Throughout the middle and late Eastern Han Dynasty, consorts and eunuchs fought and killed each other, alternately monopolizing power and being good at politics, forming the longest and most harmful power struggle "strange circle" in history, which was called "the struggle between consorts and eunuchs". In the past hundred years, the two groups of consorts and eunuchs in the Eastern Han Dynasty fought for power for six rounds. In the end, both of them lost, which directly sent the Eastern Han Dynasty to the end of the road.
Liu Xiu, the founding emperor of Guangwudi in the Eastern Han Dynasty.
The first round: During the period of Emperor He, Joe Cheng ruled out Dou's family and set the precedent for eunuch's autocratic power.
Han and Emperor acceded to the throne when he was only nine years old, and his adoptive mother Dou Taihou lived in the imperial court. When Dou Taihou's father died young, he promoted his younger brother Dou Xian to be a general and assistant, in charge of the military power and secrets of the court; Brother Dou Du was appointed as the commander of the samurai regiment, commanding the Royal Guard; The younger brothers Dou Jing and Dou Huan are constant attendants, and the affairs of state are in the hands of Dou Jia. They planted confidants in the imperial court, acted arbitrarily, formed gangs for personal gain, seized political power and did whatever they wanted. In history, "Dou and his son lived next to each other in the court" and "courtiers were attached to each other from top to bottom, and the secretariat kept orders more than people" (Biography of Dou Xian in the Later Han Dynasty).
Dou Xian not only plundered people's land everywhere, but even dared to seize the land of Princess Qinshui, Zhang Han's sister. Princess Qinshui was afraid of Dou Xian, so she had to submit to humiliation. The emperor once summoned Dou Xian, and some courtiers attached to the Dou Shi family even openly talked about calling Dou Xian "Long live", but they stopped this behavior because of the loud reprimand of Minister Han Leng.
Dou Xian
The arrogance of the Dou Shi family made people's grievances boil, and honest courtiers kept writing letters to protest, sometimes even beating them to the death. According to statistics, courtiers wrote 15 or 16 times in less than five years. Finally, he was alert to the emperor. But most courtiers were attached to Dou's family, so he thought of Zheng Zhong, the eunuch who lived with him day and night, plotting to destroy Dou's consorts.
Zheng Zhong is cautious, alert and scheming, and is trusted by Liu Zhao. He secretly contacted Sikong Renkui and Stuart, who were honest and didn't associate with Dou's family at ordinary times. Taking advantage of Dou Xian's expedition, he was promoted to Qiu and Wei Wei, responsible for army mobilization and palace security. After Dou Xian came back, Ding Hong caught the Dou Shi family off guard, or killed or forced them to commit suicide, and the Dou Shi consorts group was completely eliminated.
Zheng Zhong initiated the eunuch dictatorship in the Eastern Han Dynasty.
Zheng Zhong was named Hou Xiang for "rebellion", and from then on he began to assist the emperor in handling government affairs, becoming the first eunuch to participate in politics in the Eastern Han Dynasty. However, Zheng Zhong has no autocratic ambition. He assisted He Di, mainly to help He Di become a wise king. "The use of power by officials in China began with the large number of people in Zheng", "Therefore, it is often discussed" and "I am loyal to the royal family, not for the party" (Later Han Zheng Zhongchuan). Zheng Zhong was honest, and the court gave him many official positions, but he actively refused and only accepted Da Changqiu's position.
The second round: During the Andi period, eunuchs gained power by pacifying the Deng family.
In A.D. 106, Han and Emperor died of illness. Deng Sui, the emperor and empress, was a talented and power-hungry person. In order to face North Korea, Shang Long, who was born only100th day, acceded to the throne and honored Deng Sui as the empress dowager. In less than a year, Shang Emperor died of illness. Despite much criticism, Empress Dowager Deng, who is famous for her political ambition and ruling ability, succeeded Andi, who was 65,438+03 years old, and continued to be the emperor, making use of Deng's clan to assist the government, thus starting a new round of consorts' exclusive rights.
Deng Sui is a generation of politicians.
