"Yi Zhong Confucian Minister"
In 963, Zhao Kuangyin planned to change the Yuan Dynasty, so he asked Fan Zhi and other prime ministers to take the lead in discussing the new year's name. They required high-end atmosphere and class, and more importantly, of course, it must not be used by predecessors. After some discussion, it was finally decided as "Qian De". There is a saying that "the restoration of Qian De is the beginning of all kinds of things." In November of that year, Zhao Kuangyin issued an edict to change the fourth year of Longlong to the first year of Qiande.
After the destruction of Shu, a very accidental discovery made Zhao Kuangyin take a breath. At that time, he accidentally discovered a bronze mirror seized from Hou Shu. What surprised Zhao Kuangyin was that the mirror was clearly engraved with "cast in the fourth year of Qiande".
"Have I traveled through time?" Zhao Kuangyin was horrified, and then he showed the bronze mirror, which will be produced next year, to all the officials, and asked them what happened, but all the senior officials could not answer. So he called Tao Hub and Dou Yi, both Hanlin scholars, and asked them if they could explain it.
Dou Yi smiled slightly and immediately said: "It must be a trophy from Shu."
Zhao Kuangyin was shocked and asked him how he knew.
"Zongyan, the former king of Shu, used Qiande as his reign name. It should have been cast at that time." The fourth year of Qiande by Zongyan, the former king of Shu, was the second year of Longde, Zhuyouzhen of Later Liang Dynasty.
Zhao Kuangyin then sighed to his left and right: "The prime minister must use scholars!" Historical records record that from then on, Zhao Kuangyin "paid more attention to Confucian officials."
This little story deserves some careful consideration:
First of all, Dou Yi stole the show and won the admiration of Zhao Kuangyin. However, while Zhao Kuangyin praised Dou Yi, he also showed his dissatisfaction with the "prime ministers", implying that they were ignorant and ignorant that they did not know that there were already 40 years ago. The puppet regime used "Qiande" as its reign name, so Zhao Kuangyin soon changed the name to "Kaibao" and abandoned "Qiande".
But the problem is that the three prime ministers Fan Zhi, Wang Pu, and Wei Renpu are also genuine scholars:
Fan Zhi was a Jinshi in the Mingzong Dynasty of the Later Tang Dynasty; Wang Pu was the top scorer in the college entrance examination in the early Later Han Dynasty; Wei Renpu had the lowest academic qualifications among the three, but he also started from the grassroots level of the Hanlin Academy and was nurtured all the way from the Hanlin Academy.
Why aren’t these three people scholars? Compared with Dou Yi, why doesn't it taste good?
In fact, Zhao Kuangyin's words were not meant to be scornful of "Three Prime Ministers", but to refer to Sang and Huai, and to insinuate it for Zhao Pu, because Comrade Zhao Pu did not have a Jinshi degree, was a temporary worker, and had not received any systematic education. , is not a "scholar" in the strict sense. Zhao Kuangyin often advises him to read more.
Zhao Pu should be a model of quality education. For a long time, he has been scorned by the academic circle for his lack of academic qualifications, but he has also got rid of the shackles of academics. He can always get to the root of the problem in practical work, and can accurately propose pragmatic and flexible solutions, never sticking to Dogmatism, no matter what Confucius said or what Yao and Shun did, did Confucius eat rice from the Five Dynasties period? Did Yao and Shun drink water from the Five Dynasties period? If you don't eat the fireworks here, how can you guide the affairs here for thousands of years?
Reform requires pragmatism the most, and people like Zhao Pu are the most suitable. From the "Chenqiao Mutiny" to "releasing military power over a glass of wine" to helping Zhao Kuangyin complete a series of reforms to strengthen centralization, Zhao Pu laid a three-hundred-year foundation for the Song Dynasty, but academic qualifications were always an obstacle he could not get around. Son will always be the path used by those who envy, envy, and hate him to slander him, so Zhao Kuangyin advised him to study more and make up for his shortcomings.
The sentence "The prime minister must be a scholar" is not only an exhortation to Zhao Pu, but also a blow to him. This sentence can also be understood this way: Although Comrade Zhao Pu's achievements are obvious to all, he is indeed not qualified to be prime minister. Because when we open up the pattern and raise the perspective, it is not difficult to find that Zhao Pu is also just a tool of Zhao Kuangyin, and Zhao Kuangyin has never relaxed his suppression of Zhao Pu.
"The art of controlling people"
Dong Zunjie, his father's name is Dong Zongben. Dong Zongben was the governor of Suizhou in the Later Han Dynasty. At that time, Zhao Kuangyin was still an insignificant role and went to Suizhou to join Dong Zongben. Dong Zunjie relied on his father's power and often bullied Zhao Kuangyin. One time, the two had a debate on a certain military issue. Dong Zunjie was weak in reasoning and could not argue with Zhao Kuangyin. Dong Zunjie, who could not afford to lose, threw up his sleeves and left, leaving Zhao Kuangyin alone. Leave it on the spot.
