Anecdote of the Fifth Queen Mother

Chapter 8 Queen Mother Hu (2)
When Emperor Xuanwu heard that Hu Chenghua had given birth to a son who could succeed him, his joy was beyond description.He used to suffer from the loss of two princes. Today, when Hu Chenghua gave birth to a son, this anxiety is gone, leaving only joy. How could he not love the mother and son more!Therefore, he wanted to issue an imperial edict to reward Hu Chenghua.On the day of the birth, an edict came: "Enter Hu Chenghua as a concubine."

Emperor Xuanwu loved his newborn son even more.First give him the name Yuanxu.Then he carefully selected breast insurance for him. The first condition of these breast insurance is: "a good family and a suitable child".In order to prevent Yuanxu from accidents, Emperor Xuanwu took special protection measures: Empress Gao has no sons to inherit the throne, so it is hard to say whether she will be jealous, hostile, and have misconducts towards Yuanxu.Although Hu Chonghua is a biological mother, it is not certain whether the old rules of the harem will force her to go to the road of drowning, so in order to prevent accidents, a special edict "raises Yuanxu in another palace, and the queen and Chonghua's concubines will not be able to caress her." "("Wei Shu" Volume [-] "The Queen's Biography · Queen Mother Hu").

Under the careful feeding of Rubao, Yuan Xu looks smart and cute, and Emperor Xuanwu is overjoyed by it.When he was three years old, Xuanwu intended to establish the second prince early, so in October of this year, he ordered to change the Yuan Dynasty, changing the fifth year of Yongping to the first year of Yanchang, and then established Yuan as the prince.With this order, the women in the harem waited with their heads raised, and the important officials of the imperial court also looked forward. He (she) wanted to see what would happen to Hu Chonghua.Something unexpected happened.After Li Yuanxuan became the prince this time, he did not bestow the death of his mother Hu Chonghua. This move was tantamount to announcing that the palace rules left by the ancestors of the Northern Wei Dynasty were abolished.This shackle was finally broken by Hu Chonghua!For this, the women in the harem (not including Empress Gao) applauded in unison, and the ministers of the DPRK and China stared at it.The women in the harem admired Hu Chonghua's luck and were sincerely happy that they were not threatened by the shackles; the courtiers admired Emperor Xuanwu's decisiveness and courage.Without the courage of the emperor, even if they were dissatisfied, it would be difficult to abolish it instantly.But there are also staunch opponents, and she is Empress Gao who rules the Six Palaces.

Empress Gao was the daughter of Gao Yan, younger brother of Empress Wen Zhao, and the niece of Situ Gao Zhao.Because of its appearance, it was brought into the palace by Emperor Xuanwu.He was a nobleman at the beginning, gave birth to a son who died young, and gave birth to Princess Jiande, who was promoted to the position of queen.After this person entered the palace, he was very respected by Emperor Xuanwu, and she was "sexually jealous", so since she entered the palace, "the palace people want to enter the imperial court" ("Wei Shu" Volume [-] "Empress Biography · Empress Gao") ).She has become a person who exclusively favors and dominates the world.However, Hu Chenghua happened to come.Since she entered the palace, Emperor Xuanwu favored her, but left the queen aside, and received a cold reception from falling out of favor.Empress Gao couldn't swallow this breath, so she looked for an opportunity to slander the emperor, but Emperor Xuanwu, who had become infatuated with Hu Chenghua, ignored the empress' slander and let him go with the wind, instead favoring Hu Chenghua even more.Empress Gao suppressed the anger and waited for the opportunity to retaliate.When Hu Chenghua's belly swelled, Empress Gao secretly turned her anger into joy, and she also silently prayed for the heaven to give Hu Chenghua a son. In this way, no matter how capable Hu Chenghua is, why would he still dare to disobey the palace rules?As one wished, Hu Chenghua gave birth to a son Yuanxu. Empress Gao was surprised. She thought that Hu Chenghua's end had finally come.In order to send Hu Chenghua to the west as soon as possible, Empress Gao and her uncle Gao Zhao repeatedly persuaded Emperor Xuanwu to bestow Hu Chenghua to death in accordance with the ancestral system.That's all, what Empress Gao couldn't tolerate the most was: Emperor Xuanwu actually abolished the palace regulations publicly, and did not bestow Hu Chonghua to death after Li Yuanxu became the prince.She once expressed her objection to Emperor Xuanwu, but she was only a queen after all, far worse than Queen Mother Feng.Therefore, her opinion could only fall on Emperor Xuanwu's ears.Anger and hatred made the queen determined to do everything possible to put Hu Chonghua to death.

