Chapter 10 [ Yan Song's historical opportunity and life ups and downs ]-2

In this way, Fang Hou was able to become the queen.I think the first empress Zhang was abolished at the beginning, it was precisely because Empress Fang and the second empress Zhang (the two were concubines at the time) served Emperor Jiajing to drink tea, and the obscene emperor became lustful, stroking the second concubine's jade hands and playing with them, which made people sit Emperor Yidi's Queen Zhang threw a cup, but Emperor Jiajing was furious and kicked violently.Concubine Fang became Empress Fang, and the little wife became a big wife, even more ruthless than the old big wife. She was able to take advantage of the chaos to make people tie up her beautiful rival and send her to the execution ground. She is really the most vicious and jealous woman in the world!

Regarding the fact that several court ladies wanted to murder Emperor Jiajing, scholars or historical researchers of later generations often ignored the reasons. Most people read this and always felt that it was a sudden "sudden" change.In fact, after carefully digging into the notes of the people at the time, we found the real reason: Emperor Jiajing wanted to live forever, and many Taoist priests gathered around him to make elixirs for him, and many of these elixirs belonged to aphrodisiacs.The ancient Chinese aphrodisiac formula is very strange, one of which is called "Tiankui", that is, the menstrual blood of a girl virgin, and this substance can be extracted into a powder called "Red Lead".The harem of Emperor Jiajing "raised" many girls who produced this kind of "medicine". In order to collect a large amount of their menstrual blood, imperial doctors and Taoist priests forced them to take medicine to make their menstrual blood too frequent and excessive for the emperor's "alchemy".The most likely thing is that many young girls were killed in the palace because of this disaster. Yang Jinying and the others felt that it was better to kill the devil emperor first, and they came up with the bad idea of ​​using Emperor Shengle in a hurry.It's a pity that the death knot cannot be tightened, and some people escaped and reported on the battle, and several strange women finally failed.Just imagine, a dozen or so fifteen-year-old girls conspired to strangle a thirty-six or seven-year-old emperor on the dragon bed. But if the literary script is on the camera, it will be a little ambiguous.Therefore, even in the ultra-left era, few people exaggerated this matter.Today's young screenwriters don't understand ancient Chinese, and even a "hit thief" who claims to PK Yi Zhongtian's Tianya.com to write Ming history copied vernacular and eight-hand materials everywhere to dig out the meat of the drama, but he couldn't dig out the reason why the palace maid killed the emperor. Come.In the end, this matter was "hooked and sinking" by the author, which can be regarded as returning the historical truth to reality.

Yan Song has been in power for more than three years. Zhang Bi, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and Xu San, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, were both cabinet ministers. Zhang Bi died of illness, and Xu San was squeezed out by Yan Song.Emperor Jiajing was a faint ruler, not a mediocre one. He gradually realized that Yan Song had planted party members in the court and acted arbitrarily, so he reactivated Xiayan at the end of the 24th year of Jiajing (1545).Since Xia Yan returned to his hometown, the local officials treated him with arrogance and disrespect.Old Xia Yu was unhappy, and every New Year's Day and the emperor's birthday, he would definitely send a congratulatory letter, calling himself a "grass minister", and Emperor Jiajing was "ashamed of him", so he recalled this former favorite minister.

Xia Yan came back with a comeback, not only restored the official position, but also added the prince's young teacher, who was above Yan Song, and became the chief assistant again.After a big ups and downs, Xia Yan didn't learn the lesson at all, thinking that he was in power, and his attitude towards Yan Song changed. In the court, he never discussed with Yan Song, who was the second assistant, when drafting drafts for major military and state affairs.At the same time, he took revenge, searched for Yan Song's confidantes who had been planted in the government one by one, and drove them all away, and declared that he would investigate and investigate.Frightened by Xia Yan's prestige, Yan Song did not dare to come forward to rescue him, feeling extremely hated in his heart.What makes Yan Song particularly frightening is that Yan Shifan, Yan Song's son, was the "Shangdou Secretary Shaoqing" who was in charge of wealth at that time. He recruited money, accepted bribes, and embezzled corruption. to the emperor.Yan Song was terrified when he heard this, and led his son to Xia Yan's mansion to beg the chief assistant to let his father and son go.Xia Yan said he was sick, but he didn't see him.Thanks to Yan Song's bribe of Xia Yan's family with a large sum of gold and silver, the father and son went straight to Xia Yan's couch, knelt down and wept, begging the first assistant for mercy with their noses and tears.Xia Yan's wife's benevolence, when she saw such a humble grandson in her hometown, her heart softened, and she wanted to hold this handle to better manage Yan Song in the future, so she ignored the case. "Yan Song and his son hated him more and more."

On the other hand, the governor of Jinyiwei, Lu Bing, violated the violent law and Xia Yan was going to deal with it severely. The spy chief was so frightened that he had to go into the house and beg Xia Yan to forgive him outside the law.The Grand Maester waved his hand and dismissed it without any hesitation, saying that this time it would be fine.Of course, the villain Yinggou should not be offended, so Lu Bing hated Xia Yan deeply, and gradually hooked up with Yan Song and his son, always ready to bring Xia Yan down. Xia Shoufu thought highly of himself, and Emperor Jiajing often sent eunuchs to deliver documents, but he ignored them and treated them like slaves.On the other hand, Yan Song, every time a little father-in-law comes, no matter how high or low his official rank is, he will definitely welcome him out of the house, hold his hands and sit for a while, and slip a few large ingots of gold into the father-in-law's sleeves, making everyone feel like a spring breeze.In this way, the eunuchs around the emperor usually had their own opinions, and none of them said Xia Yan was good or bad, but they all praised Yan Song's "benevolence".

Emperor Jiajing had a villain mentality, and from time to time sent the eunuchs to secretly watch what the cabinet ministers were doing.Yan Song naturally knew in advance that he was still sitting in the duty room in the middle of the night, writing "Qing Ci" for the emperor, swaying his brush and concentrating on it, his white hair fluttering. As for Xia Yan, the eunuchs reported that Master Xia always went home early to drink and feast with the guests.As time passed, Emperor Jiajing became increasingly dissatisfied with Xia Yan. Yan Song's own "behavior" does not belong to the arrogant type.Especially for the eunuchs in the inner court, Lao Yan tried his best to be "polite".An eunuch once said to his courtiers: "My generation has been in Da Nei for a long time, and there have been several changes in current affairs:

In the past, when Mr. Zhang Cong entered the court, we had to pay respects to him; later, when Mr. Xia Yan entered the palace, we only looked at him with flat eyes.When Mr. Yan Song came today, he had to salute us first before entering the palace. "This account has been reprinted by various historical books to prove that the eunuchs of the Ming Dynasty were becoming more and more domineering. In fact, most of the reprinters did not know the truth, because they did not understand the following facts: the Jiajing Dynasty was the most "honest eunuch except Zhu Yuanzhang's era." The era of "! What the eunuch said was just showing Yan Song's femininity from one side.

