Chapter 8 1. test
The Hou Zhou Empire encountered a good emperor who was capable, and the Liao Empire encountered an absurdly bad emperor. The Central Plains finally had a chance to rise and rejuvenate, and the heavy task of revival tested the young empire.
The newly succeeded Liao Muzong Yelujing was twenty years old this year and was the eldest son of Liao Taizong Yelu Deguang.
When Liao Muzong came to power, it was a time when Liao was in crisis.Due to successive years of wars and Liao Shizong's reforms, a large number of contradictions have accumulated within the Khitan tribe.These contradictions did not automatically disappear because of the change of the new emperor. Instead, they were looking for various opportunities to erupt.
Liao Shizong and Liao Muzong came to power through military coups, which belonged to abnormal succession.This in itself is a shock to the existing imperial power system and bureaucratic political system, which will inevitably lead to the redistribution of benefits.
In the second year after Yelujing became emperor, the uncle of the state ordered Xiao Meigude and a group of high-ranking officials including Xuanzhengdian scholars to flee the Liao Kingdom and go to the Central Plains.It didn't take long for the political order Lou Guo, Lin Ya Dilie, Shizhong Shendu, Lang Jun Haili and other rebellions to break out.In the third year, Li Hu's son Wan, Lang Jun Ji Qian, and Di Lie conspired to rebel, implicating Taiping King Yan Sage, Lin Yahua, Lang Jun Xinluo and other nobles.This series of Khitan noble struggles disrupted the political order of the Liao Kingdom, shook the foundation of the empire, and seriously dispersed the national strength and energy of the Liao Kingdom.
Although Emperor Shizong Yeluruan of the Liao Dynasty was very pleased with his achievements, he worked hard to govern and treated others generously and virtuously.Although he was not in office for a long time, he promoted the transformation of the Liao Kingdom from the tribal aristocratic ruling system to the feudal centralized system, which made an important contribution to the development of the Liao Empire.But Yelvjing, Emperor Muzong of the Liao Dynasty, lacked some of the important qualities of being an emperor. He was addicted to alcohol, often singing and drinking all night long, and fell asleep after getting drunk, sleeping from morning until noon.The Liao people gave the emperor a nickname - "Sleeping King".
It is recorded in "Old History of the Five Dynasties" that Yelujing was sick and could not get close to women.It is estimated that he has a congenital developmental defect, or that this gentleman has different tastes from ordinary people. Anyway, he lacks a major life activity of being a man, not to mention the pain of having supreme power but being useless as the monarch of a country.What is even more reminiscent is that there is a sentence in the history books at the same time: "The eunuchs are the ones who give things to the left and right." We conservatively speculate that the emperor can only mix with a group of eunuchs all day long, and even the maids and service personnel are not the same. Cannot be configured.
In addition to his great hobby of drinking, Liao Muzong especially liked hunting, wandering around, shooting a chicken in the east mountain, and killing a deer in the west mountain.Hunting is endless, there is no time, no time, indulge, don't go back to the palace, don't do work for many days in a row.If he wasn't wearing the emperor's attire, Yelvjing would be no different from an idle bum.
Due to long-term repression, Muzong of Liao Dynasty applied his power abnormally to another field. He tortured indiscriminately, killed and mutilated criminals and civilians of various names.The degree of cruelty and madness of this guy can be compared with the Emperor Liu Shouguang of Yan in the previous document "The Heroes Competing for the Deer" and the Emperor Liu Yan of the Southern Han Dynasty in "A Thousand Mountains Remnant Snow". The red iron cage and the brushing of human flesh with an iron comb are outrageous, but he never tires of it.
Liao Muzong enshrined a female national teacher, and obeyed the witch.In order to control Liao Muzong, the witch made up a myth that she could refine the elixir of life.To refine the longevity medicine, the gallbladder of an adult man is needed as the medicinal material.Emperor Muzong of the Liao Dynasty actually believed it. In order to support the witches in refining medicine, he ordered the killing of countless people for bile.
Such a cruel and absurd emperor brought the Daliao Kingdom, which was on the rise, into a trough.The emperor does not do work, does not take care of all the officials, and the country's government is abolished.The political waste of the Liao Empire created opportunities for the rise of the Later Zhou Empire.For the first time in decades, the Central Plains Empire went uphill and the Khitan went downhill.For the Central Plains, which was bullied by Khitan, it was a very rare and precious historical opportunity.
