In the long history of China, there are many stories of succession to the throne and sibling struggles. However, in the family of Zhu Gaochi of Akihito, this tradition seems to have been subverted. Zhu Gaochi had 10 sons, of which Zhu Zhanji eventually succeeded to the throne smoothly, while the other 9 sons did not show their ambition to take the throne. What is the reason behind this?How did they maintain harmony in the maelstrom of family power?
As Zhu Gaochi's crown prince, Zhu Zhanji's stable position stems from his 14-year career as a prince. Historically, when an emperor is firm in his position as a crown prince, it is difficult for other princes to have the opportunity to shake this position, let alone take the heir. This is exactly the case with Zhu Zhanji. His grandfather Zhu Di (Ming Chengzu) had an obvious preference for him, and even when he made Zhu Gaochi the crown prince, he also took Zhu Zhanji's future throne into consideration. Zhu Zhanji's position was firmly supported by two generations of emperors, which to a large extent ensured that his inheritance could not be shaken.
At the same time, Zhu Gaochi's other sons, although they were in the center of power, lacked the opportunity to directly participate in the government, let alone establish their own power. This situation puts them at a significant disadvantage in the game of succession. In addition, they also face such a strong opponent as Zhu Gaoxu. Before Zhu Gaochi's death, the threat of Zhu Gaochu had always loomed over this family. Zhu Zhanji's younger brothers knew that if the balance of power in the family was upset, both they and Zhu Zhanji could be in danger. Therefore, they chose to unite and support Zhu Zhanji's succession to the throne in order to maintain the safety of the entire family.
After Zhu Zhanji succeeded to the throne, he did not relax his grip on power. Through a gentle strategy of cutting the feudal domain, he succeeded in weakening the forces that could pose a threat to the throne. Zhu Zhanji did not adopt the radical methods of Emperor Jianwen Zhu Yunwen, but gradually deprived the vassal kings of their military power through a series of ingenious policies. His tactics included getting the vassal kings to surrender their guards on their own initiative, or sending them to guard the border, effectively weakening the vassal kings' power. This strategy ensured that Zhu's power was not threatened, and at the same time made his younger brothers incapacitated.
During Zhu Zhanji's reign, the throne was relatively stable. Although his younger brothers were made princes, their military and political influence was greatly diminished. Their lives in the fiefdom were more passive, lacking contact with the outside world, and thus unable to build a force sufficient to threaten Zhu Zhanji.
Under Zhu Zhanji's rule, the Ming Dynasty ushered in a period of relative peace and stability. His ruling strategy not only ensured his position, but also created a relatively stable environment for subsequent succession to the throne. After his death, despite the young age of the crown prince and the uncertainty of the country's future, the Ming Dynasty did not experience a large-scale struggle for the throne due to Zhu Zhanji's previous effective governance, and the loss of political and military influence of his younger brothers in the process of cutting feudal domains.
Zhu Zhanji's younger brothers, who ultimately chose to keep a low profile, largely demonstrated how individual choices interact with the general trend of history in the balance of family and power. Their choice, although it may be motivated by considerations for personal security and status, also reflects a deep understanding of the political situation at the time and a sensitivity to historical trends.
The story of Zhu Zhanji and his younger brothers is a unique chapter in the history of the Ming Dynasty. It reveals that in the struggle for imperial power, in addition to strength and ambition, wisdom, strategy, and family unity are equally important. This historical case reminds us that in the game of thrones, sometimes the most effective ** is not the sword and gun, but the wisdom and strategy.
Zhu Zhanji's reign, and his relationship with his brothers, tells us a historical story of the delicate balance between power, wisdom, and family. It proves to us that in the complex pattern of imperial power in ancient China, maintaining family harmony and unity was sometimes more important than personal ambition. Zhu Zhanji's success lies not only in his personal ability and wisdom, but also in his deep understanding of family and power relations. Through this case, we can see that the course of history is not only shaped by the complexity of human nature, but also guided by the use of wisdom and strategy.