The last day of Emperor Chongzhen: Did you really bid farewell to the prince and queen with tears?

In March of the seventeenth year of Chongzhen (1644), the fear and despair of Emperor Zhu Youjian could not be described in words.

Li Zicheng's Dashun army has surrounded Beijing, and Emperor Chongzhen has no soldiers or money, but he is in a rash. He can't keep Daming Mountain, and he will be the king of national subjugation.

On March/KOOC-0/9, Zhu Youjian, who was in office/KOOC-0/7, boarded Jingshan Park, covered his face with his hair and hanged himself at the age of 34. Embarrassing, the monarch died in his own country.

Emperor chongzhen in film and television dramas.

How did he spend his last day? The related accounts are quite rich, so we might as well crawl around in the historical materials and write a diary for him on this day.

After 375 years, can we feel his sadness?

First, the last struggle

On March 18, the evil wind roared and the yellow sand fluttered, followed by thunder, rain and hail. In such bad weather, Dashun Army launched a general attack on Beijing.

There were only over 10,000 Ming troops guarding the city (eunuchs also participated). Few people, poor equipment, all hungry. They have no fighting capacity, let alone the will to fight.

As soon as the guns of Dashun army rang, the Ming army either broke up or surrendered out of the city. "Guoque" recorded the offensive and defensive situation of both sides:

Kou siege, gunfire, flow vector rain set. Say it out loud, guard: Open the door or I'll kill you! ? The defenders were afraid and fired empty guns, but they were shocked by the nitrate flame and still waved their hands to the thief. The thief retreated and fired. ?

Emperor Chongzhen in the Forbidden City is powerless. The day before, he and his ministers cried at each other in court, and both of them knew that there was nothing they could do.

Today, ministers have disappeared, and only cabinet recorder Wei Zaode is still around.

At this time, Li Zicheng sent the traitor eunuch Du Xun to the city for peace.

Emperor Chongzhen and Wei Zaode met Du Xun. What did Du Xun bring to Li Zicheng? Discuss cutting the northwest, divide the country into kings, reward the army with millions of silver and retreat to Henan. ?

King by country? Li Zicheng intends to be an equal with Emperor Chongzhen. If you accept it, maybe you can usher in a glimmer of life for Daming. From the point of view of death, we might as well give it a try and then discuss whether it is successful or not.

At the critical moment, Emperor Chongzhen lost the ability to keep his word. He kicked the ball out. He said to Wei Zaode. What about this discussion? This matter is urgent, but it can be decided in a word. ?

Wei Zaode is an old prick. Of course he won't make a decision on such a big matter, and he won't take the blame in the future. Him? Don't answer silently, just bow down? .

Emperor Chongzhen fidgeted and repeatedly urged Wei Zaode to decide, but Wei said nothing after all. The emperor was so angry that he kicked over the dragon chair and left without cutting.

Du Xun returned in vain.

Portrait of Li Zicheng.

Due to the failure of negotiations, the generals lacked followers, so Emperor Chongzhen had only one last choice: to travel by himself. There is no choice but to work hard.

He wrote a line in imperial pen? Personal adventure? ：

In the past, I personally led the Sixth Division. The state attached great importance to the appointment of the Prince, told its subjects that there were people who could bear hardships and stand hard work, or helped the grain and grass equipment to be used in front of the army to eliminate ugliness and reward the soil, and never broke his word. ?

Sixth division? Where is it? Summoning his ministers, Xin Le Wen Bing and Gong Yue, he said, "How dare my family survive when the law and discipline are strict? ?

He asked the soldiers in the camp to pay attention to safety, and asked Li Guozhen, the governor of Beijing camp, to pay attention to safety. The answer is that they are all scattered.

He called the eunuch, but everyone fled for their lives except a few panicked confidants who were still around.

In the afternoon, the peasant army captured the gate of Zhangyi City. At about three o'clock, Cao Huachun, the eunuch of the army, opened the door and surrendered. As a result, Beijing was broken and the inner city was in danger.

