Qin Shi Huang, known as the "Emperor of the Ages", although he only lived 50 years, his life was full of mystery. It can be said that from his birth to death, everything that happened to him will be debated by posterity.
Qin Shi Huang created the first unified feudal dynasty in Chinese history, and his achievements are unprecedented. Unfortunately, the Qin Dynasty established by Qin Shi Huang was one of the shortest-lived dynasties in Chinese history.
In the later period of Qin Shi Huang's reign, the Qin dynasty appeared to be powerful on the outside, but it was actually full of crises and turmoil. However, under such a special political situation, Qin Shi Huang suddenly died, and the Qin Dynasty fell into a state of "paralysis".
Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang has been a "focal point" from ancient times to the present, and the cause of his death will naturally be explored by many historians and descendants. However, after more than two thousand years of debate, the cause of Qin Shi Huang's death is still an unsolved mystery.
Generally speaking, there are two theories in historians about the cause of Qin Shi Huang's death, one is that Qin Shi Huang died of disease, and the other is that Qin Shi Huang died of murder. So, how exactly did Qin Shi Huang die?
In this regard, the famous historian Guo Moruo pointed out in his historical novel "Qin Shi Huang Will Die": Qin Shi Huang did not die normally, but was nailed to death with a three-inch long iron nail.
Guo Moruo
Historically, we have always heard many theories that Qin Shi Huang was murdered, but it is really strange to say that he was nailed to death.
So, is Guo Moruo's statement a rigorous historical argument or a fabrication? In order to let everyone have a clearer understanding of the mystery of the cause of Qin Shi Huang's death, this article will analyze and discuss three common points of view.
Opinion 1: Qin Shi Huang died of disease
In the "Shiji" compiled by the Western Han historian Sima Qian, there are actually many descriptions of the cause of Qin Shi Huang's death, and Sima Qian's view of the cause of Qin Shi Huang's death is that Qin Shi Huang died of his own illness.
Netmap
In 210 BC, Qin Shi Huang began his fifth cruise, this cruise, Qin Shi Huang passed through half of the Central Plains, a round trip of nearly 10,000 li, lasting a total of nine months, both in terms of time and itinerary is incomparable with the previous four cruises.
Along the way, Qin Shi Huang also has to climb mountains, cross rivers, pan the sea, etc., it can be said that everything will consume his huge physical energy.
In addition, Qin Shi Huang is a very "dedicated" emperor, since he ascended the throne, he has to personally decide everything, even if he is cruising outside, so Qin Shi Huang's body is naturally exhausted.
Map of Qin Shi Huang's fifth parade
Moreover, after leaving Xianyang, Qin Shi Huang's living environment changed greatly.
Although the car he rides can be ventilated with open windows, the range of movement is small, which is not conducive to the usual stretching activities.
Moreover, once encountering wind and rain weather or sudden drop in temperature, the car must close the window, so that the air is difficult to circulate, and the body will naturally be seriously affected in such an environment for a long time.
Wheeling cars
According to historical records, Qin Shi Huang fell seriously ill when the parade reached Pingyuanjin, after which the team began to return to Xianyang, but when he reached the sand dunes, which were still more than 1400 miles away from Xianyang, Qin Shi Huang became terminally ill and was on the verge of death.
In fact, from the situation at that time, Qin Shi Huang's condition has not improved, which is also directly related to the special climatic environment of Pingyuanjin (located in Shandong Plain County) and Sand Dune (located in Guangzong, Hebei) at that time.
According to modern climate data, the average temperature in July in Shandong is about 24~28 °C. The average temperature in Hebei in July is about 20~27°C. During the Qin and Han dynasties, the temperature in the plain jin and sand dune areas was higher than the modern average temperature.
Stills of the legend of Chu and Han, Qin Shi Huang
When Qin Shi Huang arrived at Pingyuanjin and Dunes, it was in the blazing July sun. Dragging a tired body, successively passing through high temperatures, hot dry winds and storm-prone areas, it is naturally difficult for the human body to adapt.
The final result was that Qin Shi Huang suddenly fell ill, and even the imperial doctors who accompanied him at that time were helpless.
Moreover, Qin Shi Huang was 50 years old at that time, which can be regarded as entering the dangerous stage of rapid aging of the human body, and it is precisely because of the above internal and external factors that Qin Shi Huang, who was once in the storm, was unwilling to break the sand dunes.
Stills of the legend of Chu and Han, Qin Shi Huang
Opinion 2: Qin Shi Huang was murdered by Zhao Gao
All the official history books related to the death of Qin Shi Huang do not record in detail what disease Qin Shi Huang suffered before his death, nor do they mention the process of diagnosis and treatment of Qin Shi Huang by imperial doctors.
In short, the history books tell us that Qin Shi Huang suddenly fell ill during the cruise, and when he reached the dune, his illness worsened, so he left an edict and eventually died in the dune.
The death of the ancient emperor in this way is really confusing, so future generations of scholars began to wonder whether Qin Shi Huang's death had other hidden circumstances.