After more than two years, Yan Song saw the right time and took the opportunity of the "Hetao Discussion" to finally overthrow Xia Yan and send this "old" boss younger than himself to hell. At that time, the capital censor Zeng was the governor of Shanxi. He was very talented in military affairs. He led troops several times to defeat the Mongolian tribes who invaded and looted the Hetao area.On the other hand, Xia Yan felt that since he entered the cabinet for the second time, he had to make some serious noise in office to show his ability, so he immediately elected Zeng Mi and advised Emperor Jiajing to restore Hetao.Emperors naturally had the vanity to expand their borders, and Emperor Jiajing was so moved that he asked Xia Yan to draw up decrees many times to praise Zeng Mi, intending to increase his troops and pay, and make him an incomparable honor.

However, the consequences of using force are unpredictable. Emperor Jiajing, who has been addicted to Taoism, regretted it after doing it. Yan Song figured out Emperor Jiajing's intentions, and tried his best to make a statement not to start a quarrel, and brought up old things from Ming Yingzong's era, and even threatened him, making Emperor Jiajing very regretful, and angry at Xia Yan for such a bad idea. Xia Yan didn't know that Emperor Jiajing had already made a 90-degree turn mentally, and he kept talking, urging the emperor to order troops, and asked Zeng Mi to give him the oath of the sword, and give him the authority to kill the festival commander, so that Ensure the smooth progress of military operations.Looking at it, Emperor Jiajing had a very evil heart.

Coincidentally, there was a sudden strong wind in Beijing and an earthquake and landslide in Chengcheng Mountain. The superstitious Emperor Jiajing felt that this was a warning from the heavens, and he gave up the idea of ​​raising troops.In fact, in the summer of that year, there had already been landslides and earthquakes in Shaanxi. In the old days, such catastrophes were regarded as "warning from heaven". Time to report.Therefore, taking advantage of the strong wind in Beijing (a disaster like a strong wind was considered by the ancients to be a harbinger of war in the frontiers), seeing that Emperor Jiajing was about to calm down and perform the ritual of fasting and praying for longevity, Yan Song immediately became a "sky policeman" along with the Shaanxi earthquake and landslide. "Let's play together.Seeing the sky police report, the superstitious Emperor Jiajing was frightened and flustered, and asked Yan Song what he could do to "turn disaster into blessing".

The old man Yan Song knelt down and impeached himself: "The proposal to restore Hetao is really out of great joy, and he carried out militaristic actions. He was angry with the sky, and he dared not oppose Xia Yan. He has not acted on the truth. Please, Your Majesty. You deal with my dereliction of duty first." Not only did Emperor Jiajing not deal with Yan Song, he was quite touched, thinking that Yan Song was a straight minister, and at the same time he hated Xia Yan and Zeng Mian even more. Soon, the speech officials spoke up one after another, and they were extremely irresistible.Since he had issued several edicts to praise Zeng Mi, Emperor Jiajing couldn't find the steps for a while, so he issued an edict and asked the courtiers: "Is the master (out) famous for the bandits today? Is there enough food for soldiers?Is success inevitable?One (once) time is not enough to say, it is like living people in ruins! "As soon as the edict came out, the officials immediately smelled it, and the officials who used to violate Xia Yan also "strongly stated" that they could not provoke war. Only then did Xia Yan feel frightened, so he apologized and said: "Yan Song has always agreed with me in the cabinet, but now he blames all his faults on his ministers." Seeing this, Emperor Jiajing was even more angry at Xia Yan's shifting responsibility, He also reprimanded him for "strengthening the emperor and threatening the people", and ordered Jin Yiwei to arrest Zeng Mi from Shaanxi and take him to the capital.At this time, Lu Bing, the governor of Jinyiwei who Xia Yan had offended before, finally found the opportunity to fabricate charges with Yan Song's confidants in the Ministry of Punishment, and killed Zeng Mian on the charge of bribery to auxiliary ministers and "making friends with close servants".In the early years of Longqing, Zeng Mi was rehabilitated and presented him as "Shangshu of the Ministry of War" with the posthumous posthumous title of "Xiangmin". At this time, Emperor Jiajing hadn't killed Xia Yan yet, but just seized his official rank and ordered him to retire and go home as a minister.Xia Yan, who traveled to Tongzhou, heard the news that Zeng Mian had been killed in the capital. He fell off the carriage in fright and shouted, "Oh, I'm doomed!" Injustice, claiming that everything is because Yan Song fell for him.At this time, writing these things would add fuel to the fire of Emperor Jiajing, and he immediately ordered all the ministers to discuss the crime of Xia Yan.Yu Maojian, Minister of the Ministry of Punishments, couldn't bear to put Xia Yan to death, so he said that Xia Yan should be sentenced to death, but as an assistant minister, he could quote the item "discussing expensive" in the "Eight Discussions" of Ming Law to avoid death.Emperor Jiajing was furious and reprimanded Yu Shangshu for attaching Xia Yan.What's even more unfortunate is that a Mongol tribe happened to invade Juyongguan. Yan Song seized on this trouble and insisted that Xia Yanxing provoked the border and caused the country to be restless.In this way, Xia Yan naturally cannot escape the fate of being killed. He was arrested by Jin Yiwei from his hometown and returned to the capital, and abandoned Xishi at the age of sixty-seven.The majestic chief assistant of the Ming Dynasty was killed in a downtown area.From then on, the great power in the court and central government belonged to Yan Song alone. Xia Yan was killed. In fact, many people applauded and cheered at that time, because this