Due to the revision of the platform, the ad unlock function has been added, when the ad is opened, wait for 5 seconds, you are stretching out your little hand to make a fortune, click on the x number in the upper right corner to close, you can continue to read my article, this process is completely free, please don't worry.
Text: Yanyan
Edited by Yeon-yeon
preface
Yongle Emperor Zhu Di had just died, and the entire court was in mourning. However, at this moment, the crown prince Zhu Gaochi made an astonishing move: he cried and ordered the release of a criminal minister from the prison.
Who is this criminal minister, why is he imprisoned, and why is he able to receive the mercy of the prince? What is even more shocking is that after this criminal minister was released from prison, he actually created a new prosperous era for the Ming Dynasty.
What's the story behind all this? Let's talk about it together!
1. The admonitor in the tiger's den in Longtan
Xia Yuanji, whose name is Weizhe, has been diligent and studious since he was a child, and he is talented. During the Yongle period, he was known for his proficient in finance and taxation, and was selected as the head of the household department.
Xia Yuanji was upright and dared to speak out, he saw Zhu Di fighting for many years, resulting in an empty treasury and poor livelihood. So he wrote many times, giving gentle advice, hoping that the emperor could recuperate and reduce the burden on the people.
Xia Yuanji knows that as the king of a country, Zhu Di shoulders the heavy responsibility of governing the world. Conquest can certainly open up territory and show national prestige, but it cannot come at the cost of the suffering of the people.
He recounted the ills of the war: barren farmland and a lack of labor; business is sluggish, prices are soaring; The people are struggling to make a living, and there are many complaints. He implored Zhu Di to think twice, restrain his sharpness, and recuperate to alleviate the hardships of people's livelihood.
However, the ambitious Zhu Di did not appreciate it. In the twenty-second year of Yongle, he once again marched north, intending to destroy the Tatar tribes in one fell swoop. Xia Yuanji once again went up and down, earnestly analyzing the pros and cons to dissuade the emperor.
Zhu Di was furious and threw Xia Yuanji into prison. Xia Yuanji was tortured in prison, but he still held on to his beliefs and refused to give in.
The darkness of the prison could not hide the light in Xia Yuanji's heart. He firmly believed that although his speech was suppressed, it would one day be understood and accepted by the king.
He is not afraid of life and death, because he understands that he is asking for life for the people and sharing worries for the country. Even if he is in prison, his heart is still worried about the future of Daming. He prayed day and night, hoping that Zhu Di would wake up, change his course in time, and lead the country to prosperity.
2. The "nail" in the emperor's heart
At the same time, Zhu Di's health deteriorated. Years of war have made him sick from hard work, and the constant party strife between the DPRK and China has made him feel unprecedented fatigue.
On the occasion of his death, this king, who had been a handsome man all his life, recalled Xia Yuanji. He remembered Xia Yuanji's admonition and remembered his loyalty to himself.
Although Zhu Di is eloquent and strategic, he is not immune to vulgarity, and he cannot escape the problem of being impulsive and immediate. When Xia Yuanji admonished again and again, he did not calmly examine the reasoning, but regarded it as a challenge to his authority. It wasn't until the last moments of his life that he suddenly realized his mistake.
Zhu Di knew that he insisted on going his own way and did not listen to advice, which led to the decline of national strength. He also understands that a courtier like Xia Yuanji who dares to speak out is the pillar of the country.
So, at the last moment of his life, he told the crown prince Zhu Gaochi the name of Xia Yuanji, and told him that if he encountered difficulties in the future, he could ask Xia Yuanji for advice.
At this moment, Zhu Di's heart was full of remorse and reluctance. He regretted that he had not listened to Xia Yuanji's advice earlier, and even more regretted that he had not been able to release him from prison in person.
He hopes that through his deathbed will, he can make up for this regret, and also let Xia Yuanji's wisdom be displayed for the benefit of future generations. Zhu Di understands that only a king who can accommodate "contrary advice" can achieve "great deeds for a thousand years".
3. The choice of the young son of heaven
In the twenty-fourth year of Yongle, Zhu Di died. The crown prince Zhu Gaochi succeeded to the throne as Akihitozong. In the face of internal and external troubles, Zhu Gaochi felt a heavy responsibility. He knew that if he wanted to revitalize the country, he had to take reforms.
At the beginning of his ascension to the throne, Zhu Gaochi showed extraordinary political wisdom and decisiveness. He judged the situation and realized that some of his father's practices during his reign were biased and needed to be adjusted in time. He humbly listened to the opinions of his ministers, received good advice, and tried to find a correct path for the rejuvenation of the country.
At this critical moment, Zhu Gaochi remembered Xia Yuanji. He knew that Xia Yuanji was an upright and loyal courtier, and his advice would definitely show the way for the country.
