When I first noticed the birth and death years of Xiao Daocheng and Xiao Zhao, my jaw almost fell to the ground in shock.
Xiao Daocheng was born in 427 AD, and the crown prince Xiao Zhao was born in 440 AD. If the history books are not wrong, then Xiao Daocheng is only 13 years older than Xiao Zhao!
Xiao Daocheng really became the protagonist of history after the death of the Song Ming Emperor Liu Yu, that is, in 472 AD, when Xiao Daocheng was already 45 years old, and Xiao Zhao was already 32 years old. After seven years of struggle, Nanqi was established, and Xiao Daocheng was 52 years old and Xiao Zhao was 39 years old.
Looking at age alone, it is difficult to say that Xiao Zhao is a standard second generation, he is more like Xiao Daocheng's brother and ally.
To make another intuitive comparison: Xiao Daocheng's third son, Xiao Ying, was born in 459 AD. Xiao Zhao's eldest son, Xiao Changmao, was born in 458 AD. In other words, Xiao Daocheng's third son, Xiao Ying, was not as old as Xiao Zhao's eldest son.
One thing is almost certain: when Xiao Daocheng is struggling, Xiao Zhao must also be a fierce character who is alone. From this point of view, Southern Qi should have been established by Xiao Daocheng and Xiao Zhao. If Xiao Daocheng had three long and two short, no one in the Southern Qi imperial family would certainly be able to compare with The Crown Prince Xiao Zhao.
When there are strong external enemies, the strong emperor and the strong prince can still hate each other, but when there is no threat of a strong external enemy, the strong emperor and the strong prince will definitely fight each other to the death, and the prospects of the country will also be overshadowed.
But Southern Qi was undoubtedly lucky, because Xiao Daocheng had only been emperor for more than two years. Only a few months after the contradiction between the powerful emperor and the powerful emperor became public, Xiao Daocheng died, making a tragic imperial infighting invisibly resolved.
This tragic infighting in the imperial family was not obvious, but the history books recorded that "Crown Prince Xiao Zhao thought that he was older and had started a business with Xiao Daocheng, so no matter how big or small the affairs of the imperial court, Xiao Zhao mostly acted arbitrarily and arbitrarily, often violating the previous system."
Shangzhi is also the prince, who thinks that he is older, and he has created a great cause with Taizu, and the size of the dynasty is arbitrary, and the rate is arbitrary, and it violates the system. - Zizhi Tongjian, Qi Jiyi
Crown Prince Xiao Zhao was the future emperor, or a powerful faction that followed Xiao Daocheng to fight the world, when the strong emperor and the strong prince had a conflict of interest, the courtiers did not necessarily dare to stand on Xiao Daocheng's side. Therefore, for prince Xiao Zhao's lawless behavior, no one ever dared to report to Xiao Daocheng.
Finally, one day, Xun Boyu, a squire who was riding a regular attendant, exposed to Xiao Daocheng about the violation of the rules of the crown prince Xiao Zhao. Xiao Daocheng was very angry and planned to find an opportunity to clean up Prince Xiao Zhao.
Because the crown prince worshiped the tomb, he secretly opened the Taizu. Taizu was furious and ordered to inspect the Eastern Palace. - Zizhi Tongjian, Qi Jiyi
But Xiao Daocheng repeatedly tossed and turned for more than a month, and no one explicitly supported him, of course, no one clearly expressed support for Prince Xiao Zhao. Faced with this situation, Xiao Daocheng could only be sullen in one life, but in the end he could not do anything to Prince Xiao Zhao.
The situation turned out like this, everyone saw that Xiao Daocheng really could not get off the stage, so they elected Xiao Daocheng's hardcore confidant Wang Jingze to come forward and mediate for the emperor and the prince in the drama.
Wang Jing immediately persuaded Xiao Daocheng to personally go to the crown prince Xiao Zhao and show him friendship.
At the end of the month, Taizu was angry and was lying in the Sun Hall during the day, and Wang Jing went straight in, prostrating his head to enlighten Taizu: "The official has a shallow day under the heavens, the prince is blamed for nothing, and people are afraid; may the official explain it to the East Palace." - Zizhi Tongjian, Qi Jiyi
Xiao Daocheng was the emperor and father, and Xiao Zhao was only a courtier and son.
The courtiers are at fault, and everyone does not advise the courtiers to go to the emperor to make amends, but to persuade the emperor to go to the courtiers to show friendship.
