In the year 968 AD, during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty, corrupt officials were in power and colluded with unscrupulous merchants, leading to widespread suffering among the people. After Emperor Renzong ascended the throne, he was determined to eliminate the treacherous faction in order to achieve national peace and prosperity. Unfortunately, at that time, there were few capable ministers left in the court, and relying solely on one person's efforts was like trying to put out a fire with a single cup of water. Therefore, Emperor Renzong boldly appointed new talents and increased the authority of the Chancellery and the Ministry of Punishments to curb the evil deeds of corrupt officials within the court.
Bao Zheng (999-1062) was a famous statesman of the Northern Song Dynasty. His courtesy name was Xiren, and he was from Hefei, Luzhou (now part of Anhui Province). He passed the imperial examination as a Jinshi and was appointed by the court as the magistrate of Jianchang County. After the passing of his parents, he took up the position of magistrate in Chang County. Known as Lord Bao, he was a celebrated honest official and political reformer during the Northern Song Dynasty. Throughout his life, he was devoted to the country and its people, upright and incorruptible, enforcing the law impartially, and known for his integrity and clean governance. Especially during his tenure as the Prefect of Kaifeng, he suppressed the powerful, supported the weak, and upheld justice for the common people without favoritism, earning himself a renowned reputation known by young and old alike both domestically and internationally.
At the time, due to his successful punishment of criminals, Bao Zheng was promoted several times by the emperor and became the Prefect of Kaifeng. The emperor also granted him the privilege of wielding the ceremonial sword, which had the power to execute both incompetent emperors and corrupt ministers, along with three execution tools: the Dragon Head Guillotine, Tiger Head Guillotine, and Dog Head Guillotine, ensuring fairness and efficiency in his law enforcement. In order to accelerate the elimination of the influence of villains and bandits, Bao Zheng associated with righteous individuals from the martial world and entrusted them with important positions. Among the more famous ones were the fourth-rank sword-bearing guard "Zhan Zhao," the "Five Heroes of Swallow Hollow" (also known as the Five Rats), and the clerk "Gongsun Ce." With their help, Bao Zheng finally launched a final assault against the greatest villain - the Grand Preceptor "Pang Taishi." The common people admired Bao Zheng for his fair and transparent case handling, calling him the "Upright Bao."