Did Bao Zheng in real life of the Song Dynasty really have the power to kill the emperor’s relatives? Why?

Bao Zheng, a character who was overly mythical on the stage, if it were really like what was described in the play, Song Renzong would have jumped into the Bian River in frustration.

Let’s first talk about Bao Zheng who has been processed by art: his face is like black coal, and the crescent moon between his eyebrows represents an extraordinary image; he is a bachelor of Longtuge, the first-class prime minister of the dynasty, and the head of the civil servants; he is in charge of Kaifeng Mansion, With three copper guillotines and two imperial swords, both the emperor and the common people can behead first and then play. His subordinate Gongsun Ce is extremely intelligent and brave, Zhang Long and Zhao Hu are loyal to Ma Han, and even the Five Rats of Xiankong Island, masters of the martial arts world, work for them. Regarding his folk stories, there are several 360 chapters of storytelling, including "The Case of Bao Gong", "Three Heroes and Five Righteousnesses", etc. They all have the image of a perfectly honest official who is fiercely loyal, upright, not afraid of power, and resolves cases like a god. Just like what is described in the storytelling: The country of the Song Dynasty weighed a thousand catties, and Bao Zheng held eight hundred in one hand and still had zero.

In reality, it’s really not that powerful. The biggest official Bao Zheng ever had was only a third-rank official. After his death, he was awarded a second-rank title. He never reached the position of prime minister, one person below one person and above ten thousand people. The bachelor was very powerful during the Manchu period, but It was worthless in the Song Dynasty.

Three guillotines and two Shangfang swords (one is the same as the late emperor's) are even more illusory. He does not have the power to kill people. Not to mention the emperor's relatives, he has no power to use the guillotine even if he is a real death row prisoner. On the stage, Zhang Long and Zhao Hu directly picked up the uncle of the country or the prince-in-law, threw it under the guillotine, and cut it into two pieces. The people watched it very much, but it was impossible in reality. There was a strict process for executing prisoners in the Song Dynasty. The executioner would convict the prisoners, and finally the emperor would decide in person. No matter what, it would not be his turn as a fourth-grade prefect to make up for the death.

Finally, as for his staff, the master is normal, every official will have one. But Zhan Zhao is a third-level guard with a sword, and Bao Zheng is a fourth-level guard. It's like asking a major general to serve as a guard for a prefecture-level mayor. Is it possible? It makes sense that the four followers of Zhang Long, Zhao Hu and Mahan were considered to be servants of the yamen. But there is a big problem with the five rats on Xingkong Island. These five rats are all desperadoes and once made trouble in Tokyo. However, what is Bao Zheng's intention to take them in privately? As long as someone writes a memorial with the words "privately accusing dead men", the entire Bao family can be executed.

The really true part is Bao Zheng's official style. He is indeed upright and not afraid of power. As a supervisory censor, he impeached many high-ranking officials and dignitaries, but that's all.