In September of the 12th year of Hongwu (1379), Zhu Yuanzhang, the Ming emperor, killed the Prime Minister Hu and later abolished him.
From then on, the post of prime minister was no longer set up, and it was established as ancestral training. Whoever becomes prime minister again will be beheaded.
The prime minister was abolished, and Zhu Yuanzhang set up six departments, which were directly responsible to the emperor. Therefore, there was no prime minister in feudal society, and Hu became the last prime minister in the history of China.
So why was Hu killed by Zhu Yuanzhang? Is Hu really a rebel?
Hu and Li Shanchang are fellow villagers. He defected to Zhu Yuanzhang in Hezhou in his early years. He was promoted to Zhongshu Province to take part in politics from small positions such as chief book and magistrate of a county. Later, he replaced Wang Guangyang as Zuo Cheng, and then served as the right prime minister. Soon, he was promoted to the left-wing prime minister.
After yang xian was killed, Zhu Yuanzhang liked Hu very much because of his talent. Hu did not disappoint Zhu Yuanzhang and was cautious, which made Zhu Yuanzhang trust him very much. Hu also became famous for a while.
However, after several years as prime minister, Hu and Zhu Yuanzhang gradually drifted away, and they did not report their work to Zhu Yuanzhang. He decided and executed directly, killed and robbed, and was in power.
Many departments issued papers, and Hu Xian read them himself. All those that were bad for him were held back, and those that were good were reported to Zhu Yuanzhang.
Because of Hu's power, many ministers began to flatter Hu and gave him various expensive gifts. Therefore, General Xu Da hated Hu very much and reported Hu's evil deeds to Zhu Yuanzhang. When Hu got the news, he tried to assassinate Xu Da. Later, he was exposed.
In the proposal, that is, Liu Bowen talked about Hu's problems and shortcomings many times.
Therefore, Hu began to bear grudges against Liu Ji. When Liu Ji was ill, Zhu Yuanzhang sent Hu to visit the sick, and Hu took this opportunity to poison Liu Ji.
Because Hu and Li Shanchang are fellow villagers, they have a good relationship. Hu married his brother's daughter, that is, his niece, to Li Shanchang's nephew Li You.
With Li Shanchang's in-laws, Hu's relationship is more stable.
Bachelor Wu Bozong disliked Hu's behavior and impeached Hu. He offended Hu, causing great disaster and almost dying. Hu saw that many people began to feel scared and more proud, and his heart gradually became disloyal.
Lu Zhongheng, Hou of Ji 'an, once came back from Shaanxi. He didn't want to pay, but he took the post bus without authorization. Zhu Yuanzhang knew about it. Zhu Yuanzhang was furious and ordered to collect thieves in Daixian County.
Hou Fei of Pingliang gathered in Suzhou to appease the soldiers and civilians, but she did nothing all day and indulged in debauchery. Zhu Yuanzhang was very angry and ordered him to surrender to Mongolia in the northwest, but he didn't finish the task, and Zhu Yuanzhang was furious.
To this end, both of them are very scared. After learning about the situation, Hu secretly wooed the two and secretly communicated.
On one occasion, they were drinking at Hu's house and said nonsense: "What we are doing is illegal. What if I am reported? " The two were at a loss. Hu told them to recruit outside in case something happened.
Because Hu and Li Shanchang are related by marriage, Hu began to lobby Li Shanchang through this relationship. Li Shanchang was too old to go along with Hu, but Hu tried to persuade him many times. At the same time, Hu sent people to contact the enemy and then began to plan.
Just then, my son Hu rushed into the downtown area in a carriage, fell off the car and died. Hu Da was angry and killed the driver. Zhu Yuanzhang was furious when he learned that, and demanded compensation from Hu. Hu asked for some money for the driver's family, but Zhu Yuanzhang did not agree.
Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang's resolute attitude, Hu was afraid, so he colluded with vestbo, Zhong Cheng Tu Jie and others.
In September of the 12th year of Hongwu (1379), Zhanchengguo came to pay tribute, but Hu and others did not report to Zhu Yuanzhang. But the eunuch saw it and hit Zhu Yuanzhang. Zhu Yuanzhang was furious and blamed the minister of Zhongshu Province. Yong, kowtow to apologize. Soon, Zhu Yuanzhang sentenced Wang Guangyang to death.
In the first month of the second year, Tu Jie reported Hu. In the proposal, Ming also denounced Hu's plot. Zhu Yuanzhang was furious and ordered a thorough investigation. Then Hu, Chen Ning and Tu Jie were all killed.
Later, Hu's case spread to Li Shanchang and Li Shanchang was killed. In addition, Nanxiong Hou, Xingyang Hou Zheng Yuchun, Yongjia Hou Zhu Liangzu and Jingning Hou were also implicated.
Song Lian's son and grandson were implicated and all were killed. Zhu Yuanzhang also wanted to kill Song Lian, because Ma Huanghou pleaded with Prince Zhu Biao, Zhu Yuanzhang exiled him, and Song Lian died in exile.
As many as 30,000 people were involved in the Hu case, which lasted for more than ten years.
So, it is worth noting that is it really a rebellion?
With Zhu Yuanzhang's iron fist, Hu may not dare to rebel. Some historians also analyzed that Hu was an unjust case, he did not rebel, and there was no conclusive evidence.
My personal guess is that behind the Hu case, maybe Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to abolish the Prime Minister long ago, so he wanted to find an excuse to kill Hu. After all, the power of the prime minister is too great, which has threatened the emperor and even angered the imperial power. Zhu Yuanzhang didn't want to see this happen.
Hu is just a whipping boy. Unfortunately, so many people died with him. I have to say that Zhu Yuanzhang is too cruel.