Qin Shihuang was the first emperor in Chinese history. Because of his outstanding contribution to history, he was called "one emperor through the ages" by later generations. However, for such a great emperor, his birth has become an eternal mystery. Later generations have been arguing about it, and there is no conclusion yet. But Qin Shihuang's other two fathers, "Zhongfu" and "False Father", had names and surnames, and they were both powerful figures in the dynasty. Their names are respectively: Zhongfu Lu Buwei and Fake Father Lao Ai . Lu Buwei was the most powerful prime minister of the Qin Dynasty, while Lao Ai was the beloved lover of Queen Mother Zhao Ji. What is going on?
Eternal Emperor Qin Shihuang
We have already introduced Zhongfu Lu Buwei in the previous article. King Zhuangxiang of Qin Yiren Zichu is the father of Qin Shihuang. Before becoming the prince, he had been working as a proton in Zhao Kingdom . Lu Buwei thought that he was a "rare thing to live in", so he spent a lot of money to support Zi Chu, and gave Zi Chu his beloved concubine Zhao Ji, who was pregnant. Later, Zhao Ji gave birth to Qin Shihuang Ying Zheng . Lu Buwei always thought that Ying Zheng was his child. Therefore, after Ying Zheng became emperor, Lu Buwei called himself "Zhongfu", and Qin Shi Huang always called Lu Buwei "Zhongfu".
What does "Zhongfu" mean? According to "Shiming·Shi Relatives", "The father's younger brother is called Zhongfu... Zhongfu's younger brother is called uncle." In other words, in ancient times, "Zhongfu" refers to the father's eldest brother, and the younger brother of "Zhongfu" is called uncle. This naming is consistent with the ranking of brothers in ancient times: "Bo, Zhong, Shu, Qi". In addition, "Zhongfu" is also the honorific title given by the emperor to the prime minister and important ministers. For example, the famous prime minister Guan Zhong in the Warring States Period assisted Duke Huan of Qi like his biological father, and Duke Huan of Qi called Guan Zhong his father. Lu Buwei made great efforts for Qin Shihuang's father, including Qin Shihuang himself, to establish the prince and establish the throne. Therefore, after Qin Shihuang ascended the throne, he respected Lu Buwei as the prime minister and was known as "Zhongfu". In addition to Lu Buwei, Qin Shihuang also appointed Mao Jiao, the most famous "upright man" at that time, as Zhongfu, and "Jue Zhizhi as Shangqing."
From this point of view, "Zhongfu" is an honorific title given by the emperor to the prime minister, and he and his father are not the same concept at all. Lu Buwei dared to call himself Zhongfu, on the one hand because his contribution was indeed great, and on the other hand because he believed in his heart that he was Qin Shihuang's father. Even so, he did not dare to usurp the title of father. Because Qin Shihuang's father was also an emperor (king), if Lu Buwei dared to directly claim that he was Qin Shihuang's father, it would be a serious crime of conspiring to usurp the throne, which would lead to the annihilation of the nine tribes. Lu Buwei was just a prime minister. Even if he was really the biological father of Qin Shihuang, he would not dare to be presumptuous. Therefore, it is very appropriate for him to call himself Zhongfu, the second father.
Qin Shihuang reviewed thousands of troops
This is the reason behind Lu Buwei Zhongfu. So, what happened to Lao Ai’s fake father? This has to start with Lu Buwei. After the death of King Qin Zhuangxiang of Chu, Zhao Ji's son Ying Zheng succeeded to the throne, which was later King Zheng of Qin . At that time, Qin Wangzheng was only a thirteen-year-old child, so the state affairs were all in the hands of Lu Buwei. At this time, Zhao Ji, who had been promoted to Queen Mother but was still young (probably no more than 30 years old), could not bear the long night, so she rekindled her old relationship with Lu Buwei.