A still of the Great Qin Fu Qin Shi Huang
From the history books that record the death of Qin Shi Huang, some scholars still found some suspicious things after careful scrutiny.
Everyone thinks that Zhao Gao's various performances after the death of Qin Shi Huang or even before he became seriously ill are very suspicious, so they think that Qin Shi Huang's death and Zhao Gao are inseparable.
In other words, many scholars believe that Qin Shi Huang was murdered by Zhao Gao.
Stills of the Chu Han legend Zhao Gao
On Qin Shi Huang's fifth cruise, the main personnel of his entourage were not only Hu Hai, Zhao Gao, Li Si and others, but Meng Tian's younger brother Meng Yi was also among them.
However, after Qin Shi Huang contracted a serious illness in Pingyuanjin, Meng Yi was sent back to Dai County on the grounds that he prayed to the mountains and rivers in Qin Shi Huang's place. And this sudden personnel transfer Many people expressed doubts, and even thought that this was the first step of Zhao Gao's implementation of the conspiracy.
Because Meng Tian was Fusu's cronie, and Meng Yi was Meng Tian's younger brother, after Meng Yi left the team, he not only separated Fusu's "eyes and ears" by Qin Shi Huang's side, but also cleared the way for Zhao Gao's next series of actions.
Da Qin Fu Meng Tian stills
According to historical records, the next development of history is that after the parade reached the dunes, Qin Shi Huang felt that his limit had arrived, so he asked Zhao Gao of the Zhongche Mansion to write an edict to his eldest son Fusu, which read: "Meng Tian with soldiers, and be buried in Xianyang with the funeral meeting".
However, without waiting for the edict to be issued, Qin Shi Huang was killed. After that, Zhao Gao began to lobby Hu Hai and Li Si, but he did not expect that these two were easily "brainwashed" by Zhao Gao, and soon stood on the same line with Zhao Gao.
After the three conspired carefully, Prime Minister Li Si forged an edict, which roughly stated that Qin Shi Huang accused Fusu of being unfilial to his son and Meng Tian of being disloyal to his subjects, and asked the two to hand over their military power, immediately draw their swords and cut themselves off, and must not resist.
Stills of the Chu Han legend Li Si
When the three received the exact news that Fusu had committed suicide from the messenger, they immediately ordered the convoy to quickly return to Xianyang. Of course, in order to hide people's eyes, the convoy did not return directly to Xianyang, but took a detour back in the posture of continuing the cruise.
Due to the high temperature in July, in order to avoid the stench emitted by Qin Shi Huang's body, it was suspicious. Before returning to Xianyang, Zhao Gao also asked people to prepare a stone of abalone and put it on Qin Shi Huang's chariot.
After returning to Xianyang, Zhao Gaocai announced the death of Qin Shi Huang. Later, Hu Hai ascended the throne as emperor, for Qin II. As for Prime Minister Li Si, he was quickly eradicated by Zhao Gao, and since then, the power has basically been in Zhao Gao's hands.
Chu Han legend Hu Hai stills
So, what exactly was Zhao Gao's motive for murdering Qin Shi Huang? Most scholars believe that it was mainly because Zhao Gao was afraid of Fusu inheriting the throne.
According to the "Records of History", Zhao Gao once committed an unforgivable crime, and Meng Yi sentenced him to death according to the law, but only escaped when Qin Shi Huang pardoned him later, so Zhao Gao hated the brothers Meng Tian and Meng Yi to the bone.
And Qin Shi Huang has always looked at Zhongfusu and intends to cultivate it as a successor, and if Fusu succeeds to the throne smoothly, then the Meng Tian Mengyi brothers will inevitably get more rights. And he will also become the one who will be left out, and even will be settled by the Montessori brothers.
Stills of the Chu Han legend Zhao Gao
Therefore, in Zhao Gao's view, only by preventing Fusu from succeeding to the throne and supporting his student Hu Hai to succeed him was a good way to ensure that Qin Shi Huang's status and rights would not be affected after his death.
And if you want to achieve all this, you must wait for the opportunity to kill Qin Shi Huang. However, the palace was heavily guarded, and it was difficult to kill Qin Shi Huang. But now that Qin Shi Huang suddenly fell ill during the parade, and it was difficult for others to approach Qin Shi Huang, for Zhao Gao, this moment was simply a godsend.
Therefore, it makes complete sense to say that Zhao Gao poisoned Qin Shi Huang after he became seriously ill and ended Qin Shi Huang's life in advance.
A still of the Great Qin Fu Qin Shi Huang
Opinion 3: Guo Moruo said "nailed to death"
According to the "History of the First Emperor of Qin", it is recorded: "The king of Qin was a human bee quasi, long eye, bird's body, jackal's voice, less grace and tiger and wolf heart..."
Therefore, Guo Moruo combined with his rich medical knowledge to deduce that Qin Shihuang was not in good health, he suffered from osteochondrosis since childhood, and later caused chicken breasts because of cartilage. Therefore, when Qin Shi Huang grows up, his chest will bulge like an osprey.
