Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang's path from beggar to emperor was indispensable to the help of many civilian and military generals, but it was rumored that he was suspicious and suspicious, and in his later years he killed the founding heroes, even the good brothers who followed him from birth to death. Xu Da was one of the founding fathers of the Ming Dynasty, following Zhu Yuanzhang for many years, the two had a deep friendship and brotherhood, but there are documentary records that Xu Da offended the emperor Zhu Yuanzhang in his later years, and when he was seriously ill, he ate the steamed goose sent by Zhu Yuanzhang and died of illness.
Was the loyal Xu Da really killed by Zhu Yuanzhang? This article will take you to explore the historical truth...
Xu Dazu had been poor peasants for generations, and the young man was good-looking and had a good martial art, and in the last years of the Yuan Dynasty's chaos, he joined the troops of Guo Zixing and Zhu Yuanzhang of the Red Turban Army and embarked on the revolutionary road. Under Zhu Yuanzhang's command, Xu Da soon emerged, he was good at strategic command of the army, both wisdom and martial arts, which is the unattainable talent of many military generals, and thus won the praise of the generals. After several years of conquest, he made countless achievements in battle, and successively led the defeat of warlords such as Chen Youyu and Zhang Shicheng, laying the foundation for the foundation of the Ming Dynasty.
In 1368, Xu Da and the general Chang encountered the Spring Northern Expedition yuan dynasty and led an army to invade Dadu. After defeating the Yuan Dynasty and warlords in various places, Zhu Yuanzhang ascended to the throne of Tianzi, and Xu Da, who had made great achievements, was crowned as the Right Minister, and his daughter was also related to Zhu Yuanzhang's son Zhu Di, becoming the most trusted minister around the emperor.
Although he was a founding hero and held a high position, Xu Da knew that Zhu Yuanzhang was a tyrannical and suspicious emperor, as long as he was too clever to "shock the lord" or a courtier who regarded himself as "difficult to control", there was no good end, so the more Zhu Yuanzhang showed trust in Xu Da, Xu Da was more cautious. Once, in order to reward his merits, Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to give Xu Da the palace where he had lived before: "Brother Xu has made a great contribution, but so far he has not had a peaceful residence, and I want to give you the old residence." Under Xu Da's resolute resignation, Zhu Yuanzhang deliberately made Xu Da drunk, and then ordered the servants to carry him to the palace to sleep, Xu Da woke up and was shocked, rushed out, prostrated on the ground and shouted death. Zhu Yuanzhang peeked from the side and was very happy to see Xu Da so cautious.
Another time, after Zhu Yuanzhang ascended to the throne, he wanted to make his son crowned king and implement the system of sub-sealing. In fact, Zhu Yuanzhang had already made plans, or pretended to ask the ministers for their opinions, wanted to test everyone's loyalty, Xu Da, who knew the face, chose not to say a word, he knew that if he opposed it, he would be suspected of disloyalty, but if he approved, in case there was a rebellion by the king of the clan in the future, then Zhu Yuanzhang would again blame the sin on the courtiers.
Was Xu Da really killed by Zhu Yuanzhang's "goose meat"?
Xu Da's caution and founding achievements made everyone believe that he could enjoy his old age in peace. In 1384 AD, the 52-year-old Xu Da suffered from back gangrene, a large poisonous sore on his back, pus and vague pain, although the condition improved after treatment, but in February of the following year, the condition took a sharp turn for the worse, and then died, many people think that the situation is not simple.
According to legend, Zhu Yuanzhang learned that Xu Da was ill and specially gave Xu Da's favorite "steamed goose" to him, but goose meat is a taboo food for back gangrene, which will cause aggravation of the disease or even fatality, so Zhu Yuanzhang wants Xu Da to eat goose, which is the meaning of "giving death". Xu Da saw the goose meat served by the servant and knew the emperor's meaning, but in desperation, he could only eat it with tears, and finally poisoned to death.
However, the source of this story is Wang Wenlu's "Long Xing Ci Ji", and its authenticity has been questioned. If you look at the situation at that time, Zhu Yuanzhang and Xu Da had a deep friendship between them, from their youth to the present, despite the suspicion and suspicion between the monarchs and courtiers, Xu Da has always been loyal and respectful of the way of the monarchs, and Zhu Yuanzhang will not want to kill his most trusted brother. And Zhu Yuanzhang has always praised Xu Da, once commenting on this loyal minister:
The general is brave and brave, so he can curb chaos and cut the crowd. Ordered to come out, successful and spinning, not reserved, women have nothing to love, treasures have nothing to take, Zhongzheng has no flaws, the sun and the moon are clear, and the great general is only one. Breaking the barbarians, the merits of the ancient and modern people are the first; the outgoing will enter the picture, and the literary and martial world is unparalleled.
In fact, when Zhu Yuanzhang heard the news of Xu Da's death, he stopped listening to the government and mourned for this reason, and posthumously named him the King of Zhongshan, and gave him the third capital as a prince. The folk story of "Xu Da was given to eat goose meat and died suddenly" is a blessing in the qing dynasty for Zhu Yuanzhang's negative evaluation of killing heroes and being suspicious.
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