Zhao Yunrang was so shocked when he heard Sima Guang's words that he took a breath. He was undoubtedly extremely disappointed with Sima Guang! Even a politically illiterate person like Zhao Yunrang knew that there was no reason to talk to the barbarians like Dang Xiang, let alone use any ethics to influence them. The first thing Li Yuanhao did after taking office was to vigorously eliminate Chinese culture and restore various old systems of his party members. In their eyes, etiquette is worse than a pile of cow dung that can burn fire! Sima Guang, who is completely a scholar, is full of ignorance and preaches like a master!
How much blood did the Zhao family spend in exchange for an inch of their country? Taizu Zhao Kuangyin always regretted that the sixteen states of Yanyun were not recovered before the Northern Han Dynasty was destroyed. In order to get back the Han lands of these ancestors, he even established a small internal treasury and saved money to redeem these states!
Okay, in this kid's mouth, this inch of river and inch of blood is not easy to give away so easily?
Who are the Xixia people? There are no words of etiquette and trust in their bones. The reason why they were able to establish a country was through all kinds of cheating, cheating, cheating, and trickery. They wandered among the Liao Kingdom, Song Dynasty, and the Tubo people, embracing whoever offered benefits. Thighs, when you turn your face, you can turn the page faster than a book. If you beat me to death today, you can pull your face down and kneel down to lick it tomorrow!
Shamelessness is their law of survival. As for etiquette? That's not as useful as a pile of cow dung on the grassland and desert!
Liang Chuan said: "These lands are not fertile, but they have been where our Han family's ancestors lived for more than 1,200 years since the time of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. Do you know how much our Song army spent to earn back these lands? "
"Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty went to war and was so happy about his achievements that he had no money for three generations. Can the land he conquered be used? Or is it going to weaken the national power of the Han Dynasty?"
Liang Chuan put away his smile: "You should know that you are from Shaanxi. When the Dangxiang people crossed the border, there were mountains of bones. The people on the border were helpless and could only destroy and kill. The Huns' brutality was a hundred times worse than the Dangxiang people. The Dangxiang people At least they have been Hanized. In the eyes of the Huns, the Han people are no better than oxen and horses! It took Emperor Wu three generations to create peace on the border of the Han Dynasty for more than 300 years. Is this what you call militancy?"
Liang Chuan just wanted to know whether Sima Guang would make a stupid move in the future by ceding territory to Xixia. As a great historian, did he really not understand these political tricks, was he an old fool, or was he treating people wrongly? He just wanted to suppress Wang Anshi's reforms. .
Liang Chuan felt happy and sad at the same time.
Fortunately, Sima Guang is not the kind of villain who suppresses and restricts Wang Anshi's New Deal for personal gain. Wang Anshi's New Deal will still be implemented decades later, but this kid has had this idea of subduing others since he was a child. What he insists on is his I have always insisted on it, even though this is not correct in the eyes of the world. He has always been worthy of what he said. He is a true gentleman and he has never told a lie in his life.
The sad thing is that Sima Guang's stubborn character has really affected him for his whole life. His character affects his habits, and his habits shape his behavior. What he will do in the future is already determined by his fate. .
When we were young, our parents always told us some of the lessons they had gained with their blood and tears. We should not look at appearance when seeking a wife, we should not make friends with those who have no credibility, and we must study hard. We always resented our parents’ preaching until we used it. Only when we grow up and experience the "lessons" of our parents again do we know the good intentions of our parents. Unfortunately, there are no ifs in life. Only after we have suffered enough will we grow up.
"It has been proven that Emperor Wu was wrong. Only etiquette can educate the people and influence these foreigners!"
Forget it, what's the use of fighting anymore?
Liang Chuan only knew that ceding territory was a humiliating thing. Although the Ming Dynasty was corrupt, it earned countless fans because the emperor defended the country without ceding territory or asking for peace. The Qing Dynasty came to this point in order to maintain its rule, which had already made the people of the country Reviled for hundreds of years. The Song Dynasty faced Xixia, whose national power was far inferior to its own, and its goal was peace, but was this realized?
Xixia was honest in the first few years, but it was because of the heavy injuries in the war with the Song Dynasty that it had to cease the war to recover. This shameless country immediately picked up the sword and gun as soon as it gained strength. Sima Guang abolished it after Shenzong The yearly coin system was restored again, and facts proved that the land they gave away had to be taken back with the blood of the Song Dynasty soldiers!
Xixia has never been a trustworthy country. They took benefits but would not act according to the regulations. The northwest is too poor. In order for the people under them to live a good life and for their own rule, they must fight against those who should be fought! This is politics!
