In the thirteenth year of Hongwu, the capital Jinling was shrouded in an atmosphere of slaughter. Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang killed Prime Minister Hu Weiyong for "rebellion", shocking the government and the opposition. For a time, the people were panicked, and the ministers trembled, for fear that they would become the next victims. Just when the rumors were blowing, a brave man stepped forward and made three concerts, pointing directly at the emperor's mistakes. This brave man is none other than Zhu Yuanzhang's nephew Li Wenzhong.
However, Li Wenzhong's outspoken admonition angered Zhu Yuanzhang. In a fit of rage, Emperor Taizu ordered Li Wenzhong to be taken down and awaiting execution. At this critical moment, an uninvited guest broke into Zhu Yuanzhang's bedroom. This uninvited guest was dressed in a shabby dress, and it turned out to be the queen of the dynasty, Ma. Why did she wear this ragged dress at this time? Can her appearance change Li Wenzhong's fate? How will Zhu Yuanzhang deal with this nephew who dares to speak out in the end?
Li Wenzhong, an influential figure in the early Ming Dynasty, has a prominent background that can be described as a collection of thousands of favors. The trajectory of his life has been closely linked to Zhu Yuanzhang, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, since the day he was born.
Li Wenzhong's mother is Zhu Yuanzhang's second sister, Zhu Fonu. When Zhu Yuanzhang was a poor boy, Zhu Fonu married Li Zhen from Xuyi, Jiangsu. Although this marriage was concluded in poverty, it laid the groundwork for the rise of Zhu Yuanzhang in the future. Li Wenchen was born in this context, and his birth added a blood bond to the relationship between Zhu Yuanzhang and Li Zhen.
However, fate tricked people. Natural disasters were frequent, causing the Zhu family and Li Zhen's family to be separated in the flight. It was not until 1352 that Li Wenzhong, who was already 14 years old, reunited with his uncle Zhu Yuanzhang. At that time, Zhu Yuanzhang had already made a name for himself in the rebel army, and when he learned that his nephew was coming, he was overjoyed and personally went out of the city to greet him. The scene of the reunion was very touching, Zhu Yuanzhang hugged Li Wenzhong and cried bitterly, and said to the people around him: "My nephew is like my son." This sentence not only expresses Zhu Yuanzhang's love for his nephew, but also indicates Li Wenzhong's illustrious future in the future.
Since then, Li Wenzhong has followed Zhu Yuanzhang and received careful cultivation. Zhu Yuanzhang regarded him as his own and gave him comprehensive guidance in both military and government affairs. Li Wenzhong also lived up to his uncle's expectations, and soon grew into a general who could fight well. In the process of Zhu Yuanzhang's conquest of the world, Li Wenzhong made great achievements. He participated in major military operations such as Chen Youliang in Xiping, Zhang Shicheng in the Eastern Expedition, and Mengyuan in the Northern Expedition, showing extraordinary military talent.
After the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang favored this nephew even more. Li Wenzhong, together with Xu Da, Chang Yuchun and others, was named the six founding dukes and received the honorable title of Duke Cao Guo. This title is not only an affirmation of Li Wenzhong's meritorious achievements, but also a manifestation of Zhu Yuanzhang's love for him.
Li Wenzhong's talents are not limited to the military field. In the middle of the Hongwu period, Zhu Yuanzhang entrusted him with an important task and put him in charge of the Metropolitan Governor's Mansion and the Governor of the State. The Metropolitan Governor's Mansion is the highest military institution in the country, while the Guozijian is the highest institution of learning. This appointment fully demonstrated Zhu Yuanzhang's all-round trust in Li Wenzhong, which not only put him in charge of military power, but also allowed him to participate in cultural and educational affairs.
However, the rise in power and status did not make Li Wenzhong forget his responsibilities. He knew that his uncle's trust was not easy to come by, so he did his best in his work. He not only continued to exert his talents in the military, but also made a lot of contributions in culture and education, laying the foundation for the cultural and martial arts of the Ming Dynasty.
