First of all, chivalry and simple personality
He was born in an official family, and his father Zhao was a general under Li in the late Tang Dynasty. As the saying goes, like father, like son, like man, Zhao Kuangyin learned to ride and shoot at an early age, showing great perseverance and perseverance. Once, he practiced riding a horse. I specially found a fierce horse that was not tamed, but I just sat on it. However, the horse lost his temper and ran straight for the gate. Zhao Kuangyin was caught off guard and fell off the tower. Everyone present was shocked and thought that he would be seriously injured. But Zhao Kuangyin jumped up from the ground and soon caught up with the fierce horse. He jumped up and tamed the fierce horse. This incident shows young Zhao Kuangyin's brave and unyielding personality. Due to the change of dynasties, he retired from his youth, his father Zhao Yue became less and less valued, and the Zhao family gradually declined, so that after a few years, life became very difficult. 1947, when Zhao Kuangyin was 2 1 year old, he found that his future could not depend on his father. In the prime of his life, he bid farewell to his parents and wife who had been married for three years and began to make great achievements in Kyushu. In the next two years, he experienced the changes of the world, read books all over the world and experienced hardships, but he also honed Zhao Kuangyin's will and broadened his horizons.
In the process of traveling around the world, he still maintained his chivalry. The most typical story is the story of bravely sending Jingniang thousands of miles, which is widely circulated in later generations. On one occasion, Zhao Kuangyin temporarily lived in a secluded place in Taiyuan. During the visit, he found a girl kidnapped by robbers who was taken home on foot to help the weak and the poor. On the way, Jingniang admired Zhao Kuangyin's heroism and expressed her love for him. However, Zhao Kuangyin didn't respond, because she insisted on the courtesy of her brothers and sisters only out of chivalry, not for personal benefit. But Jingniang's father suspected that they had been walking on the road for so long and was afraid of having an affair, so he put forward the suggestion of getting married. Zhao Kuangyin thought it was an insult to her personality, and she left angrily. Jingniang committed suicide at home because she was too ambitious. Although this incident ended in tragedy, it also reflected Zhao Kuangyin's chivalrous quality, that is, he dared to help others without expecting anything in return.
Zhao Kuangyin's simplicity has not changed since he became emperor, and he still keeps the habit of rushing into Kyushu. He used to like drinking and chatting at his old friend's house, and there was no ostentation and extravagance when he went. Premier Zhao Pu's family went the most. Zhao Pu's wife is a good cook, and moxibustion has a special taste. Every time she comes to Zhao Pu's house, she always shouts "Sister-in-law, please cook the meat for me", which is quite friendly and easy-going. Get along well with the monarch and his subjects. Compared with the founding monarchs and ministers of other dynasties, there is less anger and blood.
In 950, after two years of wandering, Zhao Kuangyin came to Yedu to join the Guo Wei army in the Tang Dynasty and became an ordinary soldier. Zhao Kuangyin was quickly promoted to an officer because of his burly figure, energetic, skillful riding and shooting, and not afraid of death. In the second year, Guo Wei launched an armed coup, and the later Han Dynasty became the later Zhou Dynasty, and Mao became the hair of the latter Zhou Dynasty. Later, he was promoted to the leader of the Eastern and Western empires. Later, Guo Wei died, his adopted son Chai Rong succeeded to the throne, and Zhao Kuangyin was promoted. At this time, the Northern Han regime used Guo Weigang's death to send troops to attack the later Zhou Dynasty. Zhao Kuangyin sent someone to pick up Chai Rong, and the two armies fought fiercely in Gaoping. Shortly after the battle began, the Northern Han army once gained the upper hand, and two generals fled the situation in the following week. There was chaos in the army, and Chai Rong was surrounded by four thousand people. At the critical moment, Zhao Kuangyin shouted before the war: "Now is the time for the most dangerous minister to die!" Lead his cavalry straight into the enemy line. The northern army couldn't stand the bitter struggle and lost control. In the last week, the army turned the tables and won a great victory. In the later wars, Zhao Kuangyin always took the lead, went forward bravely, was resourceful, performed well, and was promoted constantly, becoming one of the most important generals under Chai Rong.
In June 1959, Chai Rong died of illness, and seven-year-old Prince Chai Zongxun succeeded to the throne. At this time, Zhao Kuangyin became the chief inspector. Chai Zongxun panicked because he was young. In this atmosphere, Zhao Kuangyin began his preparations. In the following six months, the central organs of the Central Army and the generals of the Central Imperial Army were gradually replaced by Zhao Kuangyin's sworn brothers and confidants. On New Year's Day in 960 AD, Zhou Junchen was celebrating the New Year when he suddenly received an urgent report that the allied forces in northern Liaoning had invaded.