"If reasoning and etiquette are useful in this world, why did Confucius become a street rat when he traveled around the world and no one wanted to use his tricks? How do you compare yourself to Xiao He, Cao Shen and Chen Ping? How do you compare to Wu Hou? With Changsun What about Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui? If etiquette is useful, why don't they use it? Are you the only one who understands the beauty of etiquette? It was Legalist criminal law that unified the six countries, and it was not the etiquette of Chu and Han that destroyed Qin. , a unified country can certainly use etiquette and law to restrain the people, etiquette and law make them obedient and easy to control, but look at the surrounding areas of the Song Dynasty, which one is weaker than the seven heroes of the Warring States Period? They are all tigers and wolves, and they are not careful at all. Even if the country is in danger of being exterminated, will you talk about etiquette with tigers and wolves?"
These words were undoubtedly a critical blow. No matter how powerful Sima Guang was, he did not dare to compare himself to Zhuge Liang and Xiao He. His face turned pale. He did not know whether he had no words to retort or was shocked by Liang Chuan's words. He murmured with his lips, but could not say a word. .
Zhao Yunrang only knew that Liang Chuan was not an ordinary citizen. He had almost been deceived by him before. He had too many colors in him. Ding Party and Xia Song's cronies, businessmen and troops, one layer after another, ordinary but extraordinary. , making people unable to see his true face. He just didn't expect Liang Chuan to be so secretive. Looking at the government and the public, how many people had his knowledge? In addition to the retired Xianggong Lu and the current Fan Xiwen, I'm afraid we won't be able to find a third person!
Liang Chuan's words shocked Sima Guang and Zhao Yunrang as well! I thought Meng Liangchen was an expert, but it turned out that the real expert was him!
Liang Chuan looked at Sima Guang's expression and was very satisfied. Okay, he said it was another one.
"I'll give you an example."
Before the three of them could recover from Liang Chuan's barrage of arrows, Liang Chuan said: "In the army, the promotion of generals and colonels is clearly regulated by the first level!" Sima Guang seemed to have not recovered yet, Liang Chuan continued: "According to our Song Dynasty system, the Ministry of Civil Affairs is responsible for the performance evaluation, promotion and dispatch of military attachés, etc. It is said that there is a minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs who is responsible for the performance evaluation and selection of junior envoys, military attachés and unranked Weiyong. It is said that one year At this juncture of hard work and promotion, the front line will report the military merits."
"I don't know whether it was intentional or a mistake. After receiving the merit report, this junior official in the Ministry of Civil Affairs deliberately erased the word "head" in the military report, filled in a new word, and then submitted it to the Minister for approval.
interesting! Meng Liangchen also listened carefully.
"This little official also said in front of the minister that any changes in the handwriting must be thoroughly investigated to prevent anyone from taking credit! The minister of the Ministry of official affairs also heard about the trend of these big-headed soldiers pretending to behead the number, so he sent this little official here Investigate this matter strictly!"
Seeing that they were all listening more and more enthusiastically, Liang Chuan said, "Military merit reports are not just one person's business. Dozens of people often report them together at a time. To check one person, others must check them together. There are many people who are really taking credit. ! In fact, in every army, there is the practice of killing good men and taking merit. The heads are not the enemy, but the local people. If you check these generals, they will not only have no hope of promotion, but they will also be imprisoned!"
"Seeing the situation, the generals in the army could only come to curry favor with this petty official. When he had collected enough bribes, he would report to his superiors that although the word had been changed, it was obviously the same word, and there was no way it was two words. An act of fraud! Officials from the Ministry of Personnel only signed the approval after receiving this investigation result!"
After Liang Chuan finished speaking, he looked at the three people, especially Sima Guang. The three people looked at Liang Chuan with the same confusion. They didn't understand Liang Chuan's purpose in telling this story.
This seems like a simple story of asking for bribes, but it doesn't seem that simple.
"Sima Guang, to put it bluntly, this story is about whether it is feasible for you to rely on etiquette and law to manage these people. These people can use simple means to cause chaos in the court's system and rules. Many generals are not at fault. Just because he didn’t want this petty official to cause harm to him, he had to spend money to buy peace. And what the petty officer said was right. He didn’t commit any fraud. He just changed it a little and wrote the same word. But this set of procedures was a waste of the imperial court’s power. Even if you don’t say anything, you still want to create disunity, who do you think is the problem here?”
Sima Guang's belief that he had firmly believed for twenty years has been shattered by Liang Chuan today. The ruthless shattering was just like Meng Liangchen's back then. He replied hesitantly: "I...this..."
