Yuwen Yong, Emperor Wudi of Northern Zhou: The key figure who promoted the unification of the Sui Dynasty In ancient Chinese history, there were eight major unified dynasties, one of which was the Sui Dynasty. The unified status of the Sui Dynasty is very important in Chinese history, and it is known as a dynasty with the same name as the Qin Dynasty. However, thanks to one person who could achieve this unification, he was Yuwen Yong, the emperor of Northern Zhou. Yuwen Yong laid a solid foundation for the unification of the Sui Dynasty, and he himself was a beloved emperor by the people.
However, his life ended early. All this just to usher in that special day. March 18, 572, Chang'an City, seems to be an ordinary day. Yuwen Yong sat in the hall, and the spring breeze blew on his face, as if he was caressing this proud son of heaven in Chang'an City. His cousin Yuwen Hu is returning to Chang'an today, Yuwen Yong is sitting in the palace waiting, and the two brothers are going to visit the Empress Dowager together.
Yuwen Yong anxiously said to his cousin, "Brother, you can be considered back!" Could you please do me a favor? He took out a piece of "Wine Curse" from his arms and handed it to Yuwen Go. "Jiuxuan" was written after the rulers of the Western Zhou Dynasty destroyed Yin Shang, to the effect that the Yin merchant aristocracy led by King Shun drank heavily all day long, ignoring the imperial government, and eventually led to chaos in the world. Yuwen Yong hoped that Yuwen Hu would persuade the Empress Dowager to drink less as a way to show his support for Yuwen Yong.
The two brothers went to meet the Empress Dowager together, and after some courtesy greetings, Yuwen Hu began to advise the Empress Dowager to drink less. However, this exhortation eventually ended with Yuwen Go's assassination, and Yuwen Yong breathed a long sigh of relief with peace of mind. Back in 556, 16 years ago, Yuwen Yong's cousin Yuwen Tai transferred power to Yuwen Hu on his deathbed. However, Yuwen Gou began his journey of "slaying the dragon".
He deposed and killed Tuoba Kuo, the last emperor of Western Wei, and installed Yuwen Jue, the third son of his uncle Yuwen Tai, as emperor, thus establishing Northern Zhou. However, Yuwen Gou's private act of taking power caused the dissatisfaction of Duguxin, Li Yuan and other four old ministers, who secretly planned to get rid of Yuwen Gou, but Yuwen Gou attacked first. Subsequently, Yuwen Gou deposed and killed the emperor Yuwen Jue, who wanted to seize power, and installed Yuwen Tai's eldest son Yuwen Yu as emperor.
In just three years, Yuwen Hu deposed and killed three emperors, and was known as the most ruthless courtier in history. Next, Yuwen Yong became his next target, and Yuwen Yong became the emperor of Northern Zhou. However, unlike his two older brothers, Yuwen Yong is willing to act as a puppet and obey Yuwen Gou's arrangement. However, Yuwen Yong did not know that his two brothers were killed by Yuwen Go. However, Yuwen Yong is not an unassertive person.
After being warned by the tragic experience of the two brothers, Yuwen Yong made two efforts after careful consideration. On the one hand, in order to avoid Yuwen Go's suspicions, he must hide his inner resentment, show a submissive attitude, and let Yuwen Gou behave. On the other hand, he secretly cultivates his own power to prepare for the future. After twelve years of patience, that special day finally came.
Yuwen Yong felt extremely relieved, he knew that he could celebrate tonight, but tomorrow, reform must begin. Yuwen Yong instituted a series of reforms, including the release of slaves, the construction of water conservancy, the strengthening of the army, and the campaign to exterminate Buddhism. He ordered the release of slaves six times and granted them a civilian household register, a move that weakened the remnants of slavery, freed up productive forces, and promoted socio-economic development.
At the same time, Yuwen Yong carried out large-scale water conservancy construction, using freed slave labor to turn barren land into fertile land, thereby greatly increasing grain production. In addition, Yuwen Yong also strengthened the construction and control of the army, transferred military power to the central government, expanded the recruitment targets of the government soldiers, improved the social status and economic treatment of the government soldiers, and made the government soldiers a powerful army. In addition, Yuwen Yong also promoted the movement to eradicate Buddhism.
