Chapter 2 182 cups of wine release military power

Within half a year after Song Taizu ascended the throne, two Jiedu envoys rebelled against the Song Dynasty. Song Taizu went out to fight in person, and it took a lot of effort to put them down. For this matter, Song Taizu was always not at ease.Once, he talked to Zhao Pu alone and asked him: "Since the end of the Tang Dynasty, there have been five dynasties and endless wars, and I don't know how many people have died. What is the reason for this?" Zhao Pu said: "The reason is very simple. The country is chaotic, and the problem is that the power of the towns is too large. If the military power is concentrated in the court, the world will naturally be peaceful."

Song Taizu nodded again and again, appreciating Zhao Pu's good words. Later, Zhao Pu said to Song Taizu: "Shi Shouxin and Wang Shenqi, generals of the Forbidden Army, have too much military power. It is better to transfer them away from the Forbidden Army." Song Taizu said: "Don't worry, these two are my old friends and will not oppose me." Zhao Pu said: "I'm not worried about their rebellion. But as far as I know, these two people don't have the ability to command, and they can't control the soldiers below. One day, the people below make trouble, I'm afraid they can't help themselves!" "

Song Taizu tapped his forehead and said, "Thank you for reminding me." A few days later, Song Taizu held a banquet in the palace, and invited Shi Shouxin, Wang Shenqi and other veterans to drink. After drinking for a few rounds, Song Taizu ordered the eunuch who was waiting on the side to quit.He picked up a glass of wine, first asked everyone to toast, and said: "If I didn't have your help, I wouldn't be where I am now. But how do you know that being an emperor is also very difficult. It's better to be a Jiedushi. To tell you the truth, I haven't had a single night in the past year. Have a good night's sleep."

Shi Shouxin and others were very surprised when they heard this, and quickly asked what was the reason.Song Taizu said: "I still don't understand? Who doesn't envy the emperor?" Shi Shouxin waited until he heard the voice.Everyone panicked, knelt on the ground and said, "Why did Your Majesty say such a thing? Now that the world is stable, who would dare to half-heartedly treat Your Majesty?" Song Taizu shook his head and said, "I still can't trust you guys? I'm afraid that some of your subordinates are greedy for wealth and honor, and put yellow robes on you. If you don't want to do it, can you do it?"

When Shi Shouxin and the others heard this, they felt that a catastrophe was imminent, kowtowed repeatedly, and said with tears in their eyes, "We are all savages, I didn't expect this, please show your Majesty a way out." Song Taizu said: "I think for you, you might as well hand over your military power, go to the local government to be an idle official, buy some land and houses, leave some family property for your descendants, and spend your old age happily. I and you will become in-laws. Wouldn't it be better without a doubt?" Shi Shouxin and others said in unison: "Your Majesty has thought too much about us!"

After the banquet was over, everyone went home.When they went to court the next day, everyone handed in a memorial, saying that they were old and sick, and asked to resign.Song Taizu immediately agreed, took back their military power, rewarded them with a large amount of property, and sent them to various places as Jiedu envoys. In history, this event was called "the release of military power with a glass of wine" ("release" means "disarm"). After a period of time, some Jiedu envoys came to the capital to have an audience.Song Taizu held a banquet in the imperial garden.Taizu said:

"You are all veterans of the country. Now that the affairs of the feudal town are so busy, I want you to do this kind of hard work. I'm really sorry!" A well-behaved Jiedu envoy immediately said: "I have no merits, and it is not appropriate to stay in this position. I hope Your Majesty will let me retire and return to my hometown." There was also a Jiedu envoy who didn't know what was going on, and boasted about his experience, saying how much credit he had made.Song Taizu frowned when he heard this, and said: "This is an old story, why bring it up?"

The next day, Song Taizu lifted all the military powers of these Jiedu envoys. After Song Taizu took back the military power of the local generals, he established a new military system. Elite soldiers were selected from the local army and organized into forbidden troops, which were directly controlled by the emperor; the chief executives of various places were also appointed by the imperial court.Through these measures, the newly established Northern Song Dynasty began to stabilize.