China knows everything for 5000 years

Chapter 28

Five years later, Emperor Xianwen died at the hands of Empress Dowager Feng.Emperor Xiaowen was only 10 years old at this time, and Empress Dowager Feng came to the court again and died of illness in 409 AD.Under the auspices of Empress Dowager Feng, the Northern Wei Dynasty introduced many important systems.In the past, when dealing with complex issues in the court, they often dealt with them by referring to the old rules of the previous dynasty. These old rules were often in conflict with the traditional system of the Han and Jin Dynasties, and they were often out of date. For this reason, in the first year of her second prominence, she asked the officials to decide major issues. Based on the rules and regulations of the Han and Jin Dynasties.In the establishment and improvement of various systems, Empress Dowager Feng also aimed at further Sinicization and feudalization.Zhongshu ordered Gaolu to update the law, Emperor Xiaowen offered sacrifices to the ancestral temple, and announced the prohibition of marriage of the same surname in the Tuoba tribe, etc., all in compliance with the Han system or the spirit of Sinicization.

In 484 AD, Empress Dowager Feng promulgated the Banlu system for the first time in the Northern Wei Dynasty with reference to the Han system.The Banlu system was opposed by Huainan King Tuoba Tuo and other nobles, who requested to stop Banlu and restore the old system.Empress Dowager Feng summoned a group of ministers to discuss the pros and cons of Banlu, and Zhongshu ordered Gao Lu to believe that the advantages of the new system outweigh the disadvantages.Empress Dowager Feng made a final decision and issued an edict based on Gao Lu's proposal.In the second year, Empress Dowager Feng presided over the formulation of the land equalization system, which was proposed to Li Anshi in the matter.In the winter and October of this year, the land equalization system was officially promulgated throughout the country.The following year, Empress Dowager Feng accepted the suggestion of Li Chong, the Secretary of the Interior, and implemented the three-head system and rent adjustment that complemented the land equalization system.These three systems greatly increased the registered households and fiscal revenue of the Northern Wei government.

In the last few years of Empress Dowager Feng's life, she made some reforms in the etiquette system, ordered the establishment of fifth-class public uniforms, and gave Zhu Yi, jade pendants and large group ribbons to Shangshu fifth-class nobles and above, and made Mingtang and Piyong.Then an edict was issued to set the movement, and those who were indecent would be removed. Emperor Xiaowen worshiped the southern suburbs and Fang Ze, etc., all followed or restored the Han-Jin system.Later, it was forbidden to prophesy pictures, and it was strictly forbidden to describe non-classic items such as witches and divination.At the same time, Empress Dowager Feng ordered to set up a school for the newly appointed kings, select teachers, teach the kings, and learn Ci Fu and Confucianism.All these measures were helpful for the Tuoba tribe to achieve feudalization.

After Empress Dowager Feng implemented the new system, violators were severely punished. Moreover, Empress Dowager Feng used harsh methods to kill many people in vain.

In general, the period of Empress Dowager Feng's proclaiming rule was a very important period in the history of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Feng's life can be said to have influenced the Northern Wei Dynasty from politics to culture, and made great contributions to the prosperity of the Northern Wei Dynasty.

●Tuoba Hong moved the capital to Luoyang
In 490 A.D., Empress Dowager Feng passed away, and the situation in the country was stable. Her grandson, Emperor Xiaowen Tuoba Hong, personally took charge of the political power.Under the education of his grandmother, Tuoba Hong has read a lot of books and has a deep understanding of Han culture.He realized that if Xianbei people want to gain a firm foothold in the Central Plains, they must abandon their ethnic prejudices and accept the advanced culture of the Han nationality.At that time, the capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty was in Pingcheng, where the climate was harsh and the geographical location was too far north, which was not conducive to the Northern Wei Dynasty's rule of the Central Plains, and it was not conducive to the development of the south and the unification of China. Tuobahong decided to move the capital to Luoyang.

