History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 854 Zhao Song Dynasty
【Zhao Song Dynasty】

Zhao Kuangyin took advantage of the fact that the ruler of Later Zhou was young and the country was in disarray, and launched a military coup to seize power. The whole process was smooth and seamless, but it also brought up another serious political issue - what should the country be called?
Zhu Wen and others were conservative and wanted to emulate the ancients, so before usurping the throne, they would always first be awarded the title of Grand Marshal of the Army, then be granted the title of king, and be given the Nine Gifts... So the new dynasty they established would use their titles as the country's name. Zhu Wen was the "King of Liang" in the previous dynasty, so he established Daliang. For another example, Yang Wei of Huainan (the second son of Yang Xingmi) inherited the title of King of Wu, so he established "Da Wu" (Southern Wu).

Zhao Kuangyin's title in the Later Zhou Dynasty was "founding marquis", which was a long way from being a "king".

In addition to the titles of the previous dynasty, one can also follow the example of "Uncle Liu" and look for ancestors in history books, such as Xu Zhigao, a member of the Li Tang royal family, who established the "Great Tang" (Southern Tang), and Guo Wei, a distant descendant of the Ji clan of the Great Zhou, who established the "Great Zhou" (Later Zhou).

Zhao Kuangyin did not claim his own ancestor, but was ingenious and took a different approach - naming it Jieduzhou. In addition to being the inspector general of the palace, Zhao Kuangyin also served as the Jiedushi of Songzhou Guide Army, so he named the country "Song".

Of course, later generations joked that "Song" means "giving up" in military affairs and "cowardly" in diplomacy. In fact, this is also a misunderstanding of the Song Dynasty. Later generations only remember the Jingkang Shame and the repeated defeats of the Song Dynasty in the battles against Liao, Jin, Xixia, and Mongolia, but they don't know that the Song Dynasty basically completed the unification of the motherland, and in foreign wars, it was not always cowardly and giving up like in the late Northern Song Dynasty. Otherwise, it would not have been the longest-lived dynasty in Chinese history.

Comrade Zhao Kuangyin's ancestral home was in Zhuo County, Hebei Province. His great-grandfather, Zhao Tiao, was the magistrate of Yongqing County, Wen'an County, and Youdu County in the Tang Dynasty, and he worked hard in a high-ranking county government all his life; his great-grandfather, Zhao Ting, served in a military region; his grandfather, Zhao Jing, worked hard as a high-ranking official in the city (Governor); and by the generation of his father, Zhao Hongyin, the Zhao family finally became successful.

Zhao Hongyin was "brave and good at riding and shooting" when he was young. He served under Wang Rong of Zhenzhou. When Liang and Jin were confronting each other along the river, Li Cunxu ordered Wang Rong to send the elite troops of Chengde Army to support the front line. So Zhao Hongyin followed Wang Rong's order and led 500 elite cavalry to support the front line. He performed outstandingly in the subsequent battle against Liang and was loved by Li Cunxu. Later, Li Cunxu kept him by his side and placed him in the imperial army.

During the Later Han Dynasty, Zhao Hongyin participated in the battle against Fengxiang Wang Jingchong. During the fierce battle, Zhao Hongyin was shot in the left eye, which activated his skill of Xiahou Dun. "He was full of energy and fought hard to defeat the enemy." He was promoted to the commander of the Protector of the Holy Capital and became a senior general of the imperial army. During the Later Zhou Dynasty, he followed Emperor Shizong to conquer the Huai River. He made meritorious services wherever he went. He was promoted to the position of Inspector of the Ministry of Rites and was granted the titles of Baron of Tianshui County and Lord Baron.

Zhao Hongyin had five sons, namely Zhao Kuangji, Zhao Kuangyin, Zhao Kuangyi, Zhao Kuangmei, and Zhao Kuangzan (whose name is the same as Zhao Yanshou's son). The eldest son Kuangji and the youngest son Kuangzan died early.

