From a modern point of view, a large part of the reason why Feng Tang is difficult to achieve in his life is actually because of himself. Because he himself will not seize the opportunity, the vision of the situation is also relatively poor.
If we briefly take a look at Feng Tang's life, we will find that Feng Tang's luck is actually not bad, and his family background is also good. In his life, there have been several good opportunities, but unfortunately, he has not been able to grasp any of these opportunities.
Feng Tang's grandfather was a general of the State of Zhao during the Warring States period. His father, on the other hand, served as the acting minister of state after the establishment of the Western Han Dynasty.
The position of acting minister is actually quite special. Because after Han Gaozu's ancestor Liu Bang unified the world, he did not have several kings in total, and these kings were also relatives of his family. Among them, the DaiWang was the later Emperor Liu Heng of the Han Dynasty.
This history is more complicated to say, in short, after Liu Bang's death, his concubine Liu Ying took the throne. But only a few years later, Liu Ying died, and lü Yan came to the court to take over. After Lü Yan's death, the heroes of the Western Han Dynasty staged a coup d'état and re-established Liu Bang's son, Liu Heng, the Acting King, on the throne.
That is to say, Feng Tang's father, when Liu Heng was the acting king, once assisted Liu Heng. Moreover, those years, for Liu Heng, can be said to be the most difficult period of life. Therefore, the companionship and assistance at this time are particularly precious.
After Feng Tang became an adult, he was directly appointed as the director of Zhonglang. The so-called Director Zhonglang, in modern terms, is the captain of the guard team next to Liu Heng. This position is also very special.
His father had been assisted by the emperor in his youth, and after Feng Tang became an adult, he was directly transferred to the emperor's side. Such a resume is obviously that Emperor Wen of Han intended to cultivate Feng Tang at that time. Under normal circumstances, Feng Tang's future career will definitely be smooth.
But interestingly, for many years to come, Feng Tang did not seem to have been promoted much.
What happened to Feng Tang at that time? Why does it not go up all the time? There is nothing in this history book. But from the later events, we have reason to believe that Feng Tang is most likely because his personality is too stubborn to handle interpersonal relationships, so he can't rise up.
It was not until many years later, once, that Emperor Wen of Han passed by the official office where Feng Tang was serving and saw Feng Tang. Then, Emperor Wendi of Han came to Feng Tang and asked him: Why are you still working here?
Feng Tang answered truthfully.
Emperor Wen of Han also said: When I was in Dai County, people around me often told me that the general Li Qi at the end of Qin was good, do you know this person?
Feng Tang replied: This person is not as good as Lian Po and Li Mu. When my grandfather used to fight in the war, he had a good relationship with Li Mu. Later, my father and Li Qi also knew each other and knew them as people.
Emperor Wendi of Han was greatly excited at this time, patting his thigh and saying: Unfortunately, I can't get such famous generals as Lian Po and Li Mu. If there were such a famous general, why should I worry about the Huns in the north?
From this passage, in fact, we can see that Emperor Wen of Han already had the intention of promoting Feng Tang at this time. If Feng Tang is smart enough, then Feng Tang should recommend himself, saying that he is not bad, and asking to go to the north to serve. Then Emperor Wen of Han was able to push the boat along the water and pull Feng Tang up.
However, Feng Tang's answer next was unbelievable.
Feng Tang said: "Your Majesty, even if you meet such generals, you will not use them."
In light of the context at the time, we have reason to believe that Feng Tang's words meant to complain. But he forgot that the person he was talking to at this time was the emperor.
After Emperor Wendi of Han listened, he was furious and almost brushed his sleeves away. However, Emperor Wen of Han was a broad-minded person in the end, and at this time he had the intention of promotion. So Emperor Wen of Han forcibly suppressed the anger and continued to ask Feng Tang: How do you know that I will not use it?
This time, Feng Tang finally did not complain anymore, but began to help Emperor Wendi of Han analyze the situation. At that time, the general Wei Shang, who coincided with the town guarding the north, was stripped of his official position and knighthood by Emperor Wen of Han and sentenced for misreporting military merits. Feng Tang took this incident as an example and advised Emperor Wen of Han that the punishment should not be too heavy and the reward too light.
Feng Tang's answer has always been admired by many people in later generations, and is considered to be a clear idea of reward and punishment. But from a modern point of view, it is not difficult for us to find that Feng Tang's idea is problematic!
Wei Shang was a famous general who guarded the northern land of Zhen and made great military achievements, which was true. But his misreporting of military merit is also a fact. From the point of view of state management, merit and fault cannot be offset. Especially when the Northern Xiongnu were extremely threatening, the military law of the border army had to be strict enough. If everyone did this like Wei Shang and falsely reported military merits, then the northern border of the Han Dynasty was estimated to collapse!
Feng Tang's insight actually made Emperor Wen of Han see how much talent he really had. Considering the background of the times at that time, we have reason to believe that Emperor Wen of Han actually had the intention of pardoning Wei Shang at this time. Therefore, after Feng Tang advised, Emperor Wen of Han simply pushed the boat along the water, and let Feng Tang as an envoy to pardon Wei Shang and let Wei Shang continue to serve as the Taishou of Yunzhong County. At the same time, Emperor Wen of Han also made Feng Tang a lieutenant and began to work as a general on the border.
After that, Feng Tang went to the border and began his military career at the border. But this experience of his is not recorded in the history books. Obviously, after Feng Tang arrived at the border, he did not make any great achievements.
This is enough to show that Feng Tang's own ability may not be as strong as everyone thinks.
A few years later, Emperor Wen of Han died and Emperor Jing of Han took the throne. After that, Feng Tang was reappointed as the Minister of Chu. But not long after, Feng Tang was dismissed again.
As for why Feng Tang was dismissed, there is also no record in the history books. But if we relate to the background of the times at that time, we can actually find some clues. After the Han Jing Emperor ascended the throne, the biggest problem he faced was the problem of cutting the domain.
In the State of Chu, which was sealed during the Han Dynasty, the first King of Chu was Liu Bang's younger brother, and by this time it had been passed down to the third Generation of King Chu. Among all the princely states of the Western Han Dynasty, the State of Chu was the stronger one, and the king of Chu at this time was relatively distant from the blood relationship of Emperor Jing of Han. Later, this third-generation Chu king did unite with other princes to launch the famous 'Rebellion of the Seven Kingdoms'.
For such a Chu king, the envy of the Han Jing Emperor was naturally conceivable. And the meaning of sending Feng Tang forward is naturally not exaggerated. Unfortunately, Feng Tang did not understand the meaning of the Han Jing Emperor, so he was later removed.
After that, when emperor Jingdi of Han died and Emperor Wu of Han took the throne and took power. Emperor Wu of Han solicited Xianliang throughout the country, and everyone unanimously recommended Feng Tang. However, at this time, Feng Tang was already more than ninety years old, and it was impossible for him to come out as an official again. Therefore, Emperor Wu of Han could only let his son Feng Sui become a Lang official in the end.
This is the origin of the allusion 'Feng Tang Yi Lao'.
Feng Tang's final ending sounded very good. But in fact, you can think about it, at that time, Feng Tang was more than ninety years old, and with the reproductive age of the ancients, his son was estimated to be not young at this time. Therefore, this move of Emperor Wudi of Han is actually more like a gesture to express his thirst for talents.
As for Feng Tang's son, Emperor Wu of Han was probably not necessarily sincerely promoted.