In the Ming Dynasty, there were two major evil policies, one was that after the emperor died, the palace concubines were martyred; the other was to rely on internal servants and eunuchs were evil.
Let's start with the martyrdom of man. Shi Zai, after Taizu's death, forty-six concubines were martyred in Xiaoling, and more than a dozen other concubines were martyred; Sixteen concubines of Chengzu were martyred in Changling; five concubines were martyred by Emperor Renzong; and ten concubines were martyred by Emperor Xuanzong.
Not only were the palace concubines buried after the emperor's death, but the kings also had a system of martyrdom. On the day of the palace concubine's burial, the crying shook the palace and was unbearable to see.
Let's talk about castration. Starting from Emperor Xuanzong of Ming, he set up an inner study hall and selected a small inner attendant, so that the university scholars taught and gradually became customized. The inner servant is familiar with literature and ink, knows the ancient and modern, and is clever and skillful, and commits adultery every time.
After a few passes, the potential accumulates weight. First there was Wang Zhen, there was Liu Jin, and then there was Wei Zhongxian. These great eunuchs, for the sake of misfortune, are among the best in the historical rankings.
There was such a father and son, Ming Yingzong Zhu Qizhen and Ming Xianzong Zhu Jianshen, they abolished the human martyrdom system. Emperor Mingyingzong thus received praise from later generations, and Emperor Mingxianzong implemented his father's testament and did good deeds to bless his children.
Image source: Panorama Vision
Zhu Qizhen, a person who reigned for more than twenty years, reused eunuchs, killed heroes, and served as prisoners, and there were no political achievements to talk about.
But he was a humble man, a good man, a man full of humanity. The History of Ming praised him, congratulated hou chen, released the young son and family of Emperor Jianwen, who had been overthrown by Zhu Di, and deposed the palace concubines for burial.
Zhu Qizhen's son, Zhu Jianshen, can be described as a bitter vendetta. Zhu Qizhen was defeated and taken prisoner, Zhu Jianshen's position as crown prince was deposed, and for almost eight years, he was exposed to the cold of the world, and he was in danger of being killed at any time. Later, Zhu Qizhen regained the throne, and he was re-made crown prince.
Like his father, he did not do anything decent, but he carried out his father's instructions before his death, and since then, there have been no martyrdoms.
In Zhu Jianshen's body, several strange things happened. First, for the palace maids who served him since childhood, he never abandoned them and regarded them as the closest people. Zhu Mishen succeeded to the throne, and the palace maid with the surname wan became his concubine. At that time, she was thirty-five years old and he was eighteen.
The following year, Princess Wan gave birth to a son, and Zhu Jianshen was so happy that he made Princess Wan a noble concubine. But unfortunately, this child died soon after, and Wan Guifei could not have children. Since then, whenever anyone in the palace is pregnant, she will try to get people to beat the fetus.
The officers and soldiers conquered the barbarians, captured a girl surnamed Ji, sent her to the palace, and managed the treasury. She had read books, was smart, had a good temper, and everyone liked it. Once Zhu Mishen met, he spoiled her. Is the fate of the child she gave birth to the same as that of other innocent people?
The brilliance of human nature began to appear.
First, an ordinary palace maid appeared, and she was ordered by Wan Guifei to inquire about the situation. Speaking of ordinary, because the history books do not record the name of this palace girl.
This palace maid reported to Wan Guifei that the palace lady surnamed Ji was ill and was not pregnant. As a result, the palace maid surnamed Ji was changed to a new residence, and the child was born. After Wan Guifei knew about it, she sent someone to drown the child. This time it was an ordinary eunuch who appeared.
His name was Zhang Min, and he said ordinary, because he was just a eunuch who guarded the door. He saw the palace maid and the child and said, "The child is not safe here, I will take him away, you can always go to see him." "Since then, there has been such a child in the deep palace, you give a mouthful of food, I send a piece of clothing, and grow up year by year, only the emperor does not know, and Wan Guifei does not know."
After five years, by chance, Zhang Min reported the matter to the emperor, and the father and son were able to recognize each other. This child was named Zhu Youfan, and later became the prince.
After that, Zhu Jianshen's sons increased. Princess Wan Guifei was afraid that Zhu Youfan would retaliate against her when he grew up, and persuaded the emperor to depose the crown prince. Zhu Mi listened. At this time, another eunuch appeared.
His name was Wynn and he was in charge of the ceremonial superintendent. In the face of the Emperor's holy will, he knelt down and replied, "I cannot carry out your orders." Because if you carry out your orders, the people of the world will kill me, and if you do not carry out your orders, you will kill me. It's all a death, or you kill me. ”
Zhu Jianshen was furious and sent him to Nanjing as an errand boy. The History of Ming also mentions a eunuch named Qin Ji, who served as a teacher for this surviving bitter child.
The emperor gave the prince a fief, and Qin Ji persuaded the prince to resign, saying that as a prince, the whole world will be yours in the future, what do you want the fiefdom to do? The prince peeked at the Buddhist book, and Qin Ji knelt down and said that the prince should read the book of the saints.
Reading history so far, I am very excited. In the deep palace, isn't there an endless struggle between the palace ladies? Here, however, they work together to protect a young life; in the deep palace, isn't the eunuch synonymous with evil? Here, however, righteousness is awe-inspiring, becoming the embodiment of goodness.
The flowers of human nature can bloom everywhere, and the brilliance of human nature can be so bright! I have doubted, wavered, and sighed at people's hearts, but this history has made me full of confidence in the goodness of human nature.
This bitter and vengeful child is the famous Ming Xiaozong in history. After he became emperor, he wanted to repay those good people. He expelled the traitors, expelled the kings, Buddhas, masters, and true people in the palace, reused loyal subjects, worked hard, and forgave the relatives of Wan Guifei in a tolerant manner.
The "History of Ming" has two evaluations: "The Ming has the world, the sixteen generations, Taizu and Chengzu, can be called Renzong, Xuanzong, Xiaozong only ... Emperor Xiaozong was able to be frugal and systematic, diligent in government and love for the people, conscientious in the way of Baotai and profitable, and used to make the dynasty order clear and peaceful, and the people's things were kangfu. ”
The history books have not forgotten a small person, that is, Qin Ji, who taught Xiaozong to read: "The world of Hongzhi, the political mellow beauty, the clarity of the junde, the beginning of the beginning, the auspicious and powerful." ”
Author: Fu Shaowan, Source: Reader Magazine, No. 3, 2018, original title "The Glory of Human Nature".