Emperor Chongzhen urgently summoned several cabinet ministers and asked them if they knew about the fall of the outer city. They all said they didn't know. The emperor asked:? It is urgent. What are your plans for today? ? The ministers replied:? The emperor's blessing should be carefree. If it is unfavorable, we will wait for street fighting and swear not to serve our country. ?

Such rhetoric is all empty talk and lies. Street fighting? Yun Yun, it's just rhetoric. Emperor Chongzhen didn't get feasible advice, so he had to let the cabinet minister step down.

Second, the crying of the harem.

At sunset, Emperor Chongzhen took Wang Chengen, the eunuch of Li Si prison army, to look around Jingshan Park, but he saw the flames of war and cried loudly. The fall of the inner city is only a matter of minutes.

It's time to make the final arrangement.

Emperor Chongzhen returned to Gan Qing Palace from Jingshan Park and summoned him? Master? His three sons? Prince Zhu Cilang, Wang Ding Zhu Cijiong and Wang Yong Zhu Ciying.

Portrait of Emperor Chongzhen.

He ordered three people to escape from the palace immediately, put on old clothes for them in person, and told them:

Today you are the prince, you are the king, and the city is broken, so let's escape! If you don't love me, I will die. How can I see my ancestors underground? You must be careful. If you meet an official, the old man should be called the master, the young man should be called the brother, the literati should be called the gentleman, and the sergeant should be called the head of the household or the chief officer. ?

These teachings are my father's last wish. He hoped that his sons would survive and recover the country. Emperor Chongzhen burst into tears and said bitterly, Why don't you three have the blessing of my family? ? Then I burst into tears.

After bidding farewell to his son, he called his concubines and asked them to commit suicide. Don't destroy the national system of the emperor's ancestors? .

This move is really cruel, but how many wives of kings who have always died can die well?

In order to avoid the insult of Dashun army and preserve the dignity of the royal family, death may be the best choice.

He told Queen Zhou sadly: The great events are over! Second aunt is dead! ? Empress Zhou is deeply aware of the great righteousness, diligent and housekeeping, has a reputation for being virtuous, and has a harmonious relationship with the emperor.

She cried and said, I have served your majesty for eighteen years and I have not listened to a word. Today, I am mutually assured destruction with my country. Why should I hate it? ? Although he complained, he was righteously not afraid of death and returned to Kunning Palace to hang himself.

Yuan Guifei seems unwilling to die. Emperor Chongzhen drew his sword and caught up with her and said, You deserve to die! ? Yuan Fei was stabbed twice, bleeding all over the floor and passed out (not dead).

He hacked to death several other concubines.

At about nine o'clock in the evening, Emperor Chongzhen came to Shouning Palace, saw princess royal, 15 years old, stared at her and said, Hu lives in my house? ?

He hid his face with his left hand and cut it with his right. The princess blocked the sword with her hand and her left arm was cut off. Emperor Chongzhen tried to kill him, but his hands trembled and he couldn't lift his sword. Hui Zhen was in a coma on the spot and later woke up.

Later, Emperor Chongzhen went to Zhaoren Hall and killed Princess Kunyi.

Emperor chongzhen in film and television dramas.

In ancient times, many people dreamed of being born in an imperial family and enjoying the endless wealth and power brought by sex. Even now, some people are eager to cross the court and be a prince or princess.

Are things really as good as we thought? Emperor Chongzhen tells you that being born in the royal family is the greatest misfortune and the deepest sorrow in the world!

When he sent his son to an uncertain future, when he personally killed Jin Zhi yeyu's daughter, who can understand the pain of Cone Heart?

After Emperor Chongzhen killed his daughter, he came to Kunning Palace with his sword. When he saw that Queen Zhou was dead, he even said, Good death! ?

