Wang Anshi is a well-known figure in Chinese history, and his symbol is "changing the law".
Liang Qichao praised Wang Anshi's transformation of the law, calling it "the most reputable social revolution in Chinese history."
Lenin said, "Wang Anshi was the greatest reformer in China in the eleventh century. ”
In the era of Emperor Renzong of Song, that is, the fourth emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty, the Northern Song Dynasty at this time no longer had the vitality of the Song Taizu era, let alone the prosperity of the country when the Song Taizong was. The long-term "Youwen" system, the resulting "redundant officials", the long-term military support system, the "redundant soldiers", the long-term concession of indemnities to ethnic minorities, resulting in "redundant expenses".
After the death of Emperor Renzong of Song, Emperor Yingzong of Song took the throne, and Emperor Yingzong of Song still wanted to make a difference, but there was no choice but to have Empress Cao bowing to the government, so she had to hold her energy in her heart, and finally came to a heroic ambition to die before she was paid.
When Emperor Shenzong of Song ascended the throne, the Song Dynasty had been established for more than 100 years, and this emperor, who wanted to make a difference, finally had to have a physical examination of the great Song Dynasty, which was full of troubles, and then underwent surgery.
At this time, Wang Anshi came into being.
Wang Anshi, good at words, knowledgeable and strong, had a good reputation in his early years.
After passing the examination, he has served as an official staff member, Zhixian, Tongju, Zhizhou, and Tidian Prison, and has rich experience in grassroots work.
Of course, here there is also a return to talk about Wang Anshi's literary style, we are most familiar with the "Mooring Boat Guazhou": "Jingkou Guazhou is a water, Zhongshan is only separated by a few heavy mountains." Spring breeze and the south bank of the Green River, when will the bright moon shine on me? ”
Of course, Wang Anshi also wrote many poems, and the literati of Wang Anshi's contemporaries and descendants did not agree much with his political ideas, but praised his literary style, and even the "History of Song", which did not have a high evaluation of him, said that he was "like a flying pen, and everyone who saw him was convinced." ”
Therefore, Wang Anshi is first of all an official with rich experience in grass-roots work, and at the same time, he is also a poet with great literary talent. People who can write good poetry always feel very sharp and have rich feelings.
The combination of an official with rich experience in grassroots work and a literati full of romantic feelings determines Wang Anshi's feelings of worrying about the country and the people.
Wang Anshi wants to do things, wants to do big things.
However, Song Renzong did not have the consciousness of changing the law, and although Song Yingzong had this consciousness, under the curtain of Empress Cao, there was no way to think about it.
It was not until April 1068 that Emperor Shenzong of Song finally summoned Wang Anshi.
Wang Anshi, who was anxious to sell himself, said very big and very big in the face of Song Shenzong's inquiry, and it was completely possible to describe it as "looking at everything", what is the rule of Wenjing and the rule of Zhenguan, in Wang Anshi's eyes, it is not a matter at all, Wang Anshi is a master of the emperor, and his political ideals and goals are very, very ambitious.
Wang Anshi's variations include: the equalization method, the municipal easy method, the Green Seedling law, the farmland water conservancy law, the square field average tax law, the conscription law, the general war law, and so on.
As for the main contents of these laws, I will not repeat them all.
As we all know, the change of law has failed.
Of course, the important reasons for the failure of the change of law include that the new law violates the fundamental reasons of the royal family and dignitaries, so it is naturally fiercely opposed.
In fact, another important reason for the failure of the change of law is probably not expected by everyone.
This reason stems from Wang Anshi's personality.
As the saying goes, character determines destiny.
Do you know what hat Wang Anshi put on in the hereafter?
Nicknamed "Ao Xiang Gong", as the name suggests, you ask him how tough the old man is, and the words of the common people are "to kill his father and not wear a filial piety hat".
Wang Anshi was very confident, not to mention the objections raised by his colleagues in the change of law, that is, the rationalization suggestions, and they were not adopted at all.
As the saying goes: "One fence three piles, one good man three gangs", Wang Anshi can not care so much, as long as there is a slight obstruction to the change of law and different voices, it will not be close to human feelings.
Within a month of the start of the new law, Wang Anshi deposed 14 imperial historians and quickly excluded those who opposed him from the center of power.
Even Ouyang Xiu, who recommended him, chose early retirement because of his stubbornness.
Wang Anshi is a person with a lot of family and country feelings, but he is not a person who can coordinate up and down, which is the tragic side of Wang Anshi's personality.
The nature of feudal "family world" determines the essence of the change of law, and failure is even more inevitable.