Chapter 37 1. Govern the country with the Han Chinese law

Throughout the Huanghuai Great Plain, the wheat turns green and yellow, and the sorghum turns red and red. The cradle of the nation's multiplication and the endless roots of Chinese civilization. However, in the 13th century, when the Mongols, who only knew that war and plunder was the only way to accumulate wealth, conquered the Central Plains Dynasty, the Chinese farming civilization, which had hardly changed since ancient times, encountered a life-and-death disaster: they subverted the farming civilization with the grassland civilization The method is to turn the arable land for raising people into grassland for raising horses, and then use more horses to launch more wars and plunder more wealth and women.

The peaceful and stable farming culture has been subverted, and the life and death of Chinese civilization has experienced unprecedented severe tests. At this critical moment, Kublai Khan, the eagle on the prairie, the emperor with great ambitions, boldly used the Han people, applied the Han law, and ruled the country with the Han law. Only then did the Chinese civilization continue and the Mongol Empire was able to rule the Central Plains for nearly a hundred years. Kublai Khan has been influenced by Han culture since he was a child. "Think of great potential in the world!" He likes to make friends with Confucian scholars and Buddhist and Taoist celebrities, so that he can visit the deeds of previous emperors, and he still admires Tang Taizong Li Shimin's achievements in governing the country. There is always the shadow of Han culture.

In this regard, Liu Bingzhong, a Han Chinese, had the greatest influence on him. Liu Bingzhong, named Kan, styled Zhonghui, used to be a small official in the Kingdom of Jin, but later he quit his job and became a monk. He went to Mobei to preach with Zen Master Yunhai, and was kept by Kublai Khan's side to discuss military and state affairs.Liu Bingzhong was knowledgeable and versatile, good at making suggestions, and was highly valued by Kublai Khan. Kublai Khan became interested in Han culture because of Liu Bingzhong's relationship, and later attracted more and more scholars to the palace.Xijing Huairen Zhao Bi and Liu Bingzhong entered the curtain in the same year.Kublai Khan called him a "scholar" and asked his wife to make clothes for him in person to show his favor.Kublai Khan also asked him to learn Mongolian and translate "Daxue Yanyi" (the work of Zhen Dexiu, a Neo-Confucianist in the Southern Song Dynasty, to develop the idea of ​​"University" and tell the feudal emperor how to govern the country), so as to speak for Kublai Khan, and immediately put it in the account , all the year round.Zhao Bi also recommended Wang E, the number one scholar of the Jin Dynasty.In this way, Kublai Khan recruited many Confucian scholars under his command through summons or recommendations from others.Even Yao Shu, a great Confucian who lived in seclusion in the mountains, was recruited to teach Kublai Khan the way of the emperor. Kublai Khan's son Zhenjin even taught from Yao Shu as a student.

In 1251, Kublai Khan's brother, Mengge, took the position of Great Khan, and let Kublai Khan be in charge of "Military affairs in the Han area in Monan", which gave Kublai Khan a chance to test Han Confucianism. "Zicong, didn't you say that 'the way to control chaos depends on the sky and depends on people', 'you can't rule the world immediately'? There is a ready-made one here, let's see how you manage it! "He called these Han Confucians and threw the problem to them. It turned out that the area of ​​Xingzhou in Monan was the fiefdom of two heroic officials, Ba Ai and Qishi Lihei. It was bestowed by Wokuotai Khan in 1236. There were more than 80,000 residents in the Jin Dynasty, and there were 15,000 people when the two heroes were first entrusted. households, now there are only five or six hundred households left.They were helpless and asked Kublai Khan for help.

"Talking on paper is shallow, and I know that this matter must be practiced. The method you said is good, does it really work? Then try it." He is looking forward to these Han Confucians. Liu Bingzhong saw his doubts.He traveled across most of China from south to north, and now he saw how desolate his hometown was, and felt miserable in his heart.This place is like this, the world is so big, isn't it like this everywhere the Mongolian army's iron hoofs go?If the Han law is not implemented, it will only bring greater disasters to the common people, and the Mongol Empire will inevitably encounter more violent resistance.If the governance of Xingzhou is effective, at least in this ambitious prince, there will be hope for the implementation of Han law.

