548 AD
Hou Jing's Rebellion: Death of Emperor Wu of Liang
On August 10, 548, Hou Jing rebelled against Liang at Shouyang (present-day Shou County, Anhui), beginning the four-year-long Hou Jing Rebellion that had plagued the Liang Dynasty.
A year ago, Hou Jing surrendered to Emperor Xiao Yan of Liangwu. Xiao Yan originally wanted to use Hou Jing's strength to unify the Central Plains, so he made Hou Jing a general of the Liang Dynasty and the King of Henan. Hou Jing was an ambitionist, and after he defected to the Northern Wei chancellor Erzhu Rong, he changed hands many times, but he was always unwilling to submit to others. When he first entered the Liang Dynasty, Hou Jing applied to Xiao Yan for marriage. He wanted to marry a woman from the Wang family or the Xie family of the famous Wang family in Jiangnan in order to elevate his status as a humble person outside the country. However, the Southern Dynasty Mendi's view was serious, Xiao Yan did not agree, but did not directly refute Hou Jing's face, telling him that Wang Xie and the two giants were impossible, you look at other families, the Zhu family and the Zhang family can do it. Hou Jing was dissatisfied. In addition, Eastern Wei used the return of Xiao Yan's brother Xiao Yuanming as bait to demand that the defecting Hou Jing be handed over to Eastern Wei for disposal. Hou Jing was disturbed when he heard the news, and repeatedly wrote to Xiao Yan to ask for the Northern Expedition to Eastern Wei, but they were all rejected by Xiao Yan. Later, Hou Jing forged Eastern Wei's letter to test Xiao Yan's intentions, and Xiao Yan agreed to exchange Hou Jing for Xiao Yuanming in reply. Hou Jing looked furious. Under the influence of his confidant Wang Wei, Hou Jing decided to rebel immediately.
In the preparatory stage, Hou Jing made full use of the various contradictions within the Liang Dynasty. He knew that Xiao Yan's adopted son Xiao Zhengde was also dissatisfied with Xiao Yan, so he secretly colluded with him to start a trouble. Hou Jing also abolished the taxes and tenant rents of the people of Shouyang, and encircled the people of Shouyang City.
Hou Jing's battle was so big, emperor Wu of Liang had certainly heard about it. People in the DPRK and China kept writing that Hou Jing was going to be chaotic, but Xiao Yan was not moved, and he listened to the advice of his favorite minister Zhu Yi, believing that Hou Jing would not be able to achieve great things, so he did not prepare anything. During this time, Hou Jing's rebel army had slowly grown. It was not until Hou Jing led his troops to attack Jiankang City that Xiao Yan became nervous and consulted the capital Shang Shu Yang kan on the strategy of conquest. Yang Kan proposed to send two thousand people to attack the Ma'anshan area and catch Hou Jing, who had already crossed the Yangtze River, by surprise. However, Xiao Yan, persuaded by Zhu Yi, rejected Yang Kan's suggestion. Xiao Yan also appointed Xiao Zhengde, who had colluded with Hou Jing, as the general of Pingbei, which made Xiao Zhengde an internal response to the rebel army. Xiao Zhengde provided a large amount of supplies to Hou Jing's army in the name of transporting reeds.
Hou Jing led his army to cross the river in October, and four days later, together with Xiao Zhengde, he and Xiao Zhengde attacked the gate of the Imperial City of Jiankang, and in early November, Xiao Zhengde was made emperor, and he himself was given the title of Chancellor and continued to attack the city. After Hou Jing's rebels entered the city, they wantonly caused chaos to the people, and the people who took refuge in the city were frightened and ate less, and most of them were puffy and swollen, and died in batches. By December, the sheep who were guarding the city were also dead. In March of the following year, Hou Jing easily invaded the imperial city, occupied the whole city of Jiankang, and captured Emperor Wu of Liang.
Emperor Wu of Liang was old and indignant in his heart, hating himself for luring wolves into the house and refusing any request made by Hou Jing, so Hou Jing cut off his diet, and in 549 Emperor Liangwu was starved to death in Jiankang City.
