Hongwu Survival Guide

Chapter 170 Hongwu 25 Years

Seeing the three members of Lao Zhu's family sitting side by side on the futon, Zhu Yuan standing beside the globe had to cheer up more, not because of Lao Zhu or Ma Shi, but mainly because of Zhu Biao.

This is a character who needs to be dealt with more carefully than Lao Zhu.

As for the reason, we have to start from the past history.

Regarding the history of the Ming Dynasty, there is a very famous book called "The Fifteen Years of Wanli". Later generations have the saying that "the Ming Dynasty died in Wanli, and the Qing Dynasty died in Qianlong". Comments on the life and deeds of the Wanli Emperor, Zhang Juzheng, Hai Rui and other historical figures, and introduces the important historical turning point of the Wanli Dynasty in the Ming Dynasty.

Having read too much history of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuan felt that he could imitate "15 Years of Wanli" and write "25 Years of Hongwu", which would definitely be more exciting.

What happened in Hongwu 25 years ago?
Anyone who knows a little bit about Ming history knows that this year, Zhu Biao passed away in his prime, and the history of the Ming Dynasty experienced a big unexpected turning point, until Zhu Di won the battle of Jingnan and became emperor.

However, under the shallowest level of history that ordinary people understand, there are actually too many places that can be analyzed. Careful and in-depth, it is enough to subvert most people's inherent impression of the history of the Hongwu Dynasty.

Although it is "25 Years of Hongwu", things can actually start from the 15th year of Hongwu.

This year, Empress Ma died of illness.

In fact, it is also a turning point in history.

The death of his wife who has been with each other along the way is a great blow to Zhu Yuanzhang, who has always attached great importance to his relatives. He has the world, but he cannot save his wife who is seriously ill. , but Lao Zhu's heart as an emperor was hit hard.

This year, Prince Zhu Biao was 27 years old.

While taking over more government affairs from his father who was in the pain of bereavement, Zhu Biao also began to think about succession.

In fact, since the tenth year of Hongwu, Zhu Biao, who was 22 years old at the time, had already been deeply involved in government affairs. According to historical records, "Bingyin, in June of the tenth year of Hongwu, ordered all the officials to be punished by the crown prince first for all political affairs, and then to hear about them. '.

The key point is to 'reveal the crown prince first', 'then play the news', think about that picture.

Under such circumstances, can the "political affairs" that do not conform to the crown prince's mind reach the emperor's hand?

Let alone the impeachment of the crown prince.

Let’s go back to the 15th year of Hongwu, and there is another small matter. In this time and space, Zhan Tong, a direct academician of the Imperial Academy, who had already had contact with Zhu Yuan, once served as Minister of the Ministry of Officials. Zhan Tong had a son named Zhan Hui. He became a scholar, and was soon appointed as the censor of the supervisory capital of the seventh rank.

There's an interesting timing here.

Ma died in August of that year and was buried in September, while Zhan Hui was appointed as the imperial censor of the seventh rank in October of that year.

There are few historical records about Zhan Hui before he became an official, but it can be speculated that Zhan Hui should have met the prince Zhu Biao, and may even be one of the prince's companions.Therefore, it can be completely judged that before the old emperor came out of the pain of losing his wife, the prince Zhu Biao, who supervised the government, arranged a seemingly inconspicuous cronide in a seemingly inconspicuous position.

Not only that, just two years later, in the 17th year of Hongwu, Zhan Hui rocketed to become the second-ranked Zuodu Yushi of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

Then, the time came to Hongwu 20 years.

Zhu Biao is 32 years old.

Standing at thirty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, who has passed the age of 30, is more eager to succeed. Coupled with the deliberation of the previous few years, he finally took the first step.

The major event of the year was that General Feng Sheng led his army to Liaodong.

However, the key to this matter is not Feng Sheng, but Lan Yu, who is Feng Sheng's deputy.

The target of this expedition was Bei Yuan Taiwei Nahachu, who had been entrenched in Liaodong for many years and continued to harass the border of Ming Dynasty. The result was very good.

There are also surprises.

