Emperor is the title of the highest ruler during the Chinese imperial system. Below, the history encyclopedia editor will provide detailed answers for everyone.
It is said that the merits and demerits of historical figures should be left to future generations to judge, especially the emperor, who not only holds the throne but also accepts the supervision of countless common people. If he is a wise ruler, he will inevitably be recorded in history and praised by millions of people. If he is a tyrant, he will also be infamous for thousands of years and despised by millions of people.
Of course, apart from these two extremes, most emperors actually lived a mediocre and peaceful life, although there were also some controversies. Like Zhu Zaidi, Emperor Muzong of the Ming Dynasty, he was one of them. Politically, he was a generation of wise rulers who underwent a series of reforms during his reign, giving ministers enough space to express their ambitions. He continued the declining Ming Dynasty for more than 70 years, to some extent meeting the needs of the people. He reigned for 6 years without any natural or man-made disasters, making him a generation of wise rulers.
But what plunged him into the vortex of public opinion was a behavior vastly different from that of the wise ruler, which was his extreme obsession with women. Although he did not neglect the court order or engage in absurd acts such as favoring treacherous officials and allowing the harem to interfere in politics, he also lost his life as a result, which made people laugh and cry. Next, let’s take a detailed look at Zhu Zaidi and see how he gained the throne to benefit the people of the world, and how he became obsessed with women and lost his life.
1、 The Son of Destiny, Zhu Zaidi
Zhu Zaidi was born in the 16th year of the Jiajing reign. His mother was Empress Du Kang and the third son of Ming Emperor Zhu Houdi. She was neither the eldest nor the legitimate son. Zhu Zaidi grew up in a neglected environment and did not receive much favor from his father. In theory, such a child could only be an idle prince for the rest of his life. However, no one could have imagined how miraculous his fate was. Zhu Zaidi, who seemed ordinary and unappreciated, actually became the emperor.
Speaking of Zhu Zaidi’s coronation history, many people say he is the son of fate. Why is this? The journey of this throne falling into his hands is truly miraculous. In the 18th year of the Jiajing reign, Emperor Shizong appointed Zhu Zaigui as the Crown Prince, Zhu Zaigui as the Prince of Yu, and Zhu Zaizhen as the Prince of Jing.
Unexpectedly, ten years later, Crown Prince Zhu Zaigui passed away. In order, at that time, Prince Yu Zhu Zaidi should have been appointed as the crown prince, but Zhu Zaidi passed away at an indefinite age after being appointed as the crown prince, so he has been delaying the appointment of the crown prince again. Moreover, Emperor Sejong was superstitious about “the two dragons do not meet”, so he also showed extreme coldness towards Zhu Zaidi.
In the 32nd year of the Jiajing reign, King Yu and King Jing left the palace together. King Jing was well liked by Emperor Shizong at that time, and his food, clothing, and expenses were very luxurious, while King Yu was cautious and low-key in his actions. This also divided the court into the “pro Jing faction” led by Yan Song and the “pro Yu faction” led by Xu Jie.
From this perspective, King Jing had the favor of his father and the assistance of courtiers. It seemed that the gentle and mediocre King Yu had few opportunities, but sometimes fate could not be violated. Unfortunately, King Jing also passed away the year before the death of Emperor Ming Shizong, and the throne naturally fell to Zhu Zaidi. It is said that in the 18th year of the Jiajing reign, when King Yu and the Crown Prince jointly conferred the title, eunuchs mistakenly placed the Crown Prince’s treasure with King Yu. It seems that this may be the will of heaven.
2、 Doubtless in employing people, a wise ruler of the generation
Zhu Zaidi was not noticed from a young age and did not have the favor of his parents. He was also enfeoffed as a king at an early age and began his own solitary life at the age of 16. He stayed in the palace and delved into the common people, learning about the thoughts of many lower class people and the various contradictions and crises of the Ming Dynasty regime at that time.
Zhu Zaidi actually had a heart of concern for the country and the people. He could see the threat posed by the decadence of the court and the corruption of officials to the regime, and he also knew that there were “southern Japanese and northern barbarians” in the world today, and the people were struggling to make ends meet. Previously, there was no opportunity for change, but as an emperor, he knew very well what kind of disaster these troubles would bring to the people and the country. Therefore, he was determined to turn the tide through change.
In politics, Zhu Zaigui implemented reforms and reforms, relying on former retainers such as Gao Gong, Chen Yiqin, and Zhang Juzheng to completely change the policies of Emperor Ming Shizong. Rectify wrongful imprisonment, abolish all fasting ceremonies, strengthen the assessment of officials, promote favoritism and favoritism, and establish a reward system. For honest officials, they are given opportunities for promotion and wealth, while for corrupt officials, they are ruthlessly dismissed from their positions. In order to reduce the suffering of the people, he exempts relief, suppresses land mergers, and restricts land.
Economically, Zhu Zaidi implemented the Longqing Switch, lifted the maritime ban, and adjusted overseas trade policies, allowing ordinary people to transport their personal belongings overseas to promote trade. This measure greatly promoted economic development. According to statistics, from 1567 to 1644, the amount of silver flowing into the Ming Dynasty from overseas reached 330 million taels, equivalent to one-third of the world’s total at that time.
In military terms, Zhu Zaidi employed the famous anti Japanese general Qi Jiguang to participate in the defense of the capital’s gateway and the northeast border defense. It was also at this time that Qi Jiguang’s chariot and horse formation was invented. In the northwest, he appointed Cao Bangfu as the Deputy Minister of War, and in the northeast, he was promoted to Li Chengliang as the General of Liaodong, responsible for major military preparations. Zhu Zaidi had no doubt about his talents. During his six years in office, many ministers were able to fulfill their ambitions because of the positive power that changed the declining state of the Ming Dynasty at that time.
3、 Obsessed with beauty, the ending is tragic
As an emperor, the most enviable thing is the supreme power and countless beauties. Under Zhu Zaidi’s series of policy reforms, the Ming Dynasty gradually became vibrant, and people’s lives were stable and prosperous. Without external worries and internal troubles, Zhu Zaidi could naturally put his heart elsewhere. Zhu Zaidi cares about the people, has a humble and benevolent personality, and naturally will not abuse his power to do anything harmful to the world. Therefore, he turned his entertainment to beauty.
Zhu Zaidi started drinking and having fun all day long, living a dissolute life. At that time, he was in his prime, and in order to meet his own needs, he took medication multiple times to entertain himself, immersed in the gentle countryside all day long and unable to extricate himself. Although he was not very involved in political affairs in the later period, his courtiers were brilliant at that time, so even though Zhu Zaidi played around, he did not make any major principled mistakes during his reign.
Due to long-term use of aphrodisiacs and excessive indulgence, his physical condition worsened, and he even stayed in bed for two months to recuperate. Although he made some adjustments and decided to focus on the court again, his physical condition was already extremely poor, and he would feel drowsy as soon as he sat up. Not long after, he passed away due to illness in Qianqing Palace.
Looking back at Zhu Zaidi’s life, it must be said that it was very dramatic. Although he was obsessed with beauty and even sacrificed his life for it, it cannot be denied that he was a wise ruler. It was precisely because of his reforms that the Ming Dynasty lasted for more than 70 years.
During his six-year reign, he pacified the desert and brought peace to the four seas, leading the Ming Dynasty towards prosperity and strength. His achievements cannot be denied, but if he had not died from excessive indulgence, he might have left behind more beautiful names and been praised by future generations. I don’t know what the friends in front of the screen think? Welcome to leave a comment in the comments section and share your opinions.