Guo Wei seized this precious historical opportunity.
Guo Wei internally repairs politics, governs the country and manages the people, in order to become prosperous and strong.
In order to further play the role of Kaifeng in connecting the world, in 952 AD, the Later Zhou Empire rebuilt and expanded Kaifeng.The imperial court recruited 50,000 civilians and overhauled Kaifeng's city walls, water transportation, water supply and drainage, transportation and other infrastructure for more than ten days.As the largest city in the Central Plains, Kaifeng has a large number of merchants and frequent trade, gradually showing prosperity.
The task of state-building in the Later Zhou Dynasty became more and more arduous. Officials, farmers, businessmen, and soldiers were all waiting to be promoted. Many new ideas and policies of the new empire needed to be implemented, and there was a lot of work to be done.After the major policies are determined, the most critical thing is the cadres.The lack of cadres is also a huge test for Guo Wei.In order to govern the country, Guo Wei promoted a large number of civil and military cadres on a large scale to fill important national departments and management positions.While finding talents to do the work, how to actively and fully play the role of cadres is testing the political wisdom of the emperor who is determined to make a difference.
Just when Zhou Taizu Guo Wei rolled up his arms and sleeves and started to work on the construction, his right-hand man Wang Jun went on strike.Why?It's all the cadres' fault.Guo Wei's promotion of cadres was originally a logical and reasonable measure, but it made the privy envoy Wang Jun unhappy.
Wang Jun has many advantages. As a prime minister-level cadre, he has far-reaching ideas in his work, takes world affairs as his own responsibility, is willing to work hard, is not afraid of hardships or tiredness, dares to do things, and is dedicated and dedicated.But Wang Jun also has a very prominent problem: strong desire for power, envy of virtuous and capable.Wang Jun was extremely sensitive. If his suggestions were adopted by the emperor, he would be happy and complacent. If they were not adopted, he would complain indignantly and lose face.Wang Jun's work style is relatively domineering. He is a strong and strong man. He likes to play awe-inspiring and likes people who are not as good as him to follow him to satisfy his vanity.Guo Wei promoted Zheng Renhui, deputy privy envoy, Xiang Xun, envoy of the imperial city, Li Chongjin, the nephew of the envoy of Enzhou regiment, and others.These people were once Guo Chongwei's confidantes, and their rapid rise greatly stimulated Wang Jun's jealousy.Wang Jun believed that these people divided his power and were trying to steal his job, power, and limelight.
Wang Jun's jealous heart triggered bad emotions.
Wang Jun submitted his resignation to Zhou Taizu Guo Wei over and over again.
Wang Jun's resignation is false, and it is true to test the emperor by retreating.
Wang Jun and the emperor played hide and seek.
Because Wang Jun and Guo Wei are old acquaintances, and Wang Jun made great contributions to Guo Wei's rebellion and proclaiming himself emperor, Zhou Taizu Guo Wei has always respected Wang Jun. He did not treat Wang Jun with the courtesy of a monarch and a minister, but "brother Wang, "Brother Wang" calls Wang Jun "nuan" all day long, and regards him as a helper with a deep relationship.Guo Wei has a deep understanding of Wang Jun's character and is also familiar with Wang Jun's style of dealing with people. Therefore, Guo Wei adopts a tolerant attitude towards Wang Jun and greatly tolerates Wang Jun's various excessive demands and extraordinary practices.
Regarding Wang Jun's strike, Guo Wei patiently persuaded him, hoping that Wang Jun would resume work in consideration of the overall situation.Guo Wei sent an attendant to bring a message to Wang Jun, conveying the emperor's trust in Wang Jun, condolences and inviting Wang Jun to go to work as soon as possible.However, Wang Jun didn't take the emperor's special envoy seriously. Facing the condolence representative sent by the emperor, Wang Jun expressed his dissatisfaction in a stern voice: "I'm not feeling well, I need to rest for a while. Since Zheng Renjiao these young people If you have taken up a leadership position, let them do it! Although their qualifications are shallow, but the emperor wants to use them, then I don't care!"
