Hu Weiyong Case, one of the four major cases in the early Ming Dynasty: Political wisdom behind power struggle
2024-04-24 17:08:26 中文版

In the early Ming Dynasty, there were four major political scandals known as the "Four Great Cases of the Early Ming Dynasty", among which the Hu Weiyong Case was the most well-known. This case, ostensibly about the personal issues of Prime Minister Hu Weiyong, was actually a carefully planned political struggle by Zhu Yuanzhang to abolish the chancellor system.

The Hu Weiyong Case occurred in the 13th year of the Hongwu reign. Hu Weiyong was accused of treason, executed, and his entire family was executed. This event shocked the entire court and government, as Hu Weiyong had been a close confidant of Zhu Yuanzhang and had been diligent and responsible during his tenure, showing no signs of rebellion.

However, a deeper analysis reveals that the Hu Weiyong Case was not a simple case of treason, but a means for Zhu Yuanzhang to achieve his political goals. Zhu Yuanzhang had always been uneasy about the excessive power of the chancellor, believing that its existence threatened the imperial power. Therefore, he took the opportunity of the Hu Weiyong Case to abolish the chancellor system in one fell swoop, concentrating power in his own hands.

In handling the Hu Weiyong Case, Zhu Yuanzhang employed a series of measures that demonstrated his political wisdom. Firstly, he conducted a rigorous investigation into Hu Weiyong's crimes, ensuring the fairness of the case. Then, he imposed severe punishment on Hu Weiyong's family to warn other officials. Finally, he took advantage of this opportunity to announce the abolition of the chancellor system, concentrating power in the emperor's hands.

Overall, the Hu Weiyong Case was a political struggle by Zhu Yuanzhang to consolidate imperial power. He successfully abolished the chancellor system and concentrated power in his own hands through this case. This event not only demonstrated Zhu Yuanzhang's political wisdom but also had a profound impact on the political system of the Ming Dynasty.

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