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Text: Yanyan
Edited by Yeon-yeon
Preface
Empress Dowager Feng, the Northern Wei Dynasty's version of the "Supreme Red Face", with her outstanding political talent and decisive means, wrote her own legendary chapter in the troubled times.
She not only suppressed the Yihun rebellion and stabilized the court situation, but also controlled the government with the posture of listening to the government twice, showing the courage of a woman who did not let her eyebrows go.
What made her the center of power in an era of male supremacy? How did she win respect and admiration with her wisdom and courage in the ever-changing court?
Ill-fated: from the daughter of a nobleman to a slave in the palace
In 441 AD, in Xindu County, Changle County, under the rule of the Northern Wei Dynasty, a baby girl who was destined to be extraordinary fell to the ground. This baby girl is the future Empress Dowager Feng, who was born in the illustrious Feng family.
The ancestor of the Feng family was the lord of the Northern Yan State, and later returned to the Northern Wei Dynasty and enjoyed a high status in the Wei State. Empress Dowager Feng's aunt even entered the palace and became Zuo Zhaoyi of Emperor Taiwu Tuobatao, second only to the queen.
However, the gift of fate is often accompanied by ruthless deprivation. When Empress Dowager Feng was only 10 years old, a sudden disaster completely changed the trajectory of her life. Emperor Taiwu Tuoba Tao ordered the death of Empress Dowager Feng's father, Feng Lang, because of his insanity.
Not only that, but other men of the Feng family were also executed one after another, and the female dependents were brought into the capital and reduced to slaves in the palace. This blow was tantamount to a bolt from the blue for the young Empress Dowager Feng.
However, surprisingly, instead of wailing like other children, she quietly followed behind her mother and wet nurse and silently accepted this cruel fate. This extraordinary composure may be the harbinger of her becoming a generation of heroes in the future.
The journey from Changle County to the capital is undoubtedly a difficult test for this 10-year-old girl. In the cold winter months, they endured the torture of hunger and cold.
What is even more heartbreaking is that during this difficult journey, Empress Dowager Feng's mother was unable to continue due to a recurrence of an old illness, and was finally abandoned in the ice and snow by ruthless soldiers.
Facing her mother's figure gradually disappearing from sight, Empress Dowager Feng finally couldn't help crying heartbreakingly. But she soon realizes that in this cruel world, tears are the most useless thing.
She secretly made up her mind that she must live, and only by living can she change the fate of the family and continue the glory of the family.
After entering the palace, Empress Dowager Feng began a difficult process of adaptation. She had to learn to read words and feelings, and learn all the chores. The once-pampered hands were soaked red by the cold water, covered with chilblains and cracks.
However, she never complained, but comforted the maids around her who were also in distress not to be sad. This kind of perseverance laid the groundwork for her future rise.
A twist of fate: from a palace slave to the queen's favorite
Just when Empress Dowager Feng thought that she would spend the rest of her life in the palace, the god of fate favored her again. She finally found a chance to meet her aunt, who served as Zuo Zhaoyi in the palace.
When the aunt and nephew met, they hugged and cried, but the Empress Dowager Feng quickly restrained her emotions. She knew that in this deceitful court, any weakness could become a fatal weakness. Feng Zhaoyi is well aware of her niece's intelligence and is determined to do her best to cultivate her.
In the following days, Empress Dowager Feng studied classics, history, children, collections, qin, chess, calligraphy and painting, as well as the way of survival in the court. She is like a sponge, greedily absorbing all kinds of knowledge and preparing for the rise of the future.
In 452 A.D., an unexpected opportunity struck. Emperor Taiwu Tuoba Tao was assassinated by eunuchs, and after some turmoil, Emperor Wencheng Tuoba Tao succeeded to the throne. In this spring season, the young and beautiful Empress Dowager Feng was caught by the new emperor under the peach blossom tree in the harem.
Tuoba Jun was attracted by Empress Dowager Feng's beauty and immediately accepted her as a nobleman. At court, Empress Dowager Feng displayed extraordinary intelligence and charisma, and soon won the favor of the emperor.
However, instead of getting carried away because of this, she acted more cautiously and worked hard to learn the rules and etiquette of the harem. In 456 AD, at the age of 15, Feng was canonized as empress.
At this moment, the once distressed girl finally ascended the throne of the lord of the harem. However, Empress Dowager Feng knew very well that in this deceitful court, any position was unstable. She must be constantly vigilant in order to survive in this dangerous environment.
The Road to Power: From Empress to Ruling the Dynasty
After Empress Dowager Feng became the empress, she did not indulge in pleasure, but worked harder to learn how to govern the country. She often consulted the ministers of the DPRK and China to learn about national affairs. At the same time, she has not forgotten her origin, and always reminds herself to work for the welfare of the Feng family.
However, the good times were short-lived. The emperor's favor was soon transferred to the Li family, who gave birth to the crown prince. This should have been a blow, but it became a glimmer of life for Empress Dowager Feng. Because the Northern Wei Dynasty had a tradition of "establishing a son and killing his mother", although the Li family was favored, it also meant that she would die because of it.
