Although the political and military reforms of the State of Qi under the leadership of Guan Zhong were vigorous, any reform measures must first be guaranteed by sufficient financial support. It was not that Duke Huan of Qi did not understand this truth. He once asked Guan Zhong worriedly where the wealth came from. Come. Guan Zhong was already confident about this, because he had already designed a set of economic reform plans based on Qi's unique natural conditions.
The State of Qi is located in what is today the Jiaodong Peninsula. It has many hills and forests and a long coastline. Although its agricultural development potential is slightly less than that of the Central Plains, it is blessed with fishing and salt, and there are many mineral resources that can be developed. ; In addition, the extensive land and water transportation also facilitates the transportation and circulation of goods. Just as the description of the Jiaodong Peninsula in "Shang Shu Yu Gong":
"The Yiyi people have been neglected, and the roads of Wei and Zi are laid out. The soil is white and the tombs are widely condemned on the seashore. The fields are only up and down, and the Fu is in the middle and top. The salt tribute is paid to the sea, and the sea products are only wrong. Daiwei is made of silk, eucalyptus, lead, and pine. , strange rocks. The barbarians are used as herders. They are hung with silk threads. They float in Wen and reach Ji."
This slightly ancient text describes the geographical environment and characteristics of Qi State. The maritime fishery is very developed. In order to maximize these advantages, Guan Zhong established a national policy of giving priority to the development of handicrafts. It is not enough to attract merchants to Qi State. They also need to let them see that this place is profitable.
First of all, the mining and salt-making industries are nationalized, and "the mountains are sold for money and the sea is boiled for salt." Private mining can be allowed to mine iron, smelt iron, and boil salt from the sea, but it must be exclusively sold by the government and private sales are not allowed. In this way, the salt and iron trade that was originally in the hands of nobles and even merchants was firmly in the hands of the state, fundamentally controlling the economic lifeline of Qi, and obtaining high profits through monopoly. Secondly, vigorously promote Qi's local products, "connect Qi's fish and salt to Donglai", "play well with leather coins, so that people can win over all directions", and at the same time provide merchants from all over the world with the convenience of tax exemption and reduction. As the saying goes, "Everything in the world is for profit." Faced with such preferential policies and a rich product market, merchants naturally took notice and soon crowded Linzi City. This was a grand scene that had never been seen before.
In order to attract a large number of businessmen to Qi, Guan Zhong also came up with an unprecedented clever plan. Not long after Guan Zhong became prime minister, the people of Linzi were surprised to find that large houses had been built on both sides of the busiest streets in Linzi City. Every night, there were countless beauties dressed up in gorgeous clothes and walking around among them. They might lean against the door. The whole street was full of people laughing or singing, and they stayed up almost all night, making Linzi City lively and lively. Therefore, the night market in Linzi City is very prosperous.
Confucius had not yet been born, so there were no serious-looking Taoists who came out to criticize immorality. The people of Qi State were surprised, but they only felt that it was occasionally noisy. However, knowledgeable people soon discovered that since the opening of these government-run romantic places called "Nvlu", Linzi City suddenly had a lot of outsiders coming here for their fame, and it was almost crowded and sweaty. The situation, and the treasury of Qi State was gradually filling up. The country became rich and powerful.
Guan Zhong was indeed a reformer with a broad mind. He could actually think of a clever idea to increase fiscal revenue by opening a romantic place. According to the notes "Jianhu Sequel" written by Chu Renhuo, a scholar of the Qing Dynasty: "Guan Zi governed the state of Qi, established seven hundred female households, and levied their wealth for national use. This was the beginning of Jiaofang's pollen money. ." Guan Zhong can be said to be the founder of this ancient industry. In later generations, many statues of Guan Zhong were enshrined in the tile fences of tile houses, and Guan Zhong gradually evolved into the patron saint of the brothel industry.
In fact, for Guan Zhong, the purpose of opening a Fengyue place was not just to expand financial resources, but more importantly, it could attract a large number of outsiders. With the flow of people, there would be economic exchanges. It is also more conducive to the development of Qi's economy. Guan Zhong, a former businessman, attached great importance to the development of commerce. He opened seven markets in Linzi, attracting businessmen from all over the country, and used the romantic places to make them linger.