Li Wenzhong's illustrious background and outstanding talent made him one of Zhu Yuanzhang's most trusted and relied on courtiers. However, it was this status that also made him take on greater responsibilities in the later court turmoil. When the imperial court fell into turmoil and the heroes were purged on a large scale, Li Wenzhong chose to stand up and speak out. This choice not only reflects his courage and loyalty, but also brings him great danger.
In the thirteenth year of Hongwu (1380), the Ming Dynasty ushered in a political storm that shocked the government and the opposition. The central figure of this storm was Hu Weiyong, a high-ranking prime minister at the time. Hu Weiyong was originally a close confidant of Zhu Yuanzhang, and he followed Zhu Yuanzhang at the beginning of his army and made great achievements. However, the expansion of power made Hu Weiyong gradually get carried away, and even sprouted a heart of disobedience.
When Zhu Yuanzhang learned of Hu Weiyong's ambitions, he immediately took action. He arrested Hu Weiyong on charges of "treason" and quickly launched a large-scale investigation. Hu Weiyong was escorted to the execution ground, his body was broken into thousands of pieces, and his family was also killed. This incident is not only a punishment for one person, but also a means for Zhu Yuanzhang to show his power to the whole court.
The impact of Hu Weiyong's case goes far beyond that. Zhu Yuanzhang took this opportunity to order the abolition of the prime minister system, which had lasted for more than 1,600 years. This decision completely changed the political pattern of the Ming Dynasty, further centralized the imperial power, and also laid the groundwork for the later Ming Dynasty emperors to personally manage the government.
However, the aftermath of Hu Weiyong's case has not subsided. Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to have fallen into an extreme suspicion, and he began to purge the heroes of the DPRK and China. According to historical records, more than 10,000 people have been implicated and imprisoned. Among these people, there are many old ministers who have followed Zhu Yuanzhang to fight the country, and even some officials who have nothing to do with Hu Weiyong.
An atmosphere of terror enveloped the inside and outside of the court. Every morning when the ministers went to court, they would explain the aftermath to their families, as if they were going to die. Some officials even prepared coffins at home in case they needed them. This mood of "going to the court is like going to the grave" fully reflected the tense atmosphere of the imperial court at that time.
Zhu Yuanzhang's cruel methods were not only aimed at officials, but even his relatives were not spared. His adopted son, Zhu Wenzheng, was executed for an unintentional remark. This indiscriminate killing caused widespread resentment among the ministers of the DPRK and China, but most of them chose to remain silent out of self-preservation.
In this noisy environment, the decision-making mechanism of the imperial court was also seriously affected. The ministers who dared to speak out in the past were silent at this time. They know that the slightest carelessness can lead to death. This situation led to a deviation in the decision-making of the imperial court, and also laid a hidden danger for a series of problems in the future.
However, even in such a high-pressure situation, there are still a few loyal ministers who are not afraid of power and dare to speak out. Among them, the most prominent is Zhu Yuanzhang's nephew Li Wenzhong. Although Li Wenzhong is a hero of the founding of the country, he did not choose to protect himself because of his special status. On the contrary, he wrote several times, pointing out Zhu Yuanzhang's mistakes and trying to stop this endless killing.
Li Wenzhong's behavior is undoubtedly extremely dangerous. In the political environment at that time, even the relatives of the emperor could lose their lives at any time because of a word. Li Wenzhong obviously knew this, but he still chose to step up. This courage is not only a manifestation of his loyalty, but also of his vision as a statesman.
The court turmoil caused by Hu Weiyong's case not only changed the political pattern of the Ming Dynasty, but also profoundly affected Zhu Yuanzhang's way of rule. After this turmoil, Zhu Yuanzhang's control of power became tighter, and his suspicion of his subordinates became deeper. Although this method of rule consolidated the imperial power in the short term, it also laid hidden dangers for the political development of the Ming Dynasty in the future.
In this turmoil, Li Wenzhong's performance is particularly eye-catching. His courage and loyalty were especially precious in the silence. However, his outspoken advice also put him in great danger. How will Zhu Yuanzhang deal with this nephew who dares to speak out? This issue is not only related to Li Wenzhong's personal fate, but also affects the political ecology of the entire Ming Dynasty.
