In Chinese history, there are many famous emperors, such as: Tang Taizong Li Shimin, Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin, Ming Chengzu Zhu Di, etc. Today we are going to talk about An emperor of the Song Dynasty - Zhao Heng .
Song Zhenzong Zhao Heng is the third son of Song Taizong and the third emperor of the Song Dynasty. He was an emperor who defended the city. Although he had some political achievements in his early years, he was foolish in his later years and his politics became increasingly corrupt. He was weak in character and asked for peace with Liao and opened up the head of Liao's money for money. The burden on the people became heavier and the national strength of the Song Dynasty became increasingly weaker.
In 968 AD, Emperor Zhenzong of Song Dynasty, Zhao Heng was originally named Zhao Dechang , and later changed his name to Yuanxiu and Yuan Pei. After being enthroned as the crown prince, he changed his name to Zhao Heng.
Zhao Heng is the third son of Emperor Taizong, neither the legitimate nor the eldest, but he was the one who took the throne in the end. Taizong inherited his brother's position as emperor. After becoming emperor, he strictly guarded against his family, fearing that someone would follow his position. As a result, both nephews, Toksawa and Tokfang, died young, and their younger brother Yonmi died of depression. The eldest son Wu Zuo was driven crazy, and the second son Motoo died suddenly.
In 995 AD, Taizong appointed the 28-year-old third son Yuan Kan as the crown prince and changed his name to Zhao Heng. In March 997 AD, Emperor Taizong passed away, and the crown prince Zhao Heng succeeded to the throne, namely Emperor Zhenzong of Song, and changed the reign of Emperor Xianping the following year.
After Emperor Zhenzong of Song ascended the throne, he had the ambition to strive for success. As soon as he came to power, he made a major adjustment to the core personnel of the regime. Promote the heroes who assisted him in the throne, Lv Duan, teacher, Li Zhi, and others, and depose Li Changling, and others.
He also issued an edict to open up the road of advice and encouraged his ministers to speak out for their advice. In October 998 AD, Zhenzong dismissed Prime Ministers Lu Duan and Li Zhi, and appointed Zhang Qixian and Li Yan as prime ministers, and also adjusted other personnel of the central government. Then Zhenzong began to rectify the administration of officials and solve prominent problems such as bloated institutions, corruption, redundant officials, and cheating in the imperial examinations. At the same time, he also restrained the behavior of royal relatives and eunuchs. While implementing political reforms, Zhenzong also attaches great importance to the development of agriculture. He once said: "National affairs are important, food is the first priority." He advised farmers to provide mulberry trees, provide relief to disaster victims, reduce taxes and exemptions, expand military farms, and reward land reclamation. Through these measures, in the past few years of Zhenzong's reign, the Song Dynasty's economy developed greatly, a well-off situation emerged, and was called " Xianping Rule " by later generations.
Zhenzong is quite talented in internal affairs, but is incompetent in diplomacy. He grew up in the deep palace and developed a weak and gentle personality. When dealing with his neighboring country, Liao, he lacked the ambition of Taizu, and was even worse than Taizong, who failed to attack Liao twice. His weakness and negativity were completely exposed on the issue of Liao.
Since Taizong failed to attack Liao, Song has been passively resisting Liao, while the Liao army turned defense into offense and continued to move south to invade Song Dynasty, which was aggressive. At this time, Yang Yanzhao, who was guarding the border, was the son of the famous general Yang Ye, and was known as Yang Liulang. He actively resisted and defeated the Liao army many times, which made the Liao people frightened. However, the emperor of the Song Dynasty was cowardly and could not resist the powerful Liao people by relying solemnly on the fight of a few military generals. In 1004 AD, the strong woman of Liao Kingdom, who was both civil and military, was Empress Dowager Xiao and her son Liao Shengzong led 200,000 Khitan troops to invade Song. The Liao army came in fierce momentum and soon captured the two major cities of the Song Dynasty, Tianxiong and Deqing , and went straight to Chanzhou (which seriously threatened the security of the Song capital Jijing. After hearing this, Emperor Zhenzong of Song immediately issued an edict to "do not fight with the army". However, the Liao army was too powerful and won consecutive battles for a while, and the situation was very critical.
The whole country of the Song Dynasty was shocked. Emperor Zhenzong discussed countermeasures with the ministers, and the ministers had different opinions and argued endlessly. Prime Minister Kou Zhun and others The people were in charge of war and asked the emperor to personally fight. Minister Wang Ruoqin and others suggested that Zhenzong move the capital to Jinling to take refuge. Although Zhenzong was afraid of war, he felt that moving the capital could not solve the problem, so he gritted his teeth to fight against Liao.
