In 554, Yang Jian, who was only 14 years old, entered his career. Until 581, when he usurped Zhou Jiansui and became emperor, during the ups and downs of the eunuch sea in these 28 years, one of his biggest things was to deal with the suspicion of the powerful ministers, and to fight with them in order to protect himself.
Why was he suspected by his courtiers at such a young age? The history books say that it was because of his peculiar appearance,
(Yang Jian)
"For the human dragon jaw, there are five pillars on the forehead into the top, the eyes are shooting outward, and there is a text in the hand called "king". Long up and down, deep and serious. "Sui Shu Di Ji No. 1 Gao Zu Shang"
Being in the General Xiang Family but having a "dragon face" is really not a good thing for Yang Jian. But this is only an excuse for the hostile courtiers who want to put him to death. In Yang Jian's career, the biggest suspicion of him threatening came from the three powerful ministers, their reasons were different, but the tricks were fierce, and Yang Jian's slightest carelessness would be ruined! Let's list them all:
Yuwen Hu
Yuwen Hu was the de facto ruler of the imperial court at that time, and he left the title of "Dragon Slayer Master" for killing three emperors in succession: Tuoba Kuo, Emperor Gong of Western Wei, Yuwen Jue, Emperor Xiaomin of Northern Zhou, and Yuwen Yu, Emperor Of Northern Zhou Ming. It can be seen that this person is fierce.
(Yuwen Hu stills)
Why should he be difficult for Yang Jian as a young man? That's because Yang Jian's father-in-law, Du Guxin, was one of the Eight Pillar States of Western Wei and a force that Yuwen Tai relied on to start with, and had considerable political influence. If Yuwen Hu wanted to achieve his goal of taking charge of the imperial program alone, he had to find ways to weaken the dissident forces of dulitude. Therefore, they co-opted Yang Zhong and Yang Jian, important members of the Duguxin Group.
First, Yuwen Hu sent his subordinate Jing Zhaoyin Xueshan to find Yang Jian and say that he wanted to promote him to gongcao. Jingzhao Yin Gongcao is a high counselor of the first leader of Chang'an City, and can handle daily affairs on behalf of Jingzhao Yin, which is a real position with great power, which shows the sincerity of Yuwen Hu. After consulting with his father, Yang Jian felt that this was carried out in accordance with the normal procedures of the state for appointing officials, so he agreed. At this time, Yang Jian entered the first official position in his career. However, after serving as Gong Cao, Yuwen Hulian secretly wooed Yang Jian and invited Yang Jian to his house for dinner. This is really a dilemma for Yang Jian, going means that yuwen is protecting his confidant, and this team is fixed; not going is to openly provoke and not to protect Yuwen's face. After discussing with Yang Jian's father and son, they felt that a daughter-in-law could not find two mothers-in-law, could not be sorry for the lonely letter, and decided not to go.
After the establishment of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, Dugu Xin and Zhao Gui, who was also one of the Eight Pillar States, secretly planned to get rid of Yuwen Hu, but the matter leaked, Zhao Gui was killed, and Du Guxin was forced to commit suicide.
(Solitary Letter Stills)
At this time, Yuwen Hu also killed Yang Zhong and Yang Jian's father and son. He promised Yang Zhong to yang Zhong in the high position of Taifu, and then deliberately repented, hoping to provoke Yang Zhong and kill him again. Unexpectedly, Yang Zhong did not think much of Taifu's position. Yuwen Hu also used Yang Jian's "Dragon Yan" to make a fuss. Feudal emperors prefer to believe in such things as they have, and they do not believe in their absence. Yuwen Hu arranged for the famous face-to-face master Zhao Zhao to meet Yang Jian in front of the Zhou Ming Emperor Yuwen Yu. Yang Jianzhan stood below trembling to accept the judgment of fate, listening to Zhao Zhao talk about how honorable his face was, and his heart was going to jump out at that time! When Yang Jian heard Zhao Zhao finally say, "Although your appearance is expensive, you are still an official in the pillar country." When Yang Jianchang exhaled, this life was saved!
