Chapter 18 8. Chenqiaoyi: A Shocking Change

Chenqiaoyi is a post station outside Kaifeng City, and it is also the nearest northern post station to Kaifeng. Since the later Zhou Dynasty made Kaifeng City the capital, it has always been valued.But what it is most remembered by people is the historical event of its demise in the latter week. When Zhao Kuangyin led the forbidden army team out of Kaifeng, according to the speed of the march, generally there was no need to rest at Chenqiaoyi.But Han Chongyun, Liu Shouzhong and others, who were the generals of the army, walked slowly without rushing, and the coach Zhao Kuangyin didn't complain aloud, so they stopped at the post station closest to the capital after dark.

After the army set up their camp, Han Chongyun and others reported the progress of the march to Zhao Kuangyin.Zhao Pu said: "Today is the first day of the army, we should cheer up. In order to encourage everyone, the general plans to set up a table of wine and food tonight, and invite all generals to come and have a drink together." Han Chongyun said, "Okay! I'll send someone to invite Liu Shouzhong and Wang Zhengzhong over here." When everyone was here, Zhao Kuangyin raised his wine glass with a smile and said: "I, Zhao Kuangyin, got my life back from the battlefield. Brothers have followed me for many years, and they have been through life and death together. Now I want everyone to follow me." I should offer a toast to all of you before going out to battle!" Then he drank the wine in his hand.

The soldiers all toasted and enjoyed themselves. Zhao Pu said, "It's not far from Kaifeng. We drink here. How come everyone has forgotten General Murong Yanzhao?" General Li Chuyun smiled and said: "I heard that the general is going to hold a banquet. I have already sent someone to invite General Murong. It is only because he left the city earlier than us, so it will take some time to arrive." Zhao Kuangyin said: "Since Murong Yanzhao hasn't arrived yet, let's have a drink first, and it won't be too late to toast him when he comes." As they said, they were all warriors on the battlefield, so they drank very boldly, and after a while, a lot of the wine hidden in the Chenqiao Post House was drunk.The post officer came over and said to Li Chuyun: "General, there is not much wine here. If you drink any more, the wine cellar will be empty."

Li Chuyun said: "Although you offer wine, don't be stingy. If you drink a bowl of wine today, you will return a tank of wine in the future." The post officer didn't understand what he was talking about, only thought that he was drunk, shook his head helplessly, and ordered people to take out all the wine and send it to the banquet. After a few rounds of drinking, Zhao Kuangyin was already a little tipsy. He said to Zhao Pu: "I am exhausted after counting soldiers for several days. I am already a bit overwhelmed by alcohol. You can continue to drink. I will go back to rest first."

Zhao Pu hurriedly ordered someone to send Zhao Kuangyin back to his room to rest. The generals saw that Zhao Kuangyin had already left the table, so they also put away their wine glasses and got together to discuss the important things they were about to do. Zhao Kuangyin fell asleep with drunkenness and clothes, and fell asleep after a while.At some point, he was suddenly awakened by the noise outside. He looked out the window and saw that the sky outside had already started to turn white, but it was still some time before dawn.After Zhao Kuangyin tidied up his clothes, he heard the noise outside the door getting louder, and the sound of weapons and armor colliding, so he opened the door to have a look, and couldn't help being startled.

In front of the door of Zhao Kuangyin's bedroom, there was a neat list of the forbidden army.The leaders were Li Chuyun, Liu Shouzhong, and Wang Zhengzhong. They were all fully armed, with armor on their bodies and weapons in their hands, as if they had been guarding the door all the time.Zhao Kuangyin hurriedly asked: "What's the matter, what are you doing?" Li Chuyun said loudly: "General, all of us joined the army to protect our family and the country. So even if we send troops in the New Year and cannot be reunited with our families, we have no regrets. It's just that we were born and died, but I don't know if the emperor understands our contributions and hard work. Now the Lord Youguo suspected that we defeated the mortal enemy with all our strength, but the ones who were promoted to rank were officials from the capital, would the emperor understand this kind of suffering?"

Liu Shouzhong said: "What General Li said is very true. Now that the world is not at peace, people are coveting the country of Dazhou. How can orphans and widows support the world of Dazhou? Therefore , we all want to support Zhao Dianjian as the emperor and lead everyone to the north, the general has always been considerate of the soldiers, I believe you will give everyone a satisfactory explanation!" Hearing this, Zhao Kuangyin looked at them in astonishment and said, "Do you know that this is treason! It's a capital crime! Now that Sejong has returned to genius, you actually want me to replace the emperor. This is not to trap me, Zhao Kuangyin. Righteousness? The late emperor was kind to me, how could I do such a thing that goes against the laws of nature and human relations?"