Moving the capital to Luoyang is a major event, which is related to the vital interests of many Xianbei nobles.The old-fashioned aristocrats were nostalgic for the land property and luxurious life of the old capital, and they strongly opposed it because they were afraid of moving the capital to change their lifestyle.In order to move the capital, Tuoba Hong made a clever plan.

In the autumn of 493 AD, Tuoba Hong personally led 30 infantry and cavalry, and declared that he would go south to conquer the Qi Dynasty.When the team arrived in Luoyang, it was the rainy autumn season, and the civil and military ministers who followed still remembered the scene of Taiwu Emperor Tuoba Tao's southern expedition against Liu Song and his defeat and escape.They were afraid that the result of this expedition would be the same as in the past, wasting people and money, and gaining nothing.

Just when the ministers were worried, Tuoba Hong suddenly ordered to go south immediately.When the civil and military ministers saw that Tuoba Hong really wanted to go south, they all knelt down and bowed their heads to the ground, begging to stop going south.

A highly respected old prince told Tuoba Hong the dangers of going south on behalf of everyone. Seeing that the goal was about to be achieved, Tuoba Hong said: "Our southern expedition, mobilizing troops and mobilizing people, has a great momentum. Whether it succeeds or fails, we must not Return empty-handed. Since you don’t want to fight, you have to listen to me and move the capital here from Pingcheng. When there is a chance in the future, the Southern Dynasty will be destroyed and the whole country will be unified.” The ministers were overjoyed when they heard this, and said in unison: “ As long as Your Majesty stops the southward march, we will definitely agree to move the capital." For a while, the news of the stoppage of the southward march spread throughout the army, and everyone shouted "Long live".The matter of moving the capital to Luoyang was easily handled by Emperor Xiaowen.

●Heroine Hua Mulan
Hua Mulan is from the Northern Wei Dynasty. She has elderly parents and younger siblings. The family of five lives a well-to-do life.Hua Mulan never went to school, and learned to write and read with her father. She weaves, cooks, does laundry, and feeds pigs at home on weekdays. She does everything quickly and well.She also likes horseback riding and archery, and has practiced martial arts well.

One day, Hua Mulan was weaving at home. Suddenly, the servants in the yamen sent a military sticker for conscription, asking Hua Mulan's father to serve in the army.My father is over half a hundred years old, how can he join the army to fight?Hua Mulan has no older brother, and her younger brother is too young.How to do?Hua Mulan thought: It would be great if someone could join the army instead of her father.Who can take the place of the father?It seems only myself.But how can women join the army?How could the recruiter take in a girl?After much deliberation, she finally came up with an idea: a woman disguised as a man.Hua Mulan told her parents what she thought.The parents had no other choice but to agree.So, Hua Mulan disguised herself as a man, bid farewell to her parents, younger siblings, and set out to join the army.

Marching combat is very difficult.Soldiers come from all over the world, some are brave and rough, some are smart and careful.Hua Mulan was afraid that the secret of her disguise as a man would be seen through, so she was extra careful everywhere.Marching in the daytime, she had to walk more than 100 miles a day, and Hua Mulan followed closely, never falling behind; camping at night, she slept with her clothes on, and never dared to take off her clothes; when fighting, she rushed forward and never showed cowardice .

In the army for 12 years, Hua Mulan participated in many battles and made many achievements.When the companions saw her, they all gave her a thumbs up and praised her as a good man with ambition and ability.

The war is over and the team returns in triumph.The emperor summoned meritorious soldiers and rewarded them according to their merits. Some were promoted, and some received treasures.Hua Mulan doesn't want to be an official, nor does she want property. She hopes to get a camel that can travel far, so that she can return to her hometown as soon as possible.The emperor granted Mulan's request and assigned her companions to escort her home.

The news that Hua Mulan was about to return victoriously spread to her hometown. When her parents heard about it, they were very happy. Good tea; when my brother heard about it, he quickly sharpened his knife, slaughtered pigs and sheep, and prepared to comfort his sister who had made great contributions to the country.