Here is the opportunity. Kublai Khan seeks a strategy to govern Xingzhou. This is a good opportunity to promote the Han law and let the legal principles of the Han people take root in his thinking.So, he said to Kublai Khan: "Your Majesty, Xingzhou was originally the hometown of the poor monk. Seeing this situation, the poor monk was very sad. The Buddhists say that if you save all living beings, you will be right when you turn back. It is not difficult to solve the current situation." "Not difficult?" Kublai Khan asked suspiciously, "Zicong, tell me quickly!"

Liu Bingzhong said: "Buddhists say that everything has a cause and effect. To manage this place well, we must first understand what is the reason for this place's decline. Monks don't talk wildly. Forgive me for the poor monk's blunt words. The decline here is all caused by the Mongolian army." Li plagiarized and slaughtered, all the children and treasures returned to their families, and all the captives were private slaves; in addition, the two heroes Ba Ai and Qi Shili Hei were here, and they ran around and destroyed a large area of ​​fertile land for pastures, leaving farmers without land. planted, took their wives and children, and fled in all directions, causing the land to be barren and devastated, and the people were in dire straits."

Kublai Khan murmured, "Why? Just because we are Mongols?" Liu Bingzhong replied: "Yes, my lord, this is the truth. As the saying goes, 'Ten li is different from the sky, five li is different from the customs'. The poor monk dared to slaughter cities and burn houses, plunder and loot wherever the Mongolian army went. It is called 'tradition and power', and such tradition and power may work on the grasslands, but this is the Central Plains! Whoever wants to become the lord of the Central Plains must act according to the rules of the Central Plains!" Kublai Khan nodded. Suddenly, he raised his eyebrows and asked, "Can't Mongolians and Han people live in harmony?"

"No!" Liu Bingzhong interrupted him, saying: "There are people who get along in harmony, and they get along very well!" Kublai Khan suddenly became interested, and asked eagerly: "Oh? Tell me quickly, who are they?" Liu Bingzhong said: "The Northern Wei Dynasty was established by Tuobagui from Xianbei. In order to live in harmony with the Han people in the Central Plains, Emperor Wei Xiaowen not only moved the capital from his hometown Pingcheng to the inland Luoyang, but also wore Han clothes and spoke Chinese. , writing Chinese characters, and even the surname was changed from Tuoba to Yuan. Therefore, later generations also called him Wei Xiaowen Emperor Yuan Hong. His actions won the trust and support of the Han people in the Central Plains, and established the Northern Wei Dynasty. Ten years of foundation!"

"Oh!" Kublai Khan looked very excited, he really wanted to imitate Wei Xiaowen's appearance and immediately win Xingzhou, no, the welcome and support of the Han people in the whole land of China!However, he knew very well in his heart that he couldn't do it now. His rights and strength were only the fiefdom he had just acquired. If Tuoba Gui's set was copied completely, Mengge Khan would not agree, and the kings would not agree.Thinking of this, he said dejectedly: "Emperor Wei Xiaowen's approach is indeed very good and very enlightened. But now we have no solution. How should we solve this difficult problem now?"