Now that Comrade Zhao Kuangyin has taken up the post of emperor, he will give a lecture on "Approaching Science" as usual:
1. Birth Vision

In the second year of Tiancheng in the Later Tang Dynasty (927), Zhao Kuangyin was born in Jiamaying, Luoyang. When he was born, the delivery room was "filled with red light and a strange fragrance lingered all night", and the newborn baby's "body was golden and did not change for three days", just like an Oscar-winning little golden man. When he grew up a little, he had a "majestic appearance and a broad mind", and everyone who saw him said that this child would achieve great things in the future.

2. Diamond Body Guard

Zhao Kuangyin was gifted with extraordinary talents and amazing bones. He was able to learn anything like a cheat code, and was as fast as lightning and as steady as an old dog (he was always better than others in riding and shooting)... In short, Comrade Zhao Kuangyin, the great, glorious and correct Taizu, the heroic, wise, virtuous, holy and filial emperor, was a high-quality male of the human race, and being a top student was just the starting price.

One day, Zhao Kuangyin tried to ride an untamed horse. In order to show off his superb horse training skills, the young and frivolous Zhao Kuangyin did not put a bit or bridle on the horse.

"Look at me showing off."

Zhao Kuangyin grabbed the horse's neck and mane and flew to straddle the horse's back. The horse immediately became furious and ran away. As the old saying goes, it is difficult to get off a tiger. At this time, Zhao Kuangyin finally understood a truth. Sometimes, it is difficult to get off a horse. He finally felt a little scared while galloping and regretted being so reckless. In order not to fall off, Zhao Kuangyin could only clamp his legs against the horse's belly and hold the horse's neck tightly with both hands. However, the more he did this, the more angry the horse would be, and the faster the horse ran, and the more dangerous the situation became.

At this critical moment, the fierce horse ran up the ramp of the city gate tower. In a flash, Zhao Kuangyin's head hit the door frame firmly, "bang-bang-" in the blink of an eye, Zhao Kuangyin fell to the ground from the horse's back.

According to eyewitnesses at the time, the head hitting the door frame at that speed was like an egg hitting a stone, "people thought the head would break." It was not a matter of breaking, but of breaking, and "must break."

As a result, Zhao Kuangyin slowly stood up, patted the dirt off his body, resurrected on the spot with full health and full buffs, and with a 100-meter sprint, he actually caught up with the fierce horse again, then turned over and jumped back on the horse, "Little guy, can I not deal with you?"

Afterwards people discovered that Zhao Kuangyin was not hurt at all, which everyone thought was amazing.

3. Catching birds and avoiding robbery
Zhao Kuangyin once gambled with his best friend Han Lingkun in an earthen house. Gambling seems to be a multi-person entertainment game. The more people participate, the more fun it is, so people often gather together to gamble. But if there are only two people, it will be a bit boring. After gambling for a while, Zhao Kuangyin became absent-minded and couldn't muster up the energy.

Suddenly, Zhao Kuangyin noticed a few sparrows fighting outside the door, which aroused Zhao Kuangyin's interest, so he called Han Lingkun to catch the birds together. A man is a young man until he dies.

As soon as the two walked out of the house, they heard a crash and the house collapsed due to disrepair. If they stayed in the house, they would be buried alive.

4. The old monk advises the north
It is said that when Zhao Kuangyin was young, he had nothing to do and was a social idler and unemployed vagrant. One day, he stayed in a Buddhist temple in Xiangyang. There was an old monk who was good at fortune-telling. He said to Zhao Kuangyin: "I will give you a great gift. Listen to me, go north, and your life will be very different!"

Not long after, a major event really happened in the north. Li Shouzhen in Hezhong rebelled, and Guo Wei was ordered to suppress the rebellion. Zhao Kuangyin immediately joined the army and became Guo Wei's subordinate.

So the question is, the old monk said "if you go north, you will meet someone", what if Zhao Kuangyin surrenders to Li Shouzhen's camp...

Since following Guo Wei, Zhao Kuangyin's life has really taken off.

5. Big-eared thief
After Zhao Kuangyin proclaimed himself emperor, he swore to those around him that the reason he could become emperor was absolutely God's will. Because Chai Rong was most worried about his subordinates rebelling, so when he saw someone with big ears and the appearance of an emperor, he would definitely find fault and kill him. But I - actually survived to the end.

(End of this chapter)