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Text: He Xunci
Editor|He Xunci
Preface
Li Zicheng, a peasant from a poor background, once roamed the rivers and lakes, but eventually became the nemesis of the Ming Dynasty and established the short-lived and unique Dashun Dynasty.
But his reign as emperor lasted only 42 days, during which time his reign did not bring real governance to the world, but instead put him in a desperate situation.
So what did he do to make his career as emperor so short?
Up-and-coming peasant leaders
Li Zicheng, a teenager born in an ordinary peasant family, is destined to leave a strong mark on the stage of history. When he was a child, he experienced the poverty of his family and the injustice of society, and knew the hardships and helplessness of the peasants.
Faced with the corruption of the imperial court and the misery of the people, a flame of change of fate ignited in his heart.
The Li family in the countryside, although poor, Li Zicheng has an ambitious heart. He is not willing to be ordinary, and is eager to change his own fate, the fate of his family, and even the fate of the entire society.
So, when the trumpet of the peasant uprising sounded, he resolutely embarked on the journey to join the rebel army.
At the end of the Ming Dynasty, wars were frequent, social turmoil was unstable, and people's dislike became commonplace. In this turbulent era, Li Zicheng showed extraordinary military talent and resourcefulness.
He was good at observing the situation, good at seizing opportunities, and soon made a name for himself in the rebel army. As time passed, he gradually became an important military figure under the command of Gao Yingxiang, the king of Chuang.
Li Zicheng was not born to be a commander, but gradually grew up after being tempered in troubled times. He was brave and fearless, and he quickly won the respect and trust of his comrades.
In battle, he always charged ahead, led the soldiers to charge, defeated the Ming Dynasty army again and again, and advanced towards his goal step by step.
In the rebel army, Li Zicheng was not only an excellent soldier, but also a wise and courageous leader. He was good at analyzing the situation, formulating strategies, and constantly adjusting deployments, so that the strength of the rebel army could be brought into full play.
Together with his comrades-in-arms, he experienced countless bloody battles, defeated the army of the Ming Dynasty, and finally succeeded in overthrowing the rule of the Ming Dynasty and establishing the Dashun regime.
Li Zicheng's success was not accidental, but relied on his extraordinary military talent and resourcefulness, as well as his deep affection for the people. He was well aware of the suffering of the people and the people's desire for change, so he resolutely threw himself into the ranks of the peasant uprising and led them to victory.
April 29, 1644, this day was destined to be the most glorious moment of Li Zicheng's life.
As a peasant leader from humble backgrounds, he held an enthronement ceremony in the Wuying Hall in the Forbidden City and became the emperor of the Dashun Dynasty. For him, it was a dream come true and the highest point of stepping into the pinnacle of power.
The trap of luxury and pleasure
After Li Zicheng ascended the throne, he seemed to be bewildered by this luxury in the face of the prosperous scene of Beijing, and he was wandering in the glow of power and glory.
For a once obscure peasant leader, standing on the Wuying Hall in the Forbidden City and becoming emperor was his dream achievement, the highest point of his step to the pinnacle of power. However, the temptation of power can often lead to disorientation, and Li Zicheng is no exception.
Under the feudal system, the emperor enjoyed endless power and privileges. Overnight, Li Zicheng went from an ordinary peasant to a high-profile emperor, surrounded by gorgeous splendor and everything seemed to open to him.
Facing the prosperous scene in front of him, his heart couldn't help but ripple, and an unprecedented pride arose.
In this intoxication, Li Zicheng began to indulge in a luxurious life. He made the palace maid a concubine and indulged in all the glory and wealth brought by power.
The delicacies in the court, the splendid palace, and the charming palace maids all fascinated and intoxicated him. However, this luxurious life did not make him realize that his original intention was to save the people from the worst of their lives.
In the past, Li Zicheng was the spokesman of the peasants and fought for the suffering of the people. However, when he stepped on the throne of power and enjoyed endless glory and wealth, he seemed to have forgotten his original intention.
He indulged in pleasures, indulged in his own lusts, and neglected the people who were still in dire straits. As if blinded by the temptation of power, he gradually lost his way, away from his original dream.
However, behind the power lies endless temptations and dangers. Li Zicheng's lavish life didn't last long, and as time went on, he began to realize that he had moved away from his original intentions.
In addition to the prosperity, it is the lament of the people's poor livelihood and the injustice of society, and the life of the people who are still in dire straits. However, he has become addicted to luxury, and it seems that there is no turning back.
There is a lack of real reform
Although Li Zicheng has tried to implement some reforms, his actions lack real sincerity and determination. After he ascended to the throne, he faced many problems and contradictions in society, but failed to effectively solve them. On the contrary, he indulged more in his personal desires and power desires, rather than truly working for the welfare of the people and serving the people diligently.
At the beginning, Li Zicheng embarked on the journey out of anger at social injustice and helplessness at the people's misery. He joined the peasant uprising, hoping to find a better life for the common people.
However, when he ascended to the throne, he seemed to have lost his way and could not govern the country effectively in the face of a vast political system and complex social problems.
Although Li Zicheng has tried to implement some reform policies, these reforms have often been only rhetorical, lacking in action and sustainable policies. He has failed to effectively solve the problems of people's livelihood, the people are still struggling with poverty and misery, and social contradictions and discontent are also intensifying.
More seriously, Li Zicheng's rule was based on personal selfish desires and lust for power. He indulged in a life of luxury, indulging in all the glory and wealth that power brings, but neglected the responsibilities and obligations of being an emperor.
He made the palace maid a concubine, indulged in luxury, and ignored the people's livelihood, which led to his gradual distance from the people and the loss of the people's heart.
Selfishness and obstinacy
After Li Zicheng ascended to the throne, his leadership style and behavior showed that he was selfish and obstinate. His attitude of ignoring the exhortations of his subordinates and turning a blind eye to the destruction in the capital not only exacerbated the instability of his rule, but also led directly to the eventual collapse of the regime.
After Li Zicheng ascended the throne, he seemed to be stuck in his own world at the top of his power. Although the loyal ministers around him advised him to stay sober and think about the overall situation, he turned a deaf ear to these advices.
He ignored the advice of his subordinates, which showed his obstinate behavior. Even in the face of various crises and challenges in the country, Li Zicheng still insisted on his own ideas and refused to listen to the opinions and suggestions of others.
In addition to this, Li Zicheng also turned a blind eye to the destruction in the capital, which further exacerbated the instability of his rule. He indulged in luxury, squandering the wealth and resources of the court, but paying little attention to the destruction and turmoil in the capital.
This laissez-faire attitude led to the gradual loss of control of the social order and the growing discontent of the people, which eventually became the trigger for the collapse of the regime.
Ignoring people's livelihood and suffering
Although Li Zicheng ostensibly promulgated military laws that strictly forbade officers and soldiers from mutilating civilians and looting property, in reality, he did not really solve the problems of people's livelihood. He chose to turn a blind eye to the oppression of the people in his army, which led to the accumulation of resentment and eventual loss of popularity.
During Li Zicheng's reign, he promulgated a series of military laws that forbade soldiers from burning, killing and looting civilians. These laws seem to be powerful, and on the surface they show that he cares about the people, but in practice, they have not been effectively implemented.
Soldiers often continue to oppress civilians, rob them of their belongings and sometimes even use violence against them. However, Li Zicheng chose to turn a blind eye to these acts, and did not stop the soldiers' illegal acts and did not hold them accountable.
This laissez-faire behavior of the soldiers against the oppression of the common people has caused the resentment of the people to continue to accumulate. The people, who had hoped that the new regime would improve their living conditions, were deeply disappointed and angry at the army's oppression.
They began to lose faith in the government, became suspicious of Li Zicheng's rule, and some even chose to leave their homes and flee the government's jurisdiction.
Li Zicheng's indifference to this situation has made the people's resentment increasingly aggravated, and the people's hearts have gradually drifted away. As a leader, he did not take the issues of people's livelihood seriously, nor did he effectively safeguard the interests of the people, but chose to ignore them, only caring about the stability of his own power and the enjoyment of personal self-interest.
In the end, this disregard for people's livelihood issues and neglect of popular grievances led to the shaking and eventual collapse of Li Zicheng's rule. He has lost the trust and support of the people, and the foundation of the regime is in jeopardy.
Li Zicheng's story tells us that a leader who does not care about the people's livelihood and does not protect the interests of the people, but puts his personal interests above the country and the people, is doomed to failure in the end.
Lack of long-term vision and strategy
When the Qing and Wu armies jointly attacked him, Li Zicheng was clearly in an unprecedented predicament. He faced pressure from two directions, but he lacked the decision-making power and strategy to deal with the situation. Instead, he made a shocking choice: he gave up resistance and chose to retreat.
This decision seems unexpected, but it also reflects Li Zicheng's helplessness and confusion at this time. Faced with a combined attack by the Qing and Wu armies, his army may have been in a state of extreme exhaustion and disadvantage.
Perhaps he felt that his own strength was insufficient, or that internal divisions and chaos had affected his command and decision-making. Whatever the reason, Li Zicheng ultimately chose to retreat, a decision that not only shocked his supporters, but also surprised his enemies.
Retreat did not mean the end of defeat, but for Li Zicheng, it was the end of his rule. His retreat was seen as a major challenge to his leadership skills and a trigger for the collapse of the Dashun dynasty. This decision by Li Zicheng ultimately led to the defeat of him and his ruling system.
From another point of view, Li Zicheng's retreat also reflects his lack of decision-making ability and misunderstanding of the situation.
Perhaps in the circumstances, other actions, such as holding a position or cooperating with the Nanming government, might have had a better outcome. But Li Zicheng did not make such a choice, but chose to escape from reality and chose to give up confrontation.
Author's point of view
42 days passed, the Dashun Dynasty collapsed, and Li Zicheng also became the dust of history.
His failure has brought us a warning: a qualified leader must pay attention to the people's livelihood and suffering, work diligently for the people, and cannot indulge in pleasure or personal desires, otherwise he will go to the road of destruction.
Li Zicheng's story is a portrayal of the fragility of power and the hardships of rule, as well as a profound reflection on human nature.
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Sources of information from:
"Research on Li Zicheng's Martyrdom in Tongcheng Jiugong Mountain" - Li Zicheng Research Network
"Ming History Chronicle, Volume 78" - Navigation of Chinese Studies
"The Mystery of Li Zicheng" - Mizhi News Network