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[Xiao Chuo, a sharp sword hanging over the head of the Song Dynasty. History of the Song Dynasty Xiao Chuo]

Xiao Chuo, also known as Xiao Yanyan, is a famous female politician in the history of the Liao Dynasty. Her life is full of legends.

She served as regent for 27 years, pulling the Liao Kingdom back from the brink of life and death to its peak state, and became a sword hanging over the head of the Northern Song Dynasty.

Her political ability is comparable to that of Wu Zetian. At the same time, she is also the eternal villain among the Yang Family Generals, a woman who made the emperor of the Song Dynasty extremely anxious.

——"The Queen Mother Xiao in the north is much stronger than the Queen Mother in the south."

Xiao Chuo was born in 953 AD into a noble family of the Liao Dynasty. Her father was Xiao Siwen, a noble of the Liao Dynasty.

Since the imperial power of Liao Dynasty was always in the hands of Yelu family, and all the empresses of the past dynasties were surnamed Xiao, Xiao Chuo was a member of this family. She was smart and efficient since she was young, and she had a spirit of never giving up until she achieved her goal, so her father placed high hopes on her.

In 969 AD, Emperor Muzong of Liao was assassinated. Xiao Siwen blocked the news and supported Yelu Xian, who was closely related to him, as emperor. In return, Yelu Xian appointed Xiao Siwen as prime minister of the Northern Palace and appointed Xiao Chuo as imperial concubine, and soon after, made her empress.

Yelu Xian was weak and sickly and could not attend court regularly, so all the affairs of the court were handed over to Xiao Chuo. With Xiao Chuo's help, the Liao Dynasty became more powerful and started its revival. It defeated the Northern Song Dynasty in the Battle of Gaoliang River, ending the Song Dynasty's rising trend.

——"It's a good thing that the God of Cars became famous in one battle, otherwise who would know him, Emperor Taizong of Song."

——"Indeed, it is purely to lower the value of Taizong."

However, Xiao Chuo's father was assassinated the following year. During Yelu Xian's reign, Xiao Chuo accumulated rich political experience. After Yelu Xian's death, before his death, he ordered his eldest son Yelu Longxu to ascend the throne, and told his son to obey the Queen's orders in case of military and national affairs.

From then on, the name Xiao Chuo would hang over the Northern Song Dynasty for more than 20 years.

At that time, the young emperor Yelu Longxu was only 12 years old, and there were many royal nobles in the Liao Dynasty, and everyone was eyeing the throne. In this case, how Xiao Chuo could keep the country became a huge challenge.

She appointed ministers Yelu Xizhen and Han Derang to participate in major political decisions, assigned military affairs in the south to Yelu Xiu'ge, replaced a number of ministers, ordered the kings not to entertain each other, required them not to go out unless necessary, and tried to remove their military power. After these actions, the status of Liao Shengzong and Xiao Chuo stabilized.

——"Empress Dowager Xiao, Han Derang? Hehehe, take it. (Dog head)"

Xiao Chuo had accumulated rich political experience during the reign of Emperor Jingzong of Liao. After officially assuming power, she relied on Han minister Han Derang to implement feudal reforms, used capable ministers to suppress the nobles, reformed the tax system, and developed agricultural production, which greatly enhanced the national strength of the Khitan.

A year later, Yelu Longxu led his ministers to honor the empress dowager as Empress Dowager Chengtian. At the same time, the romantic affair between Empress Dowager Xiao and Han Derang also spread in both Song and Liao countries.

Xiao Chuo and Han Derang were childhood sweethearts and had been engaged, but Xiao Siwen broke up the relationship and married his daughter to Yelu Xian. After Yelu Xian passed away, Xiao Chuo favored Han Derang and entrusted him with important tasks. Many people thought that the Queen Mother and Han Derang had rekindled their old love, and these rumors even reached Emperor Taizong of Song.

