In the summer of the year 960 AD, on the fifteenth day of the fourth month, Zhao Kuangyin ascended to the throne in the southern outskirts and proclaimed himself emperor. He set up an altar and offered sacrifices of firewood to the heavens and earth, and then said: "I, Emperor Zhao Kuangyin, respectfully offer sacrifices of black bulls and rams to the heavens and earth, informing the ancestors of the Song Dynasty, specifically the Later Zhou Emperor, that I am following the will of heaven, allowing me to inherit the throne. Since the dawn of humanity, rulers have had the responsibility to follow the will of heaven, create all things, and develop this great virtue. The world is for the common good; my ascension is no trivial matter. From the times of Yu Shun and Xia Yu to the Han and Wei periods, emperors of all generations have followed the will of heaven and abdicated the throne, as recorded in historical texts. Due to the decline of virtue, dynasties have risen and fallen; it is through my efforts that the people have been rescued from disaster and the country has been stabilized. I have rebuilt the country, promulgated laws, implemented benevolent governance, and upheld justice. Auspicious signs in the heavens and earth, mountains and rivers radiating spiritual energy, all of this is the response of heaven and the hearts of the people, bringing peace to the world. I follow the will of heaven, inherit the throne, and accept this supreme mission. I did not originally intend to inherit the throne, but my ministers and officials, as well as people of all ethnic groups, believe that heaven favors me; I cannot go against the will of the people and cannot let the country lose its monarch. I revere the majesty of heaven and do not dare defy its will. I have chosen an auspicious day, respectfully accepted the will of heaven, ascended the altar to accept the mandate, informing the ancestors of the heavens and earth, to eternally honor the wishes of the people and govern the world well. I hope for the blessings of heaven!" This passage shows that Zhao Kuangyin's intention is to say that his ascension to the throne is in accordance with the will of heaven, the expectations of the people, and in order to save the country from turmoil, he had to accept this heavy responsibility and promised to govern the country well so that the people can live a good life. He depicted his ascension in a very grand and sacred manner, filled with divine significance, also implying that he had the approval of heaven and the people. He emphasized the decline of the previous dynasty and his own contributions, as well as the support of his ministers and the people, cloaking his usurpation of the throne in a layer of legitimacy. Finally, he prayed for the blessings of heaven, demonstrating his sincerity.
Wow, the ceremony is over, and the emperor has returned to the palace, to the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Then he issued a decree: "The Five Virtues are upheld, the Emperor's legacy signifies prosperity, the Three Principles are flourishing, and the King's measures are renewed with brilliance." (This sentence is the original text, meaning that the change of dynasties is natural, and the rise and fall of dynasties is a law of nature.) This means that each dynasty has its own characteristics, and each era has its own changes. Take Kublai Khan of the Yuan Dynasty, for example; his way of governing the country is different from other dynasties, but the ultimate goal is the same: all for the good of the country.
As for me, with limited ability, in such turbulent times, I can only do my best, leaning on a few good policies. With everyone working together, we finally managed to rescue the country from dire straits. Although my achievements cannot be compared to those founding emperors of ancient times, they can be considered outstanding contributions. The decline of the Song Dynasty was inevitable in history, and it is not something I can change. In order to ensure long-term stability and peace for the country, I accepted the Mandate of Heaven, worshiped ancestors and the heavens, and thus was able to ascend to this position. Honestly, I feel my abilities are limited, and this heavy responsibility weighs on me. It feels like walking in deep water, not knowing if I can reach the other side.
Now that I have just started governing, everything has to start anew. I hope to let the common people live a good life. Therefore, I decree a general amnesty throughout the land! Change the third year of the Shengming era to the first year of the Jianyuan era! Each commoner will be promoted by two ranks, and both civil and military officials will be promoted by two ranks! Those elderly widows and those who cannot support themselves will each be given five shi of grain! All outstanding taxes and debts will be forgiven! Those who have committed crimes, embezzled, bribed, raped, or robbed will all be severely punished! All prisoners who are detained, except for those sentenced to death, will be released! Those dismissed, demoted, or imprisoned will be dealt with according to prior regulations.
