In the history of China's feudal dynasties, the relationship between the monarch and his ministers was very intriguing, so there is a fable about accompanying the emperor like accompanying a tiger. There is a saying that ministers often say: If the king wants his ministers to live, they have to live; if the king wants his ministers to die, they have to die. The complex relationship between king and minister is vividly depicted. However, there are always exceptions to everything. In Chinese history, some emperors regarded their ministers as brothers, friends, and even as one with themselves, creating many popular stories about emperors and ministers. Next, the editor will talk to you about the three pairs of kings and ministers with the closest relationship in Chinese history.

The first group: Song Taizu and Zhao Pu

Zhao Pu was a famous politician in the early years and the founding hero of the Northern Song Dynasty. Born in 922 in Jixian County, Youzhou.

Zhao Pu followed Zhao Kuangyin in the northern and southern wars very early, and became brothers (they cannot be called opposite-sex brothers, they have the same surname). During the Northern Zhou Dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin was fighting on the front line, and his father Zhao Hongyin was seriously ill, so Zhao Pu was busy preparing decoctions to take care of him every day. Zhao Pu told his family that Zhao Kuangyin and I are brothers, and his father is my father.

After Zhao Kuangyin established the Northern Song Dynasty, he treated Zhao Pu with courtesy and appointed him as prime minister. However, Zhao Pu was incapable of fighting the enemy in battle, and he was only proficient in pen and ink. As a result, there is an eternal saying that "half of the Analects can rule the world." Zhao Kuangyin treated Zhao Pu as his own brother. When he went to visit Zhao Pu on a snowy day, the emperor and his ministers gathered around the hall of Zhao Pu's house to barbecue and drink. Moreover, it is not a taboo to call Zhao Pu's wife "Mrs. Sister-in-law".

When Song Taizu was in a humble position, Zhao Pu made friends with him. After he conquered the world, Zhao Pu repeatedly talked about some of the shortcomings in their interactions when they were humble. Taizu had an open-minded character and said to Zhao Pu: "If the emperor and prime minister can be identified in the dust, then everyone can go and ask for them." From then on, Zhao Pu no longer talked about the past.

Zhao Pu served as prime minister of the Northern Song Dynasty for three times until his death in Luoyang in 992. Song Taizong was shocked and grieved after hearing the news. He said to the ministers serving him: "Zhao Pu served as an assistant to the late emperor and had an old friendship with me. He was decisive and capable of making important decisions. He had some unpleasantness with me before. This is something that many people know. I ascended the throne. Since then, I have always treated him generously and courteously, and Zhao Pu has also devoted himself to me and is loyal to the country. I am very sorry to lose him." So I cried bitterly, and the ministers on the left and right were very moved.

The second group: Song Shenzong and Wang Anshi

Wang Anshi (December 18, 1021 - May 21, 1086), named Jiefu, nicknamed Banshan, Han nationality, Famous thinker, politician, writer, reformer.

Song Shenzong and Wang Anshi were 28 years apart and had never met. However, when Song Shenzong was still a prince, he saw Wang Anshi's memorials to Song Renzong and Song Yingzong in the palace archives, and he appreciated Wang Anshi's talent and character earlier than he did. Therefore, when he became emperor, he summoned Wang Anshi to the capital and entrusted him with important tasks. The two of them hit it off immediately when they first met, so much so that they talked for too long and missed the meal time.

When Wang Anshi was serving as deputy prime minister and presiding over the reform, five people in Zhongshu Province had a joke about "life, old age, illness and death are bitter". This just shows Song Shenzong's love and trust in Wang Anshi. Prime Minister Zeng Gongliang had no choice but to say to those who opposed the reform: "Shang and Jiefu (Wang Anshi) are the same person, and this is heaven."

During the Xining period, Sima Guang and others framed Wang Anshi, and Song Shenzong unexpectedly He said: "These things were decided by me and have nothing to do with Jie Fu." He took the blame for Wang Anshi. Wang Anshi was forced to resign several times by the opposition. Song Shenzong personally wrote to Wang Anshi to apologize and tried to persuade him to stay. So much so that the sage emperor Qing Gaozong and Emperor Qianlong were not jealous and said that if an emperor bows his head and apologizes to his ministers, Wang Anshi is guilty!

In 1079, Wang Anshi resigned as prime minister for the second time. In order to express his apology, Song Shenzong sent a BMW to Wang Anshi for transportation. Song Shenzong died young in 1085. Wang Anshi was so sad after hearing the bad news that he died soon after.

The third group: Emperor Qianlong and Heshen

Heshen (May 28, 1750-February 22, 1799), formerly known as Shanbao, courtesy name Zhizhai, The owner of the self-titled Jiale Hall, Shihu Garden, and Green Field Pavilion, he was a minister and businessman in Manchuria and the middle Qing Dynasty.

When He Shen first met Qianlong, he was only a third-class bodyguard. But the two hit it off and soon had the same language. Moreover, He Shen was particularly shrewd, capable, and sophisticated, and he was very popular with Emperor Qianlong. Emperor Qianlong expressed to other ministers more than once that He Shen and he were not only monarchs and ministers, but also friends. What is the concept of being the emperor's friend?

How close was the relationship between Emperor Qianlong and He Shen? The monarch and his ministers often lay on the same bed and talked about state affairs all night long. Emperor Qianlong went out of the palace for many private trips, and He Shen accompanied him. Qianlong promoted Heshen to become the chief military minister, and also betrothed his daughter to Heshen's son as his wife, and they became a family of children. For this kind of favor, how can the likes of Liu Yong and Ji Xiaolan compare with it.

He Shen was corrupt, perverting the law, and buying and selling official titles. Emperor Qianlong had long been aware of these things, but he turned a blind eye out of his favor and friendship with He Shen. After Emperor Qianlong died in 1799, Emperor Jiaqing who succeeded him confiscated He Shen's home and asked him to commit suicide. Therefore, there is an allegory in history: He gentry falls, Jiaqing is full.

However, leaving aside what He Shen did, just looking at his personal relationship with Emperor Qianlong, no one can compare with him throughout the nearly 300 years of Manchu Qing rule.