Coming out of the Palace of Kunning, he asked the ladies-in-waiting to force Li, the imperial concubine of Yi 'an and Zhang, the queen mother of Yi 'an, to commit suicide.

Zhang Taihou hesitated after receiving the order, and decided to hang himself until the early morning of 19th, but was saved by the maid-in-waiting. A few hours later, she hanged herself again and was rescued by the leading troops of Dashun Army. That night, she hanged herself for the third time and eventually died.

Third, the end of the emperor.

After dealing with the harem, it was already late at night on 18.

Emperor Chongzhen returned to Gan Qing Palace and wrote an imperial edict: Lord protector Zhu was appointed as the governor's internal and external military affairs, supplemented the East Palace and released the prisoners. ?

The prince's whereabouts were unknown (he was quickly captured by Dashun army), and the army was scattered. What military affairs can be arranged? I'm just fooling myself.

Of course, he doesn't seem too concerned about whether this decree can be implemented. He and Wang Chengen began to drink, and even drank several cups, helplessly sigh:? Suffering from the whole city. ?

They must be planning something at the right moment. In the afternoon 1 1, Emperor Chongzhen acted again. He went to Wang Chengen's home, took off his yellow scarf, put on Wang Chengen's big hat and boots, and dressed up as a civilian.

He wants to live. He wants to go out of town.

Emperor Chongzhen? Jiu Si? Handwriting, with flowers on it.

Emperor Chongzhen has the opportunity to stay in the southern capital, where there are six ready-made troops and can run at once. He is interested in moving to the south.

Some ministers are in favor of going south, while others are strongly opposed, so they can't reach an agreement. As an emperor, he should make the final decision when there are different opinions. Even if there are objections, he will push his way through the crowd to show the majesty of imperial power.

However, Emperor Chongzhen has been hesitant about those ministers who have objections. The argument was fruitless.

At this point, Dashun army surrounded Beijing impenetrably, and you decided to escape from the city. It's too late.

Emperor Chongzhen tried to go out from Qihuamen and Chongwenmen with three-eye guns and dozens of eunuchs riding horses and axes, but both doors were blocked and he couldn't get out.

They went to Zhengyangmen again, intending to make a dash for the door. Before reaching the city gate, the Ming army at the head of the city thought these people were spies and shot them with bows and arrows. The eunuch at the gate also fired a shot. Fortunately, the shell was lead-free and didn't hurt anyone.

Emperor Chongzhen turned back hastily and cut off the idea of leaving the city. Back in the palace, he rang the bell to summon officials, but no one answered. Ministers abandoned him.

There is no way out, only death. He totally understands.

He changed a suit and went to Jingshan Park with Wang Chengen. All his ministers followed him. He found a big tree and hanged himself.

Wang Chengen hanged himself with the driver.

When Emperor Chongzhen died, he was wearing a blue sleeve robe, red trousers, messy hair, boots on one foot and bare feet.

Emperor Chongzhen was martyred in Jingshan Park.

Many documents say that there are imperial books and bloody books on the belt of Emperor Chongzhen's clothes, with different contents. This is recorded from the "National Que" as follows:

I have been on the pole for more than 17 years, and the orientals invaded the mainland three times, and thieves attacked the capital. Although I am humble and arrogant, I am accused of it, but it is the fault of all ministers. I am ashamed to see my ancestors buried underground. I will be crowned and covered with hair, so that thieves can dismember the body without hurting the people. ?

He blamed the death on his minister.

At dawn on March 19th, Dashun Army occupied the inner city, and Li Zicheng swept into the Forbidden City, accepting the surrender of ministers, eunuchs and maids-in-waiting.

At that time, the whereabouts of Emperor Chongzhen were unknown inside and outside, and many people thought that he had escaped. It was not until March 22nd that people discovered the bodies of Emperor Chongzhen and Wang Chengen.

Fourth, the king of national subjugation

The death of Emperor Chongzhen declared the demise of the Ming Dynasty. He became the king of national subjugation.

