Author: Xu Yunhui
(Hua Xin)
At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, in order to expand their horizons and expand their popularity, three like-minded teenagers jointly formed a study tour team and set out from the plains of Gaotang (present-day Yucheng, Shandong) to go out and explore. The squad quickly rose to fame and was praised as "One Dragon" by the people of the time. The dragon head is Hua Xin, who is called "the great man of a generation" by Cao Pi.
First, the famous
Hua Xin's hometown of Gaotang, is a famous city in the ancient State of Qi, the customs are extravagant, advocating vanity, officials are afraid that passers-by do not know themselves, when commuting to work like to show their faces or show off the market, Hua Xin was hired by the government, but very low-key, trying to conceal the identity of public officials. When talking about things with friends or talking about others, he is always fair and objective, never denigrates and hurts others, and is extremely popular in the circle of friends.
Colleague Tao Qiuhong is also very talented, but out of jealousy, he always claims that he is wise and insightful far beyond Hua Xin. Coincidentally, Wang Fen, the assassin of Jizhou, was dissatisfied with the cruel rule of emperor Ling of Han and "conspired with Hao Jie to depose emperor Ling", and sent a secret envoy to invite Hua Xin and Tao Qiuhong to Jizhou to discuss important matters.
Tao Qiuhong was full of joy and prepared to go on the road, and Hua Xin stopped him regardless of his previous suspicions: "The abolition of the emperor is a major event in the world, and even the courtiers of Shengming will feel embarrassed!" Wang Fen's personality is negligent and lacks courage, and if he wants to change the emperor on a whim, he will definitely achieve nothing. You will definitely connect the Nine Tribes here, don't go! Tao Qiuhong obeyed the dissuasion, "After the defeat of Fenguo, Hong Naifu." ”
(Emperor Xian of Han)
After that, Hua Xin was honored by the government for his excellent performance, and was officially promoted to a career path. During his tenure as a bodyguard of the Han Ling Emperor, he witnessed the corruption of the Han Ling Emperor and the imperial government, was greatly disappointed, and resigned on the grounds of illness. Soon after, he was recalled to the imperial court. When Dong Zhuo took Emperor Xian of Han hostage to Chang'an, Hua Xin cleverly asked the foreign county magistrate to resign from his post again, and fled dong Zhuo's clutches with a few friends overnight.
On the way to escape, an old man begged to join them. Hua Xin flatly refused, and under the persuasion of everyone, he reluctantly took the old man with him. Halfway through, the old man accidentally fell into a deep well, and it was difficult to rescue. The situation is urgent, and everyone wants to give up the rescue. Hua Xin stepped forward: "I didn't want to accept him before, I was afraid of tiring him." Now that you have taken him with you, it would be unkind to abandon him! After the old man was rescued, everyone praised Hua Xin as a person of great benevolence and righteousness, and Hua Xin has since become more famous for his high deeds. ”
The New Language of the World also records a similar story:
Hua Xin Yu Wang Lang took refuge in a flat boat together, and before the boat was offshore, a person begged to take it. Hua Xin has the heart to save people, but considering the load capacity, he is worried about the overturning of the flat boat in the wind and waves, and he is in a dilemma. Wang Lang was dissatisfied with Hua Xin's hesitation and thought that the boat could still take someone, so the man pulled on the boat. The boat could not be offshore because it was overweight, but the pursuers chased them to the river.
Wang Lang saw that the situation was urgent and wanted to push the passengers into the water to reduce weight.
Hua Xin stopped Wang Lang: "Since you have just promised him to get on the ship, how can you abandon him at this critical moment of life and death?" So, everyone worked together and finally got out of danger. The world knows, "In this way, the merits of Hua and The King are determined." ”
(Wang Lang)
Hua Xin fled to Henan, and after persuading Yuan Shu to send an army against Dong Zhuo unsuccessfully, he continued eastward to Xuzhou, where he was appointed by Emperor Xian of Han as the Taishou of Yuzhang (豫章, in modern Nanchang, Jiangxi). Considering that wars and chaos were frequent and the people's livelihood was difficult, Hua Xin simplified administration and delegated power, did not bother the people, and governed with "the feelings of the people and love them", and the clean officials did not go away in a good name. After the death of Yangzhou Assassin Shi, the Yangzhou officials and people collectively elected Hua Xin to succeed Yangzhou Assassin Shi, and at the same time sent a delegation to Yuzhang for several months, strongly demanding that he take office.
