Chapter 15 Section 8: Zeng Gongliang, who is well versed in literature and martial arts, and his "Wu Jing Zong Yao"

Zeng Gongliang was a famous author of military books in the Northern Song Dynasty. He co-edited "Wu Jing Zong Yao" with Ding Du and others, which created a new style of military books compilation and became the first comprehensive military book edited by the official, or It is called an encyclopedic military book, and it has an important reference and reference role for the compilation of military books and the study of military science in the future. Zeng Gongliang, courtesy name Mingzhong, was born in Jinjiang, Quanzhou.Born in the second year of Xianping (AD 999) in the Northern Song Dynasty, he was a Jinshi in the reign of Tiansheng (AD 1023-1032).Knowing Kuaiji County for the first time, it won the hearts of the people because of the way to manage the water problems of Jinghu Lake.From the first year of Kangding to the fourth year of Qingli (1040-1044 A.D.), he was ordered to collect ancient military tactics and strategies of this dynasty, and compile them into "Wu Jing Zong Yao".In the seventh year of Qingli (1047 A.D.), Zeng Gongliang was promoted to Tianzhang Pavilion to wait for the system. He knew Zhengzhou and Kaifeng government affairs.After that, he also served as a political adviser, a minister of the Ministry of officials, and a bachelor of Jixian hall.In the last year of Renzong, that is, the eighth year of Jiayou (1063 A.D.), the Khitan people entered the Chaohe boundary, and Zeng Gongliang strongly advocated banning it and eliminating the border hazards.Later, he served as Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, Bachelor of Zhaowenguan, etc., and was granted the title of Duke of Lu in Jin Dynasty.In the second year of Xining (1069 AD), Zeng Gongliang abdicated due to old age.In September of the third year of Xining (AD 1070), he also served as the Jiedu envoy of the three cities of Heyang, and made great contributions to the army.Soon, Taifu became an official.Before becoming an official, he recommended Wang Anshi as his prime minister.After his death in the first year of Yuanfeng (1078 A.D.), Shenzong bestowed on him Taishi and Zhongshu Ling, who were given the posthumous title of "Xuanjing" and deserved to be enjoyed in the temple of Yingzong.He made important contributions to the stability of the Northern Song Dynasty.

Ding Du, who co-organized the compilation of "Wu Jing Zong Yao" with Zeng Gongliang, was born in Xiangfu (now Kaifeng, Henan).Born in the first year of Chunhua (990 A.D.), he served as a political adviser, a bachelor of Guanwendian, and Zuo Cheng of Shangshu.He died in the fifth year of Huangyou (1053 A.D.), and his posthumous title was "Wen Jian".In addition to "Wu Jing Zong Yao", there are "Bei Bian Yao Lan", "Qing Li Bing Lu", "San Bian Lu", "You Ying Sheng Lan" 10 volumes, "Gui Jian Jing Yi" three volumes, "Editing Annual General Record, eight volumes and other treatises.

"Wu Jing Zong Yao" is divided into the first and second episodes, each with 20 volumes.The first collection contains 15 volumes of various military systems and five volumes of frontier defense.The second collection has 15 volumes of historical stories and five volumes of Yin and Yang Zhanhou.The first edition in the fourth year of Qingli (AD 1044) and the reprinted edition in the fourth year of Shaoding (AD 1231) have not been seen so far.The earliest surviving one is the reprinted edition of Shaoding edition from Hongzhi to Zhengde period of Ming Dynasty (1488-1521 A.D.), and Zhonghua Book Company photocopied and published the first collection of this edition in 1959.The engraved editions of Li Zan in the seventeenth year of Hongzhi in the Ming Dynasty (AD 1504), the engraved editions of Jiajing, the engraved editions of Tang Fuchun in Jinling Shulin, the engraved editions of the Ming Dynasty, and the Zhuangzhuang manuscripts in the thirty-sixth year of Wanli (AD 1608) are all rare editions. The "Siku Quanshu" and the "Siku Quanshu Rare Versions First Collection" have many mistakes, omissions, deletions, distortions, and false statements, which are difficult to prove.

