At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the number of generals surged, the ranks were disordered, the number was rampant, and it depreciated rapidly in a very short period of time. This particular phenomenon has specific historical causes.
During the Yellow Turban Rebellion (184), the Han dynasty's counterinsurgency commanders, Lu Zhi, Zhu Juan, and Huang Fusong, were no more than generals in the military; when Dong Zhuo was on Luo (189), the general number appeared to be rampant, but it had not yet become significant; after Dong Zhuo's death (192), the general number collapsed and became uncontrollable.
This article wants to discuss the causes and ends of the "collapse and disintegration of the military rank system" in the late Eastern Han Dynasty.
It should be said that Dong Zhuo shangluo is the fuse of the "flooding of military posts."
On the one hand, it led to the Kwantung warlords (represented by Yuan Shao) "conferring on themselves" in order to strengthen the legal system; on the other hand, it led to Dong Zhuo's successors further abusing military titles in order to counter the Kwantung warlords' arbitrary positions, and eventually the military rank system completely collapsed.
Interestingly, Dong Zhuo himself showed quite restraint in "sealing the military post", but this did not delay the historical trend of the collapse of the military post.
This article totals 4900 words and takes 10 minutes to read
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="9" > Dong Zhuo's cautious attitude</h1>
At the beginning of Dong Zhuo's entry into Beijing (189), he was very cautious about the awarding of the title of general, which required special attention.
After Dong Zhuo ascended to Luo, he was "much prominent" to the Gongqing courtiers; and his own confidants were "but for the generals". It can be seen from this that Dong Zhuo does not attach importance to positions such as Shangshu, County Shou, and Zhou Mu, but attaches great importance to military posts.
(Dong Zhuo) although there is no way to do it, but he is still patient and temperamental, and he uses the crowd. It was the official Shangshu Hanyang Zhou Jue, the Shizhong Runanwu Qiong, the Shangshu Zheng Gongye, the Changshi He Yong, etc... (Dong) Zhuo is dear and does not hold a prominent position, but only a general. --The Book of the Later Han Dynasty, The Biography of Dong Zhuo
Even for positions such as "Zhonglang General", Dong Zhuo did not indiscriminately worship him. At that time, only Dong Zhuo's son-in-law Niu Fu, the general Xu Rong, Duan Sheng, and a few others served as zhonglang generals. As for Li Dai, Guo Feng, Fan Chou, Zhang Ji, Jia Xu and other Liangzhou generals, they were only lieutenants.
(Dong Zhuo) is the envoy Dong Zhonglang (東中郎) to Dong Yue Tun Tun Pond,Zhonglang (中郎將段煨屯华煨) to Huayin,Zhonglang (中郎將牛助屯安邑), and the rest of Zhonglang (中郎) to serve as a lieutenant in zhu county (朱山) to yu Shandong. --The Book of the Later Han Dynasty, The Biography of Dong Zhuo
Note: For the examination of the official positions of the generals under Dong Zhuo, see Fang Shiming's "Dong Zhuo and the Liangzhou Military Group".
This cautious attitude is closely related to Dong Zhuo's own experience.
Dong Zhuo served in the Yulin Army in Luoyang as a young man, and then followed Zhang Yi in the Areas of He and Liang for nearly twenty years. After such a long period of service, Dong Zhuo was only mixed into a position of "General of Dongzhong Lang".
(Dong Zhuo) was later the Assassin of Hezhou, and the Taishou of Hedong. In the first year of Zhongping, Baidong Zhonglang general. --The Book of the Later Han Dynasty, The Biography of Dong Zhuo
In the first year of Zhongping, Dong Zhuo paid homage to General Dong Zhonglang
If it were not for the Yellow Turban Rebellion (184) and the Liangzhou Qiang Rebellion (185), Dong Zhuo would most likely have retired as a "Zhonglang General". This tragic experience will undoubtedly make Dong Zhuo cherish the title of "general" even more.
Therefore, during Dong Zhuo's reign (189-192), the only people in the Liangzhou Army who really received the title of general were Dong Zhuo (former general) and his brother Dong Min (Zuo General). His nephew Dong Huang could only serve as a lieutenant.
