Who knows the story of Shang Yang's political reform?

The story of Shang Yang's political reform

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After Qi Weiwang proclaimed himself emperor, Yan, Zhao, Han, Wei and other countries were afraid of him and came to pay tribute. Only the western state of Qin didn't come. It turned out that Qin was relatively backward in politics, economy and culture. Countries in the Central Plains called it "Xu Xi", regarded it as a barbaric nation, looked down on it, had little contact with it, and occasionally sent troops to invade its land.

In the eighth year of King Zhou Xian (36 BC1year), Qin Xiaogong acceded to the throne. He felt that the state of Qin was oppressed by its strong neighbors abroad, and it was very difficult for the nobles to be bossy inside. He is determined to work hard to change the backward face of the country. In order to seek talents for reform, an order was issued: "Whoever has a good way to make Qin rich and strong, whether local or foreigner, should be appointed as a big official and divide the land." Soon, a young man named Wei Yang (yāng) was recruited from Wei to Qin.

Wei Yang, surnamed Gong Sun, was originally a declining aristocrat of Wei State, so everyone called him Wei Yang. Seeing that Wei was too weak to display his talents, he went to Wei, where he made a long-term guest appearance and was not reused. Just when Wei Yang was depressed, he suddenly heard that Qin Xiaogong was recruiting talents. He decided to leave Wei for Qin.

Wei Yang arrived in the State of Qin, and was introduced by a client to know Xiao Gong. Wei Yang told Xiao Gong the theory and methods of his rich country Qiang Bing. He said: "if a country wants to be rich and strong, it must attach importance to agricultural production, so that the people have food, clothing and grass for the army;" It is necessary to train the army well and make it strong in Mazhuang; We should also distinguish between rewards and punishments. We should encourage and reward those farmers who have a lot of crops and are brave and good at fighting, and punish those farmers who have poor production and are afraid of dying in war. I can really do this, and the country is not rich and strong. "

Xiao Gong listened with relish and even forgot to eat. The two chatted for a few days about state affairs and were very speculative. Finally, Xiao Gong decided to reform the old system and implement the new law proposed by Wei Yang.

As soon as the news spread, all the noble ministers opposed it together. Many ministers advised Xiao Gong to be cautious and not to listen to Wei Yang. In his mind, Xiao Gong is very much in favor of Wei Yang's proposition. He felt that the state of Qin could not be rich and strong without changing the law, but he was embarrassed to see so many people opposed it, so he called many ministers together and let them debate. A minister named Gan Long spoke first. He said: "The current system was handed down by our ancestors. Officials are comfortable and ordinary people are used to it. Can't change it! If you change it, it will be chaotic! " Other ministers also said: "The new law is nonsense" and "fallacy". "Old laws and old rituals cannot be changed!" Wei Yang rightfully retorted them, saying, "You always talk about ancient laws and old rituals. Can this make the country rich and strong? " Since ancient times, there have been no unchangeable laws and ceremonies. As long as it is good for the country, what's wrong with changing the old laws and rituals? Sticking to the rules can only ruin the country! "

From ancient times to the present, Wei Yang cited a large number of facts to illustrate the necessity of political reform, and refuted those ministers speechless. Xiao Gong heard what he said clearly and refuted all the ministers who opposed the political reform. He was very happy and said to Wei Yang, "Teacher Wang is right, the new law must be implemented!" " Since then, he worshipped Wei Yang as the governor of Zuo Shu (the ancient official name), granted him the power to implement the new law, and told him to make a reform plan quickly. He also announced that whoever opposes political reform again will be punished for the crime of Huaihe River. In this way, those ministers are afraid to answer.

Wei Yang soon worked out a reform plan. Xiao Gong totally agrees. Wei Yang was afraid that the new law had no prestige and the people didn't believe it, so he thought of a way. He asked someone to erect a 30-foot-long wood at the south gate of the capital, and posted a notice next to it saying, "Who can carry this wood to the north gate and give him twelve ounces of gold?" Soon, the forest was full of people.

Everyone kept whispering in their hearts: this piece of wood weighs at most 100 kilograms, and it is not difficult to carry a few miles. How can you give so much gold? Maybe there's a trap. As a result, no one dared to carry it Seeing that no one was carrying it, Wei Yang raised the reward to fifty gold. In this way, people are even more confused, and they don't know what medicine this new Zuo Shu is selling. At this moment, I saw a stout man separate from the crowd, stepped forward and said, "I'll try." Pick up the wood and go. Many spectators followed curiously until they reached the north gate. I see new ones waiting there. He praised the big fellow and said, "Well, you are a good citizen and you can trust and carry out my orders." Then he gave him the fifty gold medals he had prepared.

