There were two times when the Gongsun martingale was transformed, the first in 356 BC. Five or six years later, in 350 BC, Duke Xiao of Qin promulgated the provisions of Gongsun Martin's second change of law. The content of this change is:
First, abolish the system of merging land and opening up a feudal territory. This means that the boundaries of the heavens and the earth divided by the original noble lords will be abolished, and the boundaries and roads in the fields that are too wide can be reclaimed and planted, and whoever reclaims the land can be freely bought and sold.
Second, forty-one counties were established throughout the country, and county officials were appointed by the imperial court. That is, to take over the rights of the lord to the imperial court.
Third, the capital was moved from Yongcheng (in present-day Fengxiang County, Shaanxi) to Xianyang (present-day central Shaanxi Province) for the second time, and neither the people nor the general ministers dared to openly oppose it, and Gongsun Martin was very happy.
But I didn't expect the prince to come out to oppose, which gave Gongsun Martin a problem. How did this problem come about? Gongsun Martin's change of law was trusted and supported by Duke Xiaogong of Qin, and he was given the highest official position in the Qin state, Daliangzao. Many of the ministers were jealous of him. The nobles who lost their legal privileges in the change of law even more hated him and gritted their teeth. They secretly got together to discuss.
Some said, "Where did Gongsun Martingale come from?" He dared to run to our Qin kingdom to do his best, causing us so much suffering. We can't watch him put us to death! The other said: "He pretends to be the king of the country who dares to oppose!" I heard that since the implementation of the new law, many people have been killed! ”
The third said, "In any case, we must find a way to pull him down from the position of Da Liang Zao." The fourth said, "I've come up with a solution." I heard that the prince's teacher, Gongzi Qian, also opposed the new law, but dared to be angry but did not dare to speak out. Let's ask him to agitate the prince to come forward and oppose. The crown prince is the heir of the monarch, and his grandson martingale can't kill the prince too! People all echoed in unison, "Well, this is a good way, but this time we want to see what Gongsun Martingale does!" ”
After a few days, the prince, at the secret instigation of his teacher, did openly oppose the relocation of the capital to Xianyang. The crown prince threatened, "Whoever wants to go to Xianyang will go, I can't throw away a good Kyoto and go to that ghost place!" "It's just a tentative step taken by people who oppose the change.
The news of the prince's opposition to the change of law soon spread. This is a mess. Gongsun Martin was very embarrassed by this. The decree makes it clear that anyone who opposes the new law shall be punished. But now it is the prince who has broken the law. Now, if the prince could not be punished if he broke the law, what was the use of this decree? People still believe or disbelieve the edicts of the imperial court? This is a serious test for Gongsun Yang, and it is also a serious test for the new law! "The prince breaks the law and shares the guilt of the people!" Thinking of this, Gongsun Martin resolutely went to see Qin Xiaogong.
When Qin Xiaogong saw Gongsun Martin hurriedly coming to the imperial court, knowing that he was in a hurry, he asked, "Is there anything important?" Gongsun Martingale said: "The crown prince openly opposed the new decree. Qin Xiaogong listened to this and secretly took a breath of cold air, but did not make any expression on the surface. Gongsun Martingale said: "The decrees of the imperial court should have their seriousness, and if the people do not have trust in the imperial court, the new law cannot be implemented." ”
Qin Xiaogong said, "In your opinion, how should this matter be handled?" Gongsun Martingale said: "If the lord is determined to change the law, he cannot waver in the new law." The law must be obeyed by everyone, and whoever breaks the law must be punished. The prince should also be punished for breaking the law, but the prince is still young, and the reason why he broke the law was caused by the instigation of his teacher, and his teacher should be tortured on his behalf. ”
Qin Xiaogong felt that Gongsun Martin's analysis was very reasonable, so he nodded his head and said, "Everything is up to you to deal with this matter." Gongsun Martin ordered that the prince's teacher, Gongzi Qian, be arrested and taken to the execution ground, and according to the regulations, Gongzi Qian's nose was cut off. Gongzi Qian was cut off his nose and walked to the street to cover his face, feeling very embarrassed. When people saw him, everyone thought differently, but no one dared to say it. Since then, no one has dared to oppose the new law, and no one has dared to discuss the new law.