History Series / TheGreatEmperorInSongDynasty

* {{Irony}}: Han Tong spent much effort to frame Kuangyin of treason in front of Chai Rong. Yet, just before the coup at Chenqiao, Han had become utterly convinced of his loyalty to the Later Zhou. To add to the irony, Han was the only important official of the Later Zhou to perish in the coup.
** Fu Rong, who wanted to become empress since her introduction, only got to become so posthumously after her husband Guangyi became emperor as Kuangyin's successor.

* InterserviceRivalry: Civilian officials vs. military officers. As Kuangyin had a military background, but wanted the empire to head towards a civilian-centric direction, this caused him many headaches. [[note]]While the issue did not flare up during Kuangyin's and Guangyi's rule, this civilian-centric direction eventually accumulated in the "Disaster of Jingkang", where the Jurchen Jin army (who had crushed the Khitans in the north) sacked Kaifeng, and abducted most of Guangyi's descendants (including 2 emperors, Huizong and Qinzong).[[/note]]

** Historically, Lei Dexiang passed away in his mid 70s during Guangyi's reign.

** Kuangyin hitting the wooden tabletop with an axe-head shaped jade ornament alludes to the story of "the sound of the axe in the shadow of the flickering candle" (斧声烛影) in literature and folklore, which alleged that Guangyi murdered his brother for the throne.

* DrunkWithPower: Zhao Pu. While he remains TheGoodChancellor, he does develop some traits of the EvilChancellor by the end of the series. [[note]]The series makes a point by speculating that Kuangyin made Guangyi his heir instead of Dezhao as Guangyi is much better prepared to control Zhao Pu as emperor.[[/note]]

** Zig-zagged with Kuangyin's escort of Jing-niang. Traditionally, this story was recorded in literature and opera. However, Professor Wang Liqun of the University of Henan is of the opinion that there are elements of truth in the story. At the same time, the original story only had Kuangyin himself doing the escort. Also, Jing-niang did not enter the palace after Kuangyin became emperor.

* BlueBlood: As Guangyi explained, Lady Song's lineage is this, as both her grandmother and mother are princesses of previous dynasties. [[note]]Her paternal grandmother was a daughter of Li Cunxu (Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang) while her mother is a sister of Liu Chengyou and daughter of Liu Zhiyuan, both emperors of Later Han.[[/note]]

* HistoricalInJoke: Jingnang's royal title (Princess of Yan) was historically given to Kuangyin's younger (full) sister, who was also Gao Huaide's wife.

* HistoricalInJoke: Kuangyin enrobing Guo Wei in a yellow robe is a nod to the same thing happening to him later at Chenqiao. [[note]]Historically, Kuangyin was not recorded in events surrounding Guo Wei's ascension as emperor.[[/note]]

** Jingnang's royal title (Princess of Yan) was historically given to Kuangyin's younger (full) sister, who was also Gao Huaide's wife.
** Zhao Pu predicted that should Guangyi inherit the throne, he would then pass it on to his own son instead of Dezhao. This was exactly what happened historically.

** Likewise, Guangyi strokes his forehead with two fingers in the same situation.

* CharacterTics: After Kuangyin became emperor, whenever he encounters any frustration in his study, he would hit the wooden tabletop with an axe-head shaped jade ornament.

** Zig-zagged with his escort of Jing-niang. Traditionally, this story was recorded in literature and opera. However, Professor Wang Liqun of the University of Henan is of the opinion that there are elements of truth in the story. At the same time, the original story only had Kuangyin himself doing the escort. Also, Jing-niang did not enter the palace after Kuangyin became emperor.

** Also zig-zagged with the "Golden Cabinet Pledge" (金匮之盟). While many historians doubt its historical authenticity, it has its supporters as well. The series itself adopts a middle ground: while Lady Du did state her request to Zhao Pu and Kuangyin, Zhao Pu refused to commit the pledge to paper and implored Kuangyin to forget about it as well.[[note]]Professor Wang Liqun's opinion on the matter is that Lady Du could not possibly know when Kuangyin will die, and by extension how old his heir will be at the time. Next, if such a pledge really existed, Zhao Pu would have revealed it when Guangyi ascended the throne, and would not have waited untill many years later. Prof. Wang's conjecture is that Zhao Pu used this pledge to show his support for Guangyi, in exchange for Guangyi's support for him to act against Lu Duoxun (Lu had persecuted Zhao Pu and other members of his family previously.) Be that as it may, the fact that Guangyi was the longest serving governor of Kaifeng ''ever'' (for 15 years, before his ascension to the throne) stands out. If Kuangyin had absolutely no intention of making Guangyi heir, such a move would have greatly endangered his intended heir.[[/note]]

** Empress Wang: Historically, she was in her teens when she married Kuangyin and passed away while in her early 20s.

** Also zig-zagged with the "Golden Cabinet Pledge" (金匮之盟). While many historians doubt its historical authenticity, it has its supporters as well. The series itself adopts a middle ground: while Lady Du did state her request to Zhao Pu and Kuangyin, Zhao Pu refused to commit the pledge to paper and implored Kuangyin to forget about it as well.[[note]]Professor Wang Liqun's opinion on the matter is that Lady Du could not possibly know when Kuangyin will die, and by extension how old his heir will be at the time. Next, if such a pledge really existed, Zhao Pu would have revealed it when Guangyi ascended the throne, and would not have waited untill many years later. Prof. Wang's conjecture is that Zhao Pu used this pledge to show his support for Guangyi, in exchange for Guangyi's support for him to act against Lu Duoxun (Lu had persecuted Zhao Pu and other members of his family previously.)[[/note]]

* TheLostLenore: For Kuangyin, Empress Wang. For 5 years after her death, he did not elevate another woman to the throne.

** Zhao Hongyin's death was greatly dramatised in-series. [[note]]Historically, his death occurred on the 26th day of the 7th lunar month of 956 CE (roughly corresponding to 3 September; hardly a time of harsh winters anywhere in China).[[/note]]

** Kuangyin hitting the wooden tabletop with an axe-head shaped jade ornament alludes to the story of "the sound of the axe in the shadow of the flickering candle" (斧声烛影) in literature and folklore, alleging that Guangyi murdered his brother for the throne.

** Historically, no coup took place on the day Kuangyin was born. However, it is historically true that in the year ''before'' his birth, a coup did take place involving his father Hongyin's benefactor. [[note]]Li Cunxu, posthumously known as Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang, had promoted Hongyin to be part of the imperial guard at Luoyang. Li was killed in 926 C.E. in what would be known as the "Mutiny at Xing Jiao Gate" (兴教门之变).[[/note]]

** Zig-zagged with his escort of Jing-niang. Traditionally, this story was recorded in literature and opera. However, Professor Wang Liqun of the University of Henan is of the opinion that there are elements of truth in the story. At the same time, the original story only had Kuangyin himself doing the escort.

** Again zig-zagged with Zheng En. There is still controversy on whether he existed, as traditional histories did not have records on him. However, like Jing-niang, he appears in another traditional opera story "Executing the Yellow Robe" (斩黄袍) [[note]]Also known as "(The Wrongful)Execution of Zheng En" ((错)斩郑恩). The original story has Kuangyin executing Zheng En over a concubine while being in a drunken stupor.[[/note]]