person's personality was too flamboyant.As an old man in the officialdom, this kind of domineering way of dealing with people will definitely offend many people.The dispute between Yan Song and Xia Yan is definitely not the "conflict between good and evil" that Yan Song lost in the future. Therefore, the officialdom is a big crock. In the circle of the totalitarian system, even if you are a gentleman by nature, if you are undefeated by luck, you can only make up for it.Otherwise, the lightest thing is to demote the official, and the most serious thing is to move the head. Corruption during the reign of Yan Song and the misconduct of the country , which intensified the Japanese problem in the southeast; secondly, to eliminate differences, following the killing of Zeng Mi and Xia Yan, Yang Jisheng was killed in the 34th year of Jiajing. And Wang Yan, although the orders were all issued by the emperor's "sage", the masterminds were all Yan's father and son; third, they were corrupt and bribed, and formed cliques in the court for personal gain. In the twenty-ninth year of Jiajing (1550), Altan Khan of Mongolia invaded Ming Dynasty. Yan Song gave advice to Bing Shangshu Ding Rukui and said: "The land is close to the capital. If the defeat is difficult to cover up, you must order the generals not to fight the enemy easily. They are full. After plundering, he will leave." It can be seen that Yan Song, as a prime minister, really has no foresight and courage in military affairs. Ding Shangshu was a fool, but Yan Xiangguo pointed out that he ordered the generals not to fight.Originally, most of the generals in the Ming Dynasty ate and ate all day long and were afraid of fighting. With the order from the Minister of War, they all breathed a sigh of relief and told each other: "Ding Shangshu said not to fight the enemy." This made the people miserable.They were burned, killed and looted by the Mongols, and the officers and soldiers were all huddled in the fortified city, not doing any actions to defend against the enemy, not even making gestures.The people were outraged. After Altan Khan's Mongolian army withdrew, the common people wrote thousands of people's letters, pointing the finger at Ding Rukui's cowardice and incompetence, and the Ming court ordered his arrest.Yan Song was afraid that Lao Ding would say that he had made up his mind for him in advance, so he pretended to comfort him: "Don't be afraid, I will keep you safe." Very "cooperative" and did not make much refutation.He waited for Master Xiang to say good things to the emperor and pardoned him directly. As a result, not long after, a group of jailers took him out of prison, and Lao Ding thought it was just a formality and released him.A group of people took him directly to the West Market, where the executioner was waiting for him with a big knife in his hand.It wasn't until he was kicked to kneel on the ground that Ding Rukui suddenly realized that he had been betrayed by the prime minister, and shouted, "Bastard Yan Song misunderstood me!" In the 30th year of Jiajing, Jin Yiwei experienced Shen Lian because of Yan Song's inability to defend against the invaders, and resisted the enumeration of the current court minister's "ten major crimes": "Yesterday, I answered that I was wrong, and Your Majesty is striving to promote the martial arts, and wants to take advantage of the Northern Expedition, and the civil and military ministers are willing to do their best. However, to win, you must first calculate the temple, and the temple must first eliminate evil for the world, and then the foreign invaders can be pacified.Today's great scholar (Yan) Song, the greedy nature is dying, and the stupid heart is stubborn to iron.When the master is worried about the humiliation of his ministers, he doesn't hear about Yan Yan's visit to the sages, and consults on the strategy, but he and his son (yan) Shifan plan freely.Loyalty will discourage many parties, and flattery will attract it.Want to bribe the officials and make friends with guests.When the imperial court rewarded one person, (Yan Song) said: "Let me reward him"; when punishing one person, (Yan Song) said: "Let me punish him".Everyone waits for Yan's love and hate, but does not know the kindness and power of the court, so I can bear to say it!Let's just say that the crime is the greatest.Accepting the bribes of the generals to start the border wars is one thing.Receiving the legacy of the kings, everything is a place of darkness, two things.Taking over the power of the Ministry of Officials, even small officials in prefectures and counties are also taken from goods, causing great damage to the officials, three things.According to the age rules of Suofu, there are ministers and ministers who will obey each other, and Lu Yan's wealth will be cut day by day, four things.The yin system admonishes officials, so they dare not speak out, five.If you are jealous of the virtuous and capable, if you disobey his will, you will surely die. Sixth.Zongzi receives wealth and collects grievances from the world, seven are also.Returning home with wealth, the moon has no empty days, and it is eighth to cause troubles along the way.Living in the government for a long time, favoring and harming politics, nine things.If you can't co-conspire with the sky, you will worry about the king and your father, ten. "Sir, Yan Song didn't react much. Emperor Jiajing got annoyed first, and decided that Shen Lian had slandered important ministers. He immediately sent someone to arrest him in court, punish him in public, and punish him to serve the people in security. Shen Lian was born as a Jinshi, and he hated evil , had a good relationship with Lu Bing, the governor of Jinyiwei. Lu Bing was Yan Song's party member, and he often took Shen Lian to the banquets convened by Yan's father and son. Shen Lian hated Yan's father and son in his heart, and even more hated Yan Shifan for drinking and torturing others and force-feeding others. He always sat on the ground and scolded, but Xiao Yan was only afraid of him, and never dared to force-feed him.Logically speaking, relying on the relationship