Not only did Wang Jun complain to the emperor's special envoy, but he also wrote letters to Jiedu envoys and governors from all over the country, instigating them to put pressure on Emperor Guo Wei, intercede for Wang Jun, and jointly elect and protect Wang Jun's power and status.The nature of the matter has reached this point, and it has become very serious. Wang Jun is suspected of inciting a large number of officials to force the palace.Guo Wei was shocked when he saw the joint recommendation memorial written by governors from all over the country.No matter how stupid and kind the emperor is, he is very sensitive and afraid of the unanimous will and actions of officials.Especially when these wills and actions are not of one mind with the emperor, the emperor will often react more sensitively to this, and this reaction is likely to evolve into excessive defense of the imperial power.
Zhou Taizu Guo Wei is still restrained, using his greatest efforts to restrain the skepticism like a scourge.
Consolation and persuasion did not work, Guo Wei came up with another way, he found a middleman to mediate.This person is Chen Guan, a bachelor of the Privy Council.Chen Guansu has always been close and friendly with Wang Jun.Guo Wei wanted Chen Guan to act as a peacemaker and convey the emperor's latest will to Wang Jun: "If you don't come to work, Wang Jun, the emperor will come to invite you in person."
Although Chen Guan has a good relationship with Wang Jun, he is not stupid, he did not accept this task rashly.Because if Chen Guan carried out Guo Wei's will, whether it was effective or not, the result would be very risky.Once Wang Jun accepts Chen Guan's persuasion, it means that Chen Guan's words are more effective than the emperor. In the future, Chen Guan may be suspected by the emperor as being in the same party as Wang Jun, and the consequences for Chen Guan will be disastrous.If Wang Jun still doesn't buy the emperor's account, the emperor is likely to be furious, maybe he will cut off Wang Jun's head, and Chen Guan will have a notoriety or suspicion of framing Wang Jun.
Representing the emperor to persuade Wang Jun is a difficult and thankless job, and Chen Guan is unwilling to accept it.But since the emperor had sent him this mission, Chen Guan couldn't simply refuse.Chen Guan was very smart. He made a suggestion to the emperor: "Your Majesty, you don't have to accommodate Wang Jun like this. You just need to say that you will go to Wang Jun's house to give condolences in person, and mobilize the forbidden army to accompany you with great fanfare. Wang Jun will not dare not return." Towards work."
Zhou Taizu Guo Wei felt reasonable when he heard what Chen Guan said.He thought to himself, the emperor, the king of a country, is he worthy of accommodating Wang Jun so humbly?Do not advise.
Chen Guan's trick really worked. When Wang Jun heard that the emperor was going to bring soldiers to his house to condolences, he was afraid.What kind of condolences is this, maybe the house will be ransacked.In July 952 AD, Wang Jun gave up fighting with the emperor, obediently went to work and resumed work.Guo Wei also took advantage of the slope to get off the donkey, and expressed his condolences to Wang Jun: "Brother Wang, you are back. There is a huge backlog of work in the court. You are not here, these things can't be handled."
In order to fully promote the various arduous tasks of national construction, Zhou Taizu Guo Wei not only reused and tolerated the privy envoy Wang Jun, but also showed great respect and tolerance to other capable ministers.Among them, a typical case is the treatment of Li Gu, the third envoy.
Li Gu's experience is also somewhat legendary.
In the early days of Mingzong Li Siyuan's founding in the later Tang Dynasty, the Qingzhou army rebelled, and Li Siyuan sent Huo Yanwei to quell the rebellion, and was implicated in Han Shusi, the governor of Beihai.Han Shusi was not well-known, but he had a son who became very famous later.The son of Han Shusi was named Han Xizai.Han Xizai, who was still very young at this time, fled the Later Tang Dynasty for his life and went south to Wu State in Huainan.Before Han Xizai fled, he said goodbye to his good friend Li Gu. The two had a drink at the farewell booth, feeling emotional about the world.Han Xizai said to Li Gu, "If Wu uses me as his chancellor, he should make a long drive to settle the Central Plains."
Li Gu smiled and said to Han Xizai: "If the Central Plains uses me as a chancellor, taking Wu is like a bag of ears."
Han Xizai's fame is known to later generations, mainly from a famous painting handed down from generation to generation, called "Xizai Night Banquet Picture", which depicts the scene of Han Xizai, the prime minister of the Southern Tang Dynasty, hosting a banquet at home for entertainment.Although Han Xizai later became the prime minister of the Southern Tang Dynasty, the Southern Tang Dynasty still died in the Central Plains Empire.
