Xu Youzhen

Xu Youzhen

Xu Youzhen (from June 16, 1407 to August 19, 1472) was named Yu at the beginning and Wu at the same time. Later, he was named tianquanweng. He was born in Wuxian county (now Suzhou, Jiangsu Province) of Suzhou Prefecture in southern Zhili. He was a minister and chief assistant of the cabinet in the middle Ming Dynasty. He was named Xu Wugong because he was granted the title of Wugong uncle.

In the eighth year of Xuande (1433), Emperor Xuanzong of the Ming Dynasty was a Jinshi. He served as a scholar, editor, and sermon of the Imperial Academy. After the outbreak of the civil engineering fort, he proposed to move south, which was condemned by both the government and the public. During the reign of Jingtai, he served as the censor of Jindu, went to Shandong to control the flood of the Yellow River, and was promoted to the vice censor of Jindu.

In 1457, Emperor Zong of the Ming Dynasty was seriously ill. Xu Youzhen, Shi Heng, Cao Jixiang and others planned to seize the door. They supported the restoration of emperor Dai Yingzong and were worshipped as the Grand Master of huagaidian, the Minister of the Ministry of war and the martial arts uncle. He slandered and killed Yu Qian and Wang Wen, and fought for power with Shi Heng and Cao Jixiang. As a result, he was convicted and demoted to participate in politics in Guangdong. Later, he moved to Jinchi Wei in Yunnan. Shi Heng was released after his defeat.

In 1472, Xu Youzhen died of depression at the age of 66.

Life of the characters

Early experience

Born on May 11, the fifth year of Yongle (1407), Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty, his real name is Xu Fan. He was a Jinshi in the eighth year of Xuande (1433) of Xuanzong of the Ming Dynasty. He was selected as a rare scholar and was later awarded the title of editor of Hanlin Academy. He is short, but smart and resourceful. He also likes fame. He studies astronomy, geography, art of war, water conservancy, Yin Yang and five elements.

During the reign of emperor Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty, the world had been peaceful for a long time, and the defense of the frontier was slack, but the southwest used troops for years. In 1442, he spared the imperial court and put forward five suggestions on military administration, which was praised by the emperor Yingzong of Ming Dynasty, but was not adopted.

In the 12th year of Zhengtong (1447), Xu Xun was promoted to the position of Imperial Academy.

Move south

In 1449, Emperor Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty personally attacked Wala. As a result, he was defeated and captured in Tupu (now Southeast of Huailai, Hebei Province). The total annihilation of 200000 troops is known as the change of Tu Bu in history. The Wara leader also advanced to Beijing. Empress Dowager sun (empress Xiaogong) ordered Zhu Qiyu, the king of Ying, to supervise the state, to be the Prime Minister of the state, and to call on the officials to discuss the countermeasures. Xu Xun suggested that the capital should be moved to Nanjing in order to avoid the sword soldiers. He was reprimanded by eunuch Jin Ying. Yu Qian, the Minister of the Ministry of war, resolutely objected and said, "those who propose to move to the South should be decapitated." Hu Liao, the Minister of rites, Chen Xun, the Minister of household, and other important officials all agreed with Yu Qian. Xu Yu was so depressed that he didn't dare to speak any more.

In September of the same year, Zhu Qiyu was supported as emperor by his ministers. He was Emperor Jing of Ming Dynasty, and Yao respected Yingzong as emperor. He appointed Yu Qian and others to organize the Beijing defense war, and sent 15 scientific and Taoist officials to recruit troops in other places. Among them, Xu Xun was sent to Zhangde (now Anyang, Henan Province) to supervise the censor. After many times of resistance, the Ming army was forced to withdraw and return to the North First, and won the battle of defending Beijing. In November, Xu Yu returned to Beijing and continued to serve as a lecturer in the Imperial Academy.

