In the ninth year of Wude (626), Wei Zheng left Chang'an and went to the land of Shandong (east of Kunshan Mountain).

Just a few months ago, the Xuanwu Gate was shocked, and Wei Zheng's old master died tragically in the court. Game of Thrones has always been brutal. However, the bloodstains will be swept away, the sword light and sword shadow will disappear, and the blood-stained palace will eventually return to its divine tranquility.

After the power shuffle, Wei Zheng gained the trust of Li Shimin and was appointed as a counselor. After the Xuanwumen Incident, the political instability of the Tang Dynasty and the flight of some princelings to Shandong inevitably posed a threat to Li Shimin's rule. So, Li Shimin gave Wei Zheng a task: to pacify the land of Shandong and calm the commotion. chose Wei Zheng because he was a native of Shandong and had a certain influence in the local area; The second reason is that Wei Zheng, as Li Jiancheng's subordinate, is easy to dispel the hostility of the prince's old party.

Walking out of the strict palace and revisiting the old land, Wei Zheng's suppressed mood was released to a certain extent. During his tour of Shandong, he composed a song "Words in Twilight":

The first summer is not Jingfu, and the autumn is stuck in the three rivers.

Heavy Penglai Pavilion, day and night.

The frost is sheared, and the wind carries the lotus.

Sui Fang sat down and rested, feeling this style of micro song.

Wei Zheng can be said to be a person outside the literary circle, and he has very few poems. He pursued practical achievements all his life, and had no time to carve words. The word "decline" at the end comes from the Book of Songs: "Decline decline, no return?" "The Biography of Mao's Poems" believes that there was a small country named Li in the Spring and Autumn Period, Li Hou was expelled by the Di people, and his courtiers wrote this poem in order to call him back.

The twilight autumn scene made Wei Zheng feel something, but as soon as his emotions were slightly vented, he heard the call in his heart: You still have the mission of the king!

It is no wonder that Wei Zheng left a very monotonous appearance to the world: a figure of an important minister who is chattering all the time and summing up the lessons of history.

When Wei Zheng arrived in Cizhou, it happened that local officials had detained the prince's remnants and sent them to the capital, and Wei Zheng immediately released him. He said: The edict has just been issued above, the prince and the old people of the Qi palace are all pardoned, and now they are escorted back to Beijing, how can they win the trust of the world? Wei Zheng's actions stabilized the situation in Shandong. Most importantly, he responded perfectly to Li Shimin's trust.

The Lord treats me as a soldier, and I repay me as a soldier.

Wei Zheng. Source: Internet

01

Wei Zheng is a giant deer man, who has lived a poor life since he was a child, but his ambitions are high. At the end of the Sui Dynasty, the world was in turmoil, and he naturally wanted to do something.

Wei Zheng has a mysterious teacher - Wang Tong. This is a strange man. He is proficient in the Five Classics, has the strategy of a king, has a heart to help the world, and is eager for the appreciation of the Lord. Later, due to the internal contradictions of the Sui Dynasty, Wang Tong could not apply his ambitions, so he returned to the mountains and taught knowledge in the land of Hefen.

Wang Tong has many disciples, and most of them are famous ministers in the early Tang Dynasty. According to legend, Wen Yanbo, Du Ruhui, Chen Shuda, Du Yan, Fang Xuanling, Wei Zheng, Li Jing, Wang Qi, Xue Shui and others have all been his disciples.

However, some people have raised doubts: such a powerful person has almost no historical biography and has not left any writings. There is a hand-me-down "Zhongshuo", which still imitates the quotation style of the "Analects" and is posthumously remembered by later generations. Could it be that those famous disciples have forgotten this teacher after they became great officials?

History has left some clues, at least in the anthologies of Du Yan, Chen Shuda, and Xue Shu, who talked about this teacher. As for whether Li Jing, Fang Xuanling and others are Wang Tong's disciples, there is still controversy. However, Wang Tongqi should be real, and his knowledge was quite marketable in the early Tang Dynasty.

For example, "Zhongshuo" mentions: "Zi said: Don't change the life of a people with the world." "This is people-oriented thinking.

"I don't know, I can't be a minister, and I don't know if it's a gentleman." This is the idea of limited monarchy.

"He will say that he is not guilty, and he will be warned when he hears it." This is the idea of the king's admonition.

The founders of the Tang Dynasty basically practiced these remarks. Especially the atmosphere of admonition. In the fourth year of Wude (621), Li Shimin defeated Dou Jiande, entered Luoyang, and saw that the palace of the Sui Dynasty was very luxurious, and couldn't help but sigh. Xue Shui took the opportunity to say: "Qin Zeng's decoration of Afang, the cost of the Han Dynasty's terrace, so the Han Zuo is extended and Qin is in trouble, which has been the case since ancient times." Li Shimin understood.

Xue Shu. Source: Internet

In fact, Wang Tong's scholarship represents the cultural spirit of an era. After witnessing the chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty, people of insight intended to regain Confucian morality and set things right. They have a common expectation for the great governance of the world, and they are willing to work hard for this ideal. Wei Zheng is one of them.

Before meeting Li Shimin, Wei Zheng changed several lords.

In the thirteenth year of the Great Cause (617), Wei Zheng attached himself to Li Mi, the leader of the Wagang rebel army. Li Mi found that Wei Zheng was very talented, so he reused him. Wei Zheng once offered ten strategies to strengthen Wagang, and although Li Mi was surprised, he failed to adopt it.

At that time, Wang Shichong, who occupied Luoyang, attacked Li Mi and was defeated by Li Mi. On the occasion of the victory, Wei Zheng poured a basin of cold water, he said: Although Wei Gong (Li Mi) won, but the elite was damaged, and the treasury did not accumulate, the soldiers had military exploits but could not be rewarded. It is better to have a deep ditch and a high base, hold on to the enemy, and wait until the enemy runs out of food and retreats, and then lead the army to pursue, this is the way to win. Unfortunately, no one listened to him.

