Liu Bang's last words mentioned Cao Shen, and Xiao He's last words also mentioned Cao Shen, and both said that Cao Shen could succeed Xiao He. Giving such an important position as prime minister to Cao Shen, what kind of person is this Cao Shen?
The position of jailer is the adjutant of the jailer. Cao Shen was a native of Peixian County and had served as a prison warden in the Qin Dynasty. Cao Shen is Xiao He's adjutant, and Xiao He and Cao Shen are old acquaintances. These two old acquaintances were very close. They once served as officials in the Qin Dynasty together, and they both followed Liu Bang after the fall of Qin. Their work nature is similar, their work experience is similar, and their work abilities are not much different. As the saying goes, one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers. They spoke less and less to each other, and eventually they gradually became alienated from each other and did not interact with each other except for official business.
Because they are old acquaintances, Cao Shen and Xiao He know each other somewhat and trust each other's abilities. Xiao He knew Cao Shen well and knew that he was qualified for the post of prime minister, so he recommended him. Cao Shen was indeed powerful. When he heard about Xiao He's death, he immediately ordered his retainers to pack their bags, saying that he was about to be appointed prime minister.
Cao Shen followed Liu Bang to conquer the world, but his position was always second to Xiao He. No matter what the benefits were, Xiao He came first and then Cao Shen. Cao Shen may have sighed in his heart: If Cao Shen was born, how could he give birth to Xiao He? Cao Shen followed Liu Bang in the east and west, and was once named prime minister, but his position was always below Xiao He. After Liu Bang proclaimed himself emperor, Cao Shen was named Liu Fei's prime minister. King Liu Fei of Qi had seventy cities at that time and was the richest prince in the world. As the prime minister of Qi, Cao Shen was equivalent to the second prime minister in the world.
Although these seventy cities were prosperous, they were in chaos at the end of the Qin Dynasty and suffered from repeated wars. The people's livelihood was ruined and riddled with holes. After Cao Shen became the prime minister of Qi State, he visited wise men and found ways to govern the country. He heard that there was a man named Gai Gong who was familiar with the essence of Huang Lao (Huang Emperor and Lao Tzu), so he went to visit him. Gai Gong told Cao Shen: The rule of law is quiet and peaceful, and the people can decide for themselves. This means that when you govern the country, you should not manage too much, but focus on tranquility and inaction. As long as the court does not interfere, the people can make a living for themselves.
After listening to Duke Gai's explanation of the situation, Cao Shen left the table and thanked him, and governed Qi according to Duke Gai's words. The court tried to reduce management as much as possible and allowed the people to develop freely. The seventy cities of the State of Qi are about to be revived, with people and things gathered together, and the people live a prosperous life. Lu Fei wanted to kill Liu Fei, but Liu Fei just offered a city to Princess Lu Yuan in exchange for his life, as he said before. The prosperity of Qi's cities can be imagined. Cao Shen served as prime minister of Qi for seven years. Qi developed very well and everyone praised him as a wise prime minister.
Both were virtuous prime ministers, but Xiao and Cao had different methods of governing the country. Cao Shen believed in the art of Huang and Lao, advocating that "governing the Tao values tranquility and the people are self-determined", that is, governing by doing nothing; Xiao He believed in the art of Confucianism, pursued conscientious work, devoted himself to the welfare of the people wholeheartedly, that is, "does everything".
After Xiao He's death, he transferred Cao Shen back to Chang'an and assumed the position of prime minister.
As the saying goes, there are three things a new official needs to do when taking office. However, Cao Shen didn't burn any of them. He only enjoyed the fruits of Xiao He's governance. First of all, Cao Shen did not replace Xiao He's subordinates and used the old ones to do things; secondly, all the systems and regulations were implemented according to Xiao He's without any changes; thirdly, the people he selected were all honest and honest, and could not speak official dialect; finally, Cao Shen All I do is drink, day and night, every moment. If any official writes brilliantly and has profound thoughts, Cao Shen will fire him immediately.
The previous prime minister was conscientious and managed everything, no matter how big or small; now the current prime minister is lazy and lazy, taking care of everything no matter how big or small. This gap is so vast that it is shocking. Cao Shen did not manage, nor did he let his subordinates manage. Cao Shen is the prime minister and no one else is involved. When Cao Shen did this, many people were confused and wondered what medicine he was selling in his gourd.
