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Zizhi Tongjian Story XII: Qin II who acted perversely

author:Anxi Travels

In 210 BC, Qin Shi Huang died of illness during the parade, and the chancellor Li Si conspired with Zhao Gao of the Zhongche Government to kill the prince Fu Su and establish Hu Hai to succeed him as Qin II. Qin II's rule was faint and unscrupulous, and he acted perversely, causing people all over the world to rise up and resist Qin, and in just three years, the once invincible Great Qin Empire collapsed violently, and the historical tragedy of the rapid demise of the Qin Dynasty, Qin II had an unshirkable responsibility. In this issue, Xiaobian leads everyone to see how Qin II acted perversely.

Zizhi Tongjian Story XII: Qin II who acted perversely

Stills of Qin II

Reject loyal old ministers and slaughter clan brothers

In the spring of the first year of the qin emperor Hu Hai (209 BC), Hu Hai went to the east to inspect the counties, and Li Si was accompanied by the chancellor. Arrived at Jieshi, and then went south along the coast to Huiji. All the stone tablets erected before Qin Shi Huang were engraved with inscriptions, and the names of the ministers of the entourage were engraved next to them, so as to show the great merits and virtues of the former emperors, and then returned. In April, Qin II arrived in Xianyang and said to Zhao Gao: "Life in the world is like riding six horses over the gap, and it passes in an instant." Since I have ruled the world, I want to enjoy what my eyes and ears hear and see, what I like to hear, and enjoy all the happiness of the world until the end of my life. Zhao Gao replied, "This is what a wise monarch can do, while a dull and vulgar monarch cannot do." Nevertheless, there is still a prohibition that cannot be done entirely, and I will listen to the reasons for this. Plotting to seize power in the sand dunes has aroused the suspicion of the princes and ministers, and all the princes are his majesty's brothers, and the ministers are all appointed by the previous emperor. Now that the emperor has just ascended the throne, they are all unconvinced and sullen in their hearts, and I am afraid that there will be incidents. As a courtier, I trembled, lest I have no good end, how could Your Majesty enjoy itself so much! Qin II said, "Then what to do?" Zhao Gao said: "Your Majesty should strictly enforce the law and the cruel criminal law, so that the criminals can be divided into nine tribes, so that the ministers and princes can be killed, and then the remnants can be gathered and promoted, so that they will be poor and rich, and the lowly and noble, and all the old ministers of the former emperor will be purged and his majesty's cronies will be resettled, so that the emperor can accumulate yin virtue, the evil will be eliminated, the treacherous plots will be blocked, and there will be no courtiers who do not receive his majesty's kindness." That way, you can sit back and have fun, and there's nothing better than that! ”

Zizhi Tongjian Story XII: Qin II who acted perversely

Zhao Gao stills

Qin II thought Zhao Gao was right. Therefore, the law was revised, and it was necessary to seek more cruelty and harshness, as long as the ministers and princes committed crimes, they were all handed over to Zhao Gao for interrogation and severe punishment. As a result, the twelve princes were beheaded in the Xianyang street market, and the ten princesses were dismembered in Du County, and their belongings were all confiscated and confiscated. The number of people implicated and arrested is innumerable. Gongzi imprisoned the three Lu brothers in the inner palace, and finally agreed on their sins. Qin II sent an envoy to order the general Lu to say, "If a prince does not obey the courtesy of his courtier, he should be executed for his sins!" The sentence is enforced by the execution officer. General Lu said: "In the etiquette of the imperial court, I never dare to violate the rules concerning it; in the position of the imperial court, I have never dared to lose my etiquette; I have never dared to say anything wrong in response to the emperor's orders. I'm willing to hear about my sins and then go and die! The envoy said, "I cannot consult with you, but I am instructed to act according to the edict!" Then he shouted "Heaven" three times from the heavens, saying, "I am not guilty!" All three brothers wept bitterly and immediately drew their swords and committed suicide. The entire royal family was shocked and terrified.

Zizhi Tongjian Story XII: Qin II who acted perversely

Persecution of clan brothers

Gongzi Gao planned to escape, but he was afraid that the Zhulian family would be arrested and executed, so he wrote to me: "When The former emperor was alive, I entered the palace and the former emperor gave me food and clothing, and when I went out, I was also rewarded with clothes; and the BMW in the stables of the palace was also rewarded to me." I should have followed the Emperor to death, but I didn't. He who is not filial to the son of man, who is a subject of man is disloyal, and who is unfaithful and filial does not live in the world without a face. So I asked to die with the emperor, hoping to bury me at the foot of Mount Li. And get the emperor's mercy! When the book went to Hu Hai, the second was very happy, summoned Zhao Gao, asked him to read Gongzi Gao's letter, and said, "Is the development of the matter too urgent?" Zhao Gao said, "Those courtiers are worried that death is not too late, where is there free time to rebel?" The second king approved Gongzi Gao's request and rewarded him with 100,000 yuan for burial.