Later, Wei Zheng surrendered to Li Yuan with Li Mi, and Li Mi's old general, Li Tao, still occupied a vast territory. Wei Zheng Mao then recommended himself to persuade Li Tao to surrender. As a result, Dou Jiande led the army south, and Wei Zheng, Li Tao and others became prisoners. It didn't take long for Wei Zheng to do Dou Jiande again. After Dou Jiande was defeated, Wei Zheng entered the Tang Dynasty again and was reused by Li Jiancheng.

According to the view that loyal ministers do not care about the two masters, Wei Zheng is undoubtedly a person with moral deficiencies. He does not refuse to come, and he does everything he can to the Lord.

In fact, Wei Zheng is not without principles in his heart. On the way to surrender Li Tao under Li Yuan's order, the mountain road was difficult and dangerous, Wei Zheng composed a poem "Shu Huai", which has such a sentence: "Aren't you afraid of hardships and dangers? Deeply cherish the grace of the country. Isn't this exactly the same as his mood when he was ordered by Li Shimin to comfort Shandong many years later?

He has always cherished the dream of a countryman, and when he meets a monarch who knows people, how can he not do his best?

02

In the early years of Zhenguan, the world was initially decided, and Tang Taizong discussed the policy of governing the country with his ministers.

The DPRK and China were divided into two factions.

Wei Zheng believes that there may be a change of dynasties, but the people are simple and can be educated, and the way of benevolence and righteousness spoken by the sages will not be outdated. The priority now is to reassure the people.

Feng Deyi pointed out: "After three generations, people gradually poured into falsehood, so Qin Ren law, Han miscellaneous domineering, all want but can't, how can they be turned into but not wanted? If you believe what Wei Zheng said, I am afraid that the country will be ruined. He believed that the human heart had become corrupt and that it was no longer possible to promote righteousness. Therefore, the Qin Dynasty must rely on the law, and the Han Dynasty must be domineering. The implication is that the Tang Dynasty also had to be like this.

Wei Zheng retorted: "If it is said that the ancients were simple and gradually poured into falsehood, then today, when they are all turned into ghosts, the master of the people can rule them in peace!" "If the hearts of men continue to deteriorate, then the present way of the world is rampant with evil spirits, how will the king govern it?

In fact, whether people's hearts are bad or not is just rhetoric, and the focus of the dispute between the two sides is whether it is benevolence and righteousness, or the law, whether it is a light punishment or a high-pressure policy.

At that time, Tang Taizong was less than thirty years old, and he was not a pedantic and conservative person, but he chose to believe in Wei Zheng, who repeated the same old tune.

Shi Zai: "In the first year of (Zhenguan), Guanzhong was hungry, and the rice bucket was straight and silky; In two years, the locusts of the world; Three years, big water. "The unification of the world has not brought about a happy life, and the national economy is still in a state of decline. It was not until the fourth year of Zhenguan that the clouds were cleared, the world had a bumper harvest, and the vitality of the society was restored.

Tang Taizong himself recalled: "At the beginning of Zhenguan, everyone had different opinions, and Yun would not be able to do the emperor's road and the king's road today. However, Wei Zheng persuaded me, not only from his words, but after a few years, I got peace in China and was far away. ”

Feng Deyi. Source: Film and television stills

Another time, the imperial court sent people to recruit soldiers, and Feng Deyi said: Although the middle men are less than eighteen years old, those who are burly and strong can also be conscripted.

Tang Taizong agreed. Wei Zheng was resolutely opposed, and at that time he was Shangshu Zuocheng, and the decisions of the DPRK and China needed to be signed by him. As a result, the conscription order was stuck here with Wei Zheng.

Tang Taizong was furious, summoned Wei Zheng into the palace and scolded angrily: The burly and strong among the middle men are all those traitors who falsely report their age to escape forced labor, what is the harm of recruiting them, and you are so stubborn!

Wei Zheng replied: There are not many people in the army. As long as Your Majesty governs the army and is invincible in the world, why bother to recruit more young people to increase the imaginary number! Moreover, His Majesty always said: "I rule the world with integrity, and I want to make the people of my subordinates have no fraud", and now His Majesty has not been on the throne for a long time, but he has broken his trust many times.

Tang Taizong asked in astonishment: How did I lose my trust?

Wei Zheng replied: When His Majesty first ascended the throne, he exempted the people from owing money to the court, and as a result, the property of the Qin Palace's palace was received correctly. An exemption from forced labor was ordered, and it was soon said that those who had already paid taxes would be exempted from it until next year. Are these ways of governing the country with integrity?

After hearing this, Tang Taizong said happily: In the past, I thought you were stubborn and suspected that you didn't understand government affairs, but now I see you discussing state affairs, and they are really to the point. If the imperial decree is not trustworthy, the people do not know what to do, how can the country be governed? My fault is very deep!

Therefore, the imperial court did not recruit Chinese men as soldiers.

The Cambridge History of China in the Sui and Tang Dynasties says that Wei Zheng was "an indomitable moralist" and "a fearless admonitor." In the history books, we basically can't see Wei Zheng's vertical and horizontal figures, pointing out the country, these are Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui's things. His appearance is basically in another scene: Taizong wants to show off his martial arts, and he comes out to stop it; Taizong wanted to build a large number of buildings, and he came out to oppose it; Taizong wanted to be extravagant and wasteful, so he came out to admonish.

Wang Qi, who is also an official, commented on Wei Zheng: "Every time you take admonition as your heart, you are not as ashamed as Yao and Shun." "It's almost morally clean.

In his later years, Tang Taizong gradually became slack. In the thirteenth year of Zhenguan, Wei Zheng was "ten gradually sparse". This article is extremely wonderfully written, pointing to the ten shortcomings of Tang Taizong: seeking curiosities, pouring out the people's strength, refusing direct advice, being a distant gentleman, still strange, contemptuous of no, good hunting, neglecting to reach the top, absurd political affairs, and heavy conscription. Finally wrote:

"Today's foundation of peace is the height of the sky; The accumulation of nine thousand is still a loss. Thousands of years of respite, it is difficult to get it again, the master can do it but not do it, and the minister is so depressed and sighs. ”

After reading it, Tang Taizong was very shocked and sincerely admitted his mistake: "I will be quiet and quiet, and I will respect Deyin." ”

The chattering ministers, every time they complained, they could get a response from the emperor.