When Xiao He was the prime minister, everyone had to take care of things. Scholars and officials were born to be in charge of things, so they didn't get used to it for a while. When the court officials saw that the new prime minister was behaving like this, they came to give him good advice. When the officials arrived, before they could speak, Cao Shen asked them to drink. After a few drinks, when the officials still wanted to persuade him, Cao Shen asked them to drink again. Whoever wanted to speak, Cao Shen would let him drink until he could no longer persuade him. Cao Shen only allowed them to drink, but did not let them talk. In the end, all the officials who came came back drunk.
Come one, Cao Shen will be drunk; come two, Cao Shen will be drunk. After going back and forth like this, the officials realized that they couldn't talk, so they didn't bother to talk. They began to get used to Cao Shen's style of doing things, and finally learned that Cao Shen only drank and didn't care about things.
The courtiers under the leadership of Cao Shen had the most relaxed office life, and they only had to drink while going to work; the courtiers under Xiao He had the most difficult office life, and they could only do things at work.
Behind Cao Shen's residence is the official residence, where he also drinks and has fun all day long. Those enterprising officials pretended to take Cao Shen to visit the back garden, but in fact they wanted Cao Shen to see the depravity of officials after he took office. As soon as Cao Shen arrived in the back garden, he heard the people in the official residence noisily drinking and singing. He immediately ran home and took out some jars of good wine, and went to have a row with the people in the official residence.
This is unbelievable. If Sima Qian and Ban Gu hadn't said so, who would have believed that there was such a prime minister who indulged his courtiers so much. Cao Shen drank and had fun every day and didn't care about anything. If others made minor mistakes, he would hide them and the officials would be fine.
Compared with Xiao He's behavior, Cao Shen's behavior is two sides of the same coin. Xiao He was conscientious and took care of everything, no matter how big or small, while Cao Shen was lazy and did not care about anything big or small. Liu Ying heard that Cao Shen only drank and didn't care about anything, so she immediately sent Cao Shen's son to investigate secretly. The father and son talked about the past and the present, and commented on the gains and losses of the past. Gradually, they went deeper. It turned out that they were trying to find out what was going on. Cao Shen ignored the trivial matters and whipped his son two hundred lashes severely, saying to him: "You are no longer qualified to manage the country." It’s still far away.”
Muddleheaded on the outside but delicate on the inside, this is called Cao Shen. When Liu Ying heard about this, she felt very guilty and blamed Cao Shen, saying, "Why did you beat him? I asked him to ask." Liu Ying was kind and gentle in his speech, so one can imagine his concern when he scolded Cao Shen like this.
The emperor asked Cao Shen that he could no longer sell medicine in the gourd. What kind of medicine was in the gourd should be revealed. Cao Shen took off his hat and asked in a very respectful manner: "Who do you think is more powerful, your Majesty or Gaozu?"
"How dare I compare with Gaozu." Liu Ying replied respectfully.
"Who does the emperor think is more powerful, Cao Shen or Xiao He?"
"I'm afraid Xiao He is a little bit more powerful." Liu Ying said vaguely.
Cao Shen smiled and said, "Your Majesty is right now. Emperor Gaozu and Xiao He worked together to pacify the world and put all laws and regulations in place. Your Majesty, you just need to lower your hands, and I will just follow Prime Minister Xiao's arrangements." If everything changes, won't everything run smoothly?" Liu Ying suddenly understood and felt that what Cao Shen said was right, and was very happy.
Since Cao Shen was transferred to the central government as prime minister, all arrangements have been in accordance with Xiao He's formulation without any changes. History calls this incident "Xiao's regulations and Cao's follow-up". Cao Shen governed the country in an orderly manner according to Xiao He's path. First of all, Xiao He's diligent efforts paved the way for him; secondly, the war had just subsided, people's thoughts were governed, and everyone sought development; finally, Cao Shen believed in governing by inaction, Strive to achieve a state in which "governing the country values tranquility and the people can determine themselves". However, these three points are integrated into one and cannot be missing from each other.
In the fifth year of Emperor Hui's reign (190 BC), Cao Shen passed away.
