Yao became a monk at the age of fourteen, and his dharma name was Daoyan. He should have stayed away from the world of mortals, went to the ancient temple in the mountains, and spent his lonely life chanting and meditating with yellow lanterns. But he happens to be a very restless character, keen on world events, chasing fame and fortune, wandering in the bustling places, and going in and out of the homes of princes and princes.
The Ming Dynasty was in an extremely sensitive historical period. After becoming a monk, Zhu Yuanzhang proclaimed himself emperor, in view of the lessons of the domineering power ministers and fierce competition within the royal family in the Yuan Dynasty, he took two countermeasures, which soon led to the spread of the whole country. One is to kill the hero so that these people will not do evil after his death. In his later years, he was imprisoned in two places, and more than 30 thousand civil servants and soldiers will be killed. The old friends who started with him and made great contributions were almost wiped out. One is wantonly sealing Wang Jianguo, and everywhere sealing his son as king. He has twenty-six sons. Except Zhu Biao, the eldest son, who was made a prince, the other two sons died early, and the other 23 sons all had many vassals. In their own country, they have officials and military guards, just like the little emperor. Zhu Yuanzhang thought that after his death, Prince Zhu Biao succeeded to the throne, sat in the capital, took charge of the central government, and the other brothers kept their own countries and guarded the four sides, so that Zhu's Jiangshan could be as solid as an iron bucket and as stable as a rock. I didn't know that Zhu Biao, who was carefully trained by him, was a short-lived ghost and left before him. In order to avoid disputes among many sons because of their greed for money, Zhu Yuanzhang simply abandoned his sons and made Zhu Biao's eldest son and grandson Zhu Yunli his great-grandson. His father died and his son succeeded him. He can't say it's groundless. He thought that his sons would have nothing to say, but he planted a curse. A battle for the throne is brewing secretly.
It is against this background that Yao met. Judy is the fourth son of Zhu Yuanzhang, and he ranks first, because all three brothers are dead. He is determined and resourceful by nature. In those years when he fought in the country, he made the greatest contribution and gained the highest reputation. He was also highly valued by the ruling and opposition parties, and even Zhu Yuanzhang showed special respect for him. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he was made the Prince of Yan, and Zhu Yuanzhang entrusted him with the important task of eliminating the remnants of the Yuan Dynasty and guarding the northern border.
Yao also heard of the name. When they met, he jokingly asked Yao to make couplets. He made a couplet: what is freezing water in cold weather (that is, the word ice). This is all a word game. Yao is right: it is significant that the mob and the poor king are not the first. Judy got the message and asked him about state affairs. Yao said directly to the suggestion: Your majesty has an extraordinary physique, and his bravery is the best in the world. Now all kings have different opinions, and his grandson is weak. May your majesty take care of himself. If the king can ask the old monk to accompany him to Yan, the old monk will definitely put a white hat on the king.
Adding a white to the word king is the word of the emperor. Judy took him to Beiping as a confidant, but he refused to be an official. He is still wearing a monk's robe and a rosary hanging from his chest. Judy had to let him go, so he specially built a birthday celebration temple for him next to Wang Fu. Since then, he has become a guest of Wang Fu and Judy's confidant adviser.
After Zhu Jun was stupid, Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai, assistant ministers, proposed that the princes should be beheaded first. Soon, many princes were deposed as Shu Ren, and Xiang Wang was so scared that he set himself on fire and died. Frightened, ask Yao for countermeasures. Yao urged him to get up and seize power, and the battle for the throne between uncles and nephews began. This is the famous battle of Jingnan. The battle lasted for three years. Although Yao didn't go to the front, he sent someone to ask him for advice on major battlefield issues such as attack and defense, advance and retreat. He is Judy's main adviser. In the fourth year of Wenjian (A.D. 1402), in June, Judy led the army into Ning and proclaimed himself emperor in July. This is the famous Ming Dynasty Chengzu, because his title is Yongle, so he is also called Yongle Emperor.
