As night fell, Sima Zhao stood alone on the high platform of the Wei Imperial Palace, looking at the lights in the distance. His mind was full of thoughts, thinking back to the fact that he had come to where he is today. Starting with his father Sima Yi, the Sima family gradually took control of the power of Wei. Today, he is a veritable real power figure in the Wei State, but he is still one step away from the ultimate goal.
Sima Zhao knew that usurping the throne and becoming emperor was a complicated process that required caution. He recalled the stories of successful and unsuccessful usurpation he had heard, and secretly wondered how he should act. He has already done all these things. However, there is one more crucial step that he always keeps in mind and thinks about day and night.
1. The rise of Sima Zhao
Everyone in the world knows that Sima Zhao is ambitious, but few people know that his rise to prominence is so tortuous. In 208 AD, Sima Yi and his family took refuge in Hanoi, when Sima Zhao was still in infancy. Who would have thought that this newborn baby would later become the de facto ruler of the Wei State?
The rise of the Sima Yi family can be said to have begun in troubled times. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the world was in turmoil, and the heroes rose together. Sima Yi's father, Sima Fang, served under Cao Cao and made great contributions to the establishment of Cao Wei's regime. Sima Yi inherited his father's ambition and gradually won Cao Cao's trust with his own intelligence.
Interestingly, Sima Yi didn't want to be a celebrity at first. According to the "Book of Jin", Sima Yi once pretended to be crazy to avoid trouble, saying, "I have a good head and I can't afford to advance." However, Cao Cao saw through Sima Yi's disguise. Cao Cao once said to the people around him: "Madame is far-sighted, too ordinary, unless she has strange ambitions, she can't be like this." In this way, Sima Yi was "invited" out of the mountain and began his career.
Sima Zhao has been exposed to it since he was a child and was deeply influenced by his father. He inherited his father's wisdom and strategy, and was better at observing the situation and seizing opportunities. In 249 AD, Sima Yi launched the Gaopingling Rebellion and completely controlled the Wei dynasty. Sima Zhao was in his thirties at this time, and he was in the prime of life. He assisted his father in handling the government and accumulated rich political experience.
However, Sima Zhao's rise to prominence has not been easy. In 251 AD, Sima Yi died, and his eldest son, Sima Shi, inherited his father's power. At this time, Sima Zhao could only condescend to him and serve as the middle and middle leaders. But instead of being dissatisfied, he was more cautious and helped his brother consolidate his power.
Sima Zhao's opportunity came from an accident. In 255 AD, Emperor Cao Fang of Wei wanted to regain power and clashed with Sima Shi. Sima Shi decisively deposed Cao Fang and made Cao Chao emperor. In this incident, Sima Zhao performed well and made great contributions to quelling the rebellion. Since then, his position has become more stable, and he has become an important minister second only to Sima Shi.
In 258 AD, Sima Shi died of illness, and Sima Zhao was finally able to take full control of the Wei dynasty. As the general of Wei and Xiangguo, he has actually become the supreme ruler of Wei. However, Sima Zhao was not satisfied. He knows that he needs to go further if he wants to truly realize his ambitions.
In the process of coming to power, Sima Zhao showed extraordinary political wisdom. He is good at winning people's hearts and minds, and he treats the old department of heroes with special favor. At the same time, he also paid attention to training new people and promoted many talented young officials. This balance has made his power base more solid.
Sima Zhao also attached great importance to external expansion. He sent troops to fight against Shu Han many times, and finally destroyed the Shu kingdom in 263 AD. This military victory not only expanded the territory of Wei, but also greatly enhanced Sima Zhao's prestige.
However, Sima Zhao knew that in order to truly replace the Cao Wei regime and become the new emperor, the last and most crucial step was needed. This step is to let Emperor Wei canonize himself as king and establish a vassal state. Only in this way can he legitimately pass on his power to future generations and finally complete the great cause of changing the dynasty.
Second, the prelude to the usurpation of the throne and the emperor
Although Sima Zhao has taken control of the Wei dynasty, he still needs to pave the way step by step to truly usurp the throne and become emperor. The process is like a choreographed drama, where every action is meaningful and every step is moving closer to the ultimate goal.
