Chapter 38 8. Gentle gentleman

Gu Yong and Zhang Zhao are both important ministers of the Eastern Wu successively. They have the same characteristics in their personalities, for example, they are upright and upright, and they are very strict in self-discipline.However, due to the different ways of expression, there is a world of difference, and there are many places worth pondering. Gu Yong (168-243), courtesy name Yuantan, was born in Wujun, today's Suzhou, Jiangsu.Gu's name ranks first among the four major families "Gu, Lu, Zhu, and Zhang" in Wu County, and he is a famous family in the south of the Yangtze River.

At that time, Cai Yong, a famous writer and calligrapher in the Eastern Han Dynasty, went south to take refuge. Gu Yong's father asked his son to worship him as a teacher and learn playing the piano and calligraphy.Gu Yong is quick in thinking, calm in mind, and his art career is advancing day by day, which is highly appreciated by Cai Yong.Cai Yong presented his original name "Yong" to this disciple. Because he was praised by the teacher, Gu Yong's character was "Yuan Tan". Being praised by his teachers, coupled with his outstanding self-cultivation, Gu Yong was recommended as the governor of Hefei at the age of 20. Later, he successively served as local officials in Lou County, Qu'a, Shangyu and other places, and made good political achievements in these places. .In 200 A.D., Sun Quan also served as the prefect of Kuaiji, so he appointed Gu Yong as the governor of Kuaiji, and handed over all affairs to Gu Yong.Gu Yong lived up to his trust and managed all the affairs in an orderly manner. The territory of Kuaiji was peaceful and prosperous, and the hearts of the people belonged to him.

Relying on his own strength, Gu Yong gradually entered the center of Sun Quan's regime. He first served as Fengchang of Dali, and concurrently received the order of Shangshu, and was granted the title of Marquis of Yangsui Township.In the fourth year of Huang Wu's reign, he became the Marquis of Liling again, replacing Sun Shao, and became prime minister until his death. The above two paragraphs can be described in four words, that is "smooth official career".There are many talented people in Soochow Wu, such as Zhang Zhao, Lu Xun, etc., but there are only a handful of people like Gu Yong who have a successful career in official careers, start well and end well.Gu Yong won all of this not only by his own talent, not only by his family background, but by his charisma.

Like Zhang Zhao, Gu Yong has a straight heart and strict self-discipline. Sun Quan once said that "Gu Gong's presence makes people unhappy".Sun Quan liked to drink, and often had fun with a group of courtiers. Gu Yong didn't criticize him harshly like Zhang Zhao, but sat at the banquet with all the courtiers, but he didn't drink a drop of wine and remained calm.However, the deterrent effect of this kind of silence was far greater than Zhang Zhao's harsh criticism. The people present, including Sun Quan, looked at Gu Yong and dared not act presumptuously, for fear of losing their composure after drinking and being blamed by Gu Yong.Therefore, Sun Quan said, "Gu Gong's presence makes people unhappy."

However, even though Gu Yong was so serious, he didn't make Sun Quan "terrorized by strictness", instead he willingly entrusted him with important tasks. Why? When Gu Yong was the prime minister, he often visited the people, and when he had suggestions on government affairs, he secretly reported them to Sun Quan.If it is adopted, it will be attributed to Sun Quan; if it is not adopted, it will not be announced. Gu Yong has his own principles and edges, but he wraps his edges and corners with profound self-cultivation. His edges and corners are still clear and clearly indicate his own direction, but they are not sharp enough to hurt others.This is the difference between Gu Yong and Zhang Zhao. The fundamental reason for this difference is that Gu Yong considers others with his heart, knows how to respect others, and wins the respect of others accordingly.

Gu Yong acted in a low-key manner and didn't like to make publicity. Even his family members didn't know about his being a Marquis. Later, the family members were shocked when they learned about it from others.This kind of character is manifested in daily life, that is, gentle and quiet, taciturn.The ancients had a saying that "quietness begets wisdom". The calm and clear water can reflect everything clearly, and the calm and peaceful state of mind can gain insight into the world. Therefore, Sun Quan commented on him: "Gu Gong does not speak, but his words must have meaning."

Sun Quan likes to ask Gu Yong for advice on any unresolved matters, and sends someone to consult Gu Yong whether the matter is feasible.As long as Gu Yong thinks it is reliable, he will invite someone to dinner with a pleasant face, and discuss with him how to do it in detail; if he feels that it is not satisfactory, Gu Yong will be serious and keep silent.After a long time, Sun Quan knew his habit, and said to the people around him: "Gu Gong is happy, it is appropriate; if he doesn't say anything, it is because the matter is not settled, and he should think about it alone." Later, he simply said Don't ask the person sent, Gu Gong agrees or disagrees with this opinion, but just asks, did Gu Gong treat you to dinner?

