When it comes to the term "eunuch", everyone is familiar with it. eunuchs are the "product" of our feudal era. There are many famous eunuchs in history, including " Zhao Gao " that stirred up the Qin royal family, " Zheng He " that voyages to the West, " Cai Lun " that made paper, " Wei Zhongxian " that was named "Nine Thousand Years"...
eunuchs, also known as "eunuchs". According to historical records, the earliest eunuchs appeared in the palaces of the Xia and Shang dynasties, but at that time they were not all eunuchs. They were originally just slaves responsible for the miscellaneous affairs of the palace.
What is the reason why all eunuchs in later generations became eunuchs?
When "fake father" got eunuch
According to "Records of the Grand Historian: Biography of Lu Buwei", Qin Prime Minister Lu Buwei Because he was worried that he would be murdered by the King of Qin , he would be murdered, so he thought of a trick to "stricken waters from the east" and recommended the talented Lao (lào) Liu Ai (ǎi) to Zhao Ji .
Zhao Ji first heard about Lao Ai’s ability was very novel. She sent someone to watch it on the spot and found that the rumors were true, so Zhao Ji, who was in the deep palace, wanted to take Lao Ai for herself.
But Lao Ai is a man. If he wants to enter and exit the harem without any obstacles, he must be a castrator, but Zhao Ji doesn't want to castrate Lao Ai anymore.
Before Zhao Ji could think of a solution, Lao Ai was reported to be imprisoned, which made Zhao Ji anxious.
At this time, Lu Buwei gave Zhao Ji an opinion, "You ask Lao Ai to pretend to be castrated and then go to the palace where he works to ask him, which can not only block other people's words, but also bring people into the palace."
When Zhao Ji heard this, she was immediately happy. She called the palace servant to find the official who was in charge of the castration. She first asked the officials about something, and then indirectly mentioned Lao Ai, who was about to be castrated.
How could the official not hear what Zhao Ji meant? Although he was panicked, if he did not agree, he would probably not be able to get out of this palace.
The official was in a dilemma. He heard Zhao Ji say there was a reward. The official lowered his eyes and pondered for a while, then saluted Zhao Ji, saying that he would definitely do the castration of Lao Ai without any leakage. Zhao Ji rewarded the officials with satisfaction.
Lao Ai's castration was carried out by this official himself. The official asked the others to leave, leaving only his confidant. The official told Lao Ai that Zhao Ji was lying on the bed, pulled out his beard, and told him to pay attention to his image, "Don't expose it, harm others and yourself."
Lao Ai thanked the officials, and the officials asked his confidant to take Lao Ai out. After Lao Ai took a few steps, he pretended to be himself, becoming pale and sweating profusely. Everyone showed a pity expression. Lao Ai didn't care. He supported the officials next to him and asked the residence to go step by step. After Lao Ai could work, Zhao Ji sent someone to take him to the palace and secretly committed adultery with him.
Lu Buwei had told Lao Ai some of Zhao Ji's preferences before. After spending a few days with Zhao Ji, Lao Ai held this woman firmly in his hands. Not long after, Zhao Ji became pregnant.
This incident scared Zhao Ji. A queen mother in the harem suddenly became pregnant. This was a fatal matter. Not only did she die, but Lao Ai also wanted to die.
Zhao Jisi thought about it and decided to leave the palace. But there must be a legitimate reason for to leave the palace, and Zhao Ji turned her attention to fortune-telling.
Zhao Ji invited Fengchang and said that she had been unwell recently and wanted to tell her a fortune, but her words revealed that she did not want to stay in the palace.
Fengchang understood what Zhao Ji meant and pretended to give Zhao Ji a divination, and said that Zhao Ji needed to move out of the palace to live. When the King of Qin learned about this, he felt strange, but he didn't think much about it. He came to visit Zhao Ji several times and asked her to move to the palace in Yongdi to live.