Song Taizong's confidant Ling heard about the affair between Empress Dowager Xiao and Han Derang, so he reported it to Kaifeng and instigated Song Taizong to march north to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun. The reason was that the Khitan ruler Shaoguo suspected that the Empress Dowager favored Han Derang, which caused dissatisfaction among the people. Song Taizong believed it and launched the Yongxi Northern Expedition in 986 AD.

The troops were divided into three routes to attack the Liao Kingdom. The 34-year-old Xiao Chuo took Yelu Longxu to present-day BJ. The Liao generals Yelu Xiu'ge and Yelu Xie defeated the east and west armies sent by Zhao Guangyi. The central army had no hope of winning and had to withdraw. The Yongxi Northern Expedition ultimately ended in failure.

Seeing that the Song Dynasty was so weak militarily, Xiao Chuo also had the idea of ​​rushing into the Central Plains. She appointed Yelu Xiu'ge as the King of Song and continued to fight with the Song army on the border. The Song army suffered more defeats than victories, and the recovery of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun was a distant prospect.

When Xiao Chuo was 45, Emperor Taizong of Song died and Crown Prince Zhao Heng succeeded him as Emperor Zhenzong of Song. Zhenzong was a coward and was afraid of the Liao Kingdom and did not dare to challenge it. Xiao Chuo pressed on and continued to invade the south.

In 1004 AD, Xiao Chuo and Yelu Longxu personally led an army of 20 to prosecute the case. The troops were at the gates of the city. The capital of the Song Dynasty, Kaifeng, was in danger. Song Zhenzong panicked at the time and asked his sons what to do?

Some suggested moving south to Jinling, while others suggested moving south to Sichuan. Kou Zhun made a plaque of justice and strongly demanded that the emperor lead the army in person. Soon the Song army shot and killed the Liao general Xiao Talin. The Liao came from afar in the century-long war, and they were short of food and grass, so they could not fight for a long time. Xiao Chuo hoped to achieve her goal through peace talks and negotiations.

However, Xiao Talina's death in battle put the Liao army into a passive position. After bargaining, the two sides finally reached an agreement that Song and Liao were brother countries, and the Song Dynasty paid 30 annual tribute to the Liao. Later generations called this agreement the Alliance of Chanyuan.

——"It's really disgusting that such rubbish can go to Mount Tai to be enshrined in the Imperial Ceremony!"

——"I am disgusted by the emperors of the Song Dynasty who performed Fengshan at Mount Tai. After Zhu Yuanzhang conquered the world, he did not perform Fengshan, but went to the mountain near Nanjing to do it."

Shortly after the signing of the Treaty of Chanyuan, civil strife broke out in the Liao royal family. Xiao Chuo's two sisters rebelled and were imprisoned and stabbed to death by Xiao Chuo. Their followers were also buried alive by Xiao Chuo.

In 1009, 57-year-old Xiao Chuo died in the palace with her son Yelü Longxu in December of the same year. Empress Shengshen Xuanxian and Yelü Longxu were buried together in Qianling Mausoleum.

As for her rumored boyfriend Han Derang, he was also treated with courtesy by Yelu Longxu after Xiao Chuo's death. He was given the name Yelu Long and became the emperor's sworn brother. He was buried with Xiao Chuo in the autumn of Qianling Mausoleum. Xiao Chuo defeated the Song army several times in her life and gained military advantage. She used ministers of various ethnic groups, which made the Liao Dynasty reach its peak and completed the sinicization of the Khitan people.

However, due to her iron-fisted political methods and controversial killings of political enemies, the historical evaluation of Xiao Chuo is polarized. But no matter how Xiao Chuo is evaluated in history, she is an outstanding Chinese female politician.

——"What's the big deal? Who wouldn't kill their political opponents? Otherwise, why would they keep them alive? Don't be too critical."

——"Her political ability should be higher than Wu Zetian's. Wu Zetian just took the title of female emperor."