At this point, what Yao said about wearing a white hat finally came true. He naturally became Judy's first hero and was awarded the position of doctor and Prince Shao Shi. His name Xiaoguang was also named by Judy at this time. But when Judy talked to him, he didn't call his name, but used Shao Shi's official title to show his respect. Originally, Judy ordered him to stay at home, but he didn't agree. He still lives in a temple at ordinary times. He wore an official uniform and hat when he went to court. After he went out to Korea, he still wore royal robes and maintained his special status as an official and a monk all his life.
In sharp contrast with him, a large number of people assisted Zhu Jun in doing stupid things, such as Qi Tai, Huang Zicheng, Fang Xiaoru and Tie Xuan. In this kind change, because he was always loyal to Zhu Yun, he ended up living and dying. When the imperial power changed hands, it was really difficult for the lieutenants to choose. The fate of these people, as described in the title of this book, is full of danger.
At this time of changing the dynasty, the most embarrassing situation is those who are deeply influenced by Confucianism, take the benevolence, righteousness and morality of the monarch and the minister as the foundation of their lives, and take Tibet as the principle. Leaders who raised flags to rebel, such as Liu Bang, Emperor Wendi of Sui Dynasty, Tang Gaozu, Huang Chao, Zhao Kuangyin, Zhu Yuanzhang and Li Zicheng, were reckless. Winners are kings, losers are bandits, and they give their lives to gamble. Kings of national subjugation, such as, Sun Hao, Chen, Li Yu,,, and so on. There is no choice but to give the country to others. As for their own life and death, they have been martyred, such as Zhu Youjian, but he is the only one for thousands of years. Others resigned themselves to their fate and gave themselves entirely to their new owners. People don't care. Since ancient times, there have only been so-called loyal ministers, and I have never heard of any loyal ministers. No matter who is in power, they are all ploughing the fields and being policemen. Those in power should be more relaxed, they can eat well and live a peaceful life, they are obedient people; Forced by the life of those in power, they rose up and became a mob. Only the soldiers and the crabs, a word of loyalty, like a spell of thought and spirit, firmly control them. It is a basic principle that a minister must follow that one minister does not serve two masters. As for what kind of master this is, it doesn't matter whether it is confused or bright, disabled or violent. Under the rule of this Lord, people are dead or alive, but they don't need to take it to heart. It turns out that the so-called loyalty is only loyalty to the monarch and the upper class, not loyalty to the people and loyalty to the lower class. If ordinary people who are oppressed by tyrants and can't survive dare to make a mess, the liegeman will have to ruthlessly suppress and strangle them. For thousands of years, almost all courtiers have done this, and it seems that only in this way can they be affirmed and praised by official and orthodox historians; If someone shows sympathy for the rebellious people and even responds, that is, rebels and traitors, they will be denied by official and orthodox historiography and criticized by others.
However, this battle for the throne in the Ming Dynasty was a bit of an exception. The two sides who are at loggerheads are originally a family. What can I do for my liegeman? Fang Xiaoru and others only admit the fait accompli and choose to maintain the old owners. At that time, a large number of people made this choice. Only Li Zhi listed the names of ministers in the book "Continued Collection of Books". There are about 200 people with names and surnames, and there are still more than 400 people who have not left their names; According to Gu Yingtai's Chronicle of Ming History, as many as 2,000 people died in Zhu Lian. Because of a weak emperor, so many people gave their lives, which is really thrilling! However, some people have made another choice, that is, to establish new leaders. In addition to Yao, there are many ministers who rely on him. When Judy attacked Nanjing, it was General Li Jinglong who was ordered to crusade against Judy. This is a complete betrayal, but he was not included in the list of traitors in Ming History.
People in the same era were all elites at that time, and the names behind them were not bad, but what happened before death was a trial of heaven and earth. Why? It turns out that even in the same era, the alternative life paths are quite different. In this sense, what we said earlier, being a stable slave only needs slaves, not heroes, is also inaccurate. In any era, it is possible to be both a hero and a vertical axis; Since there is a great sage, there is also a great traitor; This may be a good thing or a bad thing. Different times have created different people; Different people can be made in the same era. The key lies in how we know the times and how to adapt to them.