At the critical moment when the court turmoil swept the Ming Dynasty, Li Wenzhong, with his extraordinary courage and wisdom, presented three consecutive performances to face Zhu Yuanzhang's dragon face. These three remarks not only embody Li Wenzhong's political wisdom, but also show his responsibility and courage as a loyal minister.
The first focus is on Zhu Yuanzhang's foreign policy. At that time, Zhu Yuanzhang intended to conquer Japan to demonstrate the majesty of the Ming Dynasty. However, Li Wenzhong sees the potential risks behind this decision. He made a detailed analysis of the international situation at that time, and pointed out that the Ming Dynasty had just been established, and everything was in ruins, so it was not appropriate to start a war lightly. He reminded Zhu Yuanzhang that the expedition to Japan would not only cost a huge amount of money, but might also lead to unnecessary international disputes, which would not be conducive to the country's long-term peace and stability.
Li Wenzhong's remarks are earnestly worded and reasonable. He cited successful cases in history, such as Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty's policy of "lightly punishing the poor" and Tang Taizong's strategy of "resting with the people" to govern the country, and suggested that Zhu Yuanzhang should focus his energy on internal affairs. This note not only shows Li Wenzhong's strategic vision, but also reflects his thoughtful consideration for the country's long-term development.
The second note is aimed at personnel issues within the imperial court. Li Wenzhong was keenly aware that Zhu Yuanzhang had a tendency to reuse eunuchs. As a politician who is well versed in history, Li Wenzhong is well aware of the harm that eunuchs interfere in politics to the dynasty. In his recital, he listed various drawbacks caused by the dictatorship of eunuchs in the past dynasties, such as the rebellion of the Ten Standing Servants in the Han Dynasty and the Manna Change in the Tang Dynasty, warning Zhu Yuanzhang not to repeat the mistakes of the past.
The tone of this note became even more intense, and Li Wenzhong bluntly pointed out: "Eunuchs are originally people who serve people, and if they are allowed to participate in court politics, they will inevitably cause trouble. He advised Zhu Yuanzhang to strictly limit the powers of the eunuchs and limit their duties to the affairs of the court. These remarks undoubtedly touched the sensitive nerves of the imperial power, but Li Wenzhong still chose to speak out.
The third piece of music is Li Wenzhong's most daring admonition. In the face of Zhu Yuanzhang's wanton purge of heroes, Li Wenzhong stepped forward again. In his recital, he pointed out Zhu Yuanzhang's mistake of indiscriminately killing innocents, pointing out that this kind of behavior not only violates benevolent government, but also shakes the foundation of the dynasty.
In this recital, Li Wenzhong cited the cases of dynasty decline caused by the indiscriminate killing of meritorious heroes in history, such as the loss of popular support caused by the killing of Confucian scholars by Qin Shi Huang, and the popular uprising caused by the indiscriminate killing of meritorious heroes by Emperor Yang of Sui. He implored Zhu Yuanzhang to think twice and pointed out: "The people Your Majesty has killed today are all heroes who shared weal and woe with Your Majesty in the past. If this continues, it will surely chill the hearts of the people of the world. "
This recital can be described as a pearl of words, and every sentence is bloody. Li Wenzhong not only pointed out Zhu Yuanzhang's mistakes, but also put forward specific suggestions for improvement. He suggested that Zhu Yuanzhang set up a special judicial organ to strictly enforce legal procedures and avoid indiscriminate killing of innocent people. At the same time, he proposed to revisit the officials who have been implicated in prison and give them a chance to plead their case.
Each of Li Wenzhong's three notes is directed to the vital point, and each of them is full of loyalty to the country and Zhu Yuanzhang. He did not hesitate to risk his life, for the long-term peace and stability of the country, and in order to save those innocent heroes, he repeatedly wrote letters and admonishments.
However, Li Wenzhong's behavior undoubtedly angered Zhu Yuanzhang. In the political environment at that time, even the emperor's relatives did not dare to criticize the emperor's decision-making so bluntly. Zhu Yuanzhang originally had high hopes for this nephew, but at this time he was angered by Li Wenzhong's "disobedient" words.
