2. Kill Yuan Xingqin
Under Li Qi's guidance, Li Siyuan realized a problem, that is, he could not demonize Li Cunxu, let alone smear Li Keyong's family and the Shatuo Hedong Group, which was the political basis for his becoming emperor. Therefore, although he overthrew Li Cunxu by force, he could not completely deny it.
But if we don’t deny Li Cunxu, how can we definitely overthrow Li Cunxu’s Li Siyuan? In other words, who is responsible for this civil war? Who will be the scapegoat?
Answer: Yuan Xingqin.
Therefore, all clues and evidence from existing historical materials point to Yuan Xingqin. Yuan Xingqin forced Li Siyuan to rebel, which became the mainstream view in history and the only view.
In addition, Yuan Xingqin killed Li Siyuan's eldest son Li Congshen. Regardless of the overall situation or personal grudges, Li Siyuan would use Yuan Xingqin as a shield.
3. Kill Guo Congqian
In February of the second year of Tiancheng (927), Li Siyuan appointed Guo Congqian, the commander of Congma Zhi, as the governor of Jingzhou, and secretly ordered assassins to follow him. After arriving in Jingzhou, he killed Guo Congqian in his entire family on the charge of "plotting great treason and killing the late emperor."
4. Kill Duan Ning and Wen Tao
After taking over Luoyang, Huo Yanwei secretly arrested Duan Ning and Wen Tao, who had committed the most heinous crimes, and prepared to execute them. An Zhongjie hurriedly stopped.
"There is a certain etiquette in killing people." An Zhongji said earnestly, "This is different from killing Li Cunji and Li Cunche."
The lord sometimes needs to kill good guys, and sometimes he needs to kill bad guys. When killing good people, such as Li Cunji and Li Cunque, this kind of dirty and disgusting thing cannot dirty the master's hands. The subordinates must be brave enough to take the blame, step forward, kill first and then report, leaving the infamy to themselves; when killing bad people, then If it needs to be done openly and openly, it must be reported to the lord in advance, and the lord will order the execution and give the good reputation to the lord.
The massacre of Li Cunxu's clan was an injustice to the world and we regretted it. We must kill it first and then report it. The killing of Duan Ning and Wen Tao, who were criticized by thousands of people, was very satisfying and must be left to the Lord.
"Lao Huo, don't be reckless, use your head."
Huo Yanwei sighed to himself, "You are still so cunning!"
So Shangshu impeached Duan Ning and Wen Tao, the "brother of tomb robbers" who had harmed the country and the people and betrayed their old master. The crimes of these two people were countless and they had long been full of evil. Before, they were only saved by bribing the authorities. Now the new emperor has eliminated the old and ushered in the new. Just hit the muzzle of the gun.
Li Siyuan issued an edict to deprive the two of their official positions and ordered them to return to their original places. As for the family property, it goes without saying that it will be confiscated.
Two years later, in September of the third year of Tiancheng (928), Duan Ning and Wen Tao were ordered to be killed.
5. Kill Queen Liu
After the "Xingjiaomen Mutiny", Empress Liu, Li Cunwo and others fled to Taiyuan carrying gold, silver and jewelry. After arriving in Taiyuan, Empress Liu cut off her hair and became a nun. From then on, she saw through the world of mortals and escaped into Buddhism, hoping only to survive.
As mentioned earlier, this "scheming father Liu" can be said to be extremely wealthy. At that time, tributes from various places to the central government were divided into two parts, one part went into the national treasury, and the other part went into Empress Liu's personal pocket. And unlike Li Cunxu, who was extravagant, Empress Liu was a miser. She only went in and out, and never chopped off her hands. Her only expenses were copying Buddhist scriptures and giving alms to monks. She was also very stingy in her alms, so over the years, her savings countless.
After arriving in Taiyuan, Empress Liu deposited the money in a nunnery for her retirement.
Power and money have always been the sources of disaster. Empress Liu poses no political threat to Li Siyuan, but the money in her hands is a fatal temptation for the strapped Li Siyuan.
But she is a queen, a weak woman with no army, no power, and a mother-in-law. What crime should she be charged with?
rebellion? It doesn't sound true. Some shrewd subordinates proposed a crime that was fatal to all women in the feudal era: unruly women.
Framing a man for treason and a woman for being unfaithful are two magic weapons that have proven successful time and time again.