Zizhi Tongjian Story XII: Qin II who acted perversely

Gongzi Gao killed himself

Servitude is excessive, and the people are killed

Qin II ordered the continuation of the construction of the Afang Palace, and recruited 50,000 strong men from all over the country to guard Xianyang, and ordered them to be taught the method of archery. Since these people and dogs, horses, and animals consumed a lot of grain, and it was estimated that the supply would be insufficient, the Second Emperor ordered the allocation of grain to the counties, the transfer of beans, grain and hay, and the provision that the transporters bring their own grain. The grain produced within three hundred miles of Xianyang City was not allowed to be eaten by the people and was handed over to the government.

Zizhi Tongjian Story XII: Qin II who acted perversely

Qin II built a large number of civil engineering

Li Si offered to regurgitate the accelerant of the contradiction

Qin II repeatedly condemned Li Si: "Being in a high position of the Three Princes, why are thieves so rampant!" Li Si was frightened, but he attached great importance to the title of Lilu, and there was no countermeasure, so he obeyed the wishes of the second emperor and wrote: "A wise monarch must be a person who can exercise the art of supervision over his subordinates." Therefore, the reason why Shen Buxian said, 'If you have the world, you can't act arbitrarily, and it is said that you use the world as your own shackles', and there is nothing else, that is, you cannot supervise and blame your subordinates, but you have to work hard for the common people of the world, just like Tang Yao and Dayu in the past, so it is called 'shackles'. If, as the monarch of a country, cannot be good at using the power techniques of Shen Bu harm and Han Fei, practicing the way of supervision and accountability, and making the world suitable for his own wishes, then he can only work hard in vain to sacrifice himself as a commoner, which is the labor of the common people, not the monarch who rules the world. Therefore, the wise monarch can exercise the art of supervision and interrogation, act arbitrarily and arbitrarily, so that power does not fall into the hands of his subordinates, and then he can block the road to benevolence, put an end to the arguments of the exhortators, and do whatever he wants alone, and no one dares to resist and resist. In this way, it is too late for the courtiers and the people to correct their mistakes, and where else dare they plot rebellion! "The second was very happy to read the letter, so he carried out strict supervision and reproach of his subjects, and those who levied heavy taxes on the people were considered to be talented officials, and the officials who killed more people were considered loyal subjects, and as a result, half of the pedestrians on the road were punished, and the corpses of the slaughtered were piled up in the street market, and the people of the Qin Dynasty were even more frightened and panicked, looking forward to a rebellion.

Zizhi Tongjian Story XII: Qin II who acted perversely

Li Si "offered a plan" to Qin II

Zhao Gao wanted to monopolize power and designed to frame Li Si

Zhao Gao, favored by Qin II, acted recklessly and declared a personal vendetta, and he wanted to further monopolize the power of the Qin state, and in front of him were the meritorious old ministers of the former dynasty headed by the chancellor Li Si. In order to realize his ambitions, Zhao Gao deliberately designed to frame Li Si. Zhao Gao heard that Li Si had some complaints about Qin II's construction of the Afang Palace, so he went to see the chancellor Li Si and said: "There are more and more thieves in the Kanto, but now the emperor is stepping up his enlistment to build the Afang Palace and collect useless things such as dogs and horses. I am ready to advise, because I am lowly and I dare not say, this is really a matter of your prime minister, why don't you advise? Lis replied, "Indeed, I have been trying to advise for a long time." Nowadays, the emperor does not sit in the court and listens to the government, and often lives in the deep palace. What I wanted to say, I couldn't convey it, I wanted to see him, but I didn't have a chance. Zhao Gao said, "If you really want to go to court." Let me tell you when the Emperor is free for you. So Zhao Gao waited until Qin II feasted and drank happily, and the beautiful woman stood in front of him, and then sent someone to tell Li Si: "The emperor is idle, you can enter the palace to play things." The minister then went into the palace to meet him. This has happened three times. The Second Emperor said angrily, "When I am usually idle, the Prime Minister does not come, but when I am idle and resting, the Prime Minister comes to play!" Does the prime minister think that I am young and look down on me? Zhao Gao took the opportunity to say: "Dune conspired to forge the will, and the minister participated." Now that His Majesty has ascended the throne as emperor, the status of the chancellor has not improved any more, and he means that he wants to cede the land to him and claim the title of king. And Your Majesty does not ask me, I dare not say. Li You, the eldest son of The Prime Minister, was the sheriff of Sanchuan, and the thieves Chen Sheng and others in Chu were all from the neighboring counties of the Chu Dynasty, and for this reason, those thieves openly ran rampant, and when passing through Sanchuan City, Li You refused to attack but just hid in the city to defend. I also heard that they exchanged letters with each other, but they did not dare to play it to you because they had not yet checked and verified it. Moreover, the prime minister lives outside, and the power is greater than you. The second emperor thought that what Zhao Gao said was true and wanted to interrogate the chancellor, but he was worried that the facts were not accurate enough, so he first sent someone to investigate and verify the collusion between Shou LiYu and the thieves in Mikawa County.

