The Sudden End and the Succession Puzzle
By 976, the Song Dynasty’s strategy of “First South, Then North” was nearly complete. The southern kingdoms of Jingnan, Later Shu, Southern Han, and Southern Tang had fallen, leaving only Wuyue. The Northern Han remained the stubborn enemy in the north. However, before the northern campaign could conclude, Emperor Taizu (Zhao Kuangyin) died suddenly in the early winter of 976 at the age of fifty. The war effort halted abruptly.
Taizu passed away in his sleep one night. By dawn, his younger brother, Zhao Guangyi, announced his accession as Emperor Taizong. This succession puzzled the court and the populace. Tradition dictated that a son should succeed his father (“father dies, son succeeds”), or a brother only if there were no viable sons. Taizu had two surviving sons: Zhao Dezhao (25) and Zhao Defang (18), both of age to rule. Yet, Taizu had never formally designated a crown prince during his 16-year reign. Instead, he had appointed Zhao Guangyi as the Prince of Jin and the Governor of Kaifeng, granting him powers exceeding even the Prime Minister, effectively making him the second most powerful man in the empire. Despite this, Taizu had never explicitly named Guangyi as his heir, leaving room for speculation about hidden difficulties or intentions.
Shadows of Doubt: Changed Eras and Tragic Deaths
Emperor Taizong’s actions immediately following his accession deepened the mystery. Contrary to custom, where a new emperor would continue the previous year’s era name until the next lunar new year, Taizong changed the era name immediately upon taking the throne, signaling an urgent desire to mark a new beginning. He bestowed titles upon his nephews, Zhao Dezhao and Zhao Defang, calling them “Imperial Sons” (a title usually reserved for the emperor’s own children), and appointed his younger brother Zhao Tingmei as the new Governor of Kaifeng and Prince of Qin, also referring to Tingmei’s sons as “Imperial Sons.” This unusual elevation of three generations of brothers’ sons suggested a complex plan – or a cover-up.
Tragedy soon struck. During a military campaign led by Taizong, the emperor briefly went missing from the camp one night. Panic ensued among the generals, who proposed that Prince Zhao Dezhao take temporary command. Just as they agreed, Taizong was found. Though the incident seemed resolved, Taizong returned from the unsuccessful campaign in a foul mood, refusing to distribute promised rewards. When Zhao Dezhao respectfully requested the distribution of rewards, Taizong snapped angrily, “Wait until you become emperor to give rewards!” Crushed by this accusation of usurpation, Zhao Dezhao returned to his quarters, asked for a knife, and committed suicide. Taizong rushed to the scene, clutching the body and weeping, “You foolish child!” yet everyone understood that his harsh words had driven his nephew to death.
Two years later, Zhao Defang (later romanticized as the “Eight Virtuous Prince” in folklore) died at the young age of 23, ostensibly from depression-induced illness. Subsequently, Zhao Tingmei, once favored by Taizong, fell out of grace after the deaths of his nephews. Accused of plotting rebellion, he was stripped of his titles and exiled, dying shortly thereafter in despair. These consecutive deaths left the public bewildered: Why would Taizong treat his brother and nephews so cruelly? Was his accession legitimate? Taizong himself appeared insecure, fearing accusations of usurpation.
The Revelation of the Golden Casket
Amidst this turmoil, Prime Minister Zhao Pu, once a close confidant of Taizu but previously at odds with Guangyi, emerged from political obscurity. Following the dismissal of Prime Minister Lu Duoxun (who had associated with Zhao Tingmei), Taizong recalled Zhao Pu. Zhao Pu then claimed to possess a vital secret and submitted a memorial revealing the “Covenant of the Golden Casket” (Jinkui Zhi Meng).
According to Zhao Pu, before her death, Taizu and Guangyi’s mother, Empress Dowager Du, had summoned Taizu and Zhao Pu. She asked Taizu why he had gained the throne. When Taizu credited his own merit, she shook her head, stating, “You became emperor only because the previous dynasty’s ruler was a child. To prevent this from happening again, you must ensure an adult succeeds you.” She instructed Taizu to pass the throne to his brother Guangyi, then to Tingmei, and finally back to Taizu’s son Dezhao. Taizu tearfully agreed. Zhao Pu recorded this vow, sealed it in a golden casket, and hid it. Taizong immediately publicized this account to legitimize his rule.