Wow, the emperor made a big move! He first enthroned the Song Dynasty emperor as the King of Ruyin, constructed a palace for him at the former site of Danyang County, and allowed him to continue using the era name, chariots, flags, clothing, etc. of the Song Dynasty, just as it was before. Interestingly, there’s no need for a memorial when addressing the Song emperor, and the emperor's replies aren't even called imperial edicts. This kind of treatment is unheard of! At the same time, he also reduced the titles of several Song Dynasty princes, with Prince Xie of Jinxi now referred to as the Duke of Yin'an, and Prince Ji of Jiangxia becoming the Duke of Shayang, and so on. The princesses' titles were similarly reduced. The emperor also issued a decree, stating something like: "Dynastic changes have happened throughout history, and the titles of these Song Dynasty princes and nobles need to be reduced. However, taking into account their ancestors' contributions and their own service to the country, we will follow the previous rules and slightly lower their titles. The Dukes of Nankang County and Huarong County can be appointed as marquises, the Marquis of Pingxiang County can be appointed as a count. As for the specific number of households to be lowered, we'll handle it according to the cases of Liu Muzhi, Wang Hong, He Wuji, and others from the past."
Next, the emperor made adjustments to officials. Sikong Chu Yuan was promoted to Situ, and the Prefect of Wu County, Liu Shilong, became the Governor of Nanyuzhou. The emperor also decreed, "Our new dynasty has just been established; everything must start anew. We must grant amnesty to all, allowing everyone to start anew. Those who were imprisoned for rebellion should be released. Those who were exiled for crimes should also be allowed to return home!" Then, General Chen Xianda of the State of Qi was promoted to Zhonghujun, Zhonglingjun Wang Jing became the Governor of Nanyanzhou, and General Li Anmin of the State of Qi became Zhonglingjun. On the day of Wuxu, the Inspector of Jingzhou, Yi, was promoted to Shangshu Ling, Biaoqi Dajiangjun, Kaifu Yitongsansi, and Governor of Yangzhou, with his official positions skyrocketing! At the same time, Champion General Ying took over as Inspector of Jingzhou, West Army General Huang became the Governor of Nanxuzhou, Champion General Yuan Chongzu became the Governor of Yuzhou, and Biaoqi Sima Cui Wenzhong became the Governor of Xuzhou.
Finally, the emperor also ordered the end of tribute gifts from across the realm. On the day of Jihai, the emperor issued another decree, saying, "Since ancient times, many systems have deteriorated, agriculture and sericulture have declined, the monopoly of salt and iron has hurt the common people, and the buying and selling of goods has disrupted social order. These bad habits have been passed down from generation to generation, becoming increasingly serious. Now we must reform, fundamentally solve these problems, and make sure the common people have jobs and don’t end up unemployed. Members of the royal family and princes are no longer allowed to build lavish estates or encroach on mountains, forests, and lakes. The royal family's fields and ponds, along with the court's revenues, must cut back on expenses." This emperor is truly decisive!
In the year 1900, the emperor ordered, "The emperors, princes, and their tombs from the Song Dynasty should all be assigned guards." The relevant departments reported that each emperor's tomb would have one officer assigned to it, with the number of soldiers depending on the situation; each prince's tomb would be assigned five soldiers, and each concubine's tomb would be assigned three soldiers. On a specific day in the fifth month, Tu Yuhun, the King of Henan, was promoted to Grand General of the Cavalry. The emperor decreed, "With the change of dynasty, corresponding adjustments to noble titles must be made. While the noble title system of the Song Dynasty should be simplified, those who contributed to quelling rebellions and strengthening the country will retain their noble titles." The relevant departments reported that the noble titles of 62 individuals, including Zhang Jing'er, Duke of Xiangyang, would be retained, while the noble titles of 122 individuals, including Shen Tanliang, Duke of Guangxing, would be abolished. Additionally, the era name "Jiali" was changed to "Jianyuan" because the Wood element is strong in Mao and will conclude in Wei, thus, Mao is used for the first month and Wei for the twelfth month.
