Shi Heng, Xu Youzhen, and Cao Jixiang were originally just three people who were not very famous and had no ability. Because he saw that Zhu Qiyu was seriously ill, at the same time he had no successor. Therefore, they saw an opportunity to ascend to the throne, although Yu Qian and other important ministers in the court were already discussing the establishment of Zhu Mishen as crown prince. However, in order to gain attention, Shi Heng, Xu Youzhen, and Cao Jixiang directly released the imprisoned Zhu Qizhen behind the backs of Yu Qian and other ministers, allowing Zhu Qizhen to successfully become emperor.
(Zhu Qizhen stills)
In fact, even if Shi Heng, Xu Youzhen, and Cao Jixiang did not do this, after Zhu Jianshen became the crown prince, as soon as Zhu Qiyu died, there might be two situations. One situation was that he continued to be the crown prince and let Zhu Qizhen become the emperor. After all, at that time, Zhu Jianshen was still young, and there was still a possibility of zhu Qizhen becoming emperor. Another situation was that Zhu Jianshen was not the crown prince as emperor. If he became emperor, although Zhu Qizhen would not be able to become emperor, he would definitely release Zhu Qizhen, after all, Zhu Jianshen could not let his father be imprisoned in the Nangong.
From the above two situations, it can be seen that as long as Zhu Qiyu dies, Zhu Qizhen can at least gain freedom, and maybe even become an emperor. It can be seen that the practices of Shi Heng, Xu Youzhen and Cao Jixiang are more or less redundant. This is not what I said, Li Xian, the first assistant of the cabinet, said this to Zhu Qizhen. He said that after Zhu Qiyu's death, everyone will definitely support you as emperor, and Shi Heng, Xu Youzhen, and Cao Jixiang are completely eventful and superfluous.
However, Shi Heng, Xu Youzhen, and Cao Jixiang wanted this superfluous move. Because only by doing more can they show that they have great merit to Zhu Qi Town, and Zhu Qi Town will be grateful to them.
The success of the coup also shows that Shi Heng, Xu Youzhen, and Cao Jixiang's speculation is correct. After Zhu Qizhen was reinstated as emperor, he immediately made Shi Heng the Duke of Zhongguo, while Xu Youzhen served as the first assistant of the cabinet. Cao Jixiang was a eunuch and was not good at holding official positions in the imperial court, but his nephews were greatly promoted and rewarded.
(Cao Jixiang stills)
In short, due to the successful speculation of the "change of the door", Shi Heng, Xu Youzhen, and Cao Jixiang all received great benefits.
So, Shi Heng, Xu Youzhen, and Cao Jixiang have gained so many benefits, what is the final outcome?
All three ended up in a tragic end. After the "change of the door", only three years later, Shi Heng and his henchmen were arrested by Zhu Qizhen, who killed many of Shi Heng's henchmen, and Shi Heng was imprisoned and eventually died of illness in prison.
Xu Youzhen was initially highly valued by Zhu Qizhen and made him the first assistant. Later, however, Zhu Qizhen expelled him from the imperial court and was demoted to a commoner. Later, although he was restored as an official, Zhu Qizhen did not use him. He has been idle at home, and although he has been complaining all day, he has no choice. Eventually depressed.
Cao Jixiang's final outcome was also tragic, he was sentenced to death. It was a very cruel punishment, cutting the flesh off the bone, cutting off the limbs, causing the prisoner a pain for a while, and finally slitting the throat.
(Shi Heng stills)
Then, these three people were originally meritorious people, and they were people who had made great achievements, why did they end up so miserable in the end? There are several main reasons.
One is that these people are flying high. Because they feel that they have made great achievements, plus these people are originally speculators, their moral character is very low. The so-called "villain has the will", this is the truth. Once they are in a high position, they naturally do not restrain their words and deeds. Therefore, all three of these people installed their own cronies in the imperial court and throughout the country, betrayed their officials and knights, and accepted bribes. And their henchmen are also running amok and doing many evil things. To do so is obviously self-deprecating.
The second is that these people are fighting with each other. Shi Heng and Xu Youzhen have contradictions, Xu Youzhen and Cao Jixiang have contradictions, and Cao Jixiang has contradictions with Shi Heng. The fundamental reason why their contradictions are so deep is that everyone wants to make their power bigger, and even one person is in charge of the imperial court alone. If they do many evil deeds, but they are in a huddle and collude, they may not be defeated. But they are fighting each other and fighting each other internally, so they find an opportunity for others to take advantage of, and it is normal for them to be knocked down.
Third, these people have done a high job of shaking the Lord. For Zhu Qizhen, they are simply the work of reconstruction. It was precisely because of the merit of reconstruction that Zhu Qizhen was very jealous of them. At the beginning, Zhu Qizhen showed that he attached great importance to them. But although they show great importance, they are actually afraid of them. At the same time, Zhu Qizhen made mistakes by attaching great importance to them and making them proud. In this way, they had the handle in Zhu Qizhen's hand. Zhu Qizhen wanted to take them down, so it was logical.
(References: History of the Ming Dynasty, Ming Shilu)