Chapter 30 29 Standing Trees at the South Gate of Shang Yang

Among the Seven Heroes of the Warring States Period, Qin State was far behind the Central Plains vassal states in terms of politics, economy, and culture.The neighboring Wei State was stronger than Qin State, and took a large area of ​​Hexi from Qin State. In 361 BC, Qin Xiaogong, the new king of Qin, came to the throne.He made up his mind to work hard, first of all to search for talents.He issued an order, saying: "Whether it is from Qin or a foreign guest, whoever can find a way to make Qin prosperous and strong, he will be appointed as an official." Qin Xiaogong's call really attracted many talented people.There was Gongsun Yang (later Shang Yang), an aristocrat of the Wei State, who was not reused in the Wei State, so he went to the Qin State, asked someone to introduce him, and was received by Qin Xiaogong.

Shang Yang said to Qin Xiaogong: "If a country wants to be rich and strong, it must pay attention to agriculture and reward its soldiers; if it wants to rule the country well, it must have rewards and punishments. With rewards and punishments, the court has prestige, and all reforms can be carried out easily. " Qin Xiaogong fully agreed with Shang Yang's proposition.However, some nobles and ministers of Qin State strongly opposed it.Qin Xiaogong saw that there were so many people who opposed him, and he had just ascended the throne. He was afraid of causing trouble, so he temporarily put aside the reform.

After two years, Qin Xiaogong's throne was firmly established, so he worshiped Shang Yang as Zuo Shuzhang (Qin's official name), and said: "From today on, the matter of reforming the system will be decided by Zuo Shuzhang." Shang Yang drafted a reform decree, but he was afraid that the people would not trust him, so he did not follow the new decree.He first asked someone to erect a three-foot-high log at the south gate of the capital, and ordered: "Whoever can carry this log to the north gate will be rewarded with ten taels of gold." After a while, a large group of people surrounded the south gate, and everyone was talking about it.Some said: "Anyone can handle this piece of wood, so how can I use a reward of ten taels?"

Everyone looks at me and I look at you, but no one dares to go up and carry logs. Shang Yang knew that the people still didn't believe his order, so he increased the reward to fifty taels.I didn't expect that the higher the bounty, the more unreasonable the spectators felt, and still no one dared to carry it. When everyone was discussing, a person in the crowd ran out and said, "Let me try." He said, he really picked up the wood and left, moving all the way to the north gate. Shang Yang immediately sent someone to spread the word, rewarding the log bearer with fifty taels of yellow and clear gold, not a single cent was missing.

This incident spread immediately, causing a sensation in Qin State.The common people said: "Master Zuo Shu's order is unambiguous." Shang Yang knew that his order had taken effect, so he announced the new decree he had drafted.The new decree clearly distinguishes rewards and punishments, and stipulates that the size of official positions and the level of titles are based on meritorious service in war.Nobles who have no military merits have no titles; those who produce more food and cloth are exempted from official posts; those who are poor because of business or laziness, together with their wives and children, will be punished as servants of the government.

Since Shang Yang's reform, Qin's agricultural production has increased, and its military power has also become stronger.Soon, Qin State attacked the western part of Wei State, from Hexi to Hedong, and also defeated Anyi, the capital of Wei State. In 350 B.C., Shang Yang carried out the second reform. The main contents of the reform were: 1. Abandon the well field and open up the rice paddies (the rice paddies are the roads in the fields).The state of Qin leveled these wide fields, planted crops, and reclaimed the mounds, wasteland, woods, and ditches that were used to divide the boundaries.Whoever reclaims the wasteland belongs to him.Land can be bought and sold.

Second, the establishment of county organizations, combining towns and villages into counties, which are directly managed by officials sent by the state.In this way, the power of the central government is more concentrated. 3. Move the capital to Xianyang.In order to facilitate the development to the east, the capital of the country was moved from the original Yongcheng (now Fengxiang County, Shaanxi) to Xianyang (now northeast of Xianyang City, Shaanxi) on the north side of the Weihe River. Such a large-scale reform will of course lead to fierce struggles.Many nobles and ministers opposed the new law.Once, the prince of Qin State broke the law.Shang Yang said to Qin Xiaogong: "The laws and regulations of the country must be obeyed by all. If the people above cannot obey, the people below will not trust the court. If the crown prince breaks the law, his master should be punished."

As a result, Shang Yang convicted the prince's two masters, Gong Zixu and Gongsun Jia, one cut off his nose and the other tattooed his face.As a result, some nobles and ministers dare not violate the new law. After ten years like this, Qin State became more and more prosperous and powerful. Zhou Tianzi sent envoys to send sacrificial meat to Qin Xiaogong, and named him "Fang Bo" (the leader of one party's princes), and the princes of the Central Plains also congratulated Qin State. .The state of Wei had to cede the land in Hexi and move the capital to Daliang (now Kaifeng, Henan).