vrcanaries Chapter 108 The Cause of Emperor Zhezong's Death
Chapter 108 The Cause of Emperor Zhezong's Death
Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty
Zhu Di's expression was gloomy, his eyes blazing with fire, but then, as if remembering something, his expression softened. However, he still strode forward and tugged at his eldest son, Zhu Gaochi, but unexpectedly, the fat crown prince Zhu Gaochi held tightly to Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui.
This pull caused Zhu Gaochi and the others to trip and fall, which made Zhu Di both angry and amused!
He even forgot about the troubles of factional strife and now only wanted to give those three brothers a good beating!
……
"After the peace talks with Western Xia, I think it's true that they had to be beaten into submission. Their conditions are no longer like before, where they directly demanded the return of Western Xia's territory. They are even much more respectful in their attitude. This military victory has given the Northern Song Dynasty confidence, which will make their diplomacy more assertive!"
"Thus, in December of the second year of the Yuanfu era of Emperor Zhezong of the Northern Song Dynasty, the Song-Xia War, which had begun during the reign of Emperor Yingzong, finally came to an end, and it ended with the retreat of Western Xia."
"But no one expected that a great change was about to occur during the reign of King Cheoljong."
Before discussing what happened after King Cheoljong, let's talk about his early death.
Emperor Shenzong of the Northern Song Dynasty, Zhao Xu: Waaah, my son!
Big-Handed Liu Zhuzhu: He doesn't seem very old, maybe around twenty?
General Judy, the Northern Expeditionary General: He is indeed still young, but I heard he is in poor health!
……
"When talking about Emperor Zhezong, many people regret his early death. After all, his successors, Emperors Huizong and Qinzong, did not last more than thirty years before bringing down the Northern Song Dynasty!"
"Even all the reform plans previously implemented by the Northern Song Dynasty have come to naught!"
"Can you imagine that even in later generations, when people talk about the Song Dynasty, the first thing that comes to mind is the Jingkang Incident, followed by the impression that it was weak because it emphasized civil affairs and suppressed military affairs, lacked military strength, and had no fighting spirit at all?"
"Of course, this does not mean that Emperor Zhezong could have changed the problems of the Song Dynasty if he were alive. However, compared to most of the emperors of the Northern and Southern Song Dynasties, Zhao Xu can be considered a good ruler."
Judy, the General Who Conquers the North: The emperors of the Song Dynasty were indeed quite incompetent!
Emperor Zhao Kuangyin of the Song Dynasty: ...
Li Erfeng of the Tang Dynasty: The fact that such an image has been passed down to later generations suggests that the last vestiges of the Northern Song Dynasty's dignity were squandered by these two emperors!
Emperor Shenzong of the Northern Song Dynasty, Zhao Xu: ...
Everyone in the Song Dynasty: ...
"However, there are many different opinions about the cause of Emperor Zhezong's death. According to Zeng Bu's 'Records of Zeng Gong,' Emperor Zhezong had been suffering from severe diarrhea since May of the second year of Yuanfu."
"For example, on the day of Renxu, Emperor Zhezong answered Zeng Bu's question: Zeng seemed to have cholera two days ago, and had diarrhea last night, about eight or nine times."
"However, in addition to the above symptoms, King Cheoljong also suffered from constipation."
Emperor Zhezong of Northern Song: I'm really embarrassed that so many people know about this!
A young internet user from the Song Dynasty exclaimed: "My God, this whole society is dead!"
……
"In later generations, based on the alternating appearance of these two symptoms, some people speculated that it might be intestinal tuberculosis."
"This disease can further lead to vomiting, as evidenced by the record in Zeng Gong Yi Lu: You Duan said: He vomited again on the evening of the sixth day and the disease has not subsided."
"In addition to the above, King Cheoljong also suffered from abdominal pain, such as persistent vomiting, vomiting every morning after eating, and lower abdominal pain."
More importantly, according to historical records, Emperor Zhezong contracted a cough when he was young, and his saliva contained blood. This condition lasted for two or three years, to the point that he needed eunuchs to carry handkerchiefs to his side because his saliva was always stained with blood.