Conclusion: The Hou Jing Rebellion had a profound impact on the political, economic, and cultural aspects of the Southern Dynasty, and also greatly weakened the national strength of the Southern Dynasty, gave the Northern Dynasty an absolute advantage over the Southern Dynasty, and accelerated the unification of China.
Hou Jing's Rebellion: Emperor Wu of Liang easily listened to the words of his courtiers, starved to death, and eventually lost his reputation
550 AD
Fall of Eastern Wei: Northern Qi, Gao Yang's throne
In 550, The Eastern Wei chancellor Gao Yang deposed the Xiaojing Emperor Yuan Shanjian and established himself, changing the name of Yuan Tianbao to The Capital of Yicheng (邺城), with the state name Qi and the historical name Northern Qi.
The reason why Gao Yang was qualified to be called the emperor was related to the sudden death of his eldest brother Gao Cheng. Gao Cheng was the eldest son of Gao Huan, a powerful minister at the end of Wei, and the eldest brother of Gao Yang. After Gao Huan's death, Gao Cheng became his successor as the eldest son.
However, Gao Cheng was soon killed by his slave Lan Jing. Lan Jing's origin was not humble, he was originally the son of Shi Lanqin of Xuzhou in Southern Liang, and was captured by Gao Cheng in the battlefield, and became a slave who cooked for Gao Cheng. Because he repeatedly wanted to redeem his identity, he provoked Gao Cheng's anger. Lan Jing felt that there was no hope of redeeming his identity, and while delivering food, he hid the knife under the tray and took the opportunity to kill Gao Cheng.
Gao Cheng died in Yecheng, and Gao Yang's army was stationed in the east of Yecheng at the time, and the news of Lanjing's rebellion came from the city, and Gao Yang immediately led his troops into the city to quell the rebellion. He quickly killed Lan Jing and the others, stabilized the chaotic situation, and quickly seized power. After the emperor at that time heard the news of Gao Cheng's death, he told his close courtiers that now that Gao Cheng was dead, it seemed that the imperial family was going to be revitalized. But Yuan Zenmi did not expect that Gao Yang, who came to see him, was fully armed, carrying eight thousand soldiers in armor. Gao Yang came to see Yuan Zenmi because he wanted to become emperor, and first came to test the puppet emperor Yuan Zenmi's attitude towards Zen Rang. Replacing the Eastern Wei to establish a new state was not a sudden expansion of ambitions after Gao Yang came to power. From the time of his father Gao Huan, the Gao family had toyed with the Eastern Wei royal family, and on the day Gao Cheng was killed, he was also discussing the establishment of the wei dynasty with his ministers, and when he arrived at Gao Yang, it was almost a natural thing to call the emperor.
But Gao Yang had just come to power, and many ministers were not convinced by him, thinking that he was not at a good level. After returning to Taiyuan, Gao Yang summoned the civil and military ministers to talk freely about state affairs, and changed many bad government decrees from Gao Cheng's previous reign. Everyone saw that Gao Yang was capable and very convinced, and the matter of calling the emperor was immediately put on the agenda again.
Hearing the suggestions of the crowd, Gao Yang decided to ask his mother Lou's advice, and When Lou heard it, he felt that it was not okay. She said that your father and brother are dragon and tiger-like figures, and they have not been able to call the emperor, what great ability do you have, dare to be the emperor? When Gao Yang heard this, he had nothing to say, returned from his mother, and spoke Lou's words to Xu Zhicai, a minister who was attached to him. Xu Zhicai told Gao Yang that it was precisely because he could not compare with his father and brother that he wanted to be an emperor to improve his reputation. Gao Yang hesitated and went to ask the heavy minister Huan Zhou to assassinate Shi Hu Lujin, Huo Lujin listened to the call, personally ran from Wanton Prefecture to persuade Gao Yang, and then ran to find Gao Yang's mother Lou Shi, Lou Shi listened and said, my son is a rectum, to become the emperor, must be Gao De's political and religious. Gao Dezheng was Gao Yang's confidant, and when Huo Lujin and Lou were preparing to punish Gao Dezheng, Gao Yang sent him to Yecheng to inquire about the opinions of the chancellor of Yecheng, and Gao Yang himself personally led an army from Taiyuan to Yecheng.
