Chapter 59 Twelve, the worry-free emperor Gao Wei

The victory of Mangshan could not reverse the decline of Northern Qi. In the next two years, there were successive disasters such as floods and food shortages in Northern Qi. boring. A wise man saw his difficulty and came up with a solution for him. This man was called Zu Ting. Zu Ting is definitely an all-rounder today. He is proficient in many skills, including articles, music, foreign languages, and medical skills.Gao Huan valued his articles and appointed him to join the army (he was responsible for persuading Wei Xiaokuan to surrender during the Battle of Yubi). lute. To say that Zu Ting was liberated for Emperor Wu Cheng, it is better to say that he did it for himself.Zu Teng found Emperor Wucheng's number one favorite minister, servant and Shikai, and said to him: "My brother is favored by the emperor. I am afraid that no one has been able to compare with him since ancient times, but once the palace chariot is driven (referring to the death of Emperor Wucheng), you can still guarantee that the emperor will be favored by the emperor." Is there a happy ending?"

Where did He Shikai think about going so far, and when Zu Ting reminded him, he became nervous and asked what to do.Zu Ting replied calmly: "Just tell the emperor that the sons of the previous emperors (referring to Gao Cheng, Gao Yang, and Gao Yan) in this dynasty could not be emperors, and now the crown prince should be allowed to ascend the throne as soon as possible so as to ensure the success of the emperor. The status of monarch and minister. If this is done, your status will remain unchanged, and the empress and prince will be grateful to you, isn't it a perfect solution?"

He Shikai was enlightened when he heard the words, so he seized the opportunity to instill Zu Ting's thoughts in Emperor Wu Cheng's ear.It happened that a comet appeared in the sky, which was said to be a sign of "removing the old and bringing forth the new", so Zu Teng went to the table to persuade Emperor Wucheng to pass on the crown prince, in order to respond to God's will, and introduced in detail the allusion of the Zen throne of Emperor Xianwen of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Emperor Wu Cheng didn't know much about Dao Dao, but after hearing what He Shikai and Zu Ting said, he felt that it was a good idea to maintain a high position without directly worrying about state affairs.In the fourth year of Heqing (AD 565), he passed the throne to Prince Gaowei, changed Yuan Tiantong, and became the Supreme Emperor.

Zu Teng was worshiped as a secretary and supervisor, and Jiayi Tong Sansi. Not only did Emperor Wu Cheng favor him, but the mother of the young emperor Gao Wei, Empress Dowager Hu, also trusted him very much.The wise man made a serious mistake when he was proud for a while: he tried to squeeze out He Shikai and others, and then sought the post of prime minister. In the eyes of Emperor Wu Cheng, He Shikai was perfect and could not tolerate any profanity from others.Zu Teng listed several accusations against He Shikai for relying on his power and committing crimes. Although it was basically true, Emperor Wu Cheng was furious and sent someone to arrest Zu Ting and asked, "Why do you slander my He Shikai? "Zu Teng argued with reason, but Emperor Wucheng didn't listen at all. He was beaten violently and almost killed. He was sent to the army and put in a dungeon, almost isolated from the world.Zu Ting lit turnip seeds in the prison at night, but the smoke blinded his eyes. (After Emperor Wucheng passed away, Zu Ting was released to serve as an official again.)

Emperor Wu Cheng thought that "retreating to the second line" could prolong his life, but he became more indulgent from then on. He only lived happily for more than three years, and he ascended to heaven in the fourth year of Tiantong (568 AD). The emperor's "short life" law.Of course, even during this period, Emperor Wucheng did not kill less. Gao Cheng's two sons, Henan Wang Gao Xiaoyu and Hejian Wang Gao Xiaowan, were brutally killed by him for reasons. When Emperor Wu Cheng was dying, he asked his close comrades-in-arms and scholars about the future, and firmly grasped his hands and said: "Don't let me down!" He ended his life of debauchery and tyranny.

It is extremely ironic that the He Shikai who was praised by Emperor Wu Cheng as the reincarnation of Yi Yin and Huo Guang not only did not have the talent to change the world, but also played the game of holding lances well and frequently went in and out of the inner palace, so he had already hooked up with him. Queen Hu.Hu was also a very promiscuous woman, she had improper relationship with more than one eunuch, after meeting He Shikai, the two became regular lovers.Emperor Wu Cheng didn't know whether he didn't know about the big green hat presented by He Shikai, or he didn't care. Empress Dowager).After the death of Emperor Wucheng, He Shikai forgot all other entrustments, but he did spare no effort in "taking care of" the widow and "lived up to the entrustment".