The son is at fault, and everyone does not advise the son to go to the father to make amends, but to persuade the father to go to the son to show friendship.
Xiao Daocheng's heart must be extremely unstable: Whose empire is this empire?
I have always stressed a point of view: Xiao Daocheng simply did not have the objective conditions and personal qualities to become the founding emperor. As a founding emperor, he was even mixed to the point of taking the initiative to show goodwill to the prince, if Xiao Daocheng was not a nest bag, who was the nest bag?
Although Wang Jing was a hardcore confidant who helped Xiao Daocheng kill Jun, when Wang Jing said these words, Xiao Daocheng immediately decided not to pay attention to his hardcore confidant.
However, Wang Jing said to Xiao Daocheng's attendants, "The emperor wants to go to the prince's place, so you should quickly arrange the carriages and horses!" Xiao Daocheng still had no intention of leaving, and Wang Jing took Xiao Daocheng to the car.
Taizu was speechless, and Jing Ze, because he loudly proclaimed his will, dressed up and went to the Eastern Palace, and then he set up a meal for the eunuch to set up a meal, calling for public opinion left and right, and Taizu was unmoved. Jing Ze Suo Yi was Taizu, which was far-fetched. - Zizhi Tongjian, Qi Jiyi
When he arrived at the home of Prince Xiao Zhao, the superficial atmosphere was happy and warm: several sons and grandchildren surrounded Xiao Daocheng, like the stars holding the moon, and Prince Xiao Zhao personally served Xiao Daocheng with wine and vegetables. Such a warm family gathering lasted from noon to dusk, and the participants dispersed with drunkenness.
The king of Changsha shook and caught The canopy, the king of Linchuan held the pheasant tail fan, the prince of Wenxi held the wine hammer, the king of Nanjun Changmao carried the wine, and the prince and the Yuzhang Wang Ling and Wang Jing held the wine and food until dusk, and the drunkenness was returned. - Zizhi Tongjian, Qi Jiyi
Is this normal? Absolutely not normal!
Xiao Daocheng was a towering emperor, and his relationship with the crown prince Xiao Zhao was so tense, who dared to be so big or small with Xiao Daocheng at this time?
But throughout the banquet, the members of the Xiao clan did not regard Xiao Daocheng as a towering emperor, but only as a kind father and grandfather. This can only prove one thing: Xiao Daocheng has lost his position, and the members of the Xiao clan are no longer afraid of him, and even look forward to his early retirement.
If Xiao Daocheng is willing to retire early, then this warm and united situation can continue to be maintained. otherwise? The entire Xiao Clan was probably immediately filled with a sea of sword light and blood.
After understanding this historical detail, and then looking back at Xiao Daocheng's inability to clean up Prince Xiao Zhao, he will find that everything can make sense.
In the context of Xiao Daocheng's already losing power, who would dare to risk offending Prince Xiao Daocheng to help Xiao Daocheng? The center of gravity of Southern Qi's power was tilting towards the crown prince Xiao Zhao, which was an objective fact that Xiao Daocheng could not change.
After that warm family banquet, Crown Prince Xiao Zhao had already gained a position above Emperor Xiao Daocheng.
Xiao Daocheng was never willing to retire early, but in the face of the ambitious prince Xiao Zhao, could he not retire early? The members of the Xiao clan gathered together in a warm and harmonious atmosphere, but the contradiction between the emperor and the prince was not resolved, because at the normal banquet, the crown prince Xiao Zhao did not commit a move to plead guilty, and both sides always deliberately avoided this issue.
When things get to this point, there are usually only two outcomes.
One result can be referred to Li Yuan and Li Shimin: the emperor could only choose early retirement in the face of an ambitious prince. After the emperor's early retirement, the picture of the father's kindness and filial piety reappeared.
Another result can be referred to Liu Yilong and Liu Shao: the emperor faced the ambitious prince, and the two sides fought with real swords and guns. Judging from the situation at that time, Xiao Daocheng was already obviously at a disadvantage.
After this family gathering, Xiao Daocheng hoped to improve the status of his second son Xiao Ling, and frequently talked to Xiao Ling, although no record of the conversation was handed down, but the general idea should be to say: "Your eldest brother Xiao Zhao is not OK, I want you to be the prince."
But after Xiao Ling got this news, he was so frightened that he crawled with a rolling belt and immediately went to his eldest brother, Prince Xiao Zhao, to be loyal.