Li Gu is a native of Ruyin, Henan Province. He is eight feet tall and has a burly appearance.Later, he studied hard, with a photographic memory, and was admitted as a Jinshi at the age of 27.In his career of more than two decades, he was mainly engaged in logistics support in the early years, responsible for mobilizing food and raising money.In the Zhou Dynasty after Guo Wei proclaimed himself emperor, he promoted Li Gu to be the Minister of Zhongshu and concurrently the third envoy, in charge of finance and taxation.Li Gu also realized his ambition when he parted with his good friend Han Xizai and became the prime minister of the Central Plains Empire.
Li Gu likes to donate money and help the poor. He is a warm-hearted person.The working style is Shen Yi, magnanimous, far-reaching in the face of major events, unique in strategy, and treats the emperor neither humble nor overbearing.When reporting work and stating opinions, he is impassioned and expressive, especially good at reasoning with analogies, and can explain complicated things clearly and easily understandable.Although Li Gu was not a member of Guo Wei's direct lineage, Emperor Guo Wei regarded Li Gu very highly, surpassing ordinary people.
At the critical moment of empire building, Finance Minister Li Gu fell and broke his right arm.Li Gu took a month off to rest at home.Li Gu has a heavy workload on his shoulders, so it doesn't matter if he is ill. There is a backlog of work and it is difficult to clear it.Emperor Guo Wei couldn't do without Li Gu's great help, and within a few days he ordered Li Gu to come back to work.Li Gu's right arm was inconvenient, so he could not worship normally.Guo Wei pardoned Li Gu for not having to follow the usual rituals, as long as he can preside over the work.But Li Gu felt that he was seriously injured and unable to work, so he strongly demanded to rest for a while.
Guo Wei saw that Li Gu had committed a temper tantrum, so he took the initiative to improve the working conditions for Li Gu, and sent the eunuch with a message to Li Gu, saying: "Li Aiqing, you are taking on such a heavy responsibility. I can't find a suitable person to take your place. If you To be able to handle things well, there is no need to stick to court etiquette. I have set up a special office for Li Aiqing in the side hall of the palace, come and assist me in handling state affairs."
Under the strong request and warm invitation of the emperor, Li Gu had no choice but to support his injured body to enter the court and work in a suite in the side hall of the palace.Li Gu was seriously injured, his arm was severely fractured, and he couldn't write with a pen at all.Emperor Guo Wei once again thought of a way. Instead of using Li Gu to write the plan with a pen, he specially engraved a stamp of his name, and Li Gu just stamped Li Gu's stamp on the document report when reviewing.This may be the prototype of the earliest audit and seal system for financial managers.
Li Gu was indeed insightful. During his tenure as the third envoy, he put forward many reasonable suggestions to the later Zhou court, which had positive and beneficial effects on both the public and the people.Because cowhide is an important military material for making bows and arrows, it was strictly controlled during the Five Dynasties period, especially the laws of the Later Han Dynasty were strict, and anyone who sold an inch of cowhide privately among the people was sentenced to death.Both Li Gu and Zhou Taizu Guo Wei realized the disadvantages of this policy. Under Li Gu's promotion, this ban was lifted, and the taxation form of tribute cowhide was converted into the form of equalizing the land and paying the public grain.In this way, the country can requisition cowhide or grain, and the common people can also keep some cowhide for civilian use.
During the Five Dynasties period, wars were fought year after year, and the army was deployed everywhere, so it was difficult to have a fixed garrison base.In order to supplement the supply of military supplies, many armies have adopted the farming system, but these troops and land are not under the jurisdiction of the local government.At the suggestion of Zhang Ning, the envoy of Hemen and the governor of Qingzhou, and Li Gu, the envoy of the third division, the imperial court ordered that the army's farmland system should be abolished, and the army's supplies should be brought under state management. The tenants will be granted free of charge, and the management of these lands will be included in the normal management sequence of the state.
The change of the farming system greatly stimulated the enthusiasm of farmers, making them change from short-term labor for the army to long-term land ownership.Farmers began to invest money in building cottages and devoted themselves to farming. The income of farmers increased greatly, the population multiplied, and the grain output increased greatly.According to national statistics, 30,000 new households were added at once, and many refugees changed from hidden population to normal population.During this period, someone once suggested to Zhou Taizu Guo Wei that some fertile land should not be simply given to farmers, but some fees should be charged.Guo Wei waved his hand and said, "When the common people are rich, it means that the country is rich. What do I use the money for?"