However, Gao Yang's trip was unsuccessful, and halfway through, many old ministers came to dissuade him. Chang Shi Dubi said that the Yuwen clan in Guanzhong was our fierce enemy, and if we abolished Wei and established ourselves, we would not have the banner of Emperor Yuan wei, and Guanzhong would call itself a rebel and righteously crusade against us. Xu Zhicai, who supported Gao Yang's claim to the throne, said that after King Qi (Gao Yang) became emperor, Guanzhong would only be loyal to us. There was a dispute between the two sides, and Gao Yang could only turn back to Taiyuan. However, after returning to Taiyuan, the ministers who supported Gao Yang's claim to the throne did not stop their activities, and they began to do things, and what they got was that the gua elephant was "Qian Zhiding". Xu Zhicai explained that Qian meant the monarch and Ding meant May, and persuaded Gao Yang to leave taiyuan in May and go to Yecheng to accept Emperor Wei's Zen concessions.
Soon Gao Yang came to Yecheng and saw that Gao Yang's intention to claim the emperor had been decided, and many people no longer dared to come forward to stop it. When Gao Yang arrived in Yecheng to mobilize the people and build a Zen platform, Taibao Gao Longzhi asked him, What do you want to do? Gao Yang said with a cold face, Of course I am useful, you have nothing to ask, are you not afraid of being cursed by me to destroy the Nine Tribes? One of the tall dragons listened and did not dare to speak.
Without internal resistance, Gao Yang ascended the throne by Zen. After ascending the throne, in order to appease people's hearts, Gao Yang restored the System of Qilu that had been interrupted since Emperor Xiaozhuang of Northern Wei, and at the same time posthumously honored his father Gao Huan and his brother Gao Cheng as emperors, and through the efforts of Gao Huan, Gao Cheng, and Gao Yang's father and son, Northern Qi was established.
Conclusion: Gao Huan declared the founding of the empire and established Northern Qi, and Eastern Wei perished. The situation of the three-legged standing of the Northern Qi, Northern Zhou and Southern Dynasties was initially established. In the seventh year after the founding of Northern Qi (557), the Northern Zhou Dynasty was established, and the situation of three-legged standing finally took shape.
Establishment of the Prefectural Military System: Yuwen Tai's Army Reform
In 550, Yuwen Tai, the Western Wei chancellor, established the Eight Pillars Of State General and officially established the fu military system. The prefectural military system reorganized the soldiers in the Guanzhong area into six armies, which belonged to the military government, led by the six pillar generals, and Yuwen Tai was the commander of the whole army.
Yuwen Tai, like Gao Huan, was an important hero in the last years of the Northern Wei Dynasty. He is a descendant of the Xianbei tribe and his family is in Wuchuan Town, one of the six towns of northern Wei. When the Six Towns Rebellion broke out, Yuwen Tai followed his father and brother to join the troops of Xianyu Xiuli. After the defeat of Xianyu Xiuli, Yuwen Tai switched to Erzhu Rong, who was fighting the rebellion for the imperial court. However, in Erzhu Rong's camp, Yuwen Tai was not the brightest general, he only accompanied the army as the deputy of Erzhu Rong's general He Bayue.
However, Yuwen Tai soon ushered in his own opportunity. After Yuwen Tai followed He Bayue into Guanzhong to put down the rebellion, Erzhu Rong was killed by Emperor Yuan Ziyou of Northern Wei, and Erzhu Zhao, the Erzhu family, was subsequently replaced by Gao Huan, and a power vacuum appeared in Guanzhong. The generals in the town guarding the pass were He Bayue and Hou Mo Chen Yue, and when the two powers were fighting, He Ba Yue was killed by Hou Mo Chen Yue, and Yuwen Tai took over the military power of He Ba Yue.