Liu Bingzhong understood Kublai Khan's difficulties and said: "Of course we can't do that now. Right now, I think we can do two things." Kublai Khan asked, "Which two?" Liu Bingzhong said: "One is to select talents and appoint talents. We should open the mansion widely to recruit talents from all over the world, so that they can be used for your prince at any time. Now in the land of Xingzhou, the poor monk believes that Zhang Geng and Liu Su cannot do it. That. The prince should be responsible for the restraint to bear fruit, so as to serve as an example for all parties to follow, so that the whole world will be blessed." "Okay, this is not difficult. I will report to Mengge Khan immediately and send Zhang Geng and Liu Su to go there. Then, what is the second thing?" Liu Bingzhong said: "The country is based on the people, and the people are based on food. If the foundation is solid, the country will prosper. There is nothing like this in the past dynasties. The Han area is mainly based on farming, and farming is the root of the country. Therefore, the top priority is to lighten corvees and reduce labor costs. Taxes and rewards for farming. Things that are not conducive to farming, mulberry, and weaving, such as destroying good land for pastures..., must never be done again. Governing the Han land should use the Han law, not the old way of governing the Mongolian tribes, so that the Han people are easy Accept it, and there will be no panic and chaos." This time Kublai Khan did not speak.He bowed his head and pondered for a long time, then said worriedly: "It is good to adopt the Chinese method, but the Mongolian princes, nobles, relatives, and rich men are all from Mobei, and they are used to the old method that has been used for many years. They will definitely not agree to the law, and will definitely oppose it with all their strength.” At this time, Yao Shu interrupted and said to Kublai Khan: "My lord, you don't have to worry about this matter. We have discussed it below. Adopting Chinese law is a long-term goal, but we can't rush it. We need to take it step by step. Right now In this way, on the one hand, the old law of the ancestors will continue to be implemented, and on the other hand, the old system of the Tang and Song Dynasties will be gradually changed and implemented slowly, so that the outdated old law will become less and less, and the new system of Han law that is suitable will become more and more. I believe that as time goes by With the passage of time, most Mongolians will gradually get used to it.” Kublai Khan felt that this idea was good. It would not anger Mengge Khan and the prince Yuanxun, and it would also eliminate the estrangement and hatred of the Han people towards the Mongols. " But Yao Shu said: "Your Majesty, this matter can only be carried out after asking for permission from the Great Khan. On the one hand, we have the support of the Great Khan, and we are not afraid of disturbance from the Mongolian nobles in this place; The mouths of the slanderers around Mongke Khan." "Okay! Let Hao Jing handle this!" Kublai Khan ordered. Therefore, Hao Jing hurriedly drafted a memorial and reported it to the Mongolian Khan.After obtaining permission, he sent his servants Tuo Wutuo, Mushou Zhang Geng, and Shangshu Liu Su to Xingzhou as appeasement envoys of the government. In less than a month, the local household registration has increased tenfold.This made Kublai Khan very happy, and since then he has more trust in the Confucian scholars and the Han law they promoted.In the second year, he sent Yang Weizhong, Zhao Bi, Shi Tianze, etc. to the war-torn Henan provinces for rectification.A year later, Yang Weizhong, Shang Ting and others were sent to manage Guanzhong.The rectification by Han Confucians also succeeded in Henan and Guanzhong. Of course, Kublai Khan's success in reusing Han people and implementing the Han law in the Han area has rapidly increased his reputation in the Han area, and has also aroused the dissatisfaction of conservative forces such as the Mongolian nobles and court ministers. He was relieved of his military power on the grounds that he needed to go home to rest due to foot disease.Under the planning of the Han Confucians, he not only escaped this test, but also had the command to command the East Road to destroy the Song Dynasty. In 1259, news of the death of Mongke Khan came.With the help of the Han people, Kublai Khan preemptively attacked in 1260, proclaimed Khan in Kaiping, and relied on the economic and political strength accumulated in the management of Monan Han in the past ten years, defeated another Khan in one fell swoop—his younger brother Ali No brother, established the absolute status of King's Landing. Kublai Khan became the only Mongolian Khan.Kublai Khan understood that the biggest problem he faced was how to establish a complete set of state machinery that could not only maintain the established laws of Mongolia, but also adapt to the level of economic and cultural development in the Central Plains.To fully adopt Sinicization and become the emperor of China will inevitably sacrifice the interests of the Mongolian nobles and the tribes conquered earlier.More importantly, the