Zhao Ji, who left the palace, was like a free bird, soaring in the vast sky, and Lao Ai didn't have to be careful here, he gradually exposed his ambitions.
Lao Ai was unwilling to be a male favorite. He repeatedly blew the wind on Zhao Ji, hoping that Zhao Ji and the King of Qin would openly claim an official position.
Zhao Ji loved Lao Ai very much. With his pregnancy, he was even more "obedient" to Lao Ai, so he said to the King of Qin, "Lao Ai is thoughtful in everything and wants to be granted an official position."
Although the King of Qin felt that it was inappropriate, he still sealed Lao Ai's " Changxinhou " for his mother's request and rewarded Shanyang as his fief to Lao Ai.
Lao Ai was still afraid at first, but as Zhao Ji grew up, her energy was deprived, and she gradually handed over the affairs of the harem to Lao Ai as the decision. Slowly, Lao Ai controlled the entire harem. Seeing that Zhao Ji and the King of Qin were not dissatisfied, he became more and more courageous, and actually renamed Taiyuan County in Hexi to "Lao Ai Country".
Lao Ai's reputation became increasingly popular. There were thousands of slaves and guests in his family, and there were many people coming to seek official positions. Lao Ai could even make decisions on major affairs in the court.
The greater the power in Lao Ai's hands, the more arrogant he is. Once at a banquet with ministers, Lao Ai had a dispute with others. Lao Ai, who was drunk, angrily scolded, "I am the fake father of the King of Qin! You are so humble that you dare to disrespect me?"
Fake father means "stepfather". As soon as these words came out, the person who scolded Lao Ai stopped arguing, and called a slave to drive straight to the palace of the King of Qin.
When the Qin King heard this, he angrily slapped the bench and stood up, but he swallowed the words. If this matter was revealed, then rumors about Zhao Ji and him must have been flying all over the sky again. The Qin King resisted his anger and called the trusted eunuch to ask him to investigate the matter.
After sobering up, Lao Ai knew that he had caused a big disaster and was worried that he would be killed. He ran to Zhao Ji's palace and cried and begged her for protection.
Zhao Ji was holding their child and coaxing her. Seeing her lover Lao Ai’s fear and fear, she immediately comforted him, “I will definitely plead for you.”
Although Lao Ai received Zhao Ji's guarantee, he was still afraid. After he knew that someone had reported to him with the King of Qin, he immediately attracted guests from the palace to discuss, "Since you are dead, you should also try it!"
Lao Ai decided to launch a coup. He took advantage of Zhao Ji's absence and stole the empress dowager's jade seal and mobilized county soldiers and palace guards to launch a coup in the Qin Dynasty's Qi (qí) Palace, which is known in history as the "Qinian Palace Change".
This battle ended in Lao Ai's failure. The King of Qin sentenced Lao Ai to "break the car", took the clan forever, and put his two children in a sack and threw them to death.
, and Zhao Ji was ordered to be driven out of Xianyang and moved to the Bèi Yang Palace in Yongdi. Many ministers pleaded for Zhao Ji, but they were all executed by the King of Qin. It was not until the King of Qin analyzed the pros and cons of the King of Qin that the King of Qin welcomed Zhao Ji back to Xianyang.
Lao Ai’s affairs made the King of Qin thoroughly investigate the eunuchs in the palace. After the death of the Qin King, the eunuch Zhao Gao invaded the court. Liu Bang learned from the lessons of the Qin Dynasty and suppressed the eunuchs more severely. From then on, all eunuchs became eunuchs.
However, when Northern and Northern Dynasties , Northern Wei 's Empress Feng once again led the "eunuch" into the room.
fake "bodhisattva"
This Empress Feng is talking about " Feng Run ". She is the second queen of Emperor Xiaowen of Wei Yuan Hong , and is also the niece of Emperor Wei Wencheng Empress Tuoba Jun (later known as Empress Feng ).
