There is a reason why Emperor Huizong was like this. The root cause was the great traitor Cai Jing in the Song Dynasty. Emperor Huizong was originally a good emperor, but under the temptation of Cai Jing, a treacherous official, he gradually slipped into playing with things and coveting enjoyment. In the end, the Zhao family's country and country were lost.
Since the founding of the Song Dynasty by Taizu, five emperors have governed the world through Taizong, Zhenzong, Renzong, Yingzong, Shenzong, Zhezong and Huizong.
After the death of Taizong Zhao Guangyi, Empress Dowager Xiao of the Liao Kingdom led 200,000 Khitan troops to invade the Northern Song Dynasty and fought all the way to Chanzhou City. Under the constant pestering of Prime Minister Kou Zhun, Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Heng, finally made a bold move and went to Chanzhou to face the Empress Dowager Xiao of the Liao Dynasty. In this battle, Zhang Huai, the general of the Song Army on the wall of Chanzhou, released a series of arrows, killing Xiao Dalin, the commander-in-chief of Nanjing and the pioneer of the Song Dynasty. The Chanzhou Alliance was signed. From then on, peace between Liao and Song Dynasty lasted for a hundred years.
Zhenzong died after reigning for 25 years, and was passed down to his sixth son, Zhao Zhen, as Renzong of the Song Dynasty.
When Emperor Renzong ascended the throne, he was only thirteen years old. Empress Liu E of Zhang Xianmingsu supervised the affairs behind the curtain.
Queen Liu E of Zhang Xianmingsu was a native of Shu. Her parents died when she was young. When she grew up, she became a singer and married the silversmith Gong Mei. Gong Mei was a folk craftsman in the Shu region, but he had no background. He was often blackmailed in his business and could not settle down in the Shu region, so he took Liu E to Bianliang, Tokyo to make a living.
Compared to Shu, Bianliang is not much better. After Gong Mei brought Liu E to Bianliang, Tokyo, the people and the land were unfamiliar and her livelihood was difficult to maintain, so she asked someone to sell Liu E to others.
The news reached the ears of Zhang Qi, the commander of Zhao Heng, the third son of Emperor Taizong of Han Dynasty at that time. Zhang Qi then called for Liu E to be brought for a look. Liu E was taken to Zhang Qi's home. Zhang Qi saw that Liu E was extremely elegant, with delicate skin, beautiful eyes, and a hibiscus appearance. She looked gentle and lovely, and was very popular. Knowing that Liu E was a singer, Zhang Qi asked Liu E to sing a song. Liu E's small mouth opened, and her singing voice was melodious, reaching straight to the heart, making people intoxicated. Zhang Qi was so happy that he spent thirty taels of silver to buy Liu E, intending to send Liu E to King Zhao Heng of Han to seek a future.
One day, Zhang Qi brought Liu E into the palace of King Zhao Heng of Han and said that he had recently bought a singing girl and was willing to present it to King Han to entertain him. When Zhao Heng saw Liu E, he also liked her very much, so he thanked Zhang Qi and brought Liu E into his residence. He loved Liu E like glue.
As time passed, King Zhao Heng of Han's body became weak.
Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty Zhao Guangyi accidentally saw his third son Zhao Heng haggard and thin, so he asked his wet nurse who was around the third prince. Why so haggard? Wet nurse Zhao Heng didn't like Liu E at first, so she told Taizong how Zhang Qi gave a singer on the street to the prince.
When Taizong heard that the third prince, Zhao Heng, was hanging out with a folk woman of humble origin and unknown origin, he was furious and ordered Zhao Heng to drive Liu E out of the palace. In order to cut off Zhao Heng's love for Liu E, Emperor Taizong specially arranged a marriage for Zhao Heng. The woman was Pan Shuxia, the daughter of Pan Mei, the founding hero of the country.
Zhao Heng did not dare to disobey his father's order, and he was reluctant to leave Liu E, so he secretly placed Liu E in the home of Zhang Qi, the commander of the royal palace.
