Biography

Hu was born in Dingyuan, Haozhou (; now a part of Chuzhou, Anhui province). In 1363 Hu contributed a large number of warships to Zhu Yuanzhang to use for battle with Chen Youliang. Li Shanchang, chief of warship production, was pleased with Hu and recommended Hu to Zhu Yuanzhang. Li was part of an anti-corruption campaign to eliminate political opponents of Zhu. In the end, both Li and Hu were executed by the Zhu emperor for attempting to usurp the throne.

Career

In the Hongwu Emperor's elimination of the traditional offices of grand councilor, the primary impetus was Hu Weiyong's alleged attempt to usurp the throne. Hu was the Senior Grand Councilor and a capable administrator; however, over the years, the magnitude of his powers as well as involvement in several political scandals eroded the paranoid emperor's trust in him. Finally, in 1380, the Hongwu Emperor had Hu and his entire family arrested and executed on charges of treason. Using this as an opportunity to purge his government, the Hongwu Emperor also ordered the execution of countless other officials, as well as their families, for associating with Hu. The purge lasted over a decade and resulted in more than 30,000 executions.

Some accounts narrate the dubious legends about Hu. It was said that some stalagmites emerged from the water of well, which located at the yard of his former residence. Moreover, the tombs of his ancestors were glowed in the night. While he seemed to preened himself on that and conspired to coups.

Death

Chancellor Hu Weiyong arrogated all authority to himself and accepted bribes, which stirred the wrath of other officers and the people. In 1380, a subordinate of Hu Weiyong reported to the Hongwu Emperor (Zhu Yuanzhang) that Hu Weiyong met with the envoy of another country secretly, attempting to rebel. Four days later Zhu executed Hu Weiyong. The emperor soon abolished the Chancellery of China, taking over direct responsibility of the Three Departments and Six Ministries. The Grand Secretariat later assumed responsibility for aiding the emperor in managing the state.

Together with the other members of his clique, their offences were compiled a book tilted Zhaoshi Jiandang Lu (;The Record to Proclaim the Treacherous Clique), at the behest of the emperor.

生平

胡惟庸出生不詳。龍鳳元年（1355年）投朱元璋于和州，授元帥府奏差，不久轉任宣使，又任寧國縣主簿，進升知縣，又升吉安府通判，再升湖廣行省僉事。吳元年（1367年），任太常寺少卿，再進寺卿。洪武三年（1370年），為中書省參知政事。不久，取代汪廣洋任左丞。洪武六年（1373年）正月，右丞相汪廣洋被貶為廣東行省參政。明太祖因丞相人選難覓，所以很長一段時間不設丞相。胡惟庸于是獨專中書省事務。七月，任右丞相，不久，升任左丞相，汪廣洋又被任為右丞相。

自從楊憲被殺後，明太祖認為胡惟庸有才幹，很寵信他。胡惟庸也自覺奮進，曾以遇事小心謹慎博得明太祖歡心，進一步獲得明太祖的寵信。他為此當了多年獨相，生殺廢黜大事，有的不報告明太祖便徑直執行。內外各部門的奏章，他都先拿來看，凡是陷害自己的，便扣下不上呈。各方面熱衷功名之徒，以及失去了職位的功臣武夫，競相奔走于其門，賄送金帛、名馬、玩好之物，不可勝計。徐達對他極其厭惡，密報明太祖；胡惟庸于是誘惑徐達的守門人福壽謀害徐達，但被福壽揭發。御史中丞劉基也曾說過他的短處，認為胡好比劣馬，叫它駕車，必然會翻車壞事。後來劉基生病，明太祖派胡惟庸帶醫生探視，胡惟庸便對劉基下毒。劉基死後，他更加無所顧忌。胡惟庸將哥哥的女兒嫁太師李善長的侄子李佑為妻。學士吳伯宗彈劾胡惟庸，差點大禍臨頭。此後，他權勢更盛。在他定遠老家的井中，突然生出石筍，出水數尺深，獻媚的人爭相說這是祥瑞之兆。他們還說胡惟庸祖父三代的墳墓上，晚上都有火光，照亮夜空。胡惟庸更加高興和自負，從此有了異心。

吉安侯陸仲亨從陝西回朝，擅自乘坐驛車。明太祖大怒，責罵他說：「中原在戰亂之後，人民剛剛複業，驛站買馬非常艱難。如果大家都像你這樣，人民就是將子女全部賣掉，也不能供給。」責令他到代縣捕盜賊。平涼侯費聚奉命安撫蘇州軍民，整天沉溺酒色。明太祖大怒，責令他往西北去招降蒙古，他無功而返，明太祖又嚴厲斥責他。兩人都非常害怕。胡惟庸便暗中對兩人威逼利誘。兩人一向愚勇，見胡惟庸正專權用事，便與他秘密往來。兩人曾到胡惟庸家飲酒，酒酣時，胡惟庸屏退左右，對他倆說：「我等所幹的事多不合法，一旦被發覺將怎麼辦？」兩人更加惶恐。胡惟庸于是將自己的主意告訴了他們，令他們在外面收集兵馬。

胡惟庸又曾與陳寧坐在中書省中，閱覽天下兵馬簿籍，令都督毛驤將衛士劉遇賢和亡命之徒魏文進收為心腹。胡惟庸令太僕寺丞李存義暗中遊說李善長。李善長年紀已老，不能堅決拒絕，開始不同意，後來便依違其間了。胡惟庸更加以為事情可以成功，于是派明州衛指揮林賢出海招引倭寇，與他們約定日期相會。又派元舊臣封績致書元朝，向元朝嗣君稱臣，請求出兵做外應。這些事都還沒有發出。正好胡惟庸的兒子坐馬車奔馳過市，墜死于車下，胡惟庸將駕車的人殺死。明太祖大怒，命他償命。胡惟庸請求用金帛補償駕車人家，明太祖不許。胡惟庸害怕了，便與御史大夫陳寧、中丞塗節等人圖謀起事，密告四方以及依從于自己的武臣。

洪武十二年（1379年）九月，占城國入貢，胡惟庸等人不報告明太祖。宦官出來見到了，便進宮奏告明太祖。明太祖大怒，下敕令責備中書省臣。胡惟庸和汪廣洋叩頭謝罪，但暗暗地將罪過歸咎于禮部，禮部大臣又歸咎于中書省。明太祖更加憤怒，將各臣僚全部關押起來，究問為首主持的人。不久，賜汪廣洋死，汪廣洋的妾陳氏為他陪死。皇上問知陳氏乃是被入官的陳知縣的女兒，大怒說：「被沒入官的婦女，只給功臣家。文臣怎麼得到？」便頒下敕令命法司調查。于是胡惟庸以及六部屬官都應當被判罪。第二年正月，塗節便將禍變上報，告發胡惟庸。御史中丞商暠當時被貶為中書省吏，也告發了胡惟庸的陰謀。明太祖大怒，下令廷臣輪番訊問，詞語連及陳寧、塗節。廷臣說：「塗節本來參預陰謀，見事情不成，這才將變亂上告，不可不殺。」于是誅殺胡惟庸、陳寧和塗節，夷胡惟庸三族，史稱「胡惟庸案」。

明太祖借胡惟庸案對文武功臣、官員大開殺戒，為免去君權被相權架空的可能性，亦一併廢除了中書省和相職。從此相權被剝奪，中國政治制度進一步走向君主專制。