Sapphire, who was in charge of meeting with Naha to discuss surrender matters, took off her clothes at the banquet of both parties, asked Naha to change into them, and then drank with herself.Nahachu thought it was an insult to himself, and left angrily. The two sides even had a conflict for a while, which almost led to the failure of recruiting and surrendering.

Feng Sheng came forward in person and mediated with many parties, and a knife attack was avoided.

Then, here comes the key.

Successfully recruited hundreds of thousands of people from Naha without bloodshed, but Feng Sheng was impeached again because of his private possession and seizure. Not only did he have no credit, but Zhu Yuanzhang also took back the general seal.

Afterwards, the great general's seal fell on Lan Yu's body.

In the 21st year of Hongwu, Lan Yu worshiped the general, in charge of the military, and led an army of 15 to the Northern Yuan Dynasty.

Ok.

What's interesting about the whole thing is that Feng Sheng, who worked so hard to win the Liaodong, was dismissed for a small crime of possession.

You know, Feng Sheng's private collection is famous.

This famous general who has followed Zhu Yuanzhang for a long time has made big mistakes and never made small mistakes for many years. In the past wars, Lao Feng was not punished for eating and drinking. This time, why is it so serious?

The answer is simple.

To make way for people.

to whom?

Give Sapphire.

Sapphire, who almost messed up a recruiting, not only was not convicted, but also became a general in a blink of an eye. Compared with the past when the Ming army sent troops, there were often multiple commanders. You can take charge of the military without any constraints.

Why sapphire?
Because Lan Yu is the wife-in-law of Prince Zhu Biao.

Of course, except for the outliers like Lao Zhu, the Tian family tends to have little family ties. Therefore, apart from this level of relative status, Lan Yu must have joined Zhu Biao early and became the prince's party.

Zhu Biao wants to succeed, the first thing he wants to get is military power.

This is common sense.

Sapphire is Zhu Biao's spokesperson for the military forces.

The first battle against Beiyuan was also very smooth. Lan Yu led the army to defeat the Yuan army in Yuerhai and completely destroyed Yuanshi Zhengshuo.

When the class teacher returns to the court, he will be rewarded for his meritorious service.

Here comes the more interesting one.

Sapphire, who was supposed to be named 'Liang Guogong', turned out to be 'Liang Guogong'.

Why is there this word difference?
The traditional view is basically that Lan Yu is coquettish and domineering, insulting the concubine Yuan, and destroying the customs, so she was beaten by Lao Zhu and replaced the word "liang" with the word "cool"?

Is this really the case?
Here I have to mention one more point, Lao Zhu is a very double-standard and split person. He has a high tolerance for generals, especially his cronies who have followed him for a long time, whether they are greedy for money or bloodthirsty.

For example, just like the great feudal officials in the third year of Hongwu, Tang He and Liao Yongzhong, who were supposed to be conferred dukes, stopped being proclaimed Marquis. On the surface, one was addicted to alcohol and murdered, and the other was good at spying on me. What's the big deal?
The actual reason is that when Lao Zhu and Zhang Shicheng confronted each other, Tang He, who was in charge of guarding Changzhou in the northern part of Taihu Lake, once swayed and uttered the truth after drinking; "My town is like sitting on the roof. right". "History of Ming Dynasty Tanghe Biography" records, 'Taizu heard it and titled it'.

Why does Tang He hold resentment?

Old Zhu Congjun was introduced by Tang He with his help. Who would have thought that the fellow from his hometown who was planning to be recruited as a younger brother would climb to the top of his head step by step, and even become his master?

Who will balance this matter?
The unbalanced soup and unbalanced would be unbalanced. When I was still drunk, I accidentally said it out, and Lao Zhu knew about it.

As a result, what should have been a duke's conferment was reduced to a marquis.

Besides Liao Yongzhong, it's even simpler. For Lao Zhu, this little Ming king Han Lin'er drowned.However, a certain person was not very smart, and took credit for this matter that should have been buried deep in his heart and forgotten forever, and tried to get a reward for it.

Is this an invitation?