This is Wei Zheng's luckiest point.

03

Wei Zheng often raised such a question in his recitals: Why is it difficult for all dynasties to "end" and fall one after another?

This is also a question that cannot be avoided hanging over the heads of Zhenguan monarchs and ministers.

They are all witnesses of a great change in history. The Sui Dynasty, a dynasty with "strong armor soldiers" and "thousands of miles of popularity", only existed for more than 30 years, and then "led the land to collapse" and "descendants perished". If there was no rapid demise of Sui, there would be no rise of Tang. No one knows if they will become the second Sui Dynasty. Therefore, writing the history of the Sui Dynasty had a personal stake for the rulers of the Tang Dynasty.

In the third year of Zhenguan (629), Taizong of the Tang Dynasty ordered Wei Zheng to revise the Book of Sui. Wei Zheng not only edited the Book of Sui, but also wrote the preface and commentary of the Book of Sui.

One of Wei Zheng's most important points is: "The gains and losses of its Sui are much more similar to those of Qin." The Book of Sui believes that the Sui died in Emperor Yang, just as Qin died in the Second Emperor, and the spearhead directly pointed at the monarch's strict punishment of the law, the recklessness of the army, the creation of excess, and the practice of patrolling.

However, the Tang people's thinking about the problem is not limited to this, and the "Book of Sui" asks: "Gaozu swept the south of the Yangtze River to clear Liuhe, and Emperor Yang lost the world in Liaodong." Why? Wei Zheng's answer was: Emperor Wen of Sui disturbed the people in order to make the people "safe", and Emperor Yang of Sui disturbed the people because he treated them as mustard. At the same time, Wei Zheng also believed that the omen of the defeat of the Sui Dynasty originated from Gaozu. Since the twilight years of Emperor Wen of Sui, "there is no degree of leniency and benevolence, and there are mean assets", the root of the country's demise has been planted.

It can be said that every word in the Book of Sui is advising Tang Taizong.

Book of Sui. Source: Internet

Tang Taizong said: "With the ancient as a mirror, you can know the rise and fall." "With history, this is the particularity of Zhenguan.

With the encouragement of Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, Wei Zheng united with Yu Shinan, Chu Liang, Xiao Deyan and others to cut the good words of the history books and compile the book "Qunshu Zhiyao", which was dedicated to the emperor. The significance of this book lies not in the content, but in Wei Zheng's tailoring techniques.

Taking "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" as an example, the original book was about 690,000 words, and Wei Zheng cut it to about 40,000 words. For example, Guan Yu only chose to say goodbye to Cao Cao, and all the subsequent stories were deleted.

On the contrary, there are a lot of scenes in some tricks. For example, Bao Xun, the original text is more than 1,300 words, but it has only been reduced to 593 words. Bao Xun is a counselor, upright and selfless. In the sixth year of the early Huang dynasty (220), Cao Pi wanted to raise an army to attack Wu, but Bao Xun bluntly said that he couldn't, but Cao Pi still started a war and finally returned defeated. Cao Pi saw that he was not going well and killed him under the pretext of killing him. "Qun Shu Zhi Yao" even excerpted the details of Bao Xun's unjust death: "On the day of death, the family has no money to spare, so don't sigh for Xun." ”

Lu Xun is the only person in "Three Kingdoms" except for the emperor and Zhuge Liang, and his role in "Group Book" is only more than 400 words. And his nephew Lu Kai, because of his admonition to Sun Hao, has more than 2,700 words.

It can be seen that Wei Zheng's tailoring is not intended to be the truth of history, but to highlight the "ministers of persuasion".

Therefore, after the publication of "Qun Shu Zhi Yao", it did not receive much attention, and it was already dead in the Song Dynasty. On the contrary, the book spread to Japan and was very popular, and finally returned to China during the Qing Dynasty.

It can be said that the private goods that Wei Zheng carried in "Qun Shu Zhi Yao" are becoming less and less popular. Could it be that the ministers of later generations did not want to demonstrate the "way of admonishing ministers"? Could it be that future monarchs do not want to learn from history? Neither.

The biggest reason is that this book is written for only one person from beginning to end - Tang Taizong.

After Zhenguan, there is no second Tang Taizong, and "Qunshu Zhiyao" naturally has no value in existence.

Wei Zheng. Source: Film and television stills

04

Once, Tang Taizong feasted his ministers and said:

"Before Zhenguan, since I pacified the world, I have been dealing with hardships and dangers, and Xuanling's achievements have done nothing. After Zhenguan, I will devote myself to me, dedicate myself to loyalty, benefit the country, and become my today's meritorious work, which is known by the world, but Wei Zheng is only. ”

In Tang Taizong's heart, it was Wei Zhengzuo who became the ruler of the world.

At the beginning of the reign of Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, "frost and drought are disasters, rice grains are expensive, Turkic intrusions, and states and counties are in an uproar", there are both internal and external troubles, and where the famine is serious, a horse of silk can be exchanged for a bucket of rice.

In the fifth year of Zhenguan, "the world is great, and the diaspora returns to their hometowns, and the rice bucket is only three or four dollars, and only twenty-nine people are sentenced to death at the end of the year." As far as the sea in the east and the five mountains in the South Pole, all the foreign households are not closed, and the travel is not food, and they are taken from the roads."

This is the style of the rule of Zhenguan in history: economic recovery, political stability, and a good social atmosphere. Similar descriptions are not uncommon in history books, but the rule of Zhenguan is admired by everyone. Because it not only represents an important period, but also becomes an ideal that is constantly mentioned and never surpassed.

The most enviable point of the rule of Zhenguan is the political atmosphere of the monarch and the ministers working together and working together.