In the first month of Dingsi in the fourth year of Yanchang (515 A.D.), Emperor Xuanwu, who was only 33 years old, died in Shiqian Hall.How could such a golden opportunity be lost? Empress Gao, after moaning and crying a few times and shedding a few tears, immediately used her power to rule the Six Palaces to deploy troops to send Hu Chonghua to the west, but ended A long-cherished wish.However, Empress Gao did not get her wish.Because she was a little hasty, and she was murderous, and everyone knew that she had Sima Zhao's heart.However, there were some people who were against Empress Gao, eunuch Liu Teng, Zuo concubine Hou Gang, servant leader Yu Zhong, prince Taifu Cui Guang and others decided to protect Hu Chonghua immediately after they learned of Empress Gao's plot to harm Hu Chonghua. And put her in a relatively tight place.After they conveyed the plan to Hu Chonghua, of course Hu Chonghua agreed, so she followed the plan.It made it difficult for Queen Gao to attack.

Hiding is just a passive way of self-protection, how could Hu Chonghua be willing to go on like this.Besides, Empress Gao is cruel and merciless, if she is not eliminated, it will be a disaster.Hu Chonghua decided to deal with him in his own way, and he must put Queen Gao to death.However, Empress Gao is the lord of the six palaces, and her uncle Gao Zhao is leading the army outside, so it is really difficult to do anything.Thinking of Gao Zhao, Hu Chonghua couldn't help but shudder.

Gao Zhao, initials Wen, brother of Empress Dowager Wen Zhao.The Gao family is a distinguished family.His father, Gao Yang, and his uncle, Gao Chengxin, defected from Goryeo during the reign of Gaozu in the Northern Wei Dynasty. His father worshiped General Liwei and He Jianzi, and his uncle worshiped General Mingwei.Soon after, Gaozu Naqimei entered the palace and was honored as Empress Wen Zhao.The Gao family became prominent.Empress Wen Zhao gave birth to a son who took the throne as Emperor Xuanwu.After Gao Biao's death, Emperor Xuanwu recalled his uncle's love, and specially ordered Gao Zhao and others to be given important positions. He made Gao Zhao the Duke of Pingyuan County, and his younger brother Gao Xian was named Duke of Chengcheng County.Soon, Gao Zhao shot again for Shangshu Zuopu, led the Ministry of Officials, and Jizhou Dazhongzheng.Later, Gao Zhao married Princess Gaoping, aunt of Emperor Xuanwu, and moved to Shang Shuling.Gao Zhao, who jumped to an important position by relying on his nepotism, "has no relatives, but has many cliques. Those who adhere to him will be promoted in ten months, and those who betray him will be punished with serious crimes."Wang Yang of the North Sea was on top of it, slandering him, and he was given death.He also persuaded Emperor Xuanwu in the name of defending against the irregularities of the kings. As a result, the kings were "almost imprisoned together".Empress Shun's sudden collapse in the harem and Prince Chang's sudden death in court are all related to Gao Zhao.Then he pushed Jingzhao Wang Yu out of the capital and slandered and killed Pengcheng Wang Xie.There has been a situation where "the government and the public look sideways, and they are afraid of evil. Therefore, they monopolize power and seize their own positions" ("Wei Shu" Volume 83 "Gao Zhao Biography").After his niece Gao Shi became the empress, Gao Zhao became even more arrogant and acted according to his own circumstances.When Emperor Xuanwu died, Gao Zhaozheng led an army to conquer Shu.

How could Hu Chonghua not tremble with fear for such a Gao Zhao who had the military power in his hands and had all the power inside and outside.If Hu Chonghua wanted to get rid of his niece Empress Gao, he had to think about it before and after. Hu Chonghua believed that to get rid of Empress Gao, he must first get rid of her wing Gao Zhao.She turned her thoughts to Cui Guang and others. Cui Guang and others thought it was reasonable, so they discussed countermeasures and accelerated their actions.

First of all, a country cannot live without a king.Therefore, on the night of Emperor Xuanwu's death, under the direction of Yu Zhong, Cui Guang and others, the six-year-old Yuan Xu ascended the throne and succeeded him as Emperor Wei Xiaoming.

