Overview
Taizu was a ruler.
IdentityHistorical · Male
Life and dates
Attested activity
AD 964 乾德二年
AD 973 六年
AD 970 三年春
AD 969 開寶二年冬
AD 956 世宗用兵淮上
AD 960 太祖北征至陳橋
Family
Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.
Places and affiliations
- At Songzhou 宋州 · Relation Posted to
Works and attributed material
AD 964 乾德二年
AD 973 六年
AD 960 太祖北征至陳橋
- Speech · Speaker · With Zhao Pu (趙普) · Direct quotation
Events and relationships
Captured
AD 956 世宗用兵淮上 · Military · Commander · At Chuzhou 滁州
Conversed and marveled
Incognito visits to meritorious homes
AD 964 乾德二年 · Personal · Visitor
Marched north
AD 960 太祖北征至陳橋 · Military · Commander · At Chen Bridge 陳橋
Visited residence
Visited residence
Show 2 more source-backed claims
Assessments and attributes
AD 964 乾德二年
Assessment treated as right and left hand
· With Zhao Pu (趙普) · Mode historian-judgment
References in the histories
No matching passages.
History of Song, Chapter 256Volume 256 Biographies 15: Zhao Pudi and Younger Brother: Anyi · 27 passages
世宗用兵淮上，太祖拔滁州，宰相范質奏普為軍事判官。
While Emperor Shizong was campaigning on the Huai, Taizu took Chuzhou, and Grand Councillor Fan Zhi recommended Pu for the post of military affairs adjudicator.
太祖嘗與語，奇之。
Taizu once conversed with him and was struck by his ability.
時獲盜百餘，當棄市，普疑有無辜者，啟太祖訊鞫之，獲全活者眾。
When more than a hundred captured robbers were about to be executed in the marketplace, Pu suspected that some were innocent; he appealed to Taizu to have them questioned, and many lives were saved.
太祖領同州節度，辟為推官；
When Taizu served as military commissioner of Tongzhou, he recruited Pu as investigating officer;
移鎮宋州，表為掌書記。
when Taizu transferred his command to Songzhou, he recommended Pu as chief secretary.
太祖北征至陳橋，被酒臥帳中，眾軍推戴，普與太宗排闥入告。
When Taizu marched north to Chen Bridge and lay drunk in his tent while the army proclaimed him emperor, Pu and Taizong pushed open the tent flap to tell him.
太祖欠伸徐起，而眾軍擐甲露刃，喧擁麾下。
Taizu stretched, rose slowly, and found the soldiers already in armor with naked blades, shouting and crowding beneath his standard.
及受禪，以佐命功，授右諫議大夫，充樞密直學士。
After Taizu accepted the throne, Pu was made Right Remonstrance Grandee and Academician of the Privy Council for his founding service.
車駕征李筠，命普與呂餘慶留京師，普願扈從，太祖笑曰：「若勝冑介乎？」
When the emperor marched against Li Jun, he left Pu and Lü Yuqing in the capital; Pu asked to accompany the campaign, and Taizu smiled and said, "Are you going to put on armor?"
中書無宰相署敕，普以為言，上曰：「卿但進敕，朕為卿署之可乎？」
Because the Secretariat had no chancellor's seal for issuing edicts, Pu raised the issue; the emperor said, "You need only draft the edict. Shall I sign it for you?"
令翰林學士講求故實，竇儀曰：「今皇弟尹開封，同平章事，即宰相任也。」
The emperor ordered Hanlin academicians to investigate precedent; Dou Yi said, "Your Majesty's younger brother, who governs Kaifeng as Grand Councillor, already holds the chancellor's role."
令署以賜普。
The emperor ordered the seal signed and granted to Pu.
既拜相，上視如左右手，事無大小，悉咨決焉。
Once appointed chancellor, he was treated by the emperor as indispensable; on matters large and small the emperor consulted him and deferred to his judgment.
太祖數微行過功臣家，普每退朝，不敢便衣冠。
Taizu often visited his meritorious followers in disguise; after each court session Pu dared not change out of his official robes at once.
一日，大雪向夜，普意帝不出。
One day, as heavy snow fell toward evening, Pu assumed the emperor would not venture out.
久之，聞叩門聲，普亟出，帝立風雪中，普惶懼迎拜。
After a long wait he heard a knock at the gate; he rushed out and found the emperor standing in the wind and snow; Pu, alarmed, hurried forward to receive him.
帝曰：「已約晉王矣。」
The emperor said, "I have already arranged to meet the Prince of Jin."
普妻行酒，帝以嫂呼之。
Pu's wife poured wine, and the emperor called her sister-in-law.
帝笑曰：「吾意正如此，特試卿爾。」
The emperor laughed and said, "That is exactly what I think; I was only testing you."
遂勸帝遣使分詣諸道，徵丁壯籍名送京師，以備守衛；
He then urged the emperor to send envoys to every circuit to register strong young men and send them to the capital for guard service;
開寶二年冬，普嘗病，車駕幸中書。
In the winter of the second year of Kaibao, when Pu fell ill, the emperor visited the Secretariat in person.
三年春，又幸其第撫問之。
In the spring of the third year the emperor again visited his home to inquire after him.
六年，帝又幸其第。
In the sixth year the emperor visited his residence again.
會車駕至，倉卒不及屏，帝顧問何物，普以實對。
When the emperor arrived unexpectedly, there was no time to hide them; asked what they were, Pu told the truth.
上曰：「海物必佳。」
The emperor said, "Sea goods must be excellent."
帝歎曰：「受之無妨，彼謂國家事皆由汝書生爾！」
The emperor sighed and said, "There is no harm in accepting it; they think all affairs of state are decided by you, a mere scholar!"
太祖大怒，促令追班，將下制逐普，賴王溥奏解之。
Taizu was furious and urgently ordered Pu recalled to court, intending to issue an edict removing him; Wang Pu's memorial interceded and saved him.