Once, someone slandered Wei Zheng for shielding his relatives, Li Shimin sent the imperial historian Wen Yanbo to investigate, but nothing was found, Wen Yanbo said to Tang Taizong: Wei Zheng, as a courtier, should behave in a tangible way, and cannot avoid suspicion, otherwise it will attract slander. Even if there is no personal affection, it is also to blame.

Later, Wei Zheng entered the court and said: The minister heard that the monarch and the minister are single-minded. If there is no justice, and the pursuit of the past shows traces, and the monarch and the ministers do the same, then the rise and fall of the state is difficult to predict.

Li Shimin sincerely admits his mistake: I have already repented of this incident.

Wei Zheng also said: I hope that Your Majesty will let the ministers be good ministers, not let the ministers be loyal ministers.

Li Shimin asked: Is there any difference between loyal ministers and good ministers?

Wei Zheng said: Good ministers make themselves famous, and the monarch is praised. The loyal minister himself was killed, the monarch also fell into a vicious situation, the country was ruined, and he only got the empty name of a loyal minister.

Wei Zheng knew that it was not his own actions that could determine whether he was a loyal minister or a good minister, but the actions of the king. That is to say, the monarch admonishes and makes him a good minister; The monarch is stubborn, making him a loyal subject. There can be no Wei Zheng in this world, but there can be no Tang Taizong.

Li Shimin's answer is also very intriguing: "You don't contradict this, I will not forget the plan of the society." ”

Admonition is only one side of the Zhenguan monarch and ministers.

Having experienced the shocking changes in the world and facing the lessons of history, they have the same ideals. Tang Taizong once said: "The Son of Heaven, if there is a way, people will push it as the master, and if there is no way, people will abandon it and not use it, which is terrifying." "Fear of what? Fear of water can overturn the boat, so save the people first; Fear of listening is dark, so seek the power of the group.

Tang Taizong. Source: Internet

During the Northern Song Dynasty, Bao Zheng said this:

"The minister heard that Tang Taizong was wise and good at admonishing the lord, and Wei Yuancheng was loyal to the minister without concealment, so the monarch and the minister were together, once in a thousand years, everything was said, and everything was accepted."

It seems that as long as the courtiers dare to admonish and the monarch admonishes, the world can be ruled greatly.

The narrowed understanding exposes the sad situation of the Song Chen, who seems to rule the world with the emperor, and their dignity is higher than ever. However, the emperors of the Song Dynasty advocated the separation of powers and checks and balances, and trembled for fear of losing power. More often than not, courtiers are tools rather than companions.

In the third year of Xining (1070), Wang Anshi begged to go. Song Shenzong blamed: "I know Qing and Qing for the first time in recent times, so I am only in the form of a monarch and a minister, and the form is not enough to be tired; However, the righteousness of the monarch and the minister is more important than the friend. If a friend makes an offer with Qing, he should be diligent and diligent, and Qing should also give in less to it. Since I and Qing are kings and ministers, am I not succumbed to me? ”

The gist is: The friendship between the two of us is too deep, and the monarch and the minister are just a formality. If a friend invites you to do something, you should grieve yourself. What's more, we are monarchs, can't we grieve ourselves for me? It is affectionate and touching.

Later, such a loving Song Shenzong could neither protect Wang Anshi from retreating from the attack of political enemies, nor could he restrain his desire to seize power. Wang Anshi was still unable to do it in the end.

The righteousness of Tang Taizong and Wei Zheng's monarchs and ministers, just like the rule of Zhenguan, is just a flash in the pan of history.

05

In the seventeenth year of Zhenguan (643), Wei Zheng died of illness. Tang Taizong wept bitterly and was saddened. It didn't take long for Li Shimin to order Yan Liben to paint twenty-four portraits of heroes in the Lingyan Pavilion, and Wei Zheng ranked fourth.

However, neither ended well.

In this year, the crown prince Li Chengqian rebelled, and the wise Tang Taizong gradually showed his dim side.

At that time, Hou Junji and Du Zhenglun had an affair with the prince, one was killed, and the other was demoted. Wei Zheng once recommended the two, saying that they had the talent of prime ministers. Tang Taizong had to wonder if Wei Zheng was not as upright as he seemed on the surface, and was it possible for him to form a party for personal gain?

Subsequently, Tang Taizong learned that Wei Zheng had written his own admonition and showed it to the historian Chu Suiliang, probably planning to pass on his good reputation to future generations. Wei Zheng has a good reputation, so won't he become a faint monarch who is admonished? The more Tang Taizong thought about it, the more angry he became, and he completely lost his judgment.

So, he annulled the marriage contract between Princess Hengshan and Wei Zheng's eldest son, and also ordered Wei Zheng's tombstone to be torn down.

In the nineteenth year of Zhenguan (645), Li Shimin personally conquered Goguryeo. If it had been in the past, someone would have stood up and said something out of place. Not this time. Although the Tang army won a great victory, Taizong still regretted it. After returning to the teacher, he sighed and said, "If Wei Zheng is here, I will not be able to do it." So he erected Wei Zheng's tombstone again.

In the end, Tang Taizong is still the enlightened monarch of the ages.

In ancient China, an emperor like Tang Taizong could not avoid becoming mediocre; A dynasty as grand as the Tang Dynasty cannot get out of the historical law of "those who are outnumbered". So how do you find a way out?

This ultimate question left by Wei Zheng can only be answered by future generations.

[Qing] Liu Yuan: Wei Zheng of "Lingyan Pavilion Heroes". Source: Internet

References:

Wei Zheng et al., Book of Sui, Zhonghua Book Company, 1973

Liu Yun et al., Old Tang Book, Zhonghua Book Company, 1975

Wu Jing: Zhenguan Political Dignitaries, Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House, 1987

Wei Zheng et al., "Qunshu Zhiyao", Zhonghua Book Company, 2014

【Song】Ouyang Xiu and Song Qi, New Tang Dynasty Book, Zhonghua Book Company, 1975

【Song】Sima Guang: "Zizhi Tongjian", Zhonghua Book Company, 1956 In the ninth year of Wude (626), Wei Zheng left Chang'an and went to the land of Shandong (east of Kunshan Mountain).

