Author: Our special guest author Nine Fish Pavilion
Since the middle and late Tang Dynasty, a batch of eunuchs appeared on the scene, the imperial power often became worthless, the government was confused by the eunuchs, and in the fifth generation, the military generals killed the eunuchs, cut off the claimed king, and starved the wild people to live, until the appearance of the male lord Zhao Kuangyin, which ended all this and brought the country back to the right track.
Zhao Kuangyin was great, he ended the years of people's suffering, and also laid the foundation of the Great Song, however, when Zhao Guangyi came to power, everything changed. The old lord died, the new lord was unresolved, and Zhao Guangyi was bound to the throne, in the shadow of the candlelight axe, Zhao Kuangyin passed away, in the cheers, Zhao Guangyi was the emperor.
All kinds of indications show that Zhao Kuangyin's death and his brother Zhao Guangyi are inseparable, but we cannot define Zhao Guangyi as a prince without a path. Li Shimin killed his brother and persecuted his father, and this did not affect his reputation as an emperor for thousands of years, as long as the emperor made a difference, then his personal stain could be ignored.
Zhao Guangyi has been diligent all his life, he has never given up the struggle for his dreams, even if the organs are calculated and the heart is fierce, he has to prove himself, but his ability and desire are different, and his luck is extremely poor. Zhao Guangyi took the Northern Han Dynasty with the strength of the country and completed the reunification, which was the starting point of his glory, but it was also the end.
Since then, the two Northern Expeditions have been defeated and lost, and neither the Party Nord nor the Khitan has solved any problem, but has exhausted the national strength, and even he himself is injured. At the time of his death, was Zhao Guangyi relieved or remorseful? Is it relief, or is it an epiphany? Everything didn't matter anymore, in 997, on March 29, Zhao Guangyi collapsed in the Hall of Banzai, and behind him was another round of power struggle!
1. When Emperor Taizong dies, cause and effect are reincarnated
On that stormy night, Zhao Guangyin died suddenly, and Empress Song ordered the eunuch Wang Ji'en to invite Zhao Defang, and Wang Ji'en did not obey the empress's orders, but brought Zhao Guangyi, and Zhao Guangyi became emperor in such a dignified manner.
Twenty-one years later, it was still wang Ji'en who betrayed his master again. This time Zhao Guangyi had an crown prince, that is, Zhao Heng, the True Emperor, and if there were no accidents, Zhao Heng was on the throne, but Wang Ji'en wanted to establish his eldest son Zhao Yuanzuo, the King of Chu.
Historical records record that "in the early days, Emperor Buyu, Xuanzheng made Wang Ji'en jealous of the prince Yingming, together with Li Changling, the governor of the government, and Hu Dan, the governor of Chu, to establish Yuanzuo, the prince of Chu. ”
A eunuch with such power? How could you change the heirs of a country on your own? This is obviously unlikely, and soon Empress Li appeared, and we speculate that the matter of wanting to change the crown prince was led by Empress Li and executed by Wang Ji'en.
Without the presence of that person, this piece of the sky of the Song Dynasty would once again be a world dominated by eunuchs and foreign relatives. At the critical moment, Prime Minister Lü Duan stood up, he stood on the side of the prince, and he also stood on the side of Zhao Guangyi.
To change the crown prince, it is not enough to rely on the empress, eunuchs, counselors in government affairs, and the command of the palace, but there is only one person missing, that is, the prime minister Lü Duan.
During the reign of Emperor Taizong, Lü Duan was quite valued by Zhao Guangyi and praised by Zhao Guangyi as "small things are confused, and big things are not confused." Lü Duan was a fair and honest man, steady and powerful, and for many years he rose and fell in his official position, but he was still doing his best to do things for the imperial court. Zhao Guangyi once issued an order that the administrative affairs of Zhongshu Province must go through Lü Duan's eyes before he could play Zhao Guangyi.
With such grace, Lü Duan was still humble and cautious, and before that, his political achievements were mediocre, and on the day of Zhao Guangyi's death, Lü Duan stepped forward and saved the national fortunes of the Great Song.