Liu E was originally bought by Zhang Qi as a gift to Zhao Heng. Now Zhao Heng placed Liu E in his home and often came to have private meetings with Liu E. Zhang Qi saw that Liu E was the beloved of the prince Zhao Heng. In addition to being very cautious due to Liu E, Zhang Qi did not dare to live at home from then on in order to avoid suspicion. He had to choose another house not far from home to settle down.
Later, Zhao Heng succeeded to the throne as Emperor Zhenzong and welcomed Liu E into the palace. He was first named a fourth-grade beauty, and then promoted to Xiuyi and Defei. In the fourth year of Jingde, Queen Pan Shuxia died. Zhenzong wanted to make Liu E his queen. Kou Zhun, Wang Dan and other important ministers firmly opposed it on the grounds that "Liu E was of humble origin and could not be the mother of a country."
Zhengzong was helpless and put it aside at this time.
A few years later, Li, who was Liu E's maid, was favored by Zhenzong and gave birth to the prince Zhao Zhen for Zhenzong. In order to maintain her favor, Liu E took the infant Zhao Zhen as her own and gave him to Concubine Yang Shu to raise. She claimed to the outside world that she had given birth to the prince.
Li was named Concubine Li Huan by Zhenzong, but she never dared to recognize her biological son Zhao Zhen.
For this reason, another year later, Liu E was officially named queen.
After the death of Emperor Zhenzong, the prince Zhao Zhen ascended the throne as Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty. Empress Liu E of Zhang Xianmingsu listened behind the curtain.
When Emperor Renzong came to the throne, he was still young. Empress Dowager Zhang Xianmingsu had strict control over Renzong and often used etiquette and law to restrain him. All military and political power was handled by the Empress Dowager.
Since there was no longer any restraining force from the imperial court, Liu E's ambitions expanded and she wanted to do what Empress Wu did.
One day, Liu E asked the ministers in the court hall: "My lords, what kind of heroine was the Empress Wu of the Tang Dynasty?" One minister replied: "The sinner of the Tang Dynasty almost ruined the country of the Tang Dynasty." When Liu E heard this, she remained silent. Liu E's thoughts of doing what Queen Wu did were abandoned. However, his strong style became more and more obvious, and he often wore the imperial uniform to assist Emperor Renzong in governing.
In March of the second year of Ming Dynasty, Liu E fell ill and died more than ten days later. Renzong Zhao Zhen summoned the ministers in the Huangyi Palace and cried: "The Queen Mother pulled her clothes several times before she died. What is the meaning?" Xue Kui, the political counselor, said: "The Queen Mother did not want the late emperor to see her in the underground wearing the emperor's clothes." Renzong When he came to his senses, he ordered Liu E to be put into a posthumous suit and then buried.
After Liu E's death, the Eight Sage King Zhao Yuanyan, the most prestigious member of the Zhao royal family, who had been pretending to be crazy and stupid for more than ten years while Liu E listened to the government from behind the curtain, said to Renzong: "Liu Hou is not your Majesty's biological mother, your Majesty's biological mother is Concubine Li Huan. A few days ago, Concubine Li’s death was unclear, and she was afraid that she was killed by someone.” Only then did Zhao Zhen, Renzong, understand that Liu E was not his biological mother, but his biological mother was Concubine Li, and she was not allowed to recognize her until her death. .
How painful is it to think that for more than twenty years, the biological mother cannot recognize her son despite being in the palace together? ! Thinking that for more than 20 years, his biological mother had been with him in the palace and he often saw her, but he knew nothing about it. As a result, his biological mother could not recognize him. Emperor Renzong was so heartbroken that he could not sleep for several days. He went to court and issued an edict to blame himself for his unfilial piety.
Emperor Renzong grew resentful and sent troops to surround the residence of the Liu family members. He also sent people to Hongfuyuan where Concubine Li's coffin was located to check. It was found that Concubine Li Huan was buried with later rites. Under the protection of mercury, her complexion looked as if she were alive.
