Originally, Niu Jinxing set up a museum to teach students, but after this catastrophe, he was down and out, cynical and unhappy. At this time, Li Zicheng's army arrived in Henan, recommended by Yan Li, and Li Zicheng appreciated Niu Jinxing's talent and suggested that he work together. Niu Jinxing hesitated and resisted, but he couldn't stand the evil in the countryside. He wanted revenge by "breaking the king" and finally led his family to Li Zicheng.
As a counselor, Niu Jinxing suggested that Li Zicheng "punish more with less to help the hungry and win the hearts of the people". Li Zicheng accepted and was invincible, and the peasant army became stronger and stronger. In the seventeenth year of Chongzhen in Ming Dynasty, Li Zicheng's army entered Shaanxi, with xi 'an as its capital, Dashun as its title, and Niu Jinxing as a university student in China. In March of the same year, Beijing was captured, Zhu Youjian committed suicide, Li Zicheng proclaimed himself emperor, and Niu Jinxing became prime minister.
Single, Niu Jinxing, Prime Minister. However, Niu Jinxing's dream of becoming prime minister was short-lived. Li Zicheng retreated to Beijing because Wu Sangui led the Qing army into the customs and failed to stop it, and then retreated to Hubei. Li Zicheng's family died in Jiugong Mountain, and Li Zicheng became a monk and lived in seclusion in an ancient temple in the mountains. Niu Jinxing and his son were banished to the Qing Dynasty, and his son became the magistrate of Huangzhou. At the age of 57, Niu Jinxing lived in fear for eight years. On his deathbed, Niu Jinxing told his son, "Don't build a car behind closed doors." After the ups and downs, I think he is telling the truth.
Li Zicheng's failure is due to his lack of sober thinking about victory. But both his right-hand man and his right-hand man have unshirkable responsibilities. After Liu Zongmin entered Beijing, he "extorted private money and tortured people", imprisoned Wu Sangui's father Wu Xiang, and forced Wu Sangui to love her Chen Yuanyuan, thus provoking the villain Wu Sangui to "become a beauty in a rage". Niu Jinxing is a "soliciting student", receiving "red envelopes" and hiding them in extravagant banquets. In order to consolidate his position, Niu Jinxing secretly accused Yan Li of rebellion and asked Li Zicheng to kill Yan Li who was loyal to him. Yan Li, a versatile man, sized up the situation, advised Li Zicheng many times and criticized the extravagance and waste of Liu Zongmin and Niu Jinxing. At that time, Li Zicheng, who was carried away by victory, was headstrong and suspicious, and killed Yan Li, which led to the loss of morale and eventually defeated Hubei.
Therefore, the analysis of Niu Jinxing's life course is worthy of warning by ancient scholars. Niu Jinxing thinks he is very talented. It is impossible for him to join the rebellion without being falsely accused by powerful people. He was highly valued by Li Zicheng for his strategy after the uprising, but after becoming prime minister, he was keen on officialdom entertainment. Yan Li, who was lucky enough to recommend him, was jealous and secretly deceived Yan Li and killed him. It's really a pity.
Scholars rely on it, both ancient and modern. Reading makes people smart, and with the capital of learning, scholars become arrogant. Talent is arrogance; Pride offends colleagues easily. Scholars from ancient times to the present are mostly arrogant, some are light, but their lives are unstable and they often make some small mistakes. But Niu Jinxing almost gave up despair because of his confidence. On his deathbed, Niu Jinxing told his son "Don't be bullied", presumably because he repented, but it was too late. Because of his dependence, he had a dispute with the gentry in the village in his early years; Because of its dependence, I get carried away as soon as I get ahead. This ancient and modern scholar can learn from or overestimate himself. He is really the enemy of life.