Chapter 89 180 Zhou Shizong reprimanded Feng Dao

When the Liao soldiers withdrew from Kaifeng, Liu Zhiyuan, a general of the later Jin Dynasty, proclaimed himself emperor in Taiyuan and led his army southward.Along the way, military discipline was strictly enforced and supported by the people of the Central Plains.Liao generals from all over the country heard the news and fled in a hurry.Liu Zhiyuan quickly regained Luoyang and Bianjing.In June of this year, Liu Zhiyuan established his capital in Bianjing and changed the country's name to Han.This is Gaozu of the Later Han Dynasty. Liu Zhiyuan died after only ten months as emperor.After his son Liu Chengyou, Emperor Yin of the Later Han Dynasty ascended the throne, turmoil occurred within the Later Han Dynasty.Emperor Yin of the Han Dynasty suspected that his generals had too much power, so he secretly sent people to Yedu to kill General Guo Wei.Aroused Guo Wei to launch a mutiny.In 950 A.D., Guo Wei overthrew the Later Han Dynasty and was supported by soldiers as emperor.

In the second year, Guo Wei ascended the throne in Bianjing, and the country name was Zhou, which was the Taizu of the Later Zhou Dynasty.Zhou Taizu was born in poverty and understood the hardships of the people; he also read a little book, paid attention to the reuse of talents, and reformed politics.Under his rule, the chaotic situation of the Five Dynasties period began to improve. When the Later Zhou Dynasty was founded, Liu Zhiyuan's younger brother Liu Chong refused to accept the rule of the Later Zhou Dynasty, occupied Taiyuan, and became a separatist regime, known as the Northern Han Dynasty (one of the Ten Kingdoms) in history.In order to fight against the later Zhou Dynasty, Liu Chong took refuge in the Liao Dynasty, worshiped the Lord of Liao as "Uncle Emperor", and called himself "Nephew Emperor". He invaded Zhou Dynasty many times with the help of Liao soldiers, but was defeated by Zhou Taizu.

In 954 AD, Zhou Taizu died.He has no son. Empress Chai has a nephew, Chai Rong, who has been smart and capable since he was a child, and has practiced martial arts.Zhou Taizu adopted him as his son.When Zhou Taizu died, Chai Rong inherited the throne, which became Zhou Shizong. When Zhou Shizong came to the throne, Liu Chong, the leader of the Northern Han Dynasty, believed that the situation in the Zhou Dynasty was unstable, and it was time to occupy the Central Plains. He gathered 30,000 horsemen and asked the Liao Lord to send 10,000 cavalry to attack Luzhou (where the government is located in today's Changzhi, Shanxi). .

When the news reached Bianjing, Zhou Shizong immediately called the ministers to discuss.He proposed to personally lead troops to resist.The ministers said: "Your Majesty has just ascended the throne, and people's hearts are easily shaken. It is not appropriate to go out in person. It is better to send a general!" Zhou Shizong said: "Liu Chong took advantage of my funeral just now, and bullied me to take over the throne at a young age, and wanted to annex the Central Plains. This time he came in person, and I had to deal with him myself." Seeing that Zhou Shizong's attitude was quite firm, the ministers kept silent.Only one old official stood up to oppose it, and he was the Grand Master Feng Dao.

Feng Dao has been the prime minister since the time of Emperor Mingzong of the later Tang Dynasty.Later, in four dynasties, he was able to adapt to the situation in front of the master of each dynasty and win the favor of the new master; when the Liao soldiers occupied Bianjing, he took the initiative to meet the Liao master.Some emperors of the new dynasty were also happy to use him.Therefore, he has maintained important positions such as prime minister, grand master, and grand master. This time, Feng Dao saw that Zhou Shizong was young, so he used his old qualifications to dissuade Zhou Shizong from leading the army himself.

Zhou Shizong said to Feng Dao: "In the past, Emperor Taizong of Tang pacified the world, and he led his own troops. How can I live in peace?" Feng Dao smiled coldly and said, "Can Your Majesty compare with Tang Taizong?" Seeing that Feng Dao looked down on him, Zhou Shizong said excitedly: "We have a strong force, and it is not as easy to destroy Liu Chong as a mountain pressing eggs." Feng Dao said: "I don't know if Your Majesty can be like a mountain?" Zhou Shizong was very angry when he heard this, and he got up and left the court with a flick of his sleeves.Later, other ministers also came out to support him, and Zhou Shizong decided on the personal conquest.

For this matter, Zhou Shizong was very dissatisfied with Feng Dao.Soon, he was sent to take care of the construction of Zhou Taizu's tomb.After Feng Dao hit a snag, he died sullenly. Zhou Shizong led the army to Gaoping (in today's Shanxi Province), and encountered soldiers from the Northern Han Dynasty.The two sides set up a battle.Liu Chong of the Northern Han Dynasty became proud when he saw that there were few soldiers in Zhou. He said, "If I knew this earlier, why should I borrow Khitan soldiers? This time, I not only want to defeat Zhou's army, but also let the Khitan people see how good I am."

Liu Chong commanded the Northern Han army to attack the Zhou army fiercely. The generals of the Zhou army's right army couldn't stand it, leading the cavalry to defeat, and the infantry surrendered one after another.Seeing that the situation was very critical, Zhou Shizong went into battle in person and supervised the battle at the risk of arrows.Two of his generals, Zhao Kuangyin (yin) and Zhang Yongde each led two thousand soldiers into the enemy's formation.Seeing Zhou Shizong's calm response to the battle, the soldiers of the Zhou army charged forward bravely, one by one equaling a hundred, scrambling to the enemy's line.The soldiers of the Northern Han Dynasty were defeated like a landslide.

Seeing the defeat of the Northern Han army, the Liao army behind them did not dare to confront the Zhou army, and quietly withdrew their troops.In the Northern Han Dynasty, Liu Chong was defeated and retreated. There were chasing troops before, but no rescuers behind. In the end, there were only more than a hundred cavalry left, and they fled back to Jinyang in embarrassment. After the Gaoping War, Zhou Shizong's reputation was greatly improved: after returning to Bianjing, he began to reorganize the army, reduce the burden on the people, and prepare for the war to unify China.Two years later, he personally conquered the Southern Tang Dynasty (one of the Ten Kingdoms) and captured fourteen states north of the Yangtze River.Then, he ordered the Northern Expedition, led by water and land, and recovered large areas of lost land in the north.It's a pity that just when he was about to realize his wish to unify the country, he fell ill.

In 959 AD, Zhou Shizong died six years after ascending the throne, and his son Chai Shixun, who was only seven years old, succeeded him as Emperor Zhou Gong.