Just a few months ago, the Xuanwu Gate was shocked, and Wei Zheng's old master died tragically in the court. Game of Thrones has always been brutal. However, the bloodstains will be swept away, the sword light and sword shadow will disappear, and the blood-stained palace will eventually return to its divine tranquility.

After the power shuffle, Wei Zheng gained the trust of Li Shimin and was appointed as a counselor. After the Xuanwumen Incident, the political instability of the Tang Dynasty and the flight of some princelings to Shandong inevitably posed a threat to Li Shimin's rule. So, Li Shimin gave Wei Zheng a task: to pacify the land of Shandong and calm the commotion. chose Wei Zheng because he was a native of Shandong and had a certain influence in the local area; The second reason is that Wei Zheng, as Li Jiancheng's subordinate, is easy to dispel the hostility of the prince's old party.

Walking out of the strict palace and revisiting the old land, Wei Zheng's suppressed mood was released to a certain extent. During his tour of Shandong, he composed a song "Words in Twilight":

The first summer is not Jingfu, and the autumn is stuck in the three rivers.

Heavy Penglai Pavilion, day and night.

The frost is sheared, and the wind carries the lotus.

Sui Fang sat down and rested, feeling this style of micro song.

Wei Zheng can be said to be a person outside the literary circle, and he has very few poems. He pursued practical achievements all his life, and had no time to carve words. The word "decline" at the end comes from the Book of Songs: "Decline decline, no return?" "The Biography of Mao's Poems" believes that there was a small country named Li in the Spring and Autumn Period, Li Hou was expelled by the Di people, and his courtiers wrote this poem in order to call him back.

The twilight autumn scene made Wei Zheng feel something, but as soon as his emotions were slightly vented, he heard the call in his heart: You still have the mission of the king!

It is no wonder that Wei Zheng left a very monotonous appearance to the world: a figure of an important minister who is chattering all the time and summing up the lessons of history.

When Wei Zheng arrived in Cizhou, it happened that local officials had detained the prince's remnants and sent them to the capital, and Wei Zheng immediately released him. He said: The edict has just been issued above, the prince and the old people of the Qi palace are all pardoned, and now they are escorted back to Beijing, how can they win the trust of the world? Wei Zheng's actions stabilized the situation in Shandong. Most importantly, he responded perfectly to Li Shimin's trust.

The Lord treats me as a soldier, and I repay me as a soldier.

Wei Zheng. Source: Internet

01

Wei Zheng is a giant deer man, who has lived a poor life since he was a child, but his ambitions are high. At the end of the Sui Dynasty, the world was in turmoil, and he naturally wanted to do something.

Wei Zheng has a mysterious teacher - Wang Tong. This is a strange man. He is proficient in the Five Classics, has the strategy of a king, has a heart to help the world, and is eager for the appreciation of the Lord. Later, due to the internal contradictions of the Sui Dynasty, Wang Tong could not apply his ambitions, so he returned to the mountains and taught knowledge in the land of Hefen.

Wang Tong has many disciples, and most of them are famous ministers in the early Tang Dynasty. According to legend, Wen Yanbo, Du Ruhui, Chen Shuda, Du Yan, Fang Xuanling, Wei Zheng, Li Jing, Wang Qi, Xue Shui and others have all been his disciples.

However, some people have raised doubts: such a powerful person has almost no historical biography and has not left any writings. There is a hand-me-down "Zhongshuo", which still imitates the quotation style of the "Analects" and is posthumously remembered by later generations. Could it be that those famous disciples have forgotten this teacher after they became great officials?

History has left some clues, at least in the anthologies of Du Yan, Chen Shuda, and Xue Shu, who talked about this teacher. As for whether Li Jing, Fang Xuanling and others are Wang Tong's disciples, there is still controversy. However, Wang Tongqi should be real, and his knowledge was quite marketable in the early Tang Dynasty.

For example, "Zhongshuo" mentions: "Zi said: Don't change the life of a people with the world." "This is people-oriented thinking.

"I don't know, I can't be a minister, and I don't know if it's a gentleman." This is the idea of limited monarchy.

"He will say that he is not guilty, and he will be warned when he hears it." This is the idea of the king's admonition.

The founders of the Tang Dynasty basically practiced these remarks. Especially the atmosphere of admonition. In the fourth year of Wude (621), Li Shimin defeated Dou Jiande, entered Luoyang, and saw that the palace of the Sui Dynasty was very luxurious, and couldn't help but sigh. Xue Shui took the opportunity to say: "Qin Zeng's decoration of Afang, the cost of the Han Dynasty's terrace, so the Han Zuo is extended and Qin is in trouble, which has been the case since ancient times." Li Shimin understood.

Xue Shu. Source: Internet

In fact, Wang Tong's scholarship represents the cultural spirit of an era. After witnessing the chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty, people of insight intended to regain Confucian morality and set things right. They have a common expectation for the great governance of the world, and they are willing to work hard for this ideal. Wei Zheng is one of them.

Before meeting Li Shimin, Wei Zheng changed several lords.

In the thirteenth year of the Great Cause (617), Wei Zheng attached himself to Li Mi, the leader of the Wagang rebel army. Li Mi found that Wei Zheng was very talented, so he reused him. Wei Zheng once offered ten strategies to strengthen Wagang, and although Li Mi was surprised, he failed to adopt it.

At that time, Wang Shichong, who occupied Luoyang, attacked Li Mi and was defeated by Li Mi. On the occasion of the victory, Wei Zheng poured a basin of cold water, he said: Although Wei Gong (Li Mi) won, but the elite was damaged, and the treasury did not accumulate, the soldiers had military exploits but could not be rewarded. It is better to have a deep ditch and a high base, hold on to the enemy, and wait until the enemy runs out of food and retreats, and then lead the army to pursue, this is the way to win. Unfortunately, no one listened to him.

