious in the back, wanting to seize the imperial power. Now Empress Dowager Liu quit and vowed to kill this Ding Wei.
So I found an opportunity to expose Ding Wei's face in front of the public, and pushed all the evidence collected secretly in front of everyone, now Ding Wei wanted to quibble uselessly, Empress Dowager Liu ordered someone to kill Ding Wei, but was stopped by the ministers, and now the court is the time to employ people, and it is recommended to leave Ding Wei with a life, so Empress Dowager Liu just dismissed Ding Wei and demoted him to Yazhou.
After that, everyone didn't dare to underestimate Empress Dowager Liu, and they were cautious in everything.
Empress Dowager Liu's ambitions
Of course, Empress Dowager Liu didn't dare to relax, and she would be very concerned about the major events reported to her, such as usually when she was criticizing and folding, she would symbolically ask Zhao Zhen's opinion, Zhao Zhen couldn't make any decisions anyway, and asking him by herself would make her more popular.
Therefore, on the whole, Empress Dowager Liu's ruling career is relatively stable, and there are no twists and turns.
After Song Renzong Zhao Zhen grew up, Empress Dowager Liu did not cross this line, but returned power to Zhao Zhen.
However, if you want to say that Liu E doesn't have this mind, no one believes it.
Let's take a few examples, for example, when he was in the last dynasty, Liu E asked the courtiers: How is Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty? The ministers were frightened and knew what she meant, but there were always some courtiers who were not afraid of death, and said bluntly: "It's the sinner of the Tang Dynasty, who almost ruined Li Tang's country." ”
Although Liu E couldn't hold her face when she heard this, she still behaved very calmly.
And in the first year of Ming Dao, she went to the Taimiao Temple of the Great Song Dynasty to participate in the sacrificial ceremony in the emperor's costume despite opposition, which is equivalent to thinking that she is the emperor of the Great Song Dynasty.
Another time, he also wore the emperor's gown and went to the Taimiao Temple to worship Song Taizu.
Although Liu E tried to keep a low profile, in fact, these behaviors have aroused the dissatisfaction of many courtiers.
Among them is the "Lu Zhi" Lu Zongdao.
Honest courtier Lu Zongdao
Lu Zongdao is a native of Bozhou, relying on study to gain fame and fame, and stepping on his career step by step.
His way of being an official is to be a good official of the people, do practical things for the people, and no matter where he becomes an official, he can always be praised.
In 1017, Lu Zongdao won the appreciation of Song Zhenzong, and finally made him the official of the two provinces, and Lu Zongdao's character was born to do this.
But it was precisely because he dared to say it too much that Song Zhenzong had a headache for him.
Lu Zongdao's temperament is indeed very straightforward, and in the face of Song Zhenzong's boss, he is also reckless.
There is an interesting story, once Song Zhenzong had something to let Lu Zongdao enter the palace, Lu Zongdao was delayed because he was drinking with others, and after he woke up, he immediately went to meet Song Zhenzong, and told Song Zhenzong the truth.
Song Zhenzong appreciated it very much, so he specially talked about it in front of Queen Liu E.
Liu E kept this name in mind, and after she took power, she promoted Lu Zongdao, and finally Lu Zongdao turned out to be the right doctor and participated in political affairs, which can be said to be directly involved in state decision-making.
But even so, Lu Zongdao always maintained a neutral attitude towards Liu E.
dared to openly oppose Empress Dowager Liu's claim to be emperor
He is a conservative, and he does not have a good face for this queen mother, who listens to politics and holds great power but still can't satisfy her ambitions.
Later, Liu E's ambition really swelled, but there was no one around her to support her as the emperor.
Liu E set her eyes on Lu Zongdao, and one day secretly inquired about Lu Zongdao's thoughts. Do you still remember what I said above, Liu E asked the question "How is Wu Zetian in the Tang Dynasty"? That's right, Liu E asked in front of many officials at that time, but he actually asked Lu Zongdao alone.
None of the others dared to answer, only Lu Zongdao said that she was a sinner of the Tang Dynasty.
As soon as these words came out, everyone sweated for Lu Zongdao, so saying, isn't it equivalent to nailing Empress Dowager Liu to the cross?
Fortunately, Empress Dowager Liu didn't dare to do anything, so she could only smile awkwardly.
Subsequently, some officials who like to pat on the back said to the Empress Dowager Liu that they would build seven temples for the Liu family.
Hearing this, Lu Zongdao stood up again and said that the Seven Temples are the treatment only enjoyed by the Son of Heaven, once the Liu family establishes the Seven Temples, then what should the Son of Today do?
Also, when Empress Dowager Liu planned to wear the emperor's clothes and participate in the sacrificial activities of the Great Song Temple, Lu Zongdao was also the first to stand up against it.
Because it doesn't make sense.
Anyway, as long as the Empress Dowager Liu has the slightest behavior and idea of crossing the line, Lu Zongdao dares to stand up and stop it, he doesn't care if Liu E is the Empress Dowager or what, it is the responsibility of the courtiers to maintain the ethical guidelines.
The princes and nobles were very jealous of him
Think about it, even in front of Empress Dowager Liu, she dared to say such direct words, especially to other princes and nobles.
When encountering any injustice, Lu Zongdao will say it directly, sometimes in public, which makes these people who are named very embarrassed, but they dare not say anything, so they are particularly afraid of him!
Take the former privy envoy Cao Yu as an example, this person is domineering, everyone can't get used to him, but they can't do anything with him, only Lu Zongdao dares to join him in front of the emperor.
Since then, these magnates have given Lu Zongdao a name, called "Fish Head Participation in Politics", which has several meanings, because the word "Lu" is a "fish" head, and his bones are as hard as a fish head.
Many people wanted to get rid of him, but fortunately, Song Zhenzong and Empress Dowager Liu were secretly protecting him, otherwise it would be a great loss for the Northern Song Dynasty.
In the seventh year of Tiansheng in the Northern Song Dynasty (1029), Lu Zongdao died and was buried in Xinzheng.
Although he died, but for the Northern Song Dynasty to seek a lot of benefits, after his death, the common people have mourned this upright Qing official, but also for him to build the Lu Gong Tablet Pavilion for future generations to mourn.
There are many upright officials like Lu Zongdao in history, but not every one of them is so lucky to be able to meet Ming Jun, and many of them died unjustly.
That's the heaviness of history.