Brother History, please come in, who is the most famous scapegoat in history?

Chao Cuo (200 BC - 154 BC), Han nationality, native of Yingchuan (now Yu County, Henan Province), was a statesman and writer in the Western Han Dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty, he served as Taichang's director, and later served as the prince's sheren, doctor, and prince's family magistrate. After Emperor Jing came to the throne, he was appointed as the internal historian, and later moved to the imperial censor.

Chao Cuo developed the policy of "focusing on agriculture and suppressing commerce", advocating accepting millet and accepting titles, increasing agricultural production, and revitalizing the economy; on the issue of resisting the Xiongnu's invasion of the border, he put forward the strategic idea of ??"immigrating to the border" and suggested raising funds for The people enriched the border fortresses and actively prepared for the Xiongnu attacks; politically, they proposed to reduce the vassal state and deprive the political privileges of the princes and kings to consolidate the centralization of power, which harmed the interests of the princes. The princes of the seven countries headed by Wu King Liu Bi "asked Chao Cuo to be punished" , in the name of "Qingjun side", raised troops to rebel. Emperor Jing followed Yuan Ang's plan and cut Chao Cuo in half in Dongshi.

Chao Cuo's political essays were "straightforward and passionate, and said everything he wanted to say". Lu Xun called it "the great writings of the Western Han Dynasty, which benefited future generations with far-reaching benefits." His representative works include "Talking about Military Affairs", "Guarding Borders and Encouraging Farmers", "On Precious Millet", "Wise Countermeasures", etc.

Real name

Chao Cuo

Also known as

Ni Cuo

Era in which he lived

Western Han Dynasty

Ethnic groups

Han nationality

Birthplace

Yingchuan

Birth time

200 BC

Death time

154 BC

Main works

"On Gui Su Shu" and "Yan Bing" "Shi Shu"

Main Achievements

Immigration to the border and reduction of vassals

Official positions

Yu Shi Dafu

Prince's Think Tank

In the seventh year of Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty (200 BC), Chao Cuo was born in Yingchuan (now Yu County, Henan Province). When he was young, he studied Legalist thought from Zhang Hui. During the period of Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty, he was appointed as Taichang's anecdote because of his ability to write. [1]? The imperial court recruited people to study "Shang Shu". Chao Cuo was sent by Taichang and was ordered to go to Jinan to study "Shang Shu" with Fu Sheng and accept Confucianism. After returning from his studies, he was appointed as Prince Sheren and Mengfu, and was later promoted to doctor. [2]?

When Chao Cuo was appointed as a doctor, he wrote in "Shu Shu Shu Shu" on the importance of knowing the skills of the prince, stating that the prince should be familiar with the methods of governing the country. Emperor Wen praised him and worshiped him as the prince's family order. Because Chao Cuo was eloquent and good at analyzing problems, he won the love and trust of the prince Liu Qi, and was praised as the "think tank" by the prince's family. [3]?

Chao Cuo offered advice to defend the border

In the eleventh year before Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty (169 BC), the Xiongnu repeatedly invaded the border and harassed Didao. Emperor Wen sent troops to conquer, Chao Cuo He took the opportunity to submit his "War on Military Affairs" to Emperor Wen, proposing the idea of ??"attacking barbarians with barbarians" [4]? He pointed out that in the battle against the Xiongnu, the weapons must be strong and sharp, the soldiers must be well-equipped, the generals must be proficient in military affairs, and the monarch must be Choose good generals. [5]? Emperor Wen appreciated it very much and gave Chao Cuo an imperial edict as a reward, but he did not adopt Chao Cuo's suggestion to take the initiative.

Chao Cuo then submitted "Guarding the Border and Encouraging Farmers" to Emperor Wen, proposing to use economic measures to encourage immigrants and to use immigration to strengthen the border to resist foreign invasion, which was adopted by Emperor Wen. [6]? So Chao Cuo published "Recruiting People and Practical Treatment" and put forward specific measures on how to resettle the immigrants.

Chao Cuo Han court policy questions

In the fifteenth year before Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty (165 BC), when Chao Cuo was appointed as the prince's family minister, Emperor Wen ordered the ministers to recommend virtuous, upright, literary Chao Cuo was elected as a virtuous scholar. Emperor Wen personally proposed the topic and put forward consultations (i.e. "strategy questions") on issues such as "understanding the general state of the country". Jia Yi was dead at that time. Among the more than 100 people who participated in the countermeasures, Chao Cuo's answer was the best (i.e., "Countermeasures for Promoting Virtues"), which was highly praised by Emperor Wen, and he was promoted from the crown prince's family order to a middle-level official.

After that, Chao Cuo wrote to Emperor Wen many times, proposing suggestions on cutting down the princes and reforming the laws. Although Emperor Wen did not adopt it, he appreciated his talent very much. Prince Liu Qi was in favor of Chao Cuo's suggestion, but Yuan Ang and other ministers did not like Chao Cuo and were opposed to it. [7]?

