After the downfall of Tang Dynasty, China entered a chaotic period of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. In late Zhou Dynasty (951 - 960), Emperor Shizong let Zhao Kuangyin control the military leadership. After Emperor Shizong died, his young son succeeded to the throne. Taking this chance, Zhao Kuangyin seized the imperial power and established Song Dynasty as Emperor Taizu.

Not long after Zhao Kuangyin came to the throne, two local military government revolted against the central authority. It took Zhao Kuangyin a lot of energy to suppress the revolt, which upset with Zhao Pu who had been with him for many years. He said that since the downfall of Tang Dynasty there had appeared many dynasties with endless wars. Numerous people had died. What was the reason for all of these? Zhao Pu said the reason was very simple. The chaotic situation in a country lay in the scattering of the military power. The country could be restored to peace as soon as the military power was returned to the overall control of the central authority. Emperor Taizu agreed with this opinion, and it was by controlling the military leadership that he had seized the imperial power. In order to prevent the same thing from happening again, Emperor Taizu decided to take back military power from local authorities. In an evening of autumn in 961, Emperor Taizu held a banquet in the imperial palace and invited Shi Shouxin and other senior generals. The Emperor held up the cup and said, "But for your help, I wouldn't be what I am like nowaday. But you don't know that it is very difficult being an emperor. In fact, it's happier being a local military governor than being an emperor." Shi Shouxin and the other generals were very surprised when they heard this and asked why. Emperor Taizu said, "It is quite obvious. Who does not want to be the emperor?" The generals got the underlying meaning of his words and became flustered. They knelt on the ground hurriedly and said, "we won't betray you at any time." Emperor Taizu shook his head and said, "I have confidence in all of you. But I'm afraid your subordinates may be ambitious and hanker after riches and honors. When they wrap the yellow gown (a symbol for emperor) around you and support you to be the emperor, can you refuse them?" The generals were so frightened that their faces were covered whith beads of perspiration. The next day they asked to resign and the emperor agreed immediately. He gave them a large amount of money and took back their military power. This was called "relieving generals commands at a feast" in history.