Shi Pu石普

Where the histories differ

The specific charge for Shi Pu's exile to Hezhou

• histories differRegarding the reason for Shi Pu's exile to Hezhou, the 'Annals of Zhenzong III' states that he was 'convicted of recklessly speaking of calamities and anomalies', while the biography of Shi Pu records that the actual charge was 'privately possessing astronomical charts'.

  In the 'History of Song, Annals of Zhenzong III', it is recorded that Shi Pu was exiled for recklessly speaking of calamities and anomalies: 'The Military Commissioner of Hexi, Shi Pu, was convicted of recklessly speaking of calamities and anomalies, stripped of his name, and exiled to Hezhou.' In the 'History of Song, Biographies of Shi Pu, Zhang Zi, Xu Huaide, Li Yunze, Zhang Kang, Liu Wenzhi, Huan Hu, Zhao Zi', it is detailed that he falsely claimed a solar eclipse would occur in September, but upon examination, no eclipse occurred, and the final charge was privately possessing astronomical charts: 'The case was concluded, and all officials were gathered to verify; in late September, there was no solar eclipse. Shi Pu was charged with privately possessing astronomical charts, and the officials discussed it, with the penalty being death. It was decided to commute the death penalty by his official rank. An edict stripped him of his name and demoted him to Hezhou.'