"What's the future with you bunch of insects!" Zhao Kuangyin felt that he would not have much development here, so he bid farewell to Dong Zongben and found another job.
In the past you were indifferent to me, but today I have made it impossible for you to reach high. Who would have thought that Zhao Kuangyin would become the emperor! Dong Zunyi was frightened to death.
However, Zhao Kuangyin seemed to have forgotten this person who often bullied him. Not only did he not give Dong Zunyi any shoes, he also promoted him repeatedly. In a short time, he was promoted to the Forbidden Army and became the commander of the Xiaowu Army. Dong Zunzhen was worried about this and transferred him from the local government to the central government. Could it be that he wanted to kill me more conveniently?
Soon, relevant personnel came to send a message to Dong Zunyi: The emperor invites you to drink tea.
Zhao Kuangyin received him in the banquet hall. Dong Zunkui said nothing, fell to the ground and begged for death, "I deserve death for my crime!"
Zhao Kuangyin smiled heartily and said that he was tolerant to others. How could a ninety-five-year-old man be so small-minded? I called you here today just to clear up the misunderstanding with you face to face, so that you don’t have random thoughts.
Dong Zunzui burst into tears of gratitude, kowtowed like a chicken rushing to break rice, and the mountains shouted long live. Zhao Kuangyin asked his attendants to help him up and offer him some words of comfort. However, at this moment, a brave soldier suddenly jumped over the rank and petitioned, beating the drum and accusing Dong Zunyi of various illegal behaviors, as many as more than ten items!
Dong Zunjie was so frightened that his face turned to dust, and he hurriedly knelt down on the ground again, "Your Majesty, you'd better kill me..."
Zhao Kuangyin quickly waved his hand and said, I just said that I would forgive you all your sins, am I going to regret it in a moment? Don't worry, not only will I not punish you, I will also promote you immediately.
Dong Zunjie burst into tears and kowtowed.
Later, Zhao Kuangyin greeted his mother again. Don't get me wrong, it's a genuine greeting.
Dong Zunzui sighed and said that her old lady was unfortunately trapped in Youzhou during a certain war and had not been heard from for several years.
Zhao Kuangyin then ordered his men to bribe the border people of Liao with a lot of money, and finally found out the whereabouts of Dong's mother, and managed to smuggle her back to the country and return her to Dong Zunyin. At the same time, he also received a large number of rewards so that he could honor his mother.
Zhao Kuangyin repaid evil with kindness in exchange for Dong Zunyin's absolute loyalty. Later, when planning to unify the southern vassals, Zhao Kuangyin sent powerful generals to guard the northern defense line from northwest to northeast. Dong Zunzhen, who was the Marquis of Yu in front of the palace at that time, was appointed as the Tongyuan military envoy, stationed in Huanzhou, and guarded the northwest border for the motherland.
This was the opportunity that Dong Zunjie had been looking forward to day and night to repay the emperor's kindness. He learned and applied the methods of repaying grievances with virtue and convincing people with reason. After taking office, he hosted a banquet for the chiefs of the surrounding barbarian tribes. He entertained them warmly and gave them generous gifts. He explained to them the open and tolerant ethnic policy of the great country of China, and achieved the expected results. .
However, there are always some people who do not eat good food. Some chiefs turned their backs on the situation and openly violated the law after a few months.
When friends come, there is good wine. If the jackal comes, he is greeted with shotguns. Tolerance does not mean cowardice. Behind being knowledgeable and reasonable is the torrent of steel. Dong Zunkiao had been prepared for a long time and responded appropriately, capturing and killing many people. Under the combined grace and power of the great powers of the Celestial Dynasty, all the tribes were sincerely convinced and knelt down to sing the song of conquest.
Dong Zunjie then sent his cousin Liu Zong to the capital to report on his work, and by the way, he handed over the captured war horses to the court. Zhao Kuangyin expressed his full affirmation of Dong Zunyin's achievements and was full of praise. When bidding farewell to Liu Zong, Zhao Kuangyin took off his "dragon robe with pearls" and asked Liu Zong to bring it to Dong Zunyin.
Liu Zong was frightened. This was the emperor's exclusive skin. How could a minister accept it?
Zhao Kuangyin said, who is following the other, me or Dong Zunyin? Others can't wear it, but he can!
Dong Zunjie was in charge of Huanzhou for fourteen years. His main task was to intimidate the chiefs and keep an eye on the Li family of Xiazhou. During these fourteen years, "Xia people were happy to obey" and "Qiu never dared to offend". After the death of Zhao Kuangyin, Dong Zunzui still gained the trust of Zhao Guangyi and never moved town. He also got the privilege of acting expediently until the sixth year of Emperor Taizong's Taiping and Xingguo reign, when Dong Zunzui died of illness in office.
Dong Zunzhuo, a man who was once domineering and had long brought campus bullying and workplace cold violence to Zhao Kuangyin, was finally transformed by Zhao Kuangyin into a pillar of the country, and his glorious image as a meritorious general will go down in history forever.