Hua Xin politely refused, and it took a lot of effort to send the delegation away.
At this time, Sun Ce quietly rose in Jiangdong, and after occupying Yangzhou, the soldiers pointed directly at Yuzhang.
Hua Xin knew very well that Sun Ce used soldiers like gods, and for the sake of the people of Yuzhang, he decided not to resist and arranged his clothes to welcome Sun Ce.
After Sun Ce entered the city, he talked with Hua Xin on his knees and respected the gods, so he "carried out the gift of his own children and was a guest of honor." At that time, many of Sun Quan's men fled from the Central Plains to Jiangnan to escape the chaos of war, and they were very unconvinced when they heard that Hua Xin was "famous in his youth and fame, and returned from near and far". Seeing that Sun Ce was so humble to him, he "sighed and obeyed himself." ”
When Sun Ce presided over the meeting, he first respectfully asked Hua Xin to speak, and the others "did not dare to speak first", and waited until Hua Xin finished changing clothes and leaving his seat before starting to make a noisy discussion. Hua Xin was born with a good amount of wine, after drinking a kilogram of wine, he was still sober- and sober, his words and deeds were decent, his clothes were neatly dressed, and he had the reputation of "Hua sitting alone" in Jiangnan.
(Sun Ce)
2. Annexed to Cao Wei
Cao Cao, who was fighting Yuan Shao at Guandu, heard of Hua Xin's good name and asked Emperor Xian of Han to recruit Hua Xin to Xuchang.
At this time, Sun Ce was dead, and Sun Quan succeeded to the throne, reluctant to let Hua Xin go. Hua Xin thought twice and decided to leave Sun Quan for the imperial court, so he cleverly persuaded Sun Quan: "You can form a friendship with Cao Gong by obeying the emperor's will." However, this friendship is not yet solid enough. Wouldn't it be better if you asked me to go to the court to serve you? If you force me to keep me, you are raising a waste, and you have offended the imperial court and Cao Gong, and I feel that it is not worth it for you! Sun Quan felt justified and agreed to let him go.
Before Huaxin left, more than a thousand relatives, friends and colleagues came to see them off and sent "hundreds of gold" red envelopes. Hua Xin received all the orders, but secretly wrote down the owner on all the red packets. Before parting, Hua Xin took out the red envelope and said to everyone: "Thank you for the gift!" I went north to the Central Plains on my own bicycle this time, and there was no danger in the slightest. But with hidden jade, there is a danger of being assassinated. I kindly ask my friends and family to help me think of a one-size-fits-all solution! ”
Everyone understood what he meant, and each of them withdrew the red envelope "and obeyed his virtue." ”
Hua Xin's career went smoothly, and he rose all the way to the high position of deputy prime minister. After Cao Cao established the State of Wei, Hua Xin became the Vice Chancellor of the State of Wei. After Cao Cao's death, Cao Pi succeeded to the throne, promoted him to chancellor and made him the Marquis of Anle Township.
When Cao Pi was proclaimed emperor of the Han Dynasty, Hua Xin ascended the altar to preside over the Zen ceremony and presented the emperor's seal to Cao Pi, personally ending the remnants of the Han Dynasty.
However, Hua Xin, who has always been "meticulous in sex and cautious in his actions", had a gloomy expression and stiff movements during the process of presiding over the Zen. Cao Pi was very unhappy, so when he gave the high-ranking official a knighthood, he deliberately omitted Hua Xin. Later, someone explained to Cao Pi: "Hua Xin definitely does not have an opinion on you. He was originally an old minister of the Han Dynasty, and when you ascended the throne, he was as happy as everyone else. It's just that he thinks that if you don't exercise restraint and get carried away like everyone else, it will cause your hatred! Cao Pi was overjoyed and reused Hua Xin.
(Cao Pi and Emperor Xian of Han)
Third, there is a way to exist
Hua Xin's officials were highly prominent, and all the rewards added up to "beyond the reach of the princes." On the one hand, he "faded from the desire for wealth" and always lived a life of "pure poverty" and "never colonized the industry"; on the other hand, he spared money in righteousness, helped the poor and the poor, and gave rations and rewards to his relatives and friends, and there was not enough grain storage in his family.
The imperial court often rewarded the courtiers with young women who were punished as slaves, and the courtiers were at ease, but Hua Xin let them regain their freedom to marry.
