The Northern Zhou Dynasty Recorded the Black Iron Tribulation

The actual founder of the Northern Zhou Dynasty was the powerful minister Yu Wenhu. He deposed and killed the Xiaomin Emperor Yuwenjue and the Ming Emperor Yuwen Yu, and established Yu Wenyong as emperor (i. E. Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty). Emperor Wu Yuwenyong could be called a hero of his generation, but in the early days of his accession to the throne, he had to endure and lie dormant for twelve years. He showed great respect to Yuwen Hu. Later, with the assistance of the eunuch He Quan and his younger brother Yu Wenzhi, he finally killed this powerful minister and successfully took charge of the government. After taking office, Emperor Wu launched a large-scale campaign to exterminate Buddhism in order to enrich the country and strengthen its military. He ordered monks and nuns to return to secular life, confiscated monastery land and property, and destroyed Buddhist statues and scriptures. This move greatly enhanced the national strength and military resources of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, and laid the material foundation for subsequent wars. Later, in the sixth year of Jiande (577), he went on a personal expedition, defeated his old enemy Northern Qi in one fell swoop, and unified the north. After Emperor Wu died young, his son Emperor Xuan Yuwen Yun was dim and cruel. He only reigned for one year and passed the throne to his son Emperor Jing Yuwen Chan who was only seven years old. He called himself "Emperor Tianyuan" and indulged in sensuality. As the father-in-law of Emperor Xuan, Yang Jian (later Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty) gradually gained power as a foreign relative. After the early death of Emperor Xuan, Yang Jian corrected his imperial edicts and assisted the government, quickly eradicating the capable "Five Kings" such as Zhao Wang Yuwenzhao and Chen Wang Yuwenchun in the Yuwen clan, and cleared the obstacles. Finally, in 581 AD, Emperor Jing was forced to abdicate and the Sui Dynasty was established. The clan of the Northern Zhou Dynasty was almost wiped out.