What happens when a young king's indecision leads to a coup, and the brother he tried to sacrifice becomes his jailer for 23 years? The Chinese historical drama Swords into Plowshares (太平年) has reached its halfway point, plunging viewers into the turbulent heart of the Ten Kingdoms period. The show masterfully depicts the lethal power struggles within the Wuyue (吴越) kingdom, where family bonds are weapons and thrones are won with blood.
At its core is a gripping, real-life tale of two brothers—Qian Hongzong (钱弘倧) and Qian Hongchu (钱弘俶)—whose relationship was shattered by ambition, betrayal, and the cold, hard logic of survival. It’s a story that asks a haunting question: after the main villain dies, why won't the new king free his imprisoned brother? The answer reveals a chilling truth about the nature of power.
A King's Fatal Indecision
The trouble began not with a villain, but with a young, inexperienced ruler. When King Qian Hongzuo (钱弘佐) died, the throne passed to his brother, Qian Hongzong. The late king had left a clear strategy to manage the kingdom’s most powerful and dangerous figure, the veteran official Hu Jinsi (胡进思). The plan was simple: either kill Hu Jinsi decisively to remove the threat, or promote him to prime minister while balancing his power with loyal military men like Shuiqiu Zhaoquan (水丘昭券) and the royal brother Qian Hongjun (钱弘俊).
It was a wise, two-path solution designed for stability. Qian Hongzong, however, was too immature to follow either. He couldn't bring himself to order an execution, yet he lacked the skill to manage Hu Jinsi politically. Instead, he fumed and threw tantrums in court, even lashing out at his own brother, Qian Hongchu. His childish behavior was a stark contrast to the heavy crown he wore.
Driven by frustration, the young king chose a secret and reckless path. Ignoring wise counsel from Shuiqiu Zhaoquan and his brother Qian Hongchu, he plotted with a man named He Chengxun to assassinate Hu Jinsi. It was a desperate, poorly planned scheme. When Shuiqiu Zhaoquan blocked the impulsive move and publicly accused He Chengxun (何承训) of treachery, the conspirator's nerve broke. Paralyzed by fear of being discovered by Hu Jinsi, He Chengxun made a fatal decision: he switched sides. He betrayed the entire assassination plot to Hu Jinsi, lighting the fuse on a political explosion. This single act of betrayal transformed a palace intrigue into a bloody coup, proving that in the game of thrones, loyalty is often the first casualty. Qian Hongzong's indecision had not only lost him the game, but it had also put his very life on the line.
The Coup and the Reluctant King
Hu Jinsi reacted with ruthless speed. Armed with the traitor’s information, he stormed the palace, deposed Qian Hongzong, and threw him into captivity. To legitimize his power grab, the old official forged a royal edict, declaring that the throne was being passed to the late king’s other brother, Qian Hongchu. The young prince was thrust onto the throne against his will. He initially refused, but Hu Jinsi held the ultimate leverage: the life of his imprisoned brother, Qian Hongzong. Faced with this brutal reality, Qian Hongchu had no choice but to accept the crown, becoming a king under the shadow of a kingmaker. His reign began not in triumph, but in a moral dilemma, forced to cooperate with his brother's jailer to keep him alive.
Qian Hongchu, however, was not the passive figure Hu Jinsi had expected. He demonstrated his authority immediately and violently. When the traitor He Chengxun arrived at court, proudly presenting the severed head of the loyal Shuiqiu Zhaoquan as a trophy, the new king’s rage was terrifying. He ordered Hu Jinsi to restrain the man. Though surprised, Hu Jinsi obeyed. With a single, swift stroke, Qian Hongchu executed He Chengxun on the spot, a chilling message that treachery would not be rewarded. He then coolly addressed his terrified court, asking if they still wished him to be their king. They knelt in unanimous support. Even Hu Jinsi, for the first time, showed genuine fear, kneeling and swearing his absolute loyalty. In that moment, Qian Hongchu proved he was no one’s puppet. He had seized control, but the true test of his power—and his humanity—was yet to come.
Why 23 Years of Silence?
Even after Hu Jinsi died of old age and fear, the prison doors did not swing open for Qian Hongzong. He would remain in captivity for twenty-three long years, until his death. The simple answer is revenge, but the reality is more complex and politically shrewd. Firstly, Qian Hongzong had once tried to have his brother killed. He had deliberately placed Qian Hongchu in a position where he would have to fight Hu Jinsi, hoping his brother would die in his stead. This deep betrayal planted a seed of distrust and self-preservation in the new king’s heart. Qian Hongchu knew his brother was dangerous and would stop at nothing to regain power. Freeing him was not an act of mercy; it was inviting a rival claimant back into the game.
Secondly, and most importantly, was the solidification of power. After Hu Jinsi’s death, Qian Hongchu was strong enough to crush the old official’s faction. But he didn't. By keeping his brother imprisoned, he cemented the legitimacy of his own reign. The entire court, from loyal ministers to former Hu Jinsi supporters, had pledged allegiance to him. They had all accepted the forged edict and the new status quo. Allowing Qian Hongzong to return would threaten their own positions and plunge the kingdom into a bloody civil war over the succession. No one—not the ministers, not the generals, and certainly not the king—wanted that.
Qian Hongchu’s twenty-three-year imprisonment of his brother was not just personal vengeance; it was a calculated, necessary act of state to ensure the peace and stability of Wuyue. The tragedy of the two brothers in Swords into Plowshares is a powerful reminder that in the brutal theater of power, mercy can be the most dangerous luxury of all.
