[Zhaozong’s good medicine]
The disastrous defeat in Hedong made Zhaozong clearly realize that the separatist rule of the vassal town was too big to be shaken in a short time. In particular, this operation to reduce the vassal revealed a more difficult problem, that is, the intertwined collusion between the eunuchs' power and the local vassal towns, which restricted Zhaozong's hands and feet and made it difficult to carry out the great cause of rejuvenation.
In fact, at the beginning of Zhaozong's accession to the throne, he had already begun to lay out a new "Struggle between Nanya and Beishi", that is, to cultivate a civilian force loyal to the royal family, seize power from the eunuchs, and consolidate imperial power.
Vigorously supporting the civil servant group was regarded by Zhaozong as a panacea. Whether it was eradicating eunuchs or attacking feudal towns, he would never change the soup or medicine.
The advantage is one investment, two returns;
The disadvantage is wishful thinking.
Because Zhaozong's training targets were civil servants with no foundation, no background, and no backing. They were honest, upright, simple and easy to control. This was the basic premise that they would only be loyal to the emperor himself, and this was where their value lay.
Zhaozong thought that he could use a few crash course students to bring down the two big mountains of feudal towns and eunuchs at the same time. Zhaozong was a little fanciful.
These political crash course students identified Zhaozong's origins and actively pushed out eunuchs in front of Zhaozong, especially targeting Yang Fugong to scratch Zhaozong's itch.
Kong Wei and Zhang Jun often suggested that Zhaozong follow the example of the late emperor (Xuanzong) and strictly restrict the power of eunuchs.
These two guys are so annoying. Zhaozong is not Yizong, let alone Xizong. It's not that he doesn't want to restrain them, but that he is unable to do so. Therefore, Zhaozong could only tell his two beloved ministers tactfully, not to be impatient and to take their time, as a little impatience will ruin the big plan.
Some words can only be understood but not expressed in words, especially Zhaozong's current situation, which does not allow him to reveal secrets. He must be patient and low-key, hide his capabilities and bide his time, accumulate enough strength, and wait for a suitable opportunity.
When Emperor Zhaozong ascended the throne, Kong Wei united with many officials to criticize the eunuchs (especially Yang Fugong) for their clothing issues, pointing out that according to the old ancestral system, when offering sacrifices to heaven, they should not wear court clothes or hold a wat board, so what... A eunuch should look like a eunuch.
The memorial was handed in, but no reply was received. So he played another chapter, implying that the emperor should not indulge the eunuchs without any bottom line or principle.
Finally, Emperor Zhaozong personally wrote a note, telling them, "What Ai Qing said is absolutely true, but everything must be integrated and flexible. Don't get into trouble, and don't lose big because of small things." It was obviously partial to the eunuchs.
Brothers Kong Wei and Zhang Jun are commendable for their loyalty, but their emotional intelligence is worrying. They couldn't read the emperor's mind, and they regarded Zhaozong's forbearance as a loser. As the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, he was bullied into such a bear shape by the eunuch, and he didn't even dare to fart?
Therefore, the more Zhaozong kept a low profile and tolerated things, the more the two prime ministers had to stand out.
Yang Fugong often rode in a small sedan (shoulder carriage) carried by two people. He did not get off the sedan until Taiji Hall and walked, which was against etiquette.
One day, Zhaozong discussed world affairs with his courtiers, and his words revealed his concern for the country.
Kong Wei sneered and said slowly: "Your Majesty, you threaten the Tang Dynasty and the country, and also trouble the feudal towns in all directions? There is a person beside you who wants to rebel!"
As soon as these words came out, the scene was immediately silent, and everyone looked at Kong Wei in surprise.
Zhaozong was also shocked, wondering what kind of medicine he was selling in the gourd, "Ai Qing, who do you think is going to rebel?"
Kong Wei raised his hand and pointed, and everyone looked along the finger - Yang Fugong!
Yang Fugong felt as if he was electrocuted, and his whole body was trembling, "Don't... don't make trouble..."
"snort!"
Kong Wei exuded a sacred and inviolable righteousness all over his body, pointed at the tip of Yang Fugong's nose, and angrily said: "You, Yang Fugong, are just a domestic slave raised by His Majesty, but you dare to go to the palace on your back, how brave you are! He has also raised so many warriors as adopted sons, not only allowing them to control the royal imperial army, but also serving as local governors. Isn't this rebellion?"
Yang Fugong's adopted sons, Yang Shouli and Yang Shouxin, both served as generals in the Central Forbidden Army; Yang Shouzhen and Yang Shouzhong served as military envoys outside, and never paid tribute, and had no official position in the imperial court; Yang Shohou was the governor of Mianzhou, and most of his other adopted sons were local governors. At that time, He was collectively known as the "Outside Prince"; he also selected more than 600 shrewd and capable young eunuchs in the palace, all of whom were adopted as adopted sons, and then sent to various war zones and various provinces as eunuchs to supervise the army. From this, an intricate and airtight network of eunuch power of the "Yang faction" was woven.
The power of the eunuchs of the "Yang faction" ranged from the central to the local governments, colluding with each other internally and externally, and no one dared to touch them. At the same time, Yang Fugong also had secret collusion with local vassal towns (such as Li Keyong). The "Yang faction" eunuchs are definitely a political force that cannot be underestimated.
Everyone knew it, but only Kong Wei dared to point it out to his face.
Yang Fugong broke into a cold sweat and argued: "My adopted sons are indeed warriors, but they are loyal to the emperor and defend the country. Why are they called traitors?"
Kong Wei's sense of justice was overwhelming, his eyes widened... he was stunned, yes, why should he call him a traitor...
I'm most afraid of the sudden silence in the air.