Zhu Yuanzhang was furious and ordered Li Wenzhong to be taken down on the spot and awaited beheading. This decision shocked the entire court. The ministers looked at each other in disbelief. Even Zhu Yuanzhang, who has always been tough, fell into a short silence after giving this order.
At this moment, an unexpected figure appeared. Her appearance pushed this turmoil to a new climax, and also brought a turning point to Li Wenzhong's fate.
Just when Li Wenzhong's life was hanging by a thread, an uninvited guest broke into the court. This uninvited guest is none other than Zhu Yuanzhang's wife, Queen Ma of the Ming Dynasty. Queen Ma's sudden appearance suddenly changed the atmosphere of the originally tense court.
Although Queen Ma is the mother of a country, she rarely participates in court politics. The sudden appearance this time was obviously to save Li Wenzhong's life. Empress Ma walked slowly in front of Zhu Yuanzhang, saluted the emperor and said, "Your Majesty, the concubine has something to say." "
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at this wife who shared hardships and hardships with him, and his originally angry face eased slightly. He motioned for Queen Ma to continue. Queen Ma looked around and said loudly: "Your Majesty, although Li Wenzhong's words are offensive, his heart is for the country and the people. It was not easy for me to open the country in the Ming Dynasty, and I needed such a loyal minister who dared to speak out. "
Queen Ma's words not only showed her political wisdom, but also reflected her responsibility as a queen. She continued: "Your Majesty, do you still remember when you were in Haozhou, Li Wenzhong risked his life to pass on military information to us? If it weren't for his loyalty, how could we be where we are today? "
These words aptly reminded Zhu Yuanzhang's friends in distress in the past. Queen Ma's words included both affirmation of Li Wenzhong and euphemistic exhortation to Zhu Yuanzhang. She skillfully linked Li Wenzhong's loyalty to the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, trying to awaken Zhu Yuanzhang's feelings for the old department.
As soon as Queen Ma's words fell, a voice of approval suddenly sounded in the court. Many ministers echoed and agreed with Queen Ma's views. This scene made Zhu Yuanzhang fall into deep thought. He stared at Queen Ma, as if reminiscing about the past.
At this moment, Queen Ma said something shocking: "Your Majesty, the concubine has the courage to request, if Your Majesty has to deal with Li Wenzhong, kill the concubine first." As soon as these words came out, the court was suddenly silent. Everyone held their breath and waited for Zhu Yuanzhang's reaction.
Queen Ma's words not only showed her courage, but also reflected her political wisdom. She knew very well that at this critical moment, Zhu Yuanzhang's sanity must be awakened in an extreme way. Her remarks are not only a protection for Li Wenzhong, but also a kind of wake-up call to Zhu Yuanzhang.
After Zhu Yuanzhang heard these words, the expression on his face changed. He was silent for a long time, and finally sighed and said, "What the queen said is extremely true. I was so angry that I almost made a big mistake. After speaking, he turned to Li Wenzhong and said, "Although your words are offensive, you are loyal. I will punish you for three months, as an example. "
This decision made the entire court breathe a sigh of relief. Li Wenzhong knelt down and thanked the emperor, while Queen Ma nodded with satisfaction. At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang added: "However, what Li Wenzhong said is indeed meritorious. I decided to take a fresh look at the officials who had been implicated and imprisoned and give them a chance to plead their case. "
This decision is undoubtedly the greatest compliment to Li Wenzhong. It not only saved Li Wenzhong's life, but also brought hope to those innocent officials who were implicated. Empress Ma's efforts to turn the tide this time not only changed the fate of Li Wenzhong, but also changed the political trend of the Ming Dynasty to a certain extent.
Queen Ma's appearance this time shows her wisdom and courage as the mother of a country. She not only successfully resolved a political crisis, but also injected a shot in the arm for the political ecology of the Ming Dynasty. Her behavior undoubtedly set an example for court politics in later generations.
