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In the sixth year of The Reign of Emperor Kai (586), Emperor Wen of Sui murdered the chancellor Liu Fang for treason. Six years earlier, Liu Fang had helped Emperor Wen of Sui to take control of Northern Zhou, making a great contribution to his future usurpation of Zhou and The establishment of Sui. So why did Emperor Wen of Sui gradually alienate Liu Fang and kill this meritorious minister, the captain carefully explained for you,
First, play for Northern Zhou
Liu Fang
Liu Fang was born in the Northern Wei clan and was the son of Liu Mengliang, the Great Si Nong, and although he was very strategic, he was treacherous and cunning. In the third year of Yongxi (534), Liu Mengliang fled with Emperor Xiaowu to Guanzhong to join Yuwen Tai and served as the Assassin of Eastern Liang Prefecture. Liu Fang therefore followed his father Liu Mengliang to yuwen Tai and became a disciple of the Western Wei Gongxun.
Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou
In the first year of Jiande (572), Emperor Yuwen of the Northern Zhou Dynasty made his son Yuwen Yun crown prince and recruited the sons of meritorious servants to the palace to accompany the crown prince. Because Liu Fang was a meritorious warrior, he was able to enter the palace to accompany Yuwen Yun. In the first year of Xuanzheng (578), Yuwen Yun became emperor, and in order to enhance his own status, Liu Fang welcomed and courted Yuwen Yun, so he won the trust of the emperor and became his close confidant, and was able to rise step by step.
Second, turn to Yang Jian
Yuwen Yun
In the second year of the elephant (580), the Northern Zhou Emperor Yuwen Yun was critically ill and worried that his son Yuwen Yun would not be able to govern the country at a young age, so he summoned Liu Fang, the grand master of the Imperial Household, and Yan Zhiyi, the Grand Master of the Imperial Household, into the palace, and let the two of them assist the emperor well. Liu Fang saw that Yuwen Yan was young, and Yang Jian, the father of Empress Dowager Yang Lihua, was very prestigious and befriended him, so he consulted with his friend Zheng Yi, the great master of the inner history, and asked Yang Jian to assist him.
Emperor Wen of Sui
Yang Jian pretended to resign to Liu Fang, saying that he could not bear this big responsibility. Liu Fang then said, "If Yang Gong can do it, he will agree." If not, then I'll do it myself. Yang Jian stopped resigning, served as chancellor, and controlled the power of Northern Zhou. Yang Jian then appointed Liu Fang as Sima and Zheng as Xiangfu Changshi, and asked them to assist him.
Zheng Translation
Yuwen Zan the King of Han (Yuwen Yun's younger brother) lived in the imperial palace and guarded Yuwen Yun around. Yang Jian wanted to eliminate Yuwen Zan, so he summoned Liu Fang to discuss countermeasures. Liu Fang knew that Yuwen Zan had mediocre knowledge and no ability, so he gave him a few beautiful women and easily gained trust. Then Liu Fang deceived Yuwen Zan and said, "The Great King is the younger brother of the Former Emperor, and everyone expects it." Now that the emperor is young, how can he preside over major events? Now that the former emperor has just left, and the people's hearts are unstable, the king might as well go back to the palace to rest first. Waiting for people's hearts to settle down, and then entering the palace to become emperor is the perfect strategy." Yuwen believed it to be true and returned home.
Northern Zhou
Yang Jian was very happy, so he promoted Liu Fang to the rank of Grand General and Duke of Huangguo, and trusted him and Zheng Yi, the Duke of Peiguo, even more. Liu Fang and Zheng Yi thus became prominent figures in Northern Zhou, not only guarding them with relatives and soldiers, but also making hundreds of officials afraid. Therefore, people at that time called Liu Fang and Zheng Yi "Huang Pei", saying that "Liu Fang was led in front, and Zheng Yi was pushed behind." After that, Liu Fang was proud of his achievements and accepted money in a big way.