Chao Cuo was favored by Emperor Jing

In the seventh year of Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty (157 BC), Emperor Wen passed away and Prince Liu Qi came to the throne, promoting Chao Cuo to be the internal historian. Chao Cuo met Emperor Jing alone many times to discuss national affairs. Emperor Jing obeyed his advice and trusted him more than the nine ministers. Many laws were revised and enacted by his hand.

Prime Minister Shen Tujia was jealous, and asked Emperor Jing to execute Chao Cuo on the grounds that Chao Cuo had cut open the temple wall without permission. Chao Cuo received the news in advance, but Shen Tujia failed, so he had to apologize and retreat, and soon fell ill. Died of illness. After the death of Shen Tujia, Emperor Jing promoted Chao Cuo to the rank of Yushi Dafu, ranking among the three nobles, and his status became more and more distinguished. [8]?

Chao Cuo proposed to reduce the feudal vassal

In the second year of Emperor Jing's reign (155 BC), Chao Cuo once again stated the sins of the princes to Emperor Jing, and requested that the fiefdoms be reduced and the neighboring counties be recovered. It is proposed to reduce the vassal status. Shangshu's Policy for Cutting Down the Domain points out: "If you cut it now, it will be the opposite, and if you don't cut it, it will be the opposite. If you cut it, the reaction will be urgent, and the harm will be small; if you don't cut it, the reaction will be late, and the harm will be great." [9]?< /p>

After the memorial was sent, Emperor Jing ordered the ministers, princes and royal family to gather for discussion. Because Emperor Jing favored Chao Cuo, no one dared to express opposition publicly. Only Dou Ying disagreed, and he and Chao Cuo had a grudge from then on. [10]?

Edict of Emperor Jing: Capture Changshan County of King Zhao, six counties of King Jiaoxi, Donghai County and Xue County of King Chu, Yuzhang County and Kuaiji County of King Wu. Chao Cuo changed thirty articles of the law.

The princes were in an uproar, and they all strongly opposed and hated Chao Cuo.

Chao Cuo forcibly reduced the vassal status and took great risks. Chao Cuo's father's persuasion failed and he committed suicide by taking poison. [11]?

Chao Cuo’s Rebellion

More than ten days after Emperor Jing issued the order to cut down the vassal state, Wu, Chu and other seven kingdoms joined forces to rebel in the name of punishing Chao Cuo. This was for Wu The Rebellion of the Seven Kingdoms of Chu. Emperor Jing heard the news and discussed with Chao Cuo about sending troops. Chao Cuo suggested that Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty lead the expedition in person and stay in the capital himself. [12]?

At that time, Dou Ying entered the palace and asked Emperor Jing to summon Yuan An. Yuan An once served as the prime minister of Wu State, so Emperor Jing asked Yuan An for advice. Yuan Ang believed that the rebellion of the seven kingdoms of Wu and Chu would not cause any trouble, and asked Emperor Jing to withdraw from others, and offered advice: "The purpose of the rebellion of Wu and Chu is to kill Chao Cuo and restore the original fiefdom. As long as Chao Cuo is killed, an envoy is sent to announce the amnesty of the seven kingdoms and restore the deprived territories." With the fiefdom, the rebellion can be eliminated without any bloodshed." Emperor Jing was silent for a long time and decided to sacrifice Chao Cuo in exchange for the princes to retreat. [13]? So Yuan An was granted the title of Taichang and asked him to secretly pack up and go on a mission to Wu. [14]?

Chao Cuo beheaded Dongshi

More than ten days after Yuan An offered his advice, Prime Minister Tao Qing, Lieutenant Chen Jia, and Ting Wei Zhang Ou jointly submitted a letter impeaching Chao Cuo and proposed Chao Cuo was killed all over the house. [15]? Emperor Jing approved this memorial, but Chao Cuo had no idea about it at this time. So Emperor Jing sent a lieutenant to Chao Cuo's house and issued an edict to trick Chao Cuo into going to court to discuss matters. When the carriage passed through the east city of Chang'an, the lieutenant stopped, read the imperial edict to Chao Cuo, and cut him in half. Chao Cuo was still wearing court clothes at the time. [16]?

After the death of Chao Cuo, the school captain Deng Gong returned from the front line and reported the military situation. Emperor Jing asked about the progress of the negotiations. Deng Gong believed that the rebellion of the princes was just an excuse for the Qing monarch. Killing Chao Cuo blocked the mouths of loyal ministers internally, but avenged the princes and kings externally, and the rebellion would not be quelled. Emperor Jing was convinced and worshiped him as Lieutenant of Chengyang. Later, Emperor Jing issued an edict to attack the enemy, and achieved victory in less than three months.