Tuoba Hong was raised by Empress Dowager Feng. When he was 10 years old, the Supreme Emperor Tuoba Hong suddenly passed away, and Empress Dowager Feng ruled behind the scenes for the second time. Tuoba Hong rarely has self-sighted views on the government affairs, and most of them obey the will of Empress Dowager Feng.
After Tuoba Hong grew up, Empress Dowager Feng returned the power to Tuoba Hong under pressure, but Empress Dowager Feng extended his hand to Tuoba Hong's harem.
Tuoba Hong
Empress Dowager Feng let two nieces in the family enter the palace, and Feng Run is one of them. Tuoba Hong met Feng Run a long time ago, and after she entered the palace, she gained love from Tuoba Hong.
But the good times were not constant. Feng Run suddenly got sick and was sent back to her parents' home to recuperate. Feng Run was depressed and she knew that she had hundreds of millions of beauties, and her departure would inevitably make others like Tuoba Hong. Feng Run was depressed and didn't know who to tell her.
Feng Run's illness was diagnosed by a man named "Gao Bodhisattva". After a long time, Feng Run confides him a few thoughts, and Gao Bodhisattva comforts him sincerely. After a while, Feng Run felt that Gao Bodhisattva was someone who understood her, so he developed a good impression of Gao Bodhisattva.
According to the description in "The Palace of the Complete History", the Feng sisters are "bright and beautiful in their flowers", and Feng Run is like a delicate flower, and every glance and smile is very tender.
Feng Run and Bodhisattva Gao quickly fell in love. After Feng Run recovered from illness, Tuoba Hong sent someone to take Feng Run back to the palace.
On one side is wealth and wealth, and on the other side is lover. Feng Run didn't think too much about it. She thought of her aunt, Empress Dowager Feng, who thought she was the next powerful Empress Dowager Feng. If she stood at the top of power, who could stop her from having a male favor?
Feng Run is ambitious, but she did not reveal it.
When I saw Tuoba Hong again, Feng Run's eyes turned red in an instant, and one drop after another of crystal tears fell from her beautiful face. Feng Run cried so hard that the pear blossoms were raining, and his sweet voice told Tuoba Hong about his sadness.
Tuoba Hong felt very distressed and agreed to Feng Run's request. Feng Run didn't take it seriously when he saw that his sister became the queen and kept provoking their relationship in Tuoba Hong's ears. In the end, Tuoba Hong changed Feng Run to the queen and ignored other concubines in the harem for her.
Tuoba Hong is devoted to the government. He often goes out to war, and Feng Run and other Tuoba Hong left, and then he hangs out with Gao Bodhisattva without restraint.
Taihe Twenty-one, Tuoba Hong went on a war again, and Feng Run and Gao Bodhisattva were singing in the bedroom every night.
On this day, Feng Run's mother came to the palace to find her and mentioned her brother's marriage. "Although Princess Peng Cheng is a second-hand married woman, her identity is at least matched with my son."
Feng Run responded and immediately asked Princess Pengcheng to ask her what she meant. When Princess Peng Cheng knew that she wanted to fake Feng Run's younger brother Feng Su, she refused to nod.
Feng Run scolded her angrily and forced Princess Pengcheng to marry.
Princess Pengcheng brought his slaves to Tuoba Hong's military camp overnight, crying and begging him to make decisions for himself, "Feng Su is a playboy with a low character and knowledge. As the queen's younger brother, he did not persuade the queen, but instead let the queen be obscene in the harem! My sister will not marry until she dies!"
Princess Pengcheng's words were like a thunderclap, smashing into Tuoba Hong's heart.
Tuoba Hong was so angry that he vomited blood, "Check! Check! Check it for me!"
Almost everyone in the palace knew about Feng Run and Bodhisattva Gao. After Tuoba Hong knew everything, he was so angry that he couldn't stand steadily. He gasped and ordered Bodhisattva Gao to be killed.
When Tuoba Hong saw Feng Run again, he felt that the person in front of him was very unfamiliar. Feng Run knelt at Tuoba Hong's feet and admitted his mistake.
