Chapter 53 6. Uncle wins nephew

In the tenth year of Tianbao (559 A.D.), Gao Yang, the founder of the Northern Qi Dynasty and "intermittent mentally ill" Emperor Wenxuan, died of organ failure due to excessive drinking after trying everything that his predecessors had done and hadn't done. Lost, at this time he just passed and stood, thirty-one years old. This "crazy" emperor left behind a country with many achievements and many problems. For the people of Northern Qi, was his death a blessing or a misfortune?It is one of a series of headaches. Among the series of problems, the most important and most concerning is the classic question of the feudal dynasty: who will inherit the throne?

At first glance, there was no suspense in the matter. Gao Yang's eldest son, fifteen-year-old Gao Yin, was established as the crown prince when he proclaimed himself emperor, and he was the legitimate heir to the throne. However, Gao Yang said two thought-provoking words when he was dying.The first sentence is to Empress Li Zu'e: "There is no regret in life and death, but Zhengdao (Gao Yin's word Zhengdao) is too young. I'm afraid someone will take his seat." The second sentence is to the sixth brother Chang. Shan Wanggao said: "If you want to take the seat, then go for it, just please don't hurt my son."

From these two sentences, we can see that Gao Yang's political judgment is very accurate when he is not drinking and his mind is clear.Gao Yang knew very well that the game of the Northern Qi Empire had violated the rules from the very beginning.Once there is a violation of the rules, it is inevitable to have a second time, and the first person to violate the rules is himself. Gao Huan made Gao Cheng the eldest son, basically following the tradition of the eldest son of the Northern Wei Dynasty succeeding to the throne.Gao Cheng was assassinated and died at the age of twenty-nine, which created an unexpected situation. He did not have any legal heir—the eldest son.According to the rule of establishing the eldest son, the right of inheritance should fall to Gao Cheng's eldest son, Gao Xiaowan who was born to the first concubine Yuan.Gao Yang succeeded to the throne by relying on the military and political power in his hands, which violated the orthodoxy of succession.Of course, Gao Yang has a set of arguments: Gao Xiaowan is not the real eldest son, and he is too young (not an adult), and he himself is Gao Huan's legitimate son (the second son of the first son), who has the right to inherit. This is called "brother end brother".However, since you Gao Yang can "brother end up with younger brothers", then your other younger brothers are also qualified to be emperor. It is not so easy for you to pass the throne to your son smoothly.Out of such scruples, Gao Yang killed his two younger brothers during his reign: the third brother Gao Jun and the seventh brother Gao Huan.

The cause of death of Gao Jun and Gao Huan was similar to those of the ministers killed by Gao Yang.Gao Jun often advised Gao Yang to drink less and be less promiscuous, but was arrested by the impatient Gao Yang.Gao Huan is talented and heroic, and has a superb demeanor, so he is hated by Gao Yang.Folk fortune-telling magicians claimed: "The one who perishes in black is dressed in black." Gao Yang thought that the darkest thing in the world is lacquer. They were also captured, locked in an iron cage with Gao Jun, and locked in a dungeon, eating and excreting all in one place (the true meaning of "black clothes" refers to the Yuwen clan of the Northern Zhou Dynasty who used black as their military uniform. In the wrong direction, it is as absurd as Qin Shihuang's crusade against the Huns because of "Hu, who died in Qin Dynasty", and Tang Taizong killed Li Junxian because of "Wu Shi, who replaced Tang Dynasty").

A year later, Gao Yang went to visit his two younger brothers, thinking about the kinship, but suddenly regretted it and wanted to forgive him.The ninth younger brother Changguang Wang Gao Zhan and Gao Jun were at odds, and interjected: "How can a beast come out of the cave!" , Then throw firewood into the cage, fill it with gravel and sand, and burn the two younger brothers to death. Gao Jun and Gao Huan were killed without fault, because they were Gao Yang's younger brothers, and even more because they were Gao Yang's half-brothers.As for his half-brother, Gao Yang couldn't kill him. The reason is very simple, his mother Lou Zhaojun is still there.