Central Plains is only a small part of the Great Mongol Yuan Empire, and they were the last to be included in the territory. It is very difficult for the conqueror to accept the culture and civilization of the conquered, although the conquered The culture of Han people (Northern people) and Nan people (Southern Han people) has far surpassed these nomadic peoples. But Kublai Khan also understood that it was this small part that represented an advanced culture and was the most dynamic part of the Mongol Empire.If he wants to gain a foothold in the Central Plains and create a career even more magnificent than Genghis Khan, he still has to rely on this small part in the end.Therefore, he did not hesitate to use the Han people at the beginning of the founding of the country to carry out a series of Sinicization reforms. He found those Han Confucians who pushed him to the Khan position again. Liu Bingzhong was the first one, and Kublai Khan entrusted him: "All the great scriptures for governing the world and the good laws for raising the people, you should propose to play them." Liu Bingzhong immediately set about this work.They picked up the old scriptures of their ancestors, participated in the ancient system, and combined with the actual needs, listed the provisions in detail to play Kublai Khan. One of the first measures of great significance was to establish an era name.The Mongols originally used the twelve zodiac signs to mark the year.After the founding of Genghis Khan, the great khans of all dynasties did not use the year name. Kublai Khan adopted Liu Bingzhong's suggestion and proclaimed the emperor to build the year name according to the tradition of the Han Dynasty in the Central Plains.The establishment of the year name is the first step taken by Kublai Khan to establish his own political organization according to the original model of the Central Plains Dynasty. It not only means that Mongolia inherits the custom of the previous generation of the Central Plains Dynasty, but also means that the Mongolian rulers will unify the whole country. Realize the will of "One World, One Family". In 1264, he issued an edict to change Yanjing to Zhongdu, raise Kaiping to Shangdu, and change the yuan to "Zhiyuan".In the eighth year of the Yuan Dynasty, the name of the Mongolian state was abolished, taking the meaning of "Dazai Qianyuan" in Chinese, and the name of the new state was "Dayuan", which further expressed the desire to "unify the world" and realize the desire of "one family under heaven". The second point is to gradually establish and improve the central and local administrative systems in order to establish a stable political position.Xu Heng said: "Since ancient times, the establishment of a country has a certain scale. If you follow it, you can expect success. ... And the world is dignified, but there is no definite theory and it is arbitrarily done?" They borrowed from the Song and Jin systems, and in the central The establishment of the Ministry of Secretaries; the local establishment of the Ministry of Public Affairs, referred to as the province, formed the provincial system that has been used to this day.Sub-provinces are divided into government agencies at all levels, such as provinces, prefectures, states, and counties.Officials at all levels "issued badges and uniforms, raised court ceremonies, gave salaries, and established official systems", which changed the past tradition of Mongolians who had no salaries and relied on plunder for self-sufficiency. The third point is to persuade farming and mulberry to develop the economy. In 1261, Kublai Khan established the Department of Encouraging Agriculture, which selected people who were accomplished in agronomy to help farmers make better use of their land.The Mongolian aristocracy is strictly prohibited from enclosing and destroying fields. On the contrary, the government also encourages land reclamation, implements farming, recruiting refugees, persuading farmers to teach mulberry, building water conservancy, lightening corvee and reducing burden, and building schools. The implementation of these measures has effectively promoted the development of the Central Plains. Economic and cultural development, in less than ten years, enabled some areas of the Central Plains to be initially governed, and prepared sufficient material guarantees for Kublai Khan to activate his military machinery. Of course, as a Mongolian, Kublai Khan also knew that the Han orthodox thought of the Central Plains culture would not be easily ruled by a foreign race.Li Fen's rebellion and Wang Wentong's execution made Kublai Khan very hopeful and vigilant towards Han Confucians, and also ended his honeymoon period with Han Confucians, and he did not recover much until his death. It should be said that Kublai Khan governed the country with Han Chinese law, which effectively promoted the great integration of the nationalities, protected the culture of the Han people in the Central Plains from being artificially cut off, and promoted economic development.In particular, some policies and measures, such as the provincial system, are still used today. This cannot but be said of Kublai Khan's long-term political vision.