In December of that year, Zhenzong visited Chanzhou and received the generals defending the city. The emperor's personal expedition greatly boosted the morale of the Song army. At this time, the Liao army went deep into the Song area, with insufficient support and insufficient food and supplies, so the war situation changed quickly.
The Song army continued to win, and the Liao army was struggling, so Empress Dowager Xiao and Emperor Shengzong of Liao had the intention to stop the war and peace. The Song army was at an advantage at this time, but Zhenzong was afraid of war, so he decided to negotiate peace with the Liao people based on his strategic advantages. Finally, the Song and Liao countries reached an agreement; the two sides quit and became brotherly countries. The Song tributed 100,000 taels of silver and 200,000 pieces of silk to Liao every year. Because the agreement was signed in Chanzhou (also known as Chanyuan ), it is known in history as " Chanyuan Alliance ".
Because the Song Dynasty surrendered to others while it was taking advantage of itself, the "Zhenyuan Alliance" was an extremely humiliating treaty for the Song people. The Song Dynasty not only did not take back the Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures , but also gave the Liao people a large amount of property every year, which also started to pay tribute to Liao for every emperor in the Song Dynasty, thus adding a heavy burden to the people.
However, after the "Zhenyuan Alliance", the Song and Liao countries maintained a hundred years of peace and promoted economic and cultural exchanges between the two countries. After the conflict between Song and Liao dynasties was temporarily resolved, the Dangxiang regime in the northwest also took the initiative to reconcile with Song Yan. Dangxiang was later Xixia , and Dangxiang leader Li Mingde received generous rewards from Zhenzong. The two countries set up markets in the Security Army, Yanzhou and other places to carry out trade trade.
In this way, Song Zhenzong exchanged a high price for reconciliation with Khitan and Dangxiang, temporarily stabilizing the western and northern borders of the Song Dynasty. Zhenzong spent a lot of energy to eliminate external troubles. At this time, the conflicts within the Northern Song Dynasty court were sharp, and several groups of people fought endlessly. Emperor Zhenzong of Song was weak in character and did not like the upright prime minister Kou Zhun. He appointed Kou Zhun at that time just to help him overcome difficulties. Therefore, after the Battle of Song Jiang, Wang Ruoqin, Wang Dan and others of the Lord's Sect were valued by Zhenzong. They slandered and falsely accused Kou Zhun, saying that Kou Zhun asked the emperor to fight in person, but in fact he used the emperor to "take a single gamble", so Zhenzong took advantage of the situation to dismiss Kou Zhun. From then on, the court was controlled by treacherous villains such as Wang Ruoqin, and the government became increasingly corrupt.
Zhenzong gradually became lazy in his later years and no longer had the fighting spirit. He is passionate about auspiciousness and is superstitious about sacrifices. He prays to gods and Buddhas every day, hoping that gods and immortals will bless him. Many villains take the opportunity to get involved.
In February 1018, Yongxing Army inspector Zhu Neng reported that the "Book of Heaven" had arrived in Qianyou. Zhenzong believed it without doubt and used a grand ceremony to serve the "Shishu" people's palace. He also pardoned the world and summoned more than 13,000 monks and nuns to pray for blessings and prolong their lives in the Tian'an Hall.
In March, Zhenzong summoned all officials to the court in Wende Hall. In Wende Hall, Zhenzong announced a surprising decision. He announced the cancellation of the order to amnesty in the world because he believed that: "The grace of amnesty is the will of God; the meaning of amnesty is to follow the will of God." Zhenzong also made some publicity for his life-long prolonging behavior. "Shidharma" is composed of the broken versions or legends of Taoist scriptures such as "Laozi" and "Tao Te Ching" collected by monks from the people.
Zhenzong was not interested in political affairs and was busy asking for blessings every day, but his health became worse and worse. In February 1022 AD, Zhenzong died of illness at the age of 55. Prince Zhao Zhen succeeded to the throne, that is, Song Renzong . After the death of Zhenzong, he was buried in Yongdingling Ling , with the posthumous title of "Emperor Yuanxiao" and the temple name "Zhenzong". He reigned for 25 years, worked diligently in the early stage and was stupid in the later stage. After his death, the social crisis of the Song Dynasty gradually became exposed.
Due to the emperor's debauchery, many corrupt officials appeared in the court. They plundered people's wealth and plundered them in a big way, which made people's lives very difficult. The people are very dissatisfied with this.