The first is "not going to enter the DPRK". In ancient court etiquette, when a courtier entered the court to meet the emperor, he had to trot briskly to show respect. This behavior is known as "tendency". However, Sima Zhao began to change this rule. When he entered the court, he no longer trotted, but walked slowly. This may seem like a small change, but it is actually meaningful. It symbolizes that Sima Zhao no longer sees himself as an ordinary courtier, but as an equal to the emperor.
In 260 AD, a striking scene took place in the court of the Wei state. Sima Zhao walked in slowly, and the ministers all looked sideways. Some of the old ministers looked surprised, while some of the younger officials secretly speculated. Although Emperor Cao Chao was young, he was also aware of this change. However, in the face of the powerful Sima Zhao, he could only pretend not to see it.
This is followed by "Praise and Worship". In ancient times, when courtiers saluted the emperor, they had to shout "Long live". This is known as "Zanbai". And "nameless" means that the emperor's name is no longer called. Sima Zhao began to implement this practice in the court, further breaking through the constraints of the ritual system.
Once, Sima Zhao saluted Cao Chao at a court meeting. While everyone chanted "Long live", Sima Zhao remained silent. The entire hall was suddenly silent, and a tense atmosphere filled the air. Cao Chao's face turned pale, but he finally acquiesced to this behavior. From then on, Sima Zhao no longer addressed the emperor by his name in the court, as if he was the real ruler.
The third step is to "go up to the court". According to the etiquette system, courtiers were not allowed to wear swords when entering the court to show respect for the emperor. However, Sima Zhao began to wear a sword into the court, an act that demonstrated his military prowess and inviolable status.
One winter day in 261 A.D., a surprising scene was once again staged in the court. Sima Zhao wore a sword at his waist and walked into the hall with his head held high. The slight sound of the scabbard rubbing against the ground was particularly clear in the silent hall. The ministers looked at each other, and some even subconsciously took a few steps back. Emperor Cao's face turned pale, but he knew that he was powerless to stop this.
Each of these three steps challenges the established etiquette system and demonstrates Sima Zhao's transcendent status. They were like a silent proclamation that Sima Zhao was no longer an ordinary courtier, but a capable and ambitious figure to replace the emperor.
However, what really marked Sima Zhao's usurpation ambition was "Jiajiuxi". Jiuxi is the highest honor bestowed by ancient monarchs on meritorious heroes, including nine kinds of items such as cars, clothes, music, flags, and axes. In Chinese history, being added to Jiuxi is often a prelude to usurpation.
In 262 AD, Cao Chao decided to add nine tin to Sima Zhao under Sima Zhao's "suggestion". This decision caused an uproar in the DPRK and China. Many old ministers understood that this meant that Sima Zhao was only one step away from the throne.
The ceremony of adding nine tins is extremely grand. On that day, the entire city of Luoyang was immersed in an eerie atmosphere. The streets were crowded with people, curious and apprehensive, wondering what kind of changes this ritual would bring to the Wei state.
Sima Zhao was dressed in a gorgeous costume, drove in the car of the Son of Heaven, and slowly drove towards the palace surrounded by the ministers. People along the way fell to their knees and shouted "Long live". This scene is almost no different from the emperor's travel.
In the palace, Cao Chao personally presided over the ceremony of adding nine tin. He awarded the nine treasures to Sima Zhao one by one, and Sima Zhao respectfully accepted each award, but there was an ambition in his eyes that could not be concealed. Throughout the ceremony, Cao Chao's voice was always a little trembling, while Sima Zhao became more and more calm.
After the ceremony, Sima Zhao already had the honor and status almost equal to that of the emperor. He became a veritable "face of the king". From this moment on, the state of Wei had actually entered a state of double-headed politics.
However, Sima Zhao was not satisfied. He knew that he needed to go further if he wanted to truly accomplish the great cause of usurpation. And this last step, and the most crucial step, is to obtain the feudal state. Only by gaining his own fiefdom could he establish an independent political base and prepare himself for the eventual replacement of the Cao Wei dynasty.
3. The steps that Sima Zhao is most concerned about
In the complicated process of usurping the throne and becoming emperor, Sima Zhao's most concerned step was to obtain a feudal state. This step was not only key to usurping the throne, but also an important safeguard to ensure the stability of power and pave the way for future generations.
