The Tang Dynasty was one of the most accomplished feudal dynasties in ancient China, with the "Rule of Zhenguan" before and the "Kaiyuan Prosperous Era" in the back. These two great prosperities became a model of political clarity and prosperity in the feudal era.
(Emperor Taizong)
The reason for their prosperity was that in addition to the three great emperors of Emperor Taizong Li Shimin, Emperor Xuanzong Li Longji, and Wu Zetian in the middle, the prime ministers who assisted them also played a huge role. For example, Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhan, who achieved the rule of Zhenguan, and Yao Chong, who achieved the prosperity of the Kaiyuan Dynasty, and Song Jing, who achieved the prosperity of the Kaiyuan Dynasty, they were indispensable and were called "the four great sages of the Tang Dynasty" by later generations.
Fang Xuanling and Du Ruyi, the two of them were born and died with Li Shimin, and fought together in Jiangshan; together they launched the Xuanwumen Revolution, which was Li Shimin's humerus. In particular, Fang Xuanling, who served as prime minister for twenty-two years during the Zhenguan period, made great contributions to creating a politically clear Andring Zhenguan prosperous world. He and Du Ruyi have a good plan and a good judgment, so the world is called "Fang Mou Du Judgment". This title is very graphic, vividly and vividly summarizing the characteristics of the two people.
Yao Chong, who created the Kaiyuan prosperous era, and Song Jing, are also the four great sages, compared with the "Fang Mou Du Judgment", where are the two sages?
First of all, let's talk about Yao Chong: First of all, he was very loyal, which was also a major factor in the ability of Xuanzong Li Longji to entrust him with heavy responsibilities. As early as the era of Wu Zetian, Yao Chong was highly appreciated by the empress and served as the prime minister, but he had always been concerned about the Tang Dynasty, and together with Zhang Kamzhi and other five ministers, he launched the "Shenlong Coup" and ousted Wu Zetian from power.
On the third day after the Shenlong coup, Emperor Zhongzong Li Xian and his hundred officials went to visit Wu Zetian, which was not like his son visiting his mother, but more like a demonstration by the new lord to the old lord. Everyone celebrated and encouraged each other, while Yao Chong, alone, cried.
Zhang Kamzhi, who was beside him, hurriedly persuaded: "How can you cry today!" I'm afraid your calamity is coming! Yao Chong said, "I have served Emperor Zetian for a long time, and I am sad to say goodbye today." It is my duty to overthrow her the day before yesterday, and it is also the duty of a subject to be sad today because I have bid farewell to the old Lord. Sure enough, Emperor Zhongzong was furious and sent Yao Chong's officials out. But because of this crying, Yao Chong also avoided the fierce court struggle in the post-Wu Zetian era, which was also a blessing in disguise.
(Yao Chong)
After Emperor Ruizong ascended the throne, Yao Chong's renewed worship, and his drastic reforms with Song Jing hit the point and made Chao Gang very excited, and Li Longji, who was already the crown prince at the time, was very optimistic about them and agreed with them. Therefore, after Li Longji sat firmly on the throne, he could not wait to promote Yao Chong.
What about Yao Chong's governing style? Once, Yao Chong,took more than ten days off, and the official affairs of the imperial court were piled up, and Yao Chong's deputy, Lu Huaishen, was a cautious man and did not dare to deal with it. After Yao Chong's return, he completed all official duties in less than three days, and everyone was very impressed. Yao Chong, also triumphant, asked his subordinate Qi Huan, a member of the Zhongshu She, "How am I to be the prime minister, how is it better than Guan Zhong and Yan Bao?" ”
Qi Huan said: "Although the law of Guan Yan cannot be applied to future generations, it can be used at least for a lifetime, and Yao Gong's law can change at any time, and it seems that it is inferior to the two of them." But it can be called the prime minister of salvation. Yao Chong, hearing this, laughed: "Saving the Prime Minister of the Time is also very rare!" ”
(Xuanzong stills)
Indeed, Yao Chongli was not conformist, he was good at adapting to the conditions of the times and the circumstances of the situation, combining wisdom with power and scheming, and he was vigorous and vigorous, paying attention to practical results, and worthy of the title of prime minister of the rescue. The Zizhi Tongjian commented on him as " Good should be turned into a business " , which is very appropriate. Therefore, Yao Chongli paid attention to a "change" word.
Let's talk about Song Jing: Song Jing is Yao Chong's successor, in the general policy, Song Jing completely inherited Yao Chong's policy, but the two administrative styles are completely different, from Song Jing's appointment, it is very obvious.
Before taking office, Song Jing was the governor of Guangzhou, and Emperor Xuanzong specially arranged for the eunuch Yang Sixun to go and pick him up. Yang Sixun was a great eunuch by Xuanzong's side, second only to Gao Lishi, although he was a eunuch, he was not the kind of lady who pointed to the orchid, but a tough guy who was powerful and could lead soldiers to fight.
(Song Jing)
The fact that XuanZong sent such a confidant to pick up Song Jing showed the importance he attached to him, but what was strange was that song Jing had not said a word to Yang Sixun during the more than two months journey from Guangzhou to Chang'an! Because the imperial court had a decree that "foreign ministers are not allowed to make friends with internal ministers". Although it is a decree, but such a good opportunity to seduce the emperor's confidants, who would be so dead-eyed!
When Yang Sixun reported this matter to Emperor Xuanzong, Emperor Xuanzong sighed for a long time, how can it not be reassuring to have such a well-behaved and upright gentleman as prime minister.
Although people like Song Jing are reassuring, they sometimes make Tianzi unbearable, such as the tomb incident of Emperor Xuanzong's father-in-law Wang Renjiao.
Wang Renjiao was Empress Wang's father, and the Wang family contributed a lot to Xuanzong, and their son-in-law had a deep affection. After Wang Renjiao's death, Emperor Xuanzong's brother-in-law Wang Shouyi went to the table and asked for a large tomb for his father, which was five meters high, although it was excessive, it was not a big deal, so Xuanzong agreed.
I didn't expect to be returned by Song Jing, the reason was: according to the ancestral system, Wang Renjiao's tomb could not exceed three zhang, and Wang Shouyi's requirements were unreasonable. To this end, Xuanzong pleaded in person, but Song Jing put on a stinky face and said three words, "Do not agree."
Xuanzong looked embarrassed, seeing that there was no room for negotiation, he could only say to Song Jing: "Ai Qing can adhere to the etiquette of the rules and regulations to achieve the virtues of Yuan, and he is very relieved!" Four hundred horses were rewarded. "My father-in-law's tomb was not built, and I had to reward Song Jing, such a prime minister is really enough for the emperor."
Through these two events, we can see that Song Jing was a principled, morally upright, and upright prime minister who made the emperor panic, quite like the style of Wei Zheng in those years. The Zizhi Tongjian commented on him as: "Good abiding by the law and keeping it right." Therefore, Song Jing is in charge of the government and pays attention to a "shou" word.
Later generations summarized Fang Xuanling and Du Ruyi as a good plan and a good judgment, and summarized it as "Fang Mou Du Duan". If this method is followed, Yao Chong and Song Jing can be summarized as "Yao Chang Song Shou".
Text: Bearfish laughs to themselves
Shallow and ignorant, just right in the Fang family.
References: New Book of Tang, Old Book of Tang, Zizhi Tongjian.