Zhao Hao And The Political Situation During The Reign Of Emperor Song Shenzong And Emperor Song Zhezong

Zhao Hao was the second son of Emperor Song Yingzong and Empress Dowager Gao.As early as 1064-1067,when Song Yingzong ruled the empire,The approaching political levels between Zhao Hao and Emperor Song Shenzong,his elder brother who was just a prince at that time,had aroused the concern of the courtiers.After Song Shenzong's accession of the throne,Zhao Hao,who was already 17 years old,still stayed in the inner court,which was pretty wired and led to fierce political struggles among the courtiers.Song Shenzong's son,Zhao Jun,was born in 1073 and named in 1074,then Zhao Hao made an unsolicited request for moving out of the inner court,but continued staying there as his request was refused by Song Shenzong.Soon after that,"the Case of Li Feng and Zhao Shiju" occurred and Song Shenzong executed Zhao Shiju,a royal clansman who was accused as a revolter,as well as his adherents.Song Shenzong might attempt to frighten Zhao Hao via the execution.The political situation was pretty tense when Song Zhezong accessed the throne and Zhao Hao had to move out of the inner court.However,his influence increased dramatically as his mother Empress Dowager Gao ruled the country.His former servants and officers were promoted to many important positions as well as Empress Dowager Gao's eunuch,both of which were pretty strange in Song Dynasty.The promotion should be done by chancellors and Empress Dowager Gao and might be considered as signal for deposing Emperor Song Zhezong.For example,a scholar called Yin Cai,who belonged to the Luo Party,advised Empress Dowager Gao vaguely to depose Song Zhezong and was promoted after his advision.To summary,Empress Dowager Gao as well as her chancellors might have planned to depose her grandson.Zhao Hao was treated politely after Song Zhezong took the power when Empress Dowager Gao died in 1093.However,the fortune of his adherents was much worse.His only son who survived him,Zhao Xiaoqian,was punished because Mrs Feng,Zhao Hao's wife,was accused as adultery.Zhao Hao's son-in-law,Shi Che,was banished from a low-level military officer as Song Zhezong didn't trust him.Zhao Hao's former officers were degraded out of the court because of their demoded experience.Zhao Hao was an important character on the political arena of the middle and late Northern Song Dynasty.What's more,it is significant for understanding the political situation during this period to learn more about the ambitious prince.