In addition, Qin Shi Huang also suffered from bronchitis, so when breathing, he was accompanied by a "hissing" sound, and when he spoke, the sound was similar to that of a jackal.
A still of the Great Qin Fu Qin Shi Huang
Later, especially after Qin Shi Huang established the Qin Dynasty, he was conscientious and wanted to be ten emperors alone, and he also caused meningitis and epilepsy because of his daily heavy government affairs.
According to Guo Moruo's article "Qin Shi Huang Will Die", Qin Shi Huang was about to cross the river when he arrived at the Pingyuan Jin ferry port during the fifth cruise, when he had a sudden seizure and accidentally hit his head on the bronze ice book on the side of the seat to cool off, so that the ice was knocked over, the ice splashed, and Qin Shi Huang was also knocked out on the spot.
At this time, Qin Shi Huang foamed at the mouth, his face was white, and his lips were livid. It was not until three quarters of an hour later that Qin Shi Huang came to his senses, but after that, symptoms such as vomiting and dizziness became more and more obvious.
Stills of the legend of Chu and Han, Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang has always pursued immortality, and is very taboo to talk to people about birth, old age, illness and death, but at this moment, he is already very tormented by illness, and can only order the parade to return to Xianyang immediately.
According to Guo Moruo, Qin Shi Huang was terminally ill at this time, and even if he had not been murdered by anyone, he would not live more than two or three weeks.
However, the problem lies here, Guo Moruo is quite accomplished in medicine, according to his speculation, how can Qin Shi Huang last for two or three weeks, but when the parade team reached the dunes, that is, on the 5th day after Qin Shi Huang was hit on the head, he was killed.
Therefore, Guo Moruo concluded that Qin Shi Huang was assassinated.
A still of the Great Qin Fu Qin Shi Huang
Guo Moruo mentioned that after Qin Shi Huang died, there was a lot of black blood in his right ear, and the reason why this happened was because Qin Shi Huang was assassinated with iron nails and died.
In the last sentence of the article "Qin Shi Huang will die", Guo Moruo said: "If it were modern, the dissecting knife could find a 3-inch iron nail in Qin Shi Huang's right ear. ”
And the person who murdered Qin Shi Huang with iron nails, Guo Moruo believed that it was Hu Hai, the youngest son of Qin Shi Huang, and it was Hu Hai who inserted a 3-inch iron nail from Qin Shi Huang's right ear into his skull, which was the real reason for Qin Shi Huang's early death in Dune Palace.
Chu Han legend Hu Hai stills
However, if it has to be said that Qin Shi Huang was murdered, then the author believes that Zhao Gao is more likely to murder Qin Shi Huang than Hu Hai's father.
After all, if Hu Hai kills his father, if he does not get the cooperation of Li Si and Zhao Gao, he will not get the throne in the end, and he may also invite himself to kill.
At that time, Zhao Gao held the edict and the jade seal, and it can be said that after the death of Qin Shi Huang, the inheritance of the throne was basically in his hands.
In addition, Zhao Gao is Qin Shi Huang's most trusted eunuch, and he has the closest contact with Qin Shi Huang, and it is much more convenient to want to take the opportunity to kill Qin Shi Huang than Hu Hai.
Stills of the Chu Han legend Zhao Gao
However, as a well-known historian and archaeologist, although Guo Moruo has many professional works, the article "Checkmate of Qin Shi Huang" is from his novel collection "Hoof", and whether many of the views in it are rigorous remains to be verified, and it is difficult to say that the views in the article are the storylines that he imagined with divergent thinking.
Of course, Guo Moruo's statement that "Qin Shi Huang was nailed to death by Hu Hai with a three-inch long iron nail" has indeed aroused the doubts of many people in later generations.
For example, the reason why Qin Shi Huang's chest bulged like an osprey is probably only because of the developed male chest muscles. In this way, the statement that Qin Shi Huang was not in good health since childhood and also suffered from rickets is difficult to establish.
A still of the Great Qin Fu Qin Shi Huang
summary
As the most influential emperor in Chinese history, Qin Shi Huang has always attracted much attention from historians. Everything that happened to him has been comprehensively and multi-level research and analysis by later generations.
However, there are still too many mysteries in Qin Shi Huang that are worth investigating. Including the cause of Qin Shi Huang's death, so far, whether he died of illness or was killed, the historian community is still inconclusive.
However, in today's increasingly developed science and technology, it is believed that in the near future, the mystery of the cause of Qin Shi Huang's death will definitely be solved by future generations.
Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor
According to current archaeological research and investigation, so far, the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang has not been stolen, excavated and destroyed.
Moreover, archaeologists have detected that there may be a large amount of mercury in the underground palace in the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, and as we all know, the mercury vapor formed by mercury has a certain condensation and antiseptic effect, so it is not easy to say that Qin Shi Huang's body may still exist.
In short, as far as the historical materials currently available, if you want to further understand the cause of Qin Shi Huang's death, you really only have to wait until Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum is excavated.
So, what do you think about the death of Qin Shi Huang?