Zhu Yuanzhang initially issued a lot of death-free iron coupons (gold medals), why did those heroes who were killed by him not use death-free iron coupons (gold medals)?
The iron coupon is a death certificate granted to high-ranking officials and ministers, so that they can be exempted from death or other punishments after committing a crime, and this iron coupon can also be inherited. This system was created by Han Gaozu and has a long history, but not many people really use iron coupons to obtain death avoidance.
Zhu Yuanzhang founded the Ming Empire, although Zhu Yuanzhang indiscriminately killed heroes after that, but soon after the founding of the country, Zhu Yuanzhang still spent a lot of effort to win people's hearts, and death-free iron coupons were one of the means.
Historical records:
"Hongwu three years, the great warning of Wucheng, on the merits of the reward, ten dukes, twenty-eight marquises, iron coupons Danshu, oath to the white water, river belt mountains, and Miao people."
In the third year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang was rewarded for meritorious deeds, and ten dukes and twenty-eight marquises were given death-free iron coupons, representing the highest level of honor. Among them are Li Shanchang, Fu Youde, Wang Bi, Geng Bingwen, Feng Sheng, Guo Ying, Xu Da, Li Wenzhong, Mu Ying, and so on; Li Shanchang was killed in the Case of Hu Weiyong, Fu Youde was forced to die by Zhu Yuanzhang, and Feng Sheng was killed in the Case of Lan Yu.
These heroes were all granted death-free iron coupons, but none of them were spared, so why did these heroes not use death-free iron coupons to avoid capital crimes?
Death-free iron coupons are prerequisites
Death-free iron coupons can only be given to those who have contributed the most to the country, and only those who have been given the titles of duke, marquis, and earl can receive this merit. That is to say, regardless of the utility of this thing, it is very difficult to get it, not only to have military merit, but also to be knighted, which is indispensable.
Li Shanchang is the first meritorious hero of the founding of the Ming Dynasty, and naturally he must be given the highest honor symbol, the iron coupon for death, Li Shanchang can be exempted from two capital crimes with iron coupons, and his son can be exempted from one capital crime. That is to say, if this number is exceeded, this iron coupon will lose its meaning, of course, the specific number of times is defined according to what, and the right of interpretation is zhu Yuanzhang.
"Sealed the Duke of Korea, four thousand stones, descendants hereditary." Give iron coupons, avoid two deaths, and save one son from death. ”
One of the iron coupon exchange rules set by Zhu Yuanzhang is that the crime of conspiracy to commit treason is not counted, that is, if you have committed other crimes, you can avoid death, such as embezzlement of the people's land and property, such as embezzlement and bribery, but once it is found that you have a rebellion plot, the death-free iron coupon is immediately invalidated.
From another point of view, who will determine the crime of rebellion is not determined by Zhu Yuanzhang, if he wants to kill a person, whether he has any attempt to rebel or not, as long as Zhu Yuanzhang says that he wants to rebel, or wants to rebel, then he will die, and there is no excuse for the crime.
If the death-free iron coupon offsets the death penalty, but it does not mean that the iron coupon can retain the position of power and glory and wealth, that is to say, if a major crime is committed, the death penalty is exempted, but it may be degraded to the end, or become a common person, the glory of this life may be in vain.
The founding hero Lan Yu, who had made great military achievements on many occasions, defeated the Yuan soldiers in the Fishing Erhai Sea, and also received an iron coupon to avoid death, but because Blue Jade was arrogant and arrogant, he raised evil slaves, and also spoke out many times, so that Zhu Yuanzhang was put on the hat of rebellion and was immediately killed. In fact, there is no definite evidence of Blue Jade's rebellion attempt, this is just Zhu Yuanzhang's one-sided words.
Death-free iron coupons also have corresponding instructions, and you must read its instructions in detail before use in order to use them correctly, otherwise the consequences may be unimaginable.
There is a time limit for the Deathless Iron Coupon
Almost everything in this world has a time limit, and the same is true for the death-free iron coupons, but zhu Yuanzhang did not think of this time limit when he set up the death-free iron coupon system, after all, this thing was issued by him, if he died, then this iron coupon would become a blank check.
