Historically, the dynasties of founded capital Jinling were all short-lived dynasties, and their kings who lost their country were criticized by later generations. For example, the Wu emperor of the Three Kingdoms Sun Hao , Southern Dynasty Liang Emperor Wu, Chen Chao Later Chen Shubao .......
However, the capital of Jinling Southern Tang demise is somewhat a pity. During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, the Southern Tang Dynasty had a population of 35 prefectures at its peak, covering approximately part of Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Fujian, Hubei and Hunan provinces, with a population of about 5 million. The Southern Tang Dynasty protected the country and safeguarded the people. Under relatively stable conditions, social production developed. Compared with the separatist countries at the same time, the Southern Tang Dynasty was strong, and the imperial examinations were developed and schools were built, and the culture was even more prosperous.
Li Yu is the last emperor of the Southern Tang Dynasty and the sixth son of the Central Lord of the Southern Tang Dynasty. It is known in history as " Li Houzhu ". According to the traditional feudal concepts and the hereditary system of emperors, Li Yu had no intention of competing for politics, but because he was often suspicious of Prince Hongyi, he was mentally suppressed, and witnessed the bloody palace of flesh and blood, he was even more frightened all day long. In order to avoid the disaster of killing, Li Yu was willing to be lonely, passively avoided the world, and devoted himself to studying calligraphy, painting, poetry, songs and essays.
History has played a tragedy in life. Li Yu, who did not want to be an emperor, finally became the king of the Southern Tang Dynasty. As a monarch of a country, Li Yu also implemented benevolent government measures, reduced taxes, and relaxed punishments. Although the Southern Tang Dynasty was weak and the Song Dynasty was strong was an indisputable fact, he did not intend to make progress in the face of a strong enemy, and attempted to exchange humility and concessions for the Song Dynasty's mercy and maintain the submissive existence of the Southern Tang country. He endured humiliation and surrendered to the Song Dynasty and paid tribute to him. Not only did he dare not call himself emperor upright, but he even took off his imperial robe and replaced it with a purple robe when he met the envoys of the Song Dynasty. Li Yu thought that as long as he obeyed everything, Zhao Kuangyin would spare the Southern Tang Dynasty, but Li Yu only barely maintained the regime for 15 years.
In the autumn of 974 AD, Zhao Kuangyin sent an envoy to invite Li Yu to Kaifeng . Li Yu knew that this trip would be a departure but no return, so he said that he would not go if he was sick. In winter, Zhao Kuangyin's Song Dynasty army crossed the Yangtze River and surrounded Jinling.
The second year, the Song army captured Jinling. After Li Yu surrendered to Song, he led his forty-five sons to the north to the Song capital Bianjing, and began a life of sad, desolate, humiliating and regretful prisoners.
He was imprisoned in a small building in Bianjing. There were soldiers guarding him at the door. He completely lost his personal freedom. Without special approval, he could not meet guests privately. The former minister, proofreader, , Zheng Wenbao, , wanted to meet him, and had to wear a straw raincoat and a hat to disguise himself as a fisherman in order to see his face. What embarrassed him even more was that his beloved wife, Xiao Zhou, was humiliated when she entered the palace.
In history, it is not uncommon for the founding emperor to give medicine to poison the former lord and founding heroes, but it is either a product of the imperial power struggle or the ministers who are not subject to control. However, at the beginning of the establishment of the Song Dynasty, killing the surrendered king was not conducive to political stability and subsequent regaining. Even after unifying the world, poisoning the king of the previous dynasty was not a clear move. Even if it was done secretly, it would be difficult to hide the glorious words, and in fact it became unnecessary.
In the third year of Taiping Xingguo, Zhao Guangyi went to Chongwenyuan , and Li Yu and others accompanied him. Zhao Guangyi said to Li Yu: "I heard that you like reading very much. The books in Chongwen Academy were once the collection of , the post-Tang . Have you read it before?"
Zhao Guangyi used this to tell Li Yu that you have become a prisoner of the dynasty of the Song Dynasty. The people of the Southern Tang Dynasty, together with these thousands of books, are all surnamed Song. This is a victory from reality to spirit, an absolute victory. Using this approach to mocking Li Yu's former glory, it is better to let him live or die than to kill Li Yu.
In fact, Zhao Guangyi treats Li Yu well compared to Zhao Guangyin. After surrendering to the Song Dynasty, Li Yu wore a white garment and hat to be punished downstairs of Mingde. Zhao Kuangyin raised an army to resist because he did not surrender repeatedly and was granted the title of " Disobedience Hou ". Although he was exempted from the death penalty, "Marquis of Violation" is an extremely insulting title.After Zhao Guangyi ascended the throne, he changed Li Yu to Duke Longxi, and the marquis mentioned the duke. While the salary was improved, he also eliminated the insulting title.
July 7, 978 AD, Qiqiao Festival, also happened to be Li Yu's birthday. He ordered the singing girl to have fun in the small building and sang " Yu Meiren " with tears in his eyes. "When will the spring flowers and autumn moon be there? How many past events are you know! The small building was windy again last night, and the old country was unbearable to look back in the bright moon. The carved railings and jade bricks should still be there, but the red face changed. How much sorrow can you have? It's like a river of spring water flowing eastward." Hearing the singing, Zhao Guangyi was furious and thought to himself, "I treat you like this, do you still have a dream of restoring the country?" So he sent someone to send a pot of wine to celebrate his birthday. After drinking it, Li Yu's belly was stirred like a knife, his body twitched, and he died of anger. He ended his life as a prisoner for two years and eight months, and ended his 42-year life journey. According to history, what he drank was a poison called "Jiji Medicine".
So, Zhao Guangyi did not need to poison Li Yu. After Li Yu's death, his son Li Zhongyu was appointed as the governor of Yingzhou, and his grandson Li Zhengyan was appointed as the chief minister. It can be seen that Li Yu is constantly trying to die.
