Chapter 2 1.I remember Wei Zhongxian
Emperor Chongzhen really messed up - when the officials retreated, he actually issued a secret decree, ordering his confidant eunuch Wang Chengen to quietly send someone to clean up and bury Wei Zhongxian's remains.
The early winter sun shone faintly on the golden brick floor in front of him. Looking up, the sky was gray, and the cold current came unexpectedly from the northwest. Iron horses were tinkling under the eaves. The tiles are stacked on top of each other, although they are majestic and majestic, they do not realize their majesty for a long time, but they are like a ecstasy array. The palace walls are divided into chessboards, and there are small circles in the big circle. He is surrounded by these circles. In the Nine Palaces, I felt inexplicably lonely and uneasy.Right now his throat is dry and cracked, he wants to say but he doesn't know what to say, he really wants to yell at the palace wall a few times to express the suffocation in his chest.
The bell rang four times in a row, but the hall was still lifeless, and the palace servants stood with their heads bowed far away, like ghosts in a circle, with long figures, casting shadows on the gold bricks.He couldn't help looking at himself in the mirror, only to see that his face was so pale that there was no trace of blood - he was only in his early thirties, but he was so weak and sick, like a consumptive ghost, even a gust of wind could kill him blown down.
The emperor has a weak body and bones, and others will definitely think of wine and sex.This is a great injustice. Emperor Chongzhen has always regarded himself as the king of Yao and Shun. Although his grandfather Wanli Emperor once hid in the deep palace, he set a historical record that an emperor could not meet his courtiers for decades; although his father He died only one month after he ascended the throne, and left behind him the right and wrong of the "three cases"; although his elder brother Tianqi Emperor sat in the country for seven years, he may have been a carpenter for six years and eleven months, and made the Forbidden City, The doors and windows that he disliked have all been remodeled.However, when Emperor Chongzhen first came to Dabao, he worked hard to bring order out of the chaos, and acted vigorously, which almost made his courtiers feel refreshed, thinking that ZTE was hopeful, and they were overjoyed.
Zhu Youjian was tabooed by him, and he was the eleventh generation descendant of Zhu Yuanzhang, the great ancestor of the Ming Dynasty.Some descendants who worshiped the study of names could see from the shape of the name that he had bad luck, which clearly foreshadowed that he would hang himself on a tree.In hindsight, the Zhuges said it well, but if it is said that the name was not obtained well, it is not his fault.
It is said that the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty: Cheng Zu Zhu Di, after forcing his nephew Jianwen Emperor Zhu Yunwen to death and sitting on the throne himself, asked Daoyan monk Yao Guangxiao to name his descendants.Yao Guangxiao, a legendary monk, once promised the King of Yan a white hat when Zhu Di was King of Yan.Now, Wang finally has a white hat on his head and has become the "Emperor". Chengzu treats him just like Uncle Liu Huang treats Zhuge Liang.At the moment, he took the decree and blurted out ten words, saying: Gao Zhan Qi Jianyou, Hou Zai Yi Changyou.Grandfather Cheng felt that ten words were missing, so he asked him to draw up another ten words, and he said: "Cihe Yibozhong, Jian Jingdi first."
Therefore, the first character of the names of Chengzu's descendants was named according to the order of these twenty characters, and the second character was named with fire, earth, gold, water, and wood as radicals.Therefore, the ancestors of Lord Chongzhen are Renzong Gaochi, Xuanzong Zhanji, Yingzong Qizhen (Jingtai Emperor Qiyu), Xianzong Jianshen, Xiaozong Youtang, Wuzong Houzhao (Sejong Houyu), Mu Zong Zaihou , Shenzong Yijun and his father, Guangzong Changluo, and his elder brother, Zhezong Youxiao.In conclusion, the Ming Dynasty, although it lasted for more than 270 years, did not have any major achievements, or achievements worthy of special mention, which cannot be compared with the prosperity of the Han and Tang Dynasties. Other than Taizu and Taizong, historians praised The so-called "Rule of Renxuan", but Renzong Zhu Gaochi's world was only one year, Xuanzong Zhu Zhanji was only ten years old, and the people of Ming Dynasty had a smooth life for eleven years, and then Wang Xiaoer celebrated the New Year, one year It's not as good as a year. In Chongzhen's generation, my elder brother was not able to enjoy it from school, and the Emperor Chongzhen ascended the throne according to his brother's will.
