Chapter 49 Chapter 59: The Three Palaces Outside the Palace

Nangong is located in the Nanchizi area of ​​Dongcheng District, Beijing today. In the early Qing Dynasty, it was the residence of Prince Regent Dorgon, and later Pudu Temple. Today, there are remains of the temple. Ming Yingzong Zhu Qizhen was captured in the Battle of Tumubao in the 14th year of Zhengtong (1449). "Wanli Ye Huo Bian · Date of Yingzong's Accession to the Throne" records: "The first fourteen years of Yingzong's reign, and the last eight years. First use the Renxu car to drive north hunting on August 15th of the orthodox fourteenth year, until August 15th of the following year Bingxu returned to Beijing on the day of Bingxu, and it was exactly one year, not less than a day. Since he lived in Nangong for seven years, he was restored to the throne on the 17th day of the first month of the first year of Tianshun, and he was on the 17th day of the first month of the eighth year of Tianshun. It’s not bad for one day. How can luck happen to be worthy by chance, but as the sorcerers say, the fate of the stars is inevitable!" His younger brother Zhu Qiyu succeeded to the throne, and changed his year name to Jingtai, which was Emperor Jingtai.In August of the first year of Jingtai (1450), Emperor Zhengtong was released back to Beijing, called the Supreme Emperor, and lived in Nangong.In the first month of the first year of Tianshun (1457), Yingzong was restored and ascended to the throne again. This is the "restoration of Nangong".The restoration of Ming Yingzong's Nangong has both deep-seated reasons and direct reasons.

The underlying reason is "there is no second sun".At that time, there were two "suns" in the sky: Jingtai Emperor Zhu Qiyu and Supreme Emperor Zhu Qizhen (one year apart in age).The focus of their brothers' conflict is the throne.Emperor Jingtai put the Supreme Emperor under house arrest in Nangong, and sent troops to guard him. On Zhengdan and birthdays, he was not allowed to congratulate him, just like a prisoner.The emperor's basic life cannot be guaranteed: "Food comes from the sinus, and it is not available from time to time." ("Wanli Yehuobian·Nannei" Volume 24) Personal life is also threatened: the Nangong city wall is raised, and the city's borders are cut down. The tree, the lock of the palace gate is filled with iron, and troops are sent to guard it strictly and strengthen the defense in case of emergency.The Taishang Emperor tried to rest in the shade of the tree. After the big tree on the edge of the city was cut down, he asked why.Since there are two "suns" in the imperial court, there are two factions of courtiers.The ministers who were not reused by Emperor Jingtai, or who were ambitious, stood on the side of the Supreme Emperor, congenial, secretly planned, looked for opportunities, and launched a coup d'état.

The direct reason is to abolish the crown prince.Ming Yingzong had nine sons.Zhu Jianshen, the eldest son of the emperor, has been established as the crown prince.In May of the third year of Jingtai (1452), Emperor Jingtai abolished the crown prince Zhu Jianshen as King Yi, and he went out of Beijing to become a vassal.Emperor Jingtai had only one son, Zhu Jianji, and he wanted to make Jianji the crown prince. "For fear that the ministers of civil and military affairs would not follow, he distributed fifty taels of gold to the scholars in the cabinet, twice as much as silver" (Vol. Win over courtiers and double as bribes.The new crown prince Zhu Jianji died in the second year after he was established.So, who will stand again?Some people advocate the restoration of the deposed Crown Prince Yi Wang Zhu Jianshen.Zhang Lun, a doctor in the Ministry of Rites, and Yu Shi Zhongtong, who advocated Zhu Jianshen, were ordered to go to prison, tortured and interrogated, and tortured cruelly.The matter of setting up the crown prince was pending, and Emperor Jingtai was sick and unable to go to court, which provided the opportunity and conditions for the restoration of Ming Yingzong's Nangong.

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month in the eighth year of the conspiracy to conspire in Jingtai (1457), Jingtai Emperor Zhu Qiyu was exempted from the banquet of civil and military officials due to illness.In fact, he has not been in court for three days due to illness.Jingtai is sick, and the officials are furious.The power of the Supreme Emperor is secretly preparing: Cao Jixiang, the minister of ceremonies, Xu Youzhen (珵), the deputy capital of civil servants, Zhang Fu (yue), the military officer, and Shi Heng, the military commander, are planning in the secret room to welcome the restoration of the Supreme Emperor.On the night of the 14th, they gathered at Xu Youzhen's house.Youzhen was overjoyed and said: "Nancheng must be made to know what we mean." (That is, to let the Supreme Emperor know what we mean) Shi Heng and Zhang Fu said: "It has been reached a day ago." (It was secretly played a day ago) Let The eunuch Cao Jixiang entered the palace to confess to the Queen Mother Sun.On the night of the 16th, everyone gathered again at Xu Youzhen's house.Youzhen went up to the roof to watch the sky, and said: "It's now, don't let it go!" At this time, there were border policemen, who would dare to stop the troops from entering the palace under the pretext of this!Ji Ding, Youzhen burned incense and prayed to the heavens, and said goodbye to his family, saying: "If things succeed, the society will benefit; if things fail, the family will suffer. Return, people; if you don't return, ghosts!" ("Ming History Chronicles" Volume 35 ) In the early hours of the morning, a coup d'état for the restoration of Nangong was launched.

