Chapter 80 The second section cleverly oppresses powerful officials

Jin Shizong is thirsty for talents and appoints people on their merits. Even for the old ministers of the previous dynasty, he can only use their talents and make the best use of them.Among these former courtiers, there was a man named He Shi Lie Zhining, who was brave and good at fighting, with outstanding achievements, and was a rare general.But this Heshi Lie Zhining vowed not to surrender, so what method would Jin Shizong use to persuade him to surrender? He Shi Lie Zhining was an old minister during the period of King Hailing. At that time, King Hailing sent him to suppress the Khitan uprising. After Emperor Sejong ascended the throne, he sent envoys to recruit him.He Shi Lie Zhining was loyal to his old master, believed that Sejong was usurping the throne, refused to surrender, and beheaded the envoy sent by Sejong nine times.But the officers and soldiers under him wanted to return to Sejong, the new lord ascended the throne, and King Hailing was killed again, so why not surrender?Seeing that his subordinates were about to mutiny, he had no choice but to lead his troops back to surrender.After his surrender, Emperor Sejong was also very angry.He said, I sent nine envoys, but you killed them all.You are an old minister of Hailing, if you are really a loyal minister, you should commit suicide and be buried as King Hailing.You can neither be loyal to Hailing, nor return to me. Those who know the current affairs are heroes, but you don't understand righteousness, and now you have nowhere to go. You surrendered to me because you were afraid of the mutiny of your subordinates. You deserve death.Heshi Lie Zhining bowed his head for a while, and said: "The ministers have received Zhenglong's kindness, so if you don't surrender, you will be guilty of ten thousand deaths." Rushan, if King Hailing hadn't killed all these Wanyans, it wouldn't be my Heshilie clan's turn to come forward. I have received Hailing's kindness, so if I don't surrender, I deserve death.That means, Your Majesty, you can figure it out.Emperor Sejong was relieved after hearing these words from him, and said: "Your generation's original intention can be said to be loyal to what you do. From now on, you should be loyal." ("Jin Shiheshi Lie Zhining Biography") you I understand your loyalty. At that time, everyone was their own master. Now you serve me instead. If you are loyal to me with the heart that is loyal to King Hailing, I will still trust you.Heshi Lie Zhining first served as the left deputy marshal of the marshal's mansion, and finally became the official residence of Zaifu.Sejong's first dynasty was an era when famous officials of the Jin Dynasty came out in large numbers.

Emperor Sejong has been in power for twenty-nine years, and his methods of increasing imperial power and suppressing powerful officials are very ingenious.As mentioned earlier, the Jin Dynasty changed the three provinces system of the Tang and Song Dynasties.During the Tang and Song Dynasties, the central government system consisted of Zhongshu, Shangshu, and Menxia provinces, and the chief and deputy chiefs of the three provinces were all equivalent to prime ministers.In the Jin Dynasty, Zhongshu and his disciples were dismissed, and only Shangshu was set up.The highest official of the Shangshu Province is called Shangshuling, and there are Shangshu Zuoyuxiang, Pingzhang Zhengshi, Zuoyucheng, Shenzhizhengshi, etc. Shangshuling became the highest civil servant of the Jin Dynasty.In the twenty-nineth year of Shizong's reign, the order of the Minister was vacant for twenty years, and he set it up but did not grant it.The four people who held the position of Shangshuling were either given false titles because of their old age, and they were about to retire soon; or they were given Shangshuling after they died of illness; or they found an excuse to dismiss them after holding this position for a few months In order to avoid constraining the imperial power.Under the order of Shangshu, there are a lot of prime ministers, Pingzhang political affairs, and left and right prime ministers. According to the current official system, the State Council does not have a prime minister, two executive deputy prime ministers, several deputy prime ministers, and several state councilors. None of these people No. 1 person, everyone is on the same level and cannot pose a threat to the imperial power.The hidden danger that the power posed a challenge to the imperial power in the past did not exist in the Sejong Dynasty.

In addition, Emperor Sejong paid special attention to advancing the virtuous and retreating unworthily.He said: "It is unworthy to advance to the virtuous and retreat, and the position of prime minister is also. Those who have talents higher than themselves, or are afraid of their separation of power, often refuse to be cited in the same list, and I do not take them." ("Jin Shizong's First Ji") It is the duty of the prime minister to retire from the good, and you have to recommend qualified ministers to me.The reason why you don't do this is that you are afraid that the person you recommend will be more talented than you, which makes me very unhappy.As prime ministers, you must recommend qualified talents to the country.