He was the eldest son of Qin Shi Huang, made the crown prince, and won the trust of his father. However, his ultimate fate is full of tragedy, he is Fusu.
First, we need to understand the historical background of the Qin Dynasty. During the reign of Qin Shi Huang, he adopted an extremely strict Legalist policy and brutally exploited and oppressed the common people. In such a social environment, Fusu's status as the crown prince made him a thorn in the side of powerful ministers and careerists.
According to historical records, when Qin Shi Huang died of illness on the way out, the edict ordered Fusu to preside over the funeral, and passed it on to him. However, in order to usurp the throne, Zhao Gao, Li Si and others forged an edict and forced Fusu to commit suicide. In this forged edict, Qin Shi Huang accused Fusu of being unfit for the throne and ordered him to commit suicide to apologize. Fusu was convinced and eventually committed suicide.
Why, then, did Fusu easily believe this forged edict? First of all, the means of communication at that time were backward, and Fusu was unable to communicate directly with Qin Shi Huang and verify the authenticity of the edict. Second, Fusu had a benevolent and weak personality and lacked experience and vigilance in political struggle. He was deeply influenced by Confucianism and valued honor and loyalty, making it easier for him to believe in and carry out the edict.
In addition, the intrigues of Zhao Gao and others were also one of the important factors that led to Fusu's death. Zhao Gao was a eunuch of the Qin Dynasty, treacherous and cunning, and won the favor of Qin Shi Huang. For his personal interests, he did not hesitate to betray the country and joined forces with Li Si and others to tamper with the edict. After Fusu's suicide, Zhao Gao also cruelly concealed the news and ordered everyone who knew the truth to be killed to cover up his crime.
The cause of Fusu's death was manifold. On the one hand, it is the intrigues of Zhao Gao, Li Si and others, and on the other hand, Fusu's own benevolence, weakness and lack of political experience. If he had been more vigilant and decisive in dealing with the situation, perhaps a tragedy could have been averted. However, history is always full of accidental and inevitable factors, and Fusu's death became an important turning point in the fall of the Qin Dynasty.
Although Fusu eventually fell victim to a power struggle, his story was widely told. He is portrayed as a kind, benevolent ruler who seeks to change the Qin dynasty's harsh Legalist policies and implement Confucian benevolence. If he can succeed to the throne, perhaps the history of the Qin Dynasty will change.
However, history has no ifs. Fusu's death hastened the fall of the Qin Dynasty, and after Zhao Gao, Li Si and others usurped the throne, the rule of the Qin Dynasty quickly collapsed. Revolts raged everywhere and were eventually replaced by the Han Dynasty.
In later evaluations, Fusu was considered a ruler with Confucian ideas of benevolence, in contrast to the ruthlessness and utilitarianism of the Legalists of the Qin dynasty. His death became a symbol of Confucianism, representing the values of loyalty, benevolence, and honor.
Today, we look back on this history, not only to learn about the past, but also to draw wisdom and lessons from it. We should be aware that power struggles and personal ambitions are a pervasive phenomenon in history. At the same time, we should also uphold the benevolence and loyalty of Fusu, strive to practice these values, and contribute to the construction of a harmonious and just society.