History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 962: Taizu's Past 1
【Taizu's Past】

Qin Shi Huang, Han Wudi, Tang Zong and Song Zu. Zhao Kuangyin is one of the "Four Heavenly Kings" among Chinese feudal emperors. There are many interesting stories about him. Below we will briefly describe a few stories to remember this emperor in all aspects.

“The art of knowing people”

After he sat on the throne, all he saw were people kneeling down, and all he heard were "Long live the emperor". Zhao Kuangyin was not lost in the glamorous world in front of him, nor was he complacent. He wanted to create a peaceful and prosperous era, and he wanted to be close to the virtuous and stay away from the flatterers, so he was eager to figure out who was loyal to the country and who was the flatterer. He came up with a very alternative method, which was to deliberately degenerate and pretend to be a proud and complacent tyrant, to see who dared to risk his life to advise and who would flatter.

Seeing Zhao Kuangyin's complacency and his suicidal behavior, most of his ministers advised him to be prepared for danger, otherwise he would lose his country. However, Zhao Kuangyin acted nonchalant, saying things like life and death are determined by fate and wealth is determined by God. He also said that Chai Rong would kill Fang Da'er when he saw him, but I have been with him for so many years and I am still alive, which shows that I am protected by gods.

The upright ministers were extremely worried, and the more they advised him, the more excessive Zhao Kuangyin became, declaring that "those who have the will of heaven can do as they please, and you cannot stop them."

One day, Zhao Kuangyin was having a great time shooting sparrows with a slingshot in the back garden. The eunuch reported that a certain minister wanted to see him for an important matter. Zhao Kuangyin frowned, quite displeased, "What a spoils the fun! Can't you see I'm busy? I won't see you!"

A moment later, the young eunuch came again in a hurry, "He said there is something extremely urgent and must be reported to Your Majesty immediately."

Zhao Kuangyin reluctantly put away his slingshot, "Damn it, let him come over!"

However, what the minister reported was a trivial matter. Zhao Kuangyin could no longer suppress his anger and scolded, "Is this a big deal?" He insulted the minister.

The minister retorted: "I think it is more urgent than shooting sparrows with a slingshot."

"How dare you talk back?" Zhao Kuangyin was so angry that he hit the minister's mouth with the axe handle, knocking out two of his front teeth on the spot. The minister bent down, picked up the broken teeth, and put them in his arms.

Seeing this, Zhao Kuangyin became even more angry. "Why, you still dare to collect evidence? Are you planning to sue me?"

The minister shook his head and said, "How can a minister tell your majesty? There are historians who will record this matter."

Zhao Kuangyin instantly showed a gratified smile, "What a loyal minister!" So he ordered a generous reward for him.

"United Thought"

Once, Zhao Kuangyin visited the Wuchengwang Temple. Wuchengwang Temple was first built during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty, and was dedicated to worshipping Jiang Taigong and the great generals of all dynasties. Accompanied by officials, Zhao Kuangyin admired the portraits of the great generals enshrined in the two corridors and nodded frequently, "Hmm, hmm, this one is awesome... Damn, this one is even more awesome."

Suddenly, Zhao Kuangyin's face changed, and he raised his cane angrily, pointing at one of the portraits, and angrily asked his attendants: "This man killed the surrendered and had no martial ethics, why is he still enshrined in the Martial Temple? This is a joke, take it away!"

Everyone hurriedly took down the portrait.

Who made Zhao Kuangyin so angry? Answer: Bai Qi.

Gao Xi, the left-handed imperial edict editor, took the opportunity to submit a memorial, saying that Bai Qi was the only one who was not qualified to be selected? What about Wang Sengbian of the Southern Liang Dynasty?

Zhao Kuangyin thought it made sense. Even for the deceased, the three vulgarities should be fought against. So he asked Zhang Zhaoyuan, Dou Yi and Gao Xi to serve as the chairman of an association to conduct a comprehensive moral examination of the ancients enshrined in the temple. The standard was "those who have always had flawless achievements in their works." The old artists with both moral integrity and artistic excellence would be selected, and those who endorsed advertisements indiscriminately, bought fake bags for their female apprentices, did not allow the audience to interact with them on stage, went to foot massage parlors after leaving the stage, and spent more time in prison than at home... would all be removed from office.