Hua Mulan returned to her room, took off her war robe, put on women's clothes, combed her hair, put on Huahuang (ancient women's decoration), and came out to thank her companions who escorted her home.The companions were very surprised to see Hua Mulan in women's clothing. They did not expect that their comrades in arms were actually heroines (women are ancient women's headscarves and hair accessories, which later became synonymous with women). They said in unison: "We and Mulan We have been together for 12 years, but we don't even know that Mulan is a hero among girls!"

●Xiao Daocheng destroys Song Jianqi
Xiao Daocheng, courtesy name Shaobai, was born in Nanling (now northwest of Changzhou, Jiangsu).In 479 A.D., Xiao Daocheng threatened Emperor Shun of the Song Dynasty to issue an edict to the throne of Zen.On April 21, when it was time for the court, Emperor Song Shun refused to come out.The queen mother was very panicked, and personally led the eunuchs to find Emperor Song Shun under the cover of Buddha, forced Emperor Song Shun to perform meditation, and moved him to the East Mansion.Song Sikong and Taibao Chu Yuan Feng Xishou led a hundred officials to persuade Xiao Daocheng to take the throne. On the 23rd, Xiao Daocheng became the emperor, the country was named Qi, and it was called Nan Qi or Xiao Qi in history.

After ascending the throne, Xiao Daocheng reformed the tyranny since the Song Dynasty and advocated frugality.During his reign, he paid attention to reducing or exempting rent and lodging debts, and restricted the kings from building private residences.In 479 A.D., Xiao Daocheng further advocated frugality and ordered a ban on the collection of trilogy.During Xiao Daocheng's four years in power, he also introduced a major measure, which was to rectify the household registration.In 4 AD, Xiao Daocheng died of illness, and his temple was named Gaomiao.

●Xiao Yanfei and Emperor Jianliang
Xiao Yan, courtesy name Shuda, was a member of Qi Gaodi Xiao Daocheng's clan. His father Xiao Shunzhi once helped his clan elder brother Xiao Daocheng to create Qi.Xiao Yan was well-read and talented in both civil and military affairs. He was called to Xidi by Qi Jingling King Xiao Ziliang.Later, Xiao Yan rose to prominence because he helped Emperor Qi Ming kill the sons of Emperor Wu of Qi.Before Emperor Qiming died, he was appointed as the governor of Chijie, Jinglingsi of Yong, Liang, Nanqin, Beiqin, and Yingzhou, the military forces of Suijun in Sizhou, and the governor of Yongzhou.Since Emperor Wen of the Song Dynasty and Emperor Xiaowu became independent from Jingzhou, the strength of Yongzhou has increased sharply, and because it is located at the junction with the Northern Wei Dynasty, the local refugees from the north formed an elite armed force in the activities of fighting the Northern Wei Dynasty and suppressing the local barbarians. The influence surpassed Jingzhou, an important upstream town since the Jin Dynasty.So, Xiao Yan began to conspire for greater power.He summoned Zhang Hongce, Lu Sengzhen, Changshi Wang Mao, Biejia Liu Qingyuan, Gongcao Jishizhan and other confidants, and agreed to make Xiao Baorong, king of Nankang, the emperor (in order to be the emperor of peace), and send troops to the east along the Han River to crusade against Donghunhou.

