In ancient Chinese society, imperial power symbolized the supreme position of power and could control the life and death of the people of the world. In order to compete for this supreme power, the emperors of the past dynasties did whatever it took to kill you, causing countless bloody storms. However, imperial power was not included in the emperors, more often than not, it was controlled and used by the powerful ministers. There have been many traitorous ministers in history who leaned towards the government and the opposition, but there were few who could do evil like Yan Timur in the Yuan Dynasty.
Yan Timur, a typical second-generation official, has been in the center of power since he was a child, and he knows the operation of imperial power well. He used power and tactics to gradually gain the trust and dependence of Yuan Wenzong, and the power leaned towards the government and the opposition. But the good times didn't last long, when his power swelled to the point of arrogance, he began to be unscrupulous, and he firmly controlled the royal family's concubines, and his behavior was absurd.
This article will expose the negative effects of power by describing the distorted power relationship between Yan Timur and Yuan Wenzong, reflect on the corruption of power on human nature, and warn future generations not to repeat the mistakes of the past.
This article is divided into three parts, first of all, to analyze how Yan Timur gained the trust of Yuan Wenzong through power seeking;Then he describes the reckless behavior of Yan Timur after he fell into power and the opposition;Finally, the tragic ending of Yan Timur's self-destruction is narrated.
Yan Timur was born in a family of eunuchs, and his father was an important minister. Since he was a child, he followed his father in and out of the palace and was familiar with the operation of the palace. He watched his father go from side to side, he was well versed in the way of power, and he learned how to speak and act since he was a child. He observed Yuan Wuzong's preferences, learned how to cater to the emperor, how to curry favor with the powerful, and his scheming was not leaky.
When he grew up, Yan Timur inherited his father's business and served as the personal guard of Yuan Wuzong. He was cautious in his words and deeds, worshiped the emperor to the fullest, and never exceeded his bounds. In the face of the emperor, he grasped the scale, was respectful and easy-going, which made Yuan Wuzong very satisfied with him.
Yuan Wuzong saw that he had done an excellent job and was loyal, and was deeply appreciated, and promoted him to important positions. Yan Timur seized the opportunity to give the emperor correct advice on various major matters, and was favored by the emperor.
He understood that only by continuing to let himself be to the emperor could he gain greater trust, so he gave advice to the emperor everywhere and made his value in the emperor's heart continue to rise.
When Yuan Renzong ascended the throne, Yan Timur was already a celebrity with military power and heavy power. He knew that the power was over the emperor, and he served the new master more cautiously, and Yuan Renzong trusted him because of this. Yan Timur was intent on making the new emperor rely on him, so he was obedient to Yuan Renzong, so that Yuan Renzong relied on him more and more.
The reason why Yuan Renzong was able to succeed to the throne was inseparable from Yan Timur. It is said that before his death, Yuan Wuzong passed the throne to his younger brother Yuan Renzong, but wanted him to pass it on to his son after his death.
Yuan Renzong cried bitterly at that time and promised to be extremely happy. However, when he was really faced with abdication, Yuan Renzong was reluctant and wanted to pass on the throne to his son.
Seeing this, Yan Timur went to Yuan Renzong, saying that the will of the first emperor could not be violated, and he must fulfill his promise. Yuan Renzong was in a dilemma, and Yan Timur said that he wanted to share the emperor's worries and take the initiative to take on the responsibility of carrying out the will. Yuan Renzong died with peace of mind. Yan Timur strategized to stabilize the situation and ensure that the throne was smoothly passed to the son of Yuan Wuzong.
After gaining the trust of Yuan Wenzong, Yan Timur's power leaned towards the government and the opposition, except for the emperor, no one in the court could control him. This made him unsightly and reckless.
He began to eradicate dissidents, forcing Yuan Wenzong to eliminate his brother, the then Emperor Hening. Yan Timur repeatedly slandered Emperor Hening in front of Yuan Wenzong, saying that he was ambitious and coveted the unification. Yuan Wenzong didn't believe it at first, but Yan Timur listed the so-called evidence one by one, which finally made Yuan Wenzong angry and ordered Emperor Hening to be placed under house arrest.
After being imprisoned in the palace for two years, Emperor Hening suddenly contracted an illness and died. Everyone in the government and the opposition knew that Yan Timur was assassinated and killed, but no one dared to say it.
At this time, Yan Timur's official position had reached the right prime minister, and he was named the king of peace, reaching the peak of power. He asked Yuan Wenzong to bow down to him, and Yuan Wenzong could only obey. Yan Timur saw that the emperor had obeyed his words, and began to accept how much power he had. His demands became more and more excessive, and Yuan Wenzong could only agree to them one by one.
After the early death of the crown prince, Yuan Wenzong temporarily sent the prince to the palace of Yan Timur and asked him to be the prince's adoptive father. In order to show his power, Yan Timur deliberately excused himself again and again, and Yuan Wenzong begged bitterly. Only then did Yan Timur make a reluctant gesture and "reluctantly" took over the prince. The king of a country actually let his son recognize his minister as his father, which is unheard of! Yan Timur was triumphant, feeling that his power had overwhelmed the emperor and that he could do whatever he wanted.
What's even more ridiculous is that Yan Timur also accepted Yuanrenzong's harem and the queen as his concubines!He sent people to coerce and lure, and the concubines in the front and rear palaces were all afraid and had to obey Yan Timur's obscenity.
* It is absurd that the queen of the king should become the wife of a courtier. Yan Timur did this ridiculous thing precisely to show that his power far exceeded that of the emperor, and the royal family was just a plaything in his palm.
Yuan Wenzong did nothing about this, and allowed Yan Timur to act recklessly in the harem. Yan Timur had heavy troops in his hands, and Yuan Wenzong did not dare to take action against him, so he could only go. It can be seen that the imperial power is so great to people, and Yuan Wenzong can tolerate Yan Timur so much in order to get help!
In his later years, Yan Timur indulged in the joy of the harem, was wine-colored and wealthy, and his health deteriorated, and he was reduced to the point where he could only act with the help of others. He still didn't correct it, and drank and played with the newly acquired concubine all day long, and finally died suddenly due to frequent indulgence in sound.
After Yuan Shunzong ascended the throne, he was bent on liquidating the atrocities of Yan Timur. He first recovered the money and property accumulated by Yan Timur, and the amount was so huge that it was jaw-dropping.
and confiscated his mansions and manors, as many as dozens of places, luxurious and extraordinary. Yan Timur's family was implicated and forced to hand over many of the embezzled palace people.
In the end, he ordered the Yan Timur family to be wiped out to vent his hatred. Yan Timur's wife and concubine wailed and wailed, and his wife fell to the ground crying with her young daughter in her arms, and she could not escape death. Although the methods are extremely cruel, they are also deserved by the reckless and extravagant Yan Timur family.
The story of Yan Timur is a portrayal of the wanton expansion of power, and it is also a footnote to the corruption of human nature by power. It reminds us of the impact of power on human nature and serves as a warning to future generations not to repeat the mistakes of the past.
Each dynasty repeats a similar power game, and today and tomorrow will be replaced by new powers. Power is just a flash in the pan, the wheels of history are rolling forward, and the celebrities who stood out from the crowd in the past have finally become floating clouds. Only by appreciating the essence of power and having good thoughts in our hearts can we not lose our humanity.
Looking back at history and enlightening the future is the reason why we trace history.