On May 5th (exact date), the emperor ordered: "Recruit generals, reward and seek talents; this is merely a stopgap measure, not a lasting solution. In recent years, the country has been in turmoil, which has driven many to flee and commit crimes. Therefore, even if they have a mark branded on their face, they do not feel ashamed, and fleeing does not feel guilty. From now on, we need to put an end to this mass recruitment." On May 9th (exact date), the emperor ordered the granting of titles to civil and military officials who helped establish the new dynasty, with 31 people, including Minister Chu Yuan, being enfeoffed, and their household registrations were adjusted based on their merits. On May 2nd (exact date), Prince Tuyuhun of Henan presented tribute. On May 3rd (exact date), the emperor ordered envoys to go to various places, and at the same time, 12 officials serving as Imperial Secretaries were dispatched to inspect various locations. Since the journey to Jiangning was long, no envoys were sent there. On May 6th (exact date), King of Ruyin passed away, and was posthumously honored as Emperor Shun of Song; the funeral was conducted according to the standards set by Emperor Yuan of Wei and Emperor Gong of Jin. On May 8th (exact date), Duke Liu Xie of Yin'an and others were executed. The emperor's brother, Daodu, was posthumously honored as Prince Yuan of Hengyang, and Daosheng was named Prince Zhen of Shi'an. On May 3rd (exact date), his father was posthumously honored as Emperor Xuan, his mother as Empress Xiao, and his concubine as Empress Zhao.
In early June, the emperor issued an edict stating that the official positions in the three ministries (Prime Minister, Cavalry Commander, Central Army) could be promoted based on merit and qualifications. If the positions were filled, the remaining positions would be filled with full official titles. The next day, Zhou Shantu was promoted to Inspector of Yanzhou. A few days later, the emperor issued another decree stating that due to the ongoing wars and disasters during the late Song Dynasty, many people had died without a burial place. The bodies needed to be buried promptly to soothe the populace. If their identities could be recognized, their bodies should be sent back to their hometowns. The court appointed four inspectors to oversee the collection of bodies within a 35-mile radius, while the rest would be managed by local authorities. Those without coffins or identification would have coffins purchased using funds from the national treasury. A few days later, the emperor conducted ancestral rites in the ancestral temple. Afterwards, the emperor ordered that all soldiers and staff involved in the operation be promoted by one rank. The Inspector of Jingzhou was subsequently dismissed. The crown prince was designated as the heir, and all celebrations in various states and counties were canceled. The sentences of serious offenders were commuted, and the previous amnesty decree was extended for an additional one hundred days. Several princes were appointed as kings as well: Prince Yi as Prince of Yuzhang, Ying as Prince of Linyuan, Huang as Prince of Changsha, Ye as Prince of Wuling, Hao as Prince of Ancheng, Qiang as Prince of Poyang, Shuo as Prince of Guiyang, Jian as Prince of Guangling; Grandson Changmao as Prince of Nanjun. Finally, Emperor Shun was buried in Suining Mausoleum.
In early July, the emperor issued another decree stating that the Jiaozhi region had been isolated from the court because they had betrayed the court and refused to pay tribute at the end of previous dynasties. Now, a general amnesty was to be granted, and Li Shuxian from the Jiaozhou region was pardoned to pacify the local people and select civil and military officials. Li Shuxian was then appointed as Inspector of Jiaozhou. Later, Yang Guangxiang was appointed as Inspector of Shazhou; he was the former lord of the so-called Qalul town. The emperor also ordered that the ancestral home of Nan Lanling would be exempt from taxes, and the former fief of King Wujin would be exempt from taxes for ten years.
