dismiss military hierarchy using wine cups

Within six months after the reign of Song Taizu, two envoys rose against the Song dynasty.

Song Taizu personally went on an expedition and took a lot of effort to put them down.

Because of this matter, Song Taizu was not sure of himself. Once he talked to Zhao Pu alone and asked him, "Since the end of the Tang Dynasty, there have been five dynasties and endless wars, and I don't know how many people have died. What is the reasoning behind this?"

Zhao Pu said, "The reason is very simple. The problem with the chaos of the country is that the clans have too much power. If the military power is centralized in the imperial court, the world will be peaceful and free of trouble."

Song Taizu nodded repeatedly and appreciated Zhao Pu's good words.

Later, Zhao Pu said to Song Taizu, "Shi Shouxin and Wang Tingqi, the two generals of the forbidden army, have too much military power, so it is better to transfer them out of the forbidden army."

Song Taizu said, "Don't worry, these two men are my old friends and will not oppose me."

Zhao Pu said, "I am not worried about their mutiny. But as far as I can see, these two people do not have the talent of commanders and cannot control the generals below them. One day, when the people below them start trouble, I am afraid they will not be able to control themselves."

Song Taizu tapped his forehead and said, "Thanks for the reminder."

After a few days, Song Taizu held a banquet in the palace and invited Shi Shouxin, Wang Jingqi, and other veteran generals to drink.

After a few rounds of wine, Song Taizu ordered the eunuchs waiting on the side to withdraw. He took a cup of wine and asked everyone to drink first, saying: "If I didn't have your help, I wouldn't be in this position now. But you don't know that being an emperor is also very difficult, and it is not as comfortable as being an envoy. I'm not going to lie, I haven't slept a wink this year."

Shi Shouxin and the others were very surprised to hear this and asked what was the reason for this. Song Taizu said: "This is still not understand? The emperor's seat, who does not want to see it?"

Shi Shouxin heard the words. Everyone panicked, kneeling on the ground, and said: "Your Majesty, why say such things? Now that the world has been settled, who would dare to be duplicitous to Your Majesty?"

Song Taizu shook his head and said, "I still can't trust you guys. I am afraid that among your generals, some of them are greedy for wealth and prosperity and put the yellow robe on you. If you want to quit, can you do it?"

When Shi Shouxin and the others heard this, they felt that a great disaster was coming and kowtowed repeatedly, saying with tears in their eyes, "We are all coarse people, we did not think of this, please guide a way out, Your Majesty."

Song Taizu said, "I'm thinking of you, why don't you hand over your military power and become an idle official at the local level, buy some land and houses, leave some family property for your children and grandchildren, and live a happy life in your old age. I and you as in-laws, each other without suspicion, is not better?"

Shi Shouxin and the others said in unison, "Your Majesty has thought of us too well!"

Once the banquet was over, everyone went home. The next day at the court, each of them handed in a zheng, saying that they were old and sick, and asked to resign. Immediately, Emperor Taizu granted permission, took back their military power, rewarded them with a large sum of money, and sent them to various places to serve as festival envoys.

History calls this event "the release of military power by the cup of wine" ("release" means "release").

After some time, some more envoys came to the capital to make pilgrimages. Emperor Taizu held a banquet in the imperial garden. Tai Zu said, "You are all old ministers of the country, but I am sorry to have to ask you to do such hard work when the affairs of the clans are so busy now!

A well-behaved minister immediately said, "I have no merit, and it is not appropriate for me to stay in this position.

There was also a minister who did not know what to do, and nagged about his own experience, saying how many merits he had made. Hearing this, Song Taizu frowned and said.

"This is an old account, why mention it all?"

The next day, Song Taizu relieved all the military powers of these governors.

After Song Taizu took back the military power of local generals, he established a new military system, selecting elite soldiers from local armies and forming them into a forbidden army under the direct control of the emperor; local administrators were also appointed by the imperial court. Through these measures, the newly established Northern Song Dynasty began to stabilize.