History can't bear to look at the complete collection

Chapter 129 Alternative Historical Materials 5
Eunuch Liu Jin once advocated reform
When mentioning eunuchs, people will naturally think of those wretched, beardless and sissy people.When it comes to the monopoly of eunuchs, historical records must call it "disorderly government", so people even associate it with despicable wretchedness, committing crimes, and harming the country and the people. In fact, this is the so-called orthodox Confucian thinking, with strong prejudices included.

Most of the eunuchs in the past dynasties came from the bottom of the people. They voluntarily entered the palace because of the pressure of life and desperation.The few treacherous eunuchs who left their names in history were also products of the emperor's fatuousness.Not all the eunuchs were wretched, there were also some rare elites among them, such as Cai Lun, the eunuch of the Eastern Han Dynasty who improved papermaking, and Zheng He, the eunuch of Sanbao who made seven voyages to the West.Not all eunuchs are ghosts and ghosts who disrupt the government. There are also capable people among them, such as Liu Jin who reformed in the Ming Dynasty.

Liu Jin is from Xingping, Shaanxi.After gaining the emperor's trust, he became the eunuch of Bingbi, the secretary of ceremonies, but Wu Zong indulged in fun and neglected political affairs. Every time Liu Jin asked for instructions, "Wu Zong always scolded, 'I will do what I do? !' Naturally, it will not be played again, the matter is not big or small, and it will be judged arbitrarily.

Liu Jin is not an incompetent person, nor has he ever treated state affairs as a trifling matter.According to historical records, after Liu Jin brought the memorial back to his private residence, he consulted with his sister-in-law Sun Cong, secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and Zhang Wenmian, a native of Huating, to participate in the decision. It was then polished by the academician Jiao Fang and reviewed by the cabinet Li Dongyang. It was quite prudent.

In response to the current disadvantages, he implemented a new law, which is the "Liu Jin Reform" in history.These included the establishment of the power of the inner factory to clamp down on the east and west factories.Re-measure the fields of the world, and re-measure the parts that have been eaten away by the powerful and powerful relatives, and those that exceed the quota will be given to "landless people to plant them", "reduce taxes and reduce the burden on farmers...".After Liu Jin's downfall, the courtiers asked to restore the adjustments and changes in Liu Jin's hands. There are "24 matters for the Ministry of Officials, more than [-] matters for the Ministry of Households, [-] matters for the Ministry of War, and [-] matters for the Ministry of Industry", covering almost all aspects of government affairs.It is said that it includes rectifying the most troublesome salt policy in history, and even allowing widows to remarry and advocating the cremation of the poor.

In addition, the "Jin Severe Punishment" is strictly enforced, which is quite like Zhu Yuanzhang.Spare no effort to crack down on official dereliction of duty and corruption, with the unique "rice penalty rule", the dereliction of duty officials were punished with rice as a unit of salary. As for the number of losses, there were 16 people including Xu Tingbo, the governor of the robbery, 18 people including Shuo Zuo, Guanliang Langzhong, deputy envoy, and Jinshi Xu Jian, and 180 people including Dong Quan and others. Price salt class robs Governor Liu Xian of Ningxia Quandu Yushi, Governor of Shaanxi Youdu Yushi Yang Yiqing and Yuanma Siqing, Quanshi, Zhifu, Jianzhi, and more than ten people from Guantunwei Palace, all of whom were fined rice. Five hundred stones, less than three hundred stones for the lighter ones, and half of those who become officials."Also, "Xin Chou, for Shizhong Bai Sicheng, Yushi Chushan, etc., revisited Liaodong Warehouse from the 15th year of Hongzhi to Zhengde three years before and after the transfer of losses, and then the capital Yushi Wang Zongyi... and Langzhong, Gishizhong Do not chase after those who died, except those who died of illness, and all the others were fined for rice transportation, ranging from less than one thousand shi, and up to three people were punished." ("Ming Tong Jian Wu Zong")
It has been extremely difficult to rectify the administration of officials in the past dynasties.Liu Jin's rectification can achieve immediate results.He adopted chilling methods that ordinary foreign ministers dare not implement, and objectively played a deterrent effect on the treacherous people who were afraid of evil but not good, and were good at perfunctory.During Qingzhang, some officials were afraid of Liu Jin's sternness and impeached his father himself.Of course, the results are also very fruitful: in just three years of Zhengde, Zhou Xiong, the governor of Shandong, cleared more than 350 hectares of hidden land at one time.

During Liu Jin's political reform, he also organized the compilation of "Tong Jian Zhuan Yao". In addition, he adjusted the number of admissions for imperial examinations in various provinces, increased the number of admissions in Shaanxi, Henan, Shanxi and other places, and reduced the number of admissions in Jiangxi.

It is worth mentioning that although Liu Jin was born as an eunuch, during his dictatorship he prohibited eunuchs from intervening in politics and restricted the power of eunuchs.His cronies were all foreign ministers, such as cabinet scholars Jiao Fang, Liu Yu, Cao Yuan, Shangshu Biheng, Zhu En, etc., and there was no eunuch, so he was hated by other eunuchs, which was also an important reason for his downfall.

Liu Jin's final outcome was that he was tortured in his sixtieth year, that is, he was cut into pieces by thousands of knives. Liu Jin was shaved 3357 knives in total, and he took a break every ten knives. He was cut 357 knives on the first day, and he was given some porridge during the temporary break On life support, he was cut for a total of three days, which was horrible.Everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the world, so why can't eunuchs care about it?Is it because he is a eunuch that he has to bear a thousand years of infamy?Reform has always been a sacred and bloody altar, and many reformers sacrificed their lives, such as Shang Yang who was cracked by a car.We cannot deny Liu Jin's historical achievements just because he is an eunuch, and we cannot think that he deserved his death just because he is an eunuch.

(End of this chapter)