Wang Anshi was actually a good prime minister. Not only did he have extremely high attainments in literature, classics, and knowledge, but his character was also impeccable.
Most importantly, the policies he formulated are also very targeted. This is his many years of experience in local politics, which is definitely not comparable to that of Taiwanese admonishers who claim to be clean and honest.
He actually knows how the people below him do things, and he also knows what the problems are in Song Dynasty. However, he had no successful cases to refer to, so he could only make a fumbling summary.
The failure of the "Qingli New Deal". Therefore, he did not start with the administration of officials like Fan Zhongyan did. Instead, I want to start with the financial situation and the situation of the people.
Judging from his various methods, words and deeds, he probably wanted to make improvements first, then start reforms, and finally carry out deeper transformations.
His idea was good, but unfortunately, apart from Fan Zhongyan, he had no other examples to draw from. The lesson he learned from this is probably that if he touches vested interest groups, he will immediately encounter backlash, so he wants to make some changes.
Little did he know that vested interest groups were greedy and took advantage of his new law to make money. In the end, the problems in the Song Dynasty became more serious.
Feng Yibo said that he did not want to be like Wang Anshi, except that he did not want to bear the same infamy as him. More importantly, he doesn't want to be hindered by others and uses the reforms he wants as a tool for profit.
To do this, you need a highly respected person, who can deter those greedy guys to a certain extent.
Chen Qinzhi, the imperial master of the previous generation, is the best choice for the town. Because not only does he have enough reputation, he also happens to have a heart for change.
But Chen Qinzhi was slightly startled when he heard Feng Yibo's words. Then he didn’t know whether he understood or not, so he just laughed and said: “I thought you admired Wang Jiefu!” Feng Yibo saw that he didn’t ask why, so he also smiled and responded:
"I admire his character but dare not compliment his methods." Although his methods were not that bad, he was despised by the scholars.
In "The Biography of Traitors", there are fourteen traitors in the Northern Song Dynasty listed. Nine of them agreed with or participated in the reform.
But even so, no one still questions his character. Throughout his life, Wang Anshi was loyal to the country, the emperor, and even more loyal to the people.
Even if the new law was completely rejected by the later Southern Song Dynasty, it could not deny the character of this stubborn man.
When Chen Qinzhi heard this, he nodded slightly, indicating that he agreed with his statement, and then said casually: "That also depends on your methods." What he actually meant was that he was not optimistic about what Feng Yibo was going to do.
After all, reform is not something you just talk about. Although the new learning has achieved initial results, its methods are quick and quick. In the eyes of a great scholar like Chen Qinzhi, this was under the guise of a saint, but the methods used were all evil.
But Feng Yibo was overjoyed when he heard this, and immediately held up his hands and said: Turn
"Thank you, Mr. Ge, for your help!" Chen Qinzhi was a little confused and asked in confusion: "What did I help you with?" Feng Yibo showed his white teeth and said matter-of-factly: "Didn't Mr. Ge already agree?" Chen Qinzhi said Hearing this, he immediately understood what Feng Yibo meant, and laughed and cursed: "I agree!" Don't think that great Confucians can't curse. Real Confucians laugh, curse, and do as they please.
Of course, this does not mean that he will scold people casually, and when it is time to scold, he will not stop scolding due to his identity.
Obviously, Feng Yibo was following the trend and deliberately misinterpreting the meaning of his words. If you don’t scold me now, when will you wait?
"Didn't you say you want to see what we can do?" However, Feng Yibo, who was scolded, not only did not get angry, but also looked confused.
It looked as if Chen Qinzhi had deceived her feelings, and she said aggrievedly: Turn around
"That's alright! Let's take a look at what we didn't do well first, so that you can have a reference when you personally preside over it in the future." Seeing his appearance, Chen Qinzhi smiled and shook his head: "That's what I was thinking about. In the long run, yes! I'm afraid I won't live that long." Feng Yibo looked like he suddenly understood, nodded, and said with a smile: "How about you come first?" This stalking posture made Chen Qinzhi was a little dumbfounded and could only sigh: "Do you think reform is just playing house?" Naturally, he would not be caught by a few words, but Feng Yibo would not give up the gap he had finally opened.
Hearing this, he looked at Chen Qinzhi with admiration and said: "It is said that 'the Qi family governs the country'. Speaking of which, playing the family is a simulation of the Qi family, so Mr. Ge asked us to reform first, which is to simulate running the country!" " At this point, Feng Yibo also extended his thumb and said in admiration: " Mr. Ge is indeed very wise. 'Reform is just playing house'. This statement is comparable to the sentence 'Governing a big country is like cooking small dishes'!" Chen Qinzhi finished listening. , looked at Feng Yibo with a half-smile, as if he wanted to see through him.
