Emperor Qin, Emperor Wu of Han, and ancestors of Tang and Song. Zhao Kuangyin is one of the "Four Heavenly Kings" among the Chinese feudal emperors, and there are many interesting stories. Below we will briefly describe a few short stories to comprehensively commemorate this eternal emperor.
"The art of knowing people"
After sitting on the emperor's throne, all he could see was people falling to their knees, and all his ears could hear was "long live my emperor." Zhao Kuangyin was not lost in the colorful world in front of him, nor was he complacent. He wants to create a peaceful and prosperous age, and he wants to keep the virtuous and the sycophant at a distance, so he is eager to find out who is the virtuous person who is loyal to the country, and who is the treacherous and sycophantic person. He came up with a very alternative method, which was to deliberately degenerate and pretend to be a proud and complacent king, to see who dared to risk his life to persuade him and who would just flatter him.
Seeing Zhao Kuangyin's self-satisfied and self-satisfied appearance, most of the officials advised him to be prepared for danger in times of peace, otherwise he would lose his country. However, Zhao Kuangyin acted nonchalantly, saying things like life and death, wealth and honor are in the sky, and said that when Chai Rong saw Fang Daer, he looked for an opportunity to kill him, but I have not died by his side for so many years, which shows that I have Divine protection.
The upright ministers felt extremely worried, and the more they tried to dissuade him, the more Zhao Kuangyin went too far, threatening that "those who have destiny can do whatever they want, and you will not restrain them."
One day, Zhao Kuangyin had a great time shooting sparrows with a slingshot in the back garden. The eunuch reported that a certain minister had something to ask for. Zhao Kuangyin frowned, quite displeased, "Disappointing. Didn't you see that I'm busy? I'm gone!"
After a while, the young eunuch hurried over again, "He said that there are urgent matters that must be reported to His Majesty immediately."
Zhao Kuangyin put away his slingshot reluctantly, "I hate it, let him come over!"
However, what the minister reported was an extremely ordinary and trivial matter. Zhao Kuangyin could no longer suppress the anger in his heart and reprimanded: "Is this a big deal?" He insulted the minister in front of him.
The minister replied: "I think it is more urgent than shooting sparrows with a slingshot."
"You dare to talk back?" Zhao Kuangyin was so angry that he hit the minister in the mouth with the handle of an axe, knocking out two of his front teeth on the spot. The minister bent down to pick up the broken tooth and put it in his arms.
Zhao Kuangyin became even more angry when he saw this, "Why, you still dare to collect evidence, do you still want to sue me?"
The minister shook his head and said: "How can I sue Your Majesty? There are historians who will record this matter."
Zhao Kuangyin instantly showed a happy smile and said, "You are such a loyal minister!" So he ordered a heavy reward.
"Unity of thought"
Once, Zhao Kuangyin visited the Wuchengwang Temple. The Wuchengwang Temple was built during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty and was dedicated to worshiping Jiang Taigong and other good generals of the past dynasties. Accompanied by officials, Zhao Kuangyin looked at the portraits of good generals enshrined on the two corridors and nodded frequently, "Well, well, this guy is awesome... Damn it, this one is even more fierce."
Suddenly, Zhao Kuangyin's face changed, he raised his cane angrily, pointed at one of the portraits, and asked the people around him angrily: "This person was killed and surrendered. He doesn't respect martial ethics. Why can he still be enshrined in the martial arts temple? Isn't this a joke? Get out of here." Got it!"
Everyone hurriedly took down the portrait.
Who made Zhao Kuangyin so angry? Answer: Bai Qi.
Zuo Shiyi knew that Gao Xi had made the imperial edict and asked Gao Xi to ask if Bai Qi was the only one who was not qualified to be selected? There is also Wang Sengbian of Nanliang.