Later, Wei Zheng surrendered to Li Yuan with Li Mi, and Li Mi's old general, Li Tao, still occupied a vast territory. Wei Zheng Mao then recommended himself to persuade Li Tao to surrender. As a result, Dou Jiande led the army south, and Wei Zheng, Li Tao and others became prisoners. It didn't take long for Wei Zheng to do Dou Jiande again. After Dou Jiande was defeated, Wei Zheng entered the Tang Dynasty again and was reused by Li Jiancheng.

According to the view that loyal ministers do not care about the two masters, Wei Zheng is undoubtedly a person with moral deficiencies. He does not refuse to come, and he does everything he can to the Lord.

In fact, Wei Zheng is not without principles in his heart. On the way to surrender Li Tao under Li Yuan's order, the mountain road was difficult and dangerous, Wei Zheng composed a poem "Shu Huai", which has such a sentence: "Aren't you afraid of hardships and dangers? Deeply cherish the grace of the country. Isn't this exactly the same as his mood when he was ordered by Li Shimin to comfort Shandong many years later?

He has always cherished the dream of a countryman, and when he meets a monarch who knows people, how can he not do his best?

02

In the early years of Zhenguan, the world was initially decided, and Tang Taizong discussed the policy of governing the country with his ministers.

The DPRK and China were divided into two factions.

Wei Zheng believes that there may be a change of dynasties, but the people are simple and can be educated, and the way of benevolence and righteousness spoken by the sages will not be outdated. The priority now is to reassure the people.

Feng Deyi pointed out: "After three generations, people gradually poured into falsehood, so Qin Ren law, Han miscellaneous domineering, all want but can't, how can they be turned into but not wanted? If you believe what Wei Zheng said, I am afraid that the country will be ruined. He believed that the human heart had become corrupt and that it was no longer possible to promote righteousness. Therefore, the Qin Dynasty must rely on the law, and the Han Dynasty must be domineering. The implication is that the Tang Dynasty also had to be like this.

Wei Zheng retorted: "If it is said that the ancients were simple and gradually poured into falsehood, then today, when they are all turned into ghosts, the master of the people can rule them in peace!" "If the hearts of men continue to deteriorate, then the present way of the world is rampant with evil spirits, how will the king govern it?

In fact, whether people's hearts are bad or not is just rhetoric, and the focus of the dispute between the two sides is whether it is benevolence and righteousness, or the law, whether it is a light punishment or a high-pressure policy.

At that time, Tang Taizong was less than thirty years old, and he was not a pedantic and conservative person, but he chose to believe in Wei Zheng, who repeated the same old tune.

Shi Zai: "In the first year of (Zhenguan), Guanzhong was hungry, and the rice bucket was straight and silky; In two years, the locusts of the world; Three years, big water. "The unification of the world has not brought about a happy life, and the national economy is still in a state of decline. It was not until the fourth year of Zhenguan that the clouds were cleared, the world had a bumper harvest, and the vitality of the society was restored.

Tang Taizong himself recalled: "At the beginning of Zhenguan, everyone had different opinions, and Yun would not be able to do the emperor's road and the king's road today. However, Wei Zheng persuaded me, not only from his words, but after a few years, I got peace in China and was far away. ”

Feng Deyi. Source: Film and television stills

Another time, the imperial court sent people to recruit soldiers, and Feng Deyi said: Although the middle men are less than eighteen years old, those who are burly and strong can also be conscripted.

Tang Taizong agreed. Wei Zheng was resolutely opposed, and at that time he was Shangshu Zuocheng, and the decisions of the DPRK and China needed to be signed by him. As a result, the conscription order was stuck here with Wei Zheng.

Tang Taizong was furious, summoned Wei Zheng into the palace and scolded angrily: The burly and strong among the middle men are all those traitors who falsely report their age to escape forced labor, what is the harm of recruiting them, and you are so stubborn!

Wei Zheng replied: There are not many people in the army. As long as Your Majesty governs the army and is invincible in the world, why bother to recruit more young people to increase the imaginary number! Moreover, His Majesty always said: "I rule the world with integrity, and I want to make the people of my subordinates have no fraud", and now His Majesty has not been on the throne for a long time, but he has broken his trust many times.

Tang Taizong asked in astonishment: How did I lose my trust?

Wei Zheng replied: When His Majesty first ascended the throne, he exempted the people from owing money to the court, and as a result, the property of the Qin Palace's palace was received correctly. An exemption from forced labor was ordered, and it was soon said that those who had already paid taxes would be exempted from it until next year. Are these ways of governing the country with integrity?

After hearing this, Tang Taizong said happily: In the past, I thought you were stubborn and suspected that you didn't understand government affairs, but now I see you discussing state affairs, and they are really to the point. If the imperial decree is not trustworthy, the people do not know what to do, how can the country be governed? My fault is very deep!

Therefore, the imperial court did not recruit Chinese men as soldiers.

The Cambridge History of China in the Sui and Tang Dynasties says that Wei Zheng was "an indomitable moralist" and "a fearless admonitor." In the history books, we basically can't see Wei Zheng's vertical and horizontal figures, pointing out the country, these are Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui's things. His appearance is basically in another scene: Taizong wants to show off his martial arts, and he comes out to stop it; Taizong wanted to build a large number of buildings, and he came out to oppose it; Taizong wanted to be extravagant and wasteful, so he came out to admonish.

Wang Qi, who is also an official, commented on Wei Zheng: "Every time you take admonition as your heart, you are not as ashamed as Yao and Shun." "It's almost morally clean.

In his later years, Tang Taizong gradually became slack. In the thirteenth year of Zhenguan, Wei Zheng was "ten gradually sparse". This article is extremely wonderfully written, pointing to the ten shortcomings of Tang Taizong: seeking curiosities, pouring out the people's strength, refusing direct advice, being a distant gentleman, still strange, contemptuous of no, good hunting, neglecting to reach the top, absurd political affairs, and heavy conscription. Finally wrote:

"Today's foundation of peace is the height of the sky; The accumulation of nine thousand is still a loss. Thousands of years of respite, it is difficult to get it again, the master can do it but not do it, and the minister is so depressed and sighs. ”

After reading it, Tang Taizong was very shocked and sincerely admitted his mistake: "I will be quiet and quiet, and I will respect Deyin." ”

The chattering ministers, every time they complained, they could get a response from the emperor.