Feudal state, in the ancient Chinese political system, was a special political arrangement. It allows a meritorious person or member of the royal family to have powers similar to that of an independent kingdom within a specific area. For the ambitious Sima Zhao, securing the feud meant that he could build his own political foundation and be well prepared to eventually replace the Cao Wei dynasty.
In 264 AD, Sima Zhao began to actively operate a plan to obtain a feudal state. He first disseminated public opinion in the court through his cronies, emphasizing his great contributions to the Wei state, especially his exploits in pacifying Shu Han. These public opinions soon aroused extensive discussion in both the government and the opposition.
At the same time, Sima Zhao was also secretly mobilizing the army and placing his cronies in various important posts. He knew very well that military strength was an important guarantee for obtaining a feudal state. Outside Luoyang City, Sima Zhao's private army practiced day and night, ready to deal with possible changes.
In order to further demonstrate his ability and prestige, Sima Zhao also organized a large-scale military exercise during the year. This exercise not only demonstrated the military strength of Wei, but also a concentrated demonstration of Sima Zhao's personal power. Generals from all over the world witnessed Sima Zhao's majesty, and many began to think that Sima Zhao already possessed the bearing and ability of a monarch.
However, the process of obtaining a feud was not all smooth sailing. Although Cao Chao is young, he is not completely unassertive. He realized that if he agreed to the closure of the country, he would lose his last power. Therefore, he secretly contacted some old ministers to try to stop Sima Zhao's plan.
Upon learning of this news, Sima Zhao immediately took action. He first sent people to secretly meet with those old ministers, and successfully disintegrated Cao Chao's support forces by combining interest temptation and threat. Subsequently, he closely monitored Cao Chao's every move through his eyeliner in the palace.
In early 265 AD, Sima Zhao decided to take more radical action. He ordered his cronies to draft a memo, recommending that the emperor make Sima Zhao the Duke of Jin. The poem was earnestly worded, enumerating Sima Zhao's many exploits and emphasizing that the feudalism was a due reward for his loyalty and talent.
After the music was presented, the DPRK and China immediately fell into a heated controversy. The ministers who supported Sima Zhao strongly agreed, while the opponents put forward various reasons to obstruct it. The entire court was plunged into chaos.
Just when the controversy was at its most intense, Sima Zhao personally appeared in the court. He made a generous speech, reviewing his contributions to the Wei state, and especially emphasized the merits of pacifying Shu Han. His speech was both powerful and sincere, and many ministers who had originally taken a wait-and-see attitude were also impressed by his sincerity.
Faced with such a situation, Cao Chao fell into a dilemma. He knew that agreeing to the closure of the country would mean further weakening his power, but if he refused, he was afraid that it would anger Sima Zhao and cause an even greater political turmoil. After weighing the pros and cons, Cao Chao finally made a concession.
In February 265 AD, Cao Chao officially issued an edict and named Sima Zhao as the Duke of Jin. This decision marked the most crucial step on the road to usurpation of the throne by Sima Zhao. From then on, he not only had his own fiefdom, but also gained the power equivalent of an independent kingdom.
The sealing ceremony was held in an unusually grand manner. On that day, the city of Luoyang was lit up with lights, and the streets were crowded with people watching the ceremony. Sima Zhao was dressed in a luxurious costume, drove in a luxury car, and slowly drove towards the palace surrounded by many entourages. Along the way, people kept kneeling and kowtowing, shouting "Long live the Duke of Jin".
In the palace hall, Cao Chao personally held a ceremony for Sima Zhao to seal the country. When Cao Chao handed over the jade book symbolizing the feudal kingdom to Sima Zhao, the entire hall was silent. Everyone realized that this moment would go down in history forever, and the fate of Wei was changed.
After gaining the feudal state, Sima Zhao immediately set about consolidating his power base. He built a lot of buildings in his fiefdom, built palaces, and formed his own team. At the same time, he did not forget to win the hearts of the people, and was particularly generous to the old department of the heroes, attracting more talents to take refuge.