However, this incident does not end there. Although Zhu Yuanzhang promised on the spot to re-examine those implicated officials, his suspicious nature has not completely changed. Although Li Wenzhong escaped, how will his political career develop? What will be the outcome of those officials who have been re-examined? These questions will be revealed one by one in the next political game.
Although the turmoil in the court has subsided temporarily, the rest of the rhyme has persisted for a long time in the entire Ming court. This turmoil not only affected Li Wenzhong's political career, but also had a profound impact on Zhu Yuanzhang's way of rule.
First, although Li Wenzhong escaped, his political situation has become more delicate. On the one hand, he won the respect of many ministers for his outspokenness. Many privately praised him for his courage and loyalty, believing him to be a true loyal servant for the country and the people. On the other hand, he also offended some flattering ministers around Zhu Yuanzhang because of this. These people began to secretly exclude Li Wenzhong and tried to speak ill of him in front of Zhu Yuanzhang.
In this complex political environment, Li Wenzhong has become more cautious. He began to pay more attention to local governance and spoke less in court. But even so, he still adheres to his political ideas, only in a more tactful and subtle way.
At the same time, Zhu Yuanzhang's attitude towards Li Wenzhong also became complicated. On the one hand, he was displeased with the nephew's outspokenness; On the other hand, he had to admit that what Li Wenzhong said was reasonable. In the following period of time, Zhu Yuanzhang adopted an attitude towards Li Wenzhong, neither reusing nor alienating.
The turmoil also sparked a discussion within the imperial court about the system of speech officials. Some ministers believe that there should be a special body for speaking up to give those who dare to speak up more channels to express their views. They believe that only in this way can loyal ministers like Li Wenzhong be prevented from falling into danger. The proposal was supported by a number of people, but it was also opposed by some conservative ministers.
Zhu Yuanzhang took a wait-and-see attitude towards this proposal. While he promised to revisit those implicated, he did not take immediate action. He began to pay more attention to local governance, and frequently sent special envoys to various places to inspect the people's situation. This practice somewhat eased tensions within the imperial court.
Queen Ma's performance in this turmoil has also attracted widespread attention. Her wisdom and courage have earned the respect of many. Some ministers began to privately discuss whether the empress should be more involved in court politics. But this idea was quickly vetoed by Zhu Yuanzhang. He believes that the harem should not interfere in politics, which is the lesson of all dynasties.
However, Queen Ma's influence has increased invisibly. Zhu Yuanzhang began to consult her more often on some major decisions, although these consultations were conducted in private. Empress Ma has also become more cautious, she is well aware of her position and is reluctant to interfere too much in court affairs.
The turmoil also had an impact on Zhu Yuanzhang's way of governing. He began to pay more attention to listening to different opinions, although his suspicious nature did not completely change. He began to hold regular court meetings to allow ministers to speak freely. Although there are still many ministers who are afraid to speak out at these court meetings, the overall political atmosphere has indeed improved.
Among the people, this court turmoil has also caused widespread discussion. Although the specific details have not been released outside the palace, people have pieced together a rough outline from some sporadic information. Many people expressed admiration for Li Wenzhong's courage, and others praised Queen Ma's wisdom. To some extent, the turmoil strengthened the people's confidence in the imperial court.
However, the impact of the turmoil has not been all positive. Some local officials began to follow Li Wenzhong's example and frequently wrote about things. Although their original intentions may have been good, this practice caused a lot of trouble for the imperial court. Zhu Yuanzhang had to order to limit the frequency of writing so as not to affect the normal operation of government affairs.
In addition, this turmoil also indirectly affected Zhu Yuanzhang's choice of heir. Originally, Zhu Yuanzhang tended to choose his eldest son Zhu Biao as the crown prince. But after this turmoil, he began to pay more attention to the performance of other princes. He hopes that his heir will not only have the ability, but also the courage to speak out like Li Wenzhong.
In general, although this court turmoil has subsided, its impact continues to ferment at all levels of the Ming court. It not only changed the way Zhu Yuanzhang was governed, but also affected the political ecology of the entire Ming Dynasty. The changes brought about by this turmoil will gradually become apparent in the years to come.