Chapter 21 3. Subproperty political reform

While the South is rising, the North is undergoing political reform. The first person in political reform is Zichan. Zichan was a statesman of the state of Zheng, a well-known overseas Chinese.Because he is the grandson of Zheng Mugong, he is called Gongsunqiao.Zichan showed political aptitude early on.In the eighth year of Duke Xiang of Lu (565 BC), his father, Sima Ziguo of the State of Zheng, succeeded in defeating Cai. The whole country celebrated, but Zichan did not take it seriously.Zichan said that in a small country, there is nothing more likely to cause great disaster than to govern martial arts without cultivating literature and virtue.Cai was a vassal of Chu.We beat Cai, and Chu will definitely come and beat us.At that time, can we not obey Chu State?If you obey the state of Chu, the state of Jin will come to retaliate. Can we beat the state of Jin again?Jin and Chu both came to attack Zheng. Can our Zheng be peaceful?

Zichan was still very young when he said this.So Ziguo scolded him and said: What do you know as a child! Unfortunately, however, this matter was rumored by Zi, Chu and Jin really took turns to attack Zheng, and Zheng had to take turns to form an alliance with Jin and Chu to make peace.Two years later, the national crisis has not stopped, and the family crisis has arisen again.Zichan's father Ziguo and Zheng Guo were in power, and were killed by the rebel party during the civil strife.After Zichan heard the news, he arranged various tasks in a calm manner, and then led troops to suppress the rebellion.From then on, the people of Zheng Guoguo looked at Zichan with admiration.

Twenty years later, Zichan was in power in the state of Zheng. After Zichan came to power, he began political reforms, made Feng Wei (read Ruxie), made Qiu Fu, and cast punishment tripods.Feng is the field boundary; 洫 is the canal.As a seal, it is about re-planning and redistribution of land.For Qiu Fu, it may be the reform of the military service law, including the reform of the tax system.Because taxes (money) and taxes (efforts) are related to land.These two things will of course violate the vested interests of many people.Therefore, at the beginning of the reform, there was a lot of criticism in the country.When he was working as Feng Wei, someone made up a ballad to scold him: Calculate my property to collect fees, and measure my cultivated land to collect taxes.Whoever wants to be able to kill Zichan, I will stand in line with him!When he was making Qiu Fu, someone made up a ballad to scold him: Dad has become a wicked ghost, and he will become a scorpion tail himself!This person gave orders, and Bangguo regretted nothing!

However, Zichan remained unmoved. Zichan's saying is "to benefit the community, life and death are based on it".That is to say, as long as it is beneficial to the state, personal life and death can be ignored. Therefore, Zichan does not suppress speech.At that time, Zheng Guo people liked to go to the school to party at night, because the school in the Spring and Autumn Period was also a club.When Chinese people get together, they talk irresponsibly, and it is inevitable to talk about government affairs.So someone suggested that Zichan close the school.Zichan said, why should it be closed?Let them discuss it.If they support it, I will vigorously promote it; if they oppose it, I will modify it appropriately.Using public power, of course you can not allow everyone to speak.But is there any benefit in doing that?

In fact, the reform of Zichan soon received results, and the common people also tasted the sweetness.At this time, someone made up a ballad to praise him: My disciples, Zichan taught; my grain production, Zichan doubled.When the son dies, who will take over? The so-called public opinion is nothing more than that. However, Zichan's political reform still touched the fundamentals, especially casting the punishment tripod.Casting the punishment tripod is to cast the provisions of the criminal law on the tripod and make it public.This is subversive to the political system and political philosophy of the East and West.Therefore, Shu Xiangbian, a statesman in the state of Jin, wrote to Zichan to criticize him.Shu Xiang said that the former kings ruled the country with propriety and refused to formulate criminal laws, because they were afraid that the people would have evil intentions, so they advocated to follow the example of the sages and rule the country with virtue.Only by virtue can the people be used arbitrarily without causing chaos.On the contrary, if the law is enacted and made public, the public will only know the law but not the elders, only know the law but not the etiquette, and even stick to words to avoid punishment.Wouldn't it be messed up in that way?I heard that when a country is about to perish, reform must be carried out. Is this what you are talking about?

Shu Xiang is very sensitive, he feels in danger. This danger is the collapse of ritual and music. In this regard, Zichan's attitude is not to argue.He wrote back and said: I am incompetent, I dare not obey orders, and I dare not refuse to thank you! In fact, Zichan does not necessarily like the rule of law, but he does not think that the rule of virtue and the rule of law are perfect.This is proven by practice.In the first year of Lu Zhaogong (541 BC), a criminal case occurred in Zheng State.The reason is that the younger sister of Xu Wuzuo, the doctor of the state of Zheng, is beautiful, and two grandsons want to marry her.Gongsun Chu had already given the letter of appointment, and Gongsun Hei forced to give the bride price.Xu Wu was in a dilemma, so I asked the ruling Zichan to make the decision.Zichan said, this is because the country has not been governed well, and the doctor should not embarrass you.She can marry whoever she wants!

Xu Wuzheng complied, and the two grandsons also came to Xu Wuzheng's house as scheduled.Gongsun Hei dressed up and presented generous gifts; Gongsun Chu came in wearing military uniform, shot a few arrows with his bow left and right, and then jumped on the chariot with one stride and left.Xu Wuzuo's younger sister said that Gongsun Hei was indeed very beautiful, but Gongsun Chu was more like a man. So she married Gongsun Chu. However, Gongsun Hei refused to give up, and actually broke into Gongsun Chu's house, intending to kill Gongsun Chu and then rob him, but was wounded by Gongsun Chu with a spear.This case is not difficult to handle in a society ruled by law.Gongsun Hei made trouble unreasonably, forced his way into a house, and was suspected of murder and robbing other people's wives, while Gongsun Chu was acting in self-defense.However, according to the principle of the rule of etiquette, Gongsun Chu can only be sentenced to lose the lawsuit.Because Gongsun Hei is a senior official, and his older brother is his elder brother; Gongsun Chu is a senior official, and his younger brother is his younger brother.Therefore, Zichan expelled Gongsun Chu from the country, which can be regarded as maintaining the ritual.

Thinking about it, Zichan must be troubled.Therefore, in the second year when Gongsun Hei was suspected of treason, Zichan mercilessly sentenced him to commit suicide, and counted fighting with Gongsun Chu for his wife as one of his crimes.Gongsun Hei said, my trauma relapsed, and I will die sooner or later, please don't help the sky.Zichan said, who does not die?It is the destiny of the wicked not to have a good death.This government does not help the sky, can it be impossible to help the wicked?If you don't die soon, the executioner will come.Gongsun Hei had no choice but to hang himself.Zichan let him die on the street again, with a wooden slip stating his crimes on his body.

This happened three years before the Xingding Ding was cast.However, Zichan's political reform was obviously not simply motivated by this incident; the impact of casting the punishment tripod was much more far-reaching.In fact, Zichan may be the founder of the Legalist school, and Zheng Guo may also be the birthplace of the Legalist school; and the differences between the rule of virtue and the rule of law will be debated from Confucius to Han Fei. The sixth volume of history, "A Hundred Schools of Thought Controversy", discusses it in detail.

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