However, a contradiction remained: If the covenant mandated passing the throne to Tingmei and then Dezhao, why did Taizong sideline and eliminate them? Historians later surmised that the original covenant indeed included the line of succession: Taizu → Guangyi → Tingmei → Dezhao. Taizong initially honored this by elevating his brother and nephews. However, influenced by Zhao Pu’s later advice – “Taizu made a mistake; you must not repeat it” – Taizong decided to keep the throne within his own direct lineage. Thus, he suppressed the part of the covenant regarding Tingmei and Dezhao, leading to their tragic ends.
The Mystery of Candlelight and Axe Sounds
Years later, a monk named Wenying revealed a chilling account in his writings regarding the night of Taizu’s death. On a snowy night, Taizu had invited Guangyi to drink wine inside the palace. Servants outside saw shadows flickering against the candlelight as the brothers gestured animatedly. Suddenly, Taizu picked up an axe and went outside to chop the snow, muttering, “Do it properly! Do it properly!” Hao zuo, hao zuo!). He then returned to bed and fell asleep. Guangyi stayed the night. By midnight, Taizu was dead.
Another version suggests Guangyi had left the palace earlier. Upon Taizu’s death, Empress Song sent the eunuch Wang Ji’en to summon her son, Zhao Defang. Instead, Wang Ji’en went to Guangyi’s residence, where the imperial physician Cheng Dexuan was waiting. They escorted Guangyi to the palace. Seeing him, the Empress cried, “I entrust my mother and son to you, Uncle.” Guangyi replied, “Let us share wealth and honor,” and ascended the throne. These ambiguous stories, known as the “Shadow of the Candle and the Sound of the Axe” Zhu Ying Fu Sheng), fueled eternal suspicions: Was Taizu murdered? Was Guangyi’s accession a premeditated coup? Without concrete evidence, these events remain an unsolved knot in history.
Cultural Flourishing and the Final Unification
Despite the controversies surrounding his accession, Emperor Taizong dedicated himself to governance. While less martial than his brother, he was more scholarly. He promoted a culture of learning, commissioning massive compilations like Taiping Yulan, Taiping Guangji, and Wenyuan Yinghua. He personally studied Taiping Yulan daily. Furthermore, he expanded the imperial examination system, recruiting a vast number of scholars into officialdom, which became a hallmark of the Song Dynasty’s strength.
Taizong also resumed the unification campaign. The last southern state, Wuyue, ruled by Qian Chu, submitted peacefully after Qian Chu was summoned to Bianjing and effectively detained, handing over his territory.
Only Northern Han remained. In early 979, Taizong personally led a massive expedition, with General Pan Mei as the supreme commander. Song forces surrounded Taiyuan, while a separate detachment blocked Liao reinforcements. The Liao generals Yelu Sha and Yelu Xiezhen attempted to relieve the siege but were ambushed and defeated, losing five senior generals. Isolated, Northern Han’s capital became a sitting duck. Taizong supervised the assault personally. Generals Huyan Zan, Jing Si, Li Hanqiong, and Han Qi led daring escalades up the city walls. The Northern Han defender, General Liu Jiye, held out fiercely, but with supplies exhausted and no hope of relief, the ruler Liu Jiyuan surrendered just before the Dragon Boat Festival. Liu Jiye also submitted.
Liu Jiye, originally named Yang Chonggui, was a native of Taiyuan renowned for his bravery and strategy, earning the nickname “Invincible.” The Northern Han ruler had granted him the imperial surname Liu. Impressed by his reputation, Emperor Taizong restored his original surname, Yang, renaming him Yang Ye, and appointed him as a Grand General to guard the northern frontier against the Liao. Thus, Yang Ye began his legendary career defending the Song borders, laying the groundwork for the famous stories of the “Yang Generals.”
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