In the social turmoil of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, the succession to the throne was often full of unexpected drama. Liu Zhiyuan, the founding emperor of the Later Han Dynasty, established himself as emperor in 947, and a series of urgent and crucial choices directly affected the fate of the dynasty. Especially on the issue of succession to the throne, the choice of the old emperor can be said to be beyond everyone's expectations. Think about it, if you were emperor, how would you choose your heir, especially if your sons had their own problems. How did Liu Zhiyuan make his decision? How did Liu make his decision? Let's take a closer look!
In this era, the ascension to the throne of every emperor is not accidental, but the inevitable result of history and personal struggle. The life of the emperor is not as beautiful as imagined, especially in the troubled era of five dynasties and ten kingdoms, almost every emperor has to start thinking about a crucial issue - the heir to the throne as soon as he ascends the throne.
Later Han Gaozu had four children, each with very different characteristics and abilities. The eldest son, Liu Chengxun, was intelligent and politically talented, and was the pride of the emperor's father; the second son, Liu Chengyou, was in good health, but had an impulsive personality and was not suitable for big tasks; the third son, Liu Chengxun, was lying in bed all the year round due to illness, and was obviously unable to bear the burden of the emperor;
Fate always seems to be joking, and not long after Liu Chengxun was made the crown prince, his young life came to an abrupt end. This sudden change made Liu Zhiyuan feel painful, but a bigger question was in front of him: who should the throne be passed on?
Between this helplessness and urgency, Liu Zhiyuan chose his second son Liu Chengyou. Although this decision is not ideal in the eyes of many people, in the case of forced circumstances, at least Liu Chengyou's healthy body can support the heavy responsibility of the empire. However, the old emperor was not completely at ease with this impulsive son, so he left four ministers to supervise the state and assist the government.
Among them, Yang Wei has the most power, he is not only the prime minister, but also the auxiliary minister appointed by the emperor. Power can often make people gradually lost, and Yang Wei's ambitions have begun to swell. Soon after Liu Chengyou ascended the throne, Yang Wei began to restrict the emperor's right to speak and make decisions. This practice is extremely rare in history, and a minister can actually impose a "gag order" on the emperor, which not only reflects the chaos of power within the Later Han Dynasty, but also exposes the weakness of imperial power.
Liu Chengyou's reckless personality is now extremely restricted, making his rule even more inadequate. His political career was almost completely controlled by Yang Wei, and the majesty and power of the emperor were constantly eroded. This situation directly led to the political instability of the Later Han Dynasty and the turmoil of the court, which also laid the groundwork for the later internal strife and external troubles.
In this context, although Liu Chengyou's throne is nominally glamorous, it is actually walking on thin ice. His every move is closely monitored, and even the most basic rights of expression and decision-making are denied.
As for powerful ministers like Yang Wei, although they have power, they are always on the cusp. They must always be on the lookout for enemies around them, including other ministers who covet power, and even the emperor himself whom they control. Such a political environment is full of uncertainties and uncertainties, and everyone can become the next pawn to be sacrificed.
Liu Chengyou's reign did not bring much peace and prosperity in the end. The manipulation of Yang Wei and others, although they temporarily controlled the power, also loosened the foundation of the Later Han Dynasty.
This history makes us wonder if real power does not mean being on top, and if an emperor has no voice and decision-making power, his throne is meaningless, and those powerful ministers who think they can control everything, do they really control the future?
The road to the throne inheritance of Liu Zhiyuan, the ancestor of the Later Han Dynasty, was full of helplessness and bitterness. Judging from his choice, we can deeply feel that even the emperor may not be able to control his own destiny. Liu Chengyou's example shows us that if the leader of a country loses the right to speak, then his rule will exist in name only. In the long course of history, such stories, although embarrassing, are also extremely precious, reminding us that power is ultimately for the well-being of the country and its people, not for one's own selfishness.
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