of his boss Lu Bing, it would be easy for Shen Lian to curry favor with the Yan family and his son for promotion, but this person is upright by nature, and he can't complain, but in the end he ends up being banished as a citizen. During Shen Lian's "reform through labor" in security guards, the local elders knew his name and sent their children to study with this gentleman one after another. He taught his students with loyalty and ethics, and bound three straw figures from time to time, writing the names of Yan Song, Li Linfu, and Qin Hui respectively, and shooting them with bows and arrows to vent his hatred.A few years later, the local guardian was Yan Song's confidant Yang Shun. In order to curry favor with Yan's father and son, he reported to Yan Shifan: "Shen Lian is in Bao'an and has a secret relationship with dead soldiers. Furious, he immediately dispatched his party members to patrol the censor Li Fengmao to arrest Shen Lian, put his name on the list of bandit leaders of the White Lotus Sect who should be killed, and report it in time.Shen Lian was put to death under the Ministry of War.Not to mention, Yan's party members killed Shen Lian's second son in order to make Yan Shifan more happy, and thus gained promotion. In the thirty-second year of Jiajing, Yang Jisheng, a member of the Ministry of War, hated Yan Song for harming the country, and suddenly impeached Yan Song for "ten crimes" and "five traitors", with fierce words: Emperor Gao (Zhu Yuanzhang) dismissed the prime minister and set up the ministers of the palace. The consultants only regarded it as grass-making. (Yan) Song Nai pretended to be the prime minister.For the answer of the Ministry of Fanfu, (he) first whitened and then played.Hundreds of officials asked for their orders, and ran straight to the house like a market. (Yan Song) There is no name of the prime minister, but the power of the prime minister.The world knows that there is (Yan) Song, but it does not know that there is Your Majesty.It is the law of bad ancestors.One big sin. Your Majesty uses one person, (Yan) Song said, "I recommend it"; reprimanded one person, saying, "This is not my relative, so let it go." Your Majesty forgives one person, (Yan) Song said, "I will save it"; punished one person, and (Yan Song) said, "This offended me, so I will repay it."Waiting for His Majesty to be happy and angry.The ministers feel (Yan) Song more than Majesty, and fear (Yan) Song more than His Majesty.It is the power to steal the king.The second major crime.Your Majesty has good governance, (Yan) Song will order (Yan) Shifan to tell people: "The Lord is not as good as this, I will discuss it."It was also published and published in the world with the published posts, called "Jiajing Shuyi", hoping that the world will give (Yan) Song the best of His Majesty's goodness.It is to cover up the king's merits.Three major crimes. His Majesty ordered (strictly) Song Secretary to draw up a ticket to cover his position. (Yan) How to choose Song and Lingzi (Yan) Shifan to plan? And why did he ask the righteous sons Zhao Wenhua to gather together and make a plan?On the topic of Shufang, the language of heaven has been passed on.It is (Yan) Song who used his ministers to steal the power of the emperor, and (Yan) Shifan who used his sons to steal the power of his father, so the capital has "big prime ministers and small prime ministers" Rumor. It is the usurpation of the adulterer.Four major crimes. Yan Zhongzhong and Yan Hu (the second grandson of Yan Song), both of whom have bad tastes, have never been in the army. (Yan) Song Shiling pledged his allegiance to Guangdong and Guangxi, and awarded Jinyi to the town.Allegiance to the disease, (yan) Hu attacked the brother's post.He also took Qiongzhou meritorious service and promoted thousands of households.Not only borrowing private parties to official their descendants, but also using their grandchildren to pull out their private parties.It is the military exploits of the imperial court.Five major crimes. Ni Luan (Qiu Luan) had already been imprisoned for his crime, bribed (Yan) Shifan three thousand gold, and was recommended as a general. (Yan) Luan took the risk of capturing Hazhou Dan'er, and (Yan) Shifan also gained rank. (Yan) Song and his son boasted that they could recommend Luan, and knowing that His Majesty had doubts about (Yan) Luan, they slandered each other again in order to obliterate the past. (Yan) Luan hooked up the thief (Mongolian Altan Khan), while (Yan) Song and (Yan) Shifan returned to Gouluan.It is a treacherous minister who leads rebellion.Six major crimes. I answered in-depth before, and hit its lazy return, this is a great opportunity.Ding Rukui, Minister of the Ministry of War, asked (Yan) Song about the plan, and (Yan) Song abstained from no war.And when Ru Kui was caught and ruled, (Yan) Song Fu talked about saving him.When Ru Kui was about to die, he shouted loudly, "Song misled me."It is a military aircraft that misleads the country.Seven deadly sins. Xu Xueshi, a doctor, impeached Songge, and wanted to reprimand Yingfeng, his brother Zhongshusheren.Give Li Rujin the history of impeachment and relegation of Song, and then investigate and order the Ministry of Officials to cut his nationality.Ministers inside and outside, how can the one who has been slandered win?It is the big handle to dethrone him. Eight major crimes. It doesn't matter whether it is possible or not to move civil and military officials, but it depends on the amount of gold.General Bian only bribed (Yan) Song, and had to cut down soldiers; there was a secretary who bribed (Yan) Song, and had to suppress the people.The soldiers lost their homes, the people were displaced, and the poison spread all over the sea.I am afraid that today's troubles are not outside the country but in the domain.It is the hearts of the people who have lost the world.Nine major crimes. Since (Yan) Song used things, customs have changed drastically.Those who bribed recommended and robbed Zhi, and those who were careless and clumsy dismissed Yi and Qi.Those who abide by the law are pedantic, and those who bridge the