On the day of September Xinchou, the emperor issued a decree, stating that there was a flood in Wu County, Kuaiji County, and Yixing County, so the land rent for these counties would be reduced this year. On the day of Yisi, the emperor appointed the new Minister of Personnel, General of Chariots and Cavalry, Prince Yuchi Yan of Yuzhang as the Governor of Jingzhou and Xiangzhou, and appointed the General of the Pacified West, Prince Ying of Linchuan as the Governor of Yangzhou. On the day of Bingwu, Chu Yuan took over the position of Shangshu Ling. On the day of Wushen, the emperor held a banquet at Xuanwu Hall and invited the princes and ministers to compose poetry on the spot.
In the month of October Bingzi, Liu Yin was appointed as the King of Ruyin, tasked with honoring the ancestors of the Song Dynasty. On the day of Jimao, the emperor personally went to the ancestral temple to make sacrifices. On the day of Xinsi, the emperor issued a decree, stating: "I have diligently handled state affairs for over thirty years, experiencing various difficulties and obstacles firsthand. The current situation remains unstable, with ongoing conflicts. The country has been able to reach this point thanks to the right timing and conditions and the support of the people. Since the second year of Song Yuanhui, many soldiers who participated in wars have not received their rightful salaries. It is necessary to investigate and ensure prompt distribution. Those who are still capable of other duties should be carefully assessed and arranged. If some areas have lost their household registration due to war, they can be guaranteed by the local governments and reported truthfully. In remote areas lacking assessors, appointments can be made directly based on military registers. For soldiers stationed at the borders who cannot return for the time being, they can elect their own village leaders in the military and have their officials report regularly." On this day, Queen Wang of Ruyin passed away and was posthumously honored as Empress Gong of Song.
In the month of November Gengzi, Xiao Jingxian, the Left Guard of the Crown Prince, was appointed as the Governor of Sizhou. On the day of Xinhai, Pei was appointed as the Empress of the Crown Prince. On the day of Jia Shen, rewards were given to ten meritorious officials including Jiang Mi, each receiving various titles and rewards.
On the first day of the first month in the second year, a general amnesty was declared throughout the country. Chuyuan was appointed as the Minister of Works, Zhang Jing'er as the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Li Anmin as the General of the Central Army, and Chen Xianda as the General of the Imperial Guards. On the day of Xinchou (辛丑), the emperor personally went to the southern suburbs to offer sacrifices. On the day of Guimao, it was heard that the rebels were causing unrest in the Huai River and Si River regions, so the emperor ordered the gathering of troops for a northern expedition, and the whole country was on high alert.
In the early days of the second month, the enemy forces created disturbances in Shouyang, but Yuzhou Governor Yuan Chongzu drove them away. Then the court set up a new administrative region in Bazhou. A few days later, the court appointed Ming Huizhao as the Prefect of Bazhou, Xiao Chifu as the Prefect of Yongzhou, and Cui Huijing as the Prefect of Liangzhou and Nanqinzhou. Afterwards, the court announced victory on the western front, lifted the state of military readiness, and sent envoys to the Huai River and Fei River areas to provide relief to the people. Considering the severe poverty and significant hardships faced by the people on the border between Xuzhou and Yuzhou, the court ordered the governors and county officials to increase relief efforts and effectively support them. Subsequently, the court issued a decree to arrange for refugees from the Jiangnan region, who had fled due to the war, to return to their hometowns and be exempt from taxes for the current year; those who were orphaned, destitute, and unable to care for themselves were to be registered and resettled by local authorities.
