Ji Han Da Sima

Chapter 563 Gains and Losses of the Two Han Dynasties
Huo Jun was very worried when he heard about Liu Bei's current situation.

Huo Jun chatted with Du Du for a few words, and then went into the cabinet with Zhang Fei, Wang Can and others to wait for Liu Bei's return.

After a while, Liu Bei, with the support of his attendants, slowly sat down on the couch and drank a few mouthfuls of ginseng soup, hoping to nourish his energy and blood and nourish his body.

After his body relaxed a little, Liu Bei looked around at the crowd and asked, "You are all wise men. I have a doubt in my heart now. I wonder if you can help me resolve it?"

"We should tell you everything we know!" the crowd said.

Liu Bei covered his abdomen with a blanket and said, "There are two generations of Han Dynasty. Why is it that the Chinese Han Dynasty is not as powerful as the previous Han Dynasty?"

"This~"

The topics Liu Bei asked were too broad, and the civil and military officials on the left and right did not know how to answer them.

"Your Majesty, during the period of the Han Dynasty, there were dictatorships by foreign relatives and eunuchs at home; there were rebellions by barbarians and Xiqiang people outside. How could the Chinese Han Dynasty prosper under internal and external troubles?" Ma Liang said: "The superior one: the harem interferes with politics, and the central party struggles; The inferiors are tyrannically annexing and colluding with the officials, so how can China and the Han Dynasty survive for a long time?”

"Then the former Han Dynasty died because Wang Mang usurped the throne?" Liu Beifu asked.

The Yiling system was originally a way for Liu Bang to strengthen weak branches, but in the middle period it became a tool to suppress the powerful. It was a mistake.

Everyone knows the separation between Kansai and Kanto. If the Kanto scholars repeatedly wanted to abandon the Liang people and suppressed the political status of the Kansai warriors, how could they not suffer backlash from the Liang people?

The reason why the Eastern Han Dynasty was destroyed was why Dong Zhuo was able to take control of Luoyang. In fact, it has a lot to do with the overconfidence of the Kanto nobles and the stupidity of He Jin's brother and sister.

How could Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu not know about the demise of the Western Han Dynasty?

"After Emperor Yuan, there were powerful mergers and the extravagance of the big families. The people had no land to cultivate and no food to eat, which gradually led to civil chaos. At that time, the people of the world were in disarray, and Wang Mang used his hypocrisy to steal the Han Dynasty."

Although the Eastern Han Dynasty perished shortly after the Yellow Turban Uprising, in fact the demise of the Eastern Han Dynasty was mostly attributed to the political struggle among the upper class. If Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty could appoint the prince normally and did not make any mistakes, the Eastern Han Dynasty would not be destroyed in his hands.

Liu Bang brought peace to the world too quickly, so the sequelae were not small. After Liu Bang ascended the throne, he was tired of military affairs all year round. In order to govern the world, he creatively adopted a dual-track system of prefectures and states.

Of course, this does not mean that the Eastern Han Dynasty has any hope of great prosperity. It can only be said that the Eastern Han Dynasty can still survive. If you meet a wise emperor and live for decades, or even a hundred years, there may be hope.

"No!"

Qin's rule was too short to teach the Western Han Dynasty too many lessons.

Wang Can bowed his hands and bowed, and said truthfully: "The reason why the former Han Dynasty died was not because of the king but because of the place. After Emperor Yuan of the former Han Dynasty, the fields of the rich were endless, and the poor had no place to stand. Refugees were everywhere and complaints were spread. Therefore, there are red eyebrows, Green Forest rebelled and shook the Han family."

When the refugee problem threatened the Han Dynasty, although the monarchs and ministers of the Western Han Dynasty had ideas, they were unable to solve it due to the situation at that time.