gaps skillfully are talents.Those who encourage festivals are exasperated, and those who are good at running are practicing things.Since ancient times, the bad customs have never been worse than today.Gai (Yan) Song loves profit, and everyone in the world is still greedy. (Yan) Song is fond of flattery, and everyone in the world is still flattery. The source is clean, how can the flow be clear?It is the custom of the world.Ten great sins. (Yan) There are ten crimes for Song, but five traitors are used to help them.Knowing the left and right attendants can perceive the will, and bribe generously. All His Majesty's words and actions will be reported to (Yan) Song.It is His Majesty's thief on both sides (Yan) Song's spy. The chief cashier of the General Administration Department is also used as an envoy by Zhao Wenhua.If there is any neglect, send (Yan) Song to read it first, and then enter the imperial court. Wang Zongmao's chapter on impeachment of Song was lasted for five days, so (Yan) Song had to be unfolded and covered.It is the mouthpiece of His Majesty and the eagle dog of Thief Song.Afraid of the arrest and visit of the factory guards, Zi Shifan was married.Your Majesty asked (Yan) who are the wives of Song's grandsons?It's the entanglement of His Majesty's minions who are all thieves (Yan) Song.Afraid of too much talk about science and Taoism, Jinshi is not his personal belonging, and he is not allowed to pre-select the candidates.Push officials and county magistrates are not allowed to bribe, so they are not allowed to pre-give things and select imperial officials.After the selection, if you enter, you will have a cup of wine and get married, and if you go out, you will give a feast to each other.All love and hate, give them the thorns.After five or six years of salary, he had nothing to build, that is, he was promoted to Jingqing.All the ministers endured the burden of the country and did not dare to disobey the ministers in power (Yan Song).He is the slave of His Majesty's eyes and ears (Yan) Song.Although Ke Dao has entered the entanglement, there may be people like Xu Xueshi in the temples who can be feared, so that (Yan Song) Zi (Yan) Shifan chooses those who are talented and hopeful, and Luo puts them under the door.Anyone who wants to do something, shills and reports to (Yan) Song, pre-arranged, connected with knots, deeply rooted, and most of the ministers of all ministries have their wings.It is the heart and soul of your Majesty who are all thieves and workers. How can your majesty love a traitorous official, and endure millions of people being trapped in misery? Seeing Yang Jisheng citing two princes as witnesses in Yang Jisheng's memorial, Yan Song was overjoyed and thought that he could be convicted of a crime, so he constructed a claim in front of Emperor Jiajing that Yang Xisheng had drawn the clan into disputes for no reason.The emperor was really furious, and immediately ordered the court staff to beat Yang Jisheng a hundred times, and ordered the Ministry of Punishments to convict him.The Ministry of Punishment did not dare to offend Yan Song, so he was sentenced to death and sentenced to prison, but he was detained for three years.Emperor Jiajing didn't want to kill this straight minister who was knowledgeable and famous all over the world. Someone persuaded Yan Song not to kill Yang Jisheng, so as not to arouse public grievances, Master Yan was moved.Helpless, his son Yan Shifan and his party members insisted on killing Yang Jisheng, persuading Yan Song to do it every day.Therefore, in the autumn of the fourth year, Yan Song guessed that the imperial censor Zhang Jing and the governor Li Tianchong, who were so-called "ineffective in resisting the Japanese" whom the emperor deeply hated, would definitely be executed, so he secretly attached Yang Jisheng's name to the files of the two and submitted them. .Emperor Jiajing didn't think carefully, and decided with the imperial pen.Yang Jisheng was finally killed at the age of forty.Before he was executed, he wrote a poem: "The arrogance is still too empty, and the loyalty shines through the ages. If you don't repay your kindness in your life, you will keep it as a loyal soul." The world knows and doesn't know, and everyone weeps and praises it. By killing Yang Jisheng, Yan Song offended everyone in the world.In fact, in the early days, Yang Jisheng dared to protest in front of the emperor, referring to the marquis of Xianning, Qiuluan, who lost his power and humiliated the country. Yan Song always hated Qiuluan for not being attached to himself, so he admired Yang Jisheng, an upright talent, and personally nominated him to promote him several levels , directly promoted to the director in charge of the Military Selection Department of the Ministry of War.Unexpectedly, Yang Jisheng only thinks of the king's kindness, hates evil like hatred, hates Yan Song more than Qiu Luan, not only does not go to Yan's house to "thank you", but also immediately exposes his crimes, he can be said to be an extremely honest gentleman.But in reality, the first article in Yang Jisheng's essay is actually untenable.Zhu Yuanzhang's abolition of prime minister power is a political retrogression.Ming Renzong's era began to gradually increase the authority of scholars, and gradually became the ancestral system. Therefore, it should be the limitation of this Lord Yang's era and consciousness to say that Yan Song's holding the prime minister's power violated the "ancestral system". Yan Fu and his son relied on the trust of the emperor and the power in their hands to attack the gentleman and reject the dissidents.If you are familiar with China's officialdom politics, these are not really big villains.Those who hang around in the officialdom have unclean hands.However, Yan Song abused the villain who would only flatter the smooth and preside over the big government, and he really did a big bad thing for the country and the people.For example, the appointment of Zhao Wenhua to intensify the Japanese riots in the southeast is one of Yan Song's great evils. Zhao Wenhua was a Jinshi in the eighth year of Jiajing. He