Chapter 30 Behind the Controversy of Etiquette and Law

On May 23rd in the fourteenth year of the Dali calendar (779 A.D.), Prince Li Shi took the throne as Emperor Dezong. When a new emperor ascends the throne, the first thing he should do is not governing the government, but mourning. In ancient times, mourning was a big thing.According to the etiquette and law handed down by Confucianism, no matter who suffers from the funeral of their parents, they must observe filial piety for three years. Within three years, they will not be an official, do not marry, do not go to banquets, and do not take exams. The scientific name is "Ding You".That is to say, no matter how high an official you are, if your parents die, you have to go home honestly and go to Ding You for three years. Apart from eating, sleeping, reading and writing, you can hardly do anything.

However, if this matter were placed on the emperor's head, it would be a bit unreliable. The reason is simple: if the prime minister returns home for three years, others can still handle government affairs for him; if the emperor does not go to court for three years, who will rule the world for him? In order to solve this unreliable problem, probably from Emperor Han Wen, there was a flexible method to shorten the emperor's mourning time from three years to a symbolic thirty-six days (instead of thirty-six months). .Since Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, this method has been followed. In the Xuan and Su Dynasties, it was further shortened to 27 days.Before Daizong's death, he also stated in his will that the new monarch should mourn for 27 days, while officials at all levels of the empire only need to mourn for three days.In a word, it is enough for everyone to make up their minds, and what to do after three days, don't delay work and study, and of course don't delay entertainment.

Daizong's edict was obviously reasonable, and the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty strongly supported it, and they all expressed that they would resolutely implement it. However, some people have raised objections to this.He believes that all officials must serve for 27 days, just like the new king, and no less than one day! This person is Prime Minister Chang Gun. Chang Gun was a minister that Daizong relied heavily on in his later years. He became prime minister at the same time as Yang Wan, a famous minister at the time, but Yang Wan died of illness not long after, so Chang Gun became the chief prime minister in charge of the government alone.

Before Chang Gun, the person in power was Yuan Zai, the Prime Minister who exercised power.As we all know, this guy Yuan Zai is notoriously corrupt. He not only takes money and breaks the law, sells officials and nobles, but also always changes ways to harm public wealth and private interests.For example, when the prime minister went to work at that time, he stayed in the Zhengshitang to eat working meals at noon. Yuan Zai suspected that the food was not good, so he openly proposed to Emperor Daizong that the daily working meals should be provided by the imperial dining room, and the food must be the same as that of the emperor. Prepare ten people.In addition, the imperial court was also required to give special allowances to the prime minister and ministers—3,600 pieces of silk and satin every year.Although Daizong was dissatisfied, he still bit the bullet and agreed.

Subsequently, these two treatments became customary. After Chang Dun came to power, in order to establish a clean and honest image, he took the initiative to propose to Daizong: "The meal expenses paid by the imperial court to the prime minister and ministers are enough, and the imperial dining room should stop serving meals." Daizong was very happy and immediately approved .Soon, Chang Dun proposed to abolish the special allowance, which caused public outrage all at once. You know, although the ministers in the DPRK hate Yuan Zai, no one hates the special allowance.To put it bluntly, everyone didn't eat meat with Yuan Zai, at least they could drink soup with it, but now when you often come here, you let everyone tighten their belts and drink Northwest Wind, why do you have it?

This discussion was strongly opposed by everyone, so Chang Gun had no choice but to shut up, and the matter was left alone. Afterwards, all the officials and ministers scolded Chang Gun behind their backs, saying: "The imperial court has a generous salary, so it nurtures talents; it can't, it should resign from the position, not the salary." (Volume 225) The high salary of the imperial court is to maintain integrity. If you think you are incompetent and sorry for the high salary, then simply resign and leave. In this way, Chang Gun offended his colleagues as soon as he came to power. History books commented on him: "He has a quick temper, is harsh in politics, and does not agree with the hearts of the people." In short, he can't be a man.

But, is Chang Gun really not good at being a human being?Can a person who has spent most of his life in officialdom and finally became the chief prime minister not even know how to unite the masses at the very least? In fact, the reason why Chang Gun offended the public was not because he could not be a man, but because he was too eager to express himself in front of the emperor, thus unconsciously harming the interests of all officials. In other words, Chang Dun's problem is that he pretends to be lofty, but he is also hypocritical and hypocritical. After Daizong's death, Chang Gun's hypocrisy and hypocrisy were even more vividly displayed.

