According to Wen Ying's "Continued Hunan Shan Ye", on the evening of October 19th, the ninth year of Kaibao (976), the stars were shining in Wan Li, and Taizu walked in Taiqing Pavilion to enjoy the scenery, which was quite refreshing. Suddenly, it was cloudy, the weather changed suddenly, and the snow and hail plummeted. Urgent imperial secretary opened the gate and called his brother Wang Jin Zhao Guangyi into the palace. After Guangyi arrived, the two brothers drank in ouchi and ordered eunuchs and maids to step down. Palace people can only wait from a distance, only to see the shadow of the big candle, Guangyi still left, as if to retreat modestly. Drunk drums have struck midnight, and there is several inches of snow outside the temple. I saw Taizu poking the ground with a column axe, looking at Guangyi and saying, "Easy, easy!" "Say that finish, take off your clothes, go to bed and snore like Lei Ting. That night, Guangyi also stayed in the palace. At 5 o'clock the next morning, the imperial secretary found that Taizu was dead in silence.
Sima Guang's Su Shui Ji records that Mao Yan was driving at four o'clock that night. Imperial secretary immediately informed the Song Empress, and the chamberlain of the Song Empress knew about it and immediately called Zhao, the fourth son of Qin, into the palace. I thought that Mao had long planned to pass on the throne to his younger brother Guangyi, but instead of going to Xuande Square, he went to Kaifeng to call Guangyi into the palace. When Jean came to the front of Kaifeng House, he saw Cheng Xuande, a Zuoya official who is good at medical technology, sitting at the door and asked him why. "At the second watch," said De Xuan, "someone called at the door, saying that the King of Jin had something to ask, so he didn't show up when he went out. If so, three times, I was afraid that King Jin was really ill, so I came. " After grace told the things in the palace, they went to see Guangyi together. Guangyi was frightened, hesitant and afraid to enter the palace, claiming to discuss with his family. Jean on the side advised: "After a long time, it will belong to others." A word woke Guangyi, and three people walked into the palace through the heavy snow.
At the palace gate, Jean told Guangyi to wait in Lu Zhi so that he could report. "What are you waiting for?" said De Xuan. Go straight in! " Three people into the ouchi. Queen Song heard Ji En's voice and asked, "Is Fang here?" Jean replied, "The King of Jin has arrived." The queen was shocked when she saw Guangyi. When she recovered, she had to say in dismay, "Our mother and son's lives are in the hands of the government." (The butler was given to the emperor by the imperial clan minister of the Song Dynasty, posthumous title. Guangyi also replied with tears: "* * protect money, don't be afraid." The next day, Guangyi acceded to the throne for Song Taizong.
According to one view, Song Taizong Zhao Guangyi won the seat by killing his brother. According to "Continued Xiang", Mao died suddenly in the shadow of an axe and candle, and Guangyi stayed in the palace that night, in order to grab the position the next day. At that time, Guangyi was regarded as the heir to the throne, but Taizu's sons were all adults, and they were all justified. Mao's delay in announcing the candidate for the crown prince should be due to ideological contradictions. At the same time, there are contradictions between Taizu and Guangyi brothers. For example, there are serious differences between the two brothers on the policy of treating the Northern Han Dynasty and the Qidan, whether to buy it peacefully or conquer it by force. Mao once considered moving the capital to Luoyang, one of the reasons was to try to get rid of the complicated sphere of influence formed by Guangyi in Kaifeng. What's more, after all, it is not normal for brothers and sisters to be brothers in the throne in history, and Mao may change his mind at any time. In other words, for Zhao Guangyi, there are still many variables whether he can succeed to the throne. So, how to grab the class and win the position? Nature became a problem that Guangyi needed to think hard at that time. The night of "Axe Sound and Candle Shadow" should be said to be an excellent opportunity.
According to the records of embers, "the shadow of an axe and a candle" is an unexpected event with specific and vivid accidental reasons. Fei Shi, the wife of Houshu Huarui, was called into the harem after the national subjugation and became the favorite concubine of Taizu, whose beauty has been coveted for a long time. That night, while Mrs. Hua Rui was drunk, Emperor Taizong took the opportunity to flirt, but found it hazy and dismissed it. Mao angrily hit the ground with a column axe, looked at Guangyi and said, "Easy, easy!" " "Meaning said angrily," what did you do! "Emperor Taizong knew that he couldn't get his brother's forgiveness, and he planned to rob the class to seize the position, so he took this opportunity to kill him.