Taizu Yin has the meaning of taking the title of Prince of Yuzhang, and the Prince of Lingshi is more and more careful, so the prince's friendship and love will not fade. - Zizhi Tongjian, Qi Jiyi
What does this mean? At least in Xiao Ling's view, his elderly father was not his eldest brother's opponent at all. If you drink the ecstasy soup that your father poured, you are likely to be a severed head.
Xiao Ling's practice was also equivalent to advising Xiao Daocheng: "Father Emperor, your defeat has been decided, don't struggle." ”
Xiao Daocheng also decided to reuse Xun Boyu, but Xun Boyu obviously did not dare to help Xiao Daocheng anymore. Although his previous behavior would be hated by Crown Prince Xiao Zhao, as long as he woke up, there might still be room for maneuver in things; if Xun Boyu dared to go all the way to the black, I was afraid that he would immediately die on trumped-up charges.
The Xiao cavalry general Chen Yinshu had also reported to Xiao Daocheng the faults of the crown prince Xiao Zhao, but when he saw the general trend, he immediately chose to side with Xiao Zhao. He also said to Xiao Zhao, "The reason why the emperor misunderstood you was entirely because xun Boyu made a small report!" Uncle Chen Yin may not have the luxury of expecting Xiao Zhao to believe what he said, but only to show his position and loyalty.
The Xiao riding general Chen Yinshu , Xian yi Bai Jingzhen and the crown prince gained and lost, and the yu prince was all cloudy " Bo Yu to smell". Prince Yu is deeply resentful of Bo Yu. - Zizhi Tongjian, Qi Jiyi
With so many people supporting it, Prince Xiao Zhao also made clear his position: I did not blame the past for the past, and it is still too late to correct it.
Yu prefecture assassinated Shi Yuan Chongzu and did not want to attach himself to the crown prince Xiao Zhao, and Xiao Daocheng quickly tried to find a way to win over Yuan Chongzu. Xiao Zhao said directly to Yuan Chongzu, "I won't care about those gossip outside, from now on, I will give you a great fortune." Hearing this kind of half-promise and half-threat, Yuan Chongzu could only show loyalty to Xiao Zhao.
Yuzhou assassinated Shi Yuan Chongzu and did not personally attach himself to the crown prince, and would chongzu break the Wei soldiers, and Taizu summoned the dynasty and conspired with him. The prince was suspicious, and Qu Jia treated him with courtesy, saying: "I have opened my heart to the rumors of the world; from now on, I will pay for them with wealth." "Worship the ancestors and thank you." - Zizhi Tongjian, Qi Jiyi
It is worth mentioning that although Xun Boyu and Yuzhou Shiyuan Chongzu both expressed their intention of submission to the crown prince Xiao Zhao, when the contradiction between Xiao Daocheng and Xiao Zhao intensified, the two of them still chose to side with Xiao Daocheng. No matter what the intention, no matter how much helplessness, I still have to give these two a thumbs up: battle righteousness!
These two elder brothers were very righteous to Xiao Daocheng, but fate was not very righteous to them. A few months after the conflict with Crown Prince Xiao Zhao became public, Xiao Daocheng died. It didn't take long for the two righteous brothers to be retaliated against: they were held in a false hat for rebellion and died without a place to die.
Ding Hai, the next edict falsely accused Chongzu of recruiting the wasteland people in northern Jiangsu and wanted to rebel with Bo Yu, and they all accepted and killed him. - Zizhi Tongjian, Qi Jiyi
If you put aside all conspiracy theories, it is actually not surprising to look at Xiao Daocheng's death alone. In these few months, Xiao Daocheng must have been angry, hateful and sad, and there was a knot in his heart that could not be solved, and finally he had to end up depressed. Xiao Daocheng's predicament at that time was difficult to solve, because the people's hearts wanted, Xiao Daocheng had reached the brink of abandonment.
But in a sense, Xiao Daocheng's death is another good thing, because it avoids infighting between the Xiao royal family.
If Xiao Daocheng is slow to die and refuses to retire early, Prince Xiao Zhao will definitely find an opportunity to do it, and then the entire upper class society will inevitably be in a situation of bloodshed. In this kind of infighting, there is usually no winner. Even if Xiao Zhao becomes the victor of this infighting, will he still have a chance to continue to suppress the rich warriors and military and political tycoons? I'm afraid it's hard.
Fortunately, at this critical moment, God helped Nan Qi. With Xiao Daocheng's death, the infighting crisis immediately dissipated without a trace.