When the enemy invades, the soldiers will naturally come out. The little emperor and prime minister Fan Ju immediately ordered Zhao Kuangyin to lead his army to meet the enemy. But I don't know if this attack is fake. This grand report was designed by Zhao Kuangyin's consultant, aiming at finding opportunities for the joint army to launch a coup when people celebrate festivals and relax.
The next day, the army set out and was stationed in Chen Qiaoyi, 40 miles northeast of Kaifeng. That night, Zhao Kuangyin got drunk and asked his younger brother Zhao Guangyi and his confidant Zhao Pu to have a meeting with all the generals for one night. Because seizing power is a big deal after all, you may lose your mind. Although the army is basically a person's sworn brother and confidant, it is difficult to know what other people's attitudes will be. Therefore, it is the best choice for my brother and Zhao Pu to come forward, not to come forward by themselves. If everyone can support it, naturally it can show wisdom. If things fail and everyone objects, we can also blame our brother and Zhao Pu for the mistake. There is room to reverse Gankun, so as not to fall into a passive situation.
Under the temptation and encouragement of Zhao Guangyi and Zhao Pu, this topic was picked out, and military generals expressed their support in succession. Early the next morning, all the troops tied their men to the door of Zhao Kuangyin and shouted earth-shattering. Zhao Guangyi and Zhao Pu went into Zhao Kuangyin's room, helped him out, put the prepared yellow robe on Zhao Kuangyin, and knelt on the ground with everyone. Therefore, Zhao Kuangyin doesn't have to pretend anymore. He said to everyone, "I am very grateful to you for making me the son of heaven." However, you can't be a Fiona Fang without rules. If you accept my conditions, I can become the son of heaven; Otherwise, I'd rather let you kill me. "When everyone heard this, they quickly said," Please do what you want. We will do whatever you want. "Zhao Kuangyin said," the little emperor and the queen mother are my masters, and they will be my masters in the future. We should be kind to them and not let people think that we bully orphans and widows; The court ministers are all my former colleagues, you can't insult them; In the past imperial rebellion, soldiers burned and looted as soon as they entered the city. You can't do that. After things are settled, I will naturally reward everyone; Anyone who burns, kills and plunders is innocent! " Thousands of soldiers kowtowed to show their obedience. As a result, the army returned to Kaifeng, the capital, and completed a bloodless regime change.
Third, tolerance is great tolerance.
Zhao Kuangyin once had a rather bad experience. Premier Zhao Pu suggested that he punish those who abused him when he was poor, but Zhao Kuang did not do so, but recalled past grievances. At that time, he defected to his father's old friend Dong Zongben, whose son Dong Zunhui often bullied him, which made him very depressed. After Zhao Kuangyin proclaimed himself emperor, Dong Zunhui happened to be a middle-level official in Song Jun. He was very scared. Instead of picking him up, he helped him pick up his long-lost mother from Liao and sent it to his own defense zone, which made him very moved. From then on, he tried his best to be loyal to Zhao Kuang and became a famous general at that time. Wang Yanchao, a general in the early Northern Song Dynasty, was a colleague of Zhao Kuangyin's father. After Zhao's father was left out in the cold, he still occupied a prominent position. Zhao Kuangyin also found a job under his door. But Wang Yanchao saw Zhao Kuangyin down and out, like a beggar. He gave him a few dollars and drove him away. But after Zhao Kuangyin became emperor, his reuse of Wang Yanchao was not affected by these struggles.
Once, Zhao Kuangyin was playing sparrows in the back garden of the Forbidden City, and a courtier said he was in a hurry. Zhao Kuangyin met immediately, but what the courtiers said was not urgent. Zhao Kuangyin was very unhappy and asked him why he lied to his urgent demands. The man said, "At least more important than your majesty's sparrow." Zhao Kuangyin was furious, grabbed the axe around him and smashed it head on, knocking out two of his teeth. This courtier is also very interesting. He is not afraid to see the emperor angry. Instead, he quietly picked up two teeth and put them in his pocket. Zhao Kuangyin asked angrily, "What, you still want to sue me?" The courtier replied, "Of course I can't sue your Majesty, but this matter will always be recorded by historians." Zhao Kuangyin froze, then woke up, sincerely apologized, and gave the courtiers a lot of gold and silver jewelry. It is human nature to love to play, but it is also a man's character to make mistakes and not fake actions.