According to relevant historical records, if we make a calendar of Taizu's nine-year activities, we can find that he was very energetic and traveled around frequently. Fortunately, he was in Xijing (Luoyang), Cigong County, Bai 'anling ... and there was no record in the history books at that time that Mao was sick or the minister asked about his illness, so his body should be healthy. Therefore, Mao died suddenly, obviously not because of illness. Some people speculate that Taizu died suddenly because of excessive drinking, but Taizu always thought that "how can you be a man if you indulge in alcohol" and drink moderately. If this time he died of wine, it was with Guangyi * * *, and Mao died of wine and Guangyi was safe and sound, it would be too strange, which may also explain what Guangyi did in it. Because Emperor Taizong was really good at this, Li Yu, the queen of the Southern Tang Dynasty, poisoned the wine; Meng Changjun, the king of Shu, died suddenly; Qian Chu, the king of wuyue, held a banquet on his birthday and died suddenly that night. So it is very likely that Mao discovered that there was something wrong with the wine, and then repeatedly shouted to Guangyi: "You did a good job!"
In addition, Emperor Taizong and his cronies predicted the date of his coup. According to the Song Dynasty's Biography of Ma Shao, Ma Shao studied astrology and astronomy privately and made friends with Cheng Dexuan, a close friend of Guangyi. He came to see Dexuan in Kaibao nine years ago on October 19th, and said, "Tomorrow is the day Li saw it." Dexuan quickly reported Guangyi, Guangyi ordered to take care of Ma Shao, and he was released after he acceded to the throne. He was soon awarded the position of supervisor of the Ministry of Heaven, which shows that Cheng Dexuan also fully foresaw the upcoming coup. What is particularly suspicious is that Cheng Dexuan is a medical officer, and "Water and Water Moon Hee" has a volume: "After Dexuan was a class, he was insatiable, so his official was not very good, but Taizong was also tolerant." Volume 32 of "Continuing the History as a Mirror" says: "Cheng Dexuan climbed the nearby column, and his support was more than his door." Emperor Taizong loved a medical officer so much, probably because he helped Zhao Guangyi ascend to the throne with his medical skills. Or "The Shadow of the Axe and Candle" was made by him. He was anxious to know the result, so he sat at the gate of Kaifeng House all night, waiting for news from the palace. The eunuch dared to risk his life to disobey the queen's will, came uninvited and called Zhao to Kaifeng, which also showed that they had an appointment. When Zhao Guangyi hesitated, Wang Jien bluntly reminded: "Over time, it will belong to others." They all revealed the tacit understanding of Emperor Taizong's staff in advance.
Finally, it can be inferred from the words and deeds of Empress Song that Emperor Taizong succeeded by force. When the queen learned that Mao died suddenly, she ordered the eunuch to call her son Zhao into the palace without telling her, indicating that Mao determined Guangyi as the heir to the throne until his death. Because he died suddenly, there will be no testamentary edict. So it is normal for the queen to ask her son to ascend the throne. But Guangyi beat us to it. As far as its influence in Kaifeng is concerned, the queen and her son are not rivals at all, so they were shocked when they saw Guangyi, and subconsciously felt that their mother and son's lives were worrying. When they are frightened, they can only say, "Our mother and son's lives are in the hands of the government." In fact, I can only give up and try to live. If Zhao Guangyi succeeds to the throne normally, there is no need for the Queen to make such a reaction.
Another view is that Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin's death has nothing to do with Song Taizong Zhao Guangyi. According to Su Shui Ji, Guangyi means to go back to Kaifeng, report the news by eunuch Wang Jien, and then go into the palace. In other words, when Mao died suddenly, Guangyi was not in the bedroom. When the two brothers were drinking, Mao said to Guangyi "Do it well", which means "Do it well", and Li Tao's long version of Zi Zhi Tong Jian was changed to "Do it well". From a medical point of view, Taizu is short and chubby, just like Zhao Kuangyin in the Southern Song Dynasty court painting Cuju Tu copied by painter Qian Xuan in the late Song Dynasty and early Yuan Dynasty. In addition, on the night of his death, he snored like thunder after drinking, which should be a typical symptom before the onset of cerebral hemorrhage. Others believe that Mao died of bipolar disorder inherited in the family. Therefore, the story of "the sound of an axe and the shadow of a candle" in The Record of Continued Hunan Shan Ye is really nonsense.