So, someone broke the news about a shocking palace scandal: Empress Liu and Li Cunwo slept in the same bed on their way to Taiyuan, which is indescribable!
Having an adulterous affair with my brother-in-law. This is Queen Liu's crime. Li Siyuan sent people to Taiyuan to kill Empress Liu. Of course the money will be confiscated.
The conclusion about Empress Liu's coffin is also the most vicious evaluation of women in Chinese culture. She is "no different from her husbands Bao Si and Da Ji", and it is said that she is mainly responsible for the "subjugation of the country and the genocide".
In traditional culture, the highest praise for a king is compared to Yao and Shun, and conversely to Jie and Zhou; the highest praise for a woman is to be compared to Meng's mother and mother-in-law, and conversely to Bao Si and Daji.
Just like the reason for killing Yuan Xingqin, Li Siyuan must not portray Li Cunxu as Jie or Zhou. So who is responsible for the dark and corrupt politics? Of course it's the woman behind the man, the beauty who brings trouble, and the traitorous and powerful ministers and eunuchs.
In short, Your Majesty, our sins deserve death.
The blame for the Li Cunxu era was something that Empress Liu, a weak woman, could not bear alone. The prime ministers, ministers and eunuchs in Li Cunxu's era could not even hope to get away with it!
6. Kill eunuchs
On April 14, the same day that Li Siyuan issued the edict to kill Kong Qian, he announced the abolition of the "Nei Gou Si" (also known as the "Nei Gou Si"). This was an official position originally set up by Guo Chongtao to please the eunuchs, and was mainly responsible for national finance, grain and grass, etc. , is a fat man who manages money.
money!
Li Siyuan was too sensitive about this. How could such an important job be in the hands of an eunuch? It was immediately revoked, the "Three Divisions" (Yalt and Iron, Household Department, and Duzhi) were restored, and a prime minister was designated to be responsible, and there were no middlemen to make the difference.
As for eunuchs, one word: kill!
Not only the eunuchs in the central government were to be killed, but also the eunuchs in charge of the army in various places were to be killed. Li Siyuan issued an order to all the vassals and vassals in the world: No need to interrogate or send them away, just kill your eunuchs on the spot.
Of course, all the vassals and towns in the world responded positively. Hundreds of eunuchs in Luoyang fled during the "Xingjiaomen Mutiny", some hid in the mountains and forests, and more than 70 eunuchs shaved their heads and went into hiding in Taiyuan.
Taiyuan Horse Infantry Commander Li Congwen (Li Siyuan's nephew) arrested these eunuchs and monks and executed them all in Dutingyi.
Killing eunuchs can accomplish multiple things with one stone: regain power; win unanimous praise from people all over the world; and save government expenses. (So Li Siyuan does not need to kill all the eunuchs, he only needs to kill most of them)
Just like Zhu Wen, Li Siyuan once again eradicated the eunuch cancer through physical destruction.
There are also two eunuchs worth mentioning:
One was the eunuch Xiang Yansi, who was the main force in falsely accusing Guo Chongtao. Later, in the name of Li Cunxu, he went to Chang'an to massacre Wang Zongyan's family. After killing Wang Zongyan's family, he heard the news about the changes in Luoyang and fled immediately, his whereabouts unknown since then.
The other one is Zhang Juhan, who "lives a thousand lives with one word". Zhang Juhan served as the privy envoy during Li Cunxu's era, but at that time Guo Chongtao was extremely powerful and powerful, and Zhang Juhan was just Guo Chongtao's puppet. After Li Siyuan entered Luoyang, Zhang Juhan took the initiative to pay him a visit, cried for punishment, and begged to return to the fields. Li Siyuan comforted him with kind words and agreed to his request.
Having been in the field of power for a long time, although he did not personally participate in it, as a member of the front row eating melons, Zhang Juhan was like the white-haired fisherman on the river, accustomed to watching the autumn moon and spring breeze. I saw him building tall buildings, watching him entertain guests and friends, and seeing his buildings falling down. Zhang Juhan understands the principle of one emperor and one minister. Now that Emperor Mingzong is here, will Zhuangzong's old ministers end up well?
After resigning and returning to Chang'an, Zhang Juhan enjoyed a happy and healthy old life for two full years. In April of the third year of Tiancheng (928), he died of illness in Chang'an at the age of 71.
Zhang Juhan, who had a "benevolent heart", was also the only eunuch since the late Tang Dynasty who died a good death in the rank of Privy Councilor.