Secondly, after ascending the throne, Emperor Xiaoming, under the guidance of Hu Chonghua and others, immediately issued an edict in Shu: order Gao Zhao's class teacher to go to the capital for the funeral on the same day.After receiving the imperial edict, Gao Zhao was deeply saddened. On the one hand, he was saddened by the collapse of Emperor Xuanwu, who trusted him, but on the other hand, he lost his backing, and misfortune was not far away.Since the edict of the new emperor was issued, Gao Zhao did not dare to resist and disobey it. Besides, his niece Empress Gao was still in the capital, so maybe she would play around.However, Gao Zhao didn't expect that before he came to Beijing, Hu Chonghua had already laid a net for him.When he finished crying and entered the province, he was captured and killed by more than a dozen strong men set in ambush by Yu Zhong.

After Gao Zhao was eliminated, Empress Gao was a little flustered, she didn't expect her opponent to be so powerful, it was hard to guard against him.However, after Gao Zhao was removed, Hu Chonghua's strings were not as tight as before. In order to stabilize Empress Gao and for his own promotion, soon after Gao Zhao was removed, he honored Empress Gao with the mouth of Emperor Xiaoming. For the Queen Mother.Hu Chonghua himself is the imperial concubine.Soon, after Concubine Hu had arranged all the work properly, she ordered Empress Dowager Gao to "leave the vulgarity to become a nun and guard Jinyong alone" ("Wei Shu" Volume 518 "Su Zong Ji").And it is stipulated that "it is not a big festival, do not enter the palace" ("Wei Shu" Volume [-] "Queen's Biography · Queen Gao").Five months later, although Concubine Hu was revered as the empress dowager, she never forgot that her enemy was still living in Yaoguang Temple, and finally used the power she had acquired in her hands to borrow Empress Gao to marry her in the first year of Shengui ([-] AD). Si Shengmu Wuyijun took the opportunity to kill him.

Now that the political enemies have been eliminated, Empress Dowager Hu can concentrate on seizing power and governing.So the history of the Northern Wei Dynasty has written a chapter about the second queen mother who came to the court to listen to politics after the queen mother Feng.

Three, hearing the government

Emperor Xiaoming ascended to the pole and proclaimed himself emperor. He was only six years old. He was a playboy at the age of six. He couldn't take care of himself, let alone be in charge of military affairs?This is a good opportunity for the queen mother to be able to attend the court.

After Hu Chonghua died of Emperor Xuanwu, the harsh reality forced her not to immerse herself in mourning and sobbing. Empress Gao's actions inspired her to fight. Launched a palace coup and returned the shackles placed around his neck by his political enemy, Empress Dowager Gao.For this reason, she conspired secretly with Liu Teng, Yu Zhong, Cui Guang and others, and finally overthrew her political opponents.The life after entering the palace showed Hu Chonghua such a path. Without power in his hands, he could only be a sheep at the mercy of others. Only by seizing power can he dominate everything.Therefore, when Emperor Xuanwu passed away and his own son ascended the throne as emperor and was still young, it was only natural for the Empress Dowager Feng to come to the court to listen to the government.Inspired by the desire for power, Hu Chonghua beat and pulled, and finally climbed from Concubine Chonghua to the position of Concubine, and then from Concubine to Empress Dowager.At this time, the Empress Dowager Hu is really going to listen to the government.

To listen to the government in the court, the courtiers usually invite the emperor, and then the emperor asks the queen mother for instructions, and after obtaining permission, it is enough to issue an imperial edict.However, since he was promoted to the position of empress dowager, there are no courtiers to invite those who are facing the court. What should we do?The very scheming Empress Dowager Hu thought of Cui Guang and others who were in the same boat, why don't I give them a hint!So Empress Dowager Hu often babbled such words in front of Cui Guang and others.

"The emperor is young, and I still need to take care of all the big and small things. Look, am I not Empress Lu?"

It's really a tacit understanding, Cui Guang and others heard the implication of Queen Mother Hu.After discussion, they invited the Empress Dowager to attend the court in the name of the ministers, and the Empress Dowager Hu also responded to the request of the ministers to attend the court and seize all opportunities.At the beginning, the officials were ordered to call him His Highness, and then the officials were ordered to call him Your Majesty, and he called himself Zhen, and called his edict an imperial edict.Empress Dowager Hu seemed to be the empress dowager instead of Emperor Xiaoming.