Some people misunderstand the "column axe" mentioned in history books, and think that "the axe sounds like a candle shadow" means killing Mao with a sharp axe under the candle shadow. This is unbelievable. Column axe is used by soldiers as a learning tool. The pillar axe in the study, also known as Yufu, is made of crystal or jade. Obviously, the column axe in The Sound of an Axe and the Shadow of a Candle can only be stationery. It is impossible to put a weapon like a beneficial axe in the inner bedroom, and Guangyi doesn't need to be so explicit.
In short, in this mystery, Emperor Taizong has many difficult doubts, and some details may always be historical mysteries. After Emperor Taizong succeeded to the throne, there are also some clues that are very intriguing. If Emperor Taizong1October 2 1 day ascended the throne,1February 22 will announce the first year of peaceful rejuvenation. Generally speaking, out of recognition and respect for the former emperor, the status of the son's stepfather, or the younger brother's inheritance right, has not changed in those years, let alone at the end of the year. Emperor Taizong was anxious to change the yuan, and he couldn't wait for a few days. Later generations estimated that he did something stupid out of a guilty conscience and an untenable refusal to succeed him. In addition, only a few days after Emperor Taizong ascended the throne, he hastily ordered: it is forbidden to publicize astronomical astrology and books on yin and yang divination, and some private scholars will be beheaded; And inform local governments to quickly send all the known astrologers in China to Beijing for screening. /kloc-in October/February, Emperor Taizong ordered the screening of more than 300 astrologers sent from all over the country, and more than 60 of them were left to work in Tianjian Supervision Department. The remaining 300 people were all sent to Samoa on charges of "swearing and promoting vulgarity". Emperor Taizong was so eager to dispose of these magicians that he banned private study of related books. Obviously, he wants to ban the generation and spread of unfavorable public opinion and rumors. Is this a sign of his guilt?
In the fourth year of Taiping and Xingguo (978), Emperor Taizong personally led an army to destroy the Northern Han Dynasty and then attack Liao in the north. The Northern Expedition was defeated by Liao soldiers for underestimating the enemy, and the whole line was defeated. Emperor Taizong was shot in the leg in the melee and fled hastily. The army did not see the commander in chief for a while, and the minister suspected that Taizong was in trouble, so the generals sought to establish the son of Taizong, Dezhao, to succeed him. Before the fact, Emperor Taizong soon returned to the army. When he heard about it, he was very angry. After returning to the DPRK, Dezhao invited Taizong to reward meritorious service, mainly to cut off the meritorious ministers in the Northern Han Dynasty. Before my nephew could finish speaking, Taizong glared at him and scolded, "What is the merit of coming back after defeat?" It's not too late to reward you when you become emperor. "DeZhao drew his sword after returning to the palace. Why is Dezhao working so hard? It is estimated that he must be frightened by something, but history has erased hidden feelings. When Taizong heard the news, he held the body in his arms and cried, "Idiot, how can you be so evil! "It not only covers up its bullying behavior, but also shirks its responsibility. Two years later, his brother Fang De died inexplicably. Only four or five years after Mao's death, his two young sons both died. It seems that Queen Song's kindness has been completely fulfilled. Even after the death of Queen Song, Emperor Taizong did not follow the queen's etiquette. Are these signs accidental?
The most surprising thing is that 150 years later, Zhao Gou, the only youngest son of Zhao Guangyi, the descendant of Song Taizong, died early, and Song Gaozong lost her fertility, that is to say, no son succeeded to the throne. What should I do? During the Shaoxing period, officials secretly talked about the war in the world and the second emperor invaded the north, which was actually a ghost story. The long-standing saying that "after Mao, there will be another world" is even more popular. Some officials even said that they hoped that Emperor Gaozong would choose Mao's grandson as the crown prince. At this time, the Queen Mother Longyou "tasted strange dreams, and the secret was the emperor's words, and the emperor realized it." At the request of ministers, Emperor Gaozong said: "Mao and SHEN WOO decided the world together, and his descendants were not allowed to enjoy it. When it is difficult, it is very pitiful. If I don't follow the principle of benevolence, how can I be comforted in the spirit of heaven? " Song Gaozong and Zhao Gou finally found Zhao Boqiong, the seventh grandson of Zhao Kuangyin, and passed the throne to him. Is it because of God's view that Zhao Gou, the son of Emperor Taizong, was forced to make some compensation with practical actions?