Soon, Yuwen Tai relied on his outstanding military skills to get rid of Hou Mo Chen Yue, grasped the military and political dominance of Guanzhong, and became a prince who divided the side, and Emperor Xiaowu of Northern Wei was coerced by the powerful minister Gao Huan and had to flee to Guanzhong, and Yuwen Tai was able to blackmail Tianzi to order the princes.
When Yuwen Tai established the fu military system, the main problem he faced was no longer the threat from the Northern Wei imperial family. At this time, the Northern Wei Dynasty was in name only, separated into two parts, the Eastern Wei was replaced by the Northern Qi established by Gao Huan's son Gao Yang, and the Western Wei was controlled by Yuwen Tai. Yuwen Tai knew very well that the Wei royal family was just a banner symbolizing his own justice. The real decisive battle will be fought between himself and the State of Qi. But Yuwen Tai's disadvantage was obvious, and after several decisive battles with Northern Qi, he realized that he must have strong enough military strength to compete with Northern Qi. Yuwentai's conscription is very fast-paced, but too many soldiers also brings some negative problems, that is, the source of soldiers is too mixed and unrelated, and to exert combat effectiveness, it is necessary to carry out military reform at the same time.
Yuwen Tai came up with the idea of reorganizing the army, which was the prefectural military system. The establishment of the prefectural military system began with Yuwen Tai's establishment of the Eight Pillars of the State General, which was actually the use of eight great generals to command the army separately.
Yuwen Tai was made a great general by the puppet emperor more than a decade ago, and in order to show his respect for the imperial family, Yuwen Tai also made Yuan Xin, the imperial family of the State of Wei, also serve as a general. However, YuanXin is a stupid boy and cannot create any threat at all. The general who is on his own must have outstanding military talent, and the remaining six places, Yuwen Tai, must choose carefully. The last six generals were given the positions of Zhao Gui, Li Hu, Li Bi, Yu Jin, Du Guxin, and Hou Mochen Chong, all of whom were comrades-in-arms who were born and died with Yuwen Tai. Yuwen Tai gave them the title of Great General of the Pillar State, which literally means the Pillar of the State, and the six generals, together with Yuwen Tai and Yuan Xin, formed the Eight Pillar Kingdoms.
In order to continue to refine this military system, Yuwen Tai set up twelve generals, Kaifu generals, and Yi Tong generals under the pillar generals, and their number of leaders decreased layer by layer, building a well-organized military leadership system. In this way, Yuwen Tai's military system was established.
According to the actual situation of the source of Western Wei soldiers, Yuwen Tai's military system cut and divided the chaotic soldiers, and also allowed the local heroes who led the troops to defect to Yuwen Tai, and by being given a series of military official positions, they were given a reasonable placement. The military strength and combat cohesion in the Guanzhong region have been greatly enhanced.
The creation of the prefectural military system had a far-reaching impact, and the heroic cause of a group of people was able to begin from then on. Yuwen Tai used the fu soldiers to resist Gao Huan, and eventually laid the foundation for the founding of the Northern Zhou dynasty, and the generals Yang Zhong and Li Hu at the beginning of the establishment of the fu military system were the ancestors of the later Sui and Tang dynasties.
As a military system, the prefectural military system has many merits, and it was inherited by the later Sui and Tang dynasties, and lasted for hundreds of years. It can be said that most of the foreign military achievements that could be achieved during the Sui and Tang dynasties were closely related to the military system of the government. Without the military system, there would have been no dazzling position of the Sui and Tang Dynasties unified empire on the military stage in East Asia and even the world.
Conclusion: The establishment of the prefectural military system marked the emergence of a new military system. It differed from the conscription system of the Han Dynasty in that the imperial court recruited the people. When Yuwen Tai founded the prefectural military system, the army was mainly xianbei town soldiers from Wuchuan town, a group of professional soldiers. The places that come to surrender are strong and powerful, and the troops they bring with them also have a very strong private nature. Yuwen Tai unified these people into a whole through the prefectural military system, and firmly controlled the military power in his own hands. The prefectural military system helped Yuwen Tai lay the foundation for the founding of Northern Zhou, inherited the Sui and Tang dynasties, and achieved dazzling military achievements.
The reform of the army of Yuwen Tai, the prefectural military system, was founded