Huo Jun said in a deep voice: "During the time of Emperor Xiaowu, Dong Zhongshu reported that the land in the world was being annexed, and the powerful party members used arbitrary power to control the rural music. The clan had land, and the officials and officials below were fighting for luxury. However, due to the system of towns and mausoleums, it can still be contained. When the time comes During the reign of Emperor Yuan, the Yiling system was abolished, and the powerful people in Guandong no longer moved to Yiling, so the powerful people could not contain them. "

As for why there were a large number of refugees, it was related to the lack of governance experience in the Western Han Dynasty. Because the Central Plains was in decline after unifying the world for the first time, in order to recover quickly, the Western Han Dynasty did not restrict land annexation.

Huo Jun pondered for a while, then raised his hands and said: "Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, the former Han Dynasty perished due to refugees, while the Chinese Han Dynasty perished due to party strife."

Through the efforts of the three generations of Wen, Jing, and Wu, the feudal power disappeared and was replaced by the foreign invasion of the Huns. Later, the Huns found it difficult to cause trouble, and by the time of the three emperors Zhao, Xuan, and Yuan, refugees became the biggest problem for the Han Dynasty.

After a moment of silence, Liu Bei looked at Huo Jun and asked, "Zhong Miao always had great opinions. Now, do you have any different opinions on the rise and fall of the Han Dynasty?"

"Although there was the Yellow Turban Rebellion and the Western Qiang chaos in the Central Han Dynasty, as far as the country was concerned, the prestige was still there, and the local people were subservient. For example, if the Ling Emperor was a sage and a wise man, and he chose the wise to govern the country, the Chinese Han Dynasty might not be unable to survive. And if the Ling Emperor had not chosen an heir, If it is lost, how can there be any progress and the rebellion of Dong Zhuo? With the emergence of Mingjun, there is still hope for the survival of China."

"As for the former Han Dynasty, I believe that even without Wang Mang, the former Han Dynasty would have been defeated by the refugees."

Therefore, land acquisition was initiated in the middle and late period. By the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the central government attached great importance to the data of land acres, and its control was better than that of the Western Han Dynasty.

As for why the Eastern Han Dynasty did not die due to peasant uprisings like the Western Han Dynasty, in addition to the court's strict control of land area data, there was the agricultural revolution and the large-scale development of the Yangtze River Basin.

The widespread cultivation of winter wheat was able to feed a large population in Kanto. Then the Yangtze River Basin was developed, and more people could be accommodated. Because of the above two, the upper limit of the Eastern Han Dynasty's death due to peasant uprisings was raised. However, due to the strong power of Guandong, the expansion of the noble clan, and the emperor's death at a young age, the probability of his death due to party strife was greater.

Therefore, although it only took four to five hundred years from Qin to the end of Han, there were actually three types of dynasty demise that served as a warning. That is, the Qin Dynasty died because of cruelty to the people, the Western Han Dynasty died because of indulgence of the tyrants, and the Eastern Han Dynasty died because of party strife.

At present, Huo Jun roughly judged the political gains and losses of the two Han Dynasties with a political vision that transcended the times, which really shocked Liu Bei and everyone in the hall.

Liu Bei was filled with admiration and said: "I have known you for more than twenty years. I thought I knew everything about your talents, but unexpectedly there are still things I don't know. When you leave, you will destroy the enemy's country and dominate the world; when you enter, you will know the rise and fall, and govern the people. When you leave, you will know the rise and fall of the people." Who can reach the prime minister's position besides Shejun?"

"I hope your majesty will forgive me for my vulgar opinions and any nonsense." Huo Jun said.

Liu Bei stroked his beard and sighed: "Kong Ming's words about the gains and losses of the Han Dynasty are basically the same as what you see. Now that I hear your different views, and then think about the fall of the Han Dynasty, I deeply feel pain for the two emperors Huan and Ling. Without these two emperors, how could it be possible? He Jin, Dong Zhuo, and Cao Cao are disrupting the government!"

In Liu Bei's eyes, Emperors Huan and Ling were the main culprits for the demise of the Eastern Han Dynasty. If a Ming emperor came to rule, the Eastern Han Dynasty might not be able to survive.