Zizhi Tongjian Story XII: Qin II who acted perversely

Lee by stills

When Li Si heard about this, he wrote to Zhao Gao's shortcomings and said: "Zhao Gaozhuan is good at rewarding and punishing the great power of life and death, and the power he holds is no different from that of His Majesty. From the former Tian Chang as the chancellor of the State of Qi, Duke Qi Jian, stole the kindness and authority of Duke Jian of The State of Qi, and received the support of the people below and the support of the courtiers above, and finally killed duke Qi Jian and seized the state of Qi, which was something known to the whole world. Now Zhao Gao's intentions are sinister and debauched, his behavior is sinister, his private wealth, like the Tian clan in the State of Qi, and he is insatiable, the pursuit of Lilu is endless, his position of power is second only to the monarch, his desire is endless, he robs His Majesty's prestige, and his ambitions are like when Han Xuan was the emperor of Korea, Han An. If His Majesty is not prepared, I am afraid that he will certainly rebel. The Second said, "What are these words!" Zhao Gao was originally a eunuch, but he never indulged himself because of his comfortable situation, nor did he change his loyalty because of his situation, he was clean and good, and he had today's position by his own efforts. He was able to enter the army because of his loyalty, and he held his position by credit, and he was considered a wise man. And you doubt him, why? Besides, if you don't trust Zhao Gao, who do you trust? Moreover, Zhao Gao is shrewd and incorruptible, strong and courageous, can understand the will of the people, and can suit my heart, you don't doubt him! The second emperor was very fond of Zhao Gao, and feared that Li Si would kill him, so he quietly told Zhao Gao what Li Si said. Zhao Gao said, "All that Xiang Xiang is worried about is that I am a Zhao Gao, and when I die, he will immediately do what he wants to do like Tian Chang." ”

Zizhi Tongjian Story XII: Qin II who acted perversely

Li Si and Zhao Gao

During the secret battle between Zhao Gao and Li Siming, the anti-Qin forces in the Kwantung region were increasing, and the soldiers in Guanzhong were constantly recruited by the Qin court to attack the thieves in the east. The right chancellor Feng Zhiyi, the left chancellor Li Si, and the general Feng Hao advised Qin II: "The kwantung region of the group of thieves jointly rebelled, and the imperial court sent troops to suppress and kill, and many people were killed, but it still did not stop. The reason for the large number of thieves is that the guards, land and water transport, and labor are very hard, and the taxes are too heavy. It is requested that the construction of the Afang Palace be temporarily stopped and that the guarding and transit of the four-sided border defense be reduced. The Second Emperor said: "Whoever has the world and is honorable can do his best to do his best, and the importance of the monarch is to enforce the law strictly, and his subordinates will not dare to do wrong, so that they can control the world." In the former yu shun and xia yu era, although the monarchs of the yu shun and Xia Yu eras were noble as the son of heaven, they were in a poor predicament and obeyed the common people, what law did they need? Moreover, the former emperor rose from the princes and annexed the world. The world has been pacified, the four yi have been expelled, the borders have been stabilized, and the palace has been built to show the success of the cause and the proud mood, and you have also seen the achievements of the cause of the former emperor. Now in the two years since I succeeded to the throne, thieves have risen from all sides, and you can neither prohibit nor abandon the deeds of the former emperor, so that you cannot repay the former emperor and cannot serve the emperor loyally, so why do you still have to be on the official position! So he ordered that Feng Gojie, Li Si, and Feng Hao be handed over to the judge for interrogation and conviction. Feng went to the disease and Feng Hao committed suicide, but Li Si was imprisoned. The second emperor handed Li Si over to Zhao Gao, who rebuked Li Si and his son Li You for plotting against him, and arrested all of their families and relatives and guests. Zhao Gao interrogated Li Si and tortured him more than a thousand times, and Li Si could not bear the pain, and confessed his guilt with grievances.

