In the five dynasties of Liang, Tang, Jin, and Han, there were only two generations of emperors, one was the founding stone Jingyao, and the other was the fallen shi Chonggui. Before understanding Shi Zhonggui, it is necessary to understand Shi Jingyao in three words and two words, because the causal relationship between the two is too close.
Both Shi Jingyao and the Later Tang Emperor were from Shatuo, who was originally a general under the founder of the Later Tang Dynasty, Li Keyong, and later rebelled against the Late Tang Emperor, who promised to give the Khitan Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures in order to win, and called himself "Son" to the Khitan lord Yelü Deguang.
After understanding what was going on, he came to see Shi Chonggui, he was not Shi Jingyao's son, but the son of Shi Jingyao's brother, and due to the death of his brother, Shi Jingyao adopted him as an adopted son. Later, Shi Jingyao's five sons died one after another, leaving only one youngest son and too young, for the stability of the Later Jin, Shi Jingyao had to choose to pass on his adopted son.
The evaluation of Shi Zhonggui in later generations can be summed up in four words, that is, simplicity and purity. For his performance during his reign, some people use eight words to describe it as insufficient ability and more than enough backbone. He has only been in power for four years, and it is also an eventful autumn of internal and external troubles, so it is difficult to expect him to have any outstanding performance in internal affairs. The topic around Shi Zhonggui almost all focused on his insistence on not being a vassal of the Khitans.
This is why the reason why Shi Jingyao is introduced first, you will find the three key labels of "titled subject", "titled child", and "sixteen states", and the deep influence of Shi Is precious. If "weighing children" is a personal act, although it is undignified to be an emperor, Shi Jingyao is the "dry father" of every emperor's predecessor, and if the emperor encounters a minister who is unwilling to send a Khitan envoy for him because he feels ashamed, there is nothing wrong with it, and Shi Jingyao will not kill him. However, "being a vassal" is a matter of the state system, which means that one country is a vassal of another country and recognizes the status of the suzerainty of the other party, so whoever is allowed to go on an envoy or pay tribute is a matter of course in legal system.
However, the Central Plains had been in turmoil for many years, internal attrition was serious, and the Later Jin Dynasty had just established a state, and Shi Chonggui knew that he might not be able to defeat the Khitan army. So he made such a decision, or gesture, Shi Jingyao called himself "Son", and from a personal point of view, Shi Chonggui agreed to call himself "Sun", but never as a subject. It should be known that after the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun were cut off, there was almost no danger to defend in the north, and the Khitan army went south to Pingchuan, which was very suitable for cavalry combat.
Shi Chonggui knew that he could not do it, and most likely hoped that Yelü Deguang would look at the face of himself as "Sun" and not come to beat him, so that Shi Chonggui's prestige would increase greatly in front of the hundred officials and even the people of the Later Jin Dynasty because he was not a subject. Avoid the embarrassing situation in the Shi Jingyao period, when the Khitan Shichen came, but as an emperor, he had to rush to the other hall to "listen to the orders", and the civil and military officials waiting in the main hall were ashamed of it.
However, it turned out that Yerushalayim had already intended to go south, and was worried that he would not be able to catch the right opportunity and reason. In 944, the Khitan army marched south, and Shi Chonggui was not as firm and spineless as he was at the beginning, but actively chose to repair the letter in order to avoid disasters. But Yerushalayim's intention to go south has been decided, and he will not stop fighting because of a letter that has changed its tone. At that time, not only did he lack military command skills, but even there were no outstanding generals available in the army. But even in this case, because everyone had to deal with the Khitans, the military and the people were unusually united in one heart and still resisted the Khitan fifty thousand cavalry.
After getting the unexpected victory, Shi Chonggui was proud of this, and when he returned to the palace, he began to enjoy life. He likes the first two of the first two, listening to music and hearing "taste", spending money like diapers when rewarding court dramas. On the "color" side, just one example is given, and he is a concubine.
This was not the year of peace, the Khitan had taken advantage of the opportunity many times south, but Shi Zhonggui was still confused, so that the military and the people could not save him. In 947, the Khitan army attacked Kaifeng, Shi Chonggui was taken north, and the Later Jin Dynasty perished, and Shi Chonggui died after living in the Liao state for another twenty-seven years.