Chapter 8 2. Respecting the King and Fighting Barbarians

Guan Zhong has a lot of ways to solve technical problems. That's right, Guan Zhong is indeed a management genius and a master of governance.His plans are almost all coordinated.For example, hunting in spring and autumn not only supplements supplies, but also trains the army. Isn't it killing two birds with one stone? The same goes for criminal law reform.In order to solve the problem of insufficient armor, Guan Zhong formulated the terms of "weapon redemption". The price code is: felony, a pair of rhinoceros leather armor, a halberd; misdemeanor, a pair of ordinary cowhide armor, a halberd; petty crime, a fine ; In a lawsuit, the legal fee is a bunch of arrows.This really benefits both the government and the people.In the past, felonies were punished with death, misdemeanors were punished with amputation, and petty crimes were punished with whips.Now, as long as you buy or build weapons, you can atone for your sins, and the people are of course happy.The country has enriched its military equipment and saved military expenses, and is also happy.What's more, to reduce murders and executions as much as possible, and win the reputation of benevolence and dominance, wouldn't it be fame and fortune?

The main point of economic reform is also to enrich the country and strengthen the army.The most important measure is the domination of the economy by the state.For example, reform the tax system, exempt tariffs, and promote economic development; strengthen salt and iron management, implement salt and iron monopoly, and increase treasury revenue; mint unified coins, and conduct macro-control on the market and prices.Of course, Guan Zhong also unceremoniously announced the state's monopoly on mines, forests, lakes, and oceans.However, he did not advocate the establishment of state-run saltworks or state-run iron works.His policy is state-owned privately owned.Production and sales are private affairs, and the power and function of the state is to monopolize resources, control prices, and even control output in order to control prices.

Perhaps, there is only one industry with "state-owned enterprises", and that is the pornography industry.Some scholars believe that Guan Zhong is likely to be the founder of the "state-run brothel".The brothels in Qi State are called "Nvlu", which are divided into seven sales offices, each with a hundred prostitutes.It is said that it was opened fifty years earlier than Solon in ancient Greece.However, Solon's purpose was mainly to solve sexual needs and reduce sexual crimes; Guan Zhong's purpose may be to increase the revenue of the treasury, win over talents from all over the world, and even entertain envoys from various countries.In short, as soon as this example was opened, the princes followed suit.It's no wonder that Yan Taizi Dan can "beauties do whatever she wants", maybe he himself is "Mother Sang".

Of course, international relations cannot be settled by prostitutes.Guan Zhong's strategy is "to exchange favors for support, and to exchange land for peace".Specifically, it is to return the cities that Qi State occupied in the past to other countries, plus frequent treats and gifts.It is said that the effect of doing so is "four neighbors and big relatives". Guan Zhong believes that with the economic, military and diplomatic conditions, Qi can send troops.Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun, as does prestige.To be the boss of the rivers and lakes, to be an international policeman, it is impossible not to send troops.It is also impossible not to teach a few mischievous guys a lesson.The target of the attack, of course, is the weak country first.It would be better if that state is weak and disobedient.But the public statement is "choose the most promiscuous in the world and conquer them first."After all, dominating the Central Plains is not about punks fighting in groups. How can we say "eat persimmons and pick the soft ones"?

The teacher must be famous.To achieve hegemony, more important than hegemony is hegemony and a political program. So, what is Guan Zhong's banner? Respect the king and fight against the barbarians. In fact, honoring the king and expelling barbarians were originally the same thing.Because the royal family is disrespectful, it is largely due to the fact that Yi Di is too strong.The most powerful at first was Quan Rong, they were called Ghost Fang in the Shang Dynasty.The Western Zhou Dynasty perished because the dog army captured Haojing and chased and killed King You under Lishan Mountain.King Ping, who was the capital of Luoyang, was unable to recover the lost land, so he granted the occupied area to one of his doctors in Xichui.The doctor did not disgrace his mission, and he took back the western half of Wang Ji and turned it into the state of Qin.He himself became the first monarch of Qin, and he was Duke Xiang of Qin.

This incident has greatly stimulated the countries of the Central Plains.Most of these countries came after the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, calling themselves Xia and Zhuxia, also known as Hua and Huaxia.Hua is light and beauty; Xia is big and elegant.Huaxia means civilization; Yidi means barbarism.Civilized people are ashamed to associate with barbarians, let alone bow down.Repelling barbarians should be the common aspiration of all Chinese nations. What's more, after entering the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, the Yi and Di invaded repeatedly, and Zhu Xia was unbearable, but the invaders were not Rong, but Di.According to statistics, from 662 BC to 595 BC, Qi invaded seven times, Wei six times, Jin five times, Lu twice, and Xing, Song, Wen, Zheng, and Zhou once each.Among them, Wei was the one who suffered the most, and was forced to move the capital twice.The second time was Xing, and the capital was moved once.Zhou was miserable, Cheng Zhou fell, and the emperor fled.Later, both Wei and Xing were rescued by Duke Huan of Qi, and they were saved from subjugation.King Xiang of Zhou relied on the help of Duke Wen of Jin to save him, and he was able to restore his country.The meaning of overlord is very clear in this way.

In fact, the overlords of the two generations of Qi Huan and Jin Wen are most affirmed by later generations to be against the barbarians.For example, two students of Confucius, Zilu and Zigong, both asked the same question: Duke Huan of Qi forced the state of Lu to kill Prince Jiu, and one of Jiu’s masters, Zhaohu, committed suicide. To assist Duke Huan, this person is not benevolent, is he?Confucius replied firmly: Of course benevolence!Of course Jen!Without Guan Zhong, we would all have disheveled hair and open our skirts to the left, turning into barbarians! Confucius was right.Without Qi Huan and Jin Wen, the history of our nation may indeed be rewritten, although rewriting may not necessarily be bad.

In short, at that time, fighting against barbarians was the political and cultural needs of all Chinese countries.Therefore, the emergence of the overlord follows the trend.Even Qin Mugong, the reason why he became one of the candidates for the "Spring and Autumn Five Hegemons" is probably because he finally completed the conquest of Quan Rong. To fight against the barbarians is to respect the king.Only when the banner of King Zhou is raised high, can Zhuxia be united.Only by uniting internally can we be consistent externally.Therefore, although the various countries in China have their own evil intentions and refuse to give in to each other, no one dares to oppose Zun Wang.Duke Huan of Qi dominated the Kuiqiu Meeting, and Duke Wen of Jin dominated the Alliance of Jiantu. The two overlords also showed great respect to the emperor.As a result, the king of Zhou in the era of hegemony had lost all his strength, but on the surface he was majestic.

It's just so dramatic. But what is more dramatic is that a barbarian state quietly rose in the south and joined the ranks of the hegemony in the Central Plains. This barbarian state is Chu.

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