He controlled the overdevelopment of Buddhism by raising the status of Confucianism and Taoism. Yuwen Yong organized large debates for Confucian, Taoist and Buddhist figures to express their views face-to-face. In the end, Yuwen Yong announced that Confucianism was the highest, Taoism second, and Buddhism was the third. Although this decision caused displeasure among the monks, Yuwen Yong insisted that they should accept the result. In the end, Yuwen Yong issued an edict banning the spread of Buddhism and forcing monks to return to the laity.
Through this campaign to exterminate Buddhism, Yuwen Yong weakened the power of Buddhism and increased the country's economic and military strength. At the same time, the surrounding dynasty of Northern Qi was on the road to collapse. The Northern Qi rulers were overly superstitious about Buddhism, seeing it as a miraculous force, which led to poor state finances of the state. In addition, the extravagant and wasteful rulers of Northern Qi exacerbated the country's financial woes. These factors combined to contribute to the decline of Northern Qi.
In general, Northern Zhou achieved great achievements under the leadership of Yuwen Yong. Through reform measures, Yuwen Yong enhanced the country's economic and military strength, laying a solid foundation for the unification of the Sui Dynasty. His efforts and wisdom paved the way for the later Sui Dynasty, ushering China into a new historical period. Finally, let's go back to the present. In today's society, do we also need to be as brave as Yuwen Yong to reform and find a new path for the development of the country?
In the face of various problems and challenges, can we maintain wisdom and patience like Yuwen Yong, make continuous efforts, and contribute our own strength to the prosperity and development of the country? Perhaps this is something that each of us needs to think about. What do you think of Yuwen Yong's reform measures and his efforts to unify China? What do you think in today's society that we need to be as brave as Yuwen Yong to reform? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
An ambitious emperor, a son full of hatred, an unexpected fate. This is the story of Northern Zhou, an era full of joy and pain. His father, Emperor Wucheng Gao Zhan, was addicted to pleasure and ignored imperial politics, but was at the mercy of his courtiers. After his son succeeded to the throne, he actually engaged in ethnic discrimination, resulting in unprecedentedly fierce ethnic contradictions and struggles. However, behind all this, there was a man named Yuwen Yong who silently changed the fate of Northern Zhou.
The slaves of the Northern Zhou Dynasty lived a good life, worked for gains, and regained their freedom, while the Han people lived a miserable life. This kind of difference makes people think deeply, why are the same people of Northern Zhou so different? Yuwen Yong realized that only by resolving ethnic contradictions could the reunification of the north be realized. As a result, Yuwen Yong began preparations for the Battle of Fa Qi in Northern Qi.
He thought the time was ripe, and the difference in military power was immediately apparent. In just two battles, Northern Zhou defeated and destroyed Northern Qi. Yuwen Yong successfully unified the north and became the most powerful state in China. His achievements are comparable to the Qin Emperor Han Wu, and the dream of dominating the world is imminent. However, fate is so unpredictable. Yuwen Yong eventually lost to his own body, and he died before the Northern Expedition to the Turks at the age of 36.
His dream could not be fulfilled in person, but 10 years later, a man named Yang Jian realized this dream for him, unified China, and opened the curtain of the Sui and Tang Dynasties. Yuwen Yong's brief reign did not prevent his name from being remembered. He was a great statesman, reformer, and emperor who contributed greatly to the unification of Northern Zhou. His story teaches us that even with ill-fate, those who pursue their dreams still deserve to be respected and remembered.
The history of the Northern Zhou Dynasty leaves us with many thoughts. Why is there such a huge difference between the same people of Northern Zhou in the same era? How to resolve ethnic contradictions and achieve true reunification? Yuwen Yong's story provides us with inspiration. Only through equality, harmony and justice can differences between people be eliminated and the prosperity and stability of the country achieved.
Perhaps there are still various inequities and contradictions in today's society, but we can learn from Yuwenyong's story that as long as we persist in pursuing our dreams and strive to improve the status quo, we can also create a more just and harmonious society. So, how do you think to solve the contradictions and inequities that exist in modern society? What suggestions and thoughts do you have? Let's explore together!
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