"But he kept his illness a secret, so no one knew about it. Perhaps this was also related to the political situation at the time. He lived under the watchful eyes of the Yuan You ministers and Empress Dowager Gao at a young age, which eventually led to his serious illness."
"According to later generations, Emperor Zhezong at this time probably had tuberculosis, and his saliva may have carried tuberculosis bacteria. It was never cured. After he came of age, perhaps due to the stress of political affairs, it relapsed, which is why he had symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting later on."
Emperor Shenzong of Northern Song Dynasty, Zhao Xu: You brat! Emperor Zhezong of Northern Song Dynasty, Zhao Xu, why won't you see a doctor when you're sick!
Emperor Zhezong of Northern Song: Father... I was wrong!
General Judy, the Conqueror of the North: Don't be afraid to seek medical help! @Big Fat Prince Zhu Gaochi, you really need to see a doctor!
Big Han Liu Zhuzhu: Everyone's tagging me, so I'll tag Prince Huo (Qu Bing) too! Have you been taking your medicine properly lately?
Crown Prince Huo (Qu Bing): Your Majesty! I am in excellent health! I don't need to take medicine!
……
According to the records in the "Continuation of the Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government": Starting from the first month of the third year of Yuanfu, Emperor Zhezong did not attend the morning court because he had to take medicine. His ministers were worried and went with him to see him.
"At this time, the imperial physician's diagnosis was: the stomach has not yet developed and he cannot eat. Here we speculate that it may be because of diarrhea and vomiting, and he cannot eat anything. In addition, another record says that he would vomit up what he ate in the morning in the evening."
"Well, after vomiting due to diarrhea, you lose water and there's no food to maintain basic energy, so your condition deteriorates rapidly."
"The result of all of the above is sweating. The principle behind this is not easy to explain and involves some theories from later generations. In short, because of all of the above, Emperor Zhezong later suffered from severe cold and his internal organs were obstructed."
"After the imperial physician proved ineffective, the ministers resorted to desperate measures, administering various yang-tonifying drugs to Emperor Zhezong, such as ginseng and cinnabar pills."
A Ming Dynasty soldier said: "If he had received medical treatment when he was young, would he not have died so young?"
A New Party official in the Song Dynasty: Poor Your Majesty!
A wealthy merchant's wife from the Tang Dynasty: What a tragic young man! He was treated like a puppet in his youth, and just when he finally achieved some success, his life came to an end!
……
"Besides the reason mentioned above, some people say that King Cheoljong's death was due to excessive indulgence, but that may also be a contributing factor, given that he had lung and gastrointestinal problems!"
"This pill... I've said before that these things can kill people, and you still took it!"
"A few months before Emperor Zhezong's death, Consort Liu, Zhao Xu's favorite concubine, gave birth to a son, but he died just a month later. Her youngest daughter, Princess Yangguo, also died suddenly. This was a great blow to Emperor Zhezong, which may have aggravated his condition."
"Because Emperor Zhe passed away without having any children, Empress Dowager Xiang summoned the ministers to discuss the issue of the emperor's successor."
"Logically speaking, Emperor Zhezong had a younger brother who could have been chosen as the new emperor, but this suggestion was rejected by Empress Dowager Xiang. Empress Dowager Xiang was considering her own interests more when it came to this candidate."
"She was afraid that if the second son of Consort Zhu, the birth mother of Emperor Zhezong, became emperor, it would threaten his imperial status, so she chose Prince Duan."
"And it is said that when Chancellor Zhang Dun learned of this, he said: 'Prince Duan is frivolous and unfit to rule the world.'"
"This statement has become widely known, and has even become a self-fulfilling prophecy."
"Speaking of which, this Prince Duan was later Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji. Empress Dowager Xiang can be said to have found a great weapon for the Northern Song Dynasty, which directly led to its demise!"
Emperor Zhao Kuangyin of the Song Dynasty (spitting blood in anger): Damn it... /% He even managed to pick this guy... Is he sent by an enemy country?!
Emperor Shenzong of the Northern Song Dynasty, Zhao Xu: ...What a stupid thing you've done!
Zhu Baba of the Ming Dynasty: If it were me, I would be so angry I would vomit blood!