As the founding father of the country, Geng Bingwen was given the title of Marquis of Changxing, eating 1,500 stones and giving him an iron coupon to avoid death. Geng Bingwen's merits were not small, and when Zhu Yuanzhang was awarded the title of meritorious man, Geng Bingwen was assigned to the rank of Xu Da, perhaps because Geng Bingwen was a generous person, or because he was good at defensive operations, did not die under Zhu Yuanzhang, and was left behind.
In the first year of Jianwen, Zhu Di rebelled, and the first to recruit Zhu Di was Geng Bingwen, but he was defeated by Zhu Di at the first contact, and then the commander was replaced by Li Jinglong. Geng Bingwen was old and had lost his use value, but Zhu Di still remembered him, and Zhu Di would not let go of his enemies, even after he claimed the title of emperor.
"The next year when the King of Yan is proclaimed emperor, the Punishment Department Shangshu Zheng Ci and the Capital Imperial History Chen Ying impeach Bingwen's clothes and utensils have dragon and phoenix ornaments, and the jade belt is decorated with red shovels, which is arrogant. Bing Wen was afraid and committed suicide. ”
Zhu Di sat on the emperor, and The Punishment Department Shangshu Zheng Ci and Du Yushi Chen Ying impeached Geng Bingwen, saying that Geng Bingwen's clothes and utensils had dragon patterns on them. In ancient times, the shape and pattern of this dragon could not be used casually, generally only the imperial family could use it, and Geng Bingwen was only a courtier, which was obviously disrespectful to the emperor.
Thinking that Geng Bingwen must not have the courage to use dragon-shaped artifacts, mainly because he had worked against Zhu Di, and on this point, Geng Bingwen would undoubtedly die. When Geng Bingwen learned that someone had impeached him, he committed suicide in fear. Although this was not killed by Zhu Di himself, he was also forced to die by Zhu Di.
At this time, even if Geng Bingwen took out the death-free iron coupon, did Zhu Di approve it? Under the premise of the emperor's guarantee of integrity, the iron coupon for death-free is also time-limited, and the master of the world has changed, and the iron coupon has become a piece of waste paper.
Under the conditions of imperial despotism, the iron coupon for death cannot be legalized
At the beginning of Zhu Yuanzhang's founding, he wanted to use this highest reward to avoid death and obtain the absolute obedience of his courtiers, so as to strengthen the centralization of power and make the throne more stable. With the passage of time, people and things are undergoing drastic changes, Zhu Yuanzhang's personality has become more and more violent, and the style of doing things has become more and more arrogant.
The relationship between the monarch and the subject has also changed from the previous pleasure to tit-for-tat confrontation, the emperor, as the supreme ruler, can be detached from the system, and the minister may die if he makes a mistake, but the emperor has made a mistake, and at most the next sin has been decreed. In addition, this system is formulated by the emperor, then the emperor has the right to change it, just like many lottery tickets, there will always be a small word below, and the final interpretation right belongs to the company.
That is to say, this death-free iron coupon was issued by the emperor, then the emperor has the right to invalidate it, if for the sake of fame, Zhu Yuanzhang will find a way to put a rebellious hat on the person he wants to kill, if Zhu Yuanzhang is troublesome, then kill him directly, and no one dares to accuse him.
In the Ming Dynasty, where the information was not very smooth, only the royal nobles were entitled to any death-free iron coupons, and the common people may not know that there was such a thing, so even if the emperor broke his promise, there was no problem. Li Shanchang, Feng Sheng, Lan Yu, and Hu Weiyong were all like this, not that they had to commit a certain crime to be executed, as long as they might anger the emperor, they must die.
By the time Zhu Yuanzhang killed the red eyes, this death-free shovel was meaningless, Zhu Yuanzhang himself tore up the agreement, and in that era of imperial power, there was nothing to blame. No death spade or any decree can be standardized and institutionalized, which is determined by the premise of feudal imperial power, as long as the emperor wants to kill people, it is basically difficult to escape death.
Zhu Yuanzhang knew clearly, and the courtiers also understood that this death-free iron coupon was just a mascot, and there was no problem in offering it to it, but it was unreliable to save his life at a critical moment.