(Dong) Zhuo Di (Dong) Min was a general of the left and the Marquis of Feng, and his brother (Dong) Huang was a lieutenant of the Shizhong and Zhongjun Military Academies; and the clan was juxtaposed with the imperial court. --The Biography of Dong Zhuo
Even Lü Bu, the leader of the State Army, could only be relegated to the position of "Riding Lieutenant". Knight Lieutenant was a subordinate officer of Guanglu Xun, whose rank was 2,000 stones, and was at the same level as the lieutenant and lieutenant general, but still did not reach the rank of general (2,000 stones).
(Lü) Bu Chop (Ding) former shou Yi (Dong) Zhuo, Zhuo Yibu as a riding lieutenant. --The Biography of Lü Bu of Wei
It can be seen from this that although Dong Zhuo was called the "Seed of Qianghu" and did not learn any techniques, he was very cautious about the appointment and dismissal of military positions, especially the awarding of the general title.
(Emperor Fugui) Wife knew that it was inevitable, and Nai Li scolded (Dong) Zhuo Yue: "The seed of Junqiang Hu poisons the world, and it is not evil enough!" --The Book of the Later Han Dynasty
Interestingly, although Dong Zhuo did not indiscriminately award military trumpets, it was precisely because of Dong Zhuo that the flood of generals was caused.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="120" > unauthorized signature in the Kanto region</h1>
Dong Zhuo held Tianzi hostage, and he monopolized the power to "undertake and worship". In this context, in order to strengthen their own legal system, the Kwantung warlords were forced to sign each other and recommend each other.
In the first year of Chuping (190), the Kwantung warlords met in Acid Jujube County and threatened to attack Dong Zhuo.
At that time, most of the members of the coalition army were old bureaucrats in Luoyang. For example, Han Fu is Shangshu, Yuan Shao is a lieutenant, Yuan Shu is a lieutenant of Hu Ben, Cao Cao is a lieutenant of Xiao Riding, Zhang Mi is a lieutenant of Riding Capital, and so on.
Stagnant men, many outstanding. (Dong Zhuo) took Shangshu Hanfu as the History of The Assassination of Jizhou, Liu Dai as the History of the Thorn of Yanzhou, Chen Liukong as the History of the Assassination of Yuzhou, and Zhang Zhi of Yingchuan as the Taishou of Nanyang. --The Book of Shu, The Biography of Xu Jing
Judging from the promotion records of Han court officials, the rank of the military rank seems to be particularly lofty.
For example, after being drafted to Luoyang, he was transferred to the post of Knight Commander (比二千石).
(and state) Thorn Shi Ding was originally a knight lieutenant, Tun Hanoi, with (Lü) Bu as the main book, and even saw relatives and attendants. --The Book of the Later Han Dynasty
As for Dong Zhuo, he successively served as the Governor of Hezhou and the Taishou of Hedong, and then "moved to the general of Lang". It can be seen that the actual shift of General Nakaro (than two thousand stones) was higher than that of Thorn Shi and Gun Shou (two thousand stones) in the environment at that time.
Zheng Bai (Dong Zhuo) and the state assassin Shi, Hedong Taishou, Qianzhong Lang general. --The Biography of Dong Zhuo
According to this, none of the many warlords in the Kanto region can meet the threshold of a general. Ironically, in order to enhance their legitimacy, the Kwantung princes called themselves generals and inflated their stature.
Lieutenant Yuan Shao, who called himself a che riding general, rose several ranks in a row. The rest of the people followed suit, and even Cao Cao, who was a lieutenant at the time, also called himself "General Xingfenwu", that is, the acting general, lest he fall behind.
Yu Jun Xiantun Sour Jujube, Covenant, Yaotui (Yuan) Shao as the lord of the alliance. Shao Zi was a riding general and a lieutenant colonel. --The Book of the Later Han Dynasty, The Biography of Yuan Shao
The (Kwantung princes) had tens of thousands of people, and Push (Yuan) Shao was made the lord of the alliance. General Taizu Xing Fenwu. --Book of Wei, Chronicle of Emperor Wu
Yuan Shao called himself the Che Riding General and Cao Cao Xing Fenwu General
This situation of "unauthorized arrangement" has not been alleviated with time.
In fact, the warlords of each town not only claimed to be generals, but also opened houses without authorization, requisitioned subordinates, and repeatedly added officials to their subordinates. Yuan Shao even took the opportunity of supporting Liu Yu to "undertake the system of worship" under the name of "Recording Shang Shu Shi", which led to the further proliferation of military posts.
