nycdaug Chapter 367: Divine Emperor's Last Instructions
Chapter 367: Divine Emperor's Last Instructions
宋神宗赵策英（1048年5月25日～1085年4月1日），大宋第六位皇帝。
The eldest son of Emperor Yingzong of Song, Zhao Zongquan, his biological mother was Empress Xuanren Shenglie Shen.
In the eighth year of the Qingli period (1048), Zhao Ceying was born in Yuzhou.
In the eighth year of Jiayou (1063), he was granted the title of Prince of Huaiyang.
In the first year of Zhiping (1064), he was promoted to King Huan.
In the third year of Zhiping (1066), he was made Crown Prince.
In the fourth year of Zhiping (1067), he ascended the throne as emperor.
In the first year of Xining (1068), the Han Party headed by Han Ming and new policy officials were appointed to the central government, ushering in a period of good governance.
In the second year of Xining (1069), Wang Jiefu was appointed as the Vice-Chancellor, and he established the Three Departments Regulations and implemented new laws in order to enrich the country and strengthen the military.
In the third year of Xining (1070), Wang Jiefu was appointed as the co-minister of the Secretariat and presided over government affairs. In the same year, the "War to Destroy the Xia" began.
In the fourth year of Xining (1071), Emperor Shenzong abolished the poetry and classics examinations and began to test the Jinshi candidates with classics interpretation, essays, and policy papers.
In the same year, the "First Five-Year Plan" was launched, the country officially entered a period of rapid development, and the "Xining Reign" began.
In the fifth year of Xining (1072), the Western Xia was destroyed, and the imperial court set up three routes in the local area: Ningxia, Gansu and Liangzhou, and the Hexi Corridor was officially opened.
The following year, the Jingyi Bureau was established and Wang Jiefu was appointed as its director. In the same year, the Song-Yue War broke out and Jiaozhi was lost.
In the seventh year of Xining (1074), the Annan Protectorate was established, and the Jiaozhi area returned to the central dynasty.
In the eighth year of Xining (1075), the new book on the meaning of the classics was completed, and the emperor ordered the distribution of "The Book of Songs", "The Book of History" and "The Book of Zhou Rites" to the academic officials.
In the ninth year of Xining (1076), the "First Five-Year Plan of the Great Song Dynasty" came to an end, and the Xining reign reached its peak.
In the same year, Emperor Shenzong announced the change of the reign title and decided to launch a "Northern Expedition against Khitan" in the first year of Yuanfeng to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun.
In the first year of Yuanfeng (1078), the Song Dynasty vowed to launch a northern expedition, marking the first attempt at a northern expedition during the reign of Emperor Shenzong.
In the second year of Yuanfeng (1079), the Song army was defeated in the Battle of Jizhou, and Emperor Shenzong reinstated Han Ming to reorganize the battle situation.
In the third year of Yuanfeng (1080), Han Ming used the strategy of making a feint to the east and attacking in the west to defeat the Liao army, recapture five states, build a defense line, and end the war between Song and Liao.
In September of the same year, the "Second Five-Year Plan" was officially launched, the Song Dynasty entered a new stage, and the "Yuanfeng Restoration" came.
In the seventh year of Yuanfeng (1084), Shenzong was unwell. With the support of Empress Dowager Shen, Empress Xiang, Prime Minister Han Ming and others, he made Zhao Yong, who was only seven years old, the eldest son of the emperor.
In November of the same year, Emperor Shenzong lavishly rewarded seven people, including Han Ming, Wang Gui, Wang Jiefu, Han Shipu, Lü Huishu, Sima Junshi, and Wen Kuanfu.
At the beginning of the first month of the eighth year of Yuanfeng (1085), the ambitious Song Shenzong Zhao Xu suffered a severe mental blow due to the disastrous defeat in the war against the Liao Kingdom, and his condition worsened.
The ministers were in chaos, and the prime ministers led by Han Ming, Wang Gui and others began to persuade Emperor Shenzong to decide on the title of crown prince as soon as possible.
Emperor Shenzong already had a bad premonition at this time, so he nodded in agreement.
Emperor Shenzong's sixth son, Zhao Yong, was renamed "Xu" and was made the crown prince. State affairs were temporarily led by Empress Dowager Shen and Empress Xiang, with Han Ming as the chief minister and assisting in the administration.
Emperor Shenzong pursued his ideals throughout his life. He hoped to rebuild a strong country and recreate the prosperous era of the Han and Tang dynasties.
When these dreams were shattered, this emperor, who was both praised and criticized, also came to the end of his life.
On the Wuxu day of March of the same year (April 4), Emperor Shenzong, who was only 1 years old, left this world with deep regret.
Under the leadership of the prime ministers headed by Han Ming, this king with full positive and negative values was logged in.
He was posthumously named Emperor Shenzong Shaotianfa Guyunde Jiangong Liewu Qinren Shengxiao, and his temple name was Shenzong. He was buried in Yongyu Mausoleum.
During his 18-year reign, Shenzong always insisted on reforming the government and supported the reforms of Han and Wang, also known as the Xifeng Reforms.
Its enterprising spirit of daring to innovate was prominently demonstrated in economic and military reforms.
To a certain extent, it was during the reign of Emperor Shenzong that the Song Dynasty completed the original accumulation of national development and laid a solid foundation for the famous "Shaosheng Prosperity" in later generations.
