In the depths of the magnificent palaces of the Ming Dynasty, a story is hidden that has been forgotten by the years. This is a legend about a prince - Zhu Gaosui, a careerist who once coveted the throne and challenged authority. His life was filled with intrigue, betrayal, and struggles for power. Zhu Gaosui, this name always seems to have a hint of ominous shadow in the long history of the Ming Dynasty. He not only tried to poison his father, Ming Chengzu Zhu Di, but also tried to set a trap for his brother, the crown prince Zhu Gaochi. His ambitions and actions at one time pushed the entire empire to the brink of chaos.
However, after 30 years of twists and turns, Zhu Gaosui's fate has taken a dramatic turn. He was able to die a good death thanks to two key factors. First of all, it was the envy and power strategy of Zhu Zhanji, the successor of Ming Xuanzong, which provided Zhu Gaosui with an opportunity to stand up again; Secondly, it is Zhu Gaosui's own consciousness and transformation. In the game of thrones, Zhu Gaosui gradually changed from a challenger to a rule-abiding player. So, what made Zhu Gaosui change from a prince who wanted to usurp the throne to a ** who could die well?
1. The background of the power struggle of the Yongle Dynasty.
In May of the twenty-first year of Yongle (1423), the weather in Beijing was unusually hot, and in the palace at this time, Zhu Di, the ancestor of the Ming Dynasty, suddenly fell seriously ill, and the entire court fell into an unprecedented tense atmosphere. In front of Zhu Di's sickbed, the relationship between the three brothers, the crown prince Zhu Gaochi, the king of Yan, Zhu Gaoxu, and the king of Zhao, Zhu Gaosui, was particularly delicate during this sensitive period.
Zhu Gaosui, as Zhu Di's third son, knew that he did not have an advantage on the issue of succession to the throne. He knew that if he wanted to change his fate, he had to act. So, he began to plot secretly, trying to win more opportunities for himself.
Zhu Gaosui understood that in order to sit on the throne, two key conditions must be met: one is to get Zhu Di's edict of succession, and the other is to take advantage of Zhu Di's death. In order to achieve this goal, Zhu Gaosui began to have secret talks with his cronies. They gathered in a secret room in the middle of the night, discussing possible options.
Zhu Gaosui proposed a bold plan: poison Zhu Di and then forge the edict of succession. The plan was fraught with risks, but for the sake of power, they decided to take risks. They agreed on a plan for Zhu Gaosui's cronies to poison Zhu Di's diet, and then forge an edict to pass the throne to Zhu Gaosui.
In the days that followed, Zhu Gaosui and his cronies began to work intensively on their plans. They secretly collected the poison while looking for every possible opportunity to get close to Zhu Di.
Zhu Gaosui personally supervised the entire process to ensure the smooth running of the plan. He knew that only by successfully implementing this plan would he be able to secure his position and ultimately realize his ambitions.
However, just as they were preparing for the operation, an accident shattered their plans. A palace official overheard their secret conversation and told the news to Zhu Di's loyal courtiers. The courtier immediately informed Zhu Di of the news, and for a while the people in the court were panicked, causing an unprecedented storm.
After Zhu Di learned the news, he immediately ordered a thorough investigation of the matter. He knew that there must be a bigger conspiracy behind this. So, he sent a shrewd and capable ** to investigate, and paid close attention to Zhu Gaosui's movements. The entire court was in a tense atmosphere, and everyone was in danger for fear that they would be drawn into the whirlpool of this power struggle.
2. The conspiracy was revealed and the situation changed.
Zhu Di immediately summoned the courtiers and held an emergency court meeting. In front of the Manchu civil and military, he announced Zhu Gaosui's crime. Zhu Gaosui was brought to the court and faced the scrutinizing eyes of many **.
How dare you murder me! Zhu Di's voice echoed in the court, full of anger.
Zhu Gaosui knelt on the ground, speechless, and could only silently bear the anger from his father. Zhu Di ordered Zhu Gaosui to be sentenced to death in order to set the record straight.
At the critical moment, the crown prince Zhu Gaochi stood up to intercede for his younger brother. "Father, please forgive the third brother once. Zhu Gaochi's voice was calm but firm.
The anger on Zhu Di's face did not subside because of this, but he considered the face of the crown prince and the stability of the imperial court, and finally decided not to immediately execute Zhu Gaosui. He ordered Zhu Gaosui to be placed under house arrest pending further disposition.
Zhu Gaosui was taken away from the court and imprisoned in a remote room in the palace. During his house arrest, he was kept under strict guard, not allowed to have any contact with the outside world. All his daily life is taken care of by a specific palace person, in case he causes trouble again.
At the same time, Zhu Di's anger has not subsided. He was extremely disappointed and angry at Zhu Gaosui's behavior, and at the same time deeply worried about the issue of succession to the throne. He realized that this incident was not only a family dispute, but also a serious threat to the stability of the entire royal family.
