Zhao Gao is a well-known historical figure, and the allusion of "referring to a deer as a horse" is well known to everyone.
When everyone hears the word Zhao Gao, the first thing they think of is that he is a great eunuch who brought disaster to the country and the people. He is also the most famous eunuch. The eunuch chaos also started with him. The demise of the Qin Dynasty had a lot to do with him. relationship, even in the eyes of many people, Zhao Gao is the culprit.
In fact, saying that Zhao Gao was an eunuch is really an injustice. This may be a misunderstanding caused by a misreading of history books, or it may be a deliberate misunderstanding in a specific era.
Of course, there is a reason why Zhao Gao is said to be a eunuch, because he was the first eunuch, but an eunuch is by no means a eunuch. History books and articles before the Eastern Han have never said that Zhao Gao was a eunuch.
So, how did Zhao Gao become a "eunuch" from an eunuch?
Zhao Gao was eunuched because of a misreading or deliberate interpretation of "Historical Records".
Regarding Zhao Gao's life experience, "Historical Records. Biography of Meng Tian" records this.
Those who are high in Zhao are alienated from each other. Several of Zhao Gaokun's younger brothers were all born in hidden palaces. Their mothers were tortured and killed, and they were always humble.
This passage tells people that Zhao Gao is a relatively distant member of the Zhao clan. Because his mother had been punished for committing crimes, the Zhao Gao brothers were all born in the "hidden palace" and were destined to live a humble and humble life for generations to come.
"Historical Records. Biography of Li Si" records this.
The second generation said: "Why? The husband is high, so he is also an eunuch."
This passage probably means: What is the reason? Zhao Gao was just a servant serving in the palace. Hu Hai The implication is how could Zhao Gao rebel? These words were Hu Hai's rhetorical question to Li Si in the face of Li Si's advice.
Zhao Gao was eunuched. The problem lies in the interpretation of the words "hidden palace" and "Huan" in .
The "hidden palace" is a place where prisoners are punished or where prisoners live.
The word "Huan" first appeared in Western Zhou Dynasty bronze inscriptions. Some scholars believe that this word already appeared in Oracle Bone Inscriptions . The ancient Chinese character form of "Huan" is Conghu, Congchen, and its original meaning is to be a servant in the house of an emperor or noble. By extension, it has the meaning of official position, learning official affairs, being a slave of a noble, a eunuch, etc.
Today's Chinese vocabulary, "officials", "officials", "officials", etc. all mean to be officials.
As we all know, there were three very serious periods of eunuch chaos in Chinese history, namely the Eastern Han Dynasty, Tang Dynasty and Ming Dynasty.
During the Eastern Han Dynasty, the eunuchs disrupted the government, and there were chaos among the five princes and ten constant servants, which made people and gods angry. In this context, there was a scholar surnamed Liu who hated eunuchs when he was annotating "Historical Records". He also saw that "Historical Records" recorded that Zhao Gao was an eunuch and was born in a hidden palace. He intentionally or unintentionally said that Zhao Gao was an eunuch. Castrate! Note that eunuchs are the later eunuchs. He even explained that Zhao Gao's father was also a eunuch, and Zhao Gao's mother had an affair with someone else and gave birth to Zhao Gao, so Zhao Gao also became a eunuch!
In fact, Sima Qian only recorded some of Zhao Gao's life sporadically in the "Historical Records" such as " The Biography of Li Si" and "The Biography of Meng Tian". Even so, these books did not define Zhao Gao's identity as a "eunuch" in later generations. Later historians searched through the historical documents of the Eastern Han Dynasty, but still did not find any book that clearly pointed out that Zhao Gao's identity was a "eunuch" in later generations.
All eunuchs use eunuchs. It is already a matter of the Eastern Han Dynasty to equate eunuchs with eunuchs of later generations. Regarding this, the "Book of the Later Han Dynasty. Preface to the Biographies of Eunuchs" has a clear record:
All eunuchs use eunuchs, and it is not complicated to equate them with other eunuchs. .
So, how did the "eunuch" appear?
The word "eunuch" appeared even later. During the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, the palace was renamed the Imperial Palace, with eunuchs serving as eunuchs and young eunuchs.In the Ming Dynasty, the power of eunuchs increased day by day, and only the eunuchs with higher status were called "eunuchs". In the Qing Dynasty, people called all eunuchs "eunuchs", and eunuchs became synonymous with eunuchs.
At this point, Zhao Gao, who had long been recognized as a eunuch, followed the wheel of history and was eunuched.
In addition, there is another strong evidence that Zhao Gao is not a eunuch, that is, he is a man with children.
"Historical Records. The Chronicles of the First Emperor of Qin" has a clear record in " The Change of Wangyi Palace":
Peigong has massacred tens of thousands of people at Wuguan, so that people can be selfish, fearing the wrath of the second generation, and punish them. His body is cured of illness and does not appear in court.
The second envoy gave Gao the task of being a thief. Gao was afraid, so Naiyin and his son-in-law Xianyang ordered Yan Le and his younger brother Zhao Chengmou to say: "The superior will not listen to advice. The matter is urgent and I want to blame my clan for the disaster. If I want to take over easily, I will establish the son Ying. The son Ying is thrifty. The people all recorded what he said. "The doctor ordered him to be the internal response, and he deceived him into thinking that there was a big thief. He ordered Le to summon the officials to attack and hunt down Le's mother and put her in a high house.
He sent Yue generals and more than a thousand people to the gate of Wangyi Palace, bound the guards and ordered his servants to shoot, saying: "Thieves have entered here, why don't they stop?" The guard said: "The soldiers in Zhou Lu are very careful. How can thieves dare to enter the palace? "Le Sui then killed the guards, led the officials in, and started shooting. The officials were shocked, and either walked away or blocked them. Those who blocked them often died, and dozens of people died. The doctor ordered him to come in together with Yue, shoot up the curtain and sit on the curtain. The second generation was angry and summoned the left and right, but they were all in panic. There was an eunuch beside him, but he didn't dare to go. The second generation entered the house and said, "Why didn't you sue me? Even this!" The eunuch said, "I dare not speak, so I am safe. I have already killed all the fleas that I have spoken, and how have I been until now?" Shishu said: "One step is arrogant and unruly, and the whole world is on the same side. Each step has its own plan." The second generation said: "Can the prime minister be seen?" Le said: "No." The second generation said : "I would like to have a county as my king." Fu promised. He also said: "I would like to serve as the marquis of 10,000 households." Fu Xu. He said: "I would like to be the head of Guizhou with my wife and compare myself to other princes." Yan Le said: "I was ordered by the prime minister to punish my subordinates for the world. Although my subordinates spoke too much, I dare not retaliate." He ordered his troops to advance. The second commits suicide. I will not translate this text
. Anyone who is interested can read it carefully. The text is very clear. Zhao Gao's son-in-law Xianyang ordered Yan Le to force Hu Hai to commit suicide under Zhao Gao's instruction.
Let me ask you, how can a eunuch have a daughter?
Speaking of this, some people may say that eunuchs can also marry wives and raise children. Wasn't Cao Cao's grandfather a eunuch? Yes.
Actually, there is no need to give an example when Zhao Gao has a daughter. The main purpose is to let everyone understand the historical event of the Wangyi Palace Change.
