朱高芝像
In July of the 22nd year of Yongle of Ming Dynasty (AD 1424), the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Ming Chengzu Zhu Di, died of illness on the way back from the Mongolian tribe of the Northern Expedition. Muchuan (now part of Sandaogou Forest Farm, Duolun County, Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia).
In August, the crown prince Zhu Gaochi ascended the throne, and he was called Ming Renzong in history and changed to Yuan Hongxi.
Ming Renzong Zhu Gaochi was generous and benevolent, careful and conscientious in doing things, and was a rare and accomplished Ming master among the emperors of the Ming Dynasty.
He pardoned the old ministers of the Jianwen Dynasty, rehabilitated many wronged prisons, abolished the harsh government of the previous dynasty, rested with the people, and created a flourishing situation of "rule of benevolence".
It is a pity that Ming Renzong passed away after nine months of reign. He was only forty-eight years old at the time. He was passed down to the eldest son Zhu Zhanji, who was called Ming Xuanzong in history.
Ming Renzong is in his prime of life, what caused him to die in a hurry?
The record of Ming Renzong's death in Ming History is relatively simple: "(May) Gengchen, the emperor did not hesitate, and sent the envoy to call the crown prince in Nanjing. Xin Si gradually became the emperor, and the edict passed on as the crown prince. It’s the day, He collapsed in Yin'an Temple, and he was forty to eight years old.”
On May 11th, Ming Renzong Zhu Gaochi returned from the dynasty and contracted the disease. On the 12th, when he was critically ill, he passed down the crown prince and died in Yin'an Temple that day.
What's the disease? What is the cause of death? The "History of the Ming Dynasty" is unclear, and the "Records of Ming Renzong" does not mention a word.
Regarding the violent death of Ming Renzong, there are limited historical records, and there are still divergent opinions.
In general, there are four theories. One is death from sudden illness, the other is death from lightning strike, the third is death from poisoning, and the fourth is death from excessive indulgence.
The phrase "died from sudden illness" is mostly speculated by modern historians. According to Ming Tongjian records: Ming Renzong Zhu Gaochi was obese, slow to move, and could not ride and shoot arrows. He needs someone's support to walk, and he is very likely to have sudden cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as cerebral hemorrhage and myocardial infarction.
"Lightning strikes to death", "Poisoning to death" and other expressions can be found in the book "Bing Yi Man Ji" by the Hanlin editor Lu Bian [yì] during the Zhengde period: "Emperor Renzong died very quickly, suspected Lei Zhen, suspected that the palace man wanted to poison Zhang by mistake..."
Ming Renzong died suddenly, but he had no symptoms before. At that time, the palace said he was struck by lightning and died.
There are also legends that at that time someone tried to poison Empress Zhang and killed the emperor by mistake.
Lu Bian once asked an old eunuch, and he said: "Neither is the case."
None of these statements is correct. Emperor Renzong has a "yin syndrome."
Regarding "death by poisoning", the great talent Zhu Zhishan said in the "Wild Records" as if he had seen it: "Concubine Renzong invited her to live in the palace on her birthday in the palace. In the same way, the concubine enters the queen, and she does not drink right there..."
Ming Renzong’s Empress Zhang celebrated her birthday, and his concubine Guo came to the Queen’s Palace to celebrate her birthday, and Emperor Renzong also came to join in the fun.
Guo made a toast to the queen. The queen didn't drink it immediately. Renzong said, "Do you suspect it is poisonous?" So he picked up the cup and drank it.
Guo Fei was shocked. It was too late to stop her. Soon after, the emperor was poisoned and died. Guo Fei committed suicide in fear of crime. At that time, there was a thunder and lightning outside.
There is another version of "Poisoned and Died".
"History of Ming Dynasty" records: "The first emperor (referring to Zhu Gaochi) has not yet reached the deadline for his reign and abandoned all his officials. The reason for the conquering is that all the young men are stunned, and the prescription of gold and stone is also caused by illness."
Some treacherous and evil villains offered "Golden Stone" medicine, which caused the emperor to be poisoned.
The saying “to die by excessive indulgence” originated from the record of Ming History. Before Zhu Gaochi died, the minister Li Shimian made a memorial: “This is also true for those who save people’s strength; Politicians do this; the so-called Wuzheng scholars do this too!"
These words are too harsh, especially "to be addicted to desire", clearlyApparently ridiculing the emperor's excessive indulgence, Zhu Gaochi was furious, "Summoned to the Bandian Temple, right unyielding. Ordered the samurai to pounce on the gold melon, threatened to break three, dragged out a few deaths." Almost killed.
Zhu Gaochi, who was still angry, said to Xia Yuanji: "Shi Mianting humiliated me!"
Zhu Gaochi died that night. It's not so much to die for indulgence, it is better to be killed by the minister.
There is also a saying that Ming Renzong Zhu Gaochi was assassinated by the prince Zhu Zhanji. Zhu Zhanji is already the heir to the throne. There is no need to bear his father’s notoriety. Furthermore, he was in Nanjing at that time and he was not there. Beijing, therefore, said that this argument cannot stand scrutiny.