(Yuan Shao) sent an envoy to (Liu) Yu, but Yu finally refused to accept it. Shao and others repeatedly advised Yu to lead Shang Shushi and undertake to make worship, but Yu did not listen, but yu yu and Shao and others were reconciled. --The Book of Wei and the Biography of Gongsun Zhan
In the third year of Chuping (192), the Chang'an warlords were infighting, Lü Bu attacked and killed Dong Zhuo, and Li Dai attacked and killed Lü Bu, causing Lü Bu to flee to Guandong and attach himself to Yuan Shao.
Lü Bu lived in Guanzhong for a long time, and when he first arrived, he saw the proliferation of pseudo-posts in Yuan Shao's shogunate, and he couldn't help but laugh at it, which made Yuan Shao very faceless.
(Lü) Bu thought that he had contributed to the Yuan clan, and he was arrogant (Yuan) shao subordinate to the generals, thinking that he was good at signing and not enough to be noble. --Heroes
Cao Cao's situation was similar to that of Yuan Shao. He was also restrained when he was initially awarded the military post. Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Xiahou Yuan, and other clan officials could only serve as lieutenants and lieutenants for a time.
(Cao Ren) from Taizu to Sima of the other department, acting as a lieutenant of Li Feng. --The Biography of Wei Shu and Cao Ren
Taizu Xing Fenwu was a general, with (Xiahou) Huan as Sima (司馬), Beitun Baima (別屯白馬), and Qianchong As a lieutenant. --The Book of Wei and the Biography of Xiahou Huan
But as time went on, Cao Cao's boldness grew. During the Xingping period (194-195), even wang zhong, a starving man, was given the title of general Zhonglang.
Three auxiliary chaos, (Wang) loyal hunger and lack of people, with the generation of south to Wuguan... Gather more than a thousand people to return to the (Cao) Gong. Bye (Wang) Zhongzhong Lang General. - "Wei Luo"
After holding Tianzi hostage (196), Cao Cao even unleashed himself and abused him. A large number of unseen miscellaneous generals have sprung up like mushrooms after a rain.
This was true not only of Yuan Shao and Cao Cao, but also of the small and medium-sized local feudal towns.
For example, the Yangzhou warlord Sun Ce, because he had not been formally enfeoffed for a long time ("General Kou Kou" was yuan shu's signature), actually threatened the Han dynasty emissary Wang Fu and demanded the title of general.
Wang Fu was forced to make up his own mind and promoted Sun Ce from "Riding Lieutenant" to "Ming Han General", and Sun Ce gave up.
(Sun) Ce thought that he was in charge of the soldiers and horses, but he was light on the county of the cavalry lieutenant, and wanted to get the title of general and make people sarcastic (Wang) Auxiliary. (Wang) Fu Ben undertakes the system, and the false (Sun) General Ce Ming Han. --"The Legend of Jiang Biao"
Sun Ce took the cavalry lieutenant as a lighter and wanted to get the general's number
By the early years of the Three Kingdoms, military positions such as generals, lieutenant generals, lieutenants, and lieutenants had been swept up and flooded to the extreme.
In the seventh year of Huang Wu (228), the Wu state of Poyang was too defensive of Zhou Que, and in the letter of deception to Cao Xiu, he begged for hundreds of seals of generals and lieutenants as soon as he opened his mouth. It can be seen that the general's title is indeed worthless at this time.
In this important matter, since the non-knighthood could not be persuaded, he begged the general and Hou Yin to have fifty buttons each, Lang general Yin Bai Niu, and lieutenant colonel and du wei each 200 nu, and they could be falsely awarded to the commanders of the commanders and rewarded Li Qizhi. --The Biography of Wu Shu and Zhou Qu
Although the phenomenon of military trumpet obscenity in the Kanto region is a spontaneous act of the princes, it can be traced back to the source, in fact, in order to oppose Dong Zhuo, and was forced to sign it without permission.
In other words, although Dong Zhuo did not indiscriminately confer military posts, he unexpectedly led to the flood of military posts in the Kwantung region.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="135" > the flood of military trumpets in the Guanzhong region after Dong Zhuo's death</h1>
Although Dong Zhuo showed caution and restraint in the awarding of military posts, after Dong Zhuo's death, the Liangzhou clique did not follow this system, but completely destroyed the military post system.