During the reign of Empress Dowager Deng, the power of the Deng family increased day by day. Her brother Deng Zhi was appointed as a general, and all the other brothers held important positions and controlled state affairs. After Andy came of age, Deng's power-hungry family did not return to politics for a long time. Doctor Dugan wrote an admonition, and Deng Sui was furious. He ordered Dugan to be taken to the palace and put in a bag for everyone to stick and kill. Fortunately, the law enforcers deliberately ignored him and secretly saved his life. Another official, Cheng Yi, was jailed for writing a letter urging Deng Sui to return to politics.
Deng's autocratic power has long aroused Andy's antipathy, but Deng's power is too strong for Andy to bear. 12 1 year, Deng Sui, who had been in power for nearly 20 years, died of illness. The suppressed 27-year-old Andy finally came to power, and soon joined forces with eunuchs such as Li Run and Jiang Jing to force seven officials of the Deng Sui family to commit suicide on charges of rebellion. Li Run, Jiang Jing, Fan Feng and other eunuchs were all promoted because of their exploits in eliminating consorts. Eunuch groups re-entered the autocratic front desk, colluded with the new consorts to participate in state affairs, and formed short-term cooperation between officials and officials to jointly control state affairs, "stirring up internal and external affairs and competing for beauty" ("Were Han Shu").
Han Andi stills
The third round: during the period, except for strictness, eunuchs were defeated first and then won.
After Andy came to power, the Andy family gradually came to power. Yan Xian and Yan Jing, the brothers of the Queen Yan. , "into the Qing, banned soldiers" (later Han Shu). Empress Yan was arrogant, greedy and powerful, and for the sake of long-term dictatorship, she instigated Andi to abolish the prince as Yin King. Shortly after Andi's death, Empress Yan, who wanted to specialize in political affairs for a long time, conspired with her brother and eunuch and was buried until she returned to Luoyang. She announced that she was the empress dowager, and made the young Beixiang Hou emperor, known as the "former emperor". Appointed his younger brother Yan Xian as the third division of General Che Qi, and held the military and political power.
After the new emperor ascended the throne, in order to monopolize state affairs, Yanshi Group began to crowd out eunuchs and executed others successively. Eunuchs are so weak that they have to temporarily attach themselves to Yan's consorts. However, the contradiction between consorts and eunuchs has not been eliminated, because the abolition of the prince and the establishment of a younger emperor are unpopular, and consorts and eunuchs are secretly plotting to choose a new monarch.
Han Shundi
Shaodi died less than a year after he ascended the throne. Nineteen eunuchs, headed by Sun Cheng, wanted to see the abandoned Prince Liu Bao. They took off their clothes and swore to start first. On the eighth day after the death of Shaodi, they led the troops into the palace, killed all the Yanshi brothers and others, and also welcomed Liu Bao, the Emperor of Hanshun, to the throne. Historically, it was called "Sun Cheng's Rebellion", and eunuchs finally gained power. Because of their support, all nineteen eunuchs were sealed, and the eunuch group once again took control of the court.
The fourth round: During the reign of Emperor Huan, the eunuch Shan Chao and other "five emperors" condemned Liang Jia and began a long-term authoritarian rule.
After Emperor Shun of Han acceded to the throne, Liang Na was made queen, and his father Liang Shang and his brother Liang Ji successively became generals. Liang's consorts began to expand rapidly and began to dominate state affairs. After Shun Di's death, Emperor Chong, Emperor Zhi and Emperor Huan were manipulated by Liang. After Herry Liu ascended the throne, he set up another sister as the queen of Emperor Huan, and the Liang sisters became the Empress Dowager and Empress respectively. Liang's power reached its peak, and national affairs fell into the hands.
The history book says: "There are seven princes, three queens, six nobles, two generals and three princesses before and after the Gate of the Beam, and the rest are 57 ministers, generals, Yin and Jiao. (Liang Ji) reigned for 20 years, he was extremely poor and arrogant, arrogant, and did not dare to disobey his orders. The son of heaven was self-respecting and could not kiss Yu "(The Book of the Later Han Dynasty).
Liang Ji
Liang Ji was arrogant, arrogant, cronyism, cronyism, relatives and henchmen all over the court, and officials were promoted one after another. Liang Ji also forced thousands of people to become his own beer slaves, which is called "self-promotion". When ministers meet, they set up separate seats, which are above the three fair. Nevertheless, Liang Ji was not satisfied. Emperor Huan was resentful, but helpless.