This is Wei Zheng's luckiest point.

03

Wei Zheng often raised such a question in his recitals: Why is it difficult for all dynasties to "end" and fall one after another?

This is also a question that cannot be avoided hanging over the heads of Zhenguan monarchs and ministers.

They are all witnesses of a great change in history. The Sui Dynasty, a dynasty with "strong armor soldiers" and "thousands of miles of popularity", only existed for more than 30 years, and then "led the land to collapse" and "descendants perished". If there was no rapid demise of Sui, there would be no rise of Tang. No one knows if they will become the second Sui Dynasty. Therefore, writing the history of the Sui Dynasty had a personal stake for the rulers of the Tang Dynasty.

In the third year of Zhenguan (629), Taizong of the Tang Dynasty ordered Wei Zheng to revise the Book of Sui. Wei Zheng not only edited the Book of Sui, but also wrote the preface and commentary of the Book of Sui.

One of Wei Zheng's most important points is: "The gains and losses of its Sui are much more similar to those of Qin." The Book of Sui believes that the Sui died in Emperor Yang, just as Qin died in the Second Emperor, and the spearhead directly pointed at the monarch's strict punishment of the law, the recklessness of the army, the creation of excess, and the practice of patrolling.

However, the Tang people's thinking about the problem is not limited to this, and the "Book of Sui" asks: "Gaozu swept the south of the Yangtze River to clear Liuhe, and Emperor Yang lost the world in Liaodong." Why? Wei Zheng's answer was: Emperor Wen of Sui disturbed the people in order to make the people "safe", and Emperor Yang of Sui disturbed the people because he treated them as mustard. At the same time, Wei Zheng also believed that the omen of the defeat of the Sui Dynasty originated from Gaozu. Since the twilight years of Emperor Wen of Sui, "there is no degree of leniency and benevolence, and there are mean assets", the root of the country's demise has been planted.

It can be said that every word in the Book of Sui is advising Tang Taizong.

Book of Sui. Source: Internet

Tang Taizong said: "With the ancient as a mirror, you can know the rise and fall." "With history, this is the particularity of Zhenguan.

With the encouragement of Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, Wei Zheng united with Yu Shinan, Chu Liang, Xiao Deyan and others to cut the good words of the history books and compile the book "Qunshu Zhiyao", which was dedicated to the emperor. The significance of this book lies not in the content, but in Wei Zheng's tailoring techniques.

Taking "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" as an example, the original book was about 690,000 words, and Wei Zheng cut it to about 40,000 words. For example, Guan Yu only chose to say goodbye to Cao Cao, and all the subsequent stories were deleted.

On the contrary, there are a lot of scenes in some tricks. For example, Bao Xun, the original text is more than 1,300 words, but it has only been reduced to 593 words. Bao Xun is a counselor, upright and selfless. In the sixth year of the early Huang dynasty (220), Cao Pi wanted to raise an army to attack Wu, but Bao Xun bluntly said that he couldn't, but Cao Pi still started a war and finally returned defeated. Cao Pi saw that he was not going well and killed him under the pretext of killing him. "Qun Shu Zhi Yao" even excerpted the details of Bao Xun's unjust death: "On the day of death, the family has no money to spare, so don't sigh for Xun." ”

Lu Xun is the only person in "Three Kingdoms" except for the emperor and Zhuge Liang, and his role in "Group Book" is only more than 400 words. And his nephew Lu Kai, because of his admonition to Sun Hao, has more than 2,700 words.

It can be seen that Wei Zheng's tailoring is not intended to be the truth of history, but to highlight the "ministers of persuasion".

Therefore, after the publication of "Qun Shu Zhi Yao", it did not receive much attention, and it was already dead in the Song Dynasty. On the contrary, the book spread to Japan and was very popular, and finally returned to China during the Qing Dynasty.

It can be said that the private goods that Wei Zheng carried in "Qun Shu Zhi Yao" are becoming less and less popular. Could it be that the ministers of later generations did not want to demonstrate the "way of admonishing ministers"? Could it be that future monarchs do not want to learn from history? Neither.

The biggest reason is that this book is written for only one person from beginning to end - Tang Taizong.

After Zhenguan, there is no second Tang Taizong, and "Qunshu Zhiyao" naturally has no value in existence.

Wei Zheng. Source: Film and television stills

04

Once, Tang Taizong feasted his ministers and said:

"Before Zhenguan, since I pacified the world, I have been dealing with hardships and dangers, and Xuanling's achievements have done nothing. After Zhenguan, I will devote myself to me, dedicate myself to loyalty, benefit the country, and become my today's meritorious work, which is known by the world, but Wei Zheng is only. ”

In Tang Taizong's heart, it was Wei Zhengzuo who became the ruler of the world.

At the beginning of the reign of Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, "frost and drought are disasters, rice grains are expensive, Turkic intrusions, and states and counties are in an uproar", there are both internal and external troubles, and where the famine is serious, a horse of silk can be exchanged for a bucket of rice.

In the fifth year of Zhenguan, "the world is great, and the diaspora returns to their hometowns, and the rice bucket is only three or four dollars, and only twenty-nine people are sentenced to death at the end of the year." As far as the sea in the east and the five mountains in the South Pole, all the foreign households are not closed, and the travel is not food, and they are taken from the roads."

This is the style of the rule of Zhenguan in history: economic recovery, political stability, and a good social atmosphere. Similar descriptions are not uncommon in history books, but the rule of Zhenguan is admired by everyone. Because it not only represents an important period, but also becomes an ideal that is constantly mentioned and never surpassed.

The most enviable point of the rule of Zhenguan is the political atmosphere of the monarch and the ministers working together and working together.