After strict screening and assessment, 22 people from the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, including Sun Bin, Lian Po, Han Xin, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, were finally eliminated; 23 people from the Han Dynasty to the Five Dynasties, including Ban Chao, Qin Qiong, Zheng Ting, Ge Congzhou, Zhou Dewei, and Fu Cunshen (Li Cunshen), were newly added. A statue of Guan Zhong was also added to the hall.

Secretary Lang Zhouhan submitted a memorial to question and oppose this behavior, saying that no one is perfect except saints and sages. Who can guarantee that these newly added people have no scandals? Why do you have to nitpick on ancient people who lived thousands of years ago? I really don't understand. Your Majesty, please give me a reasonable explanation!

The memorial was submitted, but was read without any reply.

Zhou Han's vision is too narrow. He knows the result but not the reason. Why should we set an example? Why should Qin Hui and others kneel in front of Yue Fei's tomb?
Zhao Kuangyin was visibly angry about Bai Qi's killing of the surrendered, but in reality he had zero tolerance for the military commanders' abuse of power, zero tolerance for those who disregarded the imperial power, and zero tolerance for the tyranny and disloyalty of the feudal lords since the Five Dynasties. To use the past to illustrate the present, listen to the tone of the words and the sound of the gongs and drums. The feudal lords must listen to the inner monologue of Boss Zhao.

Without understanding this meaning, how could one have thrived in the early Song Dynasty? Comrade Zhou Han, be thankful that you can retire safely.

"Mad Dog Shi Gui" August 963, "Zhang Qiong Suicide Case".

Zhang Qiong was the second-in-command of the Palace Guards, one of the three major divisions of the imperial guards. Two junior officers of the imperial guards, Shi Gui and Shi Hanqing, were favored by Zhao Kuangyin and became popular figures around the emperor, but they had personal grudges against Zhang Qiong.

One day, Shi Gui and Shi Hanqing reported Zhang Qiong to Zhao Kuangyin, saying that Zhang Qiong privately raised more than a hundred followers, acted arrogantly, and often slandered the emperor's younger brother Zhao Guangyi (Zhao Guangyi was the former Palace Guard Commander) behind his back, with ulterior motives.

Zhao Kuangyin was furious and called Zhang Qiong to confront him. Zhang Qiong denied all the rumors. Zhao Kuangyin was furious and shouted, "Kill him!"

Shi Hanqing, who was standing by, immediately swung a large hammer and blew off Zhang Qiong's head. Zhang Qiong was seriously injured and fell unconscious, and was then dragged away and handed over to the authorities for strict trial.

After Zhang Qiong regained consciousness, he committed suicide to prove his innocence. After the relevant departments searched Zhang Qiong's house, they found that although Zhang Qiong was not penniless, at least he had no money and lived a very poor life. As for the legendary "hundreds of followers", they did not exist at all, and there were only three servants.

Zhao Kuangyin then called Shi Hanqing to question him, "Didn't you say he had more than a hundred loyal soldiers? Where are they?"

Shi Hanqing boasted: "One of Qiong's foster children is as good as a hundred."

Zhao Kuangyin treated Zhang Qiong's family well, but how would he deal with Shi Hanqing, Shi Gui and others who framed loyal officials and made fun of the emperor?
Answer: "It is not a crime for Han Qing either." Forget it this time, and continue next time.

The palace guard, the second in command of the "three horses", died in the mouth of a small officer at the company level. There was no need to collect real evidence, no need to painstakingly fabricate charges, and even the subsequent sophistry was a little playful... Needless to say, Shi Gui, Shi Hanqing and others were vicious dogs carefully raised by Zhao Kuangyin, vicious dogs that specialized in biting senior generals.

