Recently Trump has been trending again
But not because of campaign speeches
Also not due to policy controversies
But it is in his hands
An increasingly obvious bruise
August 25
Trump hosted the South Korean president
During Yoon Suk-yeol's time
The camera sweeps across his hands
That bruise is more noticeable than before
Instantly ignited public opinion in America
Has netizens dug up
The hand of the British queen two days before her death
Photo comparison
Saying the position and color of this bruise are too similar
There are also bloggers claiming to be medical doctors
Asserted Trump has only 6-8 months left to live
August 27
Vice President Vance was questioned by reporters
Trump experiences significant health changes
Are you ready to take over as the Supreme Commander?
Vance's response is very subtle
He said he had been through the past 200 days
Has received extensive combat training
If a tragedy occurs
This is the best preparation
But the topic shifts
Full confidence in Trump's health
Believe he will complete his term
This is not simple gossip about health
But rather the power dynamics
The cruelest rules of the game
A political strongman
The moment of truly losing power
It has never been the moment of his physical death
Everyone starts to doubt
The moment his health issues arise
Let me tell you a story from the early Han dynasty
Back then Ying Bu rebelled
He spreads everywhere that Liu Bang is old
Intense rumors of court infighting
As a result, many lords and soldiers turned to him
When Liu Bang strained his sick body to lead the expedition
During the army inspection at the front
Soldiers saw Wang Han riding on horseback
Although appearing tired
But mentally vigorous
The rumors about Ying Bu instantly collapsed
The rebels' hearts are scattered
The rebel group collapses on the spot
This is the terrifying power of health kings
If the rebels knew
Liu Bang will die in half a year
Would they easily give up?
The logic behind it is brutal
The stronger the ruler
The more complicated the political power around him
The balance of various forces
All relies on the expectation of his long-term rule
Once someone doubts his health issues
The balance will be broken
Capital will withdraw from the old emperor
Instead suppress the heir
Various factions competing for power
Will stand in line in advance
The contradictions between the ruler and the heir
Will be infinitely magnified
At this time, even the most solid power fortress
Will also be breached in internal struggles
So
Those top political strongmen in history
Even if exhausted
Also have to hold on and show health
Qin Shi Huang and Han Wu
Emperor Taizong of Tang, Ming, Shenzong, Qing, and Yongzheng
These 5 peak emperors
Why they crazily pursue longevity medicine
Not just for themselves
Also rewarding his ministers
Because they are too clear
Once health issues are put on the table
The competition for successors will break out
His forces will reorganize for interests
Even coups
Look at their late-life changes
The calamity of witchcraft
The Crown Prince Chengqian's rebellion
Isn't it the inevitable backlash after health warnings?
Of course not all rulers
Can play with single medicine
Show health as a high-level game
Those without capability
Forcing the powerful to take drugs together as low-end players
What to do
The most common means is scandal news
Everyone think about it
Those historical beauties that brought disaster
Mo Xi, Daji, Bao Si, Yang Guifei
Why the more crisis a dynasty faces
The more outrageous the ruler's scandal
In the chaotic times of the Southern and Northern Dynasties and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms
Gao Huan and Er Zhu Rong
Why play with promiscuity
Because they need to prove to the outside world
I am still energetic
Can maintain control
Without the means of Qin Shi Huang and Han Wu
Can only rely on lewdness and diligence
The combination of assassination
Give support to their political groups
Inject a boost
Timing the outbreak of the crisis
Try to push back
This rule can even transcend gender
China's two most powerful women
Wu Zetian and Empress Dowager Feng
Why publicly keep concubines
Even under public pressure, they
Pushed to the political forefront
Because they are too clear
Have moved too many people's cake
Once showing signs of aging
Power grabs like the Shenlong coup
Will come one after another
So they tolerate the gossip
Even tacitly allowing yellow rumors
Essentially
Is sending a signal that I am healthy
Policies will stabilize in the long term
Now looking at Trump's bruise controversy
Isn't that clear?
The best means to attack political strongmen
Is to spread rumors around health issues
On one hand, forcing him to appear frequently
Consume vitality
On the other hand
In the process of spreading rumors to refuting rumors
Inciting internal conflicts within the ruling group
Causing power to crumble from within
And Trump and Vance
In the coming days
Destined to be about health
Amid rumors and reporters' questions
Repeatedly pulling back and forth
Trump
Must desperately prove he will live forever
Vance needs to show loyalty while keeping a backup
Lastly, I want to say
Power dynamics are not accidental
How much storm can a bruise stir up
The answer lies in the laws of history
Health is the only Achilles' heel of a political strongman
And the battle for defense around this dead spot
Since humans have had power
Have never stopped