When Renzong received the news, he sighed: "How can we trust people's words?!" Afterwards, Renzong offered incense and worship in front of Liu E's coffin, crying and saying: "From now on, the eldest lady's life is innocent!"
Due to his birth, Renzong paid attention to benevolence and filial piety. He reigned for 42 years. He was generous in temperament, not luxurious, and could strictly discipline himself. During his governance, the eight wastelands were peaceful, scholars and farmers were happy, and he was loyal in both civil and military affairs. He was highly praised by later generations. When Renzong died, an obituary was delivered to the hostile Liao Kingdom. "People in the Yan Kingdom heard about it and cried far and near." Even Emperor Yelu Hongji of the Liao Kingdom held the hand of the envoy and wailed: "Not for forty-two years." It is the benevolence of the Southern Emperor who knows how to fight and revolutionize!"
It was this Renzong whose benevolence and righteousness spread all over the world and moved heaven and earth. However, Hong Xin, the Taiwei in front of the palace, released the thirty-six Tiangang stars and seventy-two earth evil stars locked by the ancestor Tianshi Dongxuan Zhenren. , a total of one hundred and eight demon kings, which disturbed the creatures below for decades. What's more, after Hong Xin privately released one hundred and eight demon kings, he would have already been killed on the way back. The six poisonous insects subdued by Zhang Zhenren, the heavenly master of the Xuan Si Han Dynasty, were released again, and they were reborn as the traitor Ning Cheng, causing harm to the Zhao family.
It was three o'clock in the morning on March 3rd, the third year of Jiayou's reign. Emperor Renzong was sitting in the Zichen Hall, receiving congratulations from hundreds of officials. At that time, a palace official shouted: "If something happens, I will leave early and leave the court with fifty curtains."
The head official of the palace had just finished drinking. In the crowd of squad members, a minister came out of the squad and shouted loudly: "I have my own book to report!" When Emperor Renzong looked at it, it was Fan Zhongyan who was attending the political affairs.
Fan Zhongyan paid his respects and went about his daily life, and said: "Now that disasters are prevalent today, the army and the people are in ruins, they can't make a living day and night, and people are in prison. In my opinion, in order to avoid this disaster, I can announce that the Han Celestial Master Zhang Zhenren will come to court at night under the stars." , and built a 3,600-cent Luotian palace in the Forbidden City of the capital to commemorate the gods and protect the people from plagues."
Emperor Renzong read the report accurately and urgently ordered the Imperial Academy scholars to draft an imperial edict. The emperor wrote it personally and handed down a stick of incense. The imperial envoys, both internal and external, recommended Hong Xin, the Taiwei in front of the palace, as an angel and went to Longhu Mountain in Xinzhou, Jiangxi Province to invite Zhang, the Heavenly Master of the Han Dynasty. The real person comes to the court at starry night to pray for the plague.
Lieutenant Hong Xin was ordered to go to Longhu Mountain in Xinzhou, Jiangxi Province after a long and arduous journey. He invited Master Zhang. He thought everything was fine, so he went to visit the temple behind the mountain. He saw a temple with its door locked and plastered all over it. After breaking the seal, I was curious and insisted on going in to take a look.
The real host persuaded Hong Xin: "The scenery of Longhu Mountain is excellent, and there are many things to see. Why do we have to go into this ancient temple to see it? This is not a good place."
Hong Xin tilted his head and looked at the host and said, "Isn't it a good place?"
The master in charge replied: "This is the palace where demons are suppressed. The heavenly masters of all dynasties have sealed this place and are not allowed to let go of the demon king who suppresses it."
The more the host refused to let Hong Xin enter the temple to watch, the more curious Hong Xin became, and the more he wanted to go into the temple to have a look, so he scolded the host and said: "You Taoists, you are deceiving the public with your evil words and deliberately doing mysterious things to deceive the world. To show that you are highly capable, but I will not be deceived by you and others, please open it quickly, lest I become anxious and punish you for your monstrous words, deceiving the public, and fantasy!"