So, what is the reason that makes the national fortune so bad?Blame the ministers, Chongzhen came to the throne for 17 years, during the 17 years, more than 50 ministers in the cabinet changed, and even he killed several ministers, is it possible that none of them were good-for-nothing?Blame the courtiers, he personally selected all the courtiers, so who is to blame?
Zhu Zi said: The tiger's mouth came out of the box, and the tortoise and jade were destroyed in the box, and the keeper must not absolve himself of the blame—it seems that this is the only way to explain it.
Emperor Chongzhen did not admit that he was the king of subjugation, but he racked his brains and couldn't think of a reason.So, I deeply reflected more than once.It seems that Yao Guangxiao does have some background. At the beginning, he blurted out only ten words. The descendants of the emperor Chengzu will finish with the word "you". The next ten words are clearly not Yao Guangxiao's original intention, but Chengzu's. The Lord forced him to continue, destiny, destiny, how can destiny be forced?
From this, he thought of the offshoots of the royal family. Grandfather Cheng has five brothers from his mother, except for the branch of the eldest son Zhu Biao who has long since died out. King Qin, King Jin, and King Zhou can only be passed down to the tenth generation. .Isn’t it true that the tenth king of Zhou in Kaifeng, Gongfu, and the tenth king of Qin in Chang’an, Cunshu, are now finished. Ten words?
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat—could it be said that Daming's life is really exhausted?
No, I will never be the king of subjugation.
At this moment, Emperor Chongzhen is reflecting, and his confidant eunuch Wang Chengen is also reflecting:
Sixteen years ago, Wei Zhongxian was sent to Nanjing to guard the imperial mausoleum by an imperial decree, and later decreed to arrest him and return him to Beijing for punishment.
On the way to be escorted, he stayed overnight at the home of Shishen Youkejian in Xindian Town, Fucheng County, Hebei Province.It was late at night, You's family and the officers who escorted him had fallen asleep, the water of the South Canal was flowing not far away, and the sound of the waves seemed to be sighing softly; According to the sleepless person on the bed.
He moved the iron lock on his body and listened to the footsteps of the sentry outside the door. He knew that returning to Beijing this time must be a disaster. How could the majestic Jiuqian in the past be able to sleep peacefully?
At this time, someone in the wing room on the left was clearly humming a ditty:
The dirge sang through the cold of five o'clock.This is clearly singing an elegy, Wei Zhongxian finally figured it out: If you don't want to end it yourself at this time, do you want to wait for the enemy to come and cut your flesh one by one?Although Yang Lian and Zuo Guangdou were tortured to death by him piercing their ears with iron nails and pressing their heads with earthen pouches, Donglin Party members still spread all over the government and the public, and these people would not spare him.
Thinking of this, he seemed to see many innocent souls killed by him, hovering over the capital, waiting for his arrival.He thought that if he was caught in prison, the evil spirits there would swallow him alive.So, why hesitate?The long journey of life is like a big gamble, but the gamble in the court is unusual, and it is very expensive to win; if you lose, you have to use your head to cash in the chips.
So, he took out the white silk around his waist, tied it in a circle, hung it on the head of the bed, and put his head in...
The years are long, and it is another sixteen years in a blink of an eye.Back then, Wei Zhongxian was slaughtered by decree. After he died, his head was cut off, his body was chopped into seven or eight sections, and his intestines were dragged everywhere by wild dogs. This nine-thousand-year-old who deserves to be killed He deserved this fate, but now the emperor suddenly thought of him, where can he find his bones?
When Emperor Chongzhen saw Wang Chengen touching the back of his head, he felt a little baffled—yes, why did I suddenly think of this person?
On that night seventeen years ago, the elder brother Xi Zong Zhu Youxiao, who was seriously ill, was on his deathbed. Because he had no heirs, the Chongzhen Emperor, who believed in the prince, entered the palace overnight to inherit the emperor's throne according to the order of the emperor's wife.