It can be seen that Feng Yibo's face was calm, and he could only shake his head and sigh: Turn around
"If the Marquis's reform method can be half as good as flattering, this will not be difficult!" Feng Yibo nodded happily and said with a smile: "Lao Ge, this is my first time filming. It seems that I can get your praise. You have some talent." The two looked at each other and suddenly burst into laughter.
After the joke, Chen Qinzhi became somewhat interested in Feng Yibo. He pondered for a moment and then asked: "Master Hou talks so much about reform, doesn't he just want to use my name to do something?"
"Of course not!" Hearing such a temptation, Feng Yibo knew there was something going on. He said without hesitation: "The first step of reform has already begun. As for the second step, it is to form a party. Although forming a party does not sound good, if you are alone, you cannot talk about reform." The first step is undoubtedly new learning. .
All reforms must have a core appeal. This demand is usually made public in the form of slogans or doctrines.
When Wang Anshi carried out his reforms, he established his own theory. Jinggong’s new learning. If this theory revolves around
The word "morality" is the core of Feng Yibo's new learning.
"Gentleman". They may seem similar, but their directions are completely different. To put it simply, Wang Anshi demands himself with morality, while Feng Yibo demands others with a gentleman.
Wang Anshi’s thought is
"King on the outside and sage on the inside". in
"Inner Saint" refers to
The study of "moral life",
"Outside King" refers to
"New Law". To transfer it, we must first establish a moral system and then extend it to influence the implementation of new laws. Feng Yibo’s thoughts are actually Confucianism on the outside and law on the inside.
His idea was to use the knowledge of saints to establish new rules to restrain others. Wang Anshi's theory is standard Confucianism, while Feng Yibo's new theory is closer to Legalism.
Unfortunately, Chen Qinzhi still had some misunderstandings about their new learning and didn't want to talk about it. So he skipped the topic of the first step and asked directly: "Speaking of forming a party, I would like to ask Lord Marquis, what is the most important thing in forming a party?" When talking about forming a party, many people will think of it. Four words: like-minded people.
However, Feng Yibo has a different understanding of this. He feels that the fundamental purpose of all reforms is to alleviate conflicts between classes.
To put it bluntly, it means taking out some of the interests of vested interest groups and redistributing them. Take less, or in other words, in order not to cause turmoil, try to take only the most unreasonable part.
Let vested interest groups eat less without changing the existing distribution method. This is called improvement.
Vested interest groups will certainly not be willing to take too much. If the two sides finally start an armed struggle, it will be fatal.
If the final result is to completely break the original distribution model, a new distribution model will emerge. What is at stake is the lives of vested interest groups, so it is called...revolution.
But if you want to find a balance in the middle, you need to get neither too much nor too little. The unreasonable part of the transferred vested interests should be redistributed, and the unreasonable distribution method should be corrected.
Only modify and change the unreasonable parts. It's called reform. Therefore, the issue of reform is both a class issue and an interest issue.
So, in
Behind the four words "like-minded people", there are four more words hidden. That is……
"The interests are aligned." Chen Qinzhi couldn't help but be startled when he heard Feng Yibo's words. Then, his brows furrowed?
Apparently he thought of it
"Like-minded" comes to mind
"Selecting talents and appointing them" even came to mind
"The more the merrier". But he thought of many possibilities, but he didn't expect Feng Yibo's answer to be these four words.
After thinking about it for a moment, I was almost convinced. But when he thought about it more carefully, he shook his head firmly and said: "To gather people's hearts with interests, such a reform is just to replace the next group of people and bring in another group of people." Confucianism has always been shy about talking about it.
"profit". Although Chen Qinzhi knew that governing a country was inseparable from interests, he still believed that morality was the real cornerstone.
He believes that the ultimate goal of groups gathered for interests is also interests. Such reforms will obviously only make matters worse.
But after hearing such comments, Feng Yibo did not panic at all and said with a smile: "Reform naturally means reforming the old and innovating. Regardless of whether it is new or old, there must be someone to manage it, so as long as a new group of people are replaced and new rules are established, If we continue to sew and patch things up, won't it take hundreds of years?" The reform he wanted was naturally not Wang Anshi's thankless method.
In his opinion, Wang Anshi had a revolutionary heart and worked hard to carry out reform under the wrong social environment, but he mostly used reformists.
