The reign of Emperor Xiaojing coincided with a time of political turmoil in the Eastern Wei Dynasty. His power was almost completely controlled by Gao Cheng, the leader of the real power faction. The image of Emperor Xiaojing is not prominent among the people, and in comparison, Gao Cheng's name is more well-known.
Under Gao Cheng's oppression, Emperor Xiaojing's situation was extremely embarrassing, and he was even questioned in public, "Your Majesty, do you want to rebel?" Such a dialogue is not only a blatant provocation to the authority of Emperor Xiaojing, but also a satire on the stability of the entire Eastern Wei Dynasty. In this context, the fate of Emperor Xiaojing seems to be shrouded in a shadow that cannot be **.
Changes in the Eastern Wei Dynasty: The Death of Gao Huan and the Rise of Gao Cheng.
In 547 AD, the fifth year of Wuding, the political situation of the Eastern Wei Dynasty experienced a violent shock. This year, Gao Huan, who held real power, died, leaving a power vacuum. Gao Huan's death posed a serious threat to the stability of the Eastern Wei Dynasty, plunging the court into uncertain chaos both inside and outside.
Gao Huan's son, Gao Cheng, quickly took over power after his father's death. Unlike his father's steadiness and forbearance, Gao Cheng showed a stronger ambition and arrogance. He not only inherited Gao Huan's position, but also openly displayed his desire for power in front of the court and officials.
Gao Cheng's ambition: disrespect and desire for control of Emperor Xiaojing.
In the political arena of the Eastern Wei Dynasty, Gao Cheng's ambition was like a sharp sword, and as time passed, its sharp edge became more and more revealed. He is not satisfied with being just a real power behind the scenes, and is eager to spread his influence directly on the government.
At the court meeting, Gao Cheng's behavior was particularly eye-catching. Once, when all the ministers saluted respectfully, Gao Cheng walked into the hall leisurely, his steps firm and slow, and he did not hide his arrogance in the slightest. His eyes scanned around the court, as if looking for some kind of reaction, but the **s in the court lowered their heads and didn't dare to look at him.
On an occasion of going to the court, Gao Cheng went directly to the palace with his sword, which was undoubtedly a blatant challenge to the emperor's authority in the religious society at that time. Emperor Xiaojing Yuan Shanjian could only sit up straight on the dragon chair, trying to maintain calm on his face, but it was not difficult to detect a trace of helplessness in his eyes.
My lord, such an act may cause dissatisfaction among the court and the central government. A minister cautiously addressed Gao Cheng.
Gao Cheng turned his head, his gaze was like a knife, "Dissatisfaction with the court?" In this world of the Eastern Wei Dynasty, who can compete with me? ”
The minister bowed his head and did not speak again. Gao Cheng's words were full of domineering and self-confidence, and he seemed to have regarded the entire Eastern Wei Dynasty as his own. His disrespect for the emperor was, in his opinion, nothing more than a necessary means to achieve his own goals.
At another court meeting, Emperor Xiaojing Yuan Shanjian finally couldn't help but speak: "Gao Cheng, your behavior has exceeded the boundaries of etiquette, and I hope you can respect yourself." ”
Gao Cheng smiled and replied contemptuously: "Your Majesty, isn't the etiquette system of the imperial court decided by the strong?" ”
These words shocked everyone present. There was no respect for the emperor in Gao Cheng's words, and his ambition was obvious to the point where it was difficult to hide.
As time passed, Gao Cheng's influence in the government grew, and his behavior became more and more unbridled. He began to meddle in major decisions of the state, and even had his own involvement in the military. His actions are undoubtedly showing the world that the Eastern Wei Dynasty is no longer the Eastern Wei Dynasty of the past, but his Gaocheng world.
Emperor Xiaojing's dilemma: the bondage of power and the escape plan.
During the period when Gao Cheng's power was in full swing, Emperor Xiaojing Yuan Shanjian, as the emperor of the Eastern Wei Dynasty, fell into an unprecedented predicament. His position and authority were constantly weakened, and he became almost a monarch in name and a prisoner in fact. In his own capital, Yeseong, Motozen felt that his movements were under close surveillance, and that he felt suffocated by the ubiquitous eyeliner and the power of Gao Cheng.
In order to get out of this predicament, Yuan Shanjian began to hatch a bold plan: escape from Yecheng and look for an opportunity to revive the Wei family. The key to this plan is secrecy, and any leak could lead to the failure of the plan, or even the loss of his own life. Motozen chose a very traditional and hidden method - digging tunnels.
In the middle of the night, Motozen took matters into his own hands and began digging a tunnel leading to the outside of the city. In the dormitory, the floor is carefully lifted to reveal the dirt beneath it. Yuan Shanjian held a hoe in his hand and dug one shovel after another. Since it could only be done late at night, the progress was extremely slow, and at the end of each excavation, Motozen carefully reset the floor so as not to arouse the suspicion of the guards.
However, as the tunnels get longer and longer, the difficulty of the excavation increases. Motozenmi had to expand the size of the tunnel to be able to accommodate his own body. This excavation caused the tunnels to become louder, and the sound of earth and stones colliding with each other was especially noticeable in the quiet of the night.