In this way, he repeatedly negotiated with Yuwen Hu until Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou got rid of Yuwen Hu and personally ruled. Yang Jian had thought that he would come to operate from time to time, and he did not have to worry about suspicion, but the good times were not long.
Yuwen Xian
Yuwen Xian the Prince of Qi was the half-brother of Emperor Yuwen Yong of Zhou, and because his literary talent was outstanding in the Yuwen family, he was highly valued by the powerful minister Yuwen Hu, but Yu Wenxian knew that Emperor Wu's talent did not dare to offend, so he fought between Yuwen Hu and Yuwen Yong. When Yuwen Yong eliminated Yuwen Hu, he expressed his trust in his younger brother Yuwen Xian, but having said that, from the heart, Yuwen Yong was still wary of this younger brother.
(Yuwen Yong stills)
Therefore, Yu Wenxian tried his best to win the trust of his brother Yuwen Yong, and even took out his private wealth as military expenses. Still could not make Yuwen Yong fully trust him, so Yu Wenxian wanted to find a minister lurking around Yuwen Yong who was a serious threat to the throne, then he would have the merit of stabilizing the society and would definitely be able to gain the trust of the emperor's brother.
This time, in addition to the old one, Yu Wenxian played a new trick: "Wei Wei". In the course of his crusade against Northern Qi, Yang Jian was appointed governor of Dingzhou for his military merits. There was a legend in Dingzhou at that time, when Emperor Gao Yang of Northern Qi Wenxuan was in power, he inspected Dingzhou, and someone suggested opening the west gate, but Gao Yang said no, because this door must wait until the saint is out to open it. Therefore, the Dingzhou West Gate has been closed.
But when Yang Jian entered Dingzhou, the four doors opened widely! After hearing this story, Yang Jian was panicked, and at this time, the news came that a song and ballad spread throughout the capital Chang'an: "The golden rooster of the poplar tree head is singing, only the uncle has no nephew." This song and the city gate incident were almost like a steel knife stabbed at Yang Jian, making Yang Jian feel like a needle. He couldn't wait for a moment, and hurried back to Chang'an to explain to the emperor. But in Chang'an there was also a minister who wanted to put him to death than Yuwen Xian.
(Yang Jian stills)
King Track
Wang Lu was a close confidant of Emperor Wu of Zhou, Yuwen Yong, who had an upright personality, was far-sighted, and loyal to Yuwen Yong. He repeatedly advised Yuwen Yong that the crown prince was stubborn and suggested that he be made a prince instead. This was all for yuwen yong's sake, but Yuwen yong did not adopt it. At this time, Wang Lu was angry with the villains around the crown prince, such as Liu Fang, Zheng Yi and others, while Yang Jian, as a father-in-law, was either good friends or classmates with these villains. Why didn't Yang Jian bother to assist and educate the prince? This caused great dissatisfaction among the kings.
At a banquet, Wang Lu deliberately pretended to be drunk, walked towards Yang Jian step by step, knocked off Yang Jian's hat, and said that he wanted to see what kind of forehead was the face of the emperor. Not only that, Wang Lu also directly advised Emperor Wu, saying that Yang Jian's appearance was reversed, and staying by his side would cause endless harm.
And so again and again, when will Yang Jian's hard days come to an end!
In 578, Emperor Wu died young, and the crown prince Yuwen Yun took the throne. After Yuwen Yun ascended the throne, because he hated these people who offended him, he killed Yuwen Xian and Wang Lu successively. Yang Jian's danger was finally lifted for the time being. Later, in the face of Yuwen Yun's suspicions, Yang Jian chose to go out to become an official and avoid disasters by staying away from the political center. Know that they are auxiliary to the government and usurp power.
Things have his two sides, Yang Jian's "dragon face", "emperor's face", "rumors" and other unfavorable factors, when he was young, almost brought him the disaster of killing, but after he became the emperor, it became the capital for him to vigorously publicize his imperial power and divine mandate. This is also a blessing in disguise!