"The Son of Heaven guards gates of country, and king dies in country" This may be highest mark of last Han dynasty in China's feudal history - Ming Dynasty.

Among them, one who died in Sheji was last emperor of 16 emperors of Ming Dynasty, Ming Xizong Zhu Youjian, who is often referred to as Chongzhen Emperor.

Why didn't Chongzhen Emperor, faced with a smoking Beijing, follow advice of his courtiers and move south to old capital of Nanjing to return? What did he do for himself and his Ming Dynasty in last 24 hours of his life?

On morning of March 18, 1644, when first rays of sun touched golden tiles of Hall of Supreme Harmony, Du Xun and Shen Zhixu, special envoys of "Chuangwang" Li Zicheng and former eunuchs of imperial palace, brought Emperor's great Shun Yongchang "peace talks" decree.

In an imperial decree, Li Zicheng said that he had no intention of taking over Zhu family and was forced to rise because he could not survive. Now that my army is on doorstep of imperial city, I hope that Chongzhen Emperor can make him "King of Northwest."

He decides everything in Northwest. Accordingly, he can withdraw his troops and patrol hunting in name of heaven, a crusade against unofficials, a crusade against rebellious refugees throughout country and Liaodong Jian slaves.

The Chongzhen Emperor smiled and left with a smile, leaving several of courtiers as well as Du Xun and Shen Zhixiu with confused faces.

Yes, just like he just said in court "Everyone better finish their work (suicide) in Fengxian Hall", on last day of Ming Dynasty, he heard that he had high hopes After fall of Tongguan to a powerful force - Qing warriors, led by overseer Sun Chuanting.

He awoke from a dream of Huang Taiji's death, creation of slaves in Liaodong, crisis of Ming Dynasty, and inevitability of Zhongxing. The Ming Dynasty of Zhu family ended.

At this time, sunlight gave way to sudden wind and rain. The Chongzhen Emperor took his "great companion" eunuch Wang Chenggeng to "Long Life Mountain" (also called Meishan, Longevity Mountain) beyond Forbidden City. He wanted to take another look at last 17 years he was up and down all night and he spent all his time thinking about it, but he never defended an inclusive country and society, so he cried.

In early spring of 1611, he was born to Lady Liu Shi, whom Crown Prince Zhu Changluo's father disliked. He had the same or even more unhappy childhood as his father. He died in depression. after his father scolded him endlessly.

At age when he could feel motherly love, he was adopted by Li Kang's favorite concubine. At beginning of period, he felt slightest love there, but after concubine Li Kang gave birth to a princess, he was transferred to concubine Li Zhuang's family, and only happy thing he could do was study on his own.

In 1620, when he was 9 years old, his grandfather Zhu Yijun and father Zhu Changluo passed away one after another, and his half-brother Zhu Youxiao became 15th Emperor of Ming Dynasty, Emperor Tianqi. As emperor's only younger brother, he received award for first time and was named "Xin Wang".

His older brother doesn't like beautiful women in countryside, but loves carpentry and often hides out to do his own work. The eunuchs led by Wei Zhongxian and members of Donglin party boiled in courtroom, and harem was also disturbed by Wei Zhongxian's "counter food" (the court lady and eunuch were a nominal couple) Hakka.

Thinking he had no destiny with emperor, he never thought his day as emperor would come so soon.

In fall of 1927, emperor's elder brother, who had worked for seven years as a carpenter, came to end of his years, and Ming dynasty was handed over to this abandoned child, not loved by world. , and whose parents did not love him.

At beginning of his ascension to throne, he still had a great ambition "to seize power, and world wants peace", and he also practiced this with his long cherished and sleepy nights On dragon chair.

From afar, it looks like broken mountains and rivers. Upon closer inspection, he sees an endless quarrel between Wei Zhongxian and members of Donglin party. Restrictions......

He was tired of thinking, and as he watched outer city gates open, he thought it was time to put an end to everything he shouldn't have endured this time.

Together with Wang Chenggen, Chongzhen Emperor descended from Wanshou Mountain and approached Qianqing Palace. At this time, sky gradually darkened. He first summoned his three sons, 16-year-old Prince Zhu Qihong and 13-year-old Yongwang Zhu. Qi Zhao, 9-year-old Ding Wang Zhu Qijun.

Looking at their bright yellow clothes, he immediately ordered people to find commoner's old clothes so they could change, and said to them, "Your misfortune to be born into this troubled royal family, from today on, remember that you are more not princes, if you want to live, you must forget your identity, when you see an old man, you must call him an old man, if you see a younger old man, you must call him uncle or uncle..."

This is a commission from his father, and also last hope of an emperor who wants to leave a legacy of flesh and blood for his dynasty.

After that, he summoned only palace people and asked them to take the palace treasures he could take and change into ordinary people's clothes in order to save his life. After greeting everyone, looking at his queen, concubines and two daughters, he again shed tears.

He shouted into sky: "Why were you born in a palace?" At dinner, he issued last imperial decree. For sake of Daming's last face, relatives committed suicide.

After that, each of them returned to palace, and Chongzhen Emperor accompanied Empress Zhou in her tragic life. Looking at corpse of one who shared with him, he became mad, drew his sword and slashed indiscriminately.

Seeing his beloved concubine who did not commit suicide, he ruthlessly drew his sword, and closed his eyes to pair of daughters hiding in corner and sent them away from this place of suffering.

The Martyr King

Tired of slashing and killing, Chongzhen Emperor, who handed out his hair, lived through "most glorious" and last night of his life, knowing that his dynasty had come to an end.

He sent order to beat drums for last time. If there was no order to send him, he staggered ahead of Zhonggu and beat drums with all his might, and sound of drums spread inside and outside palace. However, after more than ten blows, only eunuch Wang Chenggen knelt at his feet, and courtiers did not come.

Looking at quiet Hall of Supreme Harmony, he didn't know where to go. He staggered and yesterday came to Hill of Longevity. Yes, he did not want to part with everything that should not have belonged to him. 17 years of hard work, God He had no mercy.

At 33, his hair was already gray and there was no youth in him at all. Taking off his dragon robe and a piece of white cloth in inner robe, he wrote with his fingers "Let me undress my corpse, do not harm people" "After 68-character book of blood, in Wang Chengeng's cry "Send Minsky emperor on road", he left this restless world that made him helpless with endless regrets.