In 1641, the leader of the peasant uprising, known as the "King of Chuang", broke through Luoyang, and not only that, but he also captured Zhu Changxun, the blessed king of the Ming Dynasty. The name Zhu Changxun may not have been heard of by many people, he is not the emperor, but his life is even more luxurious than the emperor. In the last years of the Ming Dynasty, the world was in turmoil, the court was empty, and this prince was indulged in lust day and night, how luxurious was his life? How did he come to his end step by step? Today, let's talk about this extravagant prince in the last years of the Ming Dynasty and his legendary and absurd life trajectory.
The peasant rebel army led by Li Zicheng was full of red flags and smashed the Yellow Dragon, but there was a person in Luoyang City who lived a completely different life - he was Zhu Changxun, the blessed king.
Although Zhu Changxun was not an emperor, his life was more luxurious than that of many emperors. Zhu Changxun's life in Luoyang can be described in four words - rich and rivaling the country. His mansion was extravagant, and his daily life consisted of drinking and merry, enjoying the pleasures of endless wealth and power.
However, the outside world has changed. At this time, Zhu Changxun was still immersed in his own small world, and the troubled times had nothing to do with him. He had a share of his wealth from land to taxes and even the salt industry. It can be said that Zhu Changxun has a lot of money, but this money is not used to appease the people or strengthen defense, but is all used to meet personal luxury needs.
There is a retired official who once advised Zhu Changxun that he should come up with money to help the army and the people, so that he can keep Luoyang and keep his throne, his name is Lu Weiqi. But it was not until 1641, when the army crushed Luoyang City, that Zhu Changxun realized the severity of the situation, but it was too late.
He went from being a rich prince to a lowly prisoner. After being arrested, Zhu Changxun showed great cowardice, and he begged Li Zicheng for mercy, hoping to save his life. Li Zicheng was extremely disgusted by this kind of weakness and incompetence, and finally at the celebration banquet, he punished Zhu Changxun in an extremely cruel way, making him an alternative "warning."
Zhu Changxun's story is actually a typical negative textbook. His life was full of luxury and pleasure, but it also exposed the shortcomings of the bureaucratic system and feudal rule of the late Ming Dynasty.
The corruption and extravagance of the aristocracy often became a harbinger of the decline of the state, while the misery and discontent of the populace were the spark for the uprising. When the two are combined, it's like a ticking time bomb that will eventually detonate. Zhu Changxun's personal fate is also the most direct response to his life's behavior. He probably never imagined that his extravagant life would eventually lead to such a tragic end.
From Zhu Changxun's story, we can see how a prince who forgets his form because of luxury and dereliction of duty because of pleasure is how he is walking towards his own demise step by step. While enjoying the convenience brought by power, not forgetting the original intention and paying attention to the people's livelihood and suffering, is the behavior that a responsible leader should have. Zhu Changxun's fate warns future generations: The rise and fall of a country is closely related to everyone's behavior. Whether it is a national leader or an ordinary person, everyone's choices and actions are writing the history of this country.