Zhao Kuangyin
MilitaryA general of Chai Rong, he was successful in the battle of Gaoping, and he was always inspected in front of the palace. After the death of Chai Rong, he launched the Chenqiao Mutiny and established Northern Song.
Dynasties of ChinaFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsLater week
ShizongChai Rong
Xiande · Reign 954—959
The most brilliant king of the Five Dynasties, he organized the army through military force, leveled the land and eliminated disadvantages. He campaigned in the south and in the north, aiming to unify the country. However, he died of illness during the northern expedition.
IBiography
- Reign
- 5 years
- Reign era
- Xiande
- Order of accession
- Ruler #2 · Later week
- Life dates
- 921—959
- Titles
- Temple name: Shizong · Posthumous title: Emperor Ruiwuxiaowen · Buried at Qingling Mausoleum
Chai Rong was a native of Yaoshan, Xingzhou, and the nephew of Guo Wei's wife Chai. He went into business with Chai's father when he was young, and was later adopted as an adopted son by Guo Wei. He followed the Wei Dynasty in the southern and northern wars and held important positions in Yedu and Kaifeng. Guo Wei died of illness in 954. After he came to the throne, the Northern Han Dynasty united with the Khitan to attack. Regardless of the objections of the officials, he personally conquered the Northern Han army and defeated the Northern Han army in the Battle of Gaoping. He used this to reorganize the imperial army, eliminate the old and the weak, select the strong, and form the squadrons in front of the palace, which greatly increased the military strength of the Later Zhou Dynasty.
When he was young, he had been selling tea in Jiangling with merchants, and he was familiar with the sufferings of the people. After he came to the throne, he saw the arrogance and laziness of the army and the corruption of officials since the Five Dynasties, and he was determined to rectify it. After the Battle of Gaoping, he severely punished the defeated generals, eliminated redundant troops, personally reviewed and selected the Forbidden Army, and appointed generals such as Zhao Kuangyin, Han Tong, and Li Chongjin, making the Later Zhou army the most powerful force at that time.
He adopted Wang Pu's "Pingbian Policy" and established a unified strategy of first south and then north. In 955, he limited Buddhism to promote agriculture, destroyed temples and minted money, established land taxes, dredged the Bianhe River and Wuzhang River, and rectified the imperial examination; from 955 to 958, he made three expeditions to the Southern Tang Dynasty and captured fourteen states in the north of the Yangtze River; in 959, he personally During the Northern Expedition to Khitan, he recovered the three prefectures of Ying, Mo, Yi and Sanguan in more than forty days. When he was preparing to advance into Youzhou, he fell seriously ill and was forced to return to the army. He died of illness in June at the age of thirty-nine and was succeeded by his seven-year-old son Chai. Zongxun succeeded to the throne.
Chai Rong reigned for only more than five years, but he was the most accomplished monarch of the Five Dynasties. He organized the army, equalized land, destroyed Buddhism, regulated rivers, and reformed criminal laws. He conquered the Southern Tang Dynasty three times and conquered the Khitan in the North, which greatly boosted the power of the Later Zhou Dynasty and laid the foundation for the unification of the Northern Song Dynasty. Later generations called him "Zhou Shizong" and compared him with Tang Taizong. Unfortunately, he died of illness before the great cause of unification could be accomplished. The throne was passed on to his young son, who was eventually succeeded by Zhao Kuangyin.
IITimeline
During the reign · 954—959
MilitaryBattle of Gaoping
Liu Chong, the leader of the Northern Han Dynasty, united with the Khitan to send troops to invade the south. Chai Rong ignored the opposition of Feng Dao and others and personally conquered Gaoping. During the battle, the right wing of the Zhou army retreated. He personally risked the stone to supervise the battle. Zhao Kuangyin and other generals fought hard and finally defeated the Northern Han army and killed more than 70 generals who fled the battle.
MilitaryReorganize the Imperial Army
After the Battle of Gaoping, he eliminated the old and weak, selected brave men from all armies to enrich the Forbidden Army, set up various squads in front of the palace, and appointed Zhao Kuangyin and others as generals, so that the strength of the central Forbidden Army overwhelmed the vassals and towns in various places, establishing the military advantage of the Later Zhou Dynasty.
PeopleFeng Dao passed away
In April, Feng Dao, the old prime minister who served for four dynasties, passed away. Before the Battle of Gaoping, he opposed Shizong's personal expedition. This chief minister, who called himself "Old Changle", received very different opinions from later generations. Historians either praised him for bringing peace to the people, or criticized him for being unruly.