According to the etiquette system, the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty would go to mourn in front of Daizong Ling every morning and evening.Chang Gun may be grateful for Daizong's kindness, or he may be anxious to leave a good impression on the new king Li Shi. In short, he cried in the mourning hall every day, with a heartbroken and grief-stricken look, which made everyone endure I couldn't help but get goosebumps all over my body. On this day, as usual, Chang Dun cried to death in the mourning hall, even fainted and fell to the ground, and his followers hurried up to help him.When all the officials in the hall saw it, they couldn't help feeling a little nauseated.Cui Youfu, who was then a member of Zhongshushe, finally couldn't bear it anymore, pointed to Chang Gun and said to everyone: "Is there such etiquette in the world?"

Chang Gun's anger can be imagined that the dignified chief prime minister was teased in public by a small Zhongshusheren.But he still took into account his dignity as a prime minister, and resisted not having an attack. On the same day, the new emperor Li Shi called a meeting of ministers to discuss the issue of mourning deadlines for officials at all levels. Chang Gun seized this opportunity to express himself repeatedly: "Although the edict of the first emperor said that the officials in the world should be released within three days," it meant that Low-level officials do not refer to the court officials. In ancient times, whenever there was a national mourning, officials and officials had to follow the same etiquette system as the emperor, and now the emperor has to mourn for twenty-seven days, and the officials in the court should do the same."

When all the officials heard the words, they were all greeting Chang Gun's ancestors in their hearts, but they remained silent on the surface, not wanting to offend the chief prime minister.Only Cui Youfu once again ignored Chang Gun's authority, and said with a sneer, "There is no distinction between courtiers and ordinary people in the edict of the first emperor. Whether it is the court or the public, who works for the court, who is not an 'officer'? So all officials All should obey the will, and all mourn for three days." Chang Gun began to chew on the words: "According to the interpretation of the ancients, 'officials' is the abbreviation of 'subordinate staff', which refers specifically to staff members appointed by officials themselves. How can it be compared with public officials?"