In order to cope with the increasingly prosperous commodity economy, Guan Zhong also ordered coins to be minted. According to economic theory, before the emergence of precious metal currency, there was a period of barter exchange, and then there will be a general equivalent that can take all exchanges. In Qi State, since most people in the country were involved with the ocean, weaving nets to fish, boiling the sea and drying salt, the demand for knives was quite widespread, so knives were once used as general equivalents. The coins minted by Guan Zhong also imitated the shape of the knife. This is the knife coin that can still be seen today. Later, the shape of this knife coin was also adopted by Yanzhao and other places. From this, we can see the influence of Qi's prosperous commerce on other countries.
Of course, developing commerce is important, but more than two thousand years ago, it could not fully support a country's economy. Food is the most important thing for the people, and agricultural production is the top priority of pre-modern social economy. Only by developing a strong agricultural foundation and allowing people to have food can the country be stable. With the use of iron farm tools, the well-field system has seriously hindered the development of productivity, so agricultural reforms must be carried out in response to the new situation.
Guan Zhong was deeply aware of this. He had a famous saying that has been passed down through the ages: "A solid warehouse will tell you the etiquette; if you have enough food and clothing, you will know the honor and disgrace." The meaning of this sentence is roughly similar to the so-called "economic base determines the superstructure" in later generations.
In order to develop production, Guan Zhong simply abolished the well-field system that had existed in name only, recognized the privatization of land, and allowed land sales. This policy greatly encouraged landowners' enthusiasm for production - in the past, the land was cultivated for the country, but now the harvest belongs to oneself, so why not work? Moreover, the concentration of land caused by land sales also facilitates the promotion of new agricultural technologies. This is easy to understand. Under the well-field system, the land is divided into pieces. It is difficult to even turn around when putting a cow in. How can it be possible to pull a cow? What about plowing the land? With the abolition of the well-field system, there was a climax of agricultural production in Qi.
Of course, the fundamental purpose of promoting agricultural production is to increase tax revenue. During the era of the well-field system, taxes were obtained through the unpaid labor of slaves and common people on public fields. However, once the well-field system was abolished, this method obviously did not work - the "public family" had neither money nor slaves. The public's control over the people has declined.
Guan Zhong proposed a corresponding solution: "Adjust the land and reduce the levy." This policy means that according to the geographical environment and harvest amount of the land, it is divided into three, six or nine grades, such as flat land, hills, seaside, and raw fields. , mature fields, etc., and then tax them separately according to their levels. This not only conforms to the situation after land privatization, but also takes into account the emotions of producers as much as possible.
In order to protect the enthusiasm of agricultural production, Guan Zhong also put forward the idea of "no seizing the people's time", that is, no labor must be collected during the busy farming season; indiscriminate deforestation and hunting are prohibited to protect natural resources; nobles are prohibited from snatching the cattle and sheep of common people for sacrifice, and the protection of natural resources is prohibited. Breeding of livestock. Through this series of measures, the personal control of slave-owning nobles over civilians and slaves was further relaxed, and the new socio-economic model was gradually fixed.
The comprehensive reforms implemented by Guan Zhong in Qi achieved immediate results. In just a few years, Qi basically transformed from a slavery economy and took an important and solid step towards a feudal economy. Next, Qi will embark on the road of expansion again and raise the banner of hegemony.
In the 30th year of Duke Zhuang of Lu (664 BC), the Shanrong, an old rival who had invaded Qi State, once again went south to invade the Central Plains. Among them, Yan State in the north bore the brunt. A large area of its land fell to the enemy, and the capital was also besieged. In times of great urgency, Duke Zhuang of Yan sent an envoy to break through the encirclement and go to Qi State to ask for help.
At the beginning, in order to establish the hegemony of Qi, Guan Zhong persuaded Qi Huangong to use the banner of "respecting the king and rejecting the barbarians". He changed the practice of Qin, Jin, Chu and other powerful countries to dominate one side and pursue their own affairs. He respected the emperor of Zhou and called on all the vassal states in the world to unite. Stand up and jointly resist the attacks of Rong, Di and other tribes, so that Qi will naturally become the leader of all countries.
