The Imperial Age with the Resurgence of Han Style

Chapter 203 "Two Hedgehogs"

Turning over the rich history, from the primitive society of the Yanhuang tribal alliance to the enfeoffment era of the Fang Kingdom in the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, to the nearly two thousand years of unified dynasty in the Qin, Han, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan and Ming dynasties, the vast country, the long-lasting China, spans over five thousand years. The civilization is passed down in an orderly manner.

Within this orderly inheritance, there is also a thread of change hidden. About every thousand years or so, there will be a major social change. It can be called a revolutionary social movement. It can be called the Millennium Revolution. Xia Yu's family world, the Tang-Wu revolution, the Qin-Han revolution, the Tang-Song revolution, and even the ideological tide during the change of Ming and Qing Dynasties and the gradual transformation of the Qin Dynasty are hidden on this line of context.

When human beings walked out of the big forest and faced many threats from nature, they naturally gathered together and formed tribes with common beliefs. Later, various tribes either formed alliances or merged with each other, and finally formed an alliance composed of large tribes with superior strength. By the time of Dayu, loose tribal alliances began to transform into a tightly organized state system. By Xia Qi, the son inherited the throne from his father, abolished the abdication system, and created a hereditary dynasty.

The establishment of the Xia Dynasty was not only the establishment of a hereditary dynasty, but also marked the birth of a well-organized state system. It was also the transition from a primitive society dominated by public ownership to a dynastic era of private ownership, which was accompanied by great changes in all aspects of the entire society. change.

This was the first change in the Millennium Revolution, when the public world transformed into the family world, which occurred around 2070 BC.

More than 470 years later, major dynasty changes occurred one after another, in which Shang Tang and Zhou Wu overthrew the previous dynasty by force. The Shang Dynasty, Xia Dynasty, and Zhou Dynasty Shang Dynasty broke the tradition of king Yongding and the practice of hereditary dynasty. It opened the prelude to the change of dynasties in China. Shang and Tang used the destiny to explain the justice of Shang, so the Tang-Wu revolution also redefined the so-called view of destiny.

There is a saying in the Book of Changes: The revolution of Tang and Wu followed heaven and responded to man. When politicians are incompetent, the people have the right and obligation to rise up and reorganize the country.

This is the second change of the Millennium Revolution, the end of the dynasty, and it can be replaced smoothly.

The West has the Roman Empire that lasted for thousands of years, and Japan has the Chrysanthemum Dynasty that lasted for eternity. However, Chinese dynasties cannot escape the three-hundred-year dynasty cycle. The root cause behind this may be the Tang-Wu revolution.

In the late Ming Dynasty, new social trends of thought began to brew. Qiu Jun's Practical Studies, Wang Yangming's Mind Studies, Luo Wang's Qi Studies and other schools of thought all put forward ideas for saving the world and the people. However, during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Tatar invasion and other events In the face of major social crises, the ideological enlightenment movement was forced to interrupt.

Some famous officials and scholars began to find out the doctrines of previous generations of thinkers from their old papers, blew off the dust on them, wiped the writing on them, and then compared them with the development basis and path of Qi State, setting off a war that lasted for decades. Great discussion and "ideological reform", and renamed it, "combination of learning, application of each other, integration of each other", trying to apply it to the ancient mainland of China, in order to achieve the purpose of enriching the country and strengthening the army.

When the Qin Dynasty was founded, the Han Dynasty was restored, and the Qi State emerged in Hanzhou, the entire social trend of thought began to undergo drastic changes.

At the turn of the Tang and Song Dynasties, improvements in printing and papermaking promoted the widespread spread of culture. A large number of scholars from poor families began to be active in the political arena, bringing about ideological collisions. Confucianism began to shift from Confucian classics to Neo-Confucianism. At the same time, with the improvement of the imperial examination system, the aristocratic families were completely in decline, and the civil service bureaucracy entered a mature stage.