Once, someone slandered Wei Zheng for shielding his relatives, Li Shimin sent the imperial historian Wen Yanbo to investigate, but nothing was found, Wen Yanbo said to Tang Taizong: Wei Zheng, as a courtier, should behave in a tangible way, and cannot avoid suspicion, otherwise it will attract slander. Even if there is no personal affection, it is also to blame.

Later, Wei Zheng entered the court and said: The minister heard that the monarch and the minister are single-minded. If there is no justice, and the pursuit of the past shows traces, and the monarch and the ministers do the same, then the rise and fall of the state is difficult to predict.

Li Shimin sincerely admits his mistake: I have already repented of this incident.

Wei Zheng also said: I hope that Your Majesty will let the ministers be good ministers, not let the ministers be loyal ministers.

Li Shimin asked: Is there any difference between loyal ministers and good ministers?

Wei Zheng said: Good ministers make themselves famous, and the monarch is praised. The loyal minister himself was killed, the monarch also fell into a vicious situation, the country was ruined, and he only got the empty name of a loyal minister.

Wei Zheng knew that it was not his own actions that could determine whether he was a loyal minister or a good minister, but the actions of the king. That is to say, the monarch admonishes and makes him a good minister; The monarch is stubborn, making him a loyal subject. There can be no Wei Zheng in this world, but there can be no Tang Taizong.

Li Shimin's answer is also very intriguing: "You don't contradict this, I will not forget the plan of the society." ”

Admonition is only one side of the Zhenguan monarch and ministers.

Having experienced the shocking changes in the world and facing the lessons of history, they have the same ideals. Tang Taizong once said: "The Son of Heaven, if there is a way, people will push it as the master, and if there is no way, people will abandon it and not use it, which is terrifying." "Fear of what? Fear of water can overturn the boat, so save the people first; Fear of listening is dark, so seek the power of the group.

Tang Taizong. Source: Internet

During the Northern Song Dynasty, Bao Zheng said this:

"The minister heard that Tang Taizong was wise and good at admonishing the lord, and Wei Yuancheng was loyal to the minister without concealment, so the monarch and the minister were together, once in a thousand years, everything was said, and everything was accepted."

It seems that as long as the courtiers dare to admonish and the monarch admonishes, the world can be ruled greatly.

The narrowed understanding exposes the sad situation of the Song Chen, who seems to rule the world with the emperor, and their dignity is higher than ever. However, the emperors of the Song Dynasty advocated the separation of powers and checks and balances, and trembled for fear of losing power. More often than not, courtiers are tools rather than companions.

In the third year of Xining (1070), Wang Anshi begged to go. Song Shenzong blamed: "I know Qing and Qing for the first time in recent times, so I am only in the form of a monarch and a minister, and the form is not enough to be tired; However, the righteousness of the monarch and the minister is more important than the friend. If a friend makes an offer with Qing, he should be diligent and diligent, and Qing should also give in less to it. Since I and Qing are kings and ministers, am I not succumbed to me? ”

The gist is: The friendship between the two of us is too deep, and the monarch and the minister are just a formality. If a friend invites you to do something, you should grieve yourself. What's more, we are monarchs, can't we grieve ourselves for me? It is affectionate and touching.

Later, such a loving Song Shenzong could neither protect Wang Anshi from retreating from the attack of political enemies, nor could he restrain his desire to seize power. Wang Anshi was still unable to do it in the end.

The righteousness of Tang Taizong and Wei Zheng's monarchs and ministers, just like the rule of Zhenguan, is just a flash in the pan of history.

05

In the seventeenth year of Zhenguan (643), Wei Zheng died of illness. Tang Taizong wept bitterly and was saddened. It didn't take long for Li Shimin to order Yan Liben to paint twenty-four portraits of heroes in the Lingyan Pavilion, and Wei Zheng ranked fourth.

However, neither ended well.

In this year, the crown prince Li Chengqian rebelled, and the wise Tang Taizong gradually showed his dim side.

At that time, Hou Junji and Du Zhenglun had an affair with the prince, one was killed, and the other was demoted. Wei Zheng once recommended the two, saying that they had the talent of prime ministers. Tang Taizong had to wonder if Wei Zheng was not as upright as he seemed on the surface, and was it possible for him to form a party for personal gain?

Subsequently, Tang Taizong learned that Wei Zheng had written his own admonition and showed it to the historian Chu Suiliang, probably planning to pass on his good reputation to future generations. Wei Zheng has a good reputation, so won't he become a faint monarch who is admonished? The more Tang Taizong thought about it, the more angry he became, and he completely lost his judgment.

So, he annulled the marriage contract between Princess Hengshan and Wei Zheng's eldest son, and also ordered Wei Zheng's tombstone to be torn down.

In the nineteenth year of Zhenguan (645), Li Shimin personally conquered Goguryeo. If it had been in the past, someone would have stood up and said something out of place. Not this time. Although the Tang army won a great victory, Taizong still regretted it. After returning to the teacher, he sighed and said, "If Wei Zheng is here, I will not be able to do it." So he erected Wei Zheng's tombstone again.

In the end, Tang Taizong is still the enlightened monarch of the ages.

In ancient China, an emperor like Tang Taizong could not avoid becoming mediocre; A dynasty as grand as the Tang Dynasty cannot get out of the historical law of "those who are outnumbered". So how do you find a way out?

This ultimate question left by Wei Zheng can only be answered by future generations.

[Qing] Liu Yuan: Wei Zheng of "Lingyan Pavilion Heroes". Source: Internet

References:

Wei Zheng et al., Book of Sui, Zhonghua Book Company, 1973

Liu Yun et al., Old Tang Book, Zhonghua Book Company, 1975

Wu Jing: Zhenguan Political Dignitaries, Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House, 1987

Wei Zheng et al., "Qunshu Zhiyao", Zhonghua Book Company, 2014

【Song】Ouyang Xiu and Song Qi, New Tang Dynasty Book, Zhonghua Book Company, 1975

Sima Guang, Zizhi Tongjian, Zhonghua Book Company, 1956