We all know that during the Warring States Period, King Wuling of Zhao implemented the famous "Hufu Cavalry and Archery" reform, which made Zhao from a weak vassal state to one of the powerful countries at that time. This reform may seem simple, but it has only changed the way the army dresses and fights, but it has produced a sea change. However, a closer look at the cause and effect of history reveals that Zhao's strength was not accidental, but the result of a long-standing process of change. This road of change is by no means achieved overnight, it stems from a series of reforms initiated at the beginning of the founding of the Zhao State, and has gone through the efforts and dedication of several generations. The success of Zhao Wuling's Hufu cavalry and archery reform is actually the culmination and crystallization of this long process. So, how did Zhao become strong step by step? What twists and turns and tests have been involved in this road of reform? Let's find out.
The arduous process of Zhao's expansion of territory
In 403 BC, the Jin state in the Spring and Autumn period fell apart, and the Han, Zhao, and Wei families divided the territory of the Jin state, and applied to the Zhou royal family for canonization as a vassal state. This marked the official founding of the Zhao State.
However, the nascent Zhao State faced many difficulties. First of all, when the Zhao family carved up the territory of the Jin Kingdom, the territory they got was in a corner, directly adjacent to the grassland nomads. The nomads were warlike and aggressive, and often harassed the border, which brought huge hidden dangers to the national defense and security of the Zhao State. At the same time, the division of the Jin state will undoubtedly arouse the covetousness of other vassal states such as Qin and Chu, and they are likely to take the opportunity to invade and attempt to reunify the old land of the Jin state.
What is even more tricky is that during this period, iron-smelting technology became more and more mature and popularized in the Central Plains, which brought about profound changes in the social system. In the Bronze Age, the productivity of agricultural tools was limited, and it was extremely difficult to reclaim new land, only the slave-owning class had the ability, and the common people had difficulty supporting themselves. But the advent of iron tools changed the landscape completely, greatly increasing the durability and productivity of agricultural tools, giving the common people the opportunity to become self-sufficient, and the system of slavery collapsed.
Although this revolution in the productive forces brought liberation to the common people, it was a heavy blow to a newly established country like Zhao. The legitimacy and financial resources of the Zhao regime depended on the taxation and exploitation of its subjects. If a large number of civilians left the rule of the state and cultivated private land on their own, the Zhao state would not be able to obtain enough taxes to feed the officials and army, and the state would eventually be weakened.
Faced with such a severe domestic and foreign dilemma, Zhao Liehou, a veteran of the Zhao State, realized that it was necessary to carry out comprehensive political, military, and social reforms as soon as possible, so that the new Zhao State could truly gain a foothold in this hot land of princely disputes. Thus, the prelude to reform began.
An attempt at reform during the reign of Zhao Liehou
Faced with severe changes and external pressures, the Zhao regime realized that it had to implement comprehensive reforms to strengthen its position. However, this path of reform was not achieved overnight, but after several generations of arduous exploration.
The first to lead the change was the important minister Gong Zhonglian during the period of Zhao Liehou. As the founding father of the Zhao State, Gong Zhonglian knew that resting on his laurels would put the Zhao State in a predicament of internal and external troubles. As a result, he set about implementing a series of reform measures in the economic, military, and other fields.
In terms of economic construction, the company realized that it was necessary to move away from a single model of dependence on agriculture. He vigorously supported the development of the handicraft industry, recruited skilled craftsmen from all walks of life to gather in Zhao State, and established coin minting, winemaking, pottery and other industries. At the same time, in order to consolidate Zhao's fiscal revenues, he also promoted a unified tax collection system throughout the country.
In the military field, Gong Zhonglian focused on strengthening the military strength of the Zhao state. He attached great importance to absorbing the advanced military technology of the time, such as iron weapons, as well as reforming combat methods and equipment. At the same time, in response to the harassment of the nomads, he also built a series of cities and great walls on the border to hold his territory.
Although these reforms failed to fundamentally solve the social contradictions faced by Zhao, they did alleviate the decline in national strength to a certain extent. Zhao was briefly given a respite under the auspices of his reforms.
However, this reform force did not last there. After Gong Zhonglian's death, his successors fell back into complacency, believing that these palliative measures alone would keep Zhao safe forever. As a result, they relaxed their attention to the deep-seated contradictions, and the pace of state reform began to stagnate. Even, the later monarch of Zhao State staged a scandalous drama of usurping power out of the palace within the palace, which greatly consumed the country's financial and material resources.
This short-sighted approach added more resistance to Zhao's difficult road of reform in the future. Fortunately, despite the long road, the Zhao state eventually regained its original intention of reform under the leadership of the later monarch, and eventually moved towards the path of prosperity and prosperity.
The infiltration of the influence of the grassland culture on the Zhao State
Although the road to reform is tortuous, Zhao cannot be ossified and stagnant forever. With the passage of time, the influence of the steppe culture from the northern nomads gradually infiltrated the Zhao state, sowing the seeds for the complete transformation of the Zhao state.
The state of Zhao is located in the northern part of the Central Plains, bordering the steppe nomads. Due to their geographical connection, it is inevitable that the two civilizations will collide and mingle here. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period, the nomadic lifestyle, clothing, etc. began to be popular in this area of the Zhao State.
