When it comes to the most controversial character in "Water Margin", it is naturally Song Jiang, the boss of the good man of Liangshan. In the early years, Song Jiang could be regarded as a chivalrous warrior with feelings and righteousness. When he was still a small official, Song Jiang often paid for himself and helped some low-level people. Even if he was later forced to go to Liangshan, he treated his brothers with righteousness and thin clouds, and he was very friendly. It can be said that a righteous word runs through the first half of Song Jiang's life.
However, since Liangshan was recruited by the Great Song Dynasty, song Jiang's contradictions have become prominent. Some people believe that Liangshan should not have been recruited, and it was completely Song Jiang who betrayed his brother in order to satisfy his own selfish desires.
Of course, history proves that Liangshan's recruitment is indeed a tragedy. In the subsequent Fang La Rebellion, the good Han of Liangshan became a pawn of the Song Dynasty against the Fang La army, and more than 70 good Han of Liangshan died in the war, and finally completed the Song River, and he was awarded a Chu prefecture to pacify the envoy. Then, what kind of official position is this Chuzhou pacification envoy who has exchanged more than 70 brothers' lives?
First of all, let's look at the official position of a small official before Song Jiang did not go to Liangshan, saying that it is an official position, in fact, in the Song Dynasty law, officials and officials are two different things. In the final analysis, it belongs to the outside of the system, and there are clear regulations that it is impossible for officials to be promoted. Song Jiang was also well aware of this, so he later took the initiative to rob the Birth Anniversary Class and fell into the Grass Curse.
Because he had saved Chao Gai's life during the robbery of the Birthday Gang, after Song Jiang went to Liangshan, he was directly honored by Chao Gai as a guest of honor, and gave Song Jiang the position of the second chair. And Song Jiang was indeed capable, and during the Caokou period, he led the Liangshan brothers to repeatedly repel the encirclement and suppression of the Song Dynasty, and he soon established his own prestige in Liangshan.
Soon, Liangshan was divided into 2 factions, one dominated by Chao Gai and the other dominated by Song Jiang. After Chao Gai's death, Song Jiang deservedly became the leader of Liangshan. It was also at this time that the imperial court threw an olive branch to Song Jiang. To tell the truth, Song Jiang still has a sense of bureaucracy in him. Even if he was in Liangshan, he still had some illusions about the imperial court in his heart, hoping to make a difference in his career.
This is also why as soon as the imperial court showed favor to Song Jiang, Song Jiang immediately resigned. Despite the opposition of Wu Song, Li Kui and others, he resolutely accepted the invitation with his brothers.
After returning to the imperial court, Song Jiang was also very strong, first taking the initiative to ask Miao to go north to resist the Liao, and then attacking Wang Qing and Tian Hu. In these two wars, Song Jiang did not lose a single general, which can be said to be a rather beautiful fight. In the following battle against the Fang La rebel army, the good men of Liangshan in SongJiang encountered Waterloo. One by one, they died on the battlefield, suffering heavy casualties, and when they finally returned, Liang Shanghaohan sacrificed more than 70 people, leaving only 27 people.
The great sacrifice also gave Song Jiang the opportunity to be promoted to a knighthood, and he was made a pacifying envoy of Chu Prefecture, which was equivalent to today's mayor's position according to the song dynasty's official title system. The lives of more than 70 brothers were exchanged for a mayor, and I don't know if Song Jiang should cry or laugh?
However, crying and laughing could not be caused by Song Jiang. Once his Liangshan brother died, it was no longer useful to the imperial court. In the end, Song Jiang's old account was liquidated, and Gao Li gave him a cup of poisoned wine. When Song Jiang faced this situation, his first thought was to trick Li Kui into drinking with him.
In Song Jiang's view, after his death, Li Kui was bound to rebel against the imperial court, and the image of loyalty and righteousness that he had previously operated would be destroyed. Even death was considered from the perspective of the imperial court, and from beginning to end, Song Jiang did not take the good man of Liangshan as a brother. In the author's humble opinion, Song Jiang can be regarded as a loyal and righteous person, but he is just a hypocrite through and through.