In the feudal period, the emperor wanted to make a difference, in addition to his own ability, political vision, and tolerance, he also had a great relationship with his courtiers, and he also needed to be assisted by capable people around the Ming Jun, and when the king fainted, if he met a capable courtier, he could also successfully continue the life of the dynasty.
These courtiers can also be named in history. Zhang Juzheng, a famous generation, made great contributions to the Ming Dynasty, but there was more controversy about him, and finally the peony flower died, absurdly ending his life.
Successful ascension
Zhang Juzheng was born in 1525 AD, his father was a xiucai, he showed his ingenuity after birth, became a local prodigy at a young age, took part in the child exam at the age of 12 and was valued by the local prefect, and became a teenager at the age of 15.
In the 26th year of Jiajing, at the age of 23, he passed the entrance examination and entered the DPRK as an official. At that time, the Jiajing Emperor did not do the right thing, indulged in the art of alchemy and cultivation in the palace every day, and there were cabinet ministers in the court, he initially followed the minister Xu Jie, and under the guidance of the other party, he also learned a lot of ways to be a subject.
Later, the first assistant dispute broke out in the cabinet, and several people competed for power and profit for ordinary people did not attach much importance to this, Zhang Juzheng also saw this, in the 28th year of Jiajing, specially wrote to the emperor to expound his ideas, hoping to reform politics, but did not get attention.
Later, he left the DPRK due to illness, and during the three years of his vacation, he traveled to various places to play in the mountains and rivers, saw the livelihood problems of various places, and after returning to the court, he became the first assistant of the new cabinet in Longqing 6 years with excellent political means.
A generation of famous faces
Zhang Juzheng reached such a high position as Shoufu, he had a strong sense of responsibility, and finally was able to exert his ambitions, the Ming Dynasty at that time experienced two emperors, these two emperors were not particularly concerned about the government, the Ming Dynasty has been very weak.
Although Zhang Juzheng knew that the reform would inevitably violate the interests of some people and attract their persecution, he was still unwilling to give up. He opened the way to reform against all odds. First, through fiscal reform, the current situation of the emptiness of the national treasury was changed, and the pressure on the people was reduced.
Later, tax reform was carried out throughout the country, which completely changed the chaotic tax system at that time and reduced the burden on the peasants. It limits grassroots officials and gives farmers more time to engage in agricultural production. But this reform of his also endangered the interests of the big landowners and attracted their targets.
Wanli 5 years of his father passed away, the ancients should return to their hometown at this time, three years later can return to the court again, Zhang Juzheng realized that this is the critical juncture of reform, if he resigned and returned to his hometown the whole reform will be a failure, so he chose to wear filial piety to handle official duties.
Many officials in the DPRK and China used filial piety to oppress Zhang Juzheng. But even so, Zhang Juzheng was still calm and calm, insisting on reform, and he also left a name in history and was known as a generation of famous people.
Peony flowers die
Zhang Juzheng's reforms filled the Ming treasury, and he also appointed many famous generals in the military field, making great contributions to politics. However, there are also many private rumors about him, and there are rumors in the folk that he has an ambiguous relationship with the empress dowager in the palace, because Zhang Juzheng became famous and handsome at a young age, and also has a very high appearance in the court.
In addition, the empress dowager in the palace at that time was also relatively young, and the two had some contact, so gradually there were rumors. In addition to the ambiguous relationship with the empress, Zhang Juzheng also had 7 wives and concubines in his backyard, in addition to which his officials often offered him beautiful women, and even some special drugs.
It is said that in his later years, he began to become more and more addicted to female sex and covetous enjoyment. He was often accompanied by beautiful women, and the history books recorded that Zhang Juzheng died at the age of 58, but the cause of his death is not very clear. There is a theory that he had already suffered from hemorrhoids in his early years.
This disease was difficult to cure in ancient times, and most doctors used a powder to apply to the affected area, and the powder they used was very violent, which is the arsenic we are familiar with. There is speculation that Zhang Juzheng died because of the treatment of arsenic.
In addition to this, there is also a theory that he died under the peony flower, and the rumors about his lust have a long history, even enduring, and are recorded in various wild histories, and in order to gain his favor, officials in the DPRK have sent him beautiful concubines many times, and also offered him special drugs, and even some people specially offered the art of the house.
All indications show that Zhang Juzheng still prefers beauty in his later years. An official of his time later wrote a book in which he directly mentioned that the reason why he died was because he was addicted to female sex in his later years, first taking too many aphrodisiacs, and then taking cold agents to catch fire, resulting in his death.
epilogue
Zhang Juzheng was very talented in his youth, entered the dynasty as an official at a young age, and also exerted his ambitions in the court, promoting reform and making great contributions to the Ming government and the people at that time, but the rumors about him were enduring, especially the rumors of lust.
In the end, Peony Flower died, absurdly ending his life at the age of 58, if his life expectancy was longer, would the political situation of the Ming Dynasty change?