During the Huanling period, Qiang rebellion broke out again in Liangzhou. In order to quell the rebellion, Liangzhou warriors were re-employed. However, due to improper settlement, Bian Zhang and Han Sui rebelled again. Dong Zhuo, who rose to prominence due to military chaos, eventually backfired on the Eastern Han Dynasty due to Emperor Ling's improper handling.

Moreover, during the period of the Second Emperor, the party struggle in the Eastern Han Dynasty reached its climax. The three forces of relatives, eunuchs, and scholars were intertwined with each other. Their conflicts finally broke out after the death of Emperor Ling.

Huo Jun looked a little deep and said: "Your Majesty, when the Qin people lost their country, the Han Dynasty learned from it; when the Han Dynasty was destroyed, the Han Dynasty changed it; when the Han Dynasty lost its country, the Han Dynasty should not mourn it but not learn from it."

"In the past, Shang Yang changed the old system and said: 'If there is no one way to govern, the country does not need to follow the ancients. The kings of Tang and Wu prospered without practicing the ancients; when the Yin and Xia were destroyed, they did not follow the etiquette and perished. However, those who oppose the ancients are not necessarily wrong. It’s true that the rituals are not enough! "When Ji Han rejuvenated the country and went to the north, he should follow the advice of Lord Shang."

"Reading history and knowing the ups and downs is the right way to speak!"

Liu Bei thought about it for a long time and said: "After studying the gains and losses of the two Han Dynasties, I have passed down my imperial edict. From now on, from now on, concubines in the harem are not allowed to interfere in politics; eunuchs are deposed to hold the seal of the harem, and sages are chosen to replace them. This is the ancestral system, The kings of future generations must not disobey the order.”

"Your Majesty, what about Empress Mi?" Wang Can asked tentatively.

"No!"

Liu Bei's expression did not change and he said seriously: "Since the Han Dynasty, there have been many empress dowagers who have disrupted the government. How can we not stop it?"

During the Qin and Han Dynasties, the queen or queen mother had very great rights, which can be seen from the title. For example, the queen was called her highness and the queen mother was called her majesty. Since she is called Your Majesty, the Queen Mother has no less rights than the Emperor in some aspects, and even has the right to depose and establish the Emperor.

During the Gaoping Ling Incident, Sima Yi actually had contact with the Queen Mother Guo family. With the support of Queen Mother Guo, Sima Yi had the right to kill Cao Shuang and depose the emperor.

Liu Bei's ban on empresses and empress dowagers from intervening in politics today was not only influenced by Lu Fei, but also by the empresses and empress dowagers of the Eastern Han Dynasty.

As for the prohibition of eunuchs from serving as chiefs of the inner court, it was based on the eunuchs' interference in politics during the Eastern Han Dynasty. For example, in the Changqiu Palace where the empress lived, Changqiu Temple was the governing body to manage matters in the palace, mostly by eunuchs.

After this order, only scholars could serve as Da Changqiu, but eunuchs were not allowed to serve.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

The civil and military officials on the left and right bowed in unison and shouted.

The monarch and his ministers chatted for a few more words, and then the ministers slowly retreated. Huo Jun stayed in the hall because of something and wanted to report it to Liu Bei.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me for being brave. I have been with your Majesty for several months, and I have seen that your Majesty's spirit is gradually declining, and his illness seems to be getting worse. Can your Majesty tell me clearly now, how is your illness, and how is your health?" Huo Jun cupped his hands and said.

Seeing Huo Jun's direct inquiry, Liu Bei sighed and said, "The illness is getting serious now, and I'm afraid it will be difficult to recover. I have already thought about my future affairs!"

With that said, Liu Bei leaned on the couch and said, "I wanted to see how the patient is doing after some time, and then tell you and Kong Ming. However, looking at my body, I feel that it will not last long."

"I have just issued an edict for Boyan to return to the capital. There are some things that the prince should be responsible for!"

"Your Majesty~"

(End of this chapter)