was cunning by nature. After he became an official, he failed the examination and was demoted.Before being promoted as a Jinshi, fortunately, he met Yan Song who was in charge of sacrificial wine when he was studying in Guoxue, and the two hit it off very well.Because Yan Song knew that he had made too many enemies and that his father and son had made many mistakes, he wanted to place his confidants in key departments so that he could take care of them in case of accidents in the future.Therefore, he married Zhao Wenhua as a righteous father and adopted son, and promoted him to be the head of the Ministry of Punishment.If you have made progress, you can make more progress.Soon, Zhao Wenhua knew that Emperor Jiajing loved gods, so he went to flatter the emperor in private and offered "Baihua Immortal Wine", saying: "My master Yan Song is drinking this wine and living a long and healthy life!" Emperor Jiajing tried drinking it, The mellow aroma is strong and the taste is delicious.It is estimated that there are botanical stimulants in the fine wine, which suddenly refreshed Emperor Jiajing.He was very happy, and made a decree, asking Yan Song about the production process of this wine. Yan Song was shocked when he received the edict, he gritted his teeth and said, "Zhao Wenhuaan dares to do this!" Indeed, this son of a dog offered good wine to the emperor without telling him, making the emperor feel that he had something good to give away.In this way, Zhao Wenhua was a good person himself, but let Lao Yan fawn on the emperor to fall behind, which is really heartwarming.Anger turned into anger, Yan Song didn't dare to explode, and said tactfully: "I have never eaten medicinal bait in my life. I have lived for so long, and I don't know why. It is definitely not because of drinking medicinal wine." After returning to the pavilion, Yan Song was furious and immediately summoned Zhao Wenhua to scold and scold him.Xiao Zhao knelt and wept for a long time, and Lao Yan couldn't understand his anger.Soon after, Yan Song returned to the court on vacation, and a group of officials came to see him. Yan Song still hated Zhao Wenhua and asked the officials to push him out of the door. As a result, Zhao Wenhua was really scared, and brought a large sum of gold and treasure to kneel down to offer his godmother (Yan Song's wife).One day, Yan Song and his wife had a family banquet, and Yan Shifan and his adopted sons stood on both sides, and the family enjoyed themselves happily.Zhao Wenhua knelt outside the window in advance to observe the movement.For a long time, Yan Song's old wife pretended not to know about the quarrel between the righteous father and son, and asked Lao Yan: "Today's family reunion, why don't you see my son Wenhua alone?" Yan Song smiled contemptuously: "Anu betrayed me, how can I be here!" Yan Song's wife hurriedly persuaded Zhao Wenhua with many "filial piety and respect" things.Yan Song listened, his complexion changed. Seeing that the time had come, Zhao Wenhua rushed into the room immediately, knelt down and wept, and called daddy repeatedly, so the father and son reconciled as before. After the pirates in the southeast became more and more prosperous, Yan Song reported to Emperor Jiajing that Zhao Wenhua was sent there to suppress the pirates while offering sacrifices to the Sea God.Zhao Wenhua was ignorant of villains, commanded indiscriminately, unjustly killed the governor Zhang Jing and others, falsely reported success to the court, and was admitted to the Ministry of Industry as Minister of Industry, and the prince Shaobao was added.Fortunately, Hu Zongxian, Yu Dayou and others were able to calm Xu Hai and capture Chen Dong, which greatly curbed the southeast Japanese problem.Of course, Zhao Wenhua took all these achievements as his own.For this reason, the Ming court added its prince Shaobao, and Yin Qi's son was Jinyi Qianhu. Zhao Wenhua's various misdeeds in the southeast Japanese invasion will be detailed in the following article on Pingwa. Zhao Wenhua was favored because of his meritorious service, and became increasingly arrogant, even Yan Shifan was ignored, and eunuchs of all sizes in the palace were ignored.What made Yan Shifan particularly hateful was that Zhao Wenhua once presented him with a curtain woven with gold silk, which Xiao Yan rarely regarded as a treasure.Only later did he learn that Zhao Wenhua had twenty-seven concubines, and everyone had such a golden curtain, which made Xiao Yan deeply hate him.As for the eunuchs, due to Zhao Wenhua's tight hands, he no longer gave out gold and silver, and the eunuchs, big and small, couldn't win the autumn wind from him.Therefore, after these people returned to the palace, they always reported to Emperor Jiajing that Zhao Wenhua was arrogant and rude when accepting gifts from the emperor.What made the emperor particularly angry was that Zhao Wenhua offered an aphrodisiac from the Western Regions, and Emperor Jiajing drank it, and the effect was so good that he kept courting several women overnight.After the pills were exhausted, he asked Zhao Wenhua for this kind of "Viagra" from the Western Regions, but Lao Zhao took it himself and replied that he didn't have any.It is better to have nothing than nothing.Emperor Jiajing hated him greatly.One day, he went up to the palace city and saw a new tall building rising into the sky on West Chang'an Street, so he asked his left and right: "Whose house is so luxurious?" The left and right said: "Zhao Shangshu's new house."One of them was offended by Zhao Wenhua, and Yin Bula said: "Most of the huge logs stored by the Ministry of Industry for palace repairs were built by Zhao Wenhua to build new houses." Emperor Jiajing's expression changed drastically upon hearing this.Later, Emperor Jiajing found fault and asked him to "return to his hometown" to cultivate.A few days later, Emperor Jiajing was angry with his crimes, deposed Zhao Wenhua to the people, and demoted his son to Xiaobing Xubian.Zhao Wenhua was really ill at that time, and was severely condemned, his condition became serious, and he died of abdominal collapse. In Yan Song's