Ji Han Da Sima

Chapter 490: Posthumous title and nobility change
"Han Ji·Guan Yu and Lu Xun's Biography": "In the second month of Zhangwu's reign, in May, the chariot and cavalry general Yu died at the age of sixty. The ancestor of the emperor shed tears for many days, and his posthumous title was 'Yuan'. ..."

On that day, after Liu Bei and Zhang Fei visited Guan Yu, Guan Yu died of illness at dusk.

The next day, Liu Bei chose an auspicious day to mourn Guan Yu and set up a mourning hall to worship him.

Three days later, Guan Yu's coffin was carried on a carriage, and Liu Bei sent out 2,000 people from the imperial army, all dressed in white clothes and armor, to carry him to his funeral. He left the west gate of Wuhan and was buried in Guishan.

At that time, many central government officials attended Guan Yu's funeral, including Huo Jun, Zhuge Liang, Xu Shu and other high-ranking officials, who attended Guan Yu's funeral as colleagues and friends.

On the day of the funeral, Liu Bei cried so much that he became dizzy, and Zhang Fei cried so hard that he fainted.

That night, Liu Bei and Zhang Fei stayed up next to the mausoleum to keep vigil for Guan Yu.

The next day, if Huo and Ge had not led the ministers to persuade Liu Bei to return to the palace, Liu Bei would have stayed at Guan Yu's funeral for three days.

In the next two days, Huo, Ge, Fa and others came to persuade Liu Bei to return to the palace because of the importance of state affairs. Liu Bei disappeared behind closed doors, leaving several people disappointed.

Three days later, Huo and Ge led everyone, and Liu Bei just left the house and returned to the palace with his weak body. However, as soon as he returned to the palace, Liu Bei, who had been mourning for many days, could not bear his tired body and fainted directly in the palace.

Zhao Yun led his troops to seal off the inside and outside of the palace, locking up the palace gates and not allowing palace residents to come in or out to avoid leaking the news. Welcome Queen Mi and Prince Liu Chan to the main hall in case something unexpected happens.

"Guan Junhou has been following His Majesty for nearly forty years. He is a brother and sister and is not superior to others. Perhaps his military skills are not as good as Huo Du's, and his writing is not as good as the Prime Minister's. However, the Junhou is superior in loyalty. He abandoned Cao Cao and returned to Your Majesty. He has high achievements and fame, seniority and longevity. . He has the style of a manly man, and Guan Junhou is to His Majesty what Deng Yu was to the ancestors."

Of course, Yuanhou is not the supreme posthumous title. Above Yuanhou, there are Wen and Wudan posthumous titles + auxiliary posthumous titles. For example, Xiao He's posthumous title was 'Wen Zhong', and Zhang Liang's posthumous title was 'Wencheng'.

Du Du returned the greeting and said: "Your Majesty is getting old and is no longer as vigorous as he was in his early years. Huo Du should advise your Majesty to rest and not to overwork."

Zhuge Liang seemed to understand Liu Bei's thoughts and said: "Even though your majesty is wandering around, Guan Junhou will not leave your majesty. Today Liang thinks that your majesty can posthumously name Guan Junhou as the Yuan Hou to show the importance of the monarch!"

After sending Du Du away, Huo Jun entered the palace with peace of mind.

"Don't dare!"

Huo Jun sat on the chair and said: "Guan Junhou has been following His Majesty for forty years. Taking into account his past merits and seniority, he can be given the posthumous title of 'Yuan' Hou. If you consider the monarch's ability to defeat the enemy, he can also be given the posthumous title of 'Wu' Hou. As for choosing It depends on what your Majesty likes as to what posthumous title you should use. It's all fine."

It was not until Huo Jun and Zhuge Liang entered the palace that Liu Bei woke up from the bed under Du Du's treatment.

"The doctor is here!"

In the inner hall, Liu Bei was leaning on the cushions, discussing matters with Wang Can and Zhuge Liang. Outside the hall, Huo Jun was asking Du Du about Liu Bei's condition.

"good!"

Wang Can restated his previous words and said: "If your Majesty does not want to use 'Yuan' to test the past military achievements of the monarch, you can use 'Wu' as the posthumous title to highlight the illustrious military achievements of the Lord Guan."

Du Du packed the medical bag and said: "The reason why your majesty fainted was due to excessive grief and the fact that he had been guarding Guan Junhou for many days, and his body was exhausted and weak. He suffered from lack of energy and blood and fainted for a while. Du has prescribed a prescription for your majesty to nourish your body." It should be fine in a few days!"

