The Emperor's Cold Knowledge in Northern Song Dynasty

The Emperor's Cold Knowledge in Northern Song Dynasty

First, don't try to fool me.

Song Taizu and Zhao Kuangyin have a famous saying: "I invited 100 many capable Confucian scholars to divide and rule. Even if they are greedy, they are not worthy of being a warrior. " Some "experts" later accused him of "conniving at corruption". But can you take this seriously? Bai Song, a famous minister and writer in the early Song Dynasty, almost became a reality. When he was in charge of scientific research, he was possessed by ghosts and took bribes to smuggle goods. In order to prevent things from being exposed, he took the admission list and signed with Song Taizu, intending to get things done first.

Only to be scolded by Song Taizu: I sent you to preside over scientific research, just to select talents fairly. How to sign before posting? If a corruption scandal breaks out after posting, I will "take Xie Zhong as your head!" Pull me as a shield for corruption? I'll cut off his head first! White pine's legs trembled with fear, and he quickly returned the bribe money, thus completing the fair job of taking judges. Because this "being your head" is really not an expression. In the sixteenth year of Song Taizu, * * * executed 28 corrupt criminals, including civil and military officials at all levels. The execution methods included beheading and various beheadings, which simply changed the pattern to kill greed. The stability and strength of the Song Dynasty first came from this zero-tolerance anti-corruption attitude.

Second, serial slapping.

As the second generation emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty, Zhao Huan of Song Taizong, though not good at fighting, has always been complacent about his achievements in governing the country. At the banquet on the 15th day of the first month of 993, Song Taizong began to boast that the country had been in a state of war since the Five Dynasties. Thanks to my efforts over the years, I have a beautiful scene of prosperity today. Unexpectedly, Minister Lv Mengzheng immediately slapped him in the face and said, "Your Majesty, all you see is the false prosperity of Bianjing City. After a few miles outside Bianjing, people of all colors are still in poverty. " . A great truth made Song Taizong speechless for a long time.

But before Song Taizong rushed to settle accounts with Lv Mengzheng, a month later, Sichuan farmers could not bear the exploitation of the court and rose up under the leadership of Wang Xiaobo and Li Shun. Song Taizong, who flaunted "prosperity", was slapped again. Song Taizong also likes the dazzling lifestyle. Also in 993, an official suggested releasing the redundant maids in the palace. Song Taizong immediately and seriously criticized: I have always been busy with state affairs, and there are no redundant maids in the palace. It is very ignorant of you to make such a suggestion.

Four years later, Song Taizong died and his son Song Zhenzong succeeded to the throne. As soon as he checked, he cried: "There are many people in the palace, and it is pitifully claustrophobic." How can there be so many imperial secretaries? Let me go. Even my own son hit him in the face.

Third, the immortals exterminated locusts.

Song Zhenzong and Zhao Heng's 25-year ruling career showed all kinds of shrewd characteristics: they were thrifty and thrifty all their lives, unable to eat enough, and committed crimes at the sight of extravagance and waste. The work is unambiguous. Defeat Liao first, and then sign a peace treaty. Continue to develop industrial and commercial foreign trade for 25 years and introduce overseas rice seeds to improve agriculture. The economic aggregate of the Northern Song Dynasty increased year by year, and the per capita wealth was more than three times that of Song Taizong.

But in the glory of the country and the people, there is also a failure that has been ridiculed for thousands of years: engaging in feudal superstitious activities. In this case, Song Zhenzong is really like eating the weight, throwing money hard every year, spending a lot of money to build temples and hold activities every year, and also going to Mount Tai to meditate with great fanfare, and taking a trip to large-scale Buddhist activities to reward tens of thousands of monks and Taoists casually. The meditation trip to Mount Tai cost 8 million yuan.

Zhang Qixian, an anti-Liao hero in the past, said: One bad coin is enough to fight more battles with Liao. However, Song Zhenzong's firm belief was challenged in the ninth year of Dazhong Xiangfu (10 16): a once-in-a-century plague of locusts swept across the north, but he invited the immortals to invite Song Zhenzong, who was in high spirits, but burned incense and asked them to kill locusts. In this case, all localities responded one after another, and local officials reported that under the care of the gods, those locusts who destroyed crops were committing suicide in shame.

Song Zhenzong also happily from ear to ear. He also made a high-profile statement in the court, saying that he would hold a grand celebration ceremony and thank the gods for helping him overcome the locust plague. Who knows that the voice just fell, and the overwhelming locusts swept through Bianjing City, even flew into the hall and scampered back and forth in front of Song Zhenzong ... This situation also made Song Zhenzong blanched and muttered for a long time: fortunately, there was no celebration, otherwise it would not become a laughing stock. .....