He entered the palace with sesame cakes in his arms, in order not to eat anything in the palace before meeting the officials and formally ascension to the throne. This was an agreement between him and Zhou, who was still the princess, the later queen.Sitting on the dragon chair of the Qianqing Palace, holding a candle for a long time, there is only one trusted eunuch Wang Cheng'en wearing a heavy armor and carrying a sharp knife beside him.
The cold wind was blowing, the lights flickered, and on the window paper, a eunuch with a sword walked by was reflected, "Gordon, Gordon", the sound of heavy boots knocked on the heart of Emperor Chongzhen, and he was extremely nervous.Reckless Wang Chengen called the eunuch in, took a look at the sword, and then put it in his hand, saying that the sword is very delicate, just leave it with me, and I will reward you in the morning.
At that moment, Emperor Chongzhen's heart almost jumped into his mouth.Fortunately, the sky finally dawned. The officials entered the palace and kowtowed to congratulate the new king. When the monarchs and ministers met, their titles were confirmed, and Emperor Chongzhen felt a little relieved.
At this time, the palace was still filled with the best friends of the Hakka family and Wei Zhongxian, but Emperor Chongzhen remained calm, he had a roster of eunuchs in his chest, and he had to deal with them one by one.First, Xi Zong's nurse, Hakka, was expelled from Xian'an Palace and sent to the Huanyi Bureau. This woman was Wei Zhongxian's close friend Douban; then, he took the opportunity to arrest Cui Chengxiu, Minister of the Ministry of War, who was Wei Zhongxian's godson.The courtiers finally saw that Wei Zhongxian had lost power, and for a moment the wall fell and everyone pushed, and the drums were broken and people beat up—there were so many people stepping on the sunken ship.Wei Zhongxian finally couldn't hold on, and asked to leave, so Chongzhen pushed the boat along and demoted him to Nanjing.
On the day when Wei Zhongxian gained power, he was full of arrogance, harming literature today and martial arts tomorrow. Those courtiers would fight each other when they saw him, but if they wanted to deal with him, they just dealt with him like this. Emperor Chongzhen felt that he was wise and decisive, with extraordinary skills.At that time, the great grandfather set up an iron sign in the palace, forbidding the eunuch to interfere in politics, and wrote a letter that only the eunuchs were allowed to be surnamed Qin, Zhao, and Gao, so that the descendants would always remember Zhao Gao of the Qin State, the one who overthrew the first emperor for thousands of years. Great eunuch.
Today, Lord Chongzhen felt that Taizu was too careful-what's so scary about eunuchs, isn't that what happened?Back then, when the lord was suspicious of the country and the subjects were terrified, he made a bold move to turn the tide, set things right, and let the power eunuchs confer the head. What a dangerous shoal has come.
It can be said that eradicating Wei Zhongxian's treacherous party was the only major effort of Emperor Chongzhen since and after he came to power, and it was the greatest joy in his life - he only issued an imperial decree to investigate the eunuch party.As a result, Cui Chengxiu and other chief culprits were executed immediately. Next, 19 people were executed in autumn, 11 people were exiled to the army, and 44 people were dismissed.The eunuch who was rampant for a while, ended like an autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves.
Emperor Chongzhen had only been in the country for less than half a year, and he swept away the haze with one hand. The dark clouds cleared and the sky was sunny. Who would not accept the thunderbolt method of Emperor Chongzhen at that time?
Once at a court meeting, he asked the officials quietly: "Yao or Shun, who is the most virtuous?"
The courtier said, "Yao is good."
He shook his head and said, "Yao is not as good as Shun, who can punish the four evils."
Taking Yao and Shun as his goal in life, compared with Wei Zhongxian's eunuchs as rebellious officials like Gonggong and Sanmiao, Emperor Chongzhen has great ambitions. Unexpectedly, today, he regretted "killing the four evildoers" again.Cao Huachun, the former eunuch of the East Factory, told him privately that if Wei Zhongxian was there, the situation would not be where it is today.
Is that really the case?Is this an "emergency medical emergency"?
Emperor Chongzhen wandered around the Qianqing Palace with his hands crossed...
It was the winter and October of the sixteenth year of Chongzhen.