In the third year of Chuping (192), Dong Zhuo died in Chang'an. His generals Li Dai( Li Dai , Guo Feng , and others were plundering Yingchuan in Yuzhou at the time , and when they heard that Dong Zhuo had been killed , they immediately led their troops back west.
After retaking Chang'an, Li Dai thought that he "had the merit of Xue Lü bu", so he promoted his rank from "lieutenant" to "general of the cheri".
(Li Dai) said: "I have the merit of Xue Lübu, auxiliary government for four years, three auxiliary qingjing, the world knows it." ——"Notes on the Living of the Emperor Xiandi"
(Li) Dai was a che riding general, the marquis of Chiyang, a lieutenant colonel, and a false festival. --The Biography of Dong Zhuo
At the same time, the Liangzhou general who participated in this military operation was also vigorously promoted. Zhang Jiqian was a general of the Hun Horse, Guo Feng was a general after the move, Fan Chou was moved to the right general, Zhang Xiuqian was a general of Jianzhong, Jia Xu was the general of the official Shangshu, and later moved to the general of Xuanyi.
Guo (郭) 汜 was made the Marquis of Meiyang (後將軍) and the Marquis of Meiyang. Fan (樊) Chou was the Right General and the Marquis of Wannian. Dai, Feng, and Chou are good at government. (Zhang) Ji was a general of the Hussars, marquis of Pingyang, and Tun Hongnong. --The Biography of Dong Zhuo
Nai Geng Bai (Jia) Shu Shu, Canon Election... (Li) Daifu (Jia) was made a general of Xuanyi. --"Wei Shu Jia Xu Biography"
Judging from the records, the Liangzhou warlords represented by Li and Guo, when Dong Zhuo was alive, had no more official positions than lieutenants, and even the general Zhonglang could not reach it; but after the villains became rich, they actually took the title of heavy general. It can be seen that they have no concept of the imperial court canonical system at all.
Li Dai did not learn any skills, and was called "a border despised person", and Guo Feng was even more of a "horse thief", and the level of education was so low that it can be imagined. Their understanding of the imperial court system was far worse than Dong Zhuo's.
Yang Qi, the attendant, said: "(Li) Dao, a contemptible person, is accustomed to Yi Feng. ——"Notes on the Living of the Emperor Xiandi"
Guo Duo (郭汜小字多), a thief of Ma Yu'er. --Notes on the Emperor's Living
Li Dai and Guo Feng entered Chang'an and indiscriminately worshipped them
After the situation in Chang'an stabilized, Duan Sheng, Yang Ding, Yang Feng, Dong Cheng, and other old subordinates of Dong Zhuo also received the edict of the general.
Yang Feng was born as a white wave thief, and after one night's career, he was awarded the title of general, but he was still dissatisfied, and even "although Li Dai worshiped him, he still refused to do his best."
Yang Feng, Bai Bo Shuai'er, and Yu Zhi (referring to Li Dai) did not do anything wrong, and although the general worshiped him, he still refused to do his best. --Notes on the Emperor's Living
In order to "Zhen'an Fangxia", the Li Dai clique also wantonly awarded the local warlord the title of "Heavy General". For example, the Liangzhou chieftains Ma Teng and Han Sui were awarded the generals Zhengxi and Zhenxi respectively, Liu Biao was awarded the general of Zhennan, Yuan Shu was awarded the left general, and Tao Qian was awarded the general of Andong.
At the age of the year, Han Sui, Ma Teng, and others descended, leading the crowd to Chang'an. (Li Dai) made (Han) a general of Zhenxi and sent back to Liangzhou, (Ma) Tengzhengxi general, Tun Yu. --The Biography of Dong Zhuo
Li Dai and Guo Feng entered Chang'an and wanted to help (Liu) as a reinforcement, but they used (Liu) as the general of Zhennan and Jingzhou Mu. --The Book of Wei, The Biography of Liu Biao
Tianzi capital Chang'an, the four sides severed, (Tao) Qian sent envoys to contribute, moved to General Andong, Xuzhou Mu. --The Biography of Wei Shu and Tao Qian
For a time, everyone in the Kwantung princes was red-eyed, and they increased the intensity of their pseudo-duties, almost setting off a military trumpet competition.
