Chapter 45 Chapter 12 God-making Movement

In order to save himself, Wei Zhongxian adopted two strategies: one is to continue to increase the dose and take compliments; The secret service organization of the Ming Dynasty is very famous in history. This is because most of the emperors of the Ming Dynasty were morbidly curious and liked to spy on the privacy of their subjects.For this reason, they established a huge spy organization consisting of Dongchang and Jinyiwei, with tens of thousands of people.In the third year of Apocalypse (1623 A.D.), Wei Zhongxian served as the admiral and eunuch of Dongchang. In this position, he really showed his strengths and did a great job.

Realizing the illegitimacy of his rule and the huge opposition in society, he maximized the power of the spy organization.On the one hand, it is to create a general atmosphere of terror in the whole society, so that no one dares to talk or move.On the other hand, it is to dig out potential political opponents with pervasive reconnaissance methods and prevent problems before they happen. There is a well-known story: Four friends drank in a secret room, and one of them got too drunk and scolded Wei Zhongxian.The other three didn't dare to agree, they just stared blankly.At this time, the secret agents of Dongchang broke in suddenly, and immediately arrested the four of them to Wei Zhongxian.The curser was flayed alive, and the other three were rewarded for not going along.

This story vividly highlights the social atmosphere of Wei Zhongxian's dynasty, and the real situation is almost the same. The term "Road to Eye" used to describe the horror atmosphere at that time is no longer a virtual reference, but a real reference. In the sixth year of Tianqi (1626 A.D.), Zhu Zuwen, a Suzhou official, went to Beijing for some business. He wrote a volume of "Northern Journey Daily Book" about his experience on the way to the capital and inside and outside the capital, which vividly reflected the panic and horror of the society at that time.On his way to Beijing and in the inn, he was suddenly checked by special agents, and his luggage was rummaged several times.After entering Beijing, he went to several friends in a row, begging to stay overnight, but no one dared to agree to him.

When one of them saw him coming to the door, he lost his voice and said: "When is this world, how can I commit myself to this place?" It can be seen that the horror atmosphere at that time was deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. While the whole society is trembling and no one dares to talk or move, a voice is getting louder and louder, that is the praise of Wei Zhongxian.This eulogy is getting more and more outrageous.The decree written under the instruction of Wei Zhongxian is full of praises and praises for himself: he praised himself as "loyalty in one's heart, and comprehensive planning. Enwei creates luck, holds the pivot of peace in one's hand; plans and decides capital, and holds the spirit of helping others in one's heart." He also said that he was "only upholding justice, turning back the tide, and his achievements in the world are not insignificant."

Of course, other people's flattery is many times more disgusting than this.In his poem celebrating Wei Zhongxian's birthday, the academician Feng Quan (quan) even described him as "the great talent is superior to Yilu, and the great talent dominates businessmen". He is simply the greatest man in all ages.Later, the Guozijian Jiansheng collectively wrote a letter, requesting that Wei Zhongxian and Confucius should be worshipped together, and said that he "repeats the sacred teachings of light, and his merits are not inferior to Mencius." The illiterate Wei Si never imagined in his dreams that he would be equal to Confucius and Mencius!Wei Zhongxian readily accepted such outrageous compliments, and rewarded those who flattered him greatly.

What is good at the top will be worse at the bottom.Later, this worship movement developed to such a point that all parts of the empire built ancestral halls for Wei Zhongxian.Throughout the ages, no one has ever been treated like this.In order to please the Wei family, the provinces created Shengci temples that are far more spectacular than Yuemiao and Guanmiao. Kaifeng, the capital city of Henan Province, forcibly demolished more than 2,000 private houses in order to build a shrine.The "Zhu En" temple in Yansui is completely roofed with yellow glazed tiles dedicated to the emperor.The statues of Wei Zhongxian in the temple are all carved from agarwood, and there is such a couplet pasted on the door: "The most holy and the most gods stand in the middle of the universe; more blessings and longer lives, the same sun and moon will last forever."After it was completed, governors and governors from all over the country would go to the temple to worship five times and kowtow three times, saying that they are nine thousand years old. No living emperor has ever received such respect and favor.

Such absurd farce is certainly due to Wei's simple mind, but it also reflects the further deterioration of the spiritual quality of the entire nation.