In the ancient empire, there was a notorious emperor, whose story was later adapted into a popular idol drama, in which he was portrayed as a hero with deep affection and won the infinite love of the audience. However, the truth of history is far more complex and brutal than the drama.
Gao Zhan, the emperor, did during his reign, if it is really put on the screen, it will definitely cause disgust from the audience. Not only did he have the idea of usurping the throne when his brother was seriously ill, but after he ascended the throne, he acted extremely brutally and completely disregarded human morality.
On a cold winter night, Gao Zhan gathered his cronies, and in the secret room of the deep palace, they plotted how to consolidate their power, and no matter how to do it. "Remember, no matter what the cost, I will sit on this throne. "Gao Zhan's voice was cold but firm.
After the death of his mother, Gao Zhan not only did not keep filial piety, but indulged in wine, drank with beauties every day, and abandoned political affairs. His actions have aroused widespread criticism both inside and outside the court, but he seems to have paid no attention to them.
The most outrageous thing is that he has ill intentions towards his sister-in-law Li Zu'e. One day, he said coldly to Li Zu'e:"If you don't, your son will pay the price for your stubbornness. "In desperation and fear, Li Zu'e finally gave in. All this happened under the gaze of Li Zu'e's son, Gao Shaode, who felt deeply powerless and angry about his mother's situation.
Soon after, Li Zu'e's pregnancy became an endless shame in her heart. And when the baby girl she gave birth to died unexpectedly, Gao Zhan's anger turned to the innocent Gao Shaode and ordered him to death, which was appalling.
Li Zu'e's final fate was even more tragic, after being publicly humiliated by Gao Zhan, he was brutally killed, and his body was abandoned in the palace canal, all these cruel acts made people's image of this emperor deteriorate to the extreme.
Under Gao Zhan's rule, he not only killed his nephew Gao Bainian to consolidate his power, but his attitude of abandoning government affairs directly led to the rapid decline of the empire.
And in the process of being adapted into idol dramas in later generations, these cruel truths were repackaged, showing a completely different image, which made people misunderstand the emperor. But the truth of history is always more complex and profound than drama.
In that Ming Dynasty, which was full of magnificence and intrigue, the story of Zhu Houzhao, the emperor, seemed to be a drama, which was rendered into a heroic epic by later film and television works. However, the real history is far more complex and bleak than the script.
Zhu Houzhao was destined to take on the heavy responsibility of the empire since he was a child, and his life has never been free from the attention of everyone and endless luxury. When he ascended the throne as emperor at a young age, this sudden power gradually caused him to lose his way.
For Zhu Houzhao, ordinary pleasures can no longer satisfy his thirst for excitement. His interest in fighting wild beasts was so fanatical that he built a special leopard house to keep tigers, lions, and other beasts in it, and then went down to engage in hand-to-hand combat with these beastmasters. In these dangerous games, Zhu Houzhao seems to have found some kind of twisted pleasure.
"Here, let another lion in! "Zhu Houzhao's voice echoed in the leopard room, and his eyes flashed with a wild light, as if the whole world was under his control.
However, his adventure didn't stop there. When the threat of Tatars approached the frontier of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Houzhao had the bold idea of conquering the battlefield himself. His decision was more like another pursuit of adventure than out of responsibility to the country. During the journey, his behavior is even more unscrupulous, and he has constant affairs with the people's daughters, and these stories are later shaped into touching love stories, but they cover up the cruelty of the truth.
"In this world, nothing can bind me! "Zhu Houzhao smiled and said to the courtiers beside him, and it seemed that there was only the next challenge in his eyes.
But as many stories end, Zhu's adventures eventually lead to tragedy. During a trip, he accidentally fell overboard, ending his life full of controversy and absurdity. Although his reign left many controversies, the foundations of the Ming Dynasty were violently shaken in his hands.
During the Qianlong period, which was romanticized by later film and television works, the emperor's southern tour was often depicted as an adventure full of poetry and justice. However, the truth of history is often more complex and cruel than the script.
Emperor Qianlong, a controversial monarch at the height of his power, began to show his potential threat to the future of the Qing Dynasty after his reign.
"I want the whole world to witness the Emperor's majesty, and let them know my kindness and wisdom. "Emperor Qianlong said this to his ministers in the imperial study, his voice full of firmness and confidence.
However, Qianlong's southern tour was not just to show the emperor's prestige or to ask for the people's lives, but more of a pursuit of luxury and personal pleasure. Each of his southern tours was accompanied by a large amount of expenditure from the state treasury, most of which was paid for by the hard work of the people.
"Your Majesty, the southern tour does require a lot of expenses for the treasury of the imperial court. "A minister tried to persuade.
"Needless to say, my people love me, what is this expense? "Qianlong interrupted him, and there was a hint of unquestionable in his tone.
At the same time, corruption within the imperial court was becoming more and more serious. Although Qianlong was aware of this, he chose to partially turn a blind eye while enjoying the benefits of power.
On the way to the south, Emperor Qianlong saw a road that was not straight enough, and he ordered unhappily:"Make this path straight, and I want all roads to be straight, no matter what the cost. "
As a result of this order, countless houses, fields and even ancestral graves were forcibly relocated or demolished, affecting the lives of many people. And all this is just for the sake of an emperor's momentary pleasure.
Although Emperor Qianlong's behavior has been beautified by some film and television works, those voices that have been forgotten by history have whispered a completely different story in the dust of the years. It is a story of power, lust and popular sacrifice, reminding future generations that the truth of history is far more complex and heavy than it appears to be glamorous.
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