556 AD
Imitation of the Zhou Ceremony six officials: a cultural banner
In 556, Yuwen Tai, the Western Wei chancellor, reformed his official position and set up a hundred officials of wen and wu based on the Zhou Li.
At the time of Yuwen Tai's reforms, Western Wei had already established a foothold in Guanzhong. At that time, the forces under the heavens were divided into three, in addition to Yuwen Tai's western Wei, which held real power, there was also the state of Qi founded by Gao Yang, the son of Gao Huan, and the state of Liang in the south. The strategic goals of the three countries are identical – to destroy rivals and unify the country.
Compared with Northern Qi and the Liang state, Western Wei was the weakest. The Western Wei Dynasty, located in the Guanzhong region, was economically poor, its supply was weak, and its military strength was also inferior. At the beginning of the Western Wei rebellion, Gao Huan personally led an army of 200,000 to attack, and Yuwen Tai had less than 10,000 men. In addition to the gap in economic and military strength, Yuwen Tai occupied Guanzhong, which was also a poor student in the cultural class of the Three Kingdoms.
Most of Yuwen Tai's troops were humble soldiers of the Six Towns Rebellion, and their education level was poor. Northern Qi occupied Hebei, Shandong, and was the gathering place of the family clan, and literati emerged in an endless stream. The Southern Dynasty Liang State even boasted that Huaxia was orthodox and often engaged in cultural construction. Gao Huan once told his subordinates that Liang Guo had been engaged in cultural construction all day long, which made everyone here panic. The readers all thought that Liang Guo was the orthodox, and Yuwen Tai was even more worried about this, and he had to find a way to let the civilian generals who followed him have a righteous banner to compete for the world.
In the legend of the origin of the Xianbei nation, they believe that they are the descendants of the Yellow Emperor, and they migrated to the Xianbei Mountains before taking Xianbei as their own title. The ancestor of the Western Zhou Dynasty, Hou Ji, was the grandson of the Yellow Emperor, so Xianbei and Western Zhou were originally one family.
The reforms began with the six highest-ranking leaders of the Western Wei Dynasty. In addition to Yuwen Tai himself, five other people were also involved. They were the pillar generals Li Bi, Zhao Gui, Du Guxin, Yu Jin, and Hou Mochen Chong. These five people have followed Yuwen Tai for many years, loyal, reliable and outstanding. Among the five, Li Bi was Yuwen Tai's chief supporter who defected from the enemy camp when he raised his army; Zhao Gui was the number one supporter who first proposed that Yuwen Tai take over the military power in Guanzhong after the death of the guanzhong general He Bayue; DuGuxin was a famous general in Northern Wei, or Yuwen Tai's hair was small; Yu Jin was a wise man; as for Hou MoChen Chong, at the beginning of the uprising, he took the rebellious city of Wonju with seven people, helping Yu Wentai to fire the first shot of the army.
Together with Yuwentai, they were given new official positions, representing the highest leadership of the Yuwentai regime and practicing a major reform. Modeled on the Zhou Li, a new official position was set up, and yuwen tai and six other people's original official positions were abandoned, and they all had new names. Yuwen Tai's chancellor became Taishi and Ōtsuka Zai; Li Bi became Taifu and Dasi Tu; Zhao Gui became Taibao and Dazongbo; Dugu Xin became Da Sima (大司馬); Yu Jin became Dasikou (大司寇), and Hou Mochen Chong(侯莫陈崇) became Grand Sikong (大司空). These official names are recorded in the Zhou Li and belong to the official positions of the Western Zhou. In other words, Yuwen Tai's practice of exchanging existing official positions for Western Zhou officials was actually a retro reform of official names.
Yuwen Tai's basic idea is like this, but to operate specifically, he does not have this level, he has to find a helper. The person Yuwen Tai found was Su Qi. The encounter between the two monarchs was a bit accidental. Once Yuwen Tai and the minister Zhou Huida discussed the government, Zhou Huida did not think out, said That you wait first, I went out to think about it. After a while, Zhou Huida came back to say his opinion. Yuwen Tai listened and said that your method is good, who helped you think? Zhou Huida said that it was Su Qi, and highly recommended it to Yuwen Tai, and Su Qi was thus reused. When Yuwen Tai wanted to enhance his cultural soft power, Su Qi helped him conduct policy research for more than twenty years.
Su Qi's advice is to go to history to find cultural evidence. He told Yuwen Tai that the Guanzhong we occupied was once the birthplace of Western Zhou, and our cause of unification, although difficult, was not the same as the rise of Western Zhou? Therefore, Su Wei suggested that guanzhong should be built in imitation of the system of the Western Zhou Dynasty. In this way, the Yuwentai regime directly became the successor of Western Zhou, and in terms of the legitimacy of the regime, it can be traced back to an earlier era, which is much more clever than the Liang state and Northern Qi, which claim to inherit Han Wei.