Fourth, shame to death "spray"

How to deal with the sprayer? Zhao Zhen and Song Renzong, who have been in office for forty years, have often been "sprayed" and even spat in the face by the famous minister Bao Zheng. In fact, they are very marketable. At that time, the good-natured emperor was not only "sprayed" by famous officials, but also by some folk literati. One year, a juren went to Chengdu Prefecture to cast a poem: the plank road burned the sword gate and gave up a dry Kun. This is a high-profile call for rebellion! The angry Chengdu magistrate caught this juren on the spot and beat Song Renzong, demanding severe punishment.

Who knows that Song Renzong just smiled after reading it: This is a frustrated scholar who rubs his popularity by scolding the imperial court. Give him an office in a remote area first and see what he does. But less than a year later, when this "lucky" juren was in power, he lost all his heroism in writing poetry and did nothing. So even with shame and anger, he died of a disease. Why did Song Renzong, who had been scolded all his life, get deep condolences from the people of the whole country when he died? This broad-minded tolerance makes people have to obey.

Verb (short for verb) threatens the queen mother.

Song Renzong has no children. After his death, his adopted son Zhao Shu succeeded to the throne of Song Yingzong. This emperor, who had a low sense of existence in the history of the Northern Song Dynasty, made a fuss after he ascended the throne: first, he fell insane in front of Song Renzong's coffin and screamed, and the angry Prime Minister Han Qi personally picked him up and carried him away, which made a big joke that shocked the ruling and opposition parties. The next Song Yingzong, even worse, rolled in search while taking medicine, and there was no way to take Han Qi. The Prime Minister personally put the medicine bowl in front of the bed, but Song Yingzong gave one, and all the medicine was sprinkled on Han Qi.

The prime minister was treated like this, and the adoptive mother Cao Empress was even more wronged on weekdays. When Song Yingzong caught her, she even scolded her. Finally, she told the queen Cao to put up with it. As soon as she saw Han Qi, she complained bitterly. All she needs to do is explain the subtext: let's change the emperor. Han Qi listened carefully to the Queen Mother's complaint for a long time, but only replied coldly: If the official (Song Yingzong) is neglected, the Queen Mother will not be safe. It is impossible to change the emperor. If anything happens to the emperor, I'm asking you!

Song Yingzong kept the throne, but during his four years in power, the political affairs of the Northern Song Dynasty were completely closed. When his son Song Shenzong Zhao Yong ascended the throne, the frontier defense in the Northern Song Dynasty was seriously damaged, and the finance was even more "empty and thin". Pregnant Song Shenzong asked the ministers what to do. This group of ministers who threaten the spirit of the Queen Mother, all kinds of clouds, mountains and fog cover. In Sima Guang's words, "If officials are rewarded, they will be punished" is all useless empty talk, which also makes young Song Shenzong finally make up his mind: Wang Anshi must be used!

Six, you will be the emperor.

Is there a problem with Wang Anshi's political reform? Sima Guang was sent by Song Shenzong to Shaanxi for inspection. As soon as he arrived in Shaanxi, he began to swear, saying that Wang Anshi's "immunization law" made the people of Shaanxi miserable. However, Song Shenzong, who saw the memorial hall, actually scolded his mother: I haven't implemented the immunization law in Shaanxi, where are the poor people? Wen Yanbo's reason made Song Shenzong even angrier: rule the world with literati, not people. No matter how good your reform is. If we move the interests, we will fight with you! After being repeatedly stimulated by these "old parties", Song Shenzong's reform core was blocked by his own brother Wang Qi.

Qi Wang, who was separated by Wang Anshi's political reform, was so angry that he called the queen mother and shouted at Wang Anshi in front of him. Song Shenzong listened coldly at first, and when he had heard enough, he finally replied to the King of Qi: If you think I did something wrong, then you can be emperor. Righteously, Wang Qi was scared to cry on the spot. This situation is enough to show that the young emperor is under such heavy pressure, bearing this vigorous change.

After fifteen years of hard reform, the finances of the impoverished Song Dynasty were already full of pots. The once weak armament of the Northern Song Dynasty was even more bloody and powerful, beating up the old rival Xixia. When Song Shenzong died, some old party member tried their best to oppose the political reform, such as Su Shi, Fan Bailu, Lv Gongzhu and Li Chang. He had a deep understanding of the reform and even argued to prevent Sima Guang and others from abolishing the new law. After Song Shenzong's son Song Zhezong came to power, the national strength of the Northern Song Dynasty, which was reformed again, once reached an unprecedented peak. With the economic prosperity, national defense has advanced to the front line of Xixia Tiandu Mountain, and Xixia has been fighting for peace.

The northern song dynasty, which was "weak in literature", once reached the peak moment of enriching the country and strengthening the people. All these great changes were initiated by Emperor Song Shenzong, who was ridiculed and satirized by later generations. It can be said that the Northern Song Dynasty had an opportunity to avoid the shame of Jingkang, and that was Wang Anshi's political reform. If there is a powerful emperor who can lead the Northern Song Dynasty to become a powerful country, Song Shenzong is the one who has no suspense.