Tuoba Hong couldn't bear to see her crying, but when he thought that Feng Run was not only dirty in the harem, but also witchcraft with her biological mother, he cursed himself for being sick and could not stand the pain, Tuoba Hong took a last look at Feng Run, then turned around and left, and said, "I am no longer ruthless to you."
Tuoba Hong thought about Empress Feng and Empress Dowager Feng did not depose Feng Run's position as Queen. Two years later, when Tuoba Hong was dying, he was worried that Feng Run would interfere in the government affairs, so he ordered her to be sentenced to death.
When Feng Run heard this order in the palace, he stood up like crazy, pointed at Wang Yuanxiang in front of him and scolded him angrily, refusing to commit suicide. Wang Yuanxiang didn't say much, waved his hand and asked the eunuch behind him to hold Feng Run, spread Feng Run's mouth and poured poisonous wine into his throat.
Feng Run was released and wanted to pick his throat and spit out poisonous wine, but it was too late and he died of poisonous death.
"play" the upper rank
This eunuch is different from the first two. At the beginning, the eunuch just wanted to go to the palace to play with the emperor and get a small official, but the emperor did not take the throne seriously, which led to the opportunity for later generations to take advantage of it.
This fake eunuch is called " Liu Keming ". He has been smart since childhood. He learned that Tang Jingzong has no intention of political affairs and likes fun, so he wants to go to the palace to play with him and can get a palace job.
But a man enters the palace either to get fame and fortune or become an eunuch or to be a castrated eunuch. Liu Keming knew that he did not have the ability to get fame and fortune, but he did not want to be castrated. After a few thoughts, Liu Keming decided to bribe the palace servants and let him sneak into the palace.
Tang Jingzong likes to have fun and has reached a crazy situation. He would come up with different ways to play every day. He also asked a civilian named "Xu Zhongxin" to break into the bath hall, and even a major incident occurred in which the dyeing ward entered the Youyintai Gate.
These things did not make Emperor Jingzong of Tang reflect on him. He still did his own thing and immersed in fun every day.
After Liu Keming sneaked into the palace, he often accompanied Emperor Jingzong of Tang Cuju , and also proposed different ways of playing for Emperor Jingzong of Tang, which gradually gained the love and trust of Emperor Jingzong of Tang.
Emperor Jingzong of Tang asked Liu Keming to think of some new things. After Liu Keming inquired about it, he got a new story about "fighting the night fox", so he told him to Emperor Jingzong of Tang.
At this time, Emperor Jingzong of Tang was only in his teenage years and was not skilled in hunting skills. Liu Keming said with a compliment, "With me here, I will definitely make Your Majesty return with a full load."
Emperor Jingzong of Tang was very entertained and immediately asked someone to go out of the palace to hunt.
Liu Keming made preparations before entering the palace. Although he was not a top-notch player in horse riding and hunting, he was smart and asked someone to prepare well in advance at the hunting ground. As expected, after Emperor Jingzong of Tang returned with a full load, he rewarded and praised Liu Keming.
Liu Keming relied on the power of Emperor Jingzong of Tang and acted rampantly in the palace. One day, Liu Keming was watching the concubines of Emperor Jingzong of the Tang Dynasty in the palace garden, and ugly thoughts arose in his heart.
Liu Keming is not a real eunuch. He looked at the beautiful concubines in the garden, and the desire in his heart was ready to move. He stood in a hidden place, like a fly that could not see the light, greedily staring at the people in the distance.
In Liu Keming's opinion, Emperor Jingzong of Tang was just born in the royal family. He had fun every day and never paid attention to political affairs. The court had already had a quarrel inside and outside. Liu Keming boldly thought that these concubines could not meet Emperor Jingzong of Tang several times a year, let alone be favored. It would be nice if he could taste it.
The idea made Liu Ke unable to sleep tomorrow and night, but he was worried that if he was reported by his concubines, he would be dead.