Empress Dowager Hu is not satisfied with the superficial things, the name is always the name, and the implementation is the purpose. In order to build prestige on the officials, she really wants to replace Emperor Xiaoming.There is one thing that best expresses her heart.

Sacrifice was considered a major event in ancient times, especially the sacrifice performed by the emperor, which was a very grand event.Empress Dowager Hu is going to start her power grab from this matter.In December of the fourth year of Yanchang (AD 515), according to the ancestral system, the Daxian Temple was opened again.Empress Dowager Hu passed down an oral order on this:

The emperor was a child, and he was not worthy of offering sacrifices in person. I would like to perform the sacrifices on behalf of the lady and the king in "Zhou Li", and I will present the stories when I visit them.

After receiving the order, the subordinates immediately summoned the officials and doctors to discuss. These people could not agree, and the disciples reported the results of the agreement to the Empress Dowager Hu. The queen mother's amiable face was immediately clouded. She waved her hand and ordered the officials to retreat. new countermeasures.This is the first time to show his face, how can he miss the opportunity to show his power to the officials?If you don't achieve your goal, you will never give up!So she called Cui Guang to come to ask advice.Cui Guang was well aware of the Queen Mother's intentions to toss this matter repeatedly, and he also wanted to help the Queen Mother. When the Queen Mother asked for advice, he moved out the anecdote about the sacrifices recommended by Empress Deng in the Han Dynasty, thinking that the Empress Dowager Hu's substitute sacrifice was exactly the same.With the joint efforts of Empress Dowager Hu and Cui Guang, on the one hand, the officials of ceremonies and doctors saw that they had all the previous documents and there was insufficient evidence to oppose them. Emperor Xiaoming performed a grand ceremony to worship the ancestors.Accompanied by civil and military personnel, and surrounded by a ceremonial team, she stepped into the altar, and her proud expression made the spirits of the ancestors feel ashamed. They were not as proud as this woman when they were alive.

After the ceremony of offering sacrifices to the ancestors, Empress Dowager Hu was not relieved, because from the reality of repeated rejections of this ceremony, she felt that she had little power and power.In order to stabilize one's dominance, one must develop one's influence. It would be great to have a group of people who can charge forward for oneself!Therefore, Queen Mother Hu immediately set about cultivating power.

The eunuch Liu Teng was the first to disclose Empress Gao's conspiracy, and he made great contributions in protecting Empress Dowager Hu and enabling her to listen to the government. Liu Teng's wife was also granted the title of Lord of Julu County, and his three adopted sons were awarded the posts of county guard and Shang Shulang respectively; Hou Gang played a role in protecting Queen Mother Hu when she was in crisis.After Empress Dowager Hu took charge of the government, she was granted the title of Marquis of the Founding of Wuyang County, with [-] households in the township.Later, he entered the rank of Jue and became the founder of the country.Cui Guang made contributions to protecting Empress Dowager Hu, overthrowing Empress Gao, enabling the court to listen to the government, and worshiping ancestors on behalf of Emperor Xiaoming. Therefore, Empress Dowager Hu received the most rewards.Chu Tejin Cui Guang became the general of chariots and cavalry, and he joined the third division of Yitong.Later, he was named the founder of Boping County, with two thousand households in Shiyi.Yu Zhong, as the leading general in charge of military power, of course made outstanding contributions in the critical moment of Empress Dowager Hu. Therefore, Empress Dowager Hu specially promoted him as a general of chariots and cavalry, Shang Shuling, and named him the founding father of Changshan County, with two thousand households in Shiyi.