Hong Xin is an official of the imperial court and a lieutenant in front of the palace. Who dares to disobey him? ! The real host had no choice but to have the temple door opened, and Lieutenant Hong Xin and Hong Taiwei entered the temple to watch.
When Hong Xin entered the temple, he saw a stone tablet, about five or six feet high, with a turtle as a seat underneath. It had sunk more than half a foot into the ground, but there were four large seal script characters "Opened in case of flood" engraved on the tablet.
When Hong Xin saw this, he was even more surprised. He thought he was a god, so he asked his followers to remove the stone tablet to see what was going on.
The presiding master panicked and said hurriedly: "Sir Taiwei, you must not dare to do this. The demon kings from all over the world are suppressed under this monument. You must not dare to move. If the demon king escapes, he will do a lot of harm in the future."
"Nonsense!" Hong Xin said sternly: "Don't you see the four big seal characters on the stone tablet? 'Open in case of flood'! Move away! Otherwise, you and others will be punished for your evil words and misleading the public." Hong Xin wanted to see what happened, but he didn't listen. If you have to go to the real person who is hosting the ceremony, you can try to punish the real person who is hosting the ceremony by using evil words to confuse the public. The host had no choice but to ask someone to move the stone tablet.
After hearing the order, more than ten people dug with picks and shovels for a while. When they saw that the stone tablet was loose, they came up together and lifted it up. At this time, a black air came out, and then they heard a "bang" sound. , threw aside the dozen people carrying the monument and the stone monument, and saw streaks of golden light leaping out of the black hole, looking in all directions, and soon disappeared.
Hong Xin was so frightened that he collapsed on the ground, stunned.
After a moment, the master in charge helped Lieutenant Hong Xin and Hong to his feet.
Hong Xin asked the host: "What was the black energy and golden light just now?"
The real host said: "The Taiwei doesn't know something. These are the thirty-six Tiangang Stars and the seventy-two Earthly Evil Stars who have been suppressed here by the Heavenly Masters of past dynasties. There are a total of one hundred and eight demon kings. Unexpectedly, they were released by the Taiwei." If you run away, you will endanger the lives below in the future."
When Hong Xin heard this, he was so frightened that he hurriedly said goodbye to the host, took his entourage and hurried down the mountain.
Something must have happened. When Hong Xin and his entourage were rushing down the mountain, a boy walked out of the valley, carrying an earthen pot. Because he could not dodge, he was knocked to the ground by Hong Xin and his entourage. The earthen pot was also knocked to the ground. It was broken, and six large insects ran out from it, burrowed into the grass and disappeared.
The Taoist boy burst into tears upon seeing this.
Hong Xin said: "Don't cry anymore. It's all my fault. If I didn't panic, I knocked you over and broke your earthen pot. I'll pay you more money."
The Taoist boy cried, "I don't know, sir, but you knocked me over and broke the jar. It's all a trivial matter. You just released six poisonous insects, which is not a trivial matter! These are the six demons that my heavenly master captured and subdued to build a tower." The one who suppressed me was unexpectedly let go by you."
Hong Xin became even more panicked when he heard this. He didn't bother to talk to the Taoist boy anymore, so he casually gave him some broken silver and hurriedly followed him down the mountain.
On the way, Hong Xin repeatedly said to his entourage: "Don't tell others about the departure of the Demon King. If the emperor hears about it, I will be blamed but you will not tell me, and you and others will also bear a lot of blame. It will cause trouble." I’m going to lose my head!”
Hong Xin and his entourage hurried back to the capital at night and under the stars. After delivering a mission to His Majesty the Emperor, he took back his mansion and fled to avoid trouble.
The followers were all afraid of being blamed or having their heads chopped off, so they did not tell anyone about the incident, so that no one in the court knew about it.
After this, Emperor Renzong died in the 42nd year of his reign and was succeeded by Yingzong. Emperor Yingzong reigned for four years and was passed down to Prince Shenzong. At that time, everything in the world was peaceful and there was nothing happening in all directions.