Cao Pi sighed and specifically called on the courtiers to learn from him: "Hualao is a rare and precious treasure of the country, and now the courtiers enjoy delicious delicacies, except for his coarse tea and light rice and no care." Cao Pi gave huaxin his own clothes and gave them to Huaxin's family to make special clothes.
In view of the lack of talents in the chaotic world, the imperial court planned to abolish the Confucian classic examination procedure when filial piety was incorruptible, and only judged talents by moral level. Hua Xin resolutely opposed: "The world is in turmoil, the Confucian classics have been destroyed and led to decay, and the imperial court should support it to carry forward the right way." If filial piety abolishes the scripture examination, I am afraid that the classics will be abandoned from now on! Therefore, the examination of scripture should be retained, and the recruitment and promotion of outstanding talents should also be paid close attention to. ”
Cao Pi fully affirmed Hua Xin's opinion, adopted his two-legged approach, and recruited a large number of talents.
Fourth, loyalty and benevolence are mutually beneficial
After Emperor Ming of Wei ascended the throne, he appointed Hua Xin as the Shangshu of bingbu.
Hua Xin was well versed in the way of not being cold in the high places, and repeatedly went to the table to say that he was sick and did not go to work, begging the emperor to change to someone else.
Emperor Wei Ming sent envoys to send an edict to Hua Xin: "I have just inherited the throne, and I need the assistance of you old ministers. However, you repeatedly resigned your appointment on the grounds of illness and refused to attend the banquet. Are you trying to show that you are clean and that you intend to die a martyrdom? You should overcome your illness and attend the pilgrimage to give me face! If you don't come to the meeting again, I will take the civil and military officials to stand by the stool and wait until you show up! ”
At the same time, he gave the special envoy a death order: "You must find a way to persuade Elder Hua to agree to serve as a soldier Shangshu before you can come back and resume your life!" ”
Hua Xin heard the hidden murderous spirit of Emperor Wei Ming's modesty and had to agree to take office against his will, and attended the imperial banquet on time every time.
In 230 AD, Emperor Ming of Wei sent a large army to conquer shu Han, and Hua Xin resolutely wrote to dissuade him despite his old age and physical decline. He believes that "the husband and soldiers have no choice but to use them" and conscription for military service will certainly damage the agricultural and mulberry industry; the expedition of the labor division will make it difficult to defeat the enemy; and the lack of support will inevitably lead to low morale. Therefore, "those who serve the country are based on the people, and the people are based on food and clothing." As long as the emperor "first pays attention to the governance of the Tao" and builds the Central Plains into a paradise of the royal road where both material civilization and spiritual civilization are harvested, the people of the Shu and Wu kingdoms will surely feel the huai dezheng and bring their families to come to the Wei kingdom. Hua Xin successfully persuaded Emperor Wei Ming with the governing concept of "repairing Wende and stopping conquest", so that the war was eliminated into invisibility.
Hua Xin was of noble moral character, "Yuanqing jade is pure, courteous and lawless." ”
However, two of his stories recorded in the New Language of the World prove from the other side that he had a "heart of greed for glory and profit":
When Hua Xin was young, he worked in the vegetable garden with his friend Guan Ning, and suddenly "saw a piece of gold". Guan Ning regarded it as a tile and continued to dig the ground with a hoe. Hua Xin grabbed it and threw it away for a while before he fell in love and didn't want to throw it away;
Another time, when Hua Xin and Guan Ning were studying at the same table, they suddenly heard the drum music outside the door, and it turned out that there were high-ranking officials passing by. Guan Ning turned a deaf ear and devoted himself to reading. Hua Xin was so itchy that he dropped his books and ran outside the door to watch the liveliness. Guan Ning despised his love of fame and fortune, and categorically broke off friendship with him: "Ning cut off the table and sat separately, saying: 'Son is not my friend!'" ’''
Since The New Language of the World is a novel rather than a history book, it is impossible to determine whether the story is true or not. Even if it is true, it can only prove that Huaxin has the heart to enter the country and serve the country, rather than simply admiring fame and fortune.
At the age of 75, Hua Xin died.
The secret of his quiet life and step by step is that he adheres to the bottom line of "loyalty in things, benevolence in the next"! And "being loyal in all things and benevolent in the next" is exactly the code of conduct that anyone in any era should abide by.
【About the author】Xu Yunhui, male, graduated from the Department of Chinese of Yunnan Normal University in 1984 and is now a senior lecturer at Baoshan No.1 Middle School Education Group in Yunnan Province. He has published two monographs and published more than 500,000 words in literary journals at or above the provincial level.
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