The Succession Crisis
Although Empress Dowager Sun had agreed to the enthronement of the Jingtai Emperor (Zhu Qiyu), she ensured that the deposed Emperor Yingzong’s son, Zhu Jianjun, remained Crown Prince. However, once secure on the throne, the Jingtai Emperor replaced Zhu Jianjun with his own son, Zhu Jianji. When Zhu Jianji died young, leaving the succession empty, the Jingtai Emperor refused to restore the former heir. In early 1457, the Jingtai Emperor fell gravely ill without an heir, creating a power vacuum that opportunists were eager to exploit.
The Conspiracy
Three men spearheaded a plot to restore the imprisoned Senior Emperor. The first was Xu Youzhen (formerly Xu Cheng), who sought revenge against Yu Qian for humiliating him years prior. The second was General Shi Heng, who resented Yu Qian for refusing to grant unmerited promotions to his family. The third was the eunuch Cao Jixiang, a loyalist to the Yingzong Emperor. They conspired to use the excuse of border defense to sneak troops into the Forbidden City and free the Senior Emperor from the Southern Palace.
The Coup
Under the cover of darkness, Shi Heng opened the Chang’an Gate, allowing soldiers to enter the imperial city. They smashed through the locked gates of the Southern Palace using logs. The Yingzong Emperor, having been tipped off, was waiting. He was escorted in a carriage to the Fengtian Hall, where he reclaimed the throne as the Tian Shun Emperor. As dawn broke, ministers were summoned to court and forced to acknowledge the restoration. The Jingtai Emperor was demoted back to the title of Prince of Cheng and died shortly thereafter under suspicious circumstances.
The Martyrdom of Yu Qian
The restoration spelled doom for the officials associated with the Jingtai regime. Xu Youzhen and Shi Heng fabricated charges of treason against the Minister of War, Yu Qian, and Grand Secretary Wang Wen. Despite the lack of evidence – specifically regarding the use of a command tally – Xu Youzhen argued that “intent” was sufficient for a conviction. Although the Emperor hesitated, acknowledging Yu Qian’s great service in defending Beijing, he ultimately signed the death warrant to legitimize his restoration. Yu Qian, a man of integrity famous for his poemOde to Lime, was executed, later being buried near the tomb of Yue Fei as another tragic hero.
The Fall of the Restorers
The conspirators soon turned on each other. Xu Youzhen attempted to curb the power of Shi Heng and Cao Jixiang but was outmaneuvered and exiled to Yunnan. Shi Heng then became arrogant, filling the court with his relatives until the Emperor grew suspicious of his massive estate and influence. Accused of plotting a coup similar to the Chenqiao Incident, Shi Heng was arrested and died in prison, while his nephew Shi Biao was executed.
The Rebellion of Cao Qin
Isolated, Cao Jixiang and his nephew Cao Qin plotted a rebellion to seize the throne, inspired by the history of Cao Cao. However, their plan was leaked by a Mongol officer named Ma Liang to generals Wu Jin and Sun Tang. The palace gates were sealed, and the rebels were trapped inside the city. After a day of bloody fighting, Cao Qin committed suicide by jumping into a well, and Cao Jixiang was executed. The Tian Shun Emperor, having survived these tumultuous events, eventually realized the injustice done to Yu Qian, expressing deep regret for his execution too late to undo the damage.
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