Late one night, when Motozen was digging in the tunnel as usual, he suddenly heard movement above the ground. It turned out that the guards at the city gate heard the sound of the underground during the night watch. At first, they thought it was a critter underground, but as the sound continued, the guards began to suspect that this was not something out of the ordinary.
Eventually, the guards reported the anomaly. When Gao Cheng learned the news, he immediately ordered a thorough search of the dormitory. Soon, the entrance to the tunnel is discovered, and Motozen's escape plan is revealed. At the moment of discovery, Yuan Shanjian could only helplessly watch the tunnel he had worked so hard to dig for many days being **, and his hard work came to naught.
A duel of powers: Gao Cheng's anger and the fate of Yuan Zeonji.
Gao Cheng was furious when he learned of Emperor Xiaojing's escape plan. He immediately summoned the important ministers of the court and announced the news. In the court, Gao Cheng faced Yuan Shanjian, and his voice was cold and sharp: "What does Your Majesty mean to oppose evil?" The words echoed through the heavy halls, full of irony and anger.
Motozen was caught off guard by this sudden accusation. He stood in front of Gao Cheng, speechless, and could only silently bear the criticism from the leader of the real power faction. Gao Cheng's words are not only a question of Yuan Shanjian, but also a warning to the entire court that under Gao Cheng's rule, any action against his will will will be severely punished.
In the following three days, Gao Cheng ordered the intensification of the care of Emperor Xiaojing, effectively imprisoning him in disguise. Emperor Xiaojing's movements were closely monitored, and even daily access was restricted. This move caused an uproar in the DPRK and China, and many ministers discussed it in private, but no one dared to openly oppose Gao Cheng's decision.
Just when Gao Cheng was preparing to usurp the throne, an unexpected event occurred. On an ordinary afternoon, Gao Cheng was in his mansion to deal with government affairs. His mansion was spacious and ornate, revealing his power and status. The servants and guards of the palace came and went, busy with their own affairs.
Suddenly, a cook quietly approached Gao Cheng. He was armed with a sharp blade and his eyes were determined. In the heart of this cook, there may be dissatisfaction with Gao Cheng**, or he has been instructed by others. However, his motives are not well known, and his actions resemble a silent rebellion.
When Gao Cheng was defenseless, the cook rushed forward, and the sharp blade in his hand pointed directly at Gao Cheng. Gao Cheng was stunned by the sudden attack, and he tried to break free, but it was too late. At this moment, the entire mansion was thrown into chaos, and the guards and servants panicked.
The assassination caused a huge uproar in Gao Cheng's mansion. Gao Cheng was rushed to medical treatment, but his injuries were so severe that his life could not be saved. This figure, who was once majestic in the court, fell under the bayonet of a cook.
The end of the Eastern Wei Dynasty and the rise of the Northern Qi Dynasty.
In 550 AD, the eighth year of Wuding, the historical stage of the Eastern Wei Dynasty ushered in another drastic change. Gao Cheng's death left a power vacuum, a vacancy that was quickly filled by his younger brother Gao Yang. Gao Yang's ambition was no less than that of Gao Cheng, he quickly mastered the power of the Gao family, and began to rectify the government, preparing to establish a new situation on the basis of the Eastern Wei Dynasty.
After Gao Yang came to power, the situation of Emperor Xiaojing Yuan Shanjian became even more precarious. Gao Yang knew that only by completely removing Emperor Xiaojing from the throne could he truly consolidate his power. As a result, he began to plan a series of political manipulations with the aim of forcing Emperor Xiaojing to take the throne.
Under the strong pressure of Gao Yang, Emperor Xiaojing Yuan Shanjian was finally forced to sign the edict of Chan Concession. This edict announced the official end of the Eastern Wei Dynasty and also marked the birth of the Northern Qi Dynasty. Gao Yang announced this decision in the court, proclaiming himself as the new emperor, and all this was carried out in a solemn and tense atmosphere.
Emperor Xiaojing Yuan Shanjian was placed in a palace called Residence after the Zen throne, but in fact he was closely monitored. Although he lost the throne, his worries for his life still lingered. And Gao Yang, in order to consolidate his rule, decided to completely eliminate the threat of the former emperor.
So, in 551 AD, Gao Yang sent a secret envoy carrying poison to Yuan Shanjian's residence. This secret envoy is ostensibly there to take care of Yuan Zenjian's daily life, but in fact he is secretly carrying out a deadly mission. One night, the secret envoy quietly poured poison into Motozen's diet.
Yuan Zenjian ingested the poison without noticing, and soon, he began to feel severe discomfort in his body. With the effect of the poison, his breathing gradually became difficult and his face became pale. In this night, the life of Emperor Xiaojing Yuan Shanjian quietly came to an end. His death marked the demise of the last emperor of the Eastern Wei Dynasty and the end of an era.
Through this means, Gao Yang succeeded in eliminating the greatest threat to his rule. He then strengthened his control over the government and began to set out to rectify ** in order to consolidate his power. The establishment of the Northern Qi Dynasty marked the rise of a new regime in this land, and the fall of the Eastern Wei Dynasty also heralded a major turning point in history.
References: The Book of Wei and the Book of Filial Piety
Northern History: Emperor Xiaojing".