Zhao Pu, the prime minister, wrote an article recommending a person to the emperor. Zhao Kuangyin was dissatisfied and did not appoint him; The next day, Zhao Pu surrendered the throne again, but Zhao Kuangyin still didn't want it; On the third day, Zhao Pu came again, and Zhao Kuangyin was very angry. He tore up his throne, threw it on the ground and left. Under the gaze of ministers, Zhao Pu knelt down and slowly picked up the pieces of the throne; On the fourth morning, when Zhao Pu held court, he presented a piece of paste paper. So Zhao Kuangyin lost his temper and silently agreed to Zhao Pu's request. Later, the person recommended by Zhao Pu was very capable and became a famous minister. The reason why Zhao Pu dares to insist on this point has a lot to do with Zhao Kuangyin's consistent style. If he couldn't be tolerant and arbitrary, there wouldn't be such a good story handed down.
Kong Shouzheng and Wang Rong are drinking with Zhao Kuangyin, and Kong Shouzheng is drunk. He and Wang Rong discussed the advantages of guarding the border. The more he argued, the angrier he got. Finally, we quarreled regardless of etiquette. This is a "big disrespect" to the emperor. Other waitresses asked Zhao Kuangyin to send them to relevant departments to discuss their crimes, but Zhao Kuangyin refused. The next morning, they woke up and beat drums to confess to Zhao Kuangyin. Zhao Kuangyin said airily, "I was so drunk that I vaguely remembered many things." For subordinates, although dignity should be paid attention to in most cases, there is no need to make a fuss because of small mistakes or unintentional offense. Zhao Kuangyin's success has a lot to do with this generosity.
Four. Kindness and sympathy
After Zhao Kuangyin changed the last Zhou Dynasty to DaSong Dynasty, he always treated the royal family of the last Zhou Dynasty with preferential treatment, without any damage. For a group of ministers last week, little has changed. They did what they had to do. For those heroes who supported themselves as emperors, although he was worried that they would be loyal to themselves or their successors, he took the most honest countermeasures among all the emperors in China.
On July 9, 1996/KLOC-0, that is, a year and a half later, Zhao Kuang abdicated as emperor and held a banquet to invite heroes with more troops to drink. When the wine approached, Zhao Kuangyin told all the servants to avoid it and sighed, "If it weren't for you, today would be over." However, I often think that I live to be happy and comfortable. Why should I fight for the emperor? The emperor's business is really difficult to do, not as comfortable as when I used to do ours. I can't sleep every night now. "Everyone is confused and don't know what to say. Shi Shouxin, the closest sworn brother, asked cautiously, "Please explain what my liegeman did wrong? "Zhao Kuangyin patted the chair under his ass." Who doesn't want to sit on the throne of the emperor? "At this time, the hero was afraid. When the rabbit dies, it is inevitable that the dog will cook, but it is common to kill the hero after the situation is stable. Shi Shouxin quickly led everyone to their knees and said, "Why does the emperor think so? Now that fate has been decided, who dares to have a second thought? If there are such criminals and thieves, we are all willing to raise a three-foot sword and kill him for your majesty. " Zhao Kuangyin went on to say, "I know you won't do this, but if some of your subordinates are greedy for money, once you put on a yellow robe, can you not do this?" Hearing these words, these heroes are already sweating and crying. Shi Shouxin turned his head and said, "We are all boors. We can't think about this. Your Majesty, please have mercy on us and give us a clear path. " Therefore, Zhao Kuangyin clearly said to everyone, "Life is short, just like the blink of an eye. "While pursuing wealth, I also hope that I will live comfortably and happily, and my children and grandchildren will be rich. In that case, why not surrender the military power, become an official in a rich place, buy more fertile mansions and buy some beautiful women [/s2/] and enjoy life happily? There is no need to be suspicious between the monarch and the minister. Everyone has his own place and is happy for America. How nice! " Listen, heroes. Kowtow and praise. The next day, they all submitted their resignations. Zhao Kuangyin arranged for them to become senior officials in some rich places, and married one of his sisters and three daughters to these heroes. In this way, Zhao Kuangyin avoided the recurrence of the tragedy in which the hero was killed in history.
After Zhao Kuangyin, whenever a new emperor inherits the throne, after visiting the ancestral hall, he will open the closed compartment of the ancestral hall, salute a stone tablet engraved with an oath, and then kneel down to say the oath. At that time, only an illiterate eunuch would follow, and others would only wait for him. So no one knows the content of the oath except the emperors of past dynasties. In A.D. 1 127, after the Jin people occupied Kaifeng, in order to collect money, all the doors of the Song Palace were opened, and people saw the true content of the oath. According to records, this stone tablet is about seven or eight feet high and more than four feet wide. It reads the rules for future generations: "first, save the descendants of firewood, and do not add sin;" Second, you can't kill literati and people who say things; Third, we cannot increase cultivated land. "
In China's 5,000-year history of civilization, this is the only oath with glorious humanity from the emperor. Therefore, Zhao Kuangyin became the most merciful emperor in China.