The emperor was the highest ruler during the imperial period of China. Whenever this is mentioned, the editor has to explain it in detail to everyone
Most emperors in history went through struggles to seize the throne, and the process was always tragic. The Nine Sons’ usurpation of the throne during the Qing Dynasty and the Xuanwu Gate Incident during the Tang Dynasty resulted in countless casualties. However, the throne of Zhu Houzhao in the Ming Dynasty came particularly easily.
In the chaotic Ming Dynasty, Emperor Wuzong Zhu Houzhao was the first emperor to ascend the throne as his eldest son, perhaps without any competition. During his reign, Zhu Houzhao was extremely playful, and two high-ranking ministers were forced to resign to advise him. Do you know what he did?
During Zhu Houzhao’s reign, his actions were extremely absurd. To satisfy his novelty, he often disguised himself as a commoner and secretly left the palace. According to historical records, he left the palace no less than ten times, making him the most frequent monarch of all dynasties. He first left the palace in 1514, encouraged by eunuchs to go to the Ministry of Education. The so-called Jiaofangsi is the ancient Goulan. How could the young emperor, who was bound since childhood, withstand such temptation?
After this incident, Zhu Houzhao began to treat the palace prohibition system as a decoration, as he knew how to eat bones and taste. Zhu Houzhao had a great time playing among the people, but it made the courtiers very worried. In 1517, Zhu Houzhao secretly went to the Xuanfu with his confidants. The next day, Yang Yanhe and other ministers risked their lives to pursue him to Juyong Pass. Fortunately, the censor of Juyong Pass stopped him, and Emperor Zhengde was “arrested” and returned to the palace.
If it’s just sneaking out of the palace, it’s not in line with the style of Emperor Zhengde. He forged an identity for himself among the people – the unknown young man Zhu Shou. At the order of the emperor, Zhu Shou was promoted to the rank of Grand General, and his ministers were both amused and amused by his self-directed and self performed behavior. Although the matter of Emperor Zhengde was absurd, he took over all the troops and horses of the world, and the military power of feudal emperors was also pushed to its peak.
The reason why Zhu Houzhao is so absurd is twofold: firstly, because of his parents’ love and affection, and secondly, because of the deliberate temptation of the “Eight Tigers” eunuch. His parents were famous immortal couples in history. His father, Emperor Xiaozong of Ming, was also the first emperor in history to truly practice monogamy. Emperor Xiaozong of Ming only favored Empress Zhang throughout his life, and Empress Zhang only gave birth to two sons for him. His second son, Zhu Houwei, died young. Therefore, Emperor Wuzong was regarded as a treasure from a young age, and the young Emperor Wuzong was very intelligent.
Growing up in such family conditions, Zhu Houzhao can be said to be the happiest prince. The “Eight Tigers” refer to Gu Dayong, Zhang Yong, Liu Jin, and others who have been following Zhu Houzhao since the Eastern Palace, and can be said to be the most trusted people by Zhu Houzhao. The “Eight Tigers” took advantage of Zhu Houzhao’s curiosity and lured him to play every day. The emperor arranged for Confucian scholars to teach Zhu Houzhao, who only knew how to do it. Compared to the two, the knowledge of Confucian scholars had no attraction to Zhu Houzhao.
Over time, Zhu Houzhao developed a playful and joyful personality. After Zhu Houzhao became emperor, the “Eight Tigers” relied on Zhu Houzhao’s favor and began to act even more recklessly. Their ordinary leisure activities could no longer arouse Zhu Houzhao’s interest, so the “Eight Tigers” set up folk streets in the palace. Zhu Houzhao felt fresh in his heart and began to indulge in them again.
Emperor Wu Zong, Zhu Houzhao, indulged in pleasure and neglected political affairs. Liu Jian and other high-ranking officials petitioned to punish the “Eight Tigers”, but Emperor Wu Zong hesitated under such pressure. Unfortunately, Zhu Houzhao was still a child and could not compare to Liu Jin, who was skilled in political maneuvering. Liu Jin used retreat as a means of advancement and cried out for his loyalty to Emperor Wu. Zhu Houzhao surrendered under such an attack.
Liu Jin, who had obtained a bargain, did not give up. He subtly accused his ministers of having no emperor in their eyes. Cabinet ministers such as Liu Jian and Xie Qian were immediately disappointed with this lifeless dynasty and could only resign and return home, hoping to gain Wu Zong’s half rationality in exchange. Without the impeachment of these ministers, Liu Jin’s actions became more and more rampant. In order to find novelty for the emperor, he forcibly abducted women from the people as offerings.
Zhu Houzhao became addicted to women again and became a debauched emperor. Zhu Houzhao was an absurd person, and his death was also extremely absurd. While fishing in Huai’an, he accidentally fell into a lake and fell seriously ill from then on. He died the following year at the age of only forty.
Since ancient times, although there have been weak and incompetent emperors, as well as arrogant and indulgent people, I have never seen a king as absurd as Zhu Houzhao. During his tenure, he ignored the political affairs of the court and led the court into darkness. After his death, the throne remained vacant, causing trouble for future generations. Some people once said that he was the biggest criminal of the Ming Dynasty.
