Zhu Youtang, Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty, was born on the third day of July in the sixth year of Chenghua (AD 1470). He died of illness on the seventh day of May in the eighteenth year of Hongzhi (AD 1505). He reigned for 18 years. The reign name is Hongzhi. His father, Ming Xianzong Zhu Jianshen, was a weak and incompetent emperor who loved Concubine Wan Gui very much. Concubine Wan Gui had no children. Her dark revengeful mentality made her begin to kill every concubine who was pregnant with dragon seeds. This is how Zhu Youtang's mother, Concubine Ji Shu, was killed. Concubine Wan Gui was persecuted to death. Concubine Wan Gui later attempted to murder Zhu Youtang several times, but unfortunately she failed. After Zhu Youtang finally ascended the throne after many hardships, he devoted his whole life to overturning the corruption in the government during the reign of Emperor Xianzong, and expelled Li Zisheng, Liang Fang, Ren Jie, Kuai Gang and other traitorous officials who had made their fortunes in the Chenghua Dynasty through corruption, bribery, and sycophancy. Ning Huan. At the same time, Zhu Youtang also hired a large number of upright and capable people, such as Wang Shu, Ma Wensheng, Xu Pu, Liu Jian, Xie Qian, Li Dongyang, etc. Zhu Youtang advocated speaking out and admonishing, being generous and kind, practicing frugality, not being close to others, diligent in political affairs, and paying attention to justice. Emperor Xiaozong's diligence finally paid off. He promoted the rule of the court and governed the Qingming Dynasty, appointed talents and capable officials, restrained officials, worked diligently in government affairs, advocated thrift, and rested with the people. It was a rare peaceful period in the history of the Ming Dynasty when the economy was prosperous and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment. . It is called "Hongzhi Zhongxing" in history.
Among them, Xiaozong Zhu Youtang was one of the only "normal" emperors in the Ming Dynasty. He was also the only wise emperor who worked hard to govern in the middle of the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Youtang's political achievements are indeed outstanding, but what touches me most is his generosity and kindness. He treats everyone leniently, even his enemies. Concubine Wan Gui was dead when Zhu Youtang ascended the throne. Concubine Wan Gui had a younger brother named Wan Xi who did countless evil things. After Zhu Youtang ransacked Wanxi's home and imprisoned him in accordance with the laws at the time, he then released Wanxi according to law. Zhu Youtang knew very well that Concubine Wan Gui sent people to kill him when he was just born, and killed his mother when he was 6 years old. After he was made the prince, he was still squeezed and framed by Concubine Wan Gui. As an emperor, he had never enjoyed any blessings in his life, but he had suffered many sins and suffered countless vicious injuries, but in the end he chose selfless forgiveness. This is the magnanimity and magnanimity of Mingjun!
In addition, during the early dynasty, some ministers behaved inappropriately due to slippery ground, but Xiaozong never asked him about the crime; he did not correct him if there were typos in the memorial; he also comforted several ministers during the Sutra banquet when they talked about the misconduct of officials. Words, don’t make them panic. In order to make it easier for local officials to return at night, Xiaozong personally issued an order that in the future, when officials in Beijing returned at night, regardless of their position, they would order soldiers to hold lamps to convey them. If you meet a benevolent king like this, even if you are killed, how can you regret it!
But as an emperor, it is absolutely impossible to make no mistakes at all. Even Xiaozong Zhu Youtang, a Ming lord, had done many stupid things, such as doting on the eunuch Li Guang, being too lenient towards the illegal behavior of some courtiers, being keen on practicing Zhaijiao, and even being lazy about government affairs for several years in the middle of the Hongzhi period. But these can never conceal Zhu Youtang's brilliance as a wise king. Moreover, these phenomena have been fundamentally changed in the later period of Hongzhi.
In the last few years of his life, upright ministers in the DPRK continued to give advice. Zhu Youtang began to constantly reflect on his previous actions and deeply regretted the foolish things he had done. So Zhu Youtang began to vigorously rectify the Chao Gang again. He worked day and night regardless of his health, but the excessive work intensity also completely exhausted his body. He was only in his thirties and was already seriously ill and dying. But he still worked hard as always, not caring about his deteriorating physical condition. In the end, he used his own efforts to make the government improve day by day, and the "Hongzhi ZTE" also reached its peak period. However, at this time, Zhu Youtang's body could no longer hold on.
In May of the 18th year of Hongzhi (1505), Zhu Youtang died of illness at the age of only 36.
After Xiaozong's death, "deep in the mountains and poor valleys, everyone felt sad when they heard it" and "the cry shook the wild".
Throughout the Hongzhi dynasty, there was neither the exclusive power of powerful ministers, eunuchs, nor the harem, and there was very little maladministration. Zhu Guozhen, a scholar of the late Ming Dynasty, once said: "Three generations below, those who are called wise masters are Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty, Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty, and Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty."
It is true!
Although in terms of character, Zhu Youtang is not as good as Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty and Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty; in terms of knowledge, Zhu Youtang is not as good as Emperor Yuan of Liang and Li Houzhu; in terms of merit, Zhu Youtang is even further ahead. Far inferior to Qin Emperor, Han Wu, Tang Zong and Song Zu.
However, among the more than 400 emperors in ancient China, the one who impressed me the most was this emperor who could not compare with others in terms of character, knowledge or achievements. He can be called the greatest emperor in Chinese history. !
In ancient Chinese history, there were many great emperors, such as Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, etc., but none of them was greater than Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty. Ming Xiaozong dedicated everything he had to his country, even his own life. In fact, he did not "die of illness", but died of exhaustion. Ming Xiaozong was not only a good emperor who was diligent and thrifty and loved the people, but also a good man who was generous and kind. He was also a good man who only loved his wife. In his life, he only had one woman, Queen Zhang, and no other concubines!
Be close to virtuous ministers and be distant from villains; pity the common people and chase away Taoist priests. Be quiet to cultivate your character, treat others with generosity, and be frugal to cultivate virtue. He worked hard and died...
He accomplished everything a good emperor and a good man should do almost perfectly. He spent all his life's energy to show off the declining Ming Dynasty. The colorful sunset. As an emperor, Zhu Youtang rarely experienced the emperor's honor, but he assumed all the emperor's responsibilities. He used his life to tell us a famous saying: Don't ask what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country!
Although when the emperor is mentioned now, the Chinese people think of nothing more than Emperor Qin, Han Wu, Tang Zong and Song Zu. Most people are not sure who Zhu Youtang is. It seems that this great emperor has already Forgotten. Time may wear away the edges of history, but it can never erase the memories in history books. History will never forget that in ancient China, there once was such a great emperor...