The land is afraid of autumn drought, and people are afraid that it will be difficult to grow old.

—Salar proverb

Tengger was the grandson of Badr and the son of Dalai. Since his grandfather and father were both heroes of the Great Mongolian Empire, Tengger played with Kublai Khan's son since he was a child and enjoyed the treatment of a royal child.

Since ancient times, the relationship between father and son in the imperial family has been very delicate. The father generally has high expectations for the princes and hopes to continue the royal family; At the same time, they are very jealous of their impatience and plot to usurp power. The princes were full of ambition and eager to try, and they were in awe of their father, and they walked on thin ice all day long, as if they were on the edge of the abyss. Therefore, the royal father and son staged one tragic drama after another.

Kublai Khan had a total of 12 sons. The eldest son, Duo'er, died only young. Therefore, it is generally regarded as the eldest son of Kublai Khan.

In 1243, Kublai Khan summoned Haiyun Zen Master from the Central Plains to inquire about Buddhism. coincided with the birth of his wife Chabi with a second son. He asked Master Haiyun to name his child.

Zen Master Haiyun believed that real gold was the most precious among all things in the world, so he gave Kublai Khan's son a Chinese name - real gold.

As a teenager, Zhenjin followed Kublai Khan to Monan to manage the affairs of the Han region, and thus lived in the Jinlianchuan (in the area where present-day Inner Mongolia and Hebei Province meet), where he came into contact with a large number of Han Confucian scholars.

Kublai Khan handed over the task of educating Zhenjin to the Han Confucian Yao Shu and Dou Mo, and asked Tengger, Tumu Ge'er and Liu Bingzhong's son Wang Sui to read Zhenjin as companions, accepting the influence of the Han family's Three Principles and Five Constants and the maxims of the sages, and using the "Book of Filial Piety" as a textbook for enlightenment.

Zhenjin has the best relationship with Wang Sui, and he is obedient to him, often listening to him indoctrinate the way of learning and the truth of controlling chaos in the past dynasties. Zhenjin was very interested in Sinology, diligent and inquisitive, and had a better relationship with Wang Sui than with other children of Mongolian nobles.

Tengger dismisses Zhenjin's contempt for Mongolian traditions and his admiration of Sinology. Gradually, disagreements arose between them.

Wang Sui did not leave the East Palace day and night, and accompanied Zhenjin. Other Hanchen's sons also got along well with him.

Kublai Khan had high expectations for Zhenjin, and when Zhenjin was 18 years old, he was named the King of Yan and received the Zhongshu to save trouble. After the establishment of the Privy Council, Kublai Khan sealed the 20-year-old Zhenjin Shouzhong Decree and sentenced the Privy Council to the Privy Council.

In fact, Zhenjin only goes to Zhongshu Province twice a month to inspect it, and usually entrusts the affairs of Zhongshu Province and the Privy Council to Wang Sui to deal with.

The practice of real gold made Tengger's heart very dissatisfied. When he came home, he complained to his father Dalai: "Yan Wang Zhenjin is too close to the Han people. Usually I only care about Chinese poetry and Han affairs, but now I have handed over my work to the Han people. ”

Dalai whispered to Tengger: "You can know it in your own heart, don't talk nonsense everywhere." Zhenjin is the heir of the Great Khan. ”

Tengger said unhappily: "Let such a person lead the Great Yuan, wouldn't he be the king of the country?" ”

The traditional Mongolian system of succession to the throne is to hold a Kurultai assembly to elect sages. After Kublai Khan defeated Ali Buge and gained the right to rule, Yao Shu, Zhang Xiongfei and other Han ministers suggested that he adopt the primogeniture system of the Han Central Plains Dynasty to ensure an orderly succession to the Khan.

In March 1273, Kublai Khan adopted the advice of the Han ministers and issued an edict to appoint his eldest son, Zhenjin, who was 30 years old, as the crown prince.

Zhenjin has been exposed to the culture of the Han people since he was a child, which paved the way for his firm support for Han law in the future. His political future was also closely linked to the Han Confucian courtiers. He liked to discuss Confucian classics and historical books of the past dynasties, and often discussed classics such as "Zizhi Tongjian" and "Zhenguan Political Leaders" with the kings and close ministers in their spare time.

Whenever Kublai Khan was sick, Zhenjin was particularly filial and stayed by the sickbed all day long.

When he heard that his mother, Empress Chabi, had suffered a stroke, he went to visit him before he even got his clothes on.