SocietyDestroy Buddha and make money
He issued an edict to abolish more than 30,000 monasteries without imperial quotas, prohibited private visits to monks and nuns, and confiscated private bronze Buddha statues to mint coins, saying, "How could a Buddha spare his own life to help others?" This move not only expanded the country's household registration and tax sources, but also alleviated the shortage of copper coins.
PeopleWang Pu presented "Pingbian Ce"
Wang Pu Shangshu proposed a unified strategy: first take Jianghuai, then Lingnan and Bashu, and finally enter Tuyouyan and pacify Hedong. Shizong greatly appreciated it and launched a unification war accordingly. The strategy of moving from south to north in the early Song Dynasty also originated from this.
MilitaryThree expeditions to the Southern Tang Dynasty
Shizong personally conquered the Southern Tang Dynasty three times, fought hard with the Southern Tang army in Shouzhou, Huainan and other places, and finally captured 60 counties in fourteen states and north of the Yangtze River. Li Jing, the leader of the Southern Tang Dynasty, was forced to give up his imperial title and claim the title of lord of the country. He was entrusted to Zhou Zhengshuo and had to cede territory and pay tribute.
Economyuniform land rent
He sent people to various places to measure acres of land, equalize taxes, compile the "Field Equalization Map", and revised the criminal law to compile the "Xiande Criminal System". The Bian River and Wuzhang River were also dredged to smooth N&S transportation and enhance economic strength.
EconomyDredging the Bian River
Shizong ordered the Bianhe River to be dredged and the Wuzhang River to be opened, so that water transportation between Kaifeng, Jianghuai, and Shandong would be smooth. After that, Kaifeng became the hub of N&S water transportation, and Northern Song continued to use it as its capital.
CultureRestoring rituals and music
Wang Pu was ordered to examine the music and formulate new music, and Wang Pu compiled it into the "Qin Tian Calendar", which was the last calendar of the Five Dynasties. Shizong also attached great importance to imperial examinations and culture and education, and the civil governance of the later Zhou Dynasty was restored.
Science & technology"Qin Tian Calendar" is promulgated
Wang Pu compiled the "Qin Tianli" and issued it to the world. It is based on actual measurements, and its calculations are more precise than those of previous generations. It is known as the outstanding work of the Five Dynasties calendar. It was only in the early Song Dynasty that the "Yingtian Calendar" was used.
DiplomacyThe Southern Tang ceded territory and became the lord of the country
After the three expeditions to the Southern Tang Dynasty were completed, Li Jing dedicated 14 prefectures and 60 counties in the north of the Yangtze River. He went to the emperor and became the lord of the country. He served Zhou Zhengshuo and paid tribute of gold and silk every year. The land north of the Yangtze River entered the Zhou Dynasty, and the Yangtze River became the dividing line between the two sides.
MilitaryNorthern Expedition to Khitan
In April, Shizong personally led the army to the Northern Expedition, advancing both by land and water. In more than 40 days, he recaptured the three prefectures of Ying, Mo, and the three passes of Waqiao, Yijin, and Yukou.
PeopleDied of illness
In June, he fell seriously ill during the Northern Expedition and was forced to return to Kaifeng. He died soon after at the age of thirty-nine. According to legend, he received a wooden sign in the army that read "Inspection to make the emperor", so he stopped inspecting all the people in front of Zhang Yongde's palace and was appointed Zhao Kuangyin.
Lasting legacyShizong Qingling Mausoleum is located in present-day Xinzheng City, Henan Province.
IIIPeople of this reign
Wang Pu
PoliticsThe counselors of the later Zhou Dynasty presented the "Pingbian Policy" and formulated a unified strategy. They were also proficient in calendar music and compiled it into the "Qin Tianli". Died of illness in 959.
Fan Zhi
PoliticsAfter serving as an official in the Zhou Dynasty, he participated in the equalization of land and the revision of criminal laws. He was cautious and diligent. After the death of Chai Rong, he still assisted his young master. After entering the Song Dynasty, he still served as chief minister.
Wei Renpu
PoliticsBorn as a minor official, he was trusted by Guo Wei and Chai Rong because of his knowledge of military affairs. He was in charge of the Privy Council for a long time and assisted Shizong in reorganizing the army and the Northern Expedition.
Li Jing
RulersThe second generation monarch of the Southern Tang Dynasty, who was good at poetry and poetry, was forced to cede fourteen states in the north of the Yangtze River, and was given the imperial title of Zhou Zhengshuo. He died of illness in 961.