In March, the court appointed Chamberlain Luan, Marquis of Xi Chang, as the Inspector of Yingzhou; also appointed General of the Guards, Chen Xianda, as the Inspector of South Yanzhou, and Zhang Dai, the Prefect of Wu County, as the Central Guard General. On this day, the Emperor held a banquet at Leyou Garden, where the officials all composed poems. Later, the court conferred the title of Grand General of Cavalry on Le Lang, the King of Goryeo. In April, the court began the construction of the Liumen city walls. In June, the court issued a decree, stating: "Last year, there were severe droughts and floods, and therefore, we pardon the most severely affected counties of Danyang, Wu, Kuaiji, and Yixing from the unpaid taxes of the past three years. Officials who were punished for the unpaid taxes of these counties should also be pardoned." In July, the court appointed General Lu Shaozhi, who assisted the state, as the Inspectors of Qingzhou and Jizhou. During this time, Crown Princess Pei unfortunately passed away. In the intercalary month, the court sent General Li Anmin to the Huai River and Sishui areas. Soon after, the Xianbei attacked Chushan but were repelled by Lu Shaozhi and the inspectors of Qingzhou and Jizhou. In November, the court appointed Di Yanghouqi as the Inspector of Qinzhou. In December, the court appointed Chu Yuan, the Minister of Works, as the Minister of State. On this day, the Emperor handled cases in the central hall. Later, the court appointed Prince Yuzhang, the Grand General of Cavalry, as the Minister of Works, and the Inspector of Yangzhou, King Ying of Linqian, as the Inspector of Jingzhou. On the first day of the first month in a certain year (three years later), known as Renxu day, the Emperor ordered the royal officials to come and share their suggestions and thoughts. Then, on Bingzi day (the third day of the first month), Chen Xianda was appointed as the Inspector of Yizhou, Liu Shilong was appointed as the Inspector of South Yanzhou, and the prince was ennobled as the King of Jiangxia. General Li Anmin and his troops achieved victory in Huaiyang, driving away the enemy. In April, Shen Jingde was appointed Inspector of Guangzhou.
On the Renzi day in June, the emperor issued a decree granting amnesty to the whole country! Taxes and debts owed will be reduced according to the circumstances. In July, Yuan Rongzu was appointed as the governor of Xuzhou. On the Wuzi day in October, the Yutian Hun Duke Yiduhou was appointed as the governor of Xiqinzhou and Hezhou, and was also titled as the King of Henan.
On the first day of the first month of the following year (fourth year), also the Renxu day, the emperor issued a decree saying: "The importance of education has been recognized since ancient times, with the purpose of cultivating talents, inspiring people's wisdom, educating the people, and encouraging them to follow the rules. Therefore, the ancient rites and music have been preserved. Since I ascended the throne, I have always wanted to develop education well, and officials have also repeatedly advised to pay attention to education. It's just that due to continuous warfare in the past, there was no time to focus on cultural and educational matters, which has always been a source of regret. Now that the border is peaceful, the harvest is good, and all directions are stable and united, all ethnic groups aspire to our ideals. Therefore, according to previous regulations, schools can now be established, excellent teachers can be selected, and students can be recruited." Then, Wang Yanzhi was appointed as the Right Guanglu Daifu. On the Guihai day, the emperor issued another decree saying: "In recent years, we have been fighting on the northwest border, with soldiers fighting bravely, and many have died in battle, sacrificing themselves for the country. Although the country has a system of comforting the families of fallen soldiers, the execution is often not thoughtful enough. Since the establishment of the Jianyuan era, the families of soldiers who died in battle will be exempt from twenty years of rent and corvée, and ten years of additional corvée. If the bodies of fallen soldiers cannot be found, the army will be responsible for safeguarding their belongings, and they will enjoy the same treatment." Finally, Prince Huang of Changsha was appointed as the Guard General, Prince Changmao of Nanjun was appointed as the governor of Nanxuzhou, and Prince Hao of Ancheng was appointed as the governor of Jiangzhou.
At the beginning of the second month, the emperor appointed General Huan Kang as the governor of Qingzhou and Jizhou. The emperor was not feeling well, and after a few days, he ordered the release of prisoners detained in the capital city, and also exempted the taxes owed from last year.
One day in March, the emperor summoned the Minister of State Chu Yuan and the Minister of Justice Wang Jian, and said to them: "I come from a common background and never expected to reach this point today. It was all about being in the right place at the right time that has led to my achievements. Now the world is peaceful and prosperous, but I am seriously ill and may not last much longer. You must serve the Crown Prince as you have served me, bring peace to distant lands and unite our internal affairs, make the Crown Prince respect his relatives, use talented individuals, advocate frugality, implement benevolent governance, and then the world will be at peace. Life and death are predestined; there's nothing more to say about life and death!" A few days later, the emperor passed away in the Luminous Hall at the age of fifty-six.