Nowadays, after Guan Zhong's careful governance, Qi's national power has grown greatly, and the neighboring vassal states such as Lu, Song, Wei, and Zheng also have relatively good relations with Qi. It is at a time when Qi is prosperous and stable internally and its external prestige is growing. Now that he has received Yan's request for help, Duke Huan of Qi, who prides himself on "respecting the king and rejecting the barbarians" and is full of self-confidence, will naturally not refuse people thousands of miles away. So he decided to personally lead an army to go on an expedition, not only to save the Yan State from being in danger, but also to avenge the death of the Yan State, and to prevent the Yan State from being destroyed and the Qi State to be devastated.
At this time, Shanrong had entered the Yan Kingdom for more than three months, killing and looting along the way, taking away a large number of children and treasures. Their greed had been satisfied to a certain extent, and many soldiers were indulged in seeking pleasure and could no longer afford to take risks. The spirit of killing the enemy. When they heard that Duke Huan of Qi was coming with his army, the Shanrong army did not dare to fight, so they packed up their spoils and fled.
Seeing the Shan Rong fleeing, Duke Huan of Qi summoned Guan Zhong to ask for advice. Guan Zhong said: "The Shan Rong retreated without fighting. Their strength is not damaged and they can easily come back. I heard that the leader of the Shan Rong was cruel and murderous, and the tribes who were coerced by him had already The Shanrong army is now unstable and disunified. If Qi and Yan work together to pursue it, they will be able to attack its lair and annihilate its main force, so as to avoid future troubles and ensure peace in the north." This is the so-called cutting grass must. dig up the roots.
After hearing this, Duke Huan of Qi felt that it was reasonable and went to Duke Yanzhuang to discuss the matter. The two hit it off immediately. They also contacted Wu Zhongguo, a neighboring country that also had a grudge against the Shan Rong, and together they led their troops to pursue the Shan Rong army. At this time, the Shanrong soldiers were returning with their full load, happily preparing to take the spoils home to enjoy, without any intention of fighting. Unexpectedly, they were chased by the Qi Yan coalition forces, and they had to fight hastily. The Shanrong army, which had no intention of fighting, collapsed at the first touch, leaving behind a lot of property and people. Duke Huan of Qi ordered to treat the captured Shanrong people well, and asked them that the Shanrong army had fled to Guzhu Kingdom (today's Chaoyang, Liaoning). So he decided to continue the pursuit, destroy the Lone Bamboo Kingdom, and completely stabilize the north.
At this time, the Shanrong leader had led his remnants to flee to the Guzhu Kingdom, and dedicated the property he had plundered from the Yan Kingdom to the leader of the Guzhu Kingdom in exchange for assistance from the Guzhu Kingdom. The leader of the Guzhu Kingdom accepted the property and sent General Huang Hua to lead his army to support the Shanrong Army and wait for the Qi Yan coalition to join the fight. Unexpectedly, the Qi Yan coalition forces were unstoppable. After a fierce battle, the Shanrong and Guzhu forces combined could not resist them.
Seeing that the situation was not good, Huang Hua decided to use a trick to falsely surrender and lead the Qi-Yan coalition forces into the mysterious valley in the vast desert. There was no water source there and the road was difficult to distinguish. It was difficult for people without a guide to get out. Therefore, it is called "Misty Valley". The Qi and Yan coalition forces have just arrived and do not know the depth. If they really enter the Lost Valley, they will definitely die of hunger and thirst in it. By then, Huanghua will be able to win without spending a single soldier.
In order to show his sincerity and avoid making Duke Huan of Qi suspicious, Huanghua killed the leader of the Shanrong Kingdom who had offered a large sum of money to seek refuge with him, and took his head to see Duke Huan of Qi. Huang Hua made up a lie in front of Duke Huan of Qi that the Lord of Guzhu had fled with his troops to find reinforcements, and that he was willing to surrender to Duke Huan of Qi. He also said that he would lead the Qi and Yan coalition forces to pursue the Lord of Guzhu to eliminate future troubles.