Cui Youfu refused to give an inch: "There is a sentence in "Zuo Zhuan" called "the three officials of the commission", and the three officials refer to the three princes. Could it be that the "Xunli" and "Good officials" often mentioned in history books also refer to the "Xu Officials can't do it?" Chang Gun found that he was no match for Cui Youfu when he dropped his book bag, so he quickly changed direction: "Etiquette is nothing more than human feelings. Today's ministers and ministers are all favored by the emperor. If they follow the etiquette of the common people with the common people, how can they bear it and how can they be at ease?" !" Cui Youfu sneered again: "Master Chang insists on saying this, where will the late emperor's edict be placed? If the emperor's will can still be changed at will, what else in the world cannot be changed?" Chang Gun was furious, and angrily reprimanded Cui Youfu for not being a courtier.Cui Youfu did not show any weakness, and accused Chang Gun of wantonly misinterpreting the edict.The two sides were at each other's throats, and you came and went, and they quarreled suddenly. The new king, Li Shi, looked at this scene coldly, feeling very displeased, and immediately announced the dissolution of the meeting. Is Chang Dun and Cui Youfu tearing their faces apart and fighting to the death in public, is it just a simple dispute of etiquette? If you look at it that way, you're taking politics too simply. In the officialdom in ancient China, disputes over etiquette and law broke out to varying degrees in almost every dynasty, but anyone with a discerning eye knows that nine out of ten of them are power struggles.In other words, the so-called ancestral etiquette is often just a tool used by politicians to fight for power and profit. The dispute between Chang Gun and Cui Youfu is of course no exception. In fact, freezing three feet is not a one-day cold. The conflict between Chang and Cui has a long history. When it comes to the causes of conflicts, we cannot fail to mention the changes in the prime minister system of the Tang Dynasty after the Anshi Rebellion. During Xuanzong's period, the prime minister's team mainly consisted of Zhongshu Ling, the highest official of Zhongshu Province, Shizhong, the highest official of Menxia Province, and some six ministers with the title of "Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin"; Shangshu's left and right servants shot, and they were basically excluded from the list of prime ministers at this time.Since the Anshi Rebellion, in order to adapt to the rapidly changing situation, the Li and Tang courts began to use the two titles of Zhongshuling and Shizhong to award some meritorious officials, making these two prime ministers gradually have the nature of false titles.In the second year of Daizong Dali (767 A.D.), the Li Tang court further upgraded Zhongshu Ling and Shizhong to Zheng Erpin (formerly Zheng Sanpin), and since then these two titles have completely become empty titles. Correspondingly, the former deputies of the two provinces of Zhongshu and Menxia, ​​Zhongshu Shilang and Menxia Shilang, were also upgraded from the fourth rank to the third rank, becoming the highest officials of the two provinces.Since then, the prime ministers of the Tang Dynasty are usually served by Zhongshu Shilang and Menxia Shilang respectively with the title of "Tongping Zhangshi". You don't need to ask about your qualifications, but you can be directly promoted to the prime minister's team. Obviously, such changes were largely due to the needs of the political environment at that time.Wars and rebellions came one after another, the authority of the imperial court was greatly weakened, and the operation of the central government could no longer be done step by step as in the past. Therefore, a new flexible and simple system of prime ministers must be formed so that the emperor can break the rules and promote some powerful ministers when necessary. Low-ranking officials with the ability to let them enter the power core of the empire. Now, let's look back at the cause of the dispute between Chang Gun and Cui Youfu. In the spring of the twelfth year of the Dali calendar (777 A.D.), Daizong removed Yuan Zai, the prime minister who had power; , and then the position of Minister of Zhongshu has been vacant for a long time.Under such circumstances, Cui Youfu, as a veteran Zhongshu Sheren (upper fifth grade), naturally took over the government affairs of Zhongshu Province, and invisibly became the actual chief of Zhongshu Province. , but has its rights. At the same time, Chang Gun also replaced Yang Wan as the chief prime minister.In his opinion, Cui Youfu, a mere member of the Zhongshushe, was not qualified to be in charge of the Zhongshu Province, so he quickly took over the government affairs of the Zhongshu Province. Cui Youfu was beaten back to his original form, of course he was aggrieved. In June of the thirteenth year of Dali (778 A.D.), Sikong Zhu Xi reported an auspicious event to Emperor Daizong, saying that there was a strange scene of cats and mice in the same nest in the home of one of his subordinates——a female cat kept a kitten. The mice are their own cubs, feeding them selflessly with milk every day.Zhu Xi said, this is something unheard of since the beginning of the world. If it weren't for the greatness of the emperor, how could there be such auspicious harmony of cat and mouse! When Chang Gun heard the news, he immediately led civil and military officials into the court to congratulate him. In the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty, only one person made a discordant sound. This person is of course Cui Youfu. He said in front of Chang Gun and all the officials: "If everything violates nature, it is an evildoer. It is the bounden duty of a cat to catch mice, but now it is breastfeeding a mouse. Isn't this evildoer? What is there to celebrate? What the court should do The matter is to use this to reflect on whether the supervisory department has indulged corrupt officials and whether the border guards have fulfilled their duty to defend against the enemy. This is the way of God." After Daizong heard about it, he immediately accepted Cui Youfu's criticism and expressed his praise and appreciation.Cui Youfu did this clearly to embarrass Chang Dun.Chang Gun didn't say anything on the surface, and a few days later, he arranged a new job for Cui Youfu, asking him to be in charge of the selection of officials in the Ministry of Officials. If Chang Gun really asked Cui Youfu to "distribute the selection of officials", then Cui Youfu would have nothing to say. After all, the Ministry of Officials is a vital department of power, and the selection of officials in charge of it is even more drool-worthy. Difference.But the problem is that it is impossible for Chang Gun to truly hand over the power of selecting officials to Cui Youfu. What happened later quickly proved this point: After Cui Youfu was seconded to the Ministry of Officials, every time he carefully selected alternate officials who reported to him, more than 90% of them were killed by Chang Dang. What reason? No reason needed. If there must be any reason, it is very simple - you offended the leader! Offending the leader is a depressing thing, but Cui Youfu is not depressed. Because he believes that Feng Shui is rotated in turn, prime ministers are made in turn, and unpopular