Zhao Kuangyin thought it was reasonable, even for deceased people, we should oppose the three customs, 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 who served in the temple. The standard was "Those who have never had time to achieve success" refer to the old artists who are both good at morality and art. Those who randomly endorse advertisements, buy fake bags for female apprentices, go on stage to prevent the audience from making trouble, get off the stage to have pedicures in the foot washing room, and spend more time in prison than others. Those who spend a lot of time at home will be removed from the shelves.
After strict screening and assessment, 22 people from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, including Sun Bin, Lian Po, Han Xin, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, were finally eliminated; Ban Chao, Qin Qiong, Zheng Tian, Ge Congzhou, Zhou Dewei, Fu Cunshen, etc. from the Han Dynasty were newly added. 23 people to the Five Dynasties period. A statue of Guan Zhong was also added to the hall.
Secretary Lang Zhouhan went to Shu and expressed doubts and objections to this behavior, saying that if a person is not a sage, how can he not make mistakes? Who can guarantee that these new people will not have any dirty information? Why should we find fault with the ancients who lived thousands of years ago? I really don’t understand. Please give me a reasonable explanation!
The memorial was handed over and could not be read back.
Zhou Han's pattern is small, but he knows it but doesn't know why. Why should we set an example? Why do you want Qin Hui and others to kneel in front of Yue Fei's tomb?
On the surface, Zhao Kuangyin was angry because of Bai Qi's killing and surrender, but in fact, he had zero tolerance for the military generals' tyranny, zero tolerance for contempt of imperial power, and zero tolerance for the domineering and disobedient feudal towns since the Five Dynasties. Borrowing ancient metaphors from the present, listening to the sound of speech and the sound of gongs and drums, the generals in the feudal town must hear Boss Zhao's inner monologue.
Without understanding this meaning, how could it be so popular in the early Song Dynasty? Thank God for being able to resume his official career safely, Comrade Zhou Han.
"Mad Dog Shigui"
August 1963, "Zhang Qiong's Suicide Case".
Zhang Qiong was then the Marquis of Yu, the capital of the palace, and the second-in-command of the palace department, one of the "Troika" of the Central Forbidden Army. Two low-level officers of the Forbidden Army, Shi Gui and Shi Hanqing, gained Zhao Kuangyin's favor and became popular people around the emperor. However, they had personal grudges with Zhang Qiong.
One day, Shi Gui and Shi Hanqing reported a black complaint to Zhao Kuangyin, saying that Zhang Qiong had raised more than a hundred people in his tribe for his own power, and often slandered the emperor's younger brother Zhao Guangyi behind his back with ulterior motives.
Zhao Kuangyin was furious and called Zhang Qiong to confront him. Zhang Qiong flatly denied these rumors. Zhao Kuangyin was furious and shouted, "Fuck him!"
Shi Hanqing on the side immediately swung his big hammer and hit his head with one blow. Zhang Qiong was immediately seriously injured and fell into coma. She was then dragged down and handed over to the competent authorities for strict interrogation.
After Zhang Qiong regained consciousness, she committed suicide to prove her innocence. After the relevant departments ransacked Zhang Qiong's house, they found that Zhang Qiong could not be said to be living in poverty, but at least he had no money and was very poor. As for the legendary "More Than One Hundred Steps", it did not exist at all, and there were only three domestic slaves. That’s all.
Zhao Kuangyin then came to Shi Hanqing and asked, "Didn't you say that he had more than a hundred dead soldiers? Where are they?"
Shi Hanqing said without shame: "One person raised by Qiong is equal to a hundred ears."
Zhao Kuangyin treated Zhang Qiong's family well, but how would he deal with Shi Hanqing, Shi Gui and others who framed Zhongliang and played tricks on the king?
Answer: "I don't blame Han Qing either." Forget it this time and continue next time.
In front of the palace, Du Yuhou, the second in command of the "Troika", died in the mouth of a company and platoon-level officer. There is no need to collect real evidence, no need to painstakingly frame the accusations, and even the sophistry afterward is a bit joking... Needless to say, Shi Gui, Shi Hanqing, etc. are vicious dogs carefully raised by Zhao Kuangyin, vicious dogs that specialize in biting high-ranking generals.