After the death of Empress Chabi, he did not eat or drink all day long, and deeply missed his mother.

The clothes he was wearing could not be washed, so he ordered his courtiers to re-dye them and continue to wear them.

The courtier proposes a new dress.

"It's not difficult to make even a hundred new clothes. I see that this old dress is not broken, and it is a pity to throw it away. ”

In short, Zhenjin was the most Confucianized in the Dayuan royal family.

In 1274, Zhenjin was ordered by the Great Khan to go to Lintao in Gansu Province to escort the previous emperor, the Tibetan Bas-pa, back to Sakya in Tibet (present-day Sakya in Tibet).

Tengger was supposed to take the opportunity to go home.

Kublai Khan, however, asked Tengger to accompany Zhenjin to Tibet.

Tengger followed Zhenjin to stay in Tibet for two years. He saw that Zhenjin not only served as a benefactor, but also held a grand puja at Qumi Rinmo (present-day Qumi, Shigatse County, Tibet) in Later Tibet, where Phags-pa gave live lectures and provided food, gold, and robes to more than 70,000 lamas. As many as 100,000 people participated in the participants, plus ordinary people.

Tengger found that Zhenjin was particularly fascinated by Buddhism, and asked Phags-pa to teach the basic teachings of Buddhism, and also wrote the "Treatise on Enlightenment".

Tengger was responsible for the internal and foreign affairs of Tibet, exploring the conquest of India or the northward march from Tibet to defeat the northwestern kings who opposed Kublai Khan, and opening the way to the Ilkhanate. He also learned of the discord between Bunchen Gongga Zangpo and Phags-pa, and after returning to Dadu, he played to Kublai Khan. Kublai Khan soon sent Sango to suppress it.

At the beginning of 1279, Tengger and Zhenjin returned to Dadu.

At this time, Kublai Khan's interest in implementing the Han legal system was declining, and he turned to the Hui Ahma financial management.

Liu Bingzhong, Shi Tianze, Zhao Bi and other important Han ministers have passed away one after another.

Hanchen's status was reduced, and he was unable to compete with Ahma for a while, so he pinned his hopes on Zhenjin.

Hanchen colluded with Li Jushou, a Taoist priest who served Kublai Khan at the imperial court.

Li Jushou took the opportunity of the incident to say to Kublai Khan: "The crown prince is prosperous in the Spring and Autumn Period, and it is advisable to prepare for national politics. ”

Other Hanchen also advised the prince to govern the country.

Kublai Khan ordered the 36-year-old Zhenjin to start participating in court politics. All the affairs of the Zhongshu Province, the Privy Council, the Imperial Historical Tower, and the Baisi were reported to the real gold first, and then Kublai Khan was heard.

Once, Jiangxi Province offered rich gifts.

Zhenjin returned all the gifts and said angrily: "The court let you govern the people." The people are safe, why is there not enough money and food? The people are uneasy, although there is a lot of money and food, can they be self-assured? ”

During the reign of Möngke Khan, debates on Buddhism and Taoism ended in the victory of Buddhism. The status of Taoism began to decline.

Zhenjin advocates Tibetan Buddhism the most and also supports Taoism.

Once, Kublai Khan followed the advice of his ministers and prepared to burn all the Taoist books.

Zhenjin listened to the advice of the Taoist priest Zhang Liusun and said to Kublai Khan: "Huang Lao's words, governing the country cannot be abolished. ”

Kublai Khan felt that Zhenjin had a point, so he stopped burning books. As a result, the status of Taoism has risen again.

Zhenjin has a very poor attitude towards Islam.

In January 1280, a group of Hui merchants who had come to Dayuan quarreled with the post stations along the way because they refused to eat mutton that had not been slaughtered according to the canons.

With his personal preference, Zhenjin suggested to Kublai Khan that "in the future, no matter who slaughters livestock, the Hui people must not refuse to eat it." They are all my slaves, and their diet must follow my Great Yuan Dynasty! ”

This rule prevents the Hui from slaughtering livestock according to their own customs and from circumcising their sons. As a result, a large number of returning merchants were forced to leave Dayuan. Merchants from Central Asia were also reluctant to come to do business, resulting in a sharp decline in tax revenues, a lack of precious tribute, and a decline in foreign trade.

In fact, this is a measure taken by real money to take the opportunity to suppress the returning human rights dignitaries, including Ahma. As the leader of the Hanfa faction, Zhenjin formed a sharp opposition to the financial management faction led by Ahma.

