Preface
In the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty, a minister who wore shabby clothes all the year round caused Zhu Yuanzhang to praise him and was known as a Qing official. However, Liu Bowen asserted to this person: "This person can't stay."
Why did the behavior of the Ming Dynasty officials make Zhu Yuanzhang so praised, and why did Liu Bowen make such a firm opinion about it?
The beginning of loyalty: devoting himself to officialdom with the intention of saving the country
Zhang Chang was born in the 11th year of the Yuan Dynasty, and was very intelligent and well-read when he was young, especially in political affairs. He was deeply influenced by his family, cherished the righteousness of the country, and was determined to serve the imperial court.
In the Zheng period, Zhang Chang, who was only 30 years old, had already become a member of the household department by virtue of his outstanding political talent, and began to experience in the officialdom of the Yuan Court. At that time, the Yuan Dynasty had been weakened, the nobles were still in frequent civil strife, and the Mongol nobles brought about the corruption of the dynasty and the withering of the people's livelihood in order to compete for power and profit. Zhang Chang was deeply worried when he saw the country in danger.
Zhang Chang pondered the country's major plans day and night, and repeatedly admonished the people, advocating reform measures such as eliminating maladministration and appeasing the people, hoping to resolve the crisis and improve people's livelihood. However, the aristocracy has become an empty shell, and these loyalists have never been heeded. Zhang Chang understands that the only way to support the community is to rely on his own hard work, which has become the main theme of his career.
In the seventeenth year of Zheng, Zhang Chang was promoted to the head of the household department with his outstanding political achievements. In the nineteenth year of Zheng, he finally became the head of the household department and became the central center of the court. Zhang Chang felt that the mission was on his shoulders and vowed to do his best to save the people from fire and water.
Who knew that the good times would not last long, and in the year when Zhang Chang took office, Yuan Tingxing's division crusaded against the Red Turban Army, but he was defeated and returned. In this battle, the Yuan court lost troops and generals, and the national strength was greatly damaged. Zhang Chang realized that his words could no longer change the court. At that time, a leader of the rebel army named Zhu Yuanzhang in the south rose up with great momentum and occupied a vast area south of the Yangtze River. The Yuan court was in charge of Nansu and wanted to unite with Zhu Yuanzhang to deal with the Red Turban Army.
Faced with the situation of the people's lack of livelihood, Zhang Chang believed that this was a manifestation of the desperation of the Yuan Court, and his ideal of saving Sheji was no longer possible. He was reluctant to leave the Central Plains and go to Shandong Xiaowang, but he was helpless.
At this time, there were many Mongolian nobles, and the Yuan court had become an empty shell, and no matter how loyal he was, it would be useless. Perhaps, temporarily assisting Zhu Yuanzhang can eliminate harm for the people. When Chakhan Timur ordered him as an envoy to Jiangdong to appease Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhang Chang accepted this new mission that seemed to be imposed on him by fate, although he was reluctant in his heart.
A lot of achievements are still hard to dispel: a new lord and a new landscape
On the way, Zhang Chang, who learned that Chakhan Timur had been assassinated, knew that the general situation was gone and knew that it was difficult for him to turn back. For the sake of the people, he chose to stay under Zhu Yuanzhang to serve.
Zhang Chang did not have a good impression of Zhu Yuanzhang, but he still worked hard. Combined with the actual situation in the south, he proposed a tax system and policies suitable for the south of the Yangtze River, which greatly increased agricultural production; He participated in the compilation of the legal code, the regulation of the rule, so that the people would no longer be shaky; He also used his past political experience to plan a national layout for Zhu Yuanzhang.
Zhu Yuanzhang is like a keen king, highly values Zhang Chang's talent, and rarely discusses major matters. At Zhang Chang's suggestion, Zhu Yuanzhang set up the eastern, central, and western guards and the Detaku Horse Guard, which not only strengthened the military strength, but also laid the foundation for the later Ming Dynasty guards.
Zhang Chang also advised Zhu Yuanzhang to adopt more benevolent government to reassure the people, which became one of the important reasons for the implementation of benevolent government in the early Ming Dynasty. It can be said that Zhang Chang has made indispensable contributions to Zhu Yuanzhang's use of people to govern the country.
