Introduction: The reason why Zhuge Liang is famous in the world, in addition to his loyalty to the Shu Han and endless schemes, is his accurate understanding and judgment of the general trend of the world. A "Longzhong Pair" judged from the late Han form of the princes that the final outcome of the three points of the world is clear evidence. So is there a strategist who can match it in the overall vision? Perhaps this problem is easy to appear in everyone's mind will come up with a sentence "three points of the world Zhuge Liang, unified the world of Liu Bowen." Today we will not talk about Liu Bowen, we will introduce the "Pingbian Policy" of Wang Pu, the later Zhou chancellor during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. This policy commentary details the order and reasons for the pacification of the various separatist regimes in the Later Zhou Dynasty, and the thousand or so words describe in detail the method of pacification of the separatist regimes: either to fight or persuade, or to pull or attack. Although Chai Rong, emperor of the Later Zhou Dynasty, did not fully realize the strategic concept of the Pingbian Strategy due to his untimely death, it became a reality in the hands of Zhao Kuangyin, the grandfather of the Song Dynasty. The strategy and method of unification of the Song Dynasty almost completely and perfectly copied the vision of Wang Pu's "Pingbian Strategy". Therefore, Wang Pu, who almost did not make a statement, was also a generation of strategy masters.
In fact, the reason why Wang Pu's "Pingbian Ce" is not famous in history is that on the one hand, the five generations did not have the blessing of the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms"; on the other hand, it was also because the national strength and form of the Later Zhou were far better than Liu Bei, who had almost nothing at that time. Therefore, although they are all programmatic policies on the form of the world, the reason why "Longzhong Pair" is more famous. In fact, Wang Pu's "Pingbian Policy" played a key role in ending the long-term division of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms.
Biography of Wang Pu
Wang Pu was young and intelligent, and although he was a famous minister of Later Zhou, he was still in Hou Han. After the establishment of the Later Zhou Dynasty, he served as an aide to The Zhenning Jiedushi envoy Chai Rong, so it should be said that he was a subordinate of Emperor Shizong of Later Zhou. Chai Rong ascended to the throne as the Emperor Chicken Dog, and Wang Pu also received an official position and entered the official field of the Great Zhou. Later, he won the appreciation of Chai Rong for his dedication of "Ping Ding Strategy" and was repeatedly promoted to an official. By the time Chai Rong conquered Jianghuai according to the Pingbian strategy, Wang Pu had risen to the rank of privy councillor who held the military and political power of the whole country.
Wang Pu is versatile: proficient in strategy, but also good at the design of the capital; revising the calendar is also familiar with musical rhythms, is a rare talent. Therefore, when Wang Puying died young and Chai Rong was very painful, Wang Pu's death was equivalent to breaking one of Chai Rong's arms. Zhao Kuangyin commented: This person is here, and he cannot wear this robe. That is to say, if Wang Pu was there, I would not be able to become an emperor, nor would I be able to create this yellow robe.
The central idea of the Pingbian Policy
The core content of Wang Pu's "Pingbian Strategy" has three:
First, it expounds the causes of the Tang and Jin dynasties that lost their kingdoms and chased the deer, and derived the specific method of sweeping away the princes and pacifying the world. This way of a strong country with a specific way of operation was valued by the new emperor Chai Rong as soon as it was introduced. Because Chai Rong is ambitious, has the ability to act, and has the great ambition of reunification and wants to end the chaotic world. Chai Rong made a long-term thirty-year plan with his dream: "To open up the world with ten years, to feed the people in ten years, and to bring peace to ten years."
"Tang lost his way and lost Wu and Shu, Jin lost his way and lost his shadow, and ... When the time of loss, there will be chaos in the government, the soldiers will be arrogant and the people will be trapped, the near will be adulterous, the far will rebel from the outside, the small will not be controlled, and the big will not be controlled. "The advanced and the wise will retreat to clear their time, use their abilities to judge their materials, give them the signal of grace to conclude their hearts, reward merit and punish crimes to do their best, be courteous and thrifty to enrich their wealth, and use their servitude to enrich their people." Its warehouse is solid, the equipment is prepared, and the person can be used.