Fourth, how to treat the Cao Wei royal family
After Sima Zhao gradually took control of the government and obtained the feudal state, a major problem he faced was how to deal with the Cao Wei royal family. This is not only related to the legitimacy of his usurpation, but also has a direct impact on the stability of the new regime. Sima Zhao took a series of well-planned actions that both demonstrated his political wisdom and reflected the complex political situation of the time.
First of all, Sima Zhao adopted a policy of "cutting the feudal domain" against the Cao Wei royal family. The clansmen of the Cao Wei royal family were divided into various places and had considerable power and influence. This is a potential threat to Sima Zhao. Therefore, he began to systematically curtail the power of these clansmen.
In the spring of 265 AD, Sima Zhao ordered a large-scale inspection of the feudal kings in various places. Ostensibly, this was to ensure that the local vassal kings did their duty, but in reality it was intended to weaken their power. The inspection procession, made up of Sima Zhao's cronies, went deep into the various fiefdoms to scrutinize the vassal king's political achievements, military might, and financial situation.
During this inspection, many feudal lords were found to have "problems". Some have been accused of corruption, while others have been accused of poor governance. Sima Zhao took this opportunity to deprive some of the feudal kings of their fiefs and recalled them to Luoyang to "face the saints". These vassal kings retained their titles, but they had effectively lost power.
Second, Sima Zhao adopted a strategy of "division and disintegration" against the Cao Wei royal family. He knew that the united royal family was the biggest threat to him. Therefore, he skillfully exploited the contradictions within the royal family to sow discord, making the members of the royal family suspicious of each other and unable to form an effective resistance force.
In this process, Sima Zhao paid special attention to the young members of the royal family. In the name of "cultivating reserve talents", he summoned some young children of the imperial family to Luoyang and arranged for them to study under his command. This is not only to monitor these potential threats, but also to develop a group of royals who are loyal to them.
In the summer of 265 AD, Sima Zhao held a grand banquet to which all members of the imperial family in Luoyang were invited. At the banquet, he took special care of these young people, frequently toasted, and asked them about their study and life. This affinity made many young members of the royal family have a good impression of Sima Zhao, and gradually diluted their identification with their identity.
At the same time, Sima Zhao did not forget to encircle some influential ministers. He knew that although these people were old, they still had a certain amount of prestige in the court. By co-opting these people, he could further weaken the influence of the royal family.
In the autumn of 265 AD, Sima Zhao held a "meeting to respect the elderly" and invited the highly respected ministers of the court to participate. At the meeting, he expressed great respect for these old ministers, and specially arranged for them to have a discussion with young members of the imperial family, so as to convey his attitude of valuing tradition and respecting the previous dynasty. This move won the favor of many old ministers.
However, Sima Zhao's policies towards the Cao Wei royal family were not all mild. He took a more drastic approach to royalty who might threaten his power.
In the winter of 265 AD, a prince of the Cao Wei royal family was arrested by Sima Zhao on charges of "rebellion" because he privately discussed Sima Zhao's dictatorship. The prince was imprisoned in a large prison and tortured. In the end, under the instruction of Sima Zhao, the prince "committed suicide in fear of sin". The incident caused great panic among the royal family, and many people began to shy away from talking about political affairs for fear of getting into trouble.
With regard to the young emperor Cao Chao, Sima Zhao adopted a more sophisticated strategy. On the one hand, he was respectful to Cao Chao on the surface, and always regarded himself as a courtier in the court. On the other hand, he secretly controlled Cao Chao's every move, and even arranged for his cronies to monitor the emperor's daily life.
In early 266 AD, Cao Chao tried to contact some of his old ministers in order to break free from Sima Zhao's control. However, this action was soon discovered by Sima Zhao's eyeliner. Sima Zhao did not take direct action against Cao Chao, but skillfully mobilized those old ministers, making it impossible for Cao Chao's plan to be implemented.
This series of actions enabled Sima Zhao to make significant progress in dealing with the Cao Wei royal family. He both weakened the royal family and avoided the general opposition from being too radical. This laid a solid foundation for his subsequent usurpation of the throne.
5. The final step in promoting the establishment of the Jin Dynasty
After a long period of planning and preparation, Sima Zhao finally came to the last step to promote the establishment of the Jin Dynasty. This step requires not only political wisdom, but also careful planning and execution. Sima Zhao knew that any slight mistake could lead to a failure, so he was extremely cautious and carefully scrutinized every action.