/kloc-in 0/59, Liang's second empress died one after another. Emperor Huan thought it was time to get rid of Liang, so he took advantage of the toilet to secretly form an alliance with five eunuchs, including Shan Chao, You Yuan, Zuo Xun and Tang Heng, and decided to get rid of Liang and his henchmen. After careful planning, the eunuch rate guards suddenly surrounded the Liang Ji mansion, and Liang Ji committed suicide. Family cronies and henchmen were punished. Liang "Chinese and foreign clansmen sent a letter to the prison, regardless of the length, all abandoned the city." "Dozens of officials from other countries died in the secretariat of 2,000 stones, so more than 300 officials and guests were exempted, and the court was empty" ("The Story of Ji Liang").
Five eunuchs, such as Shan Chao and others, were named "Five Emperors" on the same day after the elimination of the consorts of Liang. Eight other eunuchs were appointed as township heads. Since then, eunuch groups such as "Wuhou" have gained power, and their power is getting bigger and bigger, relying on indulgence. Their relatives and henchmen also ascended to heaven, and Shan Chao was even promoted to riding general. Eunuch forces replaced consorts, monopolized power and corrupted. Since then, the Eastern Han Dynasty has entered a period of long-term eunuch dictatorship.
Shan Chao and other five eunuchs sealed Hou at the same time
In history, there are "the power belongs to eunuchs, and the politics is chaotic" and "the five marquis clansmen abuse the world and the people are not in danger" (The Book of the Later Han Dynasty), which makes politics worse than consorts.
The fifth round: During the Lingdi period, eunuchs Cao Jie and Wang Fu put the Dou family to death, and "Ten Regular Servants" boarded the authoritarian front desk.
After the death of Emperor Huan, because there were no children, Queen Dou Miao negotiated with her father to make Liu Hong, the spiritual emperor of 12 years old, reign. Dou Taihou and his father, General Dou Wu, are in charge of state affairs. In view of the rampant influence of eunuchs, Dou Wu's plan of "assisting the government to punish officials" is to "expel eunuchs" and "learn from their punishments and abolish them in order to clear the court" (Biography of Dou Wu in the Later Han Dynasty).
So, Dou Wu, with the support of Dou Taihou, joined forces with a teacher, Chen Fan, and other honest courtiers, first of all, except the eunuch who was "quite talented and arbitrary", and then planned to continue to punish the eunuch leader Cao Jie and Wang Fu. Unexpectedly, the news leaked out, the eunuch group pre-emptively hijacked Emperor Ling and Dou Taihou, and then falsely circulated imperial edicts to kill courtiers such as Dou Wu and Chen Fan. Chen Fan was executed and Dou Wu committed suicide. Dou Shi, consorts and court officials who participated in the action of eliminating eunuchs "all lost their families".
Queen dou Miao
And a large number of eunuchs headed by Cao Jie were rewarded. Twelve eunuchs, including Zhang Rang and Zhong Zhao, all entered the ranks of constant attendants, which were called "Ten Constant Attendants" in history. After Emperor Ling, the eunuch group of "Ten Regular Attendants" was powerful and completely controlled the state affairs, and the Eastern Han regime became more dark and corrupt.
Round 6: During the reign of Emperor Shao, the consorts and eunuchs fought a decisive battle, and both sides died together, and the Eastern Han Dynasty existed in name only.
After Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty, the eunuch group has been in charge of state affairs. /kloc-in 0/80, after he was made queen, his younger brother He was made a general, and He's consorts began to rise. In order to contain the prince's maternal uncle and the consort general He Jin, Emperor Han Ling set up the Xiyuan Army in Xiyuan, appointed the eunuch Jian Shuo as the army commander, and commanded the Xiyuan Army. Both Yuan Shao and Cao Cao served under his command, and even the general blades had to obey his command. This move naturally caused the dissatisfaction of Blade, and the contradiction between Qi and the government arose again.
In A.D. 189, Emperor Han Ling was seriously ill. Liu Bian, the eldest son of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty, gave birth to a queen, but the Emperor Ling despises Liu Bian, so he has never established a prince. Before he died, he called Jianshuo into the palace and asked Jianshuo to make Liu Xie, an illegitimate child, emperor.