Duke Huan of Qi was very happy when he saw that Huang Hua had brought the head of the Shanrong leader and that the enemy had been eliminated, so he believed Huang Hua's words and led the army to continue heading north. Unexpectedly, after entering the desert, Huang Hua's troops disappeared without a trace, leaving only the Qi and Yan coalition forces wandering around in the confusing valley. Only then did Duke Huan of Qi know that he had been tricked, and the soldiers learned that Lost their way in the desert and very frightened, the military morale was greatly shaken.
At this critical moment, Guan Zhong remembered that most old horses knew the way, so he suggested to Duke Huan of Qi that he choose a few old horses from Shanrong in Wujing Kingdom and put them in front of the troops to lead the way. At this time, the army was almost in dire straits. Duke Huan of Qi could not think of any better way, so he followed Guan Zhong's suggestion and asked the army to march behind the selected old horses. Soon after, they finally walked out of the valley.
Later, Duke Huan of Qi followed Xi Peng's suggestion and found the water source based on the growth habits of ants. After resting and recuperating, the Qi-Yan allied forces marched like wolves and tigers to the Guzhu Kingdom to avenge their revenge. They quickly broke through the garrison of the Guzhu Kingdom and the remnants of the Shanrong, annihilated the Shanrong and the Guzhu Kingdom, and eliminated the Shanrong. The threat of the Rong to the Central Plains.
The victory was hard-won, but Duke Huan of Qi did not take the fruits of victory for himself. Instead, he gave all the territory originally occupied by Shanrong and Guzhu to Duke Yanzhuang. Duke Zhuang of Yan believed that if Duke Huan of Qi had not led troops to help, the Yan State would have been destroyed long ago. Now that the Yan State was suffering from war, it could not give many precious gifts to reward the Qi State, let alone accept what the Qi army had fought so hard for. land.
Duke Huan of Qi personally led the army to rescue the State of Yan, and pursued it for thousands of miles. He vowed not to give up if he did not destroy the mountain soldiers. His original purpose was to hold high the banner of "respecting the king and resisting the barbarians" and establishing the prestige of the State of Qi among the vassal states. Naturally, he was not willing to do it for some barbaric people. The land carries a reputation for stinginess. What's more, Qi State is not bordering the territory of Shanrong and Guzhu. In the Spring and Autumn Period when transportation was very inconvenient, it was difficult to control such a far-flung territory. Over time, it would naturally be annexed by Yan State. If not, it would be pretentious at this time. Giving it generously to Yan State can also take the opportunity to win people's hearts.
So Duke Huan of Qi said to Duke Yan Zhuang: "Our country is far away from here. Even if we accept it, it is beyond our reach. You and I are ministers who guard the territory for the emperor of Zhou. Please take the emperor as your top priority and guard the borders to protect the Central Plains from invasion. ." Duke Zhuang of Yan saw that Duke Huan of Qi had raised the banner of Emperor Zhou, and understood Duke Huan of Qi's intention, so he no longer refused and accepted.
During this trip, Duke Huan of Qi destroyed the Guzhu Kingdom, expelled the Shanrong forces, and saved the Yan Kingdom from the crisis of national subjugation. His reputation among the vassal states was greatly shaken, and he successfully achieved his goal, so he returned home with great satisfaction. Duke Zhuang of Yan was very grateful for Qi's righteous deed of aid, so he personally saw Duke Huan of Qi off and did not want to say goodbye for a long time. It wasn't until they entered Changlu in the territory of Qi (now north of Cangzhou, Hebei) that they reluctantly parted ways.
According to the stipulations of Zhou rites, without the order of the Emperor of Zhou, the princes could not leave the country to see each other off. Although sending Duke Huan of Qi into the territory of Qi was voluntary, it was also a great disrespect for Duke Huan of Qi. In order to show the demeanor of Qi as a great power and to win over people's hearts, Duke Huan of Qi immediately ordered a ditch to be drawn on the spot as a boundary, and all the fifty miles of land that Duke Zhuang of Yan had walked were assigned to the State of Yan.
In that era, reputation was more important after all.
To rescue the Yan State and pursue the Shanrong is to "repulse the barbarians", to draw a ditch as a boundary, and to donate land to Yan is to "respect the king". Qi Huangong played this move to respect the king and repel the barbarians very skillfully. From then on, the Yan State became Qi State's more loyal neighbor than its allies, and Qi Huangong's reputation among the princes grew, and he had the potential to be a hegemon.