This was the fourth major change in the Millennium Revolution, which took place around AD 960, when the Northern Song Dynasty was established. "The culture of the Chinese nation has evolved over thousands of years and reached its peak in the Zhao and Song Dynasties." What a sincere statement!

During the Spring and Autumn Period, the emperor of Zhou divided the world and began to have hundreds of vassal states. According to "Xunzi·Ruxiao", "Seventy-one states were established, and fifty-three people named Ji lived alone." Of course, these seventy-one states were only those of the Zhou Dynasty. The princes enfeoffed by King Wu were all enfeoffed by successive Zhou emperors. It can be said that the number of countries in China during the Spring and Autumn Period was no less than the total number of European countries during this period.

In order to combat the growing local power, the imperial examination system was formally introduced during the Sui and Tang Dynasties, in an attempt to leverage the blockade of power by boiling frogs in warm water. At the end of the Tang Dynasty, the Huangchao Uprising purged the last remaining forces of the Guanlong clan. The local feudal separatist rebellion withered the wealthy families like cutting leeks. The joint stranglehold between the two sides shook the foundations of the wealthy families, and they were no longer able to maintain their political status. The authority of the Tang Dynasty gave birth to the social environment of the Tang and Song revolutions.

This kind of aristocratic politics became stable with the establishment of the Nine-Rank Zhongzheng System, and reached its climax in the Jin Dynasty. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the Guanlong clan controlled the imperial power, while the five clans and seven surnames in Guandong controlled local power, and jointly divided the Sui and Tang Dynasties. Most of the power of the Great Empire.

This was the third major change in the thousand-year revolution, which achieved great unification in politics, economy, culture, and ideology. Since then, the Han nation has determined its core cultural territory, and the land of China has become a whole.

Afterwards, although there were repetitions, the restoration of the Six Kingdoms, and the conflict between Chu and Han, in the end the Han Dynasty regained its unification and unified the world. During the Han Dynasty, he accepted Dong Zhongshu's suggestion: "Depose a hundred schools of thought and list the Six Classics." He mixed the thoughts of Taoism, Legalism and other hundreds of schools to form a new Confucian school, establishing a great unity of thought and laying the foundation for Confucianism. Long-term dominance in China's ideological circles.

Neo-Confucianism, which originated in the Northern Song Dynasty, has been certified by the Mongolian and Yuan Dynasties and strengthened by the Ming Dynasty, and has become an official school. However, the time span between Song and Ming was nearly 600 years, and Neo-Confucianism had become rigid and could no longer provide impetus for national governance.

The Qi State was based on the remote and deserted Hanzhou Continent. In less than a few decades, it was able to rise rapidly. Not only did it repeatedly assist the mainland in expelling the Tartars and unifying China, it also relied on its powerful national power to dominate Nanyang and then dominate the sea. .

Why?

The First Emperor of the Sixth Dynasty vigorously pursued his strategy to control the inner world, swallowed up the princes for two weeks, controlled the Liuhe, abolished the princes and established prefectures and counties, unified the world, returned power to the central government, and politically realized the expansion of the core territory of China. Unification, cars on the same track, books on the same text, weights and measures unified, achieving great unification economically and culturally.

Along with this kind of political maturity, folk culture has developed greatly, urban functions have changed, and the rise of the citizen class has brought about rich market culture. Chinese culture has sunk from the white snow that only the wealthy can afford to the common class. The breadth and depth of civilization of the Lower Riba people who participated were extended.

The Hundred Schools of Thought contended, which brought China into the Axial Age. It could be said to be China's first large-scale ideological emancipation movement. The ideas it formed colored the background of China's ideological circles and were the foundation of the governance of successive dynasties. This trend of thought reached its climax when the First Emperor unified the six kingdoms and began comprehensive social reforms, which were finally completed during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. It is even said that the aftermath may spread to Wang Mang's new dynasty, and the reform turned into a fierce social practice.

During the Han-Hungarian War during the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, a group of military aristocrats emerged. Later, these military aristocrats gradually evolved into wealthy families. After Zhaoxuan, the central Han Empire gradually lost its suppression of local wealthy families. With the establishment of the Eastern Han Dynasty, aristocratic families It has become a common practice and has become an important force in influencing politics. China has officially entered a wealthy society.