Li Chuyun said: "The three armies have been waiting outside all night in order to support the emperor. If you don't think about yourself, please think about everyone. They are risking their lives, and their wealth and life depend on your thoughts. Please think deeply. .” Zhao Kuangyin looked around and saw that all the soldiers were in full armor, the weapons in their hands gleamed coldly in the morning light, their expressions were tense and exhausted, it seemed that they were really ready for battle.A gust of wind blew, and the flag of the post house fluttered, as if urging Zhao Kuangyin to make a quick decision.

The secretary Zhao Pu came out from the crowd and said to Zhao Kuangyin: "Zhao Dianjian, Lord Zhou is young and unlucky. He can't support this country. The hard work of the soldiers will only be wasted. Now the soldiers of the three armies support you with one heart. Success or failure is a matter of honor and disgrace. If you are sympathetic to everyone, agree to our request, if you cannot accept it, then I will have to return to the capital to be executed by Ling Chi, and my head will be decapitated!" Zhao Kuangyin looked at everyone with helplessness in his eyes.His younger brothers Zhao Kuangyi and Gao Huaide came over and said, "General, you can't bear to see us all die, so please agree to our request!" Gao Huaide shook off the bundle in his hand, and it turned out to be a golden dragon robe.Not allowing Zhao Kuangyin to hesitate, Gao Huaide put the dragon robe in his hand on him.

Seeing this, Zhao Pu said loudly: "This is the destiny of heaven, the aspiration of the hearts of the people, long live my emperor!" After saying this, he fell down and bowed, and all the soldiers also followed Zhao Pu's shout and bowed down, shouting in their mouths Long live, there was an earth-shattering sound in the Chenqiao Posthouse. Zhao Kuangyin saw all the soldiers bowing before his eyes, sighed deeply and said: "Thank you all for trusting me, Zhao Kuangyin, and wanting to support me as emperor. But this matter is of great importance. If you don't listen to me Request, I absolutely cannot agree to it.”

Everyone hurriedly said: "Whatever the emperor orders, all subordinates will obey!" Zhao Kuangyin said: "After this support, I have three conditions that you must abide by: First, although the Empress Dowager Fu and the current emperor cannot control the entire country, they are my masters after all, and Sejong has once been kind to me. So even if this incident is successful, they must not be disturbed. Second, all the civil and military officials in the court are my peers, and they once served the late emperor together. In order to ensure the stability of the government, you must not offend them." All the soldiers heard the words and said: "What the general said is very true. We are doing this for everyone. The little emperor and the officials must not be disturbed. But I don't know what the third rule is?" Zhao Kuangyin said: "Every time there is a change of dynasty, the people of Li will suffer a lot. Regardless of whether people or animals in the city will be slaughtered, all kinds of looting will be done to the people. We are different from those reckless, and I don't want to be an emperor who paves the way with blood, so this Once back in Kaifeng City, no matter it is the treasury of the imperial court or the homes of scholars, no one can invade and plunder, and try not to disturb any innocent people. Since you have elected me to be the emperor, then my requirements can be fulfilled There are many rewards, and if you violate my order, you will be punished severely!" Everyone said: "The general is sympathetic to the people's sentiments, it is our blessing, how can there be no reason not to obey!" Seeing that everyone obeyed, Zhao Kuangyin gradually brightened his face, and said to Zhao Pu: "Since the three armies are willing to obey me, let's go back to the court now." Zhao Pu said: "I would like to obey the imperial edict. But there are still some small things I need to arrange." Then, Zhao Pu came to the front and began to deploy the generals to carry out the planned action: "The commander of the horse army, Zhang Lingduo, is responsible for gathering the army. Liu Shouzhong and Liu Tingrang strengthened their defenses inside and outside the post station, Pan Mei, the ambassador of the Hakka Province, immediately rode into Beijing to inform Shi Shouxin and Wang Shenqi, and made a perfect plan..." After some arrangement, the more than 100,000 elite soldiers were reorganized immediately, so that the well-equipped and disciplined team moved forward.The neat team marched in awe, and Zhao Kuangyin led the generals to ride straight back to Kaifeng. This mutiny achieved its most critical step in a calm state, everything was done step by step, without the slightest mistake.Although there have been debates over the ages whether Zhao Kuangyin intended to plan this support, many details show that this event has been fully prepared and carefully arranged.The mother and son of the Chai family in troubled times were unable to command these ambitious generals, so the appearance of Zhao Kuangyin was also created by the current situation. Zhao Kuangyin's remarks in Chenqiaoyi showed his determination not to be the successor of the monarchs of the Five Dynasties.He asked the soldiers to abide by the instructions, not to harass the officials and the common people, and not to loot for the purpose, showing that he was unwilling to go the old way, and the earnest warning was not only the recognition and establishment of his own status, but also the recognition and establishment of his own behavior style. Emphasis, but also expressed that Zhao Kuangyin is full of confidence in this incident, but also full of expectations.He yearns for the establishment of a law-based and healthy regime, so that all the generals can make contributions in normal ways and channels, because what he wants is not a fleeting and unstable throne, but the long-term stability of the country.