Xu Xun Su came to pursue fame, but he was ridiculed by the inner court because of the proposal of moving to the south, so he could not be promoted for a long time. He had to flatter Chen Xun, a cabinet minister, in the hope of getting his recommendation. At that time, the imperial court's employment depended on modesty. Xu Xun, through Yu Qian's students, asked Yu Qian for the duty of offering wine to his son. Yu Qian recommended Xu to Emperor Jing of Ming Dynasty. But emperor Jing didn't agree and said, "is that Xu Yu who proposed to move to the south? This person is cunning in nature. Serving as the son of the state's sacrificial wine will corrupt the mind of the supervisor. " Xu did not know the reason, thought that it was Yu Qian who obstructed him, and deeply resented him. Later, Xu Xun followed Chen Xun's advice and changed his name to Xu Youzhen.

Harnessing the Yellow River

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< sub > Xu Youzhen governs Shawan River by imperial edict

In 1452, Xu Youzhen was promoted to youyude. At that time, the Shawan reach of the Yellow River (now Yanggu, Shandong Province) had burst for seven years. The imperial court sent several officials to manage the river, but they failed to calm down the river disaster.

In 1453, Emperor Jingtai of the Ming Dynasty called on the court officials to recommend water control talents. All the officials recommended Xu Youzhen. Emperor Jing didn't know that Xu Youzhen was Xu Fan, so he appointed him as the censor of Zuojin capital and asked him to come to Zhang Qiu (in today's Yanggu of Shandong Province) to harness the Yellow River.

After on-the-spot investigation, Xu Youzhen thought that the water gate should be set up, the branch river should be dug, the canal should be dredged, and the method of dredging, blocking and dredging should be used simultaneously to quell the river disaster, which was approved by Emperor Jing. He recruited civil servants and personally supervised the construction of the project, digging ditches (Guangji canal) and building sluices (Tongyuan sluice) between Zhang Qiu and the Yellow River and Qinshui. At that time, Jiang Yuan, Minister of the Ministry of industry, suggested sending 50000 Beijing troops to support the project, hoping to complete the project within three months and solve the problem of grain transport as soon as possible, but Xu Youzhen refused. After more than 550 days of hard work, Xu Youzhen finally successfully completed the river control project.

In July 1455, Xu Youzhen was recalled to Beijing to assist in the affairs of the imperial court, and then went out to visit Caohe. He asked the court to exempt Hefu from official and horse corvee.

In 1456, a flood occurred in Shandong Province. Most of the riverbanks were destroyed. Only the riverbanks built by Xu Youzhen were still in good condition. Emperor Jing of the Ming Dynasty ordered Xu Youzhen to go to Shandong again to control the flood. Xu Youzhen repaired the breach of the old dyke and set up a number of water reducing gates between Linqing and Jining, successfully calming the flood. Emperor Jing personally summoned him to be the censor of the left vice capital.

Participate in restoration

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< sub > the change of seizing the door

After Ming Yingzong was released and returned to China, although he had the title of supreme emperor, he was kept under house arrest in Nangong by Emperor Jingdi of Ming Dynasty. In the first month of 1457, Emperor Jingtai was seriously ill. Hou Shiheng, governor Zhang Fu and eunuch Cao Jixiang of the Wuqing Dynasty wanted to welcome the restoration of Yingzong. Cao Jixiang paid a visit to empress dowager sun in the harem, told her about the restoration, and won her support. Shi Heng and Zhang Zhen go to seek the help of Xu Bin, the Minister of Taichang temple. On Xu Bin's advice, they visit Xu Youzhen overnight. Xu Youzhen was overjoyed and immediately conspired with them.

On the evening of January 16, Shi Heng, Cao Jixiang and others gathered at Xu Youzhen's home and decided to launch a coup that night. At that time, there was a war report that Wala was disturbing the border. Zhang Fu took the opportunity to mobilize the officers and soldiers of the Beijing battalion to the city on the ground of protecting the safety of the capital. Shi Heng was in charge of the garrison of the imperial city. He was in charge of the key to the city gate. He opened the Chang'an gate at four drum time, put the coup troops into the Imperial City, and then locked the palace gate to deter foreign soldiers.