Tengger was very disapproving of the practice of real gold. The ideas of the two people gradually drifted apart.

Xie Changyuan, a scholar of the Ministry of Rites who was born in the Han in the south, proposed the establishment of Menxia Province, which was in line with Kublai Khan's idea of making his subordinates inspect each other to prevent deception and concealment.

Zhenjin deliberately wanted to let Lian Xixian, the minister of the Vultures, serve as his servant.

Zhenjin said to Lian Xixian: "The emperor ordered Aiqing to lead the province to the province, don't be afraid of those villains, I will help Aiqing get rid of them." ”

However, due to Ahma's obstruction and Hanchen's disagreement, the plan to establish a province was soon aborted.

Lian Xixian felt very angry, which caused him to feel unwell and soon became seriously ill.

When Zhenjin heard about it, he immediately sent his henchman Yang Jiding to visit.

Lian Xixian left a last word for Zhenjin, hinting at getting rid of Ahma: "We must eradicate those who mislead the country and harm the people." ”。

In July 1280, Zhongshu Pingzhang made meritorious contributions to the financial management of Ahma, and was reused by Kublai Khan, and began to hold great power.

Ahma repeatedly canceled the implementation of the Han law, forcing Xu Heng, the priest of the country, to be unable to teach, so he had to ask to return to his hometown.

Zhenjin hurriedly ran to Kublai Khan and asked Xu Heng's son to take an official position, and on the other hand, he sent an official from the East Palace to persuade Xu Heng: "Don't worry because there is no justice, you can settle down and be fair." ”

Real gold and Ahma's financial management concepts are at odds with each other, and they are incompatible.

Once, they met at the Arrow Field, and there was an argument over a policy. Enraged, Jinjin raised his bow and struck Ahma's head, causing him to bleed.

Ahmad dared not speak out against the crown prince.

Tengger couldn't stand it anymore. He thought to himself: Ahmad is also an important minister of the country, how can Zhenjin be so rude?

He stepped forward and blamed Zhenjin for two sentences.

Unexpectedly, Zhenjin was furious and parted ways with Tengger from then on.

When Kublai Khan saw the injured Ahma, he asked curiously, "Aiqing, why is your face injured?" ”

Ahmad replied embarrassedly, "I was accidentally kicked by a horse in the morning." ”

Zhenjin, who was sitting on the side, immediately scolded: "Don't you blush when you tell lies? A good man is a good man. You just say it's my real gold! ”

Kublai Khan was stunned and stunned, thinking that Zhenjin, as the future monarch, could not control his violent temper, and was really not calm enough.

On another occasion, Zhenjin and Ahma quarreled again in front of Kublai Khan in the imperial court. Enraged, he raised his fist and beat Ahma severely.

Kublai Khan couldn't stand it anymore and loudly drank the real gold.

Therefore, among the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty, Ahma, who leaned towards one side, was only afraid of Zhenjin alone.

In April 1282, there was a sensational incident in Dadu in which Ahma was assassinated by the Han Wang Shu and the high monks.

Although Zhenjin accompanied Kublai Khan at the time, he was widely believed to have had a lot to do with the assassination.

Kublai Khan ordered the execution of Wang Shu, the high monks, and Zhang Yitongtong, the political minister and privy deputy envoy of Zhongshu Province who remained in the capital.

After Ahma's death, Zhenjin recommended Heli Huosun, who supported Hanfa, to be the right prime minister, and encouraged him: "Ahma was killed, and you became the right prime minister of Zhongshu." If you're doing something that's good for your country and people, don't be afraid to change and do it boldly. If anyone stands in the way, I will support you. ”

Zhenjin appointed a large number of Hanchen as his own power base. He earnestly admonished the Hanchens: "The way of Confucius that you have learned can now come in handy. You should do what you have learned in your life and vigorously implement it. ”

Zhenjin continued to promote the policy of sinicization of Mongolia, and Mongolian children only learned Mongolian script, and asked them to study Chinese hard, and personally invited Han scholars to educate their children.

Tengger, on the other hand, was at odds with Zhenjin, resolutely not allowing his children to learn Chinese, and at the same time participating in the opposition to Zhenjin's partisanship.

Although Zhenjin is ambitious, in fact, he only participates in the government and does not have the power to influence the government. The power of the Great Yuan court was always in the hands of his shrewd and arbitrary father, Emperor Kublai Khan.

