In the vast story of "Water Margin", the tragic fate of Song Jiang and Lu Junyi has always been talked about. Many people think that the deaths of these two Liangshan heroes are the conspiracy of enemies Cai Jing, Gao Yu, Tong Guan and others, but in fact, the truth in the original book is far more tortuous and complex than imagined. If it weren't for the traitorous bureaucrats, who was behind all this? The question may be even more staggering than you might think. Next, it's guaranteed to blow your mind.
During the Northern Song Dynasty, the heroes of Liangshanbo gathered to go to the mountain because they could not bear the oppression of the government, and although their actions were advertised as righteousness, in the eyes of the imperial court, it was undoubtedly a rebellion to challenge authority. Song Jiang, the leader of Liangshan who was named "Doctor Wude", was actually a pawn of the imperial court for a time, and after he succumbed to the imperial court, he was awarded the title of official and knight, which seemed to be extremely glorious, but in fact it was in crisis step by step.
The turning point of the matter happened on an ordinary day, when Lu Junyi, the "Jade Qilin", inadvertently fell into a well-designed trap. Someone is quietly arranging behind his back, this is none other than a petty official named Yang Jian in the imperial court. Yang Jian's name is not prominent in "History of the Song Dynasty", but his methods and resourcefulness are enough to make any big hero lose his color. He proposed to lure Lu Junyi into Beijing by arranging someone to falsely report Lu Junyi's rebellion, and then quietly poisoned him in the imperial meal.
The brilliance of this conspiracy lies in its concealment, and even powerful ministers like Cai Jing are kept in the dark. Yang Jian's plan was to weaken Lu Junyi first, and then slowly plot against Song Jiang. At the imperial banquet of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, Lu Junyi unknowingly consumed food containing mercury, a heavy metal that is toxic enough to make people incapacitated and even fatal.
Lu Junyi's sudden death gave Yang Jian a chance to act further. He used the poison trick again, and this time the target was directly aimed at Song Jiang. By poisoning the imperial wine given to Song Jiang, Song Jiang also died in Huangquan. The tragic ending of these two heroes seems to be a trick of fate, but it is actually a cold political calculation.
Throughout the incident, Yang Jian skillfully exploited the emperor's trust and the ignorance of other powerful ministers to skillfully put the two heroes to death. His methods are not just as simple as poison, but also in his foresight and precise human thinking. Under Yang Jian's planning, Song Jiang and Lu Junyi, the two big heroes who once gave the court a headache, ended up with a tragic ending, but little is known about the shady scenes of all this.
This story tells us that behind history there are often many hidden secrets. Although Yang Jian is only a small character, his existence is enough to influence the course of the entire history. He used his wisdom and means to not only successfully eliminate the two major threats to Yangshan, but also to consolidate his position and power. This ability can't help but be breathtaking.
And although Cai Jing, Gao Yu, and Tong Guan are symbols of power on the surface, in this conspiracy, they are just pawns kept in the dark. They may be glamorous in the court, but in the face of real power games, they seem so powerless and ignorant. This reflects the complexity and cruelty of officialdom from one side, and even high-ranking officials can become tools in the hands of others.
The struggle for power within the court is always brutal. In this seemingly fair game, everyone can be a victim and a perpetrator. The tragedy of Song Jiang and Lu Junyi is not only the sorrow of personal fate, but also the helplessness of the entire era.
By digging deeper into the causes of death of Song Jiang and Lu Junyi in "Water Margin", it is not difficult for us to find that there are often many unknown truths hidden behind history. Although Yang Jian is not well known to most people, his resourcefulness and methods determine the fate of the two heroes, and also reveal the cruelty and complexity of the power struggle. Understanding these may allow us to think more deeply about and understand reality. In the long course of history, behind every decision, there may be a shocking secret.