Inside and outside the court, Zhu Gaosui's actions caused widespread discussion. Many courtiers were shocked by Zhu Gaosui's audacity, and at the same time expressed support for Zhu Di's handling of the matter. They believe that Zhu Di's decision reflects the majesty of imperial power, but also shows the importance he attaches to the stability of his family and the country.
A few days later, Zhu Di summoned his sons for a private conversation. During this conversation, Zhu Di sternly warned them that any coveting of the throne would not be tolerated. He stressed that the succession to the throne must be carried out in accordance with rules and traditions, and that any destabilizing act is a betrayal of the entire country.
3. Zhu Gaosui's fate turned around.
After the death of Zhu Di, Renzong Zhu Gaochi ascended the throne, but Zhu Gaochi died not long after, and Zhu Zhanji ascended the throne as Ming Xuanzong. Under his rule, Zhu Gaosui's fate ushered in a major turning point. Zhu Zhanji has displayed unique political wisdom and skill in handling the issue of Zhu Gaosui.
At the beginning of his ascension to the throne, Zhu Zhanji faced a power struggle between Zhu Gaosui and Zhu Gaoxu's brothers. He was well aware that if not handled properly, the dispute could threaten the stability of the entire dynasty. After capturing Zhu Gaochu alive, Zhu Zhanji originally intended to exterminate Zhu Gaosui in order to prevent future troubles. But after much deliberation, he decided to adopt a more subtle strategy.
Zhu Zhanji summoned Zhu Gaosui and severely reprimanded him. He publicly announced in the court that if Zhu Gaosui did anything wrong, there would be no tolerance. Zhu Gaosui knelt in the court, and in the face of this reprimand, he could only accept it silently.
However, Zhu Zhanji's next move surprised everyone. He announced that for the sake of the country's stability, he would give Zhu Gaosui a chance to turn over a new leaf. Zhu Zhanji gave Zhu Gaosui the right to manage a frontier town, and let him go there to show his loyalty and ability.
Zhu Gaosui was sent to a frontier town to start his new life. There, he was in charge of local government and military affairs. He worked hard and tried to prove his change. He strictly abided by Zhu Zhanji's orders and no longer involved in any affairs related to the throne.
Under Zhu Gaosui's management, the town gradually regained its tranquility and prosperity. His efforts were recognized by the local population. Zhu Gaosui began to deeply understand that as a responsible leader, it is far more important to bring stability and prosperity to the people than to compete for power.
At the same time, Zhu Zhanji enhanced his popularity by publicizing Zhu Gaosui's transformation. He showed the world his compassion and wisdom as a monarch and won the respect of the people. Zhu Zhanji's strategy not only solidified his rule, but also allowed Zhu Gaosui to regain respect.
During his years in the frontier, Zhu Gaosui completely gave up the idea of seeking the throne by force.
Fourth, the reason for Zhu Gaosui's good death.
Zhu Gaosui was able to die a good death in the end, mainly thanks to two factors.
The first factor: After capturing Zhu Gaosui alive, Zhu Zhanji originally considered completely eradicating Zhu Gaosui to prevent future threats. However, at the suggestion of Yang Shiqi, Zhu Zhanji changed his mind. He believes that dealing with Zhu Gaosui through a combination of grace and power can not only solve the problem, but also enhance his reputation and prestige. Therefore, Zhu Zhanji decided to give Zhu Gaosui a chance to reform himself, and at the same time sternly warned him that any deviant behavior would be severely punished.
Zhu Zhanji's decision caused extensive discussion inside and outside the imperial court. Some courtiers saw this as a sign of weakness, while others saw it as a wise move. Through this strategy, Zhu Zhanji successfully consolidated his position, and at the same time provided Zhu Gaosui with an opportunity to return to the right path.
The second factor was the transformation of Zhu Gaosui himself, who gradually realized his situation after a long period of exile on the frontier and the defeat of his brother Zhu Gaoxu. He understood that under Zhu Zhanji's rule, he was no longer able to challenge the imperial power again. Faced with this reality, Zhu Gaosui began to give up the idea of seizing the throne by force. He began to focus on how to survive in his new environment and struggled to adapt to his new role.
After Zhu Zhanji gave him the seal, Zhu Gaosui was able to retain a certain dignity and status, but he never participated in any actions against the imperial court. His life became calm and low-key, gradually moving away from the power struggles of the imperial court. In his later years, he devoted himself to local governance and improving people's livelihood, and gradually won the respect of the people.
This transformation of Zhu Gaosui was an important case for the Ming Dynasty at that time. It demonstrates Zhu Zhanji's political wisdom as a monarch and his ability to deal with family disputes. At the same time, Zhu Gaosui's fate also reflects the complexity of the power struggle within the court and the uncertainty of the succession to the throne in that era.
Overall, Zhu Gaosui's good death was the result of his personal transformation and Zhu Zhanji's enwei strategy. The combination of these two factors allowed Zhu Gaosui to go from a potential rebel to an accepted member of the royal family.
History of the Ming Dynasty" and "Yongle Canon".