In the double meaning, the meaning of Yuanhou is not generally high. For example, Deng Yu, the leader of Yuntai's twenty-eight generals, had the posthumous title of Marquis of Yuan. The posthumous posthumous title of Guan Yu as Marquis of the Yuan Dynasty emphasizes that for Liu Bei, Guan Yu is the minister who made the most contributions. Therefore, the posthumous title of Marquis Yuan is much higher than the posthumous title of "Zhuang Miao" in history.

Looking at Liu Bei leaning on the cushion, Huo Jun asked: "Doctor, how could your majesty faint?"

In the Yuan Dynasty, the first founding of the capital was called the Yuan Dynasty; the principle of practicing virtue was called the Yuan Dynasty; the name of being loyal, suspenseful, and respectful was called the Yuan Dynasty; the name of the Yuan Dynasty was called the Yuan Dynasty; the name of the Yuan Dynasty was called the Yuan Dynasty; the name of the Yuan Dynasty was called the Yuan Dynasty; the name of the Yuan Dynasty was called the Yuan Dynasty; the name of the Yuan Dynasty was called the Yuan Dynasty; the name of the Yuan Dynasty was called the Yuan Dynasty; the name of the Yuan Dynasty was called the Yuan Dynasty; the Yuan Dynasty was called the Yuan Dynasty; the Yuan Dynasty was called the Yuan Dynasty; the Yuan Dynasty was called the Yuan Dynasty; the Yuan Dynasty was called the Yuan Dynasty;

The Yuan person also means the leader.

Seeing Huo Jun, Liu Bei smiled on his pale face and asked: "Zhongxuan chose the posthumous title of 'Yuan' for Yunchang. I wonder what Zhongmiao thinks?"

Liu Bei fainted on the spot, almost frightening Wang Can, Ma Liang and other ministers, and informed Huo, Ge and Zhao.

Listening to the footsteps, Zhuge Liang turned back and looked at Huo Jun, as if asking about Liu Bei's condition. Seeing Huo Jun shaking his head slightly to indicate that Liu Bei was fine, Fang felt relieved.

Seeing that no one had any objections, Liu Bei favored the Marquis of Yuan and said, "Yun Chang is loyal and virtuous, and it is hard for Marquis Wu to respect his name. Now only the Marquis of Yuan can explain Yunchang's life-long civil and military loyalty."

"promise!"

Wang Can handed over his hands and obeyed the order, saying: "In that case, I will write a tribute to the Marquis of Yuan to promote the reputation of the Marquis of Yuan."

"Not urgent!"

Liu Bei stopped Wang Can and asked: "I have little knowledge. I have heard about Wu'an Lord and Shang Lord in ancient times. However, since the Han Dynasty, I have only heard about the princes but not the kings. Zhongxuan is known for his multi-knowledge. Can you explain this?"

Wang Can thought about it for a long time and said: "In the Spring and Autumn Period, rituals and music collapsed. The princes of various countries were called marquises, so the elders under their rule were called ministers. Whenever a clan with meritorious military exploits was granted the title of king, it would be higher than that of ministers. Lower than the princes, they received the territory and enjoyed the food and towns." "In the Warring States Period, the princes in the world called each other kings, and the princes could be granted to the subordinates. Therefore, the princes were higher than the king, and the princes controlled the state and enjoyed the food and towns. The king gradually became honorable and had no The only thing that belongs to the land is the food and the town. Compared with today's official titles, the king is the Marquis of Guannei."

In the early days, kings owned fiefs and received food. During the Warring States Period, with the emergence of marquises, in order to respect the marquises, the king's rank was lowered. Anyone above the county level who owns a fief according to etiquette and law can claim to be an orphan. Later, with the virtualization of the counties and counties, the county princes and county princes replaced the status of the Han county princes.

Liu Bei was silent for a while and asked: "Will the lord build an ancestral temple?"

"No!"

Wang Can shook his head and said: "According to the ancient system, anyone who can build an ancestral temple will be given the title of Gong. Most of the Gongs are clan ministers, and they can only be promoted to the throne."

"I and Yun Chang are as close as brothers. Can I let him build an ancestral temple so that future generations can worship him?" Liu Bei asked.

Wang Can hesitated for a while and said, "If Your Majesty allows the Marquis of Yuan to build an ancestral temple, what will happen to the other county marquises?"

Liu Bei frowned and asked, "Can I make Yunchang the Duke?"

Wang Can's face changed slightly and he said: "Since the Han Dynasty, the only people with different surnames who have been granted the title of duke are Wang Mang and Cao Cao. Even Deng Yu and Xiao He have also been granted the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households."

The titles of the Han Dynasty were inherited from the Pre-Qin period, emphasizing actual titles rather than virtual titles. Most of the marquises who founded the country at that time had their own feudal states, which was different from the fictitious titles of the later period.

