Emperor Qinzong of Song宋钦宗

History vs. fiction

Emperor Qinzong. The Song dynasty emperor, after ascending the throne, dealt with Tong Guan. The Northern Song emperor, summoned Shi Zhong in audience. The Song dynasty emperor, held court to ask for strategies. ...

• based on factThe Song dynasty emperor, after ascending the throne, dealt with Tong Guan. The Northern Song emperor, summoned Shi Zhong in audience. | The Song dynasty emperor, held court to ask for strategies. ; Emperor Qinzong of Song, was captured together with Emperor Huizong. ; The Song dynasty emperor

  Historically, Emperor Qinzong indeed existed. His deeds are recorded in historical sources such as the History of Song. For example, the chapter on eunuchs records: 'Tong Guan fled into the capital, but Emperor Qinzong had already received abdication and issued an edict for a personal expedition, appointing Guan as the defender of the Eastern Capital. Guan did not accept the order but accompanied the retired emperor on a tour south. Guan had recruited strong young men in the western border, calling them the Victorious Army, numbering tens of thousands, as his personal guard, and they were stationed around his residence. When he left, he took them with him. When the retired emperor crossed the floating bridge, the guards clung to the bridge and wailed, but Guan, fearing that the journey would be delayed, ordered his personal troops to shoot at them, and more than a hundred were hit by arrows and fell. The people on the road wept, and then remonstrating officials, censors, and the populace all rose up in criticism. At first, he was demoted to Left Guard General, then successively exiled to be the deputy military commissioner of Zhaohua Army, and banished to Yingzhou and Jiyang Army. Before he arrived, an edict enumerated his ten great crimes, and ordered the censor Zhang Cheng to track his whereabouts and execute him on the spot, which was done at Nanxiong. After the execution, his head was sent to the capital and displayed in the market.' In the novel The Story of Yue Fei, Chapter 18 describes: 'The scout reported to the court, and the emperor hastily assembled the civil and military officials to discuss: "Now the troops of Wuzhu have crossed the Yellow River and reached the capital; how can we repel them?" Zhang Bangchang said: "I have already sent troops with fire tablets and military tallies to summon the king's forces from all routes to resist Wuzhu. But he has already crossed the Yellow River and reached the capital. I think the ancients said well: poor Tartars, rich Japanese. I beg Your Majesty to reward him with a generous gift and sue for peace, asking him to withdraw his troops across the Yellow River. Meanwhile, Your Majesty can secretly gather the troops from all routes, and then recover the Central Plains; it is not too late." Emperor Qinzong said: "Has there ever been a case of suing for peace in history?" Zhang Bangchang said: "Han married Wang Zhaojun to the Xiongnu, and Tang also married princesses to foreign rulers. Now it is only to meet the urgent need. In my opinion, we can send a cart of gold, a cart of silver, a thousand bolts of brocade, fifty beauties, fifty singing boys, pigs, sheep, cattle, wine, and the like. But there is no such loyal minister who is willing to go and exert himself for the Son of Heaven." Emperor Qinzong then asked the civil and military officials on both sides: "Who is willing to go?" After asking several times, no one answered. Zhang Bangchang stepped forward and said: "Though I am not talented, I am willing to go." Emperor Qinzong then said: "It is still you, sir, who is willing to exert yourself for the country; truly a loyal minister!" So he ordered the gifts to be prepared and handed them to Zhang Bangchang.'