In the middle of the night on the 16th day of the first month of the coup, Shi Heng was in charge of the locks and keys of the palace gates, opened the gate of Chang'an with four drums at night, and marched thousands of troops.After entering, the door is closed, the reason is "to deter foreign soldiers".Another group of soldiers rushed to Nangong.The gate of Miyagi is locked, knocking on the door should not be answered.Xu Youzhen ordered the crowd to take a giant tree and hang it, and dozens of people raised their arms and slammed into the door.He also ordered the warriors to climb over the wall and join forces with foreign soldiers to destroy the wall, open the gate of the broken wall, and Heng, Fu and others entered the Nangong Palace.The Supreme Emperor held the lamp and came out to ask what was going on. Youzhen and others bowed down to ask for the throne, and then called the Supreme Emperor to come in.The soldiers were terrified and could not raise their voices.All the people fell down and said together: "Your Majesty, please ascend the throne." There are people who are chaste and lead to help.When they arrived at Donghua Gate, the guards would not let them in.The Supreme Emperor said: "I am also the Supreme Emperor!" Open the door and enter, to Fengtian Gate (Taihe Gate).All the people ascended to Fengtian Hall.At that time, the seat was still in the corner of the hall, and the crowd moved to the center, then ascended the seat, rang the bells and drums, and opened the doors.On the morning of the 17th, hundreds of officials came to wait for Emperor Jing to watch the court.Youzhen came out and said to the public: "The Emperor Taishang is back!" ("History of Ming Dynasty Xu Youzhen Biography" Volume 171) Youzhen and others usually wear congratulatory clothes and call "Long live".All the officials bowed down.Xu Youzhen will join the cabinet today to participate in maintenance.Tomorrow, he will join the Minister of the Ministry of War, and later he will also be a scholar of the Huagaidian University, and will be in charge of Wenyuan Pavilion.Emperor Jingtai was abolished as King Tan.King Zhu Qiyu died seven days after his abolition. (Volume 12 of "History of Ming Dynasty Yingzong Houji") was buried in Xishan.

Afterwards, Yu Qian, Shangshu of the Ministry of War, and Wang Wen, a scholar of the University, were arrested and sent to prison.What is the reason?Xu Youzhen played a prelude to Yingzong: "If you don't kill Yu Qian, what happened today will be unknown."It means welcoming the establishment of the "outside vassal", that is, King Xiang.King Xiang, Zhu Zhanqian, the fifth son of Emperor Hongxi, was enfeoffed in Xiangyang at that time.When Yingzong was captured, he wrote a letter, "Please set up the eldest son of the emperor, and order the king to supervise the country"; Yingzong returned to Nangong, and wrote a letter, "Emperor Jing should have a meal every day and night to say hello, and lead his officials to see him in Shuowang" and so on. (Volume 19 of "History of the Ming Dynasty: The Four Kings") Therefore, Yu Qian's "intention" to welcome the "foreign vassals" is a false accusation.Wang Wen refused to accept it, his eyes were like torches, and he argued endlessly.Yu Qian said with a smile: "What are you arguing about? It's useless. They don't tell the truth, they just want to kill us!" Ming Yingzong decided to kill Qian Qian, Wang Wen and others in Dongshi, and his wife guarded the border.Emperor Jing tried to bestow Qian Jiadi, but Yu Qian thanked him and refused.So in the house, put the seal books, robes, bows and swords, crown belts, etc. bestowed by Emperor Jingtai before and after, plus seals, and visit them every year.Yu Qian is busy with state affairs, so he lives in Zhifang and doesn't go home at night.After Qian died, his house was copied, and he had nothing left, while Xiao Ran only had books.And the lock and key of the main room are strong, and when you open it, it is bestowed by the emperor.On the day of Qianqian's death, the sky is covered with haze, and the road is sighed, and the world is wronged. (Volume 170 of "History of the Ming Dynasty Yu Qian Biography") At that time, Xu Youzhen and others fought among themselves, and were banished to Jinchi (now Baoshan, Yunnan), and died later.Youzhen, whose first name was Xuan, advocated moving the capital to the south when Emperor Zhengtong was captured and the country was in crisis.Yu Qian reprimanded in public: "Those who talk about moving to the south can be killed!" He dared not say any more.Court officials often used this to make fun of Xu Zhen, because he changed his name to Youzhen.A few years later, Shi Heng was imprisoned and died, and Cao Jixiang was punished by his clan.After Yu Qian was rehabilitated, "Yu Zhongsu Collection" was handed down.

Yu said that there were many comments on the restoration of the Nangong Palace, and there were many who agreed with the situation, but few who agreed with orthodoxy.However, historical experience can be considered from another perspective.The mistake of the orthodox emperor lies in the killing of the great heroes Yu Qian and Wang Wen, and the mistake of the Jingtai emperor lies in the inappropriate actions, which are mainly manifested in the narrow vision and short vision.The former is like the prince abolishing Li, Zhu Jianshen, and Zhu Jianji, which is justifiable. But after Zhu Jianji died, he had no sons, and he did not set up Zhu Jianshen, the son of the emperor's brother, so his vision was narrow; The lonely family under house arrest did not see the power of the old ministers outside the high wall.For the Supreme Emperor, there are only two rules: if you stay, you will respect him with courtesy, otherwise you will sacrifice him to a ghost;In addition, in the eight years after Yingzong, after all, he has suffered a lot, suffered a lot, has seen the world, done a lot of thinking, and is a person who has undergone political training.It is said in history that the imprisonment of relatives of Emperor Yingzong Shi Jianwen of the Ming Dynasty, and the dismissal of concubines and burials are "decent things that can be lawed by future generations." ("History of Ming Dynasty Yingzong Postscript" Volume 12)