It is said that after he was born, his mother grabbed him by the heels and carried him upside down and dipped him in the River Styx, making him invulnerable.
Because the current of the Styx was fast, his mother held his heel and dared not let go; therefore, the heel that was not immersed in the water of the Styx became his only weakness.
In the subsequent Trojan War, the invincible Achilles was finally shot in the heel by an arrow from Apollo, thus losing his life.
Zhao Kuangyin’s ‘Achilles’ heel’ is his reluctance to let go of his family.
He knew clearly that his brother Zhao Guangyi had great ambitions, but he was not careful; he tried to use family affection to influence him.
As everyone knows, in the face of the supreme power, family love is so weak to Zhao Guangyi!
Some people are willing to abandon everything for the sake of power - and Zhao Guangyi is exactly this kind of person!
Another fatal mistake Zhao Kuangyin made was also related to his connivance with Zhao Guangyi:
Someone once said: ‘The way of the emperor is the way of balance’.
As a qualified emperor, he must be a master of balance; he will never allow any of his forces to become stronger - suppressing the strong and supporting the weak is what a qualified emperor often does!
But because of family ties, Zhao Kuangyin made a mistake - a fatal mistake!
Originally, Zhao Pu was restraining Zhao Guangyi in Bianjing, so even though Zhao Er was ambitious, he never dared to take action!
But Zhao Kuangyin brought Zhao Pu down according to Zhao Guangyi's wishes!
If Zhao Pu falls, he will fall. As long as Zhao Kuangyin continues to suppress Zhao Er, and then supports another force, that's it!
But Zhao Kuangyin didn't do this, he was reluctant to attack his own brother!
Zhao Kuangyin was reluctant to let it go, but Zhao Guangyi was willing to let it go!!
Zhao Da is in trouble!!
Family affection is his 'Achilles' heel'! He didn't protect it, so he could only cry out before dying: "Now, my Majesty, my second brother will kill me!"!!
Zhao Guangyi: Sword of Damocles
In the fourth century BC, King Dionysius of Syracuse in eastern Sicily attacked the aristocratic forces and established an Athenian-style democratic regime.
However, he encountered dissatisfaction and opposition from the nobles, which made him feel that although he had great power, his position was unreliable.
Once he discussed this issue with his favorite Damocles and expressed his views to him in a vivid way.
In order to satisfy the greed of his favorite Damocles, he entrusted the palace to him and gave him full power to realize any of his desires.
Damocles, who pursued vanity and was passionate about snobbery, looked up during the grand celebration banquet and saw a sharp long sword hanging heavily upside down under the ceiling above his seat, with only a horsehair tied to the hilt.
It was about to fall on his head, and he was so frightened that he left the table and ran away.
At this time King Dionysius came out and said: "This sharp sword (on the head of Damocles) is a symbol of danger that threatens the king every minute. As for the king's happiness and well-being, it is only superficial.
It’s just a phenomenon.”
Zhao Guangyi is this 'Sword of Damocles' in "Step by Step"!
He once hung on Zhao Kuangyin's head; Zhao Kuangyin naively thought that he would not and did not dare to fall.
But in the end, Zhao Guangyi’s version of the ‘Sword of Damocles’ fell down!
Zhao Guangyi is a man with great ambitions - he has always wanted to surpass his elder brother.
Zhao Kuangyin was the founding emperor and had great achievements in opening up new territories; if Zhao Er wanted to surpass him, he would have to take action against Yang Hao's Daxia and Khitan!
Zhao Er has always done this.
Now he is fighting against Daxia. Although he has lost, he will not give up!
As for the Sixteenth Prefecture of Yanyun, Zhao Er has always wanted to incorporate it into his territory; therefore, Zhao Er of Khitan will also take action sooner or later!
Now Zhao Guangyi has become a 'Sword of Damocles' hanging over the heads of Xia and Khitan!