Due to the small size of the Northern Han Dynasty, it was curled up around Taiyuan.The former Hedong Fanzhen was later divided into several small Fanzhen, the northern ones were occupied by the Khitan, and the southern ones were in the Hou Zhou Dynasty.At this time, the Northern Han Dynasty was poor in land, sparsely populated, and weak in national strength, and was unable to compete with Hou Zhou and Khitan. After the defeat in Mengkeng, they never dared to take revenge on Guo Wei.
On the Khitan side, due to Liao Muzong's drinking and hunting, the state government was abolished, and the military invasion of the Central Plains was also greatly reduced. Occasionally, some small-scale plagiarism attacks were defeated by the border towns of the Later Zhou Dynasty.
Therefore, the northern border defense environment in the latter week has entered a relatively peaceful period.
The monarch of the Houshu Kingdom in the west is absurd and politically corrupt. He is satisfied with being able to favor peace, and has no military actions to covet the Central Plains.The Southern Tang Dynasty in the southeast gradually rose after Li Sheng (Xu Zhigao), and always had the ambition to conquer the Central Plains and dominate the world.During the period of Li Jing in the Southern Tang Dynasty, the Ma family of Chu State was destroyed and achieved a moment of glory.However, its national strength is still weak, and it dare not attack the Later Jin, Later Han and the current Later Zhou in the Central Plains alone.Therefore, the Southern Tang Dynasty repeatedly communicated to the Liao Kingdom, which was far outside the Great Wall, inviting the Liao Kingdom to attack Houzhou from the north and the south.
Therefore, although the Hou Zhou empire was weak, the enemies around him were even weaker, which created a rare peaceful environment for Hou Zhou.There was no major battle in the frontier defense, so that Zhou could recuperate.
Even if there is no major military action, for an era of constant wars and for a new dynasty that establishes a country through military affairs, generals are still very important.But this year, the famous general Gao Xingzhou passed away.Gao Xingzhou's character has a typical duality. He is majestic and powerful in battle, and he is not afraid to charge into battle. Talk, look calm, approachable.Gao Xingzhou went through Dayan in Youzhou, Jin army in Hedong, Emperor Zhuangzong, Emperor Mingzong, Emperor Min, and Emperor Tai of Qing Dynasty, Later Jin, Later Han, and Later Zhou. He also fell to Khitan during this period. Zhou has always maintained his duty as a soldier, loyal to his duties, obeying the monarch, not seeking unreasonable gains, not doing unjust chaos, not greedy for money, and not taking credit for pride. Colleagues, subordinates, etc. generally value and trust generals.Gao Xingzhou's family style is very strict, and his son Gao Huaide also became a famous general in the early Northern Song Dynasty. This matter will be shown in the later documents.
For several other famous generals, Zhou Taizu Guo Wei also reused them one by one.Fu Yanqing was the son of Li Cunshen, the general of Hedong, who was named the king of Wei. His daughter was favored by Guo Wei, and he married into the family and became the wife of the prince Chai Rong.In the previous document, An Shenqi ignored the opposition of the coach and rescued Huangfu Yu and Murong Yanchao who were trapped in the Khitan siege.An Shenqi is the nephew of An Jinquan, the general of Hedong, and was named King Chen.Fu Yanqing, An Shenqi, and Gao Xingzhou are all famous, and they have gone through several dynasties. They are the Nanshan Beidou in the military circle of the Central Plains Empire.Zhou Taizu Guo Wei gave them full trust, entrusted them with important tasks, and promised them high-ranking officials.
Later Zhou Emperor Guo Wei’s appointment of talents was only a measure to improve the bureaucracy. In order to promote the equality of responsibilities and rights, and improve the transparency and fairness of the selection, transfer, promotion, and duties of officials, he reformed various drawbacks in the past.In the past, prefectures, cities, and counties were big and small, rich and poor, and the responsibilities of officials were light and heavy, and the phenomenon of uneven hard work and unbalanced treatment was serious.According to the principle of matching responsibilities and rights, Guo Wei redefined the treatment and responsibilities of provincial and ministerial officials across the country, and clarified the salaries, staff allocation, funds, horses, and salt of important officials such as defense envoys, regiment training envoys, and governors. , greatly improved the efficiency of the bureaucracy, and promoted the fairness of the administration of officials.
Under the governance of Zhou Taizu, the Later Zhou Empire seemed to show a momentum of healthy development, but another huge contradiction was secretly growing.