Many people say that Zhu Yuanzhang is moody and is a thin-hearted emperor who likes to kill. Most of these people's impressions of Zhu Yuanzhang come from the Ming history written by the Qing Dynasty, and it is normal to "belittle" the former emperor in the history books out of the special "patriotic" ideology of ancient times.
In fact, as long as you know more about the history of the Ming Dynasty, you will know that Zhu Yuanzhang is not what everyone thinks, he only knows how to kill people. Instead, he was an open-minded emperor who often joked with his ministers.
There was a founding hero of the Ming Dynasty named Tang He, who is recorded in history, and the interaction between him and Zhu Yuanzhang can just prove Zhu Yuanzhang's true character.
1. Background Introduction
Tang He was a native of Fengyang, Anhui. He and Zhu Yuanzhang are fellow countrymen, and the two grew up together. When they first played, the two liked to play the game of war, and every time it was Tang and the conductor, and Zhu Yuanzhang was responsible for the battle. The history books record that "young people have strange ambitions, play and taste riding and shooting, and give up the crowd." ”
When Tang He grew up and joined the rebel army, he wrote a letter to his childhood playmate Zhu Yuanzhang, recommending that Zhu Yuanzhang also join the rebel army. Zhu Yuanzhang came to the army, and because of his outstanding performance, he was promoted to Tang He's superior. At that time, many people were dissatisfied with Zhu Yuanzhang and were unwilling to listen to his orders, only Tang He obeyed him and supported any of his deployments.
In this way, Tang He followed Zhu Yuanzhang on his southern expedition to the North until the establishment of the Ming Dynasty. During this period, Tang He repeatedly made great achievements, and even repelled Zhang Shicheng many times. Later, Zhang Shicheng's younger brother Zhang Shixin attacked, and Tang He rushed to the rescue of Zhu Yuanzhang, killing countless enemies and capturing 8,000 people in this battle alone.
2. Missing the Founding Fathers
Logically, Tang He made great contributions to Zhu Yuanzhang and deserved to be rewarded, and after Zhu Yuanzhang established the Ming Dynasty, it was also natural to add officials to him. However, Tang He did not become the founding father, and the reason was that he could not cry and laugh.
At that time, Tang He was ordered to guard Changzhou, and he began to gradually "swell", often drunk like mud, and made many mistakes. What is even more exaggerated is that he dared to ask Zhu Yuanzhang, and after the other party refused, Tang He remembered the hatred in his heart. Tang He said through wine: "My town is this city, if you sit on the roof ridge, if you look left, you will look left, and if you look right, you will be right." "It means that I am now guarding this city like I am sitting on the roof ridge, and I am in a dilemma.
Zhu Yuanzhang originally turned a blind eye to him, but when he heard this, he was also furious. However, remembering Tang He's exploits over the years, Zhu Yuanzhang did not punish him, but sent him to destroy Chen Youding, and Tang He did not fail in his mission and captured Chen Youding. The history books record that "in the promotion of Yanping, the executive friend was destined to send the Beijing Master." Shi Hongwu first year of the first month also. ”
Although he atonement for his sins, Zhu Yuanzhang still did not lose his temper, and in this way, Tang He did not become the founding father. In fact, Zhu Yuanzhang was not wrong, and what Tang He did was indeed a bit excessive. To say that the two were friends before, you can joke at will, but now Zhu Yuanzhang is the emperor, and Tang He is undoubtedly challenging the imperial power by doing so. If it weren't for his merits, Tang He would have become a ghost under the sword long ago.
Third, finally promoted
Zhu Yuanzhang became emperor, and many things naturally could not be ignored as when he was a child. And Tang He was also a smart man, after the last incident, he knew that Zhu Yuanzhang still had opinions about him, so he didn't dare to talk nonsense anymore.
In the eleventh year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang sealed Tang he as the Duke of Xinguo, and after so many years of careful words and deeds, he was finally promoted. The history books record that "in the spring of the eleventh year, he entered the letter of the Duke of Guo, and the three thousand stones of the year were discussed, and the military and state affairs were discussed." ”
Zhu Yuanzhang not only sealed him, but also decided to give him the Danshu Iron Coupon, which was the supreme glory of being a minister, but Tang He couldn't be happy, why was this?
4. Memorize the documents
Originally, on the Danshu iron coupon given by the emperor, Tang He's mistakes in Changzhou were recorded, and the history books recorded that "his letter Guo Gongye, like his Mistakes in Changzhou, engraved coupons." No wonder Tang He was not happy, the Danshu iron coupon that originally symbolized honor has now become a memorized document, and I have to say that Zhu Yuanzhang is really "skinny".
Fifth, to be able to die well
At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang had begun to be jealous of the power of the founding heroes, Xu Da and Li Wenzhong died one after another, and the crown prince Zhu Biao also died. Zhu Yuanzhang made Emperor Zhu Yunjiao the crown prince, but Zhu Yunjiao was weak, and these ministers held great power, which made Old Zhu how to sleep.
How could Tang He not know Zhu Yuanzhang's thoughts, after all, the two grew up together, so Tang He quickly handed over the fold, saying that he was old, and asked to return to his hometown. Zhu Yuanzhang was very happy to hear it and quickly agreed to come down. But at this time, Wu Kou often harassed the coastal area, and Zhu Yuanzhang said to Tang He, "Although you are old, this time you should go for me." ”
A year later, Tang He returned to Beijing to resume his life. Zhu Yuanzhang built a new house for him, and rewarded Him with "300 taels of gold, 2,000 taels of platinum, 3,000 ingots of banknotes, and 40 pairs of color coins" so that Tang He could enjoy his old age in peace.
Many people said that Zhu Yuanzhang still wanted to kill Tang He from the heart, but Tang He was too smart and he could not find a suitable excuse. I think this is just "black" Zhu Yuanzhang.
Because according to historical records, after Tang He returned to his hometown, he fell ill many times, and every time Zhu Yuanzhang was very worried. Once Tang He got better, Zhu Yuanzhang sent someone to pick him up to Beijing, and each time he rewarded him with a lot of gold, cloth, and so on. Later, Tang He was too ill to speak, and he also kowtowed to Zhu Yuanzhang, who saw that the tears flowed unceasingly, and the history books recorded that "the emperor was drooling, and the generous gift of gold was used for funeral expenses." ”
After Tang He's death, Zhu Yuanzhang posthumously honored him as the King of Dong'ou. Although Tang He did not become the founding prince, he eventually became a king with a different surname. All this not only reflects his wisdom, but also proves that Zhu Yuanzhang did not kill innocent people indiscriminately. It is true that many founding heroes were finally disposed of by Zhu Yuanzhang, but think about it carefully, if they were as sensible as Tang He, would they still have that fate?
(References :"Ming Shi Tang He Biography", "Ming History Chronicle At the End of the Book", "Reading the History of Fang Public Opinion Minutes")