Third, they were alienated
Wei Xiaokuan
Soon Wei Chi raised an army against Yang Jian's dictatorship. Yang Jian then sent Wei Xiaokuan to the crusade, but Wei Xiaokuan's generals thought that the overall situation was unclear, so they had no intention of suppressing the rebellion. Yang Jian was worried about this, so he wanted to send Liu Fang or Zheng Yi as a supervisor to urge Wei Xiaokuan to put down the rebellion. Then Yang Jian said to Liu Fang and Zheng Yi: "There must be a confidant to lead the army, which of you two is willing to go?" Liu Fang said that he did not understand military prevarication, and Zheng Yi also resigned and did not want to go. Yang Jian listened and was very disappointed in the two, so he became increasingly estranged from them.
The Rebellion of the Three Governors
Soon, Wang Qian and Sima Quenan successively raised troops against Yang Jian and supported Wei Chiyi. Yang Jian was even more worried about this, too anxious to eat and sleep. Liu Fang did not care about this, continued to eat, drink and have fun, and ignored the government affairs of the government. As a result, the affairs of the Chancellor's Mansion accumulated, causing Yang Jian to be even more dissatisfied with Liu Fang. In the first year of Dading (581), Yang Jian forced Yuwen to expound Zen concessions, establish the Great Sui, and make Liu Fang a pillar state. Liu Fang nominally held a high position, but was actually estranged from Emperor Wen of Sui and had nothing to do.
Fourth, the rebel was killed
(Emperor Wen of Sui) issued an edict, saying: "The emperor is in the world, and love is the heart." Add from the cloth clothes, into the imperial pole, within the secretary of state, not relatives and friends, although the position is poor, etc., the love is old. Protect the short and the whole length, constantly think about the cultivation, and say every diligent vow, and the words are endless. The calendar of heaven is fixed in meditation, and can the heart of the hidden be the harm of the country? If you want to keep it rich and noble for a long time, you don't touch the book of punishment, so you also... It was illegal to enter the Sasso Province, three times the incident, and the second degree of his wife's self-argument. Chang Yun's surname is "卯金刀", the name is "Ten Thousand Days", Liu Shi Ying Wang, for the Ten Thousand Days Heavenly Son... (Book of Sui, vol. 38)
Sui Dynasty
Liu Fang thought that he had made a great contribution to helping Emperor Wen of Sui seize the throne, but now he was snubbed by the emperor, so he was very dissatisfied. Later, there was a famine in Chang'an, and Emperor Wen of Sui ordered a ban on alcohol. However, Liu Fang turned a deaf ear and ordered the maids in the palace to sell wine in the street. Zhishu Shishi Liangbi therefore wrote to Emperor Wen of Sui to impeach Liu Fang for coveting small profits and knowing that the law was against the law. However, Emperor Wen of Sui, mindful of Liu Fang's meritorious service, ordered that he not be prosecuted. However, Liu Fang was sullen and unhappy about this, and befriended Liang Shiyan and Yuwen Xin, who were also jealous and alienated by Emperor Wen of Sui, and complained about the injustice of the world.
Liang Shiyan
In the sixth year of The Reign of Emperor Kai (586), Liu Fang conspired with Liang Shiyan and Yuwen Xin to rebel and planned to replace Emperor Wen of Sui with Liang Shiyan. Soon after the matter was revealed, Emperor Wen of Sui ordered a thorough investigation and arrested Liu Fang, Liang Shiyan, and Yuwen Xin. Emperor Wen of Sui then investigated the truth and ordered liu fang and three others to be beheaded, and gao ji was sent to supervise the beheading. Yuwen Xin saw Gao Ji and bowed to him for forgiveness. Liu Fang saw this and said, "The matter has come to an end, what use is it for you to kowtow?" In the end, Liu Fang and the other three were killed, and the family property was distributed by Emperor Wen of Sui to the Wen and Wu officials as a warning to them.
In general, Liu Fang gained Yuwen Yun's trust with flattery and became a heavy vassal of Northern Zhou, which had a decisive impact on the situation in Northern Zhou. When Yuwen Yun died prematurely due to absurdity, Liu Fang chose Yang Jian, a friend with prestige and imperial proclamation, to help him seize power in Northern Zhou and directly lay the foundation of the Sui Dynasty. However, Liu Fang was greedy and afraid of death, and refused to supervise the army during the rebellion of the Three Governors, and only collected wealth for personal gain, but did not help Emperor Wen of Sui solve the difficulties, so he was alienated by him, and finally because he was angry and embarked on the road of rebellion, he was executed by Emperor Wen of Sui.