——"Not necessarily. The difficulty of both sides is very different. Since Xiao Chuo did not claim to be an emperor, the obstacles were not that great. Besides, the customs of the Liao people are different from those of the Han people. If she were really put in the same situation as Wu Zetian, she might not play better than Wu Zetian."

——"Emperor Taizong of Song: There are many insulting words, why do you have to mention the Battle of Gaoliang River?"

——"The Northern Song Dynasty, which loved to bully orphans and widows, was beaten to a pulp by a pair of orphans and widows."

——"Is this the prototype of Yan Yun Tai played by Tang Yan?"

【The most benevolent emperor in Chinese history - Song Renzong, the history of the Song Dynasty. 】

He created the most culturally advanced dynasty in Chinese history. During his reign, culture and technology exploded, with the Four Great Inventions and classic poems and verses.

He was responsible for all six of the Eight Great Masters of Tang and Song Dynasties. Those childhood traumas that require one to memorize the entire text are mostly caused by the talents created during this period, which could not be used up for generations. However, many people also believe that he was the most cowardly emperor of the Song Dynasty because he ruled the country with literati.

This video allows us to understand Song Renzong and his group of scholar-officials in chronological order.

Song Renzong was originally named Zhao Shouyi, but later changed his name to Zhao Zhen. When he was born, his first five elder brothers had all died, so Zhao Zhen seemed destined to become an emperor.

However, Zhao Zhen's childhood did not become happy because he was taken away from his biological mother Li when he was just born and sent to the palace of Consort De, Liu E.

Later generations therefore interpreted the story of "The Civet Cat Substituted for the Prince". Although there was no civet cat in real history, Zhao Zhen never knew who his biological mother was.

His father, Emperor Zhenzong of Song, had always wanted to make Liu E the queen, but because of opposition from court officials, after Li gave birth to the prince, he took the child directly to Liu E's palace so that Liu E could become the queen legitimately.

Liu E's mind was not on Zhao Zhen. She focused all her energy on participating in state affairs, so she gave the child to Concubine Yang to raise.

In 1022, Emperor Zhenzong of Song died. Ten years later, 10-year-old Zhao Zhen ascended the throne and became Emperor Renzong of Song. Empress Dowager Liu E ruled the country and was very strict with Emperor Renzong of Song, keeping the power of government firmly in her own hands. Liu E once wanted to follow Wu Zetian's example and change the dynasty, but failed to do so due to too much resistance. After Liu E's death, Emperor Renzong of Song, who had been on the throne for 13 years, was finally able to rule the country himself.

The 24-year-old Song Renzong learned from the Eighth Prince that he was not Liu E's biological son. His biological mother, Li Chenfei, had long been sent to guard the body of Emperor Zhenzong and died at the age of 46. Song Renzong posthumously named his biological mother the Queen Mother, but did not seek revenge on Liu E. Whether it was his biological mother or his adoptive mother, he tried his best to be kind to others.

One night, Song Renzong wanted to have a midnight snack, but when he thought that if he asked the imperial kitchen to make a midnight snack, they would have to prepare it every day, which would cause a lot of waste, he endured the hunger all night.

Normally, if the palace maids made a small mistake, Song Renzong would not care. This was even more true for ministers. Once, Song Renzong wanted to appoint the father of a concubine as an official, but this attracted opposition from court officials. Bao Zheng became more and more excited during the audience, and even spit on the emperor's face. Song Renzong did not lose his temper, but revoked his order.

"As a ruler, one should only be benevolent," this is the evaluation given to Song Renzong by historians of later generations.

In the fifth year of his new policy, Li Yuanhao of Western Xia proclaimed himself emperor and competed with the Liao and Song dynasties.

The following year, Li Yuanhao sent troops to invade the border of the Northern Song Dynasty. The Song army was defeated repeatedly, with heavy casualties. The Western Xia Kingdom was in trouble and the people were exhausted, unable to withstand the consumption of years of war, and finally the two sides stopped fighting and made peace.