What this Mr. Ao wants is far more than what he can do, and what he can do is he uses the wrong person. This may be the reason for Wang Anshi's failure.
During the Northern Song Dynasty, Renzong had no descendants, which led to changes in the imperial lineage. When Yingzong took over, faced with the combination of Empress Dowager Cao, Han Qi, and Fu Bi, he was so suppressed that he was completely unable to control the right to speak.
Fortunately, Song Yingzong disappeared soon. It is a pity that his son Shenzong's situation was not much better than his situation even after he ascended to the throne.
When he faced Han Qi, Han Qi was already a veteran of three dynasties. Dominate the situation where the weak minister is strong and let the
Shenzong, who was "ambitious", was eager to make some changes. He needs to do something to establish himself.
Fortunately, he can do a lot at this time. There were no problems in the politics, economy, diplomacy, etc. of the Northern Song Dynasty.
Don't say anything else, just
"Three redundancies", two captives in the northwest, plus serious and abnormal land annexation. Each of these three mountains has the potential to shake the country.
At this time, Shenzong, or the Song Dynasty, needed a change. It was under such circumstances that Wang Anshi initiated the reform.
It seems that the social environment is ripe for reform. It's a pity that Shenzong had great ambitions but no decisiveness.
It is impossible for an indecisive monarch to support a reform. The current Wei Dynasty, except for its larger territory, has no other problems compared to the Song Dynasty.
But it happened that the young master ascended to power, and the queen mother who represented the imperial power was Feng Yibo's person. Isn't this a good time for reform?
While making Da Wei better, it can also gain greater say. No matter for their mother and child, or for themselves.
Why not? Hearing Feng Yibo's words, Chen Qinzhi smiled and said: "I didn't expect that Mr. Hou also knows needlework?" Faced with such ridicule, Feng Yibo just regarded it as a breeze blowing on his face and said with a smile: Turn around
"After all, Mr. Ge is so mature and prudent, and he only wants to win too many people for the country. If there is no interest connection, I am afraid it will be difficult to achieve great things." As soon as these words came out, the smile on Chen Qinzhi's face gradually disappeared.
yes! Morality can be used to restrain oneself, but it cannot restrain others. How could Wang Jiefu not be selfish and devoted to the country?
In the end, everyone rebelled and separated, and everyone shouted and beat him. Could it be that the reason behind this is
The word "profit"? Although Feng Yuan was young, he seemed to be a little eager for quick success and engaged in some crooked ways.
But if we take it seriously, this approach may not be unsuccessful. When we reach the level of the cabinet, we naturally understand that everything has interests involved.
Is it just that the inertia of his thinking has made it difficult for him to accept it? Now think about it, if I had understood this truth earlier, wouldn't I have to wait until now?
Thinking of this, Chen Qinzhi began to take Feng Yibo's suggestion seriously. He asked solemnly: Turn
"What is the ultimate goal of your reform?" After hearing this, Feng Yibo knew that the matter was half done.
He immediately stopped smiling and replied solemnly: "The purpose of reform is to enrich the country and strengthen the people." This answer is a cliché and has nothing new.
Chen Qinzhi was inevitably a little disappointed after hearing this. But what Feng Yibo said next moved Chen Qinzhi.
change
"What I hope is very simple. As long as the Wei family has enough resources, everyone will have enough food and clothing, the law will not be disrespectful, and the strong will not bend." At this point, he showed a nostalgic smile and said with some emotion: "This goal can be achieved Call it, well-off." This is a yearning rhetoric, but unfortunately no one in this era can fully understand it.
"The people are tired, but they can be well-off." This is a sentence in the "Book of Songs", and Chen Qinzhi naturally knows it.
For this word, his understanding is nothing more than making the people live a happier life. Transferring people to live a better life is understandable for reform.
Reminiscent of Feng Yibo's previous two sentences, Chen Qinzhi sighed: "Your words are from Legalism."
"The warehouse is solid and you know the etiquette; the food and clothing are enough and you know the honor and disgrace." This sentence comes from "Guanzi", so I won't go into details about its meaning.
"The law is not noble" is Han Feizi's thought. In modern terms, everyone is equal before the law.
Turn to these two, both are representatives of Legalism. Chen Qinzhi's expression changed after hearing this. When Feng Yibo heard this, he smiled and said: "Whether it is Legalism or Confucianism, benefiting the country and the people is a good theory." At this point, he chuckled twice and said: "I believe that a great Confucianist like Mr. Ge would have been accredited for a long time. If the head of the family wants to be used by himself, he will definitely not be limited by the family's opinions, right?"
