Chapter 6 Section 5 Dead but undefeated

Shang Yang was in power in Qin State for 19 years. With the support of Qin Xiaogong, his new law was implemented more thoroughly and achieved great success.However, the reform has not been all smooth sailing.Focusing on important issues such as whether to reform the law and how to implement the new law, Shang Yang fought desperately with the conservative forces. The new law has been implemented throughout the country for a year, and thousands of people came to the capital to reflect that the implementation of the law is not good.Because the new law deprived slave owners of nobles of their privileges and violated their vested interests, it was strongly opposed by them.Faced with the challenge from the conservatives, Shang Yang was unequivocal and advocated that he should be brought to justice.Prince Fu Gongziqian and Prince Shi Gongsun Jia instigated the young prince Si to publicly oppose the reform.Shang Yang said to Xiao Gong: "The new law is difficult to implement, and the resistance mainly comes from the sabotage and disturbance of the upper-level nobles. To implement the reform, first cut the crown prince's head." Prince Si broke the law and should be punished. Shang Yang ordered Gongziqian's nose to be cut off, and Gongsun Jia's face to be tattooed [love, tattoo], severely hitting the rampant attack of conservative forces.Shang Yang's move broke the old etiquette system in the era of slavery that "you can't punish a doctor" and was praised by the people. "Everyone in Qin tends to order", the new law quickly spread.

With the deepening of the reform, the social effect is becoming more and more obvious.In the ten years of Qin State, Shang Yang became more and more powerful. He not only suppressed the "disordered people" who openly slandered the new law with severe punishments, but also showed no mercy to lawless clans and dignitaries, which aroused their hatred of Shang Yang. resentment and dissatisfaction. Once, a man named Zhao Liang went to see Shang Yang.At first, he persuaded Shang Yang to give up his power, and then he urged Shang Yang to give up harsh laws and punishments based on the Confucian idea that "those who rely on virtue will prosper, and those who rely on strength will perish." The situation is like dewdrops in the morning, it will not last long. Do you want to prolong your life? Why not live in seclusion in the Shang Dynasty, in the fifteenth town, water the fields in the local area, and live and work in peace." Shang Yang said: "Take a good look at how I govern Qin. !" He didn't listen to Zhao Liang's preaching, and continued to insist on the reform.At this time, Shang Yang also felt the potential threats from all aspects of society. Just in case, every time he patrolled, dozens of fully armed vehicles drove around, screaming and hugging, so majestic!

In 338 BC, just as the Qin army was victorious in the eastward campaign, Qin Xiaogong was seriously ill.When he was dying, Duke Xiao wanted to pass on the throne to Shang Yang, but Shang Yang refused.In May of this year, Duke Xiao died, and Prince Si ascended the throne as King Huiwen of Qin (337-311 BC).Soon, Shang Yang resigned and returned home. At this time, Master Huiwen, Gong Ziqian, who had been punished by Shang Yang and had not left the house for eight years, became active again and opposed Shang Yang.They moved around and falsely accused Shang Yang of plotting rebellion.He also incited King Huiwen and said: "Now even the women and children of Qin State talk about Shang Yang's laws, not the king's decrees. In this way, Shang Yang became a monarch instead, and the king became a subject. Besides, Shang Yang insisted on being an enemy of the king. May your majesty try to get rid of him." So King Huiwen ordered Shang Yang to be arrested.

After Shang Yang heard the news, he fled from Qin immediately.When we arrived at the pass, it was already dark, so we had to find a hotel to rest for the night.The owner of the inn didn't know him, and said: "Shang Yang's law stipulates that the guest has no certificate, and the owner will be punished if found out." Because Shang Yang ran away in a panic without any certificate, he was turned away by the innkeeper.Shang Yang said with emotion: "The disadvantages of the new law have been added to me." He had no choice but to flee to the state of Wei.The people of the state of Wei complained that he had deceived Prince Ang and defeated the Wei army, and refused to take him in.In desperation, Shang Yang returned to Qin's own Shang and Yufeng towns, and organized soldiers from the towns to prepare to resist the Qin soldiers' search and arrest.In the end, being outnumbered, Shang Yang and his family were captured by Qin soldiers.King Qin Huiwen used the cruelest criminal law to tear Shang Yang apart and threatened, "Look who else dares to rebel like Shang Yang!" Then he killed his whole family.

Shang Yang devoted himself to feudal reform in Qin State for more than ten years, and gave his life for it.However, Shang Yang's reform conformed to the trend of history, conformed to the people's will, and had a huge repercussions in the society.The common people at that time talked about the legal system, and many people cherished the decrees of Guan Zhong and Shang Yang.Han Fei, a famous thinker in the pre-Qin period, extolled Shang Yang's achievements "for generations to come." Although Shang Yang is dead, "Qin Fa has not been defeated" ("Han Feizi·Ding Fa").From Duke Xiao of Qin to King Zhuangxiang of Qin, it has been passed down for six generations. It lasted for more than a hundred years. The laws of Shang Yang remained unchanged, the society was relatively stable, and the economy continued to develop.In 221 BC, King Qin Yingzheng unified China by "destroying the princes and becoming an emperor".Shang Yang's reform laid a solid foundation for the realization of this great cause.