Kublai Khan has always been obsessed with the financial management faction and has developed an aversion to the real money that opposes the financial management faction.

In December 1284, Kublai Khan appointed Lu Shirong, a Han merchant, to manage his finances. At the same time, it was rumored everywhere that the newly appointed Empress Nanbi of the main palace was arrogating in politics.

Zhenjin and Hanchen were very unhappy about this. He pointed at Lu Shirong and scolded: "Money doesn't fall from the sky, how can you squeeze profits every year?" I'm just afraid that the people's anointed blood will be depleted because of this, not only harming the people, but also being a big moth to the country! ”

A few months later, Lu Shirong was impeached and removed from power by the Han faction of Jinjin, imprisoned and executed.

Although the leader of the financial management faction, Sang Ge, tried his best to protect Lu Shirong, he did not dare to save him because he was afraid of real money.

In the spring of 1285, a Nantai imperial historian said: Kublai Khan is old and should give the crown prince the throne of Zhenjin, and implore Empress Nanbi not to interfere in politics anymore.

When Zhenjin heard about it, he blamed Yushi for being self-defeating, and he was very frightened.

At that time, all the imperial histories with a quota of 16 Han people in Taizhong were vacant, and Shang Wen, who served as the capital, secretly hid this recital.

When Ahma's supporters Dajigu Asan, Tengger and others learned of this, they asked Kublai Khan to investigate the cases of various officials. Nominally, it is to search for the country's hidden money and food, but in essence, it is intended to make this piece public.

They took over the case of the Imperial Officials and immediately demanded this recital.

Shang Wen knew that this piece was very important, and he excused himself and said that it could only be handed over with the approval of the right prime minister, An Tong and others.

Daji Guasan and Tengger reported the matter to Kublai Khan.

Kublai Khan was furious and ordered the music to be handed in immediately.

An Tong and others were also helpless.

Shang Wen took offense as defense, and quickly collected dozens of charges from Dajigu Asan's henchmen from Ahma's old case, and discussed countermeasures with An Tong.

Shang Wen said: "The crown prince is the foundation of the world. If the chapter is revealed, it will overthrow the prince and shake the country's foundation, and the disaster will be unspeakable. There is only a pre-emptive strike to turn the defendant into a plaintiff. ”

As a result, An Tong and others preemptively complained to Kublai Khan about Daji Gu Asan's crimes.

When Kublai Khan saw that someone wanted him to abdicate, he was so angry that his seven orifices smoked, and he asked sharply: "Are you not guilty?" ”

An Tong took the lead in pleading guilty and said, "We will not run away from the crime. The charges against Dajigu Asan and others are clearly written in the criminal law. They're not a good thing. A respectable minister should be selected to take charge of this case, so that everyone can be convinced and calm the troubles. ”

Kublai Khan's anger subsided somewhat. The situation gradually eased. Later, the remnants of Ahma, such as Dajigu Asan, were convicted of adultery and executed. Tengger was severely punished by Kublai Khan because he was not deeply involved.

Despite this, Zhenjin exposed his ambition too early, for fear that Kublai Khan would abolish himself like many Han emperors, be depressed, and become ill for a long time. In January 1286, at the age of 43, Zhenjin died of illness. After Zhenjin's death, Kublai Khan awarded the crown prince to Zhenjin's third son, Timur, who later became Yuan Chengzong.

The policies of statecraft have failed one after another. The ministers fought openly and secretly, and became a mess. Beloved sons died one after another. The white-haired man sends the black-haired man. The twilight years of a hero are powerless. As a result of these tragedies, Kublai Khan began to drink heavily and overeat without restraint. He gained weight rapidly and became increasingly obese.

Diseases caused by alcoholism and obesity tormented Kublai Khan so much that life was worse than death.

On February 18, 1294, Kublai Khan died with unforgettable sorrow.

As an imperial conqueror who made decisions for thousands of miles, Kublai Khan brought pain and havoc to the people of the conquered regions.

As the founder of a new state and a new order, Kublai Khan was very successful. At the very least, he unified the Han region of the Central Plains, which had been divided for hundreds of years.

The elderly Dalai and Nuhai led the next generation of Tengger, Tawfik and others to the funeral of the Great Khan Kublai Khan.

In the cold wind that pierced his face, Nuhai shivered with cold. He couldn't help but moan, "When will the warm spring come?" ”