The compilation and publication of "Wu Jing Zong Yao" clearly reflected that the rulers of the early Northern Song Dynasty attached great importance to the study of military science.In order to be able to win the military struggle against the minority regimes in the north, the imperial court ordered civil and military officials to summarize and study the military theories, war experience and military technology of the past dynasties, and to concentrate manpower and material resources to compile comprehensive military books to meet the times. use.Song Renzong also put forward specific requirements for the compilation work in the imperial "Wu Jing Zong Yao Preface".The "Wu Jing Zong Yao", compiled in accordance with Renzong's request, has two major historical advances.

First, when discussing military issues, it is no longer one-sidedly pursuing the establishment of new principles, and repeatedly elaborating previous principles from various angles, but logically sorting out and arranging the discussions on similar issues in the classics of military science in the past dynasties, and then Inject the new ideas of the dynasty and provide systematic military theory for the generals.According to this method, the military issues discussed in "Wu Jing Zong Yao" can be roughly divided into the following categories: the theory of military art, the selection of generals and training, marching and camping, strategy and tactics, combat methods and battle examples, the formation of successive dynasties, and the use of water to attack fire. Attack, weapon manufacturing and use, military fortification and city warfare weapons, shape and structure of warships and naval equipment, military system, military establishment system, military organization, military geography, military topography, military logistics, yin and yang astrology, etc.These contents are divided into 40 volumes of the whole book, or one volume per category, or several volumes per category, or interleaved volumes between categories.This compilation method not only improves the systematicness and scientificity of the whole book, but also facilitates reference. It has a reference role for the compilation of military books in the future.

Second, the ratio of military theory and military technology has been adjusted, and the content of military technology has been greatly increased. The tendency of not knowing why, so that the generals in command can master the essentials of military technology while being familiar with military theory.What is particularly distinctive is that in each volume of military technology, there are also a large number of pictures that are simple but suggestive, showing the military technology before the Northern Song Dynasty and at that time, like a miniature picture scroll of history, in front of the reader's case. Make people have a comprehensive understanding of the military technology content in the article. "Wu Jing Zong Yao" also timely collected the creative achievements in science and technology at that time, the most prominent of which were guide fish and three gunpowder formulas.

The guide fish is a kind of magnetic compass instrument. Cui Bao of the Western Jin Dynasty mentioned it in "Gu Jin Zhu", but did not introduce it in detail. "Wu Jing Zong Yao" described for the first time its method of making, structure and principles of guidance.When making it, first cut a thin iron sheet into a fish shape two inches long and five minutes wide, then put it in a charcoal fire and burn it red, clamp the fish head with iron tongs, and move it out of the fire so that the fish tail is facing Put it in the sub-position, and put it in a water basin, let the fish tail have no water for a few minutes, and put it in a sealed container.When in use, place a water bowl in a windless place, let the guide fish float on the water surface, and its head will automatically point to the south.The development of the guide fish promoted the creation of the compass.Around the end of the 11th century, my country had already used the compass for boat navigation.

Gunpowder was invented in Tang Xianzong Yuanhe eighth year (AD 808), but it was not used in war until the early Northern Song Dynasty. The "Wu Jing Zongyao" published three gunpowder formulas for making fireballs, thorn fireballs, and poison smoke balls. Earliest document. The two major advances in the compilation style of "Wu Jing Zong Yao" have improved the scientific and practical value of military books. Therefore, when Ji Yun, a famous scholar and writer in the Qianlong period, compiled "Si Ku Quan Shu", he called it "the first collection and one The system of the dynasties, the gains and losses of the past dynasties are collected later, and there are also those who have sufficient qualifications for research.”This evaluation is very appropriate.