In the Northern Song Dynasty historical drama of "Qing Pingle", many historical celebrities such as Song Renzong, Empress Dowager Liu, Yan Shu, Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi, etc. all appeared, which was fascinating. However, behind these celebrities, there is a small person whose influence cannot be ignored, and he is Zhang Maoze, Song Renzong's close attendant.
In "Qing Pingle", Zhang Mao is a close eunuch of Song Renzong, and he is also a person with extraordinary wisdom and emotions, seven emotions and six desires, and he has a deep admiration for Empress Cao. However, unlike the TV series, the historical Zhang Mao helped Empress Cao quell the palace turmoil, but was wronged by Song Renzong and almost committed suicide.
But in order to maintain Empress Cao's innocence, he finally chose to survive with tenacity.
Zhang Maoze, whose name is Pingfu, a native of Kaifeng, served as a small yellow gate in his early years, and then was promoted to the west head worship officer five times, responsible for managing the inner east gate. He showed great courage and agility, and when thieves invaded the Forbidden Palace on the night, he did not hesitate to climb the roof first and successfully capture the thieves.
After that, he was promoted to the head of the Imperial Medicine Academy. These deeds fully demonstrate Zhang Maoze's courage and talent, as well as the fact that he has been promoted many times.
There is no clear record in the history books about when Zhang Maoze entered the palace, but the "History of the Song Dynasty" records his age at the time of his death, 79 years old. If we extrapolate from 1085 AD, when Song Zhezong ascended the throne, we can speculate that he was born after 1006 AD.
Since Song Renzong Zhao Zhen was born in 1010 AD, Zhang Mao was similar in age to Song Renzong, and it is likely that he served Song Renzong for a long time. However, it is impossible to verify whether he has followed Song Renzong since he was a child.
Zhang Mao was wise and was once known as a minister. Once, Song Renzong was unwell and summoned Zhang Maoze late at night. After Zhang Mao entered, the other eunuchs hurriedly closed the door.
However, Zhang Mao immediately stopped: "The emperor is only a minor illness, there is no need to worry too much, and the internal and external consistency should be maintained so as not to cause unnecessary panic." His suggestion fully reflects his calmness and thoughtfulness.
Zhang Mao once served as the envoy of the Guozhou regiment, and a major event occurred on the eighteenth day of the first month of the eighth year of Qingli (1048), which had a profound impact on his career.
During the Lantern Festival, Song Renzong originally planned to make the palace brightly lit, but was dissuaded by Empress Cao on the grounds of opposing extravagance. On the night of the eighteenth day of the first lunar month, Song Renzong and Empress Cao were resting in the room, but they were suddenly broken into the middle palace by several guards armed with knives.
When Empress Cao heard this, she urgently called out to Zhang Mao, who was known at the time, to kill the robbers. The sound of killing in the hall shook the sky, and the palace maids who were killed wailed for a long time, and Empress Cao was worried about Song Renzong's safety, so she locked him in the room from the outside.
Empress Cao resolutely protected the emperor's safety at a critical moment, and at the same time, she also considered the possible fire hazard and immediately ordered the palace maids and eunuchs to prepare to extinguish the fire, showing her thoughtful and decisive response.
Faced with the chaotic situation, the palace maids were overwhelmed with fear and could not act according to Empress Cao's instructions. Faced with this situation, Empress Cao unhurriedly picked up scissors, cut off the hair of the palace maids and eunuchs, and said to them: "We can't make out because it's dark, but tomorrow you can rely on your hair to ask for credit." ”
After hearing this, the palace maids and eunuchs all mustered up courage and tried their best to extinguish the fire and save people. After careful arrangement, they secretly sent men carrying water to follow the rebels, and when the rebels burned the curtain with torches, the water was immediately extinguished.
With the joint efforts of Empress Cao and Zhang Maoze, the rebellion was successfully put down. Their performance showed that Empress Cao was calm and commanding, and Zhang Mao reacted quickly and quelled the rebellion in time, and they were the main contributors to this incident.
However, it is a pity that Song Renzong did not see them that way.
Song Renzong was puzzled that the rebellion had been quelled too smoothly, suspecting that Empress Cao had deliberately done so to demonstrate her ability to govern, and believed that Zhang Mao was an accomplice to Empress Cao.
Although Song Renzong claimed to depose Empress Cao, because she won the hearts of the people, the ministers tried their best to defend it, and Song Renzong failed to find evidence that she was masterminding the matter. In the end, Empress Cao was able to continue to take charge of the Middle Palace, and Zhang Mao was rewarded for his loyalty and strength, which read: "The palace is safe and secure, the treasury is the same as before, only loyalty and strength, of course I will commend it." ”
Eight years later, in the first month of the first year of Jiayou, Song Renzong's condition worsened, and he even shouted incoherently: "The queen and Zhang Mao are plotting rebellion together!"These words were like a thunderbolt from the sky, and everyone present was terrified.
Immediately after, Zhang Mao heard this, and felt that he had suffered a great grievance, and wanted to commit suicide on the spur of the moment.
Wen Yanbo, a generation of famous ministers, immediately stopped Zhang Maoze after hearing the news. He criticized solemnly: "The Son of Heaven is sick, talking nonsense, how can you take it seriously?"If you commit suicide, won't that be tantamount to acknowledging the emperor's illness?
How do you let Empress Cao deal with herself?Do you want her to kill herself?”
Wen Yanbo's reproach frightened Zhang Mao, who believed in his loyalty, but was misunderstood by Song Renzong. From then on, in order to protect the queen's innocence, he never had the idea of suicide.
However, this incident had a profound impact on him, and he trembled for the rest of his life, suffering greatly in his heart. According to the "History of the Song Dynasty", Zhang Mao had a frugal and simple personality, did not eat heavy taste, and his clothes were shabby but had not been changed for decades.
As a eunuch, he lived a simple life and was indifferent to fame and fortune, which deserves the admiration of future generations.