Di Renjie, peach and plum all over the world
Wu Zetian had many new ideas for governing the country under the influence of Tang Taizong, and she also had a better culture and study of history, and a deeper understanding of the rise and fall of the past and political gains and losses. As a result, he reigned for fifty years and was able to maintain the situation presented by the Zhenguan rule, and the Tang Dynasty continued to prosper.
Like Emperor Taizong, Wu Zetian attached great importance to the development of agriculture and implemented a policy of reducing taxes and ensuring the people. He also pays attention to speaking publicly and accepting suggestions with an open mind. In addition, he developed the imperial examination system and the five-level examination for the selection of soldiers. Through these assessments and other methods, Wu Zetian selected a number of talents such as Di Renjie, Yao Chong, Song Jing, and Zhang Jianzhi. Among them, Yao Chong, Song Jing and others even played a great role in the future Tang Xuanzong. When Wu Zetian was in charge of state affairs, the most famous was Di Renjie.
In 686, Di Renjie was appointed governor of Ningzhou. In the current jurisdiction of Ning County, Gansu Province, he actively developed production and appeased the masses. Relations between the Central Plains and the ethnic minorities were eased, and the security of the imperial court was guaranteed. Inspector Yushi Guohan was ordered to make an inspection, and local officials were repeatedly impeached. But when he arrived in Ningzhou, people praised Di Renjie along the way. Guo Han recommended Di Renjie to the imperial court,
In 688, Di Renjie was appointed as the Assassin of Yu Prefecture. At that time, more than 2,000 people were sentenced to death for their involvement in the case of Li Zhen, the King of Yue. Di Renjie knew that this was an unjust case, and the secret court allowed these people to be lenient and exempt from the death penalty. Because of his merits in suppressing the rebellion, the military general Zhang Guangfu was very rampant and connived at his subordinates to rob the people of their belongings. Killing and plundering, Di Renjie said angrily: Is the general doing this to make the people in this city bleed into a river? Zhang Guangfu has nothing to say, but only holds a grudge, like Wu Zetian said di Renjie's arrogance, but Wu Zetian clearly distinguished between right and wrong, and believed Di Renjie.
One day Wu Zetian summoned him and told him that you had a good reputation when you were in Yuzhou, but someone said bad things about you in front of me. Do you want to know their names? Di Renjie replied: If Your Majesty thinks that these are my mistakes, I should try to correct them. If His Majesty thinks that it is not my fault, it is my luck. As for who is behind the scenes saying I'm not. I don't want to know.
Turbid is turbid, and clear is clear.
Wu Zetian admired Di Renjie's tolerant attitude Di Renjie was later promoted to chancellor, which was actually recommended by a veteran named Lou Shide, but Di Renjie did not know it, and he also looked down on Lou Shide a little. I think he's just an ordinary military commander. He had transferred Lou Shide to other places several times. After Wu Zetian realized it, one day he specially asked Di Renjie to see if you thought Lou Shide was talented? Di Renjie answered. Lou Shide was a general, and it was good that he could guard the frontier. As for his talent, I didn't know wu Zetian asked again. Do you think Lou Shide is a person who can find talents, Mo Di Renjie said. I used to work with him, but I hadn't heard of him with such talent
Wu Zetian said with a smile. Lou Shide actually recommended you to me. From this point of view, Lou Shide can be said to be good at discovering talents. Di Renjie felt ashamed to hear this, and said to himself that he was so kind to me, I didn't know anything. I'm ashamed. Since then, Di Renjie has paid great attention to discovering talents and actively recommended them to Wu Zetian. Once, Wu Zetian asked Di Renjie to recommend the best talents. Di Renjie said. But if you have to find a particularly outstanding talent, Jingzhou Governor Shi Zhang Kamzhi, although this person is older, but talented, is the best candidate to be the prime minister. Wu Zetian heard this and soon promoted Zhang Kamzhi to Sima of Luozhou
A few days later, Wu Zetian summoned Di Renjie to inquire about recommending talents. Di Renjie answered. His Majesty Zhang Kam-chi, whom I recommended last time, has not yet appointed him. Wu Zetian said, Didn't I promote him to Sima in Luozhou? Di Renjie answered. I recommended Zhang Kamzhi to His Majesty because he had the talent to govern the country and have the talent to be a prime minister, not to be Sima So Wu Zetian promoted Zhang Kamzhi to the position of a servant of the Punishment Department. Zhang Kamzhi lived up to the expectations of the public and achieved outstanding political achievements, and was later appointed as the prime minister by Wu Zetian. For talents like Zhang Jianzhi, Di Renjie has recommended dozens of people. Among them, Huai Yan, Fan Jinghui and others later became famous generals of the Tang Dynasty. Therefore, someone said to Di Renjie that all the peaches and plums in the world were born under Di Gong's door
Di Renjie answered. Recommending talent is for the country, not for personal gain. Wu Zetian always trusted and respected Di Renjie, often calling him the Elder of the Nation rather than by his first name. Every time I saw Di Gong kneeling, I felt heartache. Wu Zetian also exempted Di Renjie from night duty, and specifically told Di Renjie's colleagues not to bother Di Gong if it was not a military problem.
Di Renjie likes to express his opinion in person. Even if Wu Zetian did not agree with him in his heart, he would often obey him. When Di Renjie got old, he repeatedly asked people to return to his hometown, but Wu Zetian did not agree. Di Renjie lived until he was ninety-three years old. After Wu Zetian died, he cried. Since then, I have never seen Di Gong again