Second, he made profound comments on the characteristics of the separatist regimes under the heavens, and made specific plans for the annexation of the princes. Specifically, the Southern Tang dynasty attacked and occupied after the attack was weakened (WuYue, Southern Han, Min and other regimes could be annexed); Min Shu's combat strength was not strong, and it could be passed on; the Northern Han Dynasty must attack strongly because of its mortal enmity with Later Zhou. PS: The Wu kingdom in the Pingbian Strategy is worthy of the Southern Tang, because Yang Xingmi was built, also known as "Yang Wu". Later, The adopted son of Xu Wen, a minister of Wu Quan, was originally surnamed Li, and after Xu Wen's death, the power fell to the opposition. In 937, he forced the Wu lord Yang Pu to abdicate. In 939, the surname Li was restored, and the name of the country was changed to the History of the Tang Dynasty and the Southern Tang. Therefore, the State of Wu here is not the State of Wu Yue, but the Southern Tang Dynasty.
Today's Wu Kingdom, east to the sea, south to the river, can scratch the land of two thousand miles. Scratching them first from the place of little preparation, we will run to save their shortcomings, and between running, we can know the false reality of the other, the strength and weakness of the multitude, and the attack on the weak, then there is no way forward. Then the jiangbei states are also the property of the state. Vested Jiangbei... The south of the river is not difficult and peaceful. If Wu is obtained, then Gui and Guang are all internal subjects, and Min and Shu can fly and summon them, and if they do not arrive, they will advance on all sides and sweep away Shu Pingyi. Wu, ShuPing, You can look forward to the wind. But he who is bound to die must not be enticed by grace, but must be attacked by a strong army.
The third point, compared with the situation in the following week, is that the preconditions for the implementation of the "Pingbian Policy" have been met. So Wang Pu suggested that it could be done.
Later Zhou Shizong Chai Rong's attempt at unification and the process of The Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin's unification of the Central Plains were basically carried out perfectly in accordance with the Pingbian Policy
In fact, Wang Pu's Pingbian Strategy is easy to understand, that is, on the basis of analyzing the strength of Wuyue, Southern Tang, Later Shu, Northern Han, and Southern Han countries, it is recommended to pacify them one by one according to the actual situation. The flexible approach advocates starting with an attack on the southern Tang and northern states to deter other countries. Then destroy the Tang, Swallow Shu, Ping Wuyue, Ding and Han Dynasties, and zun seek the way of first south and then north, and finally duel with the Khitans. Unfortunately, Chai Rong died young, and although some achievements were made, there was still a gap from reunification. During Chai Rong's reign, he defeated Hou Shu in the west and captured the four prefectures of Qin, Feng, Cheng, and Jie; destroyed the Southern Tang in the south and exhausted the fourteen prefectures of Huainan in the north; and broke the Khitan in the north and the three passes of the second prefecture of Lianke. Except for the Northern Khitan Break, it was basically carried out in accordance with Wang Pu's "Pingbian Strategy".
After the Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin usurped Zhou Li and song, he continued the unified strategy of the Pingbian Strategy, and directly surrendered the State of Wu Yue after pacifying the Southern Tang Dynasty. Finally, it was not until the time of Emperor Taizong of Song that he finally attacked the Northern Han Dynasty and destroyed this great enemy of life and death.
brief summary:
In summary, Wang Pu's "Pingbian Strategy" is very considerable and enforceable. Therefore, Later Zhou Shizong Chai Rong and Song Taizu Taizong all completed the heavy task of sweeping away the princes and unifying the world in accordance with the way of pingbian strategy. Therefore, Wang Pu is also a strategic person in China's history, and it is worth commemorating by future generations.
I am the emperor of history, welcome your attention; if there is a flaw, the axe is right.