However, because of its age, Yuwen Tai and Su Wei could refer to not many Western Zhou systems. They chose to start with the Zhou Li and focus on reforming the official system of the Guanzhong regime. Su Wei was busy with affairs and overwork, and he died of illness halfway through the work of setting up the six officials according to the Zhou Li, and the rest of the work was continued by Lu Wei, who was born into a large family.
Yuwen Tai set up six officials modeled on the Zhou Li, which not only changed the official title of the Guanzhong regime, but also clarified The political idea of Yu Wentai laying the hegemony. Imitating the Western Zhou Dynasty, he looked from history for institutional forces that could serve reality, which greatly condensed the hearts and minds of the Guanzhong regime.
Conclusion: The establishment of the Six Officials, modeled on the Western Zhou system, enhanced the cultural competitiveness of the Yuwentai regime, and also affected the name of the later Northern Zhou State. By imitating the Western Zhou system, it provided theoretical support for the later founding of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, and also laid the foundation for the establishment of a unified multi-ethnic state in the Sui and Tang dynasties.
557 AD
Zhou Usurped Western Wei: Yuwen Tai's entrepreneurship is difficult
In 557, the Western Wei chancellor Yuwen Hu supported Yuwen Jue as the Heavenly King, established the capital Chang'an, fixed the state of Zhou, and historically called Northern Zhou.
Yuwen Jue, the Heavenly King whom Yuwen Hu supported, was the second son of Yuwen Tai, the actual founder of Northern Zhou. Since Yuwen Jue was only fourteen years old, when Yuwen Tai was dying, he passed on the power to his nephew Yuwen Jue, who wanted Yu Wenjue to assist Yu Wenjue to complete his unfinished business.
When Yuwen Jue, the Emperor of Heaven, changed the dynasty, the Yuwen family had been operating in the Guanzhong region for more than twenty years, and the political obstacles from the Western Wei had been completely removed, and it was only natural to establish a new state. However, Yuwen Hu jianguo also had a compulsive reason, Yuwen Jue's age was too young, and only by helping him ascend to a higher position could he stabilize people's hearts.
It was Zhao Gui, a meritorious servant of the Yuwen clan, who informed the Western Wei emperor Yuankuo of abdication, and after the edict was written, Yuankuo left the palace. Fast forward to the first month of the following year, and the grand enthronement ceremony began. Yuwen Jue, under the attention of the courtiers, announced the news to the heavens in accordance with the ritual of sacrifice, and he also posthumously honored his father Yuwen Tai as King Wen and his mother as queen. The deposed Western Wei emperor Yuan Kuo was given the title of Duke of Song. The hero who once helped the Yuwen family start a business was also rewarded. For example, Zhao Gui was given the title of Ōtsuka Zai, Dugu Xin was made Emperor Dazong, and Yuwen Hu, the actual ruler of the Yuwen family, was made The Great Sima (大司馬).
According to the Zhou Li six-official system implemented in Northern Zhou, the position of Grand Sima was still behind Ōtsuka Zai and Emperor Daizong, and Yuwen Hu gave these two positions to Zhao Gui and Dugu Xin in order to win over a group of old ministers to support him. But Zhao Gui and DuGuxin had different ideas, and they felt that whether it was in terms of seniority or ability, Yuwen Hu could not compare with them. What's more, Yuwen Hu was not Yuwen Tai's original successor. Yuwen Tai's original successor was Yuwen Dao, Yuwen Hu's eldest brother. Yuwen Dao's talent was outstanding, and in his early years, he pursued Yuwen Tai's Eastern Expedition and grew into a general who was independent. Unfortunately, Yu Wendao died prematurely due to illness, and when he died, tens of thousands of people spontaneously sent him off. Yuwen Hu did not have this ability, he was temporarily designated as Yuwen Tai's successor after the death of the eldest brother. Although he was also placed in the military by Yuwen Tai for training, he could fight back and forth, but he was just a military merit. During the Battle of Yu Wentai and Gao Huan at The Battle of Yaoshan, if it were not for the cover of his cronies, Yuwen Hu would have died on the battlefield. When he followed Yu Jin, one of the Eight Pillar States, on his expedition to the Liang Kingdom of Jiangling, Yu Jin knew that he had to rub some experience and could not be in danger, so he simply sent the general Yang Zhong to accompany him in case of an accident.
Now in charge of the Power of Northern Zhou, but Zhao Gui and Du Guxin, these old ministers, were not convinced, and Yuwen Hu thought of going to Yu Jin for help. Yuwen Hu said to Jin, the situation is unstable now, you have to help me. Yu Jin said that you can rest assured, I am in love with your uncle and brotherhood, and I will not look at it. The next day, everyone was talking about it, meaning that Yuwen Tai was dead, and who would decide later? Yu Jin stood up and said that in the past, when there was great chaos in the world, it was Yu Xiang Yuwen Tai who cut through thorns and thorns to lay the foundation of Guanzhong, Yuwen Hu was the nephew of Yu Xiang, and his feelings were similar to his own son, and now Yu Xiang handed over the aftermath to him, what is there to discuss? When the courtiers heard this, no one wanted to be the head bird, and Yuwen Hu's seat was temporarily secured. However, in order to continue to steadily eliminate the opposition of the DPRK and China, he also had to continue to work hard to help Yuwen Jue ascend to the throne of the Heavenly King and reward a number of old courtiers, which was his effort.
