In the long river of Chinese history, Zhu Yuanzhang, the Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, created a glorious chapter of the Ming Dynasty with his outstanding military and political talents. What is less well known, however, is that the emperor had a grand dream - to build a new capital in his hometown of Fengyang. This vision ultimately failed to materialize, leaving behind many unsolved mysteries and rich historical details.
In 1368, Zhu Yuanzhang ascended the throne in Nanjing and became the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Despite Nanjing's strategic location, Zhu Yuanzhang was not very happy with the fact that it was the capital. He had an even grander blueprint in mind - to establish a capital city of unprecedented scale in Fengyang, his hometown.
After unifying the whole country, Zhu Yuanzhang convened his ministers to discuss the plan of the capital. Faced with the candidates of traditional capitals such as Chang'an and Luoyang, Zhu Yuanzhang put forward his own opinions: "Linhao Qianjiang and Houhuai, with danger can be feared, with water can be wet, I want to think that it is the central capital, what is it?" This proposal was unanimously endorsed by the ministers.
In order to realize this dream, Zhu Yuanzhang did not hesitate to use the resources of the whole country. He mobilized countless skilled craftsmen, mobilized more than a million migrant workers, and even searched for valuable "big trees" from vassal states to ensure the quality of the capital's construction. The bricks are also carefully selected from all over the country, and special personnel are responsible for firing and transporting. Not only are these bricks sturdy and durable, but each piece is engraved with the name of the craftsman, ensuring the traceability of quality.
Six years later, however, the ambitious project was abruptly halted. Zhu Yuanzhang personally inspected the construction of Zhongdu and ordered the construction to be stopped on the day he returned to Nanjing. The official history books record this very briefly, and only mention the reasons for the loss of labor and money.
There are various theories in history as to the specific reasons for the strike. A popular opinion is that Zhu Yuanzhang heard a folk song when he was visiting Fengyang, and the song sang: "Since Emperor Zhu came out, there have been nine years of famine in ten years." This may have touched Zhu Yuanzhang's heart and made him realize that building a capital could bring a heavy burden to his hometown. In addition, some scholars believe that Zhu Yuanzhang may have also taken into account the geographical location and strategic security of the capital, as well as the huge pressure on the state finances.
Although Zhongdu was not fully built, its scale even surpassed that of today's Forbidden City in Beijing. According to historical records, the planned area of Zhongdu reached a staggering 120,000 square kilometers, which was unprecedented at the time. However, this magnificent city was severely damaged in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, and now only the ruins remain, witnessing an unfinished imperial dream.
Zhu Yuanzhang's dream of Zhongdu is not only the personal wish of an emperor, but also the epitome of an era. It reflects a ruler's vision and plan for the future of the country, as well as the compromises and choices that he has to make in the face of reality. This history still inspires people's infinite reverie about the past and the future, and at the same time provides us with valuable historical experience and lessons.
From Zhu Yuanzhang's dream of Zhongdu, we can see that even the most powerful rulers must find a balance between ideals and reality. Zhu Yuanzhang's decision, although it may have been seen as a failure at the time, laid the foundation for the stability and development of the Ming Dynasty in the long run. This history reminds us that any great idea needs to be realistically informed and prudent in order to achieve sustainable development.
Although Zhu Yuanzhang's dream of Zhongdu was not realized, its spirit and philosophy still inspire future generations. Today, when we look back on this period of history, we can not only feel Zhu Yuanzhang's ambition, but also draw wisdom and strength from it, and work hard to realize our own ideals and goals.
Text/Compendium