Zhu Youjian changed from a vassal to an emperor in a hurry, starting a tragic life of ups and downs. During his seventeen years in power, he was quiet and worried.
Being diligent and vigilant, using thunderous means to punish the party and revitalize the government shows the political wisdom of keeping a low profile and the political determination to seek governance diligently. However, he controlled his ministers with heavy rules and was suspicious by nature, which made the cabinet run like a horse. He was stubborn and killed famous generals and ministers by mistake. Torn between the internal worries of the peasant uprising and the external invasion of the Qing army, the country missed good opportunities to maintain internal stability and fight against external aggression. During the Jiashen Incident, he hanged himself on Meishan, becoming one of the few monarchs in history who died in the country. With the disillusionment of his dream of resurgence, the Ming Dynasty perished.
After "Wanli Biography", Professor Fan Shuzhi launched "Chongzhen Biography" to narrate the historical changes in the last seventeen years of the late Ming Dynasty and the political struggles during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It makes people feel like they are there, want to see the people and events, and reflect on history and life.
