A Study On Minister-regents Of Liusong’ Emperor Xiaowu In The Southern Dynasties

If the prince was young before the emperor’s death,he would usually appoint Minister-regents to assist the young master.Whether the regime is consolidated or not has a great bearing on Minister-regents.Before the death of Emperor Xiaowu Liu Jun ordered Liu Yigong,Liu Yuanjing,Shen Qingzhi,Yan Shibo,and Wang Xuanmo to accept the entrustment and assist the new emperor.The five Minister-regents were all former ministers who had supported Emperor Xiaowu ascended the throne.After a long period of investigation,Emperor Xiaowu believed that they were loyal to the emperor and possessed certain talents,able to support the new emperor and maintain political stability.In order to prevent Minister-regents from forming a party,Emperor Xiaowu clearly stipulated their positions and responsibilities in his will,and used their original contradictions to make them check and balance each other.There are huge problems behind Emperor Xiaowu’s seemingly careful arrangements: Liu Yigong and Yan Shibo have a strong desire for power hidden under the appearance of flattery and commonplace;Liu Yigong,Liu Yuanjing,and Yan Shibo have a very personal relationship,but Liu Yigong and Shen Qingzhi,Liu Yuanjing and Wang Xuanmo are in conflict with each other,and they are already incompatible.All the problems show that Emperor Xiaowu lacked the knowledge and skills of using people.After the death of Emperor Xiaowu,the checks and balances he built were destroyed.The “ruling group” composed of Liu Yigong,Liu Yuanjing,and Yan Shibo not only pushed Shen Qingzhi and Wang Xuanmo out of the center of power,but also colluded with Emperor Xiaowu’s attendants to control the power of the government,crowd out ministers,and invade the imperial power,causing political turmoil.August of the first year of Yong Guang,the new emperor Liu Ziye eradicates the ruling minister group and changes reign title named Jing He.Soon,Shen Qingzhi was killed because of suspicion by the new emperor Liu Ziye,and Liu Ziye was also killed by his uncle Liu Yu.Less than two years after the death of Emperor Xiaowu,most of the Minister-regents he arranged were killed,and even his heirs were also deposed and killed.This situation has a great relationship with Emperor Xiaowu’s improper choice of Minister-regents.