When Emperor Wanli got rid of the shackles of Zhang completely, he began his autocratic rule. Wanli is greedy for money, and there are many kinds of tax items, no taxes, no things, no taxes and no land. This is really tyranny. Wanli lived a luxurious life and began to build the Wanshou Palace (mausoleum) for himself at the age of twenty. Wanli was lazy and didn't listen to state affairs for 28 years. He sang "carefree for a while", and the yamen was seriously understaffed, but the alternate officials were not promoted, so that they were on standby for life. Therefore, later generations commented that "the demise of the Ming Dynasty was not due to the immorality of Chongzhen, but to the laziness of Zongshen." There are three major events in Wanli dynasty, namely, aiding Korea, the struggle for the founding of the country and the storm. Let me start with aid to North Korea. If Emperor Wanli did something good after Zhang's death, it would be considered as a reinforcement for North Korea.
There are many reasons for Wanli's inaction, four of which are very important:
First, remove the ruler. Before the reign of Emperor Wanli, there were three rulers hanging on his head: Zhang, Zhang, Zhang and Zhang. So he wanted to get rid of the shackles of these three rulers after he came to power.
The first ruler was Zhang. Zhang is a college student, a record and a teacher. Emperor Wanli usually calls himself by his first name, but it is very respectful, sir. Because Zhang was very strict with Wanli, maybe he was rebellious when he was a child. When Zhang died, someone slandered Zhang in front of Wanli. Based on various factors, Emperor Wanli ordered the replication of Zhang's home two years after his death.
The second ruler was eunuch Feng Bao. In the early years of Wanli, Feng Bao was a eunuch under Li Jian, with great power. Because he had a good relationship with the Empress Dowager and Zhang, he was very strict with Emperor Wanli.
The third ruler is Li Taihou. When Emperor Wanli was young, Li Taihou also lived in Gan Qing Palace, taking care of him and urging him. Later, when Emperor Wanli grew up, she got married and led the country, and Li Taihou moved from Gan Qing Palace to Ciqing Palace. She was not so strict with him, so some things were left out.
In this way, the emperor Wanli was no longer bound by these three rulers, and his personality was willful and stubborn, which was even more carried forward at this time.
Second, take credit and be proud. After the emperor Wanli succeeded to the throne, he was young and vigorous, and successively carried out "three expeditions", that is, three major wars. During the period of 12, Emperor Wanli won three major military victories in the northeast, northwest and southwest regions, which were called "three expeditions" in history.
Third, there is no competition. The system of succession to the throne in Qing Dynasty was better than that in Ming Dynasty. The two brothers on Wanli have long since died. He and his younger brother Yi Zhong are the same mother and did not compete for the throne. Therefore, there was no competition before he ascended the pole. After he sat on the throne of the emperor, he indulged himself more and more when he met the so-called peace and prosperity. In addition, Emperor Wanli was headstrong, stubborn and grumpy, blindly following his inner desires, and gradually became lazy in political affairs.
Fourth, the body is sick. Emperor Wanli was in poor health and often fell ill.
Ignore government performance
First, not the suburbs. Just don't sacrifice to heaven yourself.
Second, there is no temple. Just don't offer sacrifices to ancestral halls and ancestral halls in person.
Third, it does not face North Korea. Just don't go to the court. Emperor Wanli ignored the court affairs for more than 20 years and didn't preside over the court meeting. Some ministers knelt outside the palace gate and asked the emperor to personally manage state affairs, but no one paid attention.
Fourth, I didn't see it. Just don't see the minister. Zhu Geng, a university student and records, has not seen the emperor for three years. In the forty years of Wanli (16 12), the history of Nanjing's various conferences is sparse: "Taiwan saves the air, and all its things are abolished. It has lived in the depths for more than 20 years and has never seen a minister. The world will worry about Lu Chen. " (Biography of Zongshen in Ming Dynasty).
Fifth, it is not recognized. Not to give instructions to the throne of the minister. There is a rule in the Ming Dynasty that ministers do not easily ascend to the throne. Whenever there is something important and urgent on the throne, the emperor must give instructions quickly. Whether he agrees, disagrees or partially agrees, there will always be a result. However, at noon, Emperor Wanli left a memorial for his ministers, that is, he neither instructed nor issued it, but put it aside. Without the emperor's instructions, things could not be done, and the whole central organization almost stopped working.
Sixth, don't talk. Just don't attend the party. Banquet is a lecture specially held for the Emperor. University students and bachelor lecturers from imperial academy are the keynote speakers. They discuss history with the Emperor. It is also a place where the monarch and his ministers discuss the ideas and policies of governing the country together. Giving lectures in Japan originally meant giving lectures to the Emperor once a day. Emperor Wanli didn't attend the banquet, and right engineer Wang criticized: "If you don't talk in court, you won't smell the hidden trouble." He also said Wanli: "Those who are loyal to the official, but not loyal, have to plan for the clan society!" (Biography of Ming Wang)
The political laziness of Emperor Wanli caused the crisis of state affairs. "The Biography of Zongshen in the Ming Dynasty" records: "The death of the Ming Dynasty is actually the death of Zongshen."