Lou Zhaojun gave birth to six sons for Gao Huan. Three of Gao Yang's sons were still alive when Gao Yang died, namely the sixth son Gao Yan, the ninth son Gao Zhan and the twelve son Gao Ji.Lou Zhaojun didn't like the ugly Gao Yang very much, and she didn't even have deep feelings for Gao Yin. She doted on several handsome young sons, especially Gao Yan.According to the logic of "brother ends up with younger brother", Lou Zhaojun supported his third son, Gao Yan, to succeed him.Gao Yang once had the idea of ​​replacing the prince, but he gave up only at the insistence of Yang Min, Wei Shou and other Han officials.He also tried to deal with Gao Yan in the same way as Gao Jun and Gao Huan, using Jiu Jin to beat him to death with a knife ring. Lou Zhaojun pleaded day and night, and Gao Yan took his life.Obviously, Lou Zhaojun represents the nobles of the Xianbei from the Six Towns, while Yang Min, Wei Shou and others represent the powerful families of the Han nationality in the Kanto region.Under the continuous pressure from the two parties, Gao Yang chose to compromise: he handed over the military power to Gao Yan, and the Han officials Yang Min, Yan Zixian, Zheng Yi, and Ping Qin Wang Gao Guiyan jointly assisted the government.Prince Gao Yin ascended the Northern Qi throne in such a suffocating atmosphere.

An old Jianghu who has been struggling in the officialdom for many years may not be able to understand the overall situation. How can the fifteen-year-old Gao Yin manage such a complicated situation?Gao Yang's evaluation of Gao Yin's "cowardly personality, like a child in a Han family" is roughly true.Gao Yin was taught by the Guozijian since he was a child, and he was good at literature but not martial arts.In order to cultivate Gao Yin's courage, Gao Yang ordered him to behead the death row prisoner himself. Gao Yin was embarrassed, and he couldn't cut off the head of the death row prisoner after several beheadings.

Gao Yin, who stutters, is better than Yu Wenjue, who is his age, in governing the country.In the last years of Gao Yang's military campaign, the Northern Qi Dynasty was powerful outside the country but at the core. Gao Yin, with the support of Yang Min and others, sent representatives to various places to observe the people's situation, assess officials, eliminate redundant staff, and reduce corvee taxes to recuperate.Gao Yin's actions relieved the potential crisis in the country to a certain extent, so he is a wise king. However, the posthumous names of Gao Yin and Yu Wenjue have the same word: "Min".The posthumous posthumous law says: "If you suffer a disaster in the country, you will call Min." The implication is that both of them died unnaturally in their respective countries.As Gao Yang expected, his "good brother" Gao Yan took over the country after his death and took his son's life.

Gao Yang left Gao Yin's auxiliary ministers, headed by Yang Min, for two reasons: first, Yang Min and other Han officials were in conflict with the interests of the Xianbei nobles, and it was impossible to "collaborate" with them; second, Yang Min was absolutely determined to Gao Yang Be loyal. Gao Yang didn't treat Yang Min very well, and he was as cruel and rude as he treated other ministers.Yang Min was obese, Gao Yang nicknamed him "Yang Dadu", and wanted to cut open his stomach for vivisection, but fortunately he was dissuaded by his close minister Cui Jishu.Gao Yang stuffed Yang Min into the coffin alive again and put him on the hearse. He was about to nail the lid of the coffin to death, but he held back.Even Gao Yang asked Yang Min to pass him toilet paper at the door every time Gao Yang went to the toilet...

Although Yang Min was abused, he knew in his heart that only when Gao Yang was in power could the interests of the Han people be protected to the maximum extent.Later generations commented on Gao Yang's era that "the master was faint at the top and the government was clear at the bottom". Yang Min was a great hero, and it was Gao Yang who gave him the opportunity to realize his political ambitions.Therefore, at Gao Yang's funeral, most of the officials shouted without tears, but Yang Min was the only one who cried very sadly. If Yang Min is loyal to Gao Yang, he will also be loyal to his son.