Shi Heng, Xu Youzhen and others went straight to the south palace. Because the Palace door was locked, they broke the palace wall and entered. Emperor Yingzong came out to check. Xu Youzhen and others knelt down and asked Yingzong to ascend the throne again. Then they were carried to Chengyu and surrounded Yingzong to Dani. Yingzong asked the names of all the people on the way to show that he did not forget the meritorious officials, and then he entered Danei from the Donghua gate. The guards of Donghua gate wanted to stop them, but because of Yingzong's identity, they all fled. Xu Youzhen and others sent Yingzong to the Fengtian hall, where the court meeting was held, helped him to the throne, and then kowtowed and congratulated him, shouting "long live".

At this time, it was five o'clock in the morning on the 17th of the first month. All the ministers were waiting for the early court in the court room, but they were shocked to hear the noise in the Fengtian hall. At this time, the bell and drum chimed and the Palace door opened. Xu Youzhen went out, announced the news of Yingzong's restoration, and urged the officials to enter the hall to celebrate. The ministers were stunned at first, and then went to pay homage. On the 21st of the first month, Emperor Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty officially regained the throne of emperor Tianshun.

As the first assistant

On the day of Ming Yingzong's restoration (the 17th day), he awarded the meritorious officials who won the door. Xu Youzhen was also an academician. He joined the cabinet to participate in government affairs, and served as Minister of the Ministry of war. At the same time, Yu Qian, Minister of the Ministry of war, and Wang Wen, a bachelor, were arrested and sentenced to death for treason on the charges of "Geng Li Dong Gong" and "conspiring to welcome Li Xiang Prince". Yingzong thought that Yu Qian had made great contributions and could not bear to kill him, so he hesitated. But Xu Youzhen went on to say, "if you don't kill Yu Qian, the restoration will come out of nowhere." Yingzong then made up his mind to behead Yu Qian and Wang Wen on January 23.

In March of the first year of Tianshun (1457), Emperor Yingzong granted Xu Youzhen the title of Fengtian Yiwei's official and martial arts uncle. He also served as the grand Bachelor of huagaidian. He was in charge of the affairs of Wenyuan Pavilion and granted the imperial certificate. His descendants inherited the command of the Royal Guards. At that time, Chen Xun, Xiao Fu, Shang Fu and other cabinet officials were denounced. Xu Youzhen became the chief assistant of the cabinet and took charge of the power of the cabinet. And Ming Yingzong was also devoted to Xu Youzhen, allowing him to visit at any time.

After Xu Youzhen was in power, she gradually alienated Shi Heng and Cao Jixiang, and the contradiction between them became more and more intense. He often mentioned Shi Cao's illegal behavior in front of Yingzong, provoking Yingzong's dissatisfaction with them. Later, Yang Shangshu, the censor, impeached Shi Heng and Cao Jixiang, saying that they occupied mintian. Xu Youzhen and Li Xian, the cabinet minister, both claimed that Yang Xun's music was true, so emperor Yingzong of Ming Dynasty issued an imperial edict to praise Yang Xun. Shi Heng and Cao Jixiang resent each other and plot to capture Xu Youzhen day and night.

He was demoted repeatedly

At that time, Ming Yingzong was trusting Xu Youzhen, and Chang pingtui had a secret talk with him. Cao Jixiang let the eunuch eavesdrop on their conversation, and then deliberately leaked what he heard to Yingzong. Ming Yingzong was very surprised and asked him how to know. Cao Jixiang said, "I heard it from Xu Youzhen. There's nothing you don't know that your majesty said to him one day. " Ming Yingzong believed it and gradually alienated Xu Youzhen.

In June of the same year, censor Zhang Peng and others impeached Shi Heng. Before the memorial was presented, it was leaked to Shi Heng and Cao Jixiang by Wang Xuan. Shi and Cao cried in front of Yingzong, saying that the cabinet was behind the scenes. Yingzong was so angry that he put all the censors in prison and made a decision

Chinese PinYin : Xu You Zhen