Chapter 89 Section 4 Faint Monarch Daozong

Daoist Yelu Hongji of the Liao Dynasty was the most stupid monarch in the history of the Liao Kingdom.However, it is recorded in the history books that Yelu Hongji had excellent moral character when he was young, and he learned a lot from others.After being established as the prince, his father Liao Xingzong specially sent Confucian officials to teach him how to become a generation of Mingjun.That being the case, how did Yelu Hongji become a faint king? When Liao Daozong was fifteen years old, he was named the king of Yanzhao. Liao Xingzong sent Confucian officials to teach him, and said to the Confucian officials: "Yanzhao is full of flattery, and you don't listen to honest advice. You should use the rules of Taoism to teach him The righteousness of monarchs and ministers, those who are not in the king's residence, are famous." ("Continued Zizhi Tongjian" Volume 56) The people around King Yanzhao are all a bunch of villains who can only flatter and flatter, so he If he doesn't hear good advice, his temperament will change over time.You have to teach him and guide him with the righteousness of the monarch and his ministers. If there is a villain who is not suitable to stay in the palace, you tell me his name, and I will let him go.Although Confucian officials taught Daozong carefully, he was already fifteen years old at this time, and he was surrounded by a group of treacherous villains since he was a child, and he did not listen to honest advice.The more than forty years he has been emperor is the era when treacherous officials of the Liao Dynasty gathered together.The reason why he likes treacherous ministers so much may be related to the fact that he was surrounded by these flattering villains since he was a child.

When Liao Daozong first succeeded to the throne, he still looked decent, and issued an imperial edict asking the ministers to give him advice.The imperial edict is written with earnest words: "I have won the heir to the great position with great success, and I have been worried all night long, fearing that Fuke will be appointed. If you want to hear the blunt words, you can make up for your losses.... Still pass the edict to the subordinates, regardless of whether they are high or low, old or young, everyone can speak bluntly No taboo." ("Liao Shi Dao Zong Benji 1") We should pay special attention to the last sentence: regardless of high or low, old or young, everyone has to speak out.I allow you to give me your opinions. I have neither morality nor ability. What I need most of all to inherit the position is everyone to give me your opinions.There are too few opinions now, so I told the ministers that if you ask for opinions in the department you are in charge of, or in the tribe, I will listen to the blunt words.

In the second year after succeeding to the throne, Daozong "sent envoys to distribute taxes, repair military equipment, persuade agriculture and mulberry, and ban thieves" ("Liao History Daozong Benji 1"), posing a situation of ordering the world.It is a pity that he issued an imperial decree asking everyone to give him opinions. I don’t know if anyone gave him a suggestion, and I don’t know if he listened to it or not; In governing the country and the people, there are no measures to implement inspections. These things are all in the past and it's over.Therefore, the evaluation of Emperor Daozong in "History of Liao Dynasty" is very unkind: "It is the first position, seek frankness, visit Taoism, persuade farmers to start schools, and provide disaster relief." At the time, he performed well, showing the air of a benevolent monarch, but soon the fox's tail was exposed, and soon "the order of slander and slander is done, and the reward for criticism is increasing day by day. All evils thrive together, and slander and cleverness compete. Thieves As far as the flesh and blood is concerned, the emperor's foundation is in danger. The people are in danger, and all the ministries are against each other." ("The Sixth Chronicle of Daozong of the Liao Dynasty") Soon, the nature of the incompetent emperor broke out.