By the Warring States Period, with the further contact between the two civilizations, the influence of nomadic culture on the Zhao State was further deepened. First of all, in terms of clothing life, nomadic costumes such as riding boots and trousers gradually replaced the traditional Central Plains dresses; Moreover, in daily life, people are becoming more and more accustomed to the activities of nomads such as horse herding, cycling and hunting.
These changes initially took place only at the grassroots level, but they soon attracted the attention of the ruling class of the Zhao state. Because with the popularity of nomadic culture, it will also bring about subtle changes in ideology and living habits.
Sure enough, following the clothing life, the military combat methods of the nomads also began to spread widely among the Zhao army. Excellent tactical systems such as cavalry archery and guerrilla tactics were gradually absorbed and imitated by the Zhao army. People of insight realized that only by completely getting rid of the traditional heavy infantry phalanx thinking could the Zhao army adapt to the mobile and flexible combat mode of the steppe nomads.
It was against this background that the call for a thorough reform of the old military system of the Zhao State grew louder and louder. Some far-sighted Zhao nobles even advocated the complete introduction of nomadic culture and the reshaping of Zhao's political, economic, and military fields. Finally, under the baptism of this new culture, Zhao Guo ushered in a decisive opportunity for change.
Continuous exploration during the painful period of law change
With the impact of nomadic culture, the contradictions and turmoil within Zhao society also increased day by day. The old Central Plains religious order was under unprecedented shock, and the ruling class was seriously divided over it. This period can be described as a deep pain on the road of change in the Zhao State.
On the one hand, the enthusiasm of the common people for the nomadic way of life deeply disturbed the old aristocracy of the Zhao State. They adhered to the traditional feudal hierarchy and the idea of valuing agriculture and suppressing commerce, and regarded the nomads as barbarians and considered their culture to be decadent and inferior. Therefore, he resolutely opposed the introduction of nomadic culture by Zhao State.
On the other hand, the new aristocracy of Zhao, who was pro-noble and advocated innovation, was eager to use the power of nomadic culture to subvert the old hierarchy and reshape the face of Zhao. The two forces fought fiercely within the court, and the royal family fought continuously, and the national power was greatly depleted.
In this turbulent environment, the Zhao monarchs had to temporarily slow down the pace of reform and instead focus on maintaining the dynasty's rule. For example, during the reign of King Zhao Huiwen, he had to reinstate the tradition of etiquette and religion and rectify the rule of officials to ensure the centralization of power.
Yet, despite this, the general trend towards radical change is irreversible. This temporary stagnation has given both sides an opportunity to reflect on their own gains and losses and draw on the beneficial elements of advanced civilization.
For example, in the military field, Zhao absorbed some advanced military systems of the Qin State at that time, such as setting up the Zhongjun and Liaohua, using both heavy infantry and hussars; At the same time, it also borrowed from the guerrilla tactics of the nomads to cultivate mobile and agile cavalry units.
In the political field, although Zhao temporarily returned to the centralized mode, it also began to consciously introduce nomadic practices such as the military merit title system and respect for force with nongsang, which gradually shook the original hereditary system.
It was in this painful period of arduous exploration that profound changes took place in Zhao's ideology and social system, and finally laid the foundation for the final thorough reform of Hufu cavalry shooting.
King Zhao Wuling's determination to radically change
After a long period of pain and exploration, finally during the reign of King Wuling of Zhao, the comprehensive reform of Zhao reached its peak. Faced with the grim situation at that time, King Wuling of Zhao made up his mind to completely implement the great reform of Hufu cavalry and archery.
At that time, Zhao was in the midst of a crisis of isolation. To the south, the Qin state grew stronger and stronger, having annexed six vassal states; To the northwest, the Xiongnu rode and harassed the nomads; And the Yan State in the east is also eyeing the country, trying to seize the territory of the Zhao State.
In the face of many external troubles, King Wuling of Zhao realized that there was no way out by relying only on the traditional heavy infantry and city defense system. Only by completely getting rid of the shackles of the old thinking and completely absorbing the advanced cavalry and archery combat methods of the nomads can Zhao have the hope of regaining its majesty.
So, in 328, King Wuling of Zhao officially issued an edict to implement the Hufu cavalry and archery reform throughout the country. He personally demonstrated his military uniform, wearing nomadic trousers and riding boots, and rode and galloped through the once popular hunting pleasure grounds. Later, the Zhao Dynasty abandoned the old heavy infantry formation and trained a large number of lightly armed and mobile cavalry units.
The whole country was like a new outfit, and the imprint of the Central Plains culture was erased in a short period of time. The children of the nobility have given up etiquette and martial arts, and they are ashamed of their poor riding and archery skills; The once revered culture of agriculture and mulberry has also been degraded as a "bad habit"; Even clothing, language, living customs, and even surnames have all been "Hu" on a large scale.
This wind of change swept away the centuries-old conventions and habits of the Zhao State, and re-established the entire country as a nomadic cavalry people. In just a few years, the nomads who harassed Zhao with guerrilla attacks in the past have now become models for Zhao's army.
Finally, after several generations of hard work, Zhao finally completely abandoned the heavy agricultural mentality and completed the all-round transformation of politics, military, economy, and culture. The power of this revolution was finally realized most thoroughly in the hands of King Zhao Wuling.