Faced with the threat of death, Liu Keming suppressed his restless heart, but his identity often saw concubines. Looking at his flower-like face, Liu Keming felt as if thousands of ants crawled into his heart, which made him feel uncomfortable.
Liu Keming thought for a few days and saw a concubine of Emperor Jingzong of Tang again, he made a decision.
On the same day, Emperor Jingzong of Tang was intrigued by the night fox and asked someone to leave the palace. Liu Keming bowed his head and followed him, but was stopped by Emperor Jingzong of Tang, "You don't have to go."
Liu Keming's legs became weak and he almost fell to the ground. He muttered to himself: Could it be that Emperor Jingzong of Tang found out that I was ill-behaved?
Before Liu Keming could think of a word, Emperor Jingzong of Tang smiled and said, "Let you see what I gain."
Liu Keming swallowed, followed the words of Emperor Jingzong of Tang, and praised Emperor Jingzong of Tang and left.
and other night fell, and Liu Keming sneaked into the concubine's bedroom in the dark, forcibly invaded the people, and threatened the concubine not to speak out, otherwise he would let Emperor Jingzong of Tang kill her.
The concubine who cried and red-eyed recognized Liu Keming and knew that he was a celebrity in front of the emperor, and dared not say anything.
After Liu Keming succeeded, he became even more unscrupulous and even regarded the harem as his own. Several times he was caught by Emperor Jingzong of Tang, Liu Keming explained without panic, "It's about to do things for me."
Tang Jingzong did not doubt that he was there, and he also asked Liu Keming to accompany him to play. Until one time, Emperor Jingzong of Tang did not call Liu Keming with a smile as usual, which made Liu Keming scared.
Liu Keming was worried that he would be killed by Emperor Jingzong of Tang, so he found a trustworthy eunuch and decided to kill Emperor Jingzong of Tang, and they turned over to become emperors.
In December of the second year of Baoli, after Emperor Jingzong of Tang beat the night fox back to the palace, he invited Liu Keming, Xu Wenduan and others to kick Cuju. After the end, he called Shi Dingkuan and others to drink and have fun.
Liu Keming's heart was hanging in his throat. The sky was getting darker. When he saw Emperor Jingzong of Tang go to change his clothes, he felt that this was a good opportunity. He blew out the candle and stepped forward to suffocate Emperor Jingzong of Tang to death. Then, a fake edict was sent to the Hanlin Bachelor's Lu Sui into the palace to recruit, allowing King Jiang Li Wu to succeed, and Liu Keming and others took power behind the scenes.
But their approach was discovered. Privy Councilors Wang Shoucheng and Lieutenant Liang Shouqian led the imperial guards to attack Liu Keming and killed Li Wu.
Liu Keming had never seen such a scene. He was so scared that his legs were weak, but at this time he could not escape from this magnificent palace. Liu Keming knew that his crime was enough to be punished. There happened to be a well next to him, and Liu Keming walked to the edge of the well.
Liu Keming lowered his eyes and looked at the bottomless well. His ears were the sound of the imperial guards fighting. Liu Keming closed his eyes in pain and jumped down. The calm well water was smashed and splashed, causing waves.
Searching Liu Keming's imperial guards came here and saw the person floating in the well. He narrowed his eyes and identified his clothes, asked someone to salvage them, and then called someone to find Wang Shoucheng.
The dead corpse was indeed Liu Keming, but his crimes were so great that the body was finally displayed (" corpse-killing ": a type of punishment), which made everyone take it as a warning. All other accomplices were beheaded and all their property in the family were confiscated.
References
[1] Baidu Encyclopedia Lao Ai Lao Ai Rebellion Zhao Ji
[2] Baidu Encyclopedia Gao Bodhisattva Feng Run Tuoba Hong
[3] Baidu Encyclopedia Liu Keming
[4] Baidu Encyclopedia Eunuch
[5] "New Book of Tang·Volume 8·Brand of the Eighth" "New Book of Tang·Biography"