later years, his thinking was sluggish, and he no longer reacted quickly to the imperial edict issued by the emperor who had been "Xuanxiu" in Xiyuan as he did in the early days.Emperor Jiajing was a master of Taoism and a great writer, and his edicts were often mysterious.At this time, only Yan Shifan can deliberately try to figure it out and achieve everything.On the one hand, it was because of Yan Shifan's high IQ, and on the other hand, because of his high "emotional intelligence", he always bribed the emperor's eunuchs and maids with a lot of money.Therefore, Emperor Jiajing was happy, angry, sad and happy, and the eyes and ears in the palace reported carefully. They could get a large amount of "information fee" from Yan every time. During the last period of Yan Song's administration, when various ministers reported matters to him and asked him to make a ruling, he said "discuss with Donglou". "East Building", Yan Shifan's nickname is also.In the early years, due to his wife Ouyang's persuasion, Yan Song was very strict with his son.After Ouyang died of illness, Xiao Yan was no longer controlled by anyone.Moreover, because the lack of a son is not enough, Yan Song went to the emperor to ask the emperor to allow his son to stay in Beijing to serve him, and let his grandson help his old wife return to his hometown after her funeral. During Yan Shifan's mourning period, besides having a lot of prostitution, he handled various affairs at home on behalf of his father.Because he was wearing mourning clothes, he could not enter the imperial court, which made it difficult for old Yan Song.Sometimes Emperor Jiajing sent eunuchs to talk about things in a hurry, urging Lao Yan to draft a draft or something.Poor Yan Song's old eyes are dim, his old head can't move anymore, and the performance is not right, which makes Emperor Jiajing very annoyed. In addition, the Taoist priest Lan Daoxing took the name of Fuji, and used sand tables instead of "God" words, which is very similar to Yan's father and son playing power and domineering.Emperor Jiajing asked: "If this is true, why didn't God kill them?" Lan Daoxing replied: "Leave it to the emperor to rectify the law!" Emperor Jiajing was moved silently. Lao Yan also offended Emperor Jiajing in another way.The Xiyuan Wanshou Palace, where Emperor Jiajing lived, was unable to live due to a fire, and temporarily lived in the narrow Yuxi Palace, so he was depressed.He asked Yan Song, and Lao Yan advised the emperor to live in Da Nei.This touched Emperor Jiajing's taboo.It was precisely because the emperor himself was almost strangled to death by the maids in the Great Inner Palace in the 21st year of Jiajing that the always superstitious emperor never went back to live.Yan Song's discussion is hitting the mold.Soon, Yan Song asked the emperor to return to Nannei, where Emperor Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty was placed under house arrest. This proposal made Emperor Jiajing even more angry. At this time, at a critical moment, Mr. Xu Jie appeared on the stage. Xu Jie, a native of Huating, Jiangsu Province, was born as a Jinshi in the early years of Jiajing, and he was a scholar of science.According to the history books, he was "short and fair, with a kind face. He is sensitive in nature, powerful in strategy, but not secretive." After entering the Imperial Academy, he had a bright future, but he offended Zhang Cong, the emperor's favorite at that time, and Xu Jie was sentenced to death. Demoted out of Beijing.After several years, Xiao Xu, who used to be proud of the spring breeze but frustrated in the autumn wind, was able to return to the Imperial Academy, and was taught by Xia Yan, step by step, and finally became the minister of the Ministry of Rites.Looking at the officialdom from the perspective of "standing in line", Yan Song must "remember" Xu Jie to get rid of Xia Yan. But this Xu Shangshu, after the previous setbacks, knows that the top leaders of the dynasty cannot be messed with.He never contradicted Yan Song face to face, and served the old Yan Fengcheng very well, so Yan Song's intention to get rid of him was not so urgent.What is even more fortunate is that although Xia Yan fell, Xu Jie coaxed Emperor Jiajing to favor him because of his beautiful "Qingci", making him inseparable even for a moment. In this way, it is very, very difficult for Yan's father and son to remove him.Of course, there was an incident before which Lao Yan almost killed Xiao Xu: One day, Jiajing called Yan Song alone to ask his opinion on Xu Jie.Yan Song thought for a while, and said: "What Xu Jie lacks is not talent, but too much thoughtfulness!" This sentence is terrible. Old Yan is talking about Xu Jie's efforts to get Emperor Jiajing to establish a prince as soon as possible.Jiajing's expression darkened, fortunately he didn't delve into the matter later.It was from then on that Xu Jie paid more and more respect to Yan Song, and tried his best to write poems for Emperor Jiajing in order to protect himself. Emperor Jiajing wanted to build a new palace and asked Yan Song, but there was no result.He called Xu Jie, who was the second assistant at that time.Xu Jie agreed immediately, saying that there were a lot of building materials left over from the previous construction of the palace. If he ordered the construction, a new palace could be formed in a few months. Emperor Jiajing, Dayue, immediately issued an imperial edict to appoint Shang Baocheng, the son of Chujie, and Xu Yu, who is also the head of the Ministry of Industry, to preside over the construction of the new palace. As a result, in just a little over three months, the majestic new palace was completed, and Emperor Jiajing couldn't wait to move into his "new home" that day, which was called "Longevity Palace".After going through the history, the emperor looked at Xu Jie differently and believed that he was loyal. He promoted him to be the prince and marshal, and also gave him a salary as a minister, and promoted his son Xu Jie as "Taichang Shaoqing". Knowing that the emperor's favor had been removed, Yan Song began to pretend to be a grandson