2. Military reform
Zhao Kuangyin's reforms are also very flexible, and there is no simple and crude one-size-fits-all approach. For example, the management of the northwest region at the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
In order to concentrate on pacifying the southern vassals, Zhao Kuangyin made some arrangements for the northwest region at the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China. He ordered his half-brothers - Zhao Kuangzan to guard Yanzhou, Dong Zunjiao to guard Huanzhou, and "Wang Jian'er" Wang Yansheng to guard In Yuanzhou, Feng Jiye guarded Lingwu to defend against Xixia; Li Hanchao garrisoned Guannan, "national service shooter" Ma Renyu garrisoned Yingzhou, Han Lingkun garrisoned Zhenzhou, He Weizhong garrisoned Yizhou, and He Jijun garrisoned Dizhou to garrison Khitan; To advance and control Xishan, Wu Shouqi garrisoned Jinzhou, Li Qianpu guarded Xizhou, and Li Jixun sat in Luzhou to resist the Northern Han Dynasty.
Zhao Kuangyin gave them incredible trust and policy dividends. For example, Zhao Kuangzan was secretly granted the privilege of "acting cheaply" before leaving.
All these border generals have privileges such as "smuggling under orders" and "withholding tribute under orders", which stipulate that they are entitled to all tax revenue in the area including customs taxes.
Isn’t this reversing history? of course not.
The first is the hint given by history books. For example, Zhao Kuangzan's "act when it's expedient" and Zhao Kuangyin's "don't accept secret orders, let's act when it's expedient" are Zhao Kuangyin's back-up plan. If Zhao Kuangzan goes too far or commits a major mistake, then as long as Zhao Kuangyin doesn't admit it, then Zhao Kuangzan is monopolizing power and treason. .
Secondly, the whole families of these people are in the capital. On the surface, Zhao Kuangyin treated them preferentially in the prosperous capital, but in reality he took them as hostages. This was also an ancient practice.
These generals did not disappoint Zhao Kuangyin. After receiving policy dividends, they did accumulate huge wealth. However, they did not use it to enjoy squandering. Instead, they took it from the country and used it for the country, such as recruiting spies, buying informants, and spying on the enemy. Intelligence, knowing oneself and the enemy, paves the way for resisting sneak attacks and cross-border hunting.
According to historical records, "Since then, there have been no dangers from the northwest for many years, and we have been able to work hard to the southeast to capture the lands of Jing, Hu, Sichuan, Guang, and Wuyue."
The process of reform is a matter of details, and the key depends on the results. Youdao leads to the same goal through different paths. Whether it is a large-scale strengthening of the weak branches or a small-scale "reversal", Zhao Kuangyin's reforms have achieved world-renowned results. In just a dozen years, the basic unification of the world has been completed, and the era of the remnants of the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties has been eradicated. The stubborn problem of separatist regimes in local vassals, therefore, cannot be over-praised.
"The myth of Langshan is destroyed"
Both the Central Forbidden Army and local officials understand that the Song Dynasty has changed, and the separatist rule of vassal towns in the late Tang and Five Dynasties has become history. However, there are some people who do not believe in evil and use their arms as chariots to compete with the wheel of history. This is the "wolf" Sun Xingyou of Dingzhou, "Mountain Revolutionary Base Area".
During the Later Jin Dynasty, Sun Fangjian and his brothers fled to Langshan Mountain near Dingzhou with everyone to escape the war. Later, they spread evil magic with an old nun in the mountain and deceived people in a cult-like way. They gradually established a foothold in Langshan Mountain and were later adopted by the Later Jin Dynasty. The imperial court recruits peace. In the "Sin-Liao War", Langshan heroes repeatedly entered the wild areas of the Liao Kingdom to rebel, and were awarded the title of Jiedu Envoy of the Dingzhou Yiwu Army for their merits. This has been described in detail previously.
After Sun Fangjian's death, his younger brother Sun Xingyou took over the throne and became the military governor of Dingzhou Yiwu Army. Dingzhou was an important border town between the Central Plains and Khitan, but such an important town was controlled by a bandit leader and cult leader who had been recruited. Sun Xingyou was quite uneasy about this, so he took the initiative to express his willingness to resign and go into seclusion. Zhao Kuangyin offered good words to comfort him, but Youzhao refused.
Not only did this move not bring Sun Xingyou a sense of security, but it made him feel that Zhao Kuangyin was hiding his sword behind a smile, so he secretly recruited troops, repaired armor, and prepared to return to the Langshan revolutionary base and separatist power.
His conspiracy was soon reported by the supervisory army. Zhao Kuangyin sent troops to the Zhenzhou and Dingzhou areas, claiming to patrol the border to guard against the Khitans. In fact, they broke into Dingzhou and arrested the unprepared Sun Xingyou on the spot. The imperial edict. After interrogation, Sun Xingyou confessed to his conspiracy to separatist power in Langshan, and was immediately deprived of his official title and placed under house arrest. Guess what, Zhao Kuangyin is really kind-hearted, and this kind of person can still be kept for the New Year.
Effortlessly, the separatist forces in Dingzhou were nipped in the bud.
Sun Xingyou played all his good cards to pieces. They were from poor backgrounds. They first became bandits. Later, they performed well on behalf of heaven in the "Shanxi-Liao War" and became national heroes. After going ashore, they became white-collar workers and became provincial officials. As a result, If the late festival is not guaranteed, the "Langshan myth" will be shattered.
He should seriously think about it. Even Li Jun of Luzhou and Li Chongjin of Yangzhou could not establish a separatist regime. How could he, a little Sun Xingyou, be able to fight against the rolling wheel of history with only one arm?