The Yongzhou army started, and the four sides responded one after another.At the same time, the Jingzhou army went eastward along the river, and Yang Gong, the governor of Xiangzhou, also led his army into the river to take Yingzhou.In 501 A.D., the armies of Yong, Jing, and Hunan joined forces at the confluence of Jiang and Han, and rushed to attack the cities of Ying, Qi, Hankou, Lushan, Yanyue, Xiyang, and Wuchang respectively.At this time, Xue Yuansi, the Xiaoqi general sent by the Marquis of Donghun, had led his army to join Zhang Chong, the governor of Yingzhou, to guard the city of Ying together.The battle was extremely fierce, dead bodies piled up under the Yellow Crane Tower, and the stench inside and outside the city of Ying rose to the sky.In March, Zhang Chong, governor of Yingzhou, died suddenly of illness. Xue Yuansi guarded Yingcheng alone, and gradually felt overwhelmed.Soon, the coalition forces smashed the reinforcements of the Jiankang Xin faction.In July, Xue Yuansi surrendered, and the surrounding cities also surrendered one after another.Emperor He appointed Xiao Yan as General Zhengdong.Xiao Yan led the allied forces to the east, pointing directly at Jiangzhou.Chen Bozhi, the governor of Jiangzhou, surrendered under the threat of Xiao Yan.In September, Xiao Yan led his army to Xinlin, west of Jiankang.Xu Mian led Xiao Hong, Xiao Xiu, Xiao Hui, and Xiao Bing to Xinlin to meet the coalition forces. Xiao Yan was overjoyed to see that his younger brothers were safe, and announced a full-scale attack on Jiankang.

The battle of Jiankang was much more intense than the attack on Yingcheng.Jiankang was short of soldiers, so the Marquis of Donghun sent out prisoners to accompany the army.The champion general Wang Zhenguo was exceptionally brave and led his troops to fight bloody. Within a few days, the Qinhuai River was piled up like a mountain of corpses, and the west city was in ruins.In October, Jingkou, Guangling, Guabu, Podun, Langye, Xinting, and Dongfu cities around Jiankang were successively captured by the coalition forces.

At this time, Donghunhou named Jiang Ziwen, the legendary god-man, as the spirit emperor, welcomed the statue in the back hall, and sent wizards to pray day and night.I thought I was blessed by gods and men, so I didn't have to worry about everything, and I still slept day and night, and had fun all night.Hearing the beating of war drums outside the palace, he put on a big red robe, held his concubine's funeral upstairs, went up to the Jingyang Tower to watch the battle, and pointed east and west, thinking that he was laughing.The soldiers wanted rewards, and there was a lot of money hidden in the harem, but he didn't take out a single cent.Ministers defected to the coalition army one after another, and all the soldiers were full of complaints.The favorite ministers Ru Fazhen and Mei Chong'er suggested to Donghunhou: "The ministers and soldiers should be executed if they don't try their best to make Chang Wei puzzled." So people were confused.In the twelfth lunar month, Wang Zhenguo secretly sent his cronies to present mirrors to Xiao Yan, expressing that his heart can be seen; Xiao Yan also repaid the gold, expressing his willingness to cooperate with the meaning of "two people are of the same heart, and the profit can break the gold" in the "Book of Changes".Wang Zhenguo then discussed the coup plan with Wei Wei Zhang Ji.Zhang Ji once rescued Yongzhou together with Xiao Yan, and he had a good impression of Xiao Yan for a long time, so he agreed without hesitation.A few days later, late at night, Wang and Zhang led troops to sneak into the palace, killed Marquis Donghun, took off his head, and signed it to Xiao Yan by all civil and military officials.Jiankang put on the banner of Emperor Xiao Baorong.

In 502 A.D., Xiao Yan entered the state of prime minister and took charge of the government.Soon, he promulgated the edict of abdication in the name of Empress Dowager Xuande, abolishing Emperor He, proclaiming Emperor Jianliang, known as Emperor Wu of Liang in history.

●Emperor Liang Wu became a monk
In his later years, Xiao Yan began to believe in Buddhism, using the name of Buddhism to fool the people and plunder money.He built a large-scale and magnificent Tongtai Temple for himself to chant scriptures and worship Buddha. He pretended to be an ascetic monk and went to worship in the temple sooner or later.

Once, he went to Tongtai Temple to "sacrifice his life" and expressed that he would become a monk as a monk.As a monk, he has no master in the country, and the ministers were anxious like ants on a hot pot, so they had to pay to redeem him from Tongtai Temple.This farce was performed four times in total, and the ministers spent a total of [-] million yuan in ransom money, which was passed on to the common people.Moreover, on the night when he redeemed himself and returned to the palace for the last time, he even sent someone to burn down the pagoda of Tongtai Temple, but he said it was the work of the devil.In order to suppress the devil, he issued an edict to build a tower several feet high to suppress it, and continued to ask all officials to donate money.