Zhaozong quickly helped him smooth things over and asked Yang Fugong: "Since they want to be loyal to me, why don't they give their surname Li, but let them surname Yang?"
Yang Fugong was stunned and speechless.
Emperor Zhaozong was so unreasonable.
It was common practice in the Tang Dynasty to raise fake sons, especially among warlords and eunuchs in feudal vassals. It was common sense for their adopted sons to take their master's surname. Zhu Wen's adopted son's surname is Zhu, and Yang Fugong's adopted son's surname is Yang. It is only natural. According to Zhaozong, if someone with the surname Li is loyal to the emperor, anyone with any other surname would be suspected of rebellion?
Furthermore, Yang Fugong's surname was not Yang. His real surname was Lin. After entering the palace, he was adopted as an adopted son by the eunuch Yang Xuanyi, so he changed his surname to Yang. Therefore, if the surname is really used to judge loyalty and treachery, only Yang Fugong's surname for his adopted son is Lin, which is a sign of rebellion.
Yang Fugong was speechless, half scared and half angry.
Kong Wei "declared war" on Yang Fugong without giving Zhaozong permission in advance, dragging Zhaozong into a wrong political struggle launched at the wrong time. The results can be imagined.
There is no turning back when the bow is drawn. Emperor Zhaozong followed the trend and said to Yang Fugong: "I want your adopted son named Hu to serve you."
The person Zhaozong named was Yang Fugong's most proud adopted son - Yang Shouli (original name Hu Hongli). This man was superb in martial arts and bravely defeated the six armies. The officers and soldiers of the Forbidden Army were all afraid of him. When Xizong was trapped in Fengxiang, it was he and Li Changfu who An angry attack triggered Li Changfu's rebellion.
Zhaozong was worried that Yang Shouli would become an important obstacle to the "anti-Yang movement" in the future, so he turned his enemy into a friend and used the theory of "surname rebellion" to win him over.
Yang Fugong had to introduce Yang Shouli to the emperor, and at the same time, he also hoped that Yang Shouli would become his informant around the emperor.
Yang Shouli is a double-edged sword and the focus of competition between Yang Fugong and Zhaozong.
Zhaozong was certainly confident of instigating rebellion against Yang Shouli.
First, Zhaozong gave him a royal surname. From then on, Yang Shouli had a new name - Li Shunjie. For the sake of unity of narrative, "Yang Shouli" will be used in the following text.
Secondly, get promoted.
In the ranks of the Forbidden Army, Yang Shouli was promoted by Rocket, and he was appointed as the governor of Zhenhai from afar, and was given the title of prime minister. In the civil official circle, it is the prime minister; in the military attache circle, it is the commander of the imperial army; in the local area, it is still a vassal town. Elite in the three realms, and all promotions were completed in less than a year.
Yang Shouli quickly knelt down in front of the sugar-coated bullets and devoted himself to the "anti-Yang movement" without hesitation.
Poaching Yang Shouli's little cornerstone gave Zhaozong the hope of dividing and disintegrating the "Yang faction". As long as he gave time and boiled frogs in warm water, the eunuch cancer could be easily eradicated.
However, Kong Wei was extremely hateful and had always hated the gang of warriors who used force to oppress the emperor. However, his political awareness was even duller. He still did not realize the good intentions of Emperor Zhaozong, and he did not understand that Rocket's promotion of Yang Shouli was a clever political method. .
On the day when Yang Shouli was promoted to the title of prime minister, his staff told him that as usual, there should be a welcome ceremony at the Central Prime Minister's Office.
So Yang Shouli hurriedly approached Kong Wei and asked about the precautions for the ceremony. Did he need to gather all the civil and military officials to line up to welcome him? Should I deliver my inaugural speech directly, or should I give an acceptance speech first? Do I need to cry and tell my tragic childhood experience? Do I need to thank this and that...
Kong Wei was too lazy to pay attention to him and sent someone to say: No need to gather.
Yang Shouli thought that the civil and military officials were already waiting for him at the Prime Minister's Office, so he came to work happily, only to find that the unit was deserted. There was no welcome ceremony, no banners, no flowers or applause... Yang Shouli even thought that he was in the wrong place. door.
The baby is feeling bitter, and he wants to speak out.
One day, Yang Shouli finally met Kong Wei and mentioned the matter to him, seeking spiritual healing.
Kong Wei added salt to his wound, "Do you really think of yourself as the prime minister?"
Yang Shouli was so choked that he couldn't say a word and was full of grievances.
Unlike the pedantic Kong Wei, Yang Shouli fully understood Emperor Zhaozong's good intentions and had a deep understanding of the logic behind his favor. He knew that Yang Fugong was his certificate of surrender.
Reporting and reporting Yang Fugong has become Yang Shouli's daily work. With Zhaozong's acquiescence, there was no need to hide the power struggle between Yang Shouli and Yang Fugong.
As a result, a "Yang Shouli phenomenon" quietly emerged in the imperial court. Anyone who dissed Yang Fugong would receive awards. Slandering and trolling Yang Fugong was the most fashionable political correctness.
In the warm atmosphere of this kind of atmosphere, the "anti-Yang movement" is no longer inevitable.
This "Operation Yang Movement" was Zhaozong's top-level design, but this design was not precise or rigorous because it lacked the most important link - the triggering mechanism.
When we restore Zhaozong's situation at that time, we cannot blame him for his whims, nor can we laugh at his overestimation of his capabilities. He had lofty ambitions and strong beliefs, but otherwise he really had nothing.
His situation was quite passive and his strength was very weak. Under these conditions, he really could not make accurate predictions and formulate a timetable.
Economic backwardness can only lead to humble development.
When does the tour start? Just let it happen.