After Zhao Kuangyin ascended the throne, he was in urgent need of a group of informants. Such people must meet several characteristics, such as being humble, clever, and profit-seeking. A humble identity will help them hide their identity; a clever mind will help them develop business; and profit-seeking is their core requirement. They will betray the people around them without any bottom line and climb up by stepping on the corpses of colleagues and friends. .
Shi Gui is the leader among such people. Due to his outstanding performance at work, Shi Gui was quickly promoted to the head of the Ma Army, became a mid-level officer, and became the governor of Yizhou.
Yun Houde carries things. Shi Gui obviously cannot match his rising status. He only remembered that he was His Majesty the Emperor's vicious dog, but he did not know that a vicious dog was not the same as a mad dog. It is its job to look after the house and bite people, but it cannot bite indiscriminately and must guess the owner's eyes. Bite whoever you are told to bite, not whoever you want to bite.
Shi Gui made the common mistake of vicious dogs and mistook the emperor's favor for true love. Shi Gui relied on favor and was arrogant. The typical representative is the "Liang Mengsheng Case".
Liang Mengsheng was the imperial eunuch and had the right to know Dezhou, while Guo Gui, the governor of Dezhou, had the temporary right to know Xingzhou. Guo Gui's family in Dezhou took advantage of their power to bully others and did many illegal things. After Liang Mengsheng arrived in Dezhou, he was ruthless and arrested them according to law.
Guo Gui and Shi Gui were old acquaintances, so he influenced Shi Gui's relationship and asked Shi Gui to help get rid of Liang Mengsheng. Shi Gui laughed "haha" and asked, "What's so difficult about this?" Liang Mengsheng's life and death is just a matter of my words. Don't worry, leave this matter to me.
Shi Gui wrote a real-name report letter, which was full of accusations against Liang Mengsheng and Luo Zhi. Of course, they were all false accusations.
A few days later, it was time for Shi Gui to report to Zhao Kuangyin. On this day, Zhao Kuangyin was particularly happy because all the reforms were progressing very smoothly. Judging from the feedback from all parties, the situation was very good. Zhao Kuangyin was quite pleased and sighed: "It seems that the reform of literati governance in prefectures and counties has achieved very gratifying results." The results are great, and everything you use is rewarded."
Shi Gui hurriedly answered: "Your Majesty, the Holy Ming! The results are indeed gratifying, but there are a few comrades who may fail Your Majesty. He is Liang Mengsheng, who has the power to know Dezhou. This person persecuted the former governor Guo Gui and almost forced others to do so. Die." Then he took out a small notebook slandering Liang Mengsheng from his arms.
Zhao Kuangyin sneered in his heart, took the small notebook, and said without even looking at it: "Guo Gui must have done something illegal and indiscipline. Liang Mengsheng is not afraid of power, enforces the law impartially, and is a pure and strong official!" Then he handed over the small notebook. Passed it to the attendant and ordered: "Promote Liang Meng to Doctor Praise for Good Immediately!"
Just as the attendant turned around to leave, Zhao Kuangyin suddenly remembered something and hurriedly shouted, "Hey - I am promoted to Dr. Zuo Zanshan, and I still know Dezhou."
Guozi Jiancheng is "from the sixth rank", while Zanshan Dafu is "up from the fifth rank", but they have no real power, but the governor has real power. The reason why Zhao Kuangyin emphasized "still knowing Dezhou" is because he is afraid of misunderstandings from Zhongshu Province , give Liang Mengsheng an ups and downs.
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 senior official in the Forbidden Army and Zhao Kuangyin wanted him to die; Liang Mengsheng lived because he was a civil servant and Zhao Kuangyin needed him to live. Shi Gui was just a mad dog raised by Zhao Kuangyin, a tool he could use freely.