Second, the conspiracy was revealed, and Lü Duanli tried to protect the throne of emperor Zhenzong
During the period when the old emperor was seriously ill, the general prince had to accompany him around, on the one hand, to show filial piety, and secondly, to ensure a smooth succession to the throne. The emperor was seriously ill, and the chancellor naturally had to visit the palace, but Lü Duan found that the prince was not around the emperor, and in order to prevent accidents, Lü Duan immediately ordered his cronies to send a letter to the crown prince Zhao Heng and let him enter the palace quickly.
Soon, Zhao Guangyi died of illness, and Wang Ji'en came to Zhongshu Province to discuss the issue of heirs with Lü Duan. Why did Wang Ji'en want to establish his eldest son Zhang Yuanzuo? It stems from the fact that Zhao Yuanzuo had been greatly stimulated and became crazy, even if he got better later, he was not the right heir to the emperor, but for Empress Li and Wang Ji'en, this was the best, because it was easier to control.
Soon, Wang Ji'en explained the situation, and Lü Duan made it clear that what we said did not count, and the heir should be subject to the will. After so many years of conspiracy, Wang Ji'en was naturally not confused, and then he immediately went to the Zhongshu Provincial Painting Cabinet to find the will, no matter who was written on the will, he Wang Ji'en had a way to modify it.
When Wang Ji'en entered the painting cabinet, the door rumbled and was locked, and it was Lü Duan who ordered someone to lock the door. Wang Ji'en probably came to find Lü Duan for the sake of secrecy, so he was locked in the painting cabinet, and there was no way for a while, so he had to watch Lü Duan enter the palace.
The eunuch Wang Ji'en was taken care of, and the rest was Empress Li. Empress Li was the daughter of the founding father Li Chuyun, and at this time, Empress Li's other reliance was Li Jilong, who had a heavy army, so Empress Li still had several good cards in her hand.
Soon, Lü Duan arrived at the palace and met Empress Li. But Wang Ji'en did not see a trace, and Empress Li also panicked and said to Lü Duan: "The palace car is driven, and the heir is long, and Shunye is also." What will happen now? ”
Lü Duanyizheng said: "Emperor Xian created the crown prince just for today, how can there be other objections?" At Lü Duan's insistence, Empress Li's wishful thinking failed, and the secretaries of state immediately welcomed the crown prince Zhao Heng to the Funing Palace, ready to support Zhao Heng to take the throne.
Third, with his life in danger, Lü Duan verified that the emperor was in good health
Zhao Heng sat on the throne, and all the secretaries of state fell to their knees, and only Lü Duan stood alone and did not kneel. Lü Duan has made great achievements, so why don't he kneel?
Historical records record that "the True Sect is standing, the curtain is hanging to introduce the group of courtiers, And His Highness DuanPingli does not worship, please roll the curtains, ascend the temple to examine, and then demote, and lead the group of courtiers to worship long live." ”
After experiencing so much, Lü Duan also became more and more cautious, and in order to prevent trouble, he was afraid that Wang Ji'en and Empress Li would play some tricks again, and immediately asked the emperor to roll up the curtains.
Without the emperor's consent, Lü Duan went straight to Zhao Heng, and when it was confirmed that this was Zhao Heng, he retreated to His Highness and led his courtiers to shout long live. In this way, Zhao Heng's throne can be regarded as the dust settled. The seemingly calm sea may be turbulent, and if there is no Lü Duan, the Great Song may once again be submerged in darkness.
Zhao Guangyi can do whatever it takes for power, but he also created a real sense of monarchy and subject co-governance, since he is the one who seizes the throne, then he must pay more attention to the issue of heirs, so Lü Duan may be another insurance for Zhao Guangyi, ensuring the smooth transfer of power.
References: "History of the Song Dynasty, Fifth Book of the Benji", "History of the Song Dynasty". Lectionary 40, "Continuation of the General Book of Zizhi, Vol. 19"
Extended Links:
Reminisce about rural life in the 1980s
The most prominent spirit of the times in the Three Kingdoms: acknowledging division is reality, and not recognizing division is the result