Wang Anshi's transformation method is very famous in history, and it is a large-scale reform movement in history after the Shang martingale transformation law, and Liang Qichao once spoke highly of Wang Anshi's transformation method, calling it "the only person under three generations who is perfect". Song Renzong was known as a rare Ming Emperor, and in the year of Chengping, the people lived and worked in peace and contentment, and there was a sound of praise at home and abroad.
However, under the prosperous era, it was the current situation of poverty and weakness in the Northern Song Dynasty, especially for the enemies in the north, the Song and Xia Wars were fought for 3 years, and the Song army was repeatedly defeated, and finally ended with peace talks to give money. Emperor Yingzong died and Emperor Shenzong came to power, and Emperor Shenzong of Song was the only emperor in the Northern Song Dynasty who dared to reform and aspired since Zhao Kuangyin and Zhao Guangyi.
In order to change the current situation of poverty and weakness, Shenzong withstood heavy pressure, reused Wang Anshi, and began more than ten years of Xining transformation. Reform has rarely succeeded since the middle of antiquity, it is difficult to destroy easily, and reform is even more difficult because it involves the interests of too many people.
"The hustle and bustle of the world is for the benefit of the future, and the hustle and bustle of the world is for the benefit of the future." The so-called unprofitable has long been so, and reform will naturally touch the power interests of many people, so conservatives will always exist and be powerful. From beginning to end, the conservatives kept impeaching Wang Anshi, and Han Qi, Sima Guang, Wen Yanbo and other well-known important ministers were the big figures of the conservatives.
Fortunately, Wang Anshi withstood the pressure, Emperor Shenzong was the solid backing behind him, if it were not for the backstage of the emperor, it is estimated that even the most powerful figures would not be able to persist. In the seven years of Xining, the change of law has been carried out for 5 years, the effect is remarkable, the national treasury has begun to increase revenue, Wang Shao's war against Hehuang Tubo has gone surprisingly smoothly, and Wang Anshi's reputation has also reached its peak.
Reform was in full swing, and the pressure on Shenzong's head was also increasing, although the emperor was the king of a country, but sometimes he was helpless, and Song Shenzong often wavered at the reform. Empress Cao and Empress Gao had complained to him about the "drawbacks" of Wang Anshi's transformation of the law, and the last straw that crushed the camel was the "Map of displaced people".
Historical records record that "when it was time, there was no rain since July of the sixth year of Xi Ning, and as for the March of the seventh year, no one had any business." The displaced people in the northeast, every wind and sand haze, supporting the road, barren and miserable, without clothes. "Since the beginning of the sixth year of Xining, there has been no rain, there is a great drought in the world, and there are many displaced people in the northeast region, who are not clothed and hungry. In ancient times, productivity was low and they depended on the sky for food, so in the year of disasters there were often people who fled the famine, which was unavoidable.
A small official named Zheng Xia, seeing the tragic scene of the people, drew a "Map of displaced people" and presented it to the emperor. It seems that Zheng Xia is a good official who worries about the country and the people, but his purpose is not pure. The displaced people in the "Map of displaced persons" may not be false, but it is aimed at Wang Anshi's change of law and calls for the repeal of the new law. In the Song Dynasty, people were still very superstitious, if there was a disaster in the heavens, it would involve the emperor and the general, and whenever the heavens sent disasters, the emperor might have to issue some sin.
Modern people know how natural disasters are formed, and the productivity of the Song Dynasty at that time could not have much impact on the environment. Shenzong was a wise emperor, and seeing the current situation of the victims, he began to doubt the correctness of the reform. And Zheng Xia also said a sentence: "As His Majesty said, there will be no rain for ten days, that is, beggars and beheads the ministers outside the Xuande Gate, in order to deceive the king." ”
This means that if the new law is repealed, it will rain within ten days, and if it does not rain, the minister pleads to be beheaded outside the Xuande Gate. Sure enough, Zheng Xia was right, "Three days, heavy rain, far and near." "Came here for three days, and sure enough, it rained heavily. At this time, the Divine Sect collapsed, feeling that he was sorry for the country and the people, so the new law was temporarily abolished.
Although the new law will soon be restored again, this has shaken the original intention of reform, the bee does not sting seamless eggs, and after the rift appears, conservatives will step up their attack. By this time, the Xining reform law had begun to decline, Wang Anshi resigned, and the reform became a real thing.
Reference: Song Shi Liechuan 80