Liang Chuan smiled and said: "In your opinion, how should this matter be handled, and how should we prevent this phenomenon?"
Sima Guang said: "Of course we will investigate thoroughly. As long as the school is guilty and punished in accordance with the law, if there is no evidence to prove the corruption of the petty officials, we will also be dealt with strictly. Killing one can serve as a warning to others!"
Zhao Yunrang and Meng Liangchen were also thinking about Liang Chuan's question. When they heard Sima Guang's answer, they somewhat agreed. It seemed that there was only one way.
Liang Chuan said: "The stricter the laws, the more powerful the officials will be, the more death penalty, and the more open the bribes will be, because these laws have become their rights! Let me tell you how to prevent this, you only need to make a simple statement It is stipulated that in the future, any military merit reports are not allowed to be altered, and those who make changes will be re-reported, and all problems will be solved!"
Sima Guang blushed, and Meng Liangchen and Zhao Yunrang also blushed. Yes, it seems to be that simple.
Liang Chuan said: "Whether it's etiquette or punishment, to put it bluntly, it's all the power of governing. It's like a medicine. When Bao Qin was seriously ill, he could only use punishment to govern the world. In the early Han Dynasty, when the illness was mild, he had to use inaction." Treatment is used to govern the world. One medicine can cure the same disease. The diseases in the Song Dynasty are different from those in the Qin and Han Dynasties. Our disease is that the system is too dense and complicated, so our medicine is destined to be the same as the Qin and Han Dynasties. The medicine of the Zhou Dynasty is different. Etiquette and law can cure the diseases of the Zhou Dynasty, but they cannot cure our diseases! We must use the sword, and we must use the determination of a strong man to cut off his wrist!"
"A good system in the hands of people with evil intentions will also become a tool for personal gain. Politicians must be flexible and flexible. Politics is not static. Politics must change with the times and people. Only by prescribing the right medicine can the root cause be cured. Great man said As a famous saying goes, practice is the only criterion for testing truth. To look at problems from a developmental perspective, we must emancipate our minds and seek truth from facts. We can only understand problems under the conditions of our times, and we must also look at problems under the conditions of our times. , The ancients' advocating etiquette does not mean that they are completely borrowed. What you have to do is to take the essence and discard the dross! Sima Guang, I hope you can remember these words today!"
Regardless of whether they could understand or not, Liang Chuan had already fulfilled his educational responsibilities. After speaking, the three of them were left stunned, patted their butts and left with medicine and vegetables.
Many people tend to use the same persona when looking at historical figures. For example, those who have made contributions to the country and the people will infinitely elevate their historical status and regard everything they do as legitimate and reasonable. But in fact, everyone is a complex individual, and it is difficult to define purely good or bad. As a historian, Sima Guang's achievements are undoubtedly very great, but as a politician, Sima Guang's performance in many things is actually unqualified.
Thanks to Sima Guang, he died early, otherwise he would have appointed villains in his political career, and he would have done nothing politically. He also ceded the land he had worked so hard to win to Xixia. If he hadn't written the "Qualification Guide", This is a masterpiece. I am afraid that if he lives for a few more years, he will be punished by the imperial court and will not be guaranteed for the rest of his life!
Liang Chuan's words were not his own original words. These words were said by Zhang Juzheng, the first person in the Ming Dynasty. As the first minister of the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Juzheng was also a body of contradictions, but his superb political art perfectly solved it. The serious diseases of the Ming Dynasty even allowed the Ming Dynasty to live for fifty years. When he was alive, he solved every opponent that appeared, and he also solved every problem of the court. Sima Guang had no choice. He was just a good official, but not a clerk.
Sima Guang is more like another great man of the Ming Dynasty - Hai Rui. If people like them are allowed to sit in the position of chief minister, it will be a disaster for the court. They can carry out the decrees assigned by their superiors without any compromise, but they are unable to cure the diseases caused by this political system. It is a pity that fate has let Sima Guang walked to the prime minister's position. From this point of view, Jiajing is much better than Zhao Suo, at least he is more accurate in judging people.
I don't know if it was because of Zhao Yunrang, but Sima Guang's political career had been stumbling during the Renzong and Yingzong dynasties, and it was not until the Shenzong dynasty that things started to improve, but that was only after the death of Shenzong. Liang Chuan didn't want me to harm Sima Guang. I can say so much just because I hope this young man can change. If he can really change, it will be a blessing to the people of the Song Dynasty. The political career is also slowly growing. If Sima Guang really listens to what he said today, he will benefit a lot!
Meng Liangchen looked at Liang Chuan's leaving figure and said with a smile, "He is the one to be a gentleman!"
. Mobile version URL:
