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Chai Rong
Later Zhou emperor Shizong, adopted son of Guo Wei, who beat Northern Han at Gaoping, took Later Shu and Southern Tang lands in the west and south, and won back three passes from the Khitan
Mural of the event “Shizong's Later Zhou Reforms”, which this person took part in.
In the middle and late Five Dynasties Ten Kingdoms, soldiers were arrogant and tyrannical, popular life was sorely battered, and the people were extremely weary of war. Emperor Shizong of Later Zhou Chai Rong on ascension vowed to clear the realm within thirty years and complete Huaxia unification.
Also known as Guo Rong · Houzhou Shizong · Rui Wu Xiao Wen Huang Di
Chai Rong, born in 921 at Yaoshan in Xingzhou, was the son of Chai Shouli; his aunt married Guo Wei, who raised him as his own son under the name Guo Rong. Made Prince of Jin in 953, he succeeded Guo Wei early the next year and kept the Xiande reign title. In 954, when the Northern Han ruler Liu Chong invaded with Khitan support, he led the army himself at Gaoping and turned the battle by executing Fan Aineng and other officers who had fled. In 955 he closed more than thirty thousand Buddhist temples lacking imperial charters, and the same year seized four prefectures from Later Shu; three campaigns against Southern Tang won him all fourteen prefectures north of the Yangzi by 958. In 959 he attacked the Khitan Liao, retook three prefectures and the Waqiao, Yijin and Yukou passes, fell ill and died in Kaifeng at thirty-nine. His temple name is Shizong. The next year Zhao Kuangyin's mutiny at Chenqiao displaced his young son Chai Zongxun.
Life and times
- 921 CEBorn
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms
- 954Shizong's Later Zhou Reforms
Took partage 33Later Zhou's Shizong reformed the army and finances and expanded through campaigns, leaving the institutional and military base inherited by Song.
- Shizong's Gaoping Victory
Emperor Shizong of Later Zhou unified his army at Gaoping, campaigning south against Tang and north to reclaim Three Northern Passes in 959 CE.
- Shizong's Later Zhou Reforms Historical Milestone
Later Zhou's Shizong reformed the army and finances and expanded through campaigns, leaving the institutional and military base inherited by Song.
- Shizong's Gaoping Victory
- 959 CEDied
- 960Chenqiao Mutiny
PrecursorAt Chenqiao, troops acclaimed Zhao Kuangyin in the yellow robe; he returned to Kaifeng and founded Song through a nearly bloodless coup.
Family tree
- Direct kin