Chapter 8 Chapter 2 Chen Sheng rebelled

In a sense, the Great Qin Dynasty, with a golden city thousands of miles away, was overthrown by Chen Sheng and Wu Guang.Although Chen Sheng and Wu Guang's rebel army was quickly suppressed by Zhang Han's government forces, and their "Zhang Chu State" only existed for six months, without Chen Sheng and Wu Guang in front, there would be no Xiang Yu and Liu Bang in the back, and there would be no The Second Emperor of the Great Qin Empire died. There is no doubt about this. It is suspicious that Qin Shihuang, who is so talented and general, really thinks that his dynasty is "the career of descendants and emperors forever"?For the challenges and crises that the empire might face, didn't he have the slightest warning in advance?

some. After unifying the world, Qin Shihuang was not dazzled by the victory.On the contrary, it can be said that he has racked his brains on whether his revolutionary achievements can be consolidated. To this end, Qin Shihuang did several things. The most important thing, of course, is to abolish feudalism and establish prefectures and counties.In fact, in the feudal and county disputes at that time, both sides focused on the security of the country and the stability of the political power.The only difference is that Wang Wan and the others believe that enfeoffing princes can protect the country, while Qin Shihuang and Li Si have the opposite opinion.

However, Qin Shihuang's understanding was better than Li Si's. Li Si's view is that feudalism is not safe.Li Si said that the princes entrusted by the King of Zhou are everywhere, and there are so many.Did you defend the Son of Heaven?No.On the contrary, they themselves regarded them as bandits and enemies, and they fought so hard that Zhou Tianzi couldn't even be a peacemaker.Feudal princes, to maintain stability, or to add chaos? Qin Shihuang's view was even more profound.He simply believed that the existence of the princes itself was an "unstable factor."Qin Shihuang said that the world is full of wars because of the princes.With princes, the world becomes a rivers and lakes.Everyone is vying to be the boss, and there are still some who don't fight much?Restoring the feudal system, isn't it creating war?

The conclusion is: the implementation of the system of prefectures and counties can ensure the long-term stability of the empire. History has proved that Qin Shihuang was right. In fact, as soon as the Great Qin Empire fell, the feudal system was restored in the hands of Xiang Yu.After the duke dominated the world, he sealed eighteen princes and kings in one breath.What was the outcome?Unfortunately, Qin Shihuang's worries about restarting the war were met.And it was Liu Bang who was sealed in Hanzhong by him who finally killed Xiang Yu. Next, Liu Bang almost made the same mistakes again.

After Liu Bang proclaimed himself emperor, he also faced the entanglement of "feudalism or counties".In the end, under pressure, they had to compromise and reconcile, and implemented "one dynasty, two systems", setting up counties and counties in Jifu, which was directly under the emperor's direct control, and conferring princes outside Jifu.This is the "prefecture-state system" in which prefectures and counties go hand in hand with feudal states. Clearly, this is the product of haggling and political compromise.As a result, either a king with a different surname rebelled, or a king with the same surname rebelled.In 201 BC, the king of Han believed in rebellion.Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty went to suppress the rebellion and was trapped for seven days, which was called "Trapping Pingcheng" in history.In 195 BC, Huainan King Yingbu rebelled, and Gao Zu went to suppress the rebellion, but was shot by Liu Ya, and died, which was called "Sick Liu Ya" in history.Liu Bang's emperor's career was actually spent in countering rebellion, and he pressed the gourd and picked it up.

Thereafter, Emperor Hui Liu Ying, Emperor Wen Liu Heng, and Emperor Jing Liu Qi had no peace for three consecutive generations. Before that, there were Zhu Lu named kings, and later there was the chaos of the Seven Kingdoms.The imperial court had to think hard and act both hard and soft, and it was not until the fifth year of Yuanfeng Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty that it was settled (see the eighth volume of this history of China for details). Isn't feudalism "the source of war"? On the contrary, the county system quickly demonstrated its superiority.Liu Zongyuan once concluded that: At the end of the Qin Dynasty, the world was in chaos, there were rebels but no rebellious officials (there were rebellious people, but no rebellious officials).In the early Han Dynasty, the world was in chaos, and there were rebellious states but no rebellious counties (there were rebellious feudal states, but no rebellious counties).In the mid-Tang Dynasty, the world was in chaos, there were rebellious generals but no rebellious states (there were rebellious generals, but no rebellious state capitals).Liu Zongyuan believes that this is the benefit of the county system.

From this, he came to the conclusion: the feudal system cannot be restored, and the system of prefectures and counties cannot be abolished-"the establishment of prefectures and counties cannot be changed." Maybe, maybe. In fact, whether feudalism and prefectures are better or worse is a question that can be discussed, and it is also a question that has been debated for a long time.Moreover, different positions will not lead to the same conclusions.But it is certain that Qin's demise was not due to the implementation of the county system.On the contrary, this system is beneficial to the Qin Empire.

Then let's take a look at Qin's county system. According to the system of prefectures and counties, the empire is no longer divided into feudal princes, but divided into central and local governments.If there is a head of state in the central government, this is the emperor; if there is a head of government, this is the prime minister.The prime ministers include the prime minister, Taiwei, and doctor Yushi, known as the "Three Dukes".Under the Sangong there are "Nine Ministers", which are equivalent to government ministers. Localities are divided into counties and counties.Counties belong to counties, and counties belong to the central government.The chief of the county is the sheriff.The chief of the county, the county magistrate in a large county, and the magistrate in a small county.For their deputies, there are county magistrates and magistrates in counties, and magistrates and magistrates in counties.

Below the county is the township.The person in charge of the township is the three elders.Below the township is the pavilion.The person in charge of the pavilion is the pavilion chief.Below the pavilion is Li.The person in charge of Li is Li Kui.Below the mile, ten families are one even, and five families are one five. Obviously, Qin's prefecture and county system is a vertical system from top to bottom.The central government governs the county, the county governs the county, the county governs the township, the township governs the pavilion, the pavilion governs the ri, and the ri and wu.The supreme is the emperor, and the bottom is the common people.

This is an iron net, neither sparse nor leaky. It is also a machine, a ruling machine that is programmed like a computer and can operate automatically.The machine is manned by the emperor.As long as the emperor masters the master switch, the empire will move forward like a giant ship. Qin is such a Titanic. It is now impossible to know with certainty how the machine was installed and operated.But to be sure, its design is complex and thoughtful.The whole system takes the county as the key and the node.There are three levels at the county level and above: the central government, the county, and the county, with officials; there are also three levels below the county: townships, pavilions, and ri, with officials.Officials are "Liu Guan", who are dispatched and appointed by the central government; officials are "squires", who are filled by local people with property or virtue.County magistrates are foreigners and can be transferred, so they are not afraid of becoming princes of one side; township officials are locals, which is enough to balance the world and the people.

It was a painstaking effort. Under such strict control, how could the people known as "the head of Guizhou", including the officials who acted as imperial power, have the possibility of rebellion? hardly. So, is Qin Shihuang relieved? nor.

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