While sealing Cui Guang and others, Empress Dowager Hu did not forget the fact that the Northern Wei Dynasty was dominated by the Yuan family.Although she has come to listen to the government on behalf of Emperor Xiaoming, the kings and ministers of the Yuan family are very powerful. If they oppose it, the consequences will be disastrous. The queen mother decided to use her "balance" method to seal the influential kings in the clan.This can not only show the intention of winning over, gain their support, but also block the mouths of opponents.Gaoyang Wang Yuanyong, styled Simu.At the time of Gaozu, he had worshiped the general of the Central Guard Army and Zhenbei University.At the beginning of Emperor Sejong Xuanwu, he moved envoys Chijie, the governor of Ji, Xiang, and Ying to the military forces of the three prefectures, the general who conquered the North, Kaifu, and the governor of Jizhou.Later, he paid homage to General Hushi and Sizhou Mu.Qian Si idly transferred to Taiwei Gong, and served as a servant.At the time of Emperor Xiaoming, Yuan Yong was a veteran of the three dynasties who held important positions.Therefore, under the consultation of Empress Dowager Hu, at the beginning of Xiaoming's ascension to the pole, Yuan Yong was ordered to live in Taiji Xibaitang to "consult and decide on great affairs".Then he ordered Yuanyong to be the master, and entered Taifu, Shizhong and led Taiweigong.Yuan Yong couldn't get used to Yu Zhongzhuan, the leader of the army, and failed to restrain him, so he was ordered by Yu Zhong to "abolish Yong and return him to the king".After the Empress Dowager Hu came to court, she granted another 21 households to Yuanyong. , making it "the prosperity of honor and honor, beyond the reach of Kundi" ("Wei Shu" Volume 22 "Biography of King Gaoyang").Yuan Yi, king of Qinghe, worshiped as a servant during Emperor Xuanwu's time, and turned to Shang Shupu to shoot.At the beginning of Emperor Xiaoming, he moved to the Taiwei to cut off the affairs of his family.After the Empress Dowager Hu came to the court to listen to the government, she "used Suzong (Xiaoming Temple name) Yishu, who was the first to look forward to virtue, and entrusted the government with the affairs of Zhou and Huo" ("Wei Shu" Volume [-] "Qinghe King Biography").Other kings also had conferred titles, such as Rencheng Wang Yuancheng was promoted from Hushi General to Sikong and so on.

Empress Dowager Hu tried every means to seize power and retain her position.For this reason, she wins over the royal family and cultivates power, but are these people reliable?Of course, there is nothing more reliable than one's own clan relatives.So Empress Dowager Hu began her deployment of securing power.

Hu Guozhen, the father of Empress Dowager Hu, was only the Earl of Wushi when he was in charge of the court, and Emperor Xiaoming was first named Doctor Guanglu.After the Empress Dowager Hu came to the court, she first added the official position of servant, and then promoted the Earl of Wushi who she inherited to the second level to be the Duke of Anding County, and then bestowed Jiadi and rich silk cloth Miangu, chariots, horses and cattle, slaves, etc. .Conferring officials and adding titles is the form, and participating in the decision-making is the purpose.At that time, Rencheng Wang Yuancheng, who had already been appointed by the empress dowager and was in the important position of minister and minister, saw the empress dowager's intention. After careful consideration, he submitted a memorial to the court.The date of his statement:
The family members of Anding are highly respected and respected by relatives and virtuous people. It is advisable to go in and out of the Forbidden City, and to consult on important affairs.

Empress Dowager Hu, who was about to try to call her father to participate in the final decision, wanted to repeat the old trick, and then blow the wind to Cui Guang and others, but she did not expect that the clan kings would present a memorial. Why was Empress Dowager Hu not happy about it? Seeing her picking up a vermilion pen, she wrote "Zhao Ke" in big red characters on Yuan Cheng's memorial. ("Wei Shu" Volume 83 "Hu Guozhen Biography")
"The imperial edict is OK. It is an order to enter the decisive opportunity." ("Wei Shu" Volume 83 "Hu Guozhen Biography")
So Hu Guozhen was ordered to enter the palace to participate in the decisive battle.Empress Dowager Hu also thought that Hu Guozhen's official position was not high, so she was promoted to the third division of Zhongshujian and Yitong, and ordered her to "reside under the door and deal with common affairs together with Taishi Gaoyang Wang Yuanyong, Taifu Qinghe Wang Yuanyi, Taibao Guangping Wang Yuanhuai, etc. ".During the Xiping period, Hu Guozhen was used as the envoy, the governor of the six states, the general of the hussars, the third division of Kaifu Yitong, the governor of Yongzhou, and Qian Situgong.At this time, Hu Guozhen was really a powerful minister who was famous for a while and crowned the head of the country.Even the famous Gaoyang Wang Yuanyong, Qinghe Wang Yuanyi, and Rencheng Wang Yuancheng had to give up three points.

But just when Hu Guozhen rose to the top, he seized the opportunity to seize power and decide the government.God dies.He passed away on April 518th in the first year of Shengui (83 A.D.).On his deathbed, he took his daughter Queen Mother Hu's hand and said two things that he was worried about.One: "Mother and son are good at governing the world, with the hearts of all people, don't look at the faces of ministers." pass")
(End of this chapter)