leaders will step down sooner or later! And Chang Gun is a typical unpopular leader.Cui Youfu knew that his mass base was much stronger than that of Chang Dun.For this alone, he has the capital to compete with Chang Dun. Therefore, when Chang Gun once again pushed himself to the opposite side of Baiguan on the issue of mourning, Cui Youfu realized that there was an opportunity to fight back, so he stepped forward when Baiguan dared not speak out, and openly communicated with Chang. Dagon challenged. To put it bluntly, Chang Gun made a big fuss about the mourning issue, and his purpose was nothing more than to please the new king Li Shi; while Cui Youfu dared to openly challenge the prime minister, it was nothing more than trying to win the sympathy and support of the officials and accumulate a higher reputation for himself. , in order to completely overthrow Chang Dagon one day. Faced with Cui Youfu's challenge, Chang Gun certainly would not remain indifferent, let alone sit idly by. The day after he broke up with Cui Youfu, Chang Gun went to Shushu for impeachment, claiming that Cui Youfu "changed his feelings and changed his manners, and lightly discussed the national code", and asked Dezong to demote this rebellious guy as the governor of Chaozhou (now Chaozhou City, Guangdong). In order to enhance his persuasiveness, Chang Gun also signed the names of the other two prime ministers to show that the impeachment was the result of a collective discussion by the prime minister's team, and he was not venting his personal anger alone. The two people represented by Chang Gun are Guo Ziyi, a veteran of the Four Dynasties, who was Situ and Zhongshuling at the time, and the other was the former Youzhou Jiedu envoy Zhu Xi, who entered the dynasty on his own initiative in the ninth year of the Dali calendar and was appointed as Sikong, Same thing.Although they hold the title of prime minister, they do not actually participate in government affairs, and almost never go to work in the political affairs hall, while Chang Gun has always "lived alone in the political affairs hall", and one person has the final say on all government affairs, so the impeachment of Cui Youfu this time, He also naturally represented Guo and Zhu. For the essence of this dispute over etiquette and law, Dezong Li Shi is actually well aware of it.He knew that it was fake that Chang Gun and Cui Youfu were arguing over the issue of mourning, and that it was true that they took advantage of the issue because of their deep grievances.Fundamentally, this squabble over the period of mourning is pretty boring.Deep down in his heart, Dezong still prefers Cui Youfu.Because if there is no Chang Dun's hypocrisy, there will be no Cui Youfu's objection and this unnecessary quarrel. However, in the face of the impeachment memorials jointly signed by the three prime ministers, it was useless even if Dezong leaned towards Cui Youfu.When a new king comes to the throne, he usually doesn't want to disagree with the prime minister's team. Now that the three prime ministers have all signed their names, it is obviously unreasonable not to deal with Cui Youfu.However, the punishment for demoting Cui Youfu to Chaozhou was too severe.After much deliberation, Dezong had no choice but to adopt a compromise method-to demote Cui Youfu from the court, but not to Chaozhou, where Emperor Shan Gao was far away, but to Henan Shaoyin. Originally, this boring battle of etiquette and law should have come to an end here, and Chang Gun has won this battle without any suspense.However, what happened next was beyond everyone's expectations, and made Chang Gun himself dumbfounded. No, it was to make Chang Gun feel regretful and want to cry without tears! Things were reversed because of the two "represented" prime ministers. After Cui Youfu's relegation order was issued, Guo Ziyi and Zhu Xi immediately entered the palace to intercede with Dezong, saying that Cui Youfu was innocent and should not be demoted.Dezong was puzzled, and said: "Didn't the two virtuous ministers just impeach him, why did they go back on their promises?" Guo Ziyi and Zhu Xi looked at each other, and said innocently: The memorial written by Chang Gun was never shown to them. As soon as this remark came out, Dezong Li Shi was shocked. what happened?Did Chang Gun sign to impeach the minister on his behalf without the consent of other prime ministers? What kind of problem is this? This is the exclusive power of the prime minister, deceiving the emperor! If it is said that at the beginning of the new king's ascension to the throne, the more taboo thing was disagreement with the prime minister's team, then the most taboo thing is probably being blinded and emptied by a prime minister who is in charge of power. On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in the 14th year of the Dali calendar, Emperor Dezong Li Shi categorically issued an edict to demote Chang Gun, the chief minister, to the governor of Chaozhou, and at the same time promoted Cui Youfu to be the minister of the sect and Tongping Zhangshi. As soon as the edict was issued, it was like dropping a heavy bomb in the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty.Although the officials were greatly surprised, they clapped their hands inwardly in unison. Because Chang Gun's hypocrisy and hypocrisy are really unbearable. In comparison, Cui Youfu, who is both rational and pragmatic, is much cuter than him. At this time, Cui Youfu, who had been demoted from the capital, had just walked to Zhaoying (now Lintong County, Shaanxi Province), when the envoys rushed to catch up with him from behind. The moment he knelt down to listen to the announcement, Cui Youfu couldn't believe his ears. But he knew he wasn't dreaming. Because he has always firmly believed that Feng Shui is rotated in turn, prime ministers are made in turn, and unpopular leaders will step down one day! Now, Feng Shui has finally come to my house. Chang Dun, admit it! Chang Gun never expected his ending to be so miserable. He thought that Chaozhou was the destination he arranged for Cui Youfu, but he didn't expect that it was the grave he dug for himself. This is really a black humor that makes you cry without tears. Chang Gun didn't know where he was wrong, let alone why the new king Li Shi was so decisive.In the boundless pain and loss, he could only think of a saying that the ancients often said - once the emperor, the courtier. As the chief chancellor who ruled the government alone in the Daizong era, there must be a natural tension between Chang Gun and the new king Li Shi, because no emperor would allow too much power to be concentrated in the hands of a minister! Therefore, even if Chang Gun does not fall in this battle of etiquette and law, sooner or later he will step down due to other things. In this sense, Chang Dun should actually feel lucky, because if he leaves earlier, he can save his life, but if he leaves later, he may lose everything... In the sunny summer of the 14th year of the Dali calendar, when Chang Gun sadly embarked on the long road of relegation, Dezong Li Shi was waiting for Cui Youfu's return with great ambition. At this moment, Li Shi has already drawn a grand blueprint in his heart to revitalize Chao Gang and rejuvenate Li Tang. He just waits for a pragmatic and capable prime minister to come to his side and help him turn this wonderful ideal into reality step by step.