As a result, Zhu Gaochi made a surprising decision: on the third day after succeeding to the throne, he ordered Xia Yuanji to be released from the prison and summoned him to the palace for deliberations.
Although this decision was unexpected, it demonstrated Zhu Gaochi's courage and foresight. He was not affected by Xia Yuanji's status as a "criminal minister", but accepted this loyal man with an open heart.
This move not only saved a virtuous minister, but also opened the door to the reform of the Ming Dynasty. It shows the world that when the new monarch first ascends to the great treasure, he can accept advice like a stream, which shows the breadth of his mind and the superb wisdom.
Fourth, the "three major policies" out of the cage
Xia Yuanji, who regained his freedom, was not tormented by the years of captivity. He confidently made a proposal to Zhu Gaochi and put forward three important suggestions: First, lightly reduce the burden on the people; the second is to forgive the old ministers and win people's hearts; The third is to stop ocean voyages and save national strength.
Xia Yuanji's suggestion hit the nail on the head and hit the nail on the head. He is well versed in the hardships of the people's livelihood and sympathetic to the hardships of the people. The purpose of reducing taxes is to allow farmers to farm with peace of mind and resume production; Forgiving the former ministers is to resolve the party disputes between the DPRK and China and achieve political harmony; The purpose of stopping the voyage is to avoid unnecessary expenses and accumulate national strength. These three suggestions all reflect Xia Yuanji's foresight and love for the people.
Zhu Gaochi adopted Xia Yuanji's suggestion and quickly put it into action. He ordered tax reductions and severe punishments for corrupt officials; Amnesty for the world, open the net; Expensive overseas voyages were stopped. The implementation of these "three major policies" was like a timely rain, which moistened the tired national strength and revitalized the Ming Dynasty.
The implementation of the "three major policies" has not only alleviated the difficulties of people's livelihood, but also won the hearts and minds of the people. When the people saw that the new king was so wise, they clapped their hands and cheered. The former ministers, who were originally panicked, also thanked Zhu Gaochi for his generosity and were willing to do their best for him.
When the envoys who were far away overseas learned of the strike, they regretted it, but they also understood the country's difficulties and gladly accepted the order to return. The world is peaceful, the people's hearts are cohesive, and they jointly open a peaceful world.
5. The founder of the rule of prosperity
Xia Yuanji's suggestion not only saved the Ming Dynasty from the crisis, but also set an example for later emperors. After Zhu Gaochi's son Zhu Zhanji succeeded to the throne, he also continued the benevolent government, which is known as the "rule of Renxuan" in history. He often asked Xia Yuanji for advice on how to govern the country, and called him "the first virtuous teacher in the history of the Ming Dynasty".
Zhu Zhanji has been bright since he was a child, and he is tireless in learning. At the beginning of his reign, he showed great talent for governing the country. However, instead of being complacent, he became more humble and studious. He often summoned Xia Yuanji to ask him for advice on how to govern the country, and listened to his opinions and suggestions with an open mind.
Under Xia Yuanji's careful guidance, the Ming Dynasty quickly recovered and re-entered the track of prosperity and stability. During the reign of Emperor Renxuan, the politics were clear, the economy was economic, and the culture was prosperous, and it was known as the second prosperous era of the Ming Dynasty. Behind this, Xia Yuanji has made a lot of contributions. With his wisdom and loyalty, he wrote the most glorious chapter of the Ming Dynasty.
Xia Yuanji was not only an excellent politician, but also a great educator. With his words and deeds, he influenced and educated generations of Ming Dynasty monarchs and ministers.
His concept of governing the country and his feelings for the people have become a model for Zhu Zhanji and even later emperors. Xia Yuanji used his life to interpret the Confucian ideal pursuit of "self-cultivation, family harmony, governing the country, and leveling the world", and his spirit will always be worthy of admiration and learning by future generations.
epilogue
The story of Xia Yuanji is a legend in the history of the Ming Dynasty. With the courage of being loyal and straightforward, he was tortured in the prison.
But it was his persistence and wisdom that finally awakened the dim-witted emperor and led the Ming Dynasty to the road of rejuvenation.
Xia Yuanji embodies the Confucian ideal pursuit of "self-cultivation, family harmony, governing the country, and leveling the world", and his spirit will always be worthy of admiration and learning from future generations. #长文创作激励计划#
【Disclaimer】The process and pictures described in the article are all from the Internet, and this article aims to advocate positive social energy and no vulgar and other bad guidance. If it involves copyright or character infringement issues, please contact us in time, and we will delete the content as soon as possible! If there is any doubt about the incident, it will be deleted or changed immediately after contact.