A country built by a bunch of pirates, shabby literati and refugees can rise so quickly. How can we, the vast China and the mighty China, with thousands of years of cultural heritage, not be able to do it?

"Don't underestimate the power of China. Under the blessing of many crises, it often bursts out with powerful energy and has the courage to carry out a comprehensive change." Emperor Taiping recounted China's thousands of years of reform history, and then solemnly Qi Zexuan was reminded of the "Five Hu Rebellion, China was covered in dust, and almost fell into the dust of history. However, after hundreds of years, the Han people revived and reunified the Central Plains, and then entered the prosperous age of the Tang Dynasty; hundreds of years ago, the Mongols The Tartars raised their swords and rode their horses, causing a stink in the world. The Han people were reduced to low-class slaves, and Chinese civilization also fell into darkness. When Emperor Hongwu launched his troops to the north, expelled the Mongolian Yuan, and established the Ming Dynasty, the Chinese continent rose again, and the Han people once again raised their heads in the Eastern world. .Although more than 80 years ago, Jiashen changed, the Tartars invaded, the world was in chaos, and China was about to sink. But do you think that our country of Qi could really save the mainland's crisis at that time? If people don't save themselves, who will Can it be saved? The Qin State is not as weak as it appears, and it will not always lag behind our Qi State!"

"Grandpa Huang..." Hearing this, Qi Zexuan was silent for a while, then stopped talking. "Haha... If you have anything to say, just say it, don't be so hesitant." Emperor Taiping seemed to be in the middle of a conversation and sat up a little on the soft chair.

"Grandpa Huang, I have always had a question." Qi Zexuan considered his words and said carefully: "According to geopolitics, a divided Chinese continent is the most in line with our Qi State's Eastern strategy. Why did Qin State in those days When the Qing Dynasty was in conflict with the Qing Dynasty, would Emperor Taizu spare no effort to support Qin's Northern Expedition, expel the Qing Dynasty, and unify China? With Emperor Taizu's foresight and sagacity, couldn't he realize that this move was creating a future for our country of Qi? Competitor?"

"Do you think Qin must be our Qi State's future competitor?" Emperor Taiping waved his hand and asked the maids and imperial guards officers to disperse, obviously not wanting anyone to hear the conversation.

"The State of Qin has a vast territory, a population of hundreds of millions, and a long and civilized history. Within the State of Qin, there are also rich coal and iron resources, a long coastline, many excellent ports, and hundreds of thousands of years of history. Accumulated wealth. With these favorable conditions, as long as Qin implements comprehensive changes in society, politics, economy, and even military aspects, vigorously develops industry and commerce, and encourages technological innovation, it will sooner or later become an important industrial power. By then , Qin will definitely rely on its strong strength to challenge Qi, and compete for control of the Daming Sea (today’s Japan Sea), Nanyang, and even the Western Pacific."

"After traveling around the Qin Kingdom, I felt a strong sense of crisis." Emperor Taiping smiled, leaned his head gently on the back of the chair, looked at the thin rain and mist outside, and said leisurely: "Back then, , there are too many voices questioning Emperor Taizu's sparing no effort to support the mainland, including Emperor Taizong and many cabinet ministers. Haha, I also asked this question when I was accompanying Emperor Taizu."

"Then...how did Emperor Taizu answer?" Qi Zexuan was full of curiosity.

"Emperor Taizu said that he liked to do this."

"Ah?" Qi Zexuan's eyes widened in shock.

Emperor Taizu is too... too willful!
Is this still the Emperor Taizu who has always been regarded as a god by tens of millions of people in the empire?

I love doing this!

What does it mean?
"Emperor Taizu said that he did not want to see the continent sink, let alone see the continent be divided. He wanted to see a vibrant and prosperous Chinese state, and even hoped that the Chinese civilization would flourish forever and continue to radiate to the surrounding areas. And then illuminate the whole world.”