For several generations of rulers in the Northern Qi Dynasty, those who were somewhat normal, such as Gao Yin and Gao Yan, and even the barely normal Gao Cheng who did not become emperor, were in office for a very short time and could not fully display their talents; The time of reign is a little longer (ten years for Gao Yang, eight years for Emperor Gao Zhan and Emperor Taishang), and they all have a tendency to go crazy.Gao Yang is crazy, but at least he still has talent, and he is not stupid; Gao Zhan is crazy, but his talent is far inferior to his brothers.However, he continued to use the old people from the previous dynasty, Wen You Zhao Yanshen, Yuan Wenyao and others, Wu You Sanjie, inherited the national policy of the Gaoyang era, and did a few things more or less, such as imitating the system of Emperor Wei Xiaowen to implement the land equalization system, The expansion of the inner and outer Great Wall, "Qi Lv" was also finalized and completed during his dynasty.Of course, these are all menial jobs that cost money, just maintaining the status quo and lingering.

After the death of Emperor Wucheng Gao Zhan, the thirteen-year-old Gao Wei took charge of the country independently, and the situation in Northern Qi became even more dangerous. Gao Wei was cowardly and reticent, and he never spoke a few words when meeting officials in public, but he was quite accomplished in music. He composed "No Sorrow" himself, and played the pipa and sang together with the maids and servants. Everyone called him "The Son of Heaven without Worry". (The word "no worries" is such a sharp contrast with the background of the era in which the little emperor lived. As the supreme ruler of a country, not only did he have no intention of cheering up, but he even worsened the country's affairs. Such a country is basically waiting to die.)

The contradictions of various factions accumulated in the Gao Yang and Gao Zhan era finally broke out uncontrollably one by one in the Gao Wei era. Gao Wei followed his father's instructions and entrusted He Shikai with a heavy responsibility.He Shikai and Empress Dowager Hu have no restraint, and their contacts are even more intimate, and they don't take anyone seriously.Gao Wei's cousin Zhaojun Wang Gaorui, Lou Dingyuan, Yuan Wenyao and others hated Heshikai. Just after Emperor Wucheng died, he publicly accused Heshikai of taking bribes and messing up the court at a court banquet hosted by Empress Dowager Hu.

Empress Dowager Hu was very annoyed when she heard this, and she argued, "Why didn't you tell me when the late Emperor was alive? Are you trying to bully my orphans and widows now?" All the ministers insisted that if He Shikai was not demoted to other places, the court would not be at peace.Empress Dowager Hu failed to negotiate several times, so she had to use the funeral of Emperor Wucheng as an excuse to delay, and then summoned soldiers to enter the palace to discuss countermeasures. As expected, He Shikai had a lot of ideas, and he immediately offered a "strategy to slow down the army": Gao Wei issued an edict, appointing He Shikai as the governor of Yanzhou, and dispatched him after the funeral, so as to relax the vigilance of Gao Rui and others.