Yang Min decided that Gao Yan and Gao Zhan were high in position and weight, which was not good for the little emperor, and he had to act first, transfer them outside, and seize his military power.The attendant Song Qindao believed that Gao Yan and Gao Zhan should be eliminated according to the trend. Yan Zixian made a further proposal to help the Empress Dowager Li Zu'e to preside over the overall situation and replace the Empress Dowager Lou Zhaojun.The contradictions in the palace quickly turned into a life-and-death struggle. At the critical moment, Yang Min repeatedly made faint moves and dug his own grave.Gao Guiyan, one of the assistant ministers, was in charge of the imperial army. He was conspiring with Yang Min and others. Yang Min did not trust him very much. The emperor ascended the throne in Jinyang first, and then went to Yecheng, the capital of the country), and left 5,000 forbidden troops in Jinyang to be dispatched by Ke Zhuhuntianhe (Ke Zhuhun Daoyuan's son) in case of accidents.Gao Guiyan knew the inside story and was so angry that he switched to Gao Yan's camp, which allowed Gao Yan to obtain a lot of information. Yang Min secretly informed the Queen Mother Li Zu'e of the action plan.Li Changyi, the court lady next to Li Zu'e, was Gao Zhongmi's wife, Li Shi, who was adopted by Gao Cheng after the Battle of Mangshan. After Gao Cheng's death, she entered the harem.Li Zu'e is not suitable for politics, so she told all the secrets while chatting.When Li Changyi heard that it was a big deal, he immediately informed Lou Zhaojun. With the weak against the strong, and the bright against the dark, it was impossible for Yang Min to win, but he wasn't even the slightest bit vigilant.In February of the first year of the Qianming Dynasty (560 A.D.), Yang Min played to the emperor.The emperor is ready to play, and Brother Gao Yan also accepts the decree to thank you.According to the rules, when a new official takes office, he must feast all the officials.Sensing something bad, Zheng Yi advised Yang Min not to go to the banquet, but Yang Min still didn't take it seriously, saying: "We are sincere for the country, so there is no reason not to go!" (It's extremely pedantic) The Gao Yan brothers really set up a "Hongmen Banquet".Gao Zhan toasted Yang Min, and gave three orders, and He Baren and Hu Luguang commanded the servants in ambush, and threw Yang Min, Yan Zixian and others to the ground. , eyes popping out, dying. Gao Yan immediately led Gao Guiyan, He Baren, Hu Luguang, and escorted Yang Min and others into the palace.Seeing Gao Guiyan, the imperial guards in the palace did not dare to make any resistance, and put down their weapons obediently. Above the main hall, Lou Zhaojun sat in the middle, while Emperor Gao Yin and Empress Dowager Li Zue stood sideways.Gao Yanjin said: "Yang Min and the others monopolize the power of the court. They are afraid of causing great harm. They have been taken down by the ministers and are waiting to be dealt with." Hearing this, Gao Yin was startled and frightened, he could not speak a word after he stuttered for a long time.Lou Zhaojun pointed at Gao Yin and Li Zu'e and cursed: "What kind of minister did you use to murder my two sons? Is it my turn next? Hmph, how can I let my mother and son be at the mercy of this old Han woman! "Li Zu'e was trembling, and hurriedly kowtowed to apologize. (Li Zue was born in the Li family of Zhao County, and she is a lady of the Kanto family, so she was referred to by Lou Zhaojun as an old Han woman.) In the end, Gao Yin was forced to express his position to Lou Zhaojun: "Uncle will handle this matter with full power, and my ministers will not shelter any Han officials." The children of Zhu Huntianhe, Zheng Yi and Song Qindao were all executed, and all the brothers of the five families were demoted from office. Gao Yan was appointed as the Great Prime Minister, and he supervised all Chinese and foreign armies, and recorded the affairs of ministers, but he had no intention of seizing the throne immediately.The Xianbei nobles put pressure on him and persuaded him to take action.Gao Yan hesitated, and secretly consulted with his confidant Wang Xi. Wang Xi is a descendant of Wang Meng, very strategic, and a rare think tank under Gao Yan.His identity as a Han made his relationship with the Xianbei people difficult, so Gao Yan did not openly communicate with him during the day, and only took him to the mansion for secret talks at night. Wang Xi analyzed and said: "In the past, someone in the court wanted to murder His Highness, and His Highness hastily resisted. The foundation of the first emperor (referring to Gao Huan)." Gao Yan pretended to be angry and said: "How dare Aiqing make such remarks, I have to bring you to justice!" Wang Xi said: "Heaven rules people's hearts, it's all this way, I dare to risk my head!" Of course Gao Yan wanted to be emperor, but he didn't know whether the situation was in his favor. After listening to Wang Xi's words, he knew it.Gao Yan conducted further investigations and determined that both the government and the public wanted to end Gao Yin's role as a puppet, so he boldly spoke up and told his mother, Lou Zhaojun: "People in the world are not at ease, and we need to make a name early." Lou Zhaojun had this intention at first, and he had nothing to object to, so he issued an edict to abolish Gao Yin as the king of Jinan, and Gao Yan succeeded him as emperor in Jinyang, and changed Yuanhuangjian to Emperor Suzong Xiaozhao of the Northern Qi Dynasty.Lou Zhaojun repeatedly told Gao Yan not to hurt Gao Yin no matter what, and Gao Yan fully agreed.But half a year later, someone spread the rumor that Yecheng, where Gao Yin lived, had the "emperor spirit", so Gao Yan ordered Gao Yin to be sent to Jinyang, where he was strangled to death.