Zizhi Tongjian Story XII: Qin II who acted perversely

Lees goes to jail

Repentance is not the beginning, the death of Lisi

The reason why Li Si did not commit suicide was that he believed that he had the ability to speak eloquently, had merit for the Qin state, and really did not have the heart of rebellion, and wanted to go to the book to defend himself, hoping that Qin II could wake up and forgive him. So he wrote in prison: "I have been governing the people for more than thirty years. At the beginning, the land of the Qin State was small, the territory was not more than a thousand miles, and there were only hundreds of thousands of soldiers, so I exhausted my meager talents and secretly sent my ministers to bring gold and jade to let them lobby the princes. Secretly strengthen armament, rectify government decrees, indoctrinate, promote brave and good soldiers, and respect meritorious men. Therefore, it was able to coerce Korea, weaken the State of Wei, defeat the State of Yan and the State of Zhao, pacify the State of Qi and the State of Chu, and finally annex the Six Kingdoms, capture the kings of the Six Kingdoms, and establish the King of Qin as the Son of Heaven. He also expelled the Xiongnu in the north and the Qi people in the northeast, and pacified Baiyue in the south, showing the strength of the Qin state. It also formulated policies, unified weights and measures, reformed the writing, and promulgated it to the world, thus establishing the prestige of the Qin Dynasty. These are my sins, and I should have been put to death long ago!" Fortunately, the emperor allowed me to do my best to live to this day. I hope Your Majesty will see! Zhao Gao ordered the prison guards to destroy it and not play it, saying, "How can a prisoner go to the book!" ”

Zizhi Tongjian Story XII: Qin II who acted perversely

Zhao Gao sent more than a dozen of his disciples to pretend to be imperial historians, gurus, and attendants to take turns interrogating Li Si, and Li Si changed his confession to answer truthfully, so Zhao Gao sent someone to torture Li Si again. Later, Qin II sent someone to verify Li Si's guilt, and Li Si believed that he was still the same as before, and he never dared to change his confession and confessed his crime. The confession was presented, and Qin II said happily: "If it were not for Zhao Gao, I would almost be betrayed by The Prime Minister!" By the time the second sent to investigate Sanchuan Commandery's shou Li You's men arrived in Sanchuan, Li You had already been killed by the Chu army. After the emissary returned, just at this time, Li Si was imprisoned for punishment, and Zhao Gao fabricated a crime about Li You's attempt to rebel, which was compounded with Li Si's crime, so Li Si was punished with five crimes and beheaded in Xianyang City. Li Si walked out of prison, was escorted with his second son, turned back to the second son and said, "I want to take the yellow dog with you again, and go out to Cai Dongmen to chase the cunning rabbit, how is it possible!" So the father and son cried relatively bitterly, and Li Si's three clans were also killed. The second emperor then appointed Zhao Gao as the chancellor, no matter how big or small, it was up to Zhao Gao to decide.

Zizhi Tongjian Story XII: Qin II who acted perversely

Liz father and son were killed

Monopoly of power refers to deer as horses

After Li Si was killed, Zhao Gao monopolized the power of the Qin Dynasty, but fearing that the courtiers would not listen to him, he first experimented, and brought a deer to present to Qin II, saying: "Your Majesty please accept this horse." The second person smiled and said, "You are wrong, how can you say that a deer is a horse?" He also asked the attendants on the left and right, some were silent, some said to be horses to cater to Zhao Gao, and some said they were deer. Zhao Gao secretly framed the people who said it was a deer with Qin Law, and after that, the courtiers were afraid of Zhao Gao, and no one dared to say his fault.