However, Zhang Chang's heart knot has never been eradicated. He has been in Jiangnan for more than ten years, but he has never really accepted the fact that Zhu Yuanzhang will replace the Mongols to rule the Central Plains. Loyal to the Mongols throughout his life, he preferred to assist the Mongol aristocracy in carrying out reforms, even if it was divided and divided into feudal towns; He also did not want to become a courtier under the Han regime of the Ming Dynasty.
This heart knot is like a fish in the throat, affecting Zhang Chang's mood day and night. Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang's victory, he saw it in his eyes; When he heard that the people were struggling to make a living, he listened to it. Zhang Chang did not want the Ming Dynasty to replace the Yuan Dynasty, but he could not bear to see the people continue to suffer. He was caught in all sides of the contradictions, and he was worried all the time.
Plotting to destroy will eventually be difficult to get rid of fate
Zhang Chang, who is gentle and elegant on his face, has already secretly crooked his brain in his heart. He knew that Zhu Yuanzhang was determined to replace Mongolia and establish the country. What he should be trying to do is to help the Yuan court regain its glory and make the Mongol nobles once again iron their feet in the Central Plains; How could they really help the Ming Dynasty and eradicate the rule of their own clan?
Zhang Chang, who lives in this contradiction, has become extremely sensitive and suspicious. He seems to have seen in Zhu Yuanzhang's every move the fooling and trampling of the Mongols, which intensified his determination to prevent the Ming Dynasty from growing stronger.
So Zhang Chang secretly had a crooked brain and laid out everywhere. He suggested that Zhu Yuanzhang increase the criminal law and force the people to comply; He also persuaded Zhu Yuanzhang to drink the wine and wait for work. On the surface, this is loyalty, but in fact, if the Ming Dynasty has internal strife and external worries, it will be difficult to develop and grow, and then Mongolia will once again be dominant.
Zhang Chang secretly contacted the remnants of the northern aristocracy, waiting for an opportunity to overthrow Zhu Yuanzhang. He knew that if this move was revealed, he would be killed, but he still went his own way, believing that he was justifying Mongolia's name. Despite the hardships ahead, he chose to keep going. Even if the head is cut off, the Mongol ideal of retaking the rivers and mountains must not be damaged in the slightest.
The truth is revealed, and the fate has long been sealed
However, there are thoughts during the day and dreams at night. Zhang Chang's secret stake was finally exposed. Zhu Yuanzhang was furious and ordered Zhang Chang to be tortured to extract a confession. Zhang Chang no longer concealed it, told his inner calculations, and sent a letter to the northern nobles, reaffirming his loyalty to Mongolia from the bottom of his heart. Zhu Yuanzhang watched coldly, and he knew everything in his heart.
Zhang Chang was not shocked in prison, he understood that his fate was already doomed. The Great Yuan, who has followed him all his life, is coming to an end, and he will not be able to escape this catastrophe. Thinking of this, he only felt that the past was vividly in his mind, and what he could never get rid of was his loyalty to Mongolia! In the end, he wrote a swan song for the ages while in prison: "Being in the south of the Yangtze River, thinking about the north," he died heroically.
epilogue
If life is only as first seen, what is the autumn wind and sad fan. Zhang Chang was loyal to the Mongols, but he could not escape the crime of rebellion; He has made a lot of achievements, and he can't resist the trend of the times after all. After all the twists and turns, he still went his own way and stuck to his heart. As he loved most during his lifetime: "The homeland must not be forgotten, and the new master must not be done."
As the founder of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang has a resolute and decisive personality, and naturally has strict requirements for the subordinates around him. However, in the face of Zhang Chang, an official who was only executed rather than beheaded by the whole clan, perhaps we can get a glimpse of Zhu Yuanzhang's inner recognition.
Although the camps are different and the palace is conspiracy, in this power struggle, perhaps Zhu Yuanzhang still has a special affection for Zhang Chang. Where does this emotion originate, and what kind of historical insider does it contain, it may be worth exploring in depth.