After Zhao Kuangyin ascended the throne, he urgently needed a group of informants. Such people had to meet several characteristics, such as humble status, clever mind, and profit-seeking. A humble status would help them hide their identities; a clever mind would help them conduct business; and profit-seeking was the core requirement for them. They would betray those around them without any bottom line and climb up on the corpses of colleagues and friends.

Shi Gui was one of the best of this kind. Due to his outstanding performance at work, Shi Gui was soon promoted to the cavalry commander, becoming a mid-level officer and serving as the governor of Yizhou.

The Book of Changes says that a person with great virtue can carry all things. Shi Gui obviously could not match his rising status. He only remembered that he was the Emperor's vicious dog, but he did not know that a vicious dog was not the same as a mad dog. Guarding the house and biting people is his job, but he cannot bite randomly and must guess the master's eyes. You bite whoever you are told to bite, not whoever you want to bite.

Shi Gui made the same mistake that vicious dogs often make, mistaking the emperor's favor for true love. Shi Gui relied on the emperor's favor to become arrogant, and the typical example is the "Liang Mengsheng case".

Liang Mengsheng was the chancellor of the Imperial Academy and the acting governor of Dezhou, while Guo Gui, the governor of Dezhou, was the acting governor of Xingzhou. Guo Gui's family in Dezhou bullied others and did many illegal things. After Liang Mengsheng took office in Dezhou, he was ruthless and arrested them according to law.

Guo Gui and Shi Gui were old acquaintances, so he used Shi Gui's connections to ask Shi Gui to help get rid of Liang Mengsheng. Shi Gui laughed and said, "What's the difficulty? Liang Mengsheng's life or death is just a matter of a word from me. Don't worry, I'll take care of it."

Shi Gui wrote a letter of complaint using his real name, which contained all the charges fabricated against Liang Mengsheng, of course, they were all false accusations.

A few days later, it was time for Shi Gui to report his work to Zhao Kuangyin. Zhao Kuangyin was particularly happy that day because the progress of various reforms was very smooth. Judging from the feedback from all parties, the situation was very good. Zhao Kuangyin was quite pleased and exclaimed: "It seems that the reform of literati governing prefectures and counties has achieved very gratifying results. The people we employ are all the right ones."

Shi Gui hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty is wise! The results are indeed gratifying, but there are a few comrades who may have let Your Majesty down. He is Liang Mengsheng, the acting governor of Dezhou. He persecuted the former governor Guo Gui and almost forced him to death (slandered the governor Guo Gui to the point of death)." Then he took out a small notebook from his arms that slandered Liang Mengsheng.

Zhao Kuangyin sneered in his heart, took the small book, and without even glancing at it, he said: "Guo Gui must have done something illegal. Liang Mengsheng is not afraid of power and enforces the law impartially. He is a truly honest and powerful official!" He then handed the small book to his attendant and ordered: "Immediately promote Liang Mengsheng to the rank of Doctor of Praise!"

Just as the attendant turned around and was about to leave, Zhao Kuangyin suddenly remembered something and hurriedly called out to stop him, "Hey - promote him to Zuo Zanshan Doctor, and keep him as the governor of Dezhou."

The Chancellor of the Imperial College was of the "sixth rank, lower rank", while the Doctor of Praise was of the "fifth rank, upper rank", but neither of them had real power, while the Inspector did have real power. The reason why Zhao Kuangyin emphasized that he "still governed Dezhou" was that he was afraid that the Secretariat would misunderstand and give Liang Mengsheng a promotion in name only and a demotion in reality.

Zhao Kuangyin glanced at Shi Gui, who was so frightened that he didn't dare to breathe for a long time.

Zhang Qiong died because he was a high-ranking official in the imperial guards and Zhao Kuangyin wanted him dead; Liang Mengsheng lived because he was a civil servant and Zhao Kuangyin needed him alive. Shi Gui was just a mad dog raised by Zhao Kuangyin, a tool that he could control at will.

Thanks to old friends "Jiang Hu Liu Bai" and "Yang Kui" for their monthly ticket support!

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(End of this chapter)