●The Empress Dowager Hu disrupted the Wei government
Empress Dowager Hu, a native of Anding Linjing (in today's Gansu).His grandfather, Hu Yuan, served in Helianxia, ​​and later descended to Wei, where he was granted the title of Marquis of Wu;Empress Dowager Hu is versatile and intelligent.At the beginning, Emperor Xuanwu Yuankena was named "Chenghua Shifu", and the later prince Yuanxu was able to advance to "Hua Concubine". Yuanxu was established as the prince, and the Hu family relied on the eunuch Liu Teng to save his life.

In 515 AD, Yuan Ke died, and Prince Yuanxu came to the throne. The Empress Dowager Hu used the eunuch Liu Teng and the leading general Yuanyi as the presiding officer on the grounds that the emperor was young.Empress Dowager Hu believed in Buddhism very much, and built Buddhist pagodas and cave temples everywhere, with gorgeous carvings, which cost a lot of money.She takes pleasure in squandering and lives extravagantly.As a result, the people were impoverished and complained a lot.However, the official support parties in the DPRK and China form factions and are politically corrupt.

In 520 A.D., Yuan Yi and Liu Teng were dissatisfied with Qinghe King Yuan Yi, and they used Yuan Yi's desire to kill the young master Yuan Xu as an excuse to instigate Yuan Xu to kill Yuan Yi;Empress Dowager Hu's first title system lasted for 5 years, and it ended here.Therefore, Yuan Yi and Liu Teng monopolized power inside and outside, the government affairs in the court were neglected, the rules and regulations were not enforced, local officials were corrupt and plundered, and the world was suffering.

In 523 AD, Liu Teng died.In 524 AD, the Six Towns Uprising and the Guanlong Uprising broke out in northern Wei.In autumn, Empress Dowager Hu escaped from the harem by means of tricks. She conspired with the prime minister and high minister Wang Yuanyong to relieve Yuanyi of all military and political power.In 525 AD, Empress Dowager Hu returned to power, more corrupt and extravagant than ever.At this time, the Northern Wei Empire was already in turmoil, and the Hebei uprising broke out again. Yuan Xu was dissatisfied with the Queen Mother's actions, and there was a rift between mother and son.

In 528 A.D., Empress Dowager Hu killed Yuan Xu, and made Yuan Zhao, the 3-year-old Lintao prince's son, emperor.Soon, the Heyin Incident broke out, and the Empress Dowager Hu and the young master Yuan Zhao were drowned by Er Zhurong.Empress Dowager Hu's second title lasted 3 years.Since Emperor Xiaowen, the Northern Wei regime has been fighting each other for power, which hastened the demise of the Northern Wei Dynasty.

●Yuwentai rises to hegemony
The ancestor of Yuwentai was the chief of the Yuwen Department of Xianbei, and his father Yuwen Gong was an officer in the border town of the Northern Wei Dynasty.Yuwen Tai, whose name is Hei Otter, is the youngest son of Yuwen Gong.Yuwen Gong died, he was still young, and he was still in Xianyu Xiuli's army.When Xianyu Xiuli died, Ge Rong became the leader of the rebel army. Yu Wentai was only 18 years old at the time and was a junior officer under Ge Rong's tent.After Er Zhurong took charge of the Northern Wei Dynasty, he defeated the Hebei uprising army headed by Ge Rong, captured and killed Ge Rong, and all his subordinates were moved to Bingzhou.In Jinyang, Er Zhurong killed Yuwentai's third elder brother, Yuwen Luosheng, who had served as General Ge Rong and Yuyang King, but pardoned Yuwentai and gave him a small official.Because Yu Wentai was a family friend with General Er Zhurong He Bayue, he transferred to He Bayue's subordinates.Yuan Hao entered Luoyang under the escort of the Southern Qi army, Emperor Xiaozhuang fled, Er Zhurong sent He Bayue to conquer Yuan Hao, and Yu Wentai participated in this military operation.After Emperor Xiaozhuang returned to Luoyang for restoration, he was named a general with meritorious service, and Yuwentai was also named the son of Ningdu with his meritorious service, and he was promoted to general Zhenyuan and infantry captain.The peasant army led by Wanqi Chounu defeated the official army in Guanyou, and Er Zhurong ordered Erzhu Tianguang, He Bayue and other generals to suppress it. During the process of the uprising army, he repeatedly made military exploits and became a powerful general under He Bayue.Since then, relying on his wit and strength, Yu Wentai continued to expand his power, and later became the main force competing with Gao Huan for hegemony.