This is a slap in the face!
As a result, a duke who should have been stable was reduced to a marquis, and even after a few years, he was given death for the crime of usurping dragon and phoenix.

The use of dragon and phoenix is ​​both coincidental and ironic.

After dissecting Tang He and Liao Yongzhong, and then looking at Lan Yu, are those charges of arrogance on the surface a big deal?
Doesn't count.

So, why 'cool'?

Don't think too much about the word 'cool', just understand it literally, and then make a little association.

Ok……

Is it because someone's heart is too hot, so His Majesty the Emperor gave a word 'cool' to remind.

Who's hot?

Remind who?
The answer is not Sapphire, but Zhu Biao.

Son, although your father and I are old, they are not dead yet. You should be calm and calm, don't be so hasty in doing things.

This should be a reasonable truth.

The truth about the so-called 'Gong Liang'.

However, did Zhu Biao listen?

The answer is no.

carry on.

In a blink of an eye, it was the 23rd year of Hongwu.

The case of Hu Weiyong resumed.

The reason is also very interesting. During the Northern Expedition, Lan Yu brought back a Hu Weiyong remnant party named "Feng Ji".

Here we have to go back to Hongwu for 13 years.

The original Hu Weiyong case was actually a very small case that did not implicate too many people, especially those heroes who founded the country, and were basically not affected much.

Ordinary people may think that Zhu Yuanzhang's abolition of the prime minister system that lasted for thousands of years should take a long battle to succeed. Therefore, large-scale killings are inevitable.In fact, with Lao Zhu's ability to control the court at that time, it was just, kill, abolish, and I will do it myself.

that's all.

Besides, in the 23rd year of Hongwu, the old things that had been dusty were brought up again, but it became a big wave that affected many founding princes.

Things started in May of that year.

It started with Zhan Hui, the censor of Zuodu who had been in charge of the supervisory department for many years, impeaching many meritorious officials.

After Zhan Hui impeached many meritorious officials for "doing many crimes", the Metropolitan Procuratorate at that time quickly pointed the finger at Li Shanchang, using the old affairs of Hu Weiyong mentioned in Fengji and the many "lawless deeds" of Li Shanchang's nephew Li You as the introduction , Repeated attacks for many days in a row, asking His Majesty the Emperor to deal with it.

What is Zhu Yuanzhang's response?
According to the records of Hongwu, on May 23th in the [-]rd year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang summoned Li Shanchang in the face of the continuous impeachment of the ministers. runny for it'.

The monarch and his ministers recalled the past and wept bitterly.

Is this Lao Zhu's 'Crocodile Tears'?

Don't jump to conclusions just yet.

Then, it is still recorded in the Hongwu Veritable Record: Going back to Youshunmen, the ministers said: "I want to forgive Li You to die, so as to comfort the grand master. The grand master is old and has nothing to worry about."

Simple translation: Grand Master is old, I want to forgive Li You and others for their capital crimes, and let him spend his old age peacefully.

Then came the response of the officials: the ministers repeated: "The old ministers who were good at the founding of the country, let them trust their hearts, and cared for their flesh and blood, and they did this. The ministers and others are very clear about the situation, and dare to die to obey the law."

A simple translation is: Li Shanchang is His Majesty's confidant, but he has committed so many crimes, and the evidence is solid. If His Majesty still wants to protect him, we will die for you!

Think about it a little bit.

What is this called?
This is called forced palace!

It is said that Zhu Yuanzhang is a god of killing, a god of killing, he was forced into the palace by hundreds of officials, and he couldn't even protect his confidant who had followed him for many years and only wanted to have a good death, it was subversive!

Faced with the pressure of death from all the officials, Lao Zhu did not persist.

Then, after Li Shanchang went back, he committed suicide.

It was widely rumored that all 70 members of Li Shanchang's family were beheaded by Lao Zhu, and only his son-in-law Li Qi was spared from death, but it was not.

Li Shanchang committed suicide.

As for the Li family, not only Li Qi, but also many evidences from later generations prove that there are still many younger generations who are alive and flourishing.

Not beheaded.

However, starting from Li Shanchang, there were indeed a large number of Huaixi nobles who either died or were demoted.

