The Three Kingdoms at the end of the Han Dynasty were a chaotic and complicated world, with talents competing for deer. When it comes to the chancellors of that period, everyone will first think of Zhuge Liang, who bowed to the fullest, and then think of Cao Cao, who was loyal and indistinguishable. In fact, Wu Guo has a heavy minister, who has been a minister for 19 years in peace and stability, and today we will talk about Gu Yong.
Jiangdong Gushi, Cai Yong's high disciple
Gu Yong (Gu Yong), also spelled Yuansi, was a native of Wu County, Wu County, from one of the four surnames of Wu County, Jiangdong, and his great-grandfather Gu Feng was the Taishou of Yingchuan County, Eastern Han Dynasty. Gu, Lu, Zhu and Zhang are famous clans in Jiangnan, and successive generations of officials and eunuchs have been born.
When Gu Yong was a child, he studied under the famous scholar Cai Yong and learned to play the piano and calligraphy. He is quick-witted, quiet and single-minded, and his art is getting better and better, and he is deeply loved by Cai Yong. Cai Yong gave it a name. Therefore, Gu Yong has the same name as his teacher Cai Yong ("Yong" is homophonous with Cai Yong's "Yong"). Because he was praised by the teacher, he took the word Yuan sigh. Born from the Shi clan and a high disciple of the great master Cai Yong, Gu Yong's career was relatively smooth.
He was first recommended by the prefecture and county, and when he was weak, he served as the county magistrate of Hefei, and successively served as the county magistrate of Lou, Qu'a, and Shangyu, and had achievements in his place. In the fifth year of Jian'an (200), Sun Quan was awarded the title of General of the Imperial Court and understood the Taishou of Ji Commandery. After Sun Quan was appointed, he did not go to the county to take up his post, but took Gu Yong as the county magistrate, acting as the taishou, Gu Yong to get rid of the thieves, so that the county boundary was quiet, the officials and people obeyed, and then entered Sun Quan's shogunate as the left Sima (左司馬).
Silent and taciturn, for nineteen years
The history books record that Gu Yong "did not drink alcohol, was silent, and acted when he was", and there is an example that can well illustrate Gu Yong's quiet speech and calmness. In the first year of Huang Wu's reign (221), Sun Quan was made the King of Wu, and Gu Yong served as Dali and Fengchang, and also received The Shang Shu Ling and was the Marquis of Suixiang. After Gu Yong was enthroned, his family did not know at all, and it was not until he heard about it later that he was surprised (Baihou Huan Temple, and the family did not know, and then he was shocked).
Since Gu Yong joined the Sun camp in 200 AD, he has slowly become the core figure of Sun Wu in the past twenty years, serving as Dali, Feng chang, and leading Shang Shuling. In 225 AD, Sun Shao, the first chancellor of the State of Wu, died of illness, and all the courtiers elected the highly respected Zhang Zhao as the chancellor, but Sun Quan said: "How can loneliness be stingy with Zibu, but considering that the affairs of the chancellor are complicated, and his temperament is strong, if his words are not listened to, there will be resentment and criticism, which is not good for him." ”
Therefore, Gu Yong was appointed as the prime minister. After Gu Yong became the prime minister, he imitated the method of governing the country in the early Han Dynasty, and when choosing a civilian and military general, he must choose a competent one, and never choose based on personal likes and dislikes. And once assigned, he will entrust them wholeheartedly. He often visited the people, gathered suggestions, and secretly spared Sun Quan. If it is adopted, it is credited to Sun Quan; if it is not adopted, it is never said. Sun Quan therefore valued him.
However, he made statements and suggestions at the imperial court, and although his words and expressions were obedient, the principles he upheld were upright and unyielding. Sun Quan consulted the government's gains and losses, and the Assistant Wu general Zhang Zhao took the opportunity to state the opinions he had collected, believing that the law was too strict and the punishment was too heavy, and should be detracted. Sun Quan listened silently. He turned back to Gu Yong and asked, "What do you think?" Gu Yong replied, "What the minister heard was what Zhang Zhao said." So Sun Quan discussed the commutation of punishment in prison.
At that time, the generals stationed at the front line offered strategies to curry favor with the enemy, and Sun Quan asked Gu Yong about this, and Gu Yong replied: The ministers believe that they are all for their own selfish merits, so they should not obey. Sun Quan had great respect and trust for Gu Yong, and would send Zhongshu Lang to consult him whenever he had a problem. Earnestly listen to Gu Yong's opinions, and then formulate corresponding policies.
Life, glory, death and mourning are respected for future generations
In the fourth year of Huang Wu (225), Gu Yong welcomed his mother to Wuchang in Wu County. After arriving in Wuchang, Sun Quan personally congratulated and paid homage to his mother in court, and the ministers attended the banquet, and then the crown prince Sun Deng came to celebrate. Sun Quan once sighed: "Gu Jun does not speak, as long as he says it, there will be a middle." ”
When the courtiers were drinking and feasting, everyone was afraid that they would be seen by Gu Yong after drinking, so they did not dare to enjoy it. Sun Quan also said: "Gu Gong is seated, so we can't be happy. "He is awe-inspiring to such an extent (and he is ashamed of it).
In November of the sixth year of Chiwu (243), Gu Yong died at the age of seventy-six. Sun Quan dressed in filial piety went to the altar and was given the title of "Su". Sun Quan was a somewhat careful person, he did not let Zhang Zhao serve as a chancellor, forced gu Yong's successor Lu Xun to die, but he and Gu Yong lived in peace for 19 years, which shows Gu Yong's superiority.
References: Notes on Pei Songzhi in romance of the Three Kingdoms, And Lu Simian in History of the Three Kingdoms