The Western Xia nominally paid tribute to the Song Dynasty, but the Song Dynasty had to pay tribute to the Western Xia every year, which was known as the Qingli Peace Agreement. However, the Western Xia would not settle down and would continue to cause trouble for the Song Dynasty for more than a hundred years.

After the discussion, the Liao Kingdom also took advantage of the situation to demand the land south of the Guan Pass. Song Renzong once again spent money to appease the disaster and increased the annual tribute to the Liao Kingdom by 10 taels of silver and 10 pieces of silk.

In addition to being powerless against external threats, the Song Dynasty also had many problems in its internal affairs, with redundant officials and soldiers, and a situation of poverty and weakness gradually forming. Song Renzong also wanted to change this situation.

In 1044, he appointed famous officials such as Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi, and Ouyang Xiu to implement the New Deal, which greatly rectified the administration of officials, eliminated incompetent officials, reduced taxes and levies, and strengthened military preparations, hoping to eliminate the accumulated problems, enrich the country and strengthen the army, and change the situation of being unable to fight foreign wars and constantly in trouble at home. However, the New Deal of the Qingli Period was met with a lot of opposition as soon as it was announced.

Song Renzong, who was always good-tempered, was troubled when he saw so many people opposing it, and each of them spoke righteously and with reason. He began to doubt the feasibility of the New Policies of the Qingli Period.

Since the emperor hesitated about the reform, the result was predictable. In 1045 AD, Fan Zhongyan and others were expelled from the capital, and the Qingli New Deal was declared a failure.

At this time, the Song Dynasty still had a prosperous and peaceful appearance, but the disease that could not be eradicated had gradually hollowed out the foundation of the country like weeds. The inability to resist foreign invasions and the poverty and weakness would haunt the hearts of successive emperors of the Song Dynasty like a nightmare.

In his later years, Song Renzong was mentally ill, his sons died one after another, and his daughter Princess Fukang developed mental problems due to an unhappy marriage. In desperation, Song Renzong accepted the advice of the prime ministers and made his nephew Zhao Zongshi the crown prince.

The following year, Song Renzong died at the age of 54. According to historical records, after Song Renzong's death, the people of Kaifeng cried loudly, and even the Liao emperor was very sad and wanted to enshrine Song Renzong's portrait in the Liao.

There is no doubt that Song Renzong was a benevolent ruler, but he was not a heroic ruler. Although he wanted to reform, he eventually gave up.

Interestingly, despite his inability to win foreign wars and frequent internal troubles, historians of all dynasties have spoken highly of Song Renzong Zhao Zhen.

So, do you think Song Renzong was a good emperor?

——"He was a very good emperor. But any emperor named Renzong can only mean one thing: he was easy to manipulate and was good to the bureaucracy. People said he was nothing but a puppet, who traded his power in life for his reputation after death."

——"Indeed, the pen is controlled by the civil servants. Only if you treat them well, they will write a good reputation for you. The poor Liao emperor also cried, isn't it? Who wouldn't cry when faced with such an easy opponent? Look at the deeds written for him, and he was too embarrassed to ask for a midnight snack when he was hungry. Don't you think about it? He didn't even ask for a midnight snack, so how did he record it? Can the historian read minds?"

——"The emperors who are highly praised by scholars are usually obedient. The emperors with a little black spot are the most obedient. For example, Renzong, his Ren refers to the Ren of the literati. But you don't really think that the literati are good people. They account for 80% of the reason why the Song Dynasty was so weak."

——"You speak so badly of a man who even the people spontaneously wore mourning clothes after his death. The period when he was in power could be said to be an ancient paradise, with basically no wars."

——"But that's bullshit. His father signed the Treaty of Chanyuan, a non-aggression agreement with the Liao Kingdom. If that's the case, he could still ruin his family. In fact, the rise of the literati in the Song Dynasty started with him. If the literati are not killed, those parasites will be more greedy than each other. Anyway, I won't be beheaded, so I will be corrupt until I die."