●Northern Wei was divided into Eastern and Western Wei
In 532 AD, Luoyang, a native of Gaohuan, wiped out the Erzhu family, killed Yuan Gong, and established Yuan Xiu as emperor (Emperor Xiaowu).

In 534 A.D., Emperor Xiaowu entered Guanzhong to seek refuge in Yuwentai. Gao Huan made Yuan Shanjian another emperor (Emperor Xiaojing) and moved the capital to Yecheng, known as the Eastern Wei Dynasty in history; Yuwentai killed Emperor Xiaowu Yuanxiu in 535 A.D. and established a separate Yuan Baoju became the emperor (Emperor Wen), and changed the Yuan Datong, with Chang'an as its capital, known as the Western Wei Dynasty in history.From then on, the Northern Wei Dynasty was divided into Eastern Wei and Western Wei, with Gao Huan and Yu Wentai in charge of power respectively.

●Western Wei Army captures Jiangling
In 552 A.D., Xiao Yi, the seventh son of Emperor Wu of Liang, took the throne in Jiangling, known as Emperor Liang Yuan in history.At this time, the Western Wei Dynasty, which split from the Northern Wei Dynasty, had already occupied the counties of Huainan in the north of the Yangtze River, and was always ready to invade a large area of ​​land in the south of the Yangtze River.

At the end of 554 A.D., when the army of the Western Wei Dynasty arrived in Jiangling, they first sent Jingqi to occupy Jiangjin and cut off the river road so that the reinforcements from the south of the Yangtze River could not cross the river.Xiao Yi sent people to recruit reinforcements, and at the same time strengthened the city defenses to resist the Western Wei Dynasty.The Western Wei Dynasty built a long siege to cut off Jiangling from the outside world, and fought hard to attack the city.General Hu Sengyou, the leader of the Liang army, personally braved the rain of arrows and flying stones, and supervised the soldiers to defend the city day and night, and the Wei army's attack was blocked.Soon, Hu Sengyou died with an arrow in the middle of the stream, and he was terrified inside and outside.Wei stepped up his attack on the city, and someone in the city opened the west gate to surrender to Wei. Wei's army entered the city, and Xiao Yi and others retreated to protect the city.Xiao Yi ordered people to burn 14 volumes of ancient and modern books, and committed suicide at will, but was stopped. He rejected the suggestions of Xie Daren, Zhu Maichen and others to break out of the siege or stick to the city in the dark, and surrendered to the Western Wei Dynasty.After being humiliated in every way, Xiao Yi was executed.The army of the Western Wei Dynasty transported the treasures of the treasury, the armillary sphere, the bronze sundial and various religious objects to Chang'an of the Western Wei Dynasty, captured the princes and a large number of gentry, and selected tens of thousands of men and women as slaves, rewarded the three armies, and drove them back to Chang'an. Lose.

Wei Li Xiaodu was the Lord of Liang, and he gave him Jiangling Kongcheng and the surrounding area extending for three hundred miles, and assigned the undamaged Yongzhou to the Western Wei Dynasty.Let Xiao Du live in the east city of Jiangling, and Wei set up defenses and lead troops to live in the west city. The name is to help Xiao Du defend, but it is actually surveillance.

(End of this chapter)