In 1085, on March , the eighth year of Yuanfeng, Emperor Shenzong passed away. The ten-year-old Zhao Xu ascended the throne and became Emperor Zhezong of Song, changing the reign title to "Yuanyou".
. . . . . .
"The emperor is destined to be carried by heaven, and the edict says:"
"...Although I have made great achievements in my life, I am burdened with sins and cannot escape..."
"...I have been plagued by worries for half my life...My only last wish is to 'never return to Yanyun', and I am at a loss as to what to do, and it will be difficult for me to see my ancestors..."
"Therefore, I have left this will: 'Whoever can recover the entire territory of Yan will be rewarded with a title of Duke of Guangyang!'"
"I only hope that the people of the Great Song will join hands to recapture Yanyun and fulfill my last wish..."
"..."
In the Funing Palace, beside the bed of the late Emperor Shenzong, Empress Dowager Shen cried and read the last imperial edict left by her son.
When the seven ministers heard this, they were all shocked, then looked at each other, not knowing what to say.
"Han Qing..."
Empress Dowager Shen placed the imperial edict in Han Ming's hands.
Everyone suddenly realized that the so-called testament was nothing more than an excuse for Emperor Shenzong to make Han Ming a king.
If there is anyone in the world who can recapture the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun in one fell swoop, it can only be Han.
It stands to reason that Emperor Shenzong should not risk the wrath of the world by conferring the title of king on a person of a different surname.
But he did it anyway. He wanted to give Han Ming an identity and find someone to protect Zhao Xu for the rest of his life!
The child is too young, and in many situations, Queen Mother Shen and Queen Xiang may not be able to hold on firmly, but with Han Ming around, this world still belongs to his Zhao family!
Han Ming couldn't help but smile bitterly as he held the imperial edict that had been left in advance to make him king.
It seems that Emperor Shenzong has decided to rely on him.
Wang Gui and others beside him were extremely envious. In the entire Song Dynasty, except for the few kings of different surnames who founded the country, there were few who were able to be crowned kings while still alive.
The reason why Han Zhang was posthumously awarded the title of "Prince of Wei" by Emperor Shenzong was that Han Ming had made great contributions and earned it for the old man in advance. Otherwise, according to history, he would have been posthumously awarded the title during the reign of Emperor Huizong.
Seeing that Han had the potential to be crowned king while he was still alive, Wang Gui and other central officials were very envious.
Unfortunately, there was no way. They were all civil officials, and it was still difficult for them to control the Liao Kingdom militarily. This "fat job" could only fall on Han Ming.
"We, your servants, will faithfully follow the instructions of the late emperor and attack the Khitan and recapture Yanyun!!!"
Han Ming held the imperial edict respectfully and kowtowed three times.
"Everyone, the late emperor's last words have been read out. Now I would like to trouble you, my Excellencies, to go to the front hall and read the enthronement edict."
Empress Dowager Shen took the accession edict left by Emperor Shenzong and handed it to Wang Gui, the current head of the prime minister.
Afterwards, Wang Gui, Han Shipu and four others left the Funing Hall first and went to the front hall to wait for the imperial edict.
Han Ming personally accompanied Emperor Zhezong Zhao Xu to change into the dragon robe, while Empress Dowager Shen and Empress Xiang were still briefly explaining some things to him.
"Han Qing, since the late emperor came to power, you haven't been to the palace to see me for many years."
Empress Dowager Shen couldn't help but recall the time when she followed Emperor Yingzong from Yuzhou to Beijing. So many years have passed in a flash, and time really flies.
"I have a lot of court affairs to attend to, so I have no time to spare." Han Ming bowed and said in a deep voice.
"Thinking back to the days when I was so full of vigor and vitality, I have now turned gray. It's really hard to refuse to accept my age."
Since the death of Emperor Yingzong, Empress Dowager Shen has been living in seclusion in the deep palace. Except for the time when Grand Empress Dowager Cao died, she has rarely appeared in public.
When Emperor Shenzong passed away, Empress Dowager Shen had to be arranged to take charge in order to stabilize the government.
"The Empress is still young, but she can't admit her age..."
Han Ming tried his best to comfort her. After all, Shen was not young anymore. In ancient times, being in her fifties was considered old.
"You've always said that. Unfortunately, time is merciless. The important responsibilities of the court in the future will still fall on you."
Han Ming understood what Shen meant. Although Emperor Shenzong allowed the Empress Dowager and the Empress to preside over government affairs, neither Shen nor Xiang wanted to get involved too much.
Among the seven ministers left by Emperor Shenzong, only Han Ming could be entrusted with important matters. Everyone could see this clearly.
"Mrs...."
Han Ming sighed helplessly, and finally took over the still somewhat confused little Emperor Zhezong from the hands of Empress Dowager Shen and Queen Xiang.
"Han Qing, I'm leaving everything to you..."
Shen and Xiang smiled slightly and handed Emperor Zhezong to Han Ming.
"Son, you must listen to Han Xiang's words from now on, okay?"
Imperial Concubine Zhu finally couldn't hold back any longer, she lowered her body, and while crying, she hugged Zhao Xu and gave him instructions.
"Yes, I know."
Zhao Xu didn't understand why these elders were so sad. Was it because his father had passed away? Or were they worried about him?
He didn't understand these things, but he knew that the teacher he trusted would support him in everything...