Zizhi Tongjian Story XII: Qin II who acted perversely

Refers to deer as horses

Zhao Gao, relying on qin II's grace and arrogance, killed many people because of his personal grievances, and he was afraid that the ministers would go to the court to make this matter clear, so he advised Qin II: "The reason why the Son of Heaven is noble is because the courtiers can only hear his voice, but cannot see his appearance. Moreover, Your Majesty is so young, not everything may be known, sitting in the imperial court every day, condemning and promoting if there is anything improper, the ministers will find your shortcomings and will not be able to show your holy understanding to the people of the world. Therefore, Your Majesty might as well dwell in the palace and let me and the attendants who are familiar with the law wait for the performer to present it, and it is up to us to judge and decide when the official matter comes. In this way, the ministers will not dare to report difficult things again, and the whole world will praise you as the monarch of the holy Ming. The second emperor listened to Zhao Gao's advice and never sat in the court to meet with the chancellor, and often lived in the deep palace. Zhao Gao served left and right, monopolized power, and everything was decided by him.

Zizhi Tongjian Story XII: Qin II who acted perversely

Zhao Gao overhead Qin II

Zhao Gao's desire was difficult to fill, and Qin II was killed

Zhao Gao had said many times before that "no major incident would happen to the thieves in Kwantung", and it was not until Xiang Yu captured Wang Li and others, and Zhang Handan's army repeatedly failed, before writing to ask for assistance. At this time, most of them from the east of Hangu Pass betrayed the Qin Dynasty and responded to the princes, and the princes also led their troops to attack the west. Liu Bang led tens of thousands of people to attack Wuguan and slaughtered the whole city. Zhao Gao was afraid that if the second emperor was angry, he would invite the disaster of killing himself, so he said that he could not get sick and would not go to see Qin II. The Second Sentone to Ask Zhao Gao about the thieves. Zhao Gao was even more frightened, so he secretly conspired with his son-in-law Ling Yan Le of Xianyang County and his brother Zhao Cheng, saying: "The emperor does not listen to advice, and now the situation is urgent, and he wants to blame me for the disaster." I want to change the emperor and set up another child. The children were benevolent and frugal, and the people listened to him. He then ordered Lang Zhongling to make an internal response, falsely claiming that there was a great thief, and ordered Yan Le to summon officials to send soldiers to pursue him, and at the same time placed Yan Le's mother in Zhao Gao's home. He also sent Yan Le to lead more than a thousand officers and men to the gate of the Wangyi Palace, tied up the guards and the servants, and said, "The thieves have entered, why don't you stop them?" Wei Ling said: "There are soldiers around the palace to defend, how can any thieves dare to enter the palace!" Yan Le killed Wei Ling, and led the general directly into the palace, shooting lang officials and eunuchs all the way. The officials and eunuchs were terrified, some fled, some resisted, and all those who resisted were killed, and dozens of people died. Lang Zhongling and Yan Le entered the palace together and shot the drapery of the SECOND with an arrow. The second became enraged and summoned the attendants on the left and right, but the attendants on the left and right were afraid to go and fight. There was a eunuch waiting at the side of the second, and he did not dare to leave. The second entered the room and said to the eunuch, "Why didn't you tell me earlier that things had developed to this extent!" The eunuch said, "I didn't dare to say it, so I saved my life, and if I had said it earlier, I would have been killed a long time ago, and where would I still be alive today?" Yan Le approached the second and counted his guilt, saying, "You are proud and indulgent, you are indiscriminate and innocent, you are very ruthless, and the people of the world have betrayed you together, so make your own plans!" The second asked, "Can I see the Prime Minister?" Yan Le replied, "Can't see!" The Second said, "I would like to get a county and be a king." Yan Le did not allow it. The Second said, "I am willing to be a prince of ten thousand households." Yan Le still did not agree. The second finally said, "I am willing to be a commoner with my wife and children, and I will be treated like the sons." Yan Le said, "The Prime Minister ordered me to kill you for the sake of the people of the world, and although you have said a lot, I dare not reciprocate!" So the soldier who commanded him stepped forward. II committed suicide.

Zizhi Tongjian Story XII: Qin II who acted perversely

Qin II was forced to commit suicide

Yan Le went back to report to Zhao Gao. Zhao Gao then summoned all the ministers and princes and informed them of the murder of Qin II, and said: "The State of Qin was originally a princely state, and the First Emperor ruled the world, so he was called emperor. Now that the six kingdoms are independent again, the territory of the Qin state is getting smaller and smaller, and it is still called emperor in the void, there is no need, it should still be called king. He made the infant the King of Qin and buried the second in the Yichun Garden in Dunan with the etiquette of the common people.

Zizhi Tongjian Story XII: Qin II who acted perversely

Mausoleum of Qin II

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