In late 265 AD, Sima Zhao gathered several of his most trusted advisors to secretly discuss a specific plan to usurp the throne. The meeting lasted three days and three nights, and the participants were strictly forbidden to communicate with the outside world. At this meeting, Sima Zhao developed a well-thought-out plan to divide the usurpation process into several key steps.
First, Sima Zhao decided to further weaken the influence of the Cao Wei royal family. He ordered a comprehensive "examination" of the members of the royal family to check their talents and virtues. The assessment was ostensibly about selecting talent, but in fact it was about identifying members of the royal family who might pose a threat to usurpation.
After the results of the assessment came out, Sima Zhao took the opportunity to purge some disobedient members of the royal family. Some were relegated to civilian status, while others were placed under house arrest in remote locations. This action greatly weakened the power of the royal family and cleared the way for the subsequent usurpation of the throne.
Secondly, Sima Zhao began to actively encircle the army. He was well aware that the support of the army was the key to the success of the usurpation. At the beginning of 266 AD, Sima Zhao conducted a large-scale inspection of the garrisons in various places under the pretext of reviewing armaments. During the inspection, he not only generously rewarded the soldiers, but also personally had long talks with some influential generals and expressed his trust and attention to them.
This inspection greatly enhanced Sima Zhao's prestige in the army. Many generals began to openly express their support for Sima Zhao, and some even proposed that Sima Zhao replace the Cao Wei royal family and ascend the throne as emperor himself.
At the same time, Sima Zhao did not ignore the importance of public opinion. He sent a large number of spies to spread favorable remarks among the people. These spies either chatted in teahouses and restaurants, or distributed leaflets in the bazaars promoting Sima's exploits, suggesting that the Cao Wei royal family was no longer able to govern the world.
In order to further win the hearts and minds of the people, Sima Zhao also adopted a series of measures to benefit the people. He ordered some tax reductions, opened warehouses for relief to the victims, and built water conservancy projects. These measures greatly increased his popularity among the people, and many people began to publicly praise Sima Zhao's benevolence.
In the summer of 266 AD, Sima Zhao felt that the time was ripe and decided to take a final action. He first arranged for his cronies to put forward a proposal of "Chan Concession" in the court, saying that the Cao Wei royal family was no longer able to govern the world, and the throne should be ceded to talented people. This proposal immediately caused a heated discussion in the DPRK and China.
The ministers who supported Sima Zhao came forward one after another, listing Sima's exploits, emphasizing that only Sima Zhao could lead the Wei state to prosperity. Opponents, although some spoke out, were quickly silenced.
Just when the controversy in the court was at its most intense, Sima Zhao suddenly announced that he would retire to Lin Quan and no longer care about the government. This move immediately caused panic in both the government and the opposition. Many feared that if Sima Zhao did retire, the Wei state would fall into chaos.
Under these circumstances, a group of highly respected ministers jointly wrote a letter, imploring Sima Zhao to accept the concession of Chan in order to save the Wei state from fire and water. In the face of such a request, Sima Zhao showed great "hesitation". He has said many times that he is only a shallow learner and does not dare to take on this heavy responsibility.
However, as the petition grew louder, Sima Zhao finally "reluctantly" agreed to accept the Chan concession in the winter of 266 AD. He held a solemn ceremony of receiving Zen in the Ming Hall in the south of Luoyang City. During the ceremony, the young Wei Emperor Cao Huan handed over the heirloom jade seal to Sima Zhao, marking the official end of Wei's reign and the beginning of the Jin dynasty.
At the enthronement ceremony, Sima Zhao announced the change of the Yuan to "Taishi" and officially proclaimed the emperor. He issued a series of edicts to grant amnesty to the world, reduce taxes, and pacify the localities. At the same time, he did not forget to reward those who helped him ascend to the throne, and a large number of titles and fiefs were distributed.
However, Sima Zhao knew that the establishment of a new dynasty was only the beginning, and how to consolidate his power, how to deal with the remnants of the previous dynasty, and how to deal with possible rebellions were all new challenges he was about to face. This drama, which began as a struggle for power, turned a new page with the establishment of the Jin Dynasty.