again. He led his son Yan Shifan and a group of descendants to Xu Jie's home, and said, "I'm pretty much alive. After I die, Mr. Xu will treat these people kindly!" Xu Jie pretended even more Xiang, immediately returned the obeisance, expressing that he was promoted by Lord Yan and had no second thoughts about him. As soon as Yan Song and his party left, Xu Jie's son Xu Yu entered the house and said to his father, "Your Excellency, you have been bullied by the Yan family all these years, and you must do it when it's time to do it!" Lord, where are our Xu family and son today, you ungrateful thing, even dead dogs won’t eat you!” It turns out that the Yan family has many eyes and ears, and Xu Jie’s family has a few "spies" that Yan Shifan raised heavily.Xu Jie's "performance" immediately reached the ears of Yan's father and son, and from then on, Lao Yan completely relaxed his due "vigilance" towards Xu Jie. In the forty-first year of Jiajing (1562), Zou Yinglong, who was a censor, suddenly made a memorial to impeach Yan Shifan for corruption and bribery.但奏章当时未敢即连严嵩，只讲他“植党蔽贤，溺爱恶子”。历史上有些事，发端有时离奇近乎荒诞，邹御史之所以敢于忽然间挺身而出，并非直接受徐阶指使，而是缘于他所做的一梦：他梦见自己骑马出猎，看见东边有一高楼，土基宏壮，顶覆秸杆。邹应龙拉弓而射，大楼轰然坍倒。醒后，邹御史鼓励自己，这是我搬倒“东楼”（严世藩）的吉兆啊，于是他奋笔疾书，立写弹文。 嘉靖帝对严嵩父子日久生厌，又有道士们一旁窜掇，便下诏逮严世藩入大理狱，命严嵩致仕，“仍给岁禄”。 发现皇帝对老父严嵩没有一棒子打死，严世藩深知事情不像想象中那样不可挽救。他通过早先交结的内保太监，奏称道士蓝道行与邹应龙里外色结，陷害大臣。嘉靖帝各打五十大板，命人逮捕蓝道士送入牢房审讯。严嵩嘱托刑部的心腹，严刑拷打蓝道行，最终目的让他诬攀徐阶为幕后指使。谁料，蓝道士挺“英勇” ，坚决不承认受徐阶嘱指。由于严氏父子势力根深固结，最终蓝道行获罪被处死。 朝中独相十余年，严嵩党羽力量确实大。但是，如果不处理严世藩，又无法向皇帝交待，法司最后就“裁定”严世藩受贿八百两白银，上案于御前。廷议后，判决流放严世藩于雷州，其两个儿子及心腹罗龙文等人分戌边地。 嘉靖帝念严嵩旧情，特宥严世藩一个儿子为民，回老家伺侯严嵩起居。 严嵩离朝后，没人再与自己谈玄论道，加之蓝道行又被处决，年已半花的嘉靖帝追念老严过去二十多年的赞玄之功，悒悒不乐。于是，他把已经升任首辅的徐阶叫来，表示自己要退居二线，当太上皇，准备在西内一心拜道。徐阶极陈不可，谏劝皇帝不要搁挑子。“好，既然如此，你们一定要与朕同辅玄修，努力崇道，日后再有谁敢上疏劾奏追论严嵩、严世藩父子，朕一定下令把他们与邹应龙一同送斩！” 远在江西南昌的严嵩闻此，知道帝意仍有念旧之情，就趁嘉靖帝生日，在铁柱宫使道士建醮为皇帝祈祷，亲自撰写《祈鹤文》献上。皇帝优诏答之。见有回信，严嵩登老二上肚脐，上疏乞求皇帝准许自己被流放的子孙回南昌能给自己养老。对此，嘉靖帝没有答应。 事已至此，严世藩也不消停，惹事不断。他被明廷下令流放雷州，但是，刚刚行至半道，他便擅自回返，在南昌大兴土木，修建豪华别墅。更危险的是，他常常酒后宣言：“哪天我得以重起，一定要拿下徐老头的人头，邹应龙也跑不掉！” 徐阶得闻，忽起斩草除根之心。严嵩听见儿子如此放话，叹息对左右讲： “此儿误我太多。圣恩隆厚，我得善归。此儿虽被遣戍，遇赦也可得归。今忽忽大言，惹怒圣上与徐阶，我严氏家族，横尸都门那天，想必不远矣！” 合该有事。袁州推官郭谏臣因公事路过严嵩府宅，看见一千多工匠正大修府邸。严府仆人作监工，望见郭推官根本不起身见礼。郭谏臣大怒，上状于御史林润。这位巡察御史先前劾奏过严嵩党徒，很怕日后严嵩父子重起遭到报复，见此状大喜，立刻添汕加醋，上奏严世藩在江西阴聚徒众，诽谤朝议，图谋不轨。同时，他还奏称小严聚数千人（一下把数目扩大几倍）以修宅为名，阴谋造反。 疏上，嘉靖帝大怒，命林润诏逮严世藩等人入主京审讯。 林润得令即行，一面下令捕人，一面又上奏疏，半真半假，把严世藩一案渲染得活灵活现： （严）世蕃罪恶，积非一日，任彭孔为主谋，罗龙文为羽翼，恶子严鹄、严鸿为爪牙，占会城廒仓，吞宗藩府第，夺平民房舍，又改厘祝之宫以为家祠，凿穿城之池以象西海，直栏横槛，峻宇雕墙，巍然朝堂之规模也。袁城之中，列为五府，南府居鹄，西府居鸿，东府居绍庆，中府居绍庠，而（严）嵩与（严）世蕃，则居相府，招四方之亡命，为护卫之壮丁，森然分封之仪度也（喻指严氏父子僭越制度自以为王爷）。总天下之货宝，尽入其家，（严）世蕃已逾天府，诸子各冠东南，虽豪仆严年，谋客彭孔，家资亦称亿万，民穷盗起，职此之由，而曰：“朝廷无如我富”。粉黛之女，列屋骈居，衣皆龙凤之文，饰尽珠玉之宝，张象床，围金幄，朝歌夜弦，宣淫无度，而曰：“朝廷无如我乐”。甚者畜养厮徒，招纳叛卒，旦则伐鼓而聚，暮则鸣金而解，明称官舍，出没江广，劫掠士民，其家人严寿二、严银一等，阴养刺客，昏夜杀人，夺人子女，劫人金钱，半岁之间，事发者二十有七。而且包藏祸心，阴结典楧，在朝则为宁贤，居乡则为（朱）宸濠（喻指严氏父子想效仿朱宸濠造反），以一人之身，而总群奸之恶，虽赤其族，犹有余辜。严嵩不顾子未赴伍，朦胧请移近卫，既奉明旨，居然藏匿，以国法为不足遵，以公议为不足恤，（严）世蕃稔恶，有司受词数千，尽送父（严）嵩。（严）嵩阅其词而处分之，尚可诿于不知乎？既知之，又纵之，又曲庇之，此臣谓（严）嵩不能无罪也。现已将（严）世蕃、龙文等，拿解京师，伏乞皇上尽情惩治，以为将来之罔上行私，藐法谋逆者戒！ 严世藩落到这地步，仍旧嚣张，放言：“任他燎原火，自有倒海水。”几个被一起关押的党朋见严爷这么镇定，连忙问计。严世藩说：“通贿之事，不可掩遮，但圣上对此并不会深恶痛绝。”聚众通倭“罪名最大，可以派人立刻通知朝中从前相好的言官，在刑部把这一条削去，增填我父子从前倾陷沈链、杨继盛下狱的'罪恶'，如此，必定激怒圣上，我辈可保无忧！” 结果，这招真灵，刑部尚书黄光升及大理寺卿张守直等人受传言欺弄，又有言官做手脚，他们撰写罪状辞中果真把严氏父子陷害杨、沈二位忠臣的事情写入，且大肆渲染。 待他们持状入见首辅徐阶，这位徐大人早已成竹在胸，随便看了诉状一眼，置于案上，问：“诸位，你们是想救严公子呢，还是想杀严公子？” 众人愕然，齐声曰：“当然是要杀他！” 徐阶一笑。“依照你们所上诉状，必定会让他活得更自在。杨继盛、沈链受诬被杀，天下痛心。但是，这两人被逮，皆当今圣上亲下诏旨。你们在案中牵涉此事，正触圣上忌讳。如果奏疏上达，圣上览之，必定认为法司是借严氏父子这案子影射皇上圣裁不公。皇上震怒之下，肯定要翻案。到时候，严公子不仅无罪，还会款款轻骑出都门，且日后说不定又重新能得以大用！” 几个人一听，如雷轰顶，均惊立当堂。良久，他们才讲：“看来要重新拟状了。” 徐阶怡然，他从袖中掏出自己早已写好的状疏，“立即按此抄一遍即可。如果你们回去反复集议，消息泄露，朝中严党必有所备，那样，别生枝节，大事就不好办了。” 众人唯唯。 发稿示之，见徐阶所草罪状，重点在于描述严世藩与倭寇头子汪直阴通，准备勾结日本岛寇，南北煽动，引诱北边蒙古人侵边，意在倾覆大明王朝。 果然，疏上，嘉靖帝拍案狂怒。他最恨倭寇和蒙古人。见小严和这些人勾结，那还了得，马上下令锦衣卫严讯。 严世藩等人，很快得知徐阶所拟的“罪状”，相聚抱头大哭：“这回死定了！” 狱成，严世藩等人被斩于市，严氏家族被抄家。共抄得白银二百零五万五千余两，珍奇异宝不计其数，多为皇宫内府所无。不久，严氏党徒在朝中的诸人，也皆为徐阶等人清洗出去。严家大树，连根被拔。 至于严嵩老爷子，白发苍苍八十老翁，一身破衣烂衫，满脸污脏，日日持一破碗，在田野间的坟间转来荡去，捡那些上坟的供品充腹活命。捱了一年多，老头子苍凉死去。昔日威风凛凛的大宰相，落得如此下场，想来也令人鼻酸。中国的政治生态，永远如此，风光时可以一句顶一万句。但是，只要谁政治上倒台，身败名裂，无论你是堂堂相爷还是“国家主席”，总逃不出空腹惨死的结局。 从实而言，严世藩死有余辜，但徐阶玩的这种政治手腕，也过于阴狠，非要编造莫须有的通倭谋逆大罪来搞严家，其目的就是一定要牵连上严嵩。谋逆大罪，株连抄家发泄绝对难免，徐相爷非要置政治对手老严和小严永世不得翻身。对于这一点，明朝当时及日后多有人不平，认为徐阶的手段，使严世藩的罪名不能服天下人心，刑非所犯，于理不称。 天道好还。日后徐阶下台，又被“后浪”高拱怨恨算计，以其二子乡间怙势犯法为由，把徐老头二个儿子罚往边地“劳改”，老徐自己差点与老严前辈殊途同归，在风烛残年孤独而终。幸亏不久张居正把高拱又拱下去，老徐才得保令终。 作为徐阶弟子的张居正还算厚道，他当政后，派江西地方官员收拾严嵩枯骨，修坟安葬。严爷再怎样也是堂堂大明一代宰相，总不能和要饭花子一样的死法、葬法。 嘉靖一朝，正因为无大奸太监，方显严嵩柄政的“罪恶”。其实，许多军国大事方面，嘉靖帝乾纲独断，最大的坏事都就是皇帝拍板，严嵩依惟而已。 嘉靖年代的最后岁月严嵩身死前后，荒淫的嘉靖帝也“崩”了。这位君王的末年，沉溺道教尤甚。 宫中宦官为了“安慰”他，常常趁他呆坐时从旁边扔落一个大桃，报称“天赐神桃”。为此，嘉靖帝会大喜连日，又兴“报恩”醮礼数日，耗费金银无数。 即使是兔子生下两只崽，或者殿庭阴凉处生出几枝大个狗尿苔（灵芝），在宫中也令被当作“祥瑞”来庆贺一大番。 嘉靖四十五年初，户部主事海瑞的上疏，道出了这位皇帝崇道废财的真实情况： 陛下即位初年，敬一箴心，冠履分辨，天下欣然。望治未久，而妄念牵之，谬谓长生可得，一意修玄，二十余年，不视朝政，法纪弛矣；推广事例，名器滥矣。二王不相见（指嘉靖帝听从道士劝言，不与自己两个儿子见面），人以为薄于父子；以猜疑诽谤戮辱臣下，人以为薄于君臣；乐西苑而不返，人以为薄于夫妇。吏贪官横，民不聊生，水旱无时，盗贼滋炽，陛下试思今日天下为何如乎？ 古者人君有过，赖臣工匡弼，今乃修斋建醮，相率进香，仙桃天药，同词表贺，建宫筑室，则将作竭力经营，购香市宝，则度支差求四出。陛下误举之，而诸臣误顺之，无一人肯为陛下言者，谀之甚也。自古圣贤垂训，未闻有所谓长生之说，陛下师事陶仲文（老道士），仲文则既死矣，彼不长生，而陛下何独求之？ 诚一旦幡然悔悟，日御正朝，与诸臣讲求天下利病，洗数十年之积误，使诸臣亦得自洗数十年阿君之耻，天下何忧不治？万事何忧不理？此在陛下一振作间而已。 嘉靖帝览疏狂怒，非要马上杀海瑞。幸亏一名名叫黄锦的太监谏劝：“此人素有刚直痴名，上疏前已经与妻子相诀，购买棺材待死。如皇上你现在杀了他，适成其名。” 因此，海瑞只被收监论死。 可巧，这年底，嘉靖帝就崩了。其子明穆宗继位第二天，海瑞即得释，且被视为忠耿直臣。 嘉靖帝死因，也是死在“道”上。道士王金献“仙丹”，药方诡秘不可识。 药性燥烈，估计都是矿物质剧毒物和大麻等麻醉药的混合品，吃下去一会儿很舒服，连服就会肾衰竭。“大力丸”吃了一个月，这位荒淫帝王就“升天”了。 嘉靖一朝，内有权臣，外有海患边患，他本人又媚道崇道，奢侈无度，倾竭天下人民膏血以供一人迷信之用，国内经济情况日益恶化，真正把大明帝国带到了岌岌可危的边缘。特别是财政方面，嘉靖帝屡建宫殿、道宇。“中年（嘉靖中期）以后，营建斋醮，采木、采香、采珠玉宝石，吏民奔命不暇给，黄白蜡至三十余万斤……沉香、海漆诸香至十余万斤……太仓之银，颇取入承运库，办金宝珍珠，于是猫儿晴、祖母绿石、绿撒索尼石、红剌石、北河洗石、金钢铬、朱蓝石、紫英石、黄甘石，无所不购。”除此以外，军费开支巨大，沿海和近蒙古部落的境都有战事，督抚大臣趁机贪污，军费达至天文数字。举嘉靖三十一年为例，当年户部所奏岁入只有二百万银，而军费开支一项却高达一千多万，严重超支。 由于国内矛盾激化，各处起事不断，农民、矿工、盐徒、各种民间宗教团体纷纷揭竿而起，按倒葫芦又起瓢，搞得明政府焦头烂额。大明帝国，已经成为“大暗” empire. 此篇写至此，笔者感严嵩大学士之死，念其青壮年时代诗歌的清丽，真让人心中感慨无限： 闲客请宵抚玉琴，露凉新月在高林。凭君洗净松风耳，无限人间郑卫音。 （）山泉野饭聊今夕，金谷铜驼非故时。随缘自有数椽竹，题俭真成一字师。 （《师歛堂》）山塘深且广，逦迤抱山麓。隔浦见人家，依依桑柘绿。日落烟水寒，绕塘飞属玉「山塘」石磴盘秋萝，危亭出峰树行人上山道，望望云飞处。洞口晓钟声，林僧独归去。「仰山」「扬州」观忆琼花色，桥怜万柳阴芜城今夜月，怀古一悲吟。胜迹那堪问，长江独至今。波间饰龙舰，早晚翠华临。 殊俗聊相值，空堂谁与同。灯明深雪里，岁尽漏声中。野暗孤城柝，庭高古树风频年远为客，此夕意何穷。「全州岁夜」我还喜其与诗友亲切赠和之作，雅人深意，情意涓涓： 天南岁晚更依依，朔雪寒云绕树飞。投馆惊看风土异，临觞怅忆故人违情同漓水仍西注，身似春鸿向北归想见邮亭频驻马，独吟千嶂已斜晖。 「暮次灵川怀寄师舜天益二乡丈」溪上梅花玉作林，溪边茅屋苦寒侵孤山倚棹逢诗兴，颍水移家见客心。 日暖渔歌来浦溆，雪晴花色上衣襟。风尘拥传劳为郡，时向沧洲寄一吟。 「萧子卜居梅林赋赠」累朝望重经纶地，五亩怡情水竹间。天下正须安石起，雒中犹放涑翁闲。 诗寻丁卯桥边宅，舟放金焦寺里球马烨如尊俎胜，隐园高会渺难攀。「寄寿少傅邃翁先生」文酒高怀强自宽，风烟异域若为欢。哀歌漫引冯驩铗，