In fact, historians generally believe that what Emperor Chongzhen did was not like national subjugation.

The decline of the Ming Dynasty began in the Wanli period, and chaos spread to Zhu Youjian. After he became emperor at the age of 17, he had the ambition to rejuvenate the country.

"Guo que" said: Emperor Chongzhen (Emperor Chongzhen) stood tall, inherited Xi's throne, opposed past feuds, denounced evil parties, made great efforts to govern the country, and worked hard to rejuvenate the country. ?

This evaluation is very representative. The History of the Ming Dynasty compiled in the early years of the Qing Dynasty also had positive words for him: After the emperor inherited God and Xi, he was full of hope. At the beginning of his reign, he stressed the importance of arbitrariness, except traitors, and the world wanted to rule peace. ?

Li Zicheng who forced Emperor Chongzhen to death.

Emperor Chongzhen was very diligent and never had a day of debauchery and luxury. He once confessed: I have been working hard at night since Yuji. ? This is a fact.

He insisted on calling ministers every day, going to Wenhua Hall to handle political affairs every day, and discussing all chapters face to face with ministers to distinguish feasibility and ensure effectiveness.

Zhu Yijun, the emperor of Wanli, has a record of not going to court for 28 years, and it is impossible for other emperors to go to court every day. Emperor Chongzhen's diligence is second only to Zhu Maoyuan's.

On the ninth day of July in the fifteenth year of Chongzhen, he fell ill and sent a message to the minister, temporarily exempting him from the early dynasty, and as a result, he was criticized. As soon as he heard this, he repented and wrote a letter of criticism to praise and criticize the ministers. I'm glad to say the same thing as Yao Shi. I use praise. ?

Not only was he diligent, but Emperor Chongzhen was also very frugal.

He often keeps rubbing his sleeves in court. Why? The sleeves of the underwear he is wearing are worn out, which is very ugly. He should stuff it in from time to time.

His daily meals are about thirty-six taels of silver. This figure is certainly higher than that of the people, but it is less than that of his ancestors. Later, because of the tight military expenditure, he took the initiative to cut the food expenditure by half, and asked his empresses and ministers to follow suit.

He is also very strict with the harem. Do concubines often ask for it? Get married? Wash clothes and cook by yourself. It is rare in all dynasties.

His frugality is not a show, but a decade.

Portraits of Emperor Chongzhen in magazines in the late Qing Dynasty.

It should be said that Emperor Chongzhen's virtue is intact and he is a noble man. But as an emperor, high morality is only one aspect, and it is more important to have great talent and courage to govern the country.

Obviously, Emperor Chongzhen lacked the ability to save the world from collapse and the strategy of learning from heaven and earth. After 17 years in power, the mess should be destroyed, but the more he plays, the worse it gets.

His biggest mistake was that he didn't trust ministers, reused eunuchs, and didn't fully integrate the thoughts and strength of ministers, which led to disputes between Yan Party and the Party. The whole court was divided, alienated from Germany, and not twisted into a rope.

Second, governance lacks patience and execution. Him? Focus on seeking treatment, focusing on financial management, using people like thirst, and rushing to the law? Too eager for success to keep changing? What I saw and heard before, I feel that some changes have taken place, but it is useless to recall. .

For an emperor like him, it is not good to defend himself, nor is it good to be dominant in times of crisis.

Emperor Chongzhen in the eyes of historians in the early Qing Dynasty? You've just been teleported, and you're in trouble? , is it? Lucky? . People sympathize with him, not the king of the country, but the luck of the country.

The adherents of Amin dynasty wrote a poem to commemorate the first emperor, saying:

Whoever shoots Sirius with a crossbow will never forget the pain of crying in the new pavilion.

One night, the long star crossed the throne and two lines of blood were written into the sky.

Yuling has returned to Nanyuan, and the parrot can still talk to the emperor.

Dragon slayer in Dinghu Lake, willow workers and spring grass cut people's intestines.