At that time, Emperor Xian of Han was young and ignorant, and did not know much about the ritual law. After he moved the capital to Xu County in the first year of Jian'an (196), he also turned to Yuan Shao's staff Ying Shao for the imperial court to "re-enact the system".
When the (Tianzi) began to move the capital to Xu, the old chapter was lost, and the secretary rarely existed. (Ying) sighed indignantly, but the collection was heard, and he wrote "The Story of Han Official Etiquette". Where the imperial court system, the hundred official canonical style, more (should) be established. --The Book of the Later Han Dynasty
Emperor Xian moved east, erected walls, and competed for worship
Therefore, Emperor Xian did not perceive anything wrong with Li Dai and others. On the way to the east (195-196), he also repeatedly added officials to his subordinates, and was ridiculed as "building a group of walls and competing for a job", and even the seal was not enough, and he "painted it with a cone".
(Emperor Xian) worshiped Hu Cai to conquer the eastern general, and Zhang Yang was the general of An Guo, all of whom opened the palace on a false holiday. Its walls are erected, competing for worship, and the engraving is not given, but is painted with a cone. --The Book of the Later Han Dynasty, The Biography of Dong Zhuo
Whether active or passive, this unprincipled act of worshipping the emperor further aggravated the indecency and collapse of the military trumpet.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="150" > summary</h1>
The historical event of the Liangzhou clique's control of the Han Dynasty inadvertently led to the devaluation of the Eastern Han military position.
Although Dong Zhuo himself showed more restraint on the "fengbai military trumpet", the Kwantung princes were unknown, and in order to oppose Dong Zhuo, they had to raise their own value and arbitrarily signed each other, resulting in the obscenity of the military trumpet in the Kwantung region.
At the same time, Dong Zhuo's successors, Li Dai and Guo Feng, due to their limited cultural level and no concept of the Han Dynasty canon, indiscriminately accepted them, resulting in a similar phenomenon in the Guanzhong region.
To make matters worse, when Li Dai came to power (192), the Kwantung warlords experienced more than three years (189-192) of "unauthorized representation" and were no longer satisfied with the titles of lieutenant and lieutenant general.
Therefore, when Li Dai was paying homage to the princes of the Kwantung, he had to use a large number of heavy titles such as "Zheng", "Town", and "Sifang", which led to an unprecedented flood of heavy generals.
When Cao Cao was young, the highest ideal of his life was to serve as the "General of the West Expedition", but under the baptism of Chuping (190-193) and Xingping (194-195) in just a few years, Cao Cao was no longer satisfied with the "Four Marches". In the first year of Jian'an (196), after Cao Cao threatened Tianzi, he unexpectedly made himself a great general for the first time. The expansion of the mentality is self-evident.
Desire to be a marquis, to be a general of the Western Expedition, and then inscribed the tomb saying "The Tomb of the General Cao Hou of the Han Dynasty", this Qizhi also. --"Let the County Self-Disclosure Book"
In September of the first year of Jian'an, the car drove out of the way and went east, with Taizu as the great general and the Marquis of Wuping. --Book of Wei, Chronicle of Emperor Wu
In the past (189), Dong Zhuo Shangluo was temperamental and tolerant, and promoted the crowd; he was quite restrained in worshipping his own subordinates. Unexpectedly, in just a few years, the land of Shenzhou set off a terrible military trumpet competition, and even "doctors and pawns are lieutenants", and finally formed the absurd scene of "counties as emperors, counties and counties as kings", which was probably something that Dong Zhuo had never expected.
The generals may send their wives to the provinces, or they will drink wine from themselves, and drink from the Heavenly Son... He also bid to worship the people of the camp as a part of the song and asked for their gifts. The physician and the pawn are all lieutenants. --Wang Shen, Book of Wei
Junru thought that the county was the emperor, and the county was the king. --Heroes
Proverb cloud: There is a heart to plant flowers and flowers, and there is no heart to plant willows. The butterfly effect caused by Dong Zhuo Shangluo is probably the same!
I am Fat Mi, the original author of the history of the headline number. Talk about historical anecdotes and focus on the history of the Three Kingdoms. From the clues in Shi Hai's sinking hook and the Yoshimitsu katayu, to analyze the hidden meaning behind the unfolding.
Thanks for reading.