Since the marquis is a real seal, the duke is also a real seal. Therefore, regardless of whether they are county or county officials, they all have the right to appoint officials within their jurisdiction and form the army of their respective countries.

Commissioning officials and building an army were the exclusive rights of the emperor in the feudal dynasty. How could ministers enjoy them exclusively? When a minister is granted the title of Duke, it usually means that the minister has evil intentions.

Liu Bei pondered for a while and said: "The duke has the power to appoint officials and build the army. Can we change the system now? The duke, who is above the marquis, is allowed to build an ancestral temple. Outside the ancestral temple, there are neither officials nor troops. The authority is the same as that of a marquis.”

"This~"

Wang Can looked troubled and looked at Zhuge Liang and Huo Jun. He is only a servant and secretary-supervisor, and has no authority to rectify the nobility system.

Liu Bei looked at Huo and Ge and said: "Liu Xi is Langya Gong. He has no title, no officials, and only enjoys the title of a thousand households. The king of the old Han Dynasty has no relationship with me, so he can enjoy the title of Duke. And that Yun Chang has followed me for forty years and has a brotherly love. How can he be inferior to Liu Xi?"

Zhuge Liang shook his feather fan and frowned. He inherited the old learning of the Han Dynasty, and it was unheard of to confer the title of duke. Facing Liu Bei's question now, he found it difficult to answer for the moment.

Of course, Zhuge Liang also vaguely felt that Liu Bei's intention in changing the duchy system was not only to build an ancestral temple for Guan Yu, but also to consider for future generals.

Take Huo Jun, for example, who has become a very popular minister and enjoys food for thousands of households in the city. If he performs military exploits again in the future, why should he be rewarded? He cannot be given the title of Duke.

And if the Southern Han Dynasty and the Northern Expedition were successful, a large number of county princes would have no titles, so we couldn't go crazy and add more towns to them. If a new title can be created and the county prince can be promoted, it will undoubtedly be the best choice.

In this case, it would be a good idea to add the benefit of building an ancestral temple to the public power that Liu Bei mentioned.

While the monarch and his ministers were silent and thinking, Huo Jun said: "Your Majesty, Jun believes that the nobility system may be changed. Since the implementation of the Han Jue, the Marquis has been the most respected. Today, the nobility system will be restored. The Marquis will be the second, and the Duke will be the most respected."

"In the old days, the marquis was divided into two levels: Guannei and Tonghou. The Tonghou was divided into three levels: pavilion, township and county. In the early Han Dynasty, the county had a prime minister, and the township pavilion had retainers. Since the Han Dynasty, the world has been in war, the people are in dire straits, and the county marquis has no prime minister. There are no retainers in the rural pavilion. Now we can imitate the method of pretending to be a prince but actually becoming a duke."

"Gongs with the surname Liu and those with different surnames are divided into those with different surnames. They are assigned to ministers, and there are three levels: township, county, and county. Any public with a different surname is not the same as the father-in-law. The county government has a prime minister, and the township government has retainers, and the ancestral temple is allowed to be built. All the rights of the old public , only the king can grant it.”

"Emperor Gao once said that anyone without the surname Liu is not a king, and anyone without military merit is not a marquis. Your Majesty can follow his old example and reshape the title system."

Influenced by the romance, many people believe that the county princes in the Han Dynasty had no real power, which was the same as the Guannei princes who had no fiefdom. In fact, no matter in the Western Han Dynasty or the Eastern Han Dynasty, the county princes had real power, which was much greater than that of the county princes in the Sui and Tang Dynasties.

For example, in history, Sun Jian was named Marquis of Wucheng County. In fact, the official who governed Wucheng County was not Wucheng Ling, but Wucheng Prime Minister.

The position of Prime Minister Wucheng was always reserved by Sun Wuzhong in the early days. For example, Luo Tong once served as Prime Minister Wucheng and governed Wucheng County. Today in the Southern Han Dynasty, there are not many people who accept the title of county marquis, and the etiquette system is broken. The county marquis receives the food of the county, without appointing the county minister.

In Huo Jun's opinion, it is better to go with the trend and transfer the original rights of the county marquis to the county prince, and imitate the title reform of virtual king and real marquis during the Warring States Period. A prince without an army or a servant is not enough to cause trouble at all, it is just a title of honor.

Hearing Huo Jun's words, Liu Bei was moved. He looked at Zhuge Liang and asked, "What do Kong Ming think?"

Zhuge Liang smiled bitterly and said: "Your Majesty can temporarily grant the title of Lord Guan. If the ministers think it is inappropriate, they can also restore the old system."

"good!"

Liu Bei was overjoyed and said: "I will grant Yunchang the title of Duke of Hanshou County and give him the posthumous title of Yuan."

"promise!"

(End of this chapter)