When Song Renzong's grandson Song Shenzong's period, a new force appeared in the court - Fan Zhongyan , Ouyang Xiu and others.
They advocate reform and rectification of the administration of officials and implement the " Qingli New Policy ".
The Song army continued to win, and the Liao army was struggling, so Empress Dowager Xiao and Emperor Shengzong of Liao had the intention to stop the war and peace. The Song army was at an advantage at this time, but Zhenzong was afraid of war, so he decided to negotiate peace with the Liao people based on his strategic advantages. Finally, the Song and Liao countries reached an agreement; the two sides quit and became brotherly countries. The Song tributed 100,000 taels of silver and 200,000 pieces of silk to Liao every year. Because the agreement was signed in Chanzhou (also known as Chanyuan ), it is known in history as " Chanyuan Alliance ".
Because the Song Dynasty surrendered to others while it was taking advantage of itself, the "Zhenyuan Alliance" was an extremely humiliating treaty for the Song people. The Song Dynasty not only did not take back the Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures , but also gave the Liao people a large amount of property every year, which also started to pay tribute to Liao for every emperor in the Song Dynasty, thus adding a heavy burden to the people.
However, after the "Zhenyuan Alliance", the Song and Liao countries maintained a hundred years of peace and promoted economic and cultural exchanges between the two countries. After the conflict between Song and Liao dynasties was temporarily resolved, the Dangxiang regime in the northwest also took the initiative to reconcile with Song Yan. Dangxiang was later Xixia , and Dangxiang leader Li Mingde received generous rewards from Zhenzong. The two countries set up markets in the Security Army, Yanzhou and other places to carry out trade trade.
In this way, Song Zhenzong exchanged a high price for reconciliation with Khitan and Dangxiang, temporarily stabilizing the western and northern borders of the Song Dynasty. Zhenzong spent a lot of energy to eliminate external troubles. At this time, the conflicts within the Northern Song Dynasty court were sharp, and several groups of people fought endlessly. Emperor Zhenzong of Song was weak in character and did not like the upright prime minister Kou Zhun. He appointed Kou Zhun at that time just to help him overcome difficulties. Therefore, after the Battle of Song Jiang, Wang Ruoqin, Wang Dan and others of the Lord's Sect were valued by Zhenzong. They slandered and falsely accused Kou Zhun, saying that Kou Zhun asked the emperor to fight in person, but in fact he used the emperor to "take a single gamble", so Zhenzong took advantage of the situation to dismiss Kou Zhun. From then on, the court was controlled by treacherous villains such as Wang Ruoqin, and the government became increasingly corrupt.
Zhenzong gradually became lazy in his later years and no longer had the fighting spirit. He is passionate about auspiciousness and is superstitious about sacrifices. He prays to gods and Buddhas every day, hoping that gods and immortals will bless him. Many villains take the opportunity to get involved.
In February 1018, Yongxing Army inspector Zhu Neng reported that the "Book of Heaven" had arrived in Qianyou. Zhenzong believed it without doubt and used a grand ceremony to serve the "Shishu" people's palace. He also pardoned the world and summoned more than 13,000 monks and nuns to pray for blessings and prolong their lives in the Tian'an Hall.
In March, Zhenzong summoned all officials to the court in Wende Hall. In Wende Hall, Zhenzong announced a surprising decision. He announced the cancellation of the order to amnesty in the world because he believed that: "The grace of amnesty is the will of God; the meaning of amnesty is to follow the will of God." Zhenzong also made some publicity for his life-long prolonging behavior. "Shidharma" is composed of the broken versions or legends of Taoist scriptures such as "Laozi" and "Tao Te Ching" collected by monks from the people.
Zhenzong was not interested in political affairs and was busy asking for blessings every day, but his health became worse and worse. In February 1022 AD, Zhenzong died of illness at the age of 55. Prince Zhao Zhen succeeded to the throne, that is, Song Renzong . After the death of Zhenzong, he was buried in Yongdingling Ling , with the posthumous title of "Emperor Yuanxiao" and the temple name "Zhenzong". He reigned for 25 years, worked diligently in the early stage and was stupid in the later stage. After his death, the social crisis of the Song Dynasty gradually became exposed.
Due to the emperor's debauchery, many corrupt officials appeared in the court. They plundered people's wealth and plundered them in a big way, which made people's lives very difficult. The people are very dissatisfied with this.
When Song Renzong's grandson Song Shenzong's period, a new force appeared in the court - Fan Zhongyan , Ouyang Xiu and others.
They advocate reform and rectification of the administration of officials and implement the " Qingli New Policy ".