When Emperor Wucheng was buried, Gao Rui urged the Heshi to go on the road.He Shi chattered for a few days, but couldn't find a chance to meet the Queen Mother, so he took two beauties and a roll of bead curtains in the car, went to visit Lou Dingyuan, another minister who opposed him, and said: "Those dignitaries want to kill me, thanks You worked hard to save my life and become a magistrate. I hereby bid farewell today and give you a small gift." Lou Dingyuan saw the richness of "thin gifts", and asked happily: "Do you want to return to the court to be an official?" He Shikai was very detached and said: "I have been in the imperial court for a long time, and I can't feel at ease. Now I am away, and I don't want to come back. I just hope that I can say goodbye to the queen mother and the emperor before leaving." Lou Dingyuan believed it was true and agreed to let him enter the palace.As soon as He Shikai entered the palace, he immediately changed his face and cried to Queen Mother Hu: "I think the dignitaries in the court want to abolish the emperor. After the humble minister leaves, there will be great changes. What kind of face does the humble minister have? Oh late emperor!" Empress Dowager Hu and Gao Wei also cried out in fright, begging the peacemakers to find a way.He Shikai said: "The humble official has already entered the palace. Your Majesty only needs to write a few more lines of edicts to punish Gao Rui for the crime of deceiving the emperor." Gao Wei acted according to plan. Gao Rui was wronged for no reason, entered the palace to plead but did not respond, after leaving the palace, he was arrested and taken to the Queli Buddhist Temple in Hualin Garden, where he was executed by Liu Taozhi, a warrior in the palace.He Shikai was restored to his original post, and soon he was named King Huaiyang, while Yuan Wenyao and Lou Dingyuan were demoted to the governors of Xiyanzhou and Qingzhou respectively.All the bribes that Lou Dingyuan received were returned to He Shikai, and a large sum of money was posted upside down in order to protect himself (the shameful end of those who are greedy for small profits without principles). After Gao Rui died unjustly, He Shikai's power reached its peak. He wantonly eliminated dissidents and abused his cronies.In addition to He Shikai, Gao Wei also appointed his nanny Lu Lingxuan and her son Mutipo, as well as Han Feng and Gao Anagong, former guards of the Prince's East Palace. These people were Gao Wei's playmates in the palace when he was young. Where will the country be governed?He Shikai colluded with them, jointly held high positions, and controlled the government. "When the water is full, it overflows." The undercurrent of opposition to Heshikai and others is getting stronger and stronger, and the good days of Heshikai will not last long. Gao Wei had a younger brother from the same mother, named Gao Yan, who was named King of Langya.Both Emperor Wu Cheng and Empress Dowager Hu felt that Gao Yan was smarter and more capable than Gao Wei, and once had the idea of ​​abolishing Gao Wei and establishing Gao Yan.Because of this, the young prince Gao Yan is quite defiant, and he can't understand the domineering and extravagant behavior of He Shikai, Mu Tipo and others, and hates them to the bone.He Shikai was afraid of Gao Yan, and ordered him to leave the palace in Beicheng by Gao Wei's order, not to visit the Queen Mother Hu at any time, and then persuaded Gao Wei to send Gao Yan to another place, preparing to seize his military power. Gao Yan discussed with Feng Zicong, the younger brother-in-law of Empress Dowager Hu, and decided to act first.In July of the second year of Wuping (571 A.D.), Gao Yan ordered the censor Wang Ziyi to write a letter of impeachment and questioning and Shikai, and then Feng Zicong mixed it with other official documents and presented it to Gao Wei.Gao Wei never looked at the content of official documents, and with a swipe of a pen, the job was done in three minutes, and this time was no exception. Gao Yan took Gao Wei's approval and ordered the leading general Shedi Fulian to arrest people.Shedi Fulian felt strange, but the emperor's order was written in black and white, so people had no choice but to believe it, so he ambushed soldiers outside the palace gate, waiting for the soldiers to leave. He Shikai went to the morning court as usual, and as soon as he reached the palace gate, Shedi Volian rushed forward and grabbed him, and said with a smile: "There is a great event today!" Wang Ziyi explained next to him: "Your Majesty There is a decree, order Huaiyang King to go to Yushitai." After saying that, a group of soldiers escorted the Heshi to Yushitai, and Feng Yongluo, the governor sent by Gao Yan, beheaded him. Gao Yan originally wanted to kill the Heshi to finish the work, but Wang Ziyi, Feng Zicong and others all wanted to take advantage of the situation to enter the palace and seize Gao Wei's throne.Thousands of soldiers in the palace immediately divided into two factions who supported Gao Wei and Gao Yan. Swords were on the verge of breaking out, and an infighting was inevitable. When Gao Wei heard that Gao Yan led the army to attack the palace, he was startled and frightened, so he urgently called Hu Luguang into the palace to rescue him.Hu Luguang also hated He Shikai deeply, clapped his hands and laughed loudly after getting the report: "What Longzi did is really different from ordinary people!" Hu Luguang, a veteran of the battlefield, isn't it just like a child's play house when thousands of people fight together?He hugged Gao Wei out of the Qianqiu Gate of the Inner Palace, and Gao Yan's followers scattered like birds and beasts in fright.Hu Luguang smoothed things over for Gao Yan, and asked Gao Wei for instructions: "King Langya is young, full of fat in his brain, and behaves without regard to consequences. He will be fine when he grows up. Please forgive his sins." come.) An inexplicable coup was finally easily resolved by Hu Luguang.Wang Ziyi, Feng Zicong, She Di Fulian and others were all executed. Although Gao Yan was pardoned, he was still removed by Gao Wei a few months later at the age of fourteen.