The story soon spread, and everyone said, "Mrs. Zuo keeps her word, and his orders are not just words!" "

In the 13th year of Zhou Xian (356 BC), a new Decree on Weiyang was issued. The main contents are:

First, strengthen law and order. The common people are organized by sitting together, with five families as "one Wu" and ten as "one scholar", which guarantee and supervise each other. If one family commits a crime, nine families should report it, otherwise ten families will be convicted together. Reporting bad guys is as rewarding as killing the enemy, and harboring bad guys is as punishing as surrendering to the enemy. Be sure to bring your papers when you go out, and you are not allowed to stay without them.

Second, encourage the development of production. Those who work hard and make great contributions to grain and silk can be exempted from taking a hard labor; Those who are lazy and abandon agriculture for business, together with their wives and children, are all government slaves. If a family has more than two sons, they will have to pay taxes separately when they grow up, otherwise one person will have to pay taxes twice.

Third, reward for killing the enemy. The rank is based on the number of military exploits. People who have made great contributions will be given a high title, and the rewards of cars, clothes, fields, houses and maids will also depend on the contribution; People without military service can't live a luxurious life even if they have money, and even nobles can only enjoy civilian treatment.

The new law met with great resistance as soon as it was implemented. Those noble royalty can't be an official unless they go out to make meritorious deeds, but they can only enjoy civilian treatment and lose many privileges in the past; After sitting together, you can't do whatever you want. Therefore, everyone is madly attacking the new law, not to mention Gan Long, the representative of the conservative forces. Encouraged by them, even the prince came out against it. Wei Yang dismissed Gan Long from office, but the prince is the heir of the monarch, so it is inconvenient to punish him. Wei Yang went to Qin Xiaogong and said to him, "The new law can't be implemented, mainly because there are people at the top who oppose it." Xiao Gong said, "Whoever opposes it will be punished." Wei Yang said that the prince objected and deliberately broke the law. Filial piety is angry and embarrassed, without words. Wei Yang said: "Of course, the prince cannot be convicted, but if the new law can be violated at will, it will not be implemented in the future." Xiao Gong asked, "What should I do?" Wei Yang said, "The prince broke the law because his teacher instigated him. They should be punished. " Xiao Gong agreed. In this way, the prince's teacher, Gongzi, had his nose cut off and Gongsunjia was stabbed in the face. Seeing Xiao Gong and Wei Yang so determined, everyone dared not oppose the new law.

A few years later, Qin became powerful. Because the new law stipulates that those who increase production can be exempted from the labor of one family, the people concentrate on farming and actively cultivate, so that production has been greatly developed and people's lives have been improved; Because the new law stipulates that soldiers who kill the enemy and make meritorious deeds can be promoted, they are all heroic operations. People are very happy. Seeing that Wei Yang's new law had achieved remarkable results, Xiao Gong promoted him to Daliangzao (the name of a big official at that time). Send troops to attack Wei. Wei, who used to be strong, has been weak by this time. No match for Qin at all, even the capital Anyi was captured by Qin Jun, so Wei had to make peace with Qin. Wei Yang returned home in triumph. Subsequently, a new law was further implemented in China. The main contents include: moving the capital from Yongcheng (Yong, now Fengxiang County, Shaanxi Province) to Xianyang in order to facilitate its development to the Central Plains; Divide the whole country into 3 1 county, the central government directly appoints county magistrates to govern, and incompetent county officials are punished; Abolish the "mining field" system, encourage land reclamation and allow free land sales; Unified measurement, etc. These are powerful measures to develop production and have played a great role in consolidating and developing the strength of the emerging landlord class. Ten years after the implementation of the new law, Qin became the most prosperous country at that time. Zhou Wang sent someone to bring a gift to Xiao Gong and named him "Fang Bo" (the leader of a vassal). All the countries in the Central Plains came to congratulate him and showed special respect for this emerging power.

Qin Xiaogong was very happy. Later, fifteen towns around Shang and Yu gave Wei Yang as a reward. From then on, people called Wei Yang Shang Yang.

A few years later, Qin Xiaogong died of illness, and the Prince acceded to the throne as King Qin Huiwen. King Huiwen once opposed Shang Yang's new law. Shang Yang convicted him and sentenced his teacher, so he has always held a grudge. Now, as soon as he became a monarch, people who opposed Shang Yang in the past gained power again. They colluded and fabricated charges, insisting that Shang Yang was plotting to rebel. King Huiwen caught him and put him to death. Although Shang Yang is dead, his new law has taken root in Qin State and can never be changed. His political reform laid a solid foundation for Qin to unify the Central Plains.