User:Lệ Xuân/Zhao Kuangyin

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Early life
Zhao Kuangyin was born in the Jiama garrison of Luoyang (today Huizu District, Luoyang City, Henan), then capital of the Later Tang dynasty during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, on 21 March 927 to an official family. His father was Zhao Hongyin, a military commander who had served successively in the armies of four dynasties beginning with the Later Tang. Zhao Kuangyin's mother was Lady Du, a native of Anxi County, Dingzhou. His paternal grandfather, Zhao Jing, served as the prefectural governor of Yingzhou (today Chaoyang, Liaoning), Jizhou (today Jixian, Hebei), and Zhuozhou during the Tang dynasty. Zhao Kuangyin had two older and four younger siblings, including Zhao Kuangyi.

Several legends surround Zhao Kuangyin's birth and childhood. According to the History of Song, on the day he was born, "a rosy glow filled the chamber and purple mist wafted to the rooftops" of his house while a supernatural golden color started glowing around his body for three days. Zhao Kuangyin grew up becoming a "tall and strong young man with gracious appearance" and excelled in mounted archery. Once, riding an untamed horse without a bridle, he smacked his forehead on the wall above the city gate and fell off, but got right back up and chased the horse, eventually subduing it while going unharmed.

In the early days of the Later Han dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin left his hometown to pursue his own career. He initially attempted to join the court of Wang Yanchao, defense envoy of Fuzhou (today Hubei), but was rejected. He consequently joined Dong Zongben, prefectural governor of Suizhou, but later left after being humiliated by Dong Zunzhuo, son of Dong Zongben. After wandering around for a few years, Zhao Kuangyin met an old fortune-telling monk who told him he would find fortune in the north. Zhao Kuangyin, following the old monk's advice, then traveled north. In 948, he joined the army of Guo Wei, a general under Emperor Gaozu of the Later Han, and helped Guo defeat the rebellion of Li Shouzhen.

Career under Later Zhou
In January 951, Guo Wei declared himself emperor and founded the Later Zhou dynasty after defeating Liu Chengyou, the 19-year-old emperor of the Later Han Dynasty. Due to his military successes, Zhao Kuangyin was appointed deputy commander of the army in Huazhou (today Huaxian, Henan). After noticing Zhao's talent, Chai Rong, Guo Wei's adopted son and heir, transferred him to his own command as the commander of the cavalry units in the capital city Kaifeng. Zhao, won the crown prince's trust, soon became his right arm during various campaigns.

Guo Wei died childless on 22 February 954 and was succeeded by Chai Rong. Chai Rong, posthumously known as Emperor Shizong of Later Zhou, soon faced an external threat from the north as the Northern Han, who allying themselves with the Khitan-led Liao dynasty, prepared to lauch a large-scale invasion. After initial setback at the following battle at Gaoping, Zhao Kuangyin, commanded elite palace troops, made a major contribution to the successful counter-attack against the combined Northern Han–Liao army. The victory elevated Zhao Kuangyin to the post of Grand Commander of the Palace Command, a position near the top of the Zhou army. In 955, Chai Rong, thanks Zhao Kuangyin's advice, overcame a military stalemate during the campaign against Later Shu. In 956, during the invasion of Southern Tang, Zhao demonstrated his martial skills by single-handedly capturing an enemy general.

Zhao Kuangyin proved himself to be not only a "judicious and magnanimous" military commander, but also a capable administrator. During Chai Rong's army reform in 954, Zhao Kuangyin was given the task of selecting the best new recruits for the Palace Command. Through care and effective discipline, Zhao earned the personal loyalty of his troops. He also cultivated the acquaintance of many of his father’s old friends and developed relations with promising new military commanders, including people such as Shi Shouxin, Pan Mei. Within a few years, Zhao Kuangyin completely controlled the palace guards and developed a set of officials with people who are loyal to him.

In 959, Chai Rong fell ill during the campaign to retake the Sixteen Prefectures that Shi Jingtang had ceded to the Khitan two decades earlier. Knowing that his time was about to run out, Chai Rong took effort trying to preserve the throne for his son. His thorn in the side was Li Zhongjin, Guo Wei's nephew. He spent much of his reign trying to diminish the power and influence of Li, and to increase his own power by placing men loyal to him, such as Zhang Yongde, Han Tong, Zhao Kuangyin, in the top of the army and government. Chai Rong managed to curtail his rival's power, but it soon turned out that his action would not benefit his son.

On 27 July 959, Chai Rong died, aged 37, leaving the throne to his 7-year-old son Chai Zongxun. As a minor ruler, power was in the hands of a single group of powerful men, hence Chai Zongxun had no input in the various government decisions made in his name.

Coup at Chen Bridge
On 31 January 960, joint invasion by Liao and Northern Han forces was reported from the northern frontier. Without verifying the reliability of the report, chancellor Fan Zhi ordered Zhao Kuangyin to lead a campaign against the invasion forces.