But Lu Buwei is a businessman and politician after all. He is reluctant to let go of the power in his hands and everything he has now. Although his old relationship with Zhao Ji has rekindled, he is also well aware of the danger behind it. Although Qin Wangzheng is still young and can't do anything about the ambiguity between him and his mother, there will be a time when he grows up, and by then he will die without a burial place. Coupled with the fact that he was old and frail, he could not satisfy the needs of Zhao Ji, who was in full swing of desire. Therefore, Lu Buwei was eager to get rid of Zhao Ji's entanglement, and was not even willing to continue with Zhao Ji at all. There are plenty of women in the world, why do we have to get involved with the Queen Mother and risk beheading? So, he gave his protégé, Lao Ai, who was extremely powerful and powerful in combat, to Zhao Ji.
Lu Buwei introduced Lao Ai to Zhao Ji. Zhao Ji was very satisfied, and then asked Lao Ai to enter the palace as a fake eunuch to serve Zhao Ji personally. These two people may have been dazzled by the so-called "love" and indulged in sexual pleasure in the palace. They didn't know what night it was, and then Zhao Ji became pregnant. It is a huge scandal for the Queen Mother to be pregnant as a widow. Zhao Ji was a little panicked, fearing that her son Ying Zheng would not be able to accommodate the child in her belly, so she told her son that she was not feeling well, and a divination said that she had to stay in the palace outside to help her body recover. Naturally, the King of Qin would not object, so Zhao Ji took Lao Ai to the palace in Yongcheng (now Fengxiang County, Baoji City).
Zhao Ji and the fake eunuch Lao Ai
The emperor is far away from the sky. Zhao Ji and Lao Ai, who are far away from Xianyang , are even more lawless and live a real life as a couple. They gave birth to two sons one after another. At this time, Ying Zheng was only thinking about how to unify the world, but he knew nothing about it. However, Lao Ai's ambition grew bigger and bigger with Zhao Ji's connivance. She relied on Zhao Ji's favor to dominate all day long. Not only was she named the Marquis of Changxin, but she also had control over the entire Shanyang County. He actually named Taiyuan County "Lao Ai Kingdom", and there were thousands of servants, children, and guests in his family. His disobedience began to show signs.
Zhao Ji, who was deeply in love, was deeply bewitched by Lao Ai and even allowed him to participate in political affairs. Once Lao Ai gained power, he became increasingly arrogant and arrogant. One day, Lao Ai drank with the noble ministers. After a few glasses of wine, a few people started to quarrel. In desperation, Lao Ai shocked everyone with one sentence: "I am King Qin's false father (a bad term for stepfather, adoptive father, and adoptive father in ancient times)! Who are you, and you dare to fight me!" Some ministers used this incident to reveal to Ying Zheng that Lao Ai was not actually a eunuch, and had given birth to two sons with the Queen Mother Zhao. At this time, Ying Zheng seemed to smell the danger. If Lao Ai murdered himself, wouldn't it be possible for their children to succeed him?
In 239 BC, when King Qin came to power, he was ready to take action against Lao Ai. Lao Ai also realized that the danger was coming, so she decided to take the lead and stole Zhao Ji's jade seal , officially committing rebellion. However, at this time, Ying Zheng was no longer the young boy he used to be, and he was wiped out effortlessly. In the end, Lao Ai was tortured to pieces with a chariot, and his and Zhao Ji's two sons were also put into sacks and beaten to death by Ying Zheng. As for Zhao Ji, after being driven out of Xianyang, she was invited back by Ying Zheng after being persuaded by her direct minister Mao Jiao, so she was able to enjoy her old age in peace. Lu Buwei was also dismissed from the prime minister because of Lao Ai, and was suggested to commit suicide on the way to the fief.
Qin Shihuang’s achievements are the same as those of the Great Wall.
So far, Qin Shihuang’s father-in-law and false father did not end well. This is all because they are greedy for beauty and greedy for power, and they are only to blame! From this, the King of Qin firmly held the royal power in his hands, and then began to plot the world, eventually destroying the six countries and unifying the world.