The follow-up to this matter.

In May, Li Shanchang died.

In June, Zhan Hui, the censor of Zuodu, concurrently served as Minister of the Ministry of officials.

This means that after the removal of a large number of Huaixi dignitaries, especially Li Shanchang, who has always maintained a great influence on the government, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has regained the power after the military power.

There is a follow up.

After Li Shanchang's death, a doctor named Wang Guoyong from the Ministry of Industry wrote a letter to appeal for Li Shanchang's grievances: "The good man is of one mind with His Majesty, and he will die ten thousand times to win the world. He is the number one honored minister. , relatives worshiping officials, the distinction between people and ministers is extremely extreme. It is not known if you want to use orders to try to misbehave, and now it is said that he wants to assist Hu Weiyong, which is absurd."

Lao Zhu's reaction was to remain silent.

In the empty seal case back then, Lao Zhu would deal with anyone who dared to raise objections.

When he arrived at Li Shanchang's place, Lao Zhu was just silent.

Why are you silent?
Because, the emperor didn't want to kill Li Shanchang, he always hoped to have a good reputation, and the monarch and ministers will always be together.However, in the face of pressure, we can only compromise.

Is it pressure from officials?
No.

It's the son's pressure.

How could all the officials overwhelm Zhu Chongba, who is called the "God of Killing"?
I remember a book that seems to be called "The Beast of Power Zhu Yuanzhang". This is probably the impression that many people have of Lao Zhu.

However, what is a 'power beast'?

Zhu Yuan felt that Tang Taizong and Kangxi were more typical. Whoever dares to threaten my position, even if it is a son, I will kill you.

After all, Lao Zhu is just an old farmer.

One more, a typical Chinese parent.

After laying down a huge family business, in his later years, his son wanted to take over, and he was very proactive, even a little too much. Lao Zhu's reaction, the biggest one, just gave a word 'cool' that didn't help much at all. .

Because he's not a power beast.

Facing his son, Lao Zhu did not bring himself into the role of an emperor, but just a father.

Traditional Chinese father.

Since you want to take it, go for it.

Here it is for you.

Even in the face of the pressure of the officials under the leadership of the prince, Lao Zhu still turned to Zhu Biao after all, instead of falling out with his own son for a confidant.

Not only that, Lao Zhu has to help his son bear the infamy.

Wang Guoyong wrote a letter, calling for grievances in the open, and accusing him in the dark, but Lao Zhu just remained silent.

Later, some courtiers asked, what crime did Li Shanchang commit, and why did he have to die?

Lao Zhu couldn't say that his son wanted to take the position, so he could only find a reason of 'star change' to prevaricate.

From the beginning to the end, Lao Zhu did not lead the matter to his son, even if... at that time, the government and the public, many people must have known the reason behind all this.

In the end, even in the history books, future generations can only rely on some clues to judge the truth of the matter.

More people don't bother to pay attention to the truth.

It's you, Zhu Chongba, the cunning rabbit is dead, the lackey is cooking!
It was even more impossible for Lao Zhu to defend himself.

The military power has been obtained, the court power has been obtained, and the matter is not over yet.

Lao Zhu was so kind to his sons, so good that the power he possessed threatened the central government, so the next step was the clan.

It started with King Qin.

In the 24th year of Hongwu, Emperor Zhu Xi of Qin was recalled to the capital by Zhu Yuanzhang under many impeachments. In the same year, Crown Prince Zhu Biao inspected Shaanxi.

In the name of moving the capital, it actually took over the military power and weakened the vassal king.

The evidence is that in the same year, Lan Yu also came to the Northwest to lead the army to hunt down a little thief with no reputation at all.

It is conceivable that if all goes well, after King Qin, King Jin, King Yan, King Ning, etc., all the Bianzhen vassal kings, will either hand over their military power and be a peace prince with peace of mind, or, like King Qin Zhu Xi, face The fate of being deposed.

However, when history came here, it played a huge joke on Daming.

In the 25th year of Hongwu, Zhu Biao died of illness.

(End of this chapter)