Sure enough, shortly after the crown prince Tuoba Hong was established, the Li family was given death. The heavy responsibility of raising the young son fell to the Empress Dowager Feng. She not only taught the crown prince with all her heart, but also actively participated in the management of harem affairs, showing extraordinary political talent.
Just when Empress Dowager Feng gradually took control of the harem, a favored minister named Yihun began to make waves in the court. Yihun approached the old queen mother through abnormal means, and then went to the emperor's favor, collected beauties for her, refined the so-called elixir of immortality, and gradually gained favor.
In 465 AD, the 26-year-old Emperor Wencheng Tuoba died suddenly. Seeing the opportunity, Yi Hun immediately blocked the news in a vain attempt to usurp the throne. However, he underestimated Empress Dowager Feng's ability and courage.
Wisdom and Courage: Crush the Yihun Rebellion
In the face of Yi Hun's usurpation attempt, Empress Dowager Feng showed astonishing calmness and wisdom. She first ensured the safety of the prince and sent someone to secretly send the prince out of the palace. Then, she began to lay out, ready to deal a fatal blow to Yihun.
Empress Dowager Feng pretended to have no idea about Yi Hun's behavior, and even warmly invited him into the palace to discuss state affairs. Although Yi Hun was suspicious, he still believed the apparent friendliness of Empress Dowager Feng.
Empress Dowager Feng took the opportunity to propose that Yihun preside over a rain prayer ceremony, claiming that this was a great opportunity to show his "destiny". Yi Hun was really fooled and began to prepare for the rain prayer ceremony with all his might.
And Empress Dowager Feng secretly mobilized her cronies and deployed troops. Just when Yihun was complacent and thought that he was in power, Empress Dowager Feng suddenly attacked. As soon as she gave the order, the Yulin Army poured out and captured Yi Hun.
Yihun's rebellion was crushed, he himself was beheaded for public display, and the Nine Clans were executed. This battle not only demonstrated the political wisdom of Empress Dowager Feng, but also allowed the ministers to see the amazing courage hidden behind this seemingly weak woman.
After the rebellion was put down, Empress Dowager Feng announced the death of Emperor Wencheng and welcomed back the crown prince Tuoba Hong to succeed her. In 466 AD, the crown prince ascended the throne at the age of 12. On the grounds that the new emperor was young, the ministers asked the Empress Dowager Feng to listen to the government. In this way, Empress Dowager Feng began her first curtain listening.
The pinnacle of power: twice to listen to the government
During the first period of listening to the government, Empress Dowager Feng showed outstanding governing talents. She introduced a number of reforms that improved the bureaucracy of the Northern Wei Dynasty.
The most famous of these was the equalization system, a policy that allowed ordinary people to share land and greatly contributed to the development of society. However, as Takubahiro grew older, he began to resentful of his mother's power.
He secretly organized a group of people who opposed the Empress Dowager and began to gradually cut off the courtiers who were close to the Empress Dowager. At first, Empress Dowager Feng didn't care too much. She thinks it's normal for young people to be a little sharp.
Until one day, Tuoba Hong killed a man named Li Yi. This Li Yi is not only Empress Dowager Feng's favorite minister, but also her playmate when she was a teenager. This move completely angered Empress Dowager Feng.
In 471 AD, Empress Dowager Feng decisively launched a palace coup d'état and forced Tuoba Hong to abdicate. She set up Tuoba Hong's 4-year-old son Tuoba Hong as the new emperor, which was later Emperor Xiaowen. Empress Dowager Feng began her second curtain hearing.
During the second period of the curtain, Empress Dowager Feng focused more on the governance of the country and the education of Emperor Xiaowen. She patiently taught the way of governing the country, which laid the foundation for the comprehensive reform of Emperor Xiaowen in the future.
However, Tuoba Hong, who had abdicated, was still unwilling and frequently intervened in court politics. Empress Dowager Feng finally made up her mind to poison Tuoba Hong five years after his abdication.
Although this move was cruel, it also showed the determination of Empress Dowager Feng to do whatever it took to maintain the stability of the regime. In the years that followed, Empress Dowager Feng continued to govern the Northern Wei Dynasty with her wisdom and courage.
The many policies she implemented not only improved the social conditions of the Northern Wei Dynasty, but also created the conditions for the later reform of Emperor Xiaowen. It can be said that without the efforts of Empress Dowager Feng, there would have been no prosperity of the Northern Wei Dynasty.
epilogue
From the daughter of a fallen nobleman to the empress dowager who leaned towards the government and the opposition, Empress Dowager Feng used her wisdom and courage to open up a unique path in a patriarchal society.
Her story is not only a model of personal struggle, but also a microcosm of an era. Although her name is not recorded in the history books, the political legacy and historical influence she left behind have left an indelible mark on the history of the Northern Wei Dynasty and even the entire history of China.
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