In 233 AD, Gongsun Yuan proclaimed himself a minister to Wu.Sun Quan was overjoyed and planned to send more than 10,000 soldiers with a large number of rare treasures to Liaodong to reward Gongsun Yuan.The ministers tried to persuade him one after another, and Zhang Zhao even had a heated argument with Sun Quan, but Sun Quan still insisted on his proposition in the end.However, Sun Quan also made some compromises, lowering the standard, reducing troops and things. These compromises were not because of Zhang Zhao's loud noise, but because he saw that Gu Yong was silent at the court and knew that "things are not settled."

Once in court, Sun Quan asked about the gains and losses of the court.Zhang Zhao took the opportunity to state the opinions he had collected one by one, such as thinking that the law was too cumbersome and the punishment was too severe.After hearing this, Sun Quan did not express his opinion, but turned around and asked Gu Yong: "What do you think?" Gu Yong replied: "The situation I understand is the same as what Zhang Gong stated." criminal law. Gu Yong is willing to consider issues from the standpoint of others, not only for Sun Quan, but also for enemies.Sun Quan was fatuous in his later years, and he favored and trusted the treacherous minister Lv Yi. Lv Yi abused his power and persecuted the officials. Even Gu Yong was framed by him.Later, under the bitter advice of everyone, Sun Quan finally reined in the precipice and pursued Lv Yi's crimes. The case of Lv Yi was tried by Gu Yong.After the trial, Gu Yong calmly asked the prisoner who had persecuted him: "Do you have anything else to defend yourself?" Lu Yi fell silent.At this time, a minister angrily stepped forward to scold Lu Yi and even spat on his face. Seeing this, Gu Yong said, "The country has a law to deal with him, why should it be like this?"

Gu Yong is magnanimous to outsiders, but he is very strict with his family.Once Sun Quan married a niece, and had a banquet for three people, Gu Yong, his ancestor and his grandson.At the banquet, the emperor and his ministers enjoyed themselves, and Gu Tan, the grandson of Gu Yong, drank a few more glasses, then stood up and danced endlessly.Sun Quan watched from the side, and also laughed happily. Gu Yong was annoyed in his heart, but he couldn't bear it.The next day, Gu Yong called his grandson over, sat on the edge of the bed and said, "It is a virtue for a king to endure humiliation, and it is a virtue for his ministers to be respectful and cautious. Xiao He and Wu Han made great achievements in those days, but they dared not speak when they saw the emperor. Is there any contribution to the country? It is just relying on the merits of the ancestors and being reused. Why is it so smug? Although I drank a little wine, it is actually due to the thought of being oblivious to gratitude and modesty. It seems that the family is corrupt It must be you!" After finishing speaking, she lay down and faced the wall.Gu Tan was so regretful that he stood anxiously in front of the couch and was forced to stand for two hours before being sent away by his grandfather.It was such strict discipline that after Gu Yong's death, his descendants did not follow the path of Zhou Yu and Quan Cong's children.

Gu Yong served as the prime minister for nineteen years. He has a public heart and never chooses officials based on personal preferences or grievances. Instead, he tries his best to put the right people in the right positions. Once appointed, he will trust them wholeheartedly. Let subordinates maximize their abilities.He also often personally visits the people, inquires about the sufferings of the people, and proposes effective improvement methods.Nineteen years of painstaking assistance brought the state of Wu full prosperity and prosperity, and it was called the "Famous Prime Minister of the Eastern Wu". In 243 A.D., 76-year-old Gu Yong fell ill. Sun Quan named his doctor Zhao Quan to treat him. After the diagnosis and treatment, Zhao Quan did not tell Gu Yong about his condition.Soon, Sun Quan worshiped Gu Yong's second son, Gu Ji, as the captain of the cavalry. After Gu Yong learned about it, he knew that he would die soon.He said to his family: "Zhao Quan is good at distinguishing diseases. The Lord must have arranged this way because my illness can't be cured. He wanted me to see Gu Ji be appointed an official with my own eyes." Sure enough, a few days later, Gu Yong suddenly died. Long gone. After Gu Yong's death, Sun Quan paid his respects in plain clothes, and later issued an edict to praise Gu Yong: "To be virtuous, loyal and virtuous, to assist the country with courtesy." Thoreau said: The best qualities in human nature are like the frost on the fruit, and only the gentlest law-abiding can keep them intact.However, the rarest thing in the relationship between people is this tenderness. In Gu Yong's body, there is such a beautiful and gentle quality.All good qualities are the natural expression of the heart after reaching a certain state.The reason why Gu Yong was able to put himself in the shoes of others and respect others was because he had a calm and agile heart since he was a child, he was good at understanding others, and felt the joys, sorrows and joys of others, so he had a heart of compassion and tried his best to avoid any possibility of harming others. This beautiful quality seems to be weak in texture, not hard enough, but the most penetrating.A door that cannot be opened by kicking, but can be opened easily with a gentle knock.Sun Quan turned a blind eye to Zhang Zhao's harsh words, but Sun Quan understood Gu Yong's silent bow.