One day in April, the emperor was posthumously honored as Emperor Gaozu Taizu, and his coffin was placed on the Dragon Ascending Boat in front of the Eastern Palace, before being buried in the Tai'an Mausoleum at Wujin.
The emperor was calm and composed from a young age, generous yet strict, honest, and frugal. He was knowledgeable in history, skilled in writing, had excellent calligraphy, played chess at a high level, and kept his emotions in check. He was good at listening to advice, adopting strategies, and gained the support of the people through his prestige.
After ascending to the throne, the emperor did not use elaborate and luxurious items himself, and even specifically instructed the Imperial Secretary Huan Jingzhen, saying: "It seems my clothes have jade decorations; this trend began in the late Ming Dynasty and became increasingly extravagant during the Taishi era. Keeping these in my clothes will only encourage extravagance, so smash them all! Any such items in the future should be disposed of according to the rules." The copper decorations in the palace were replaced with iron, the inner chambers used yellow gauze curtains, and palace maids wore purple leather shoes; the gold adornments on the canopy were stripped away and replaced with iron nails. The emperor often said, "If I were to rule the world for ten years, I would make gold as cheap as mud!" He aimed to lead by example and transform the social climate.
The shapes of the emperor's name, his fate, the omens of the heavens, and various prophecies all came true one after another, which is truly impressive! Historical records mention that Sun Qing once remarked, "A sage obtains the world by accepting destiny, not by actively seizing it." Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, was brave and talented and felt a sense of satisfaction at the fall of the Qin Dynasty, but it’s unclear whether he truly grasped the concept of destiny from the start; Emperor Guangwu of Han, Liu Xiu, merely regarded the Sage of Shao's prophecy as a joke back then; when Cao Cao first raised his army, his initial goal was merely to "subdue the Western Regions"; Sima Yan never thought of usurping Wei at the beginning; who would have imagined he would eventually declare himself emperor on a floating bridge? Zhao Kuangyin, the founding emperor of the Song Dynasty, rose from humble beginnings and led a just army to take action: they were all heroes of their time, ultimately laying the foundation of a dynasty. The Song Dynasty had a total of eight emperors, with a reign of five hundred years, experiencing four interruptions in succession, three of which can be considered revivals. The dynasty faced constant internal strife and external threats, with wars nearly continuous. When Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty first established the dynasty, his military prowess was initially concealed, and it was not until he ascended the throne that he began to show his grand vision, save the situation, and the auspicious aura of the royal family emerged, along with many omens. When rebellions broke out in the south, internal and external conflicts intensified in the court, the populace was in a state of panic, and the nation teetered on the brink of disaster. Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty took decisive measures, worked for the greater good, revitalized the nation, held power, and crucial power could not be easily relinquished to others. The courtiers worked together in unity, all hoping for the stability of the country. Perhaps it was the will of heaven; the fortunes of the Song Dynasty ebbed and flowed like water, while the people lacked the steadfastness of trees. In the end, Emperor Taizu's achievements were a testament to his talent, and his accomplishments reached their peak. Although he ruled the entire world, his success came only when the time was right; he did not deliberately seek the throne but adapted to the changing circumstances. He accepted destiny without actively seeking it, which is why the Song Dynasty was able to claim the Mandate of Heaven.
Praise be to Emperor Taizu, whose decree is granted by heaven. He navigates the universe, measuring mountains and abysses. The virtues of the Song dynasty are not continued; the divine artifacts are passed down in futility. He pacifies with martial prowess, deposes tyranny to elevate the worthy. He bravely ventures into the western frontier, his achievements flourishing in the northern regions. His solitary expedition strikes like thunder. He wields the axe with deliberate calm to quell the rebellion. Standing against the imperial might, he rests beside the clear waters of the Yangtze and Han. His literary talents are his own, his fame spreading far and wide. He uses his talents to govern and his virtues to uphold the people. With integrity and strength, he governs with quiet dignity. He encompasses the four seas, forging a great nation.