"Why do you think Emperor Taizu is like the Emperor of Qin?" Qi Zexuan murmured.

"Before Emperor Taizu passed away, his biggest regret was that he could not return to the mainland and return to his hometown."

"Emperor Taizu spent so much effort to aid and support the mainland, it is certainly out of his personal... feelings, but he must have expected that the rise of Qin in the future would threaten our Qi country, right?" Qi Zexuan asked: "Otherwise , our Qi State will not accept the Northern Ming Dynasty as an ally, then establish Dongdan and Bohai in the outer northeast and Lingbei, and then along the Qin State's coastal line, control North Korea and Japan, receive Ryukyu, occupy Luzon, and control Annan, creating a A natural maritime blockade chain.”

"At that time, Emperor Taizu once quietly told me that he did not want to restrict the mainland and defend the Qin State at all." Emperor Taiping looked at Qi Zexuan with a half-smile, "The old man even wanted to suppress Beiming and make him join the mainland. . In addition, it is also suggested that Qin and Qi carve up Korea and Annan, and send troops to the Japanese islands. If Qin is interested, Emperor Taizu would not mind letting it occupy a piece of territory in Borneo, and the distant Yinzhou is not unreasonable. Allow them to take a share of the pie. As for the various industrial technology patents held by our royal fund, he is also willing to share them with Qin for free."

"Ah?" Qi Zexuan was stunned by Emperor Taiping's words, "Emperor Taizu's move is to... is to..."

Traitor?

Capitalize on the enemy?

Or is Emperor Taizu old and comatose?
"Back then, Emperor Taizu said, don't put your eggs in one basket. If they are placed in two places, there will always be one that can rise up. Two empires of equal strength stand side by side and stimulate each other. At least they can make each other happy. The two sides will not lie flat and sink themselves."

"Is Emperor Taizu deliberately creating an opponent for our Qi State to prevent us from being addicted to the status quo and not thinking about making progress?"

"The true considerations of Emperor Taizu are beyond the eyes of all of us. As descendants, we may not be able to guess for a while." Emperor Taiping said slowly: "Throughout the life of Emperor Taizu, except for this corner of the mainland, there are many There is almost no final plan in the entire global strategic layout, and only now has our Qi country’s maritime hegemony been established.”

"Then..." Qi Zexuan hesitated for a moment, then looked up at Emperor Taiping, "Then according to Emperor Taizu's orders, our Qi State will allow the Qin State to grow and develop, and eventually challenge us?"

"Emperor Taizu did not leave any legacy." Emperor Taiping said with a smile: "But I know that from the bottom of his heart, he did not want a life-and-death struggle to break out between the Chinese civilization. When two powerful forces fight, There must be an injury. Whether it is the Qin State or our Qi State, it will ultimately consume the vitality of our Chinese civilization."

"Grandpa Emperor, didn't you say that all diplomatic relations in this world follow the principle of respecting strength? Even if we don't try to contain and contain the development of Qin, given time, when its strength grows, it will naturally There will be a conflict of interest with us, and it is likely to trigger a war. Do we still have to continue to avoid and make concessions as Emperor Taizu imagined?"

"I remember that when I was still the prince, I brought your father to Paradise Island to visit Emperor Taizu. He hugged your father and told him an interesting story. In the cold winter, two hedgehogs stayed close to each other to keep warm, but Because they are covered with thorns, if they are too close, they will sting each other, and if they are too far apart, they will not be able to warm each other. Therefore, they need to constantly test each other and constantly search for a suitable distance, which can not only keep each other warm, but also avoid being warmed by each other. Stabbing."

"Qi and Qin are those two hedgehogs?" Qi Zexuan vaguely caught something.

"What do you think?" Emperor Taiping said softly: "The world is very big, and civilizations and races are also diverse. In order to carry forward Chinese civilization and have more living space for future generations, we in Qi cannot do it alone. To withstand the competition and invasion of all foreign civilizations."

(End of this chapter)