Han Lingdi Liu Hong
After the death of Emperor Ling, Jian Shuo wanted to kill He Jin, help Liu Xie, and let He Jin enter the palace for deliberation. Unexpectedly, it was leaked by his men, and He Jin just visible left, and then he and the queen He helped to establish Liu Bian, the young emperor, who acceded to the throne. He Taihou's ruling system, blades auxiliary government. He Jin hated the eunuch autocratic government, and Jian Shuo tried to murder him. Now that he is in power, he wants to get rid of Jian Shuo. Although Yuan Shao works under Jian Shuo, he is a confidant of blades, so it is suggested that blades take the opportunity to completely eliminate eunuchs.
After Jian Shuo learned this news, he secretly contacted Zhang Rang, Zhong Zhao and other eunuch groups, trying to kill Blades. As a result, it was leaked internally. Blade was furious and immediately killed Jian Shuo. But I was afraid of killing the "Ten Regular Attendants" group, so I hesitated all the time, and He Taihou didn't support it. Yuan Shao had already made up his mind to be a blade, and proposed to summon Dong Zhuo, the state animal husbandry, to lead troops into Beijing to help destroy the eunuch group. Only then did Braise make up his mind.
Dong Zhuo, who was worried that he had no excuse to go to Beijing, received an order and immediately led the army to Beijing in the name of punishing eunuchs. Zhang Rang, Zhong Zhao and other eunuchs knew that the end was coming, so they quickly called dozens of eunuchs to carry weapons privately. Blade entered the palace, falsely passed the imperial edict of the Queen Mother, tricked him into entering the palace, and cut off the blade's head with one knife.
Yuan Shao
After blades was killed, Yuan Shaoling led the troops to close the palace gate and ordered people to kill eunuchs. When they saw those people without beards, they cut them down. There was a river of blood in the palace, and bodies were everywhere. Some officials without beards were also killed. Some have to take off their pants to show their nakedness and prove that they are not eunuchs. The history book says, "If necessary, kill the dead by mistake, and then get away with it." (The Book of the Later Han Dynasty). More than two thousand people died in this massacre. So, Zhang Rang and others fled with the young emperor Liu Bian and Liu Chen King Liu Xie. Soon they were caught up by the pursuers, and Zhang rang jumped into the river.
The last "official dispute" in the Eastern Han Dynasty ended in both losses. Dong Zhuo, who came from Liangzhou, took the lead in holding Liu Bian and Liu Xie hostage. In September of the same year, Dong Zhuo abolished Liu Bian and made Han Xie acceded to the throne. Yuan Shao, Cao Cao and others fled Luoyang in succession and jointly crusaded against Dong Zhuo. The Three Kingdoms period began, and the Eastern Han Dynasty established by Liu Xiu existed in name only.
Dong Zhuo
From the Han Dynasty to the Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty, the hundred-year-long "official dispute" led to political corruption, political turmoil, boiling public grievances, intensified class contradictions and social crises, and people's lives were in dire straits. Finally, a large-scale civil uprising appeared, which pushed the Eastern Han Dynasty to the point of no return.
On the surface, the struggle between Qi and Guan in the Eastern Han Dynasty was only because the emperor was young, and the struggle between consorts and eunuchs was actually a political struggle between the imperial power and the gentry and landlord class, which was a sharp manifestation of internal contradictions in the feudal ruling group under the autocratic system.
After the establishment of the Eastern Han Dynasty, in order to strengthen centralization, Emperor Guangwu weakened the "three public" powers dominated by Qiu, Situ, so that the consorts or eunuchs who often held official positions in the inner dynasty did not have the "three public" checks and balances, creating conditions for consorts and eunuchs to monopolize power.
The Eastern Han regime was established with the support of nobles. Empresses are mostly from nobles, and consorts are basically representatives of nobles. The development of nobles and consorts will inevitably weaken the imperial power. In order not to be excluded, the rulers had to suppress their consorts with the help of eunuch forces; The rise of eunuch power, in turn, deprived the monarch and consorts of their power. Once the time is ripe, consorts will make a comeback, resulting in a vicious circle in which consorts and eunuchs alternately monopolize power.