The old ministers who followed Yuwentai to start a business were all rewarded, but these false names did not touch their hearts. Zhao Gui was the first person to support Yuwen Tai to hold the military power at the beginning of Yuwen Tai's business, and seeing that the Yuwen family had become emperors, Zhao Gui was a little sour, and every time he went to the court, he shrugged his eyelids. Zhao Gui found the lone letter that was also an entrepreneurial minister, and said that you see that we worked hard to start a business, and as a result, Yuwen Hu took advantage of it, so it was better to do the opposite. Du Lonely Letter advised him, let's not toss, now we have everything. As a result, the rebellion was over.
But not long after, the news of Zhao Gui and DuGuxin plotting rebellion reached Yuwen Hu's ears. Yuwen Hu arranged soldiers in the palace and summoned Zhao Gui, and Zhao Gui did not know why as soon as he entered the palace, he was caught and killed by Yu Wen Hu. Dugu Xin was also dismissed from the official's home, he and the Yuwen family are related, in order to save the face of the Du Lonely Family, Yuwen Hu gave him to death in the family.
In this way, the Northern Zhou founding heroes who could not be appeased by the founding reward allowed Yuwen Hu to solve it through violent means. Yu Wenhu, who knew that the main hostile political forces, had both the status of an auxiliary government appointed by Yuwen Tai and the number one hero of the founding of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, and firmly concentrated his power in his own hands.
Yuwen Hu's dictatorship lasted for more than ten years, and he killed two emperors in succession, triggering an internal massacre of members of the Northern Zhou clan and causing the decline of the Northern Zhou dynasty, providing conditions for Yang Jian's eventual seizure of power and usurpation of the throne.
Conclusion: The situation of the Northern Zhou, Northern Qi and Southern Dynasties was formed. Yuwen Hu became a northern Zhou vassal, causing northern Zhou to be cannibalistic.
572 AD
Yuwen Yong Pro-Government: The power of the brick auction
In 572, Emperor Yuwen Yong of the Northern Zhou Dynasty summoned Yuwen Hu, the first powerful official of Northern Zhou at the time, the Duke of Jin, on the pretext of advising the empress dowager to drink excessively. While Yuwen Hu was reciting the Jiu Shu (Wine Curse) to advise the Empress, yuwen Hu slammed yuwen hu on the back of the head with a jade hand plate, knocked him to the ground, and then stabbed him to death with a sword. After Yuwen Hu's death, Yuwen Yong began to pro-government.
Emperor Wu of Zhou and Yuwen Hu were both monarchs who had cooperated for twelve years and cousins linked by blood, and Emperor Wu of Zhou's sudden killing heart began with his father Yuwen Taito. In 556, when Yuwen Tai was seriously ill, he entrusted his nephew Yuwen Hu with the orphanage, and his sons were young and the foreign enemies were huge, so he hoped that Yuwen Hu would take charge of the military and politics, complete his legacy, and unify the north. Yuwen Hu agreed very well, and did.
The year after Yuwen Tai's death, Yuwen Hu put his third son, Yuwen Jue, on the throne and established Northern Zhou. Yuwen Jue was only sixteen years old, a young tianzi, with a violent temperament and unwilling to be bound by anyone. Yuwen Hu wanted to continue to be his regent and take sole power, but Yuwen Jue was reluctant to be a puppet. Yuwen Jue secretly plans a "Hongmen Feast" and wants to get rid of Yuwen Hu, but is leaked by people around him. Yuwen Hu took the first step and poisoned Yuwen Jue. Subsequently, Yuwen Hu supported and poisoned Yuwen Tai's eldest son and Yuwen Yong's eldest brother Yuwen Yu in a similar manner.
In 560, the emperor's turn finally came to Yuwen Yong. Yuwen Yong was seventeen years old at the time and was Yuwen Tai's fourth son. With the experience of the two brothers, Yuwen Yong sat on the throne, but he was like a needle felt, wanting to live and acting. As a result, this drama of currying favor with Yuwen Hu was performed for twelve years. He gave Yuwen Hu the titles of Ōtsuka Zai and Jin Gong, and made the military and political power masters in his hands famous; when some courtiers said bad things about Yu Wen Hu, he quickly gathered the ministers and scolded the person who spoke bad things about him in front of Yu Wen Hu; he also wrote an edict to commend Yu Wen Hu's merits, and ordered the people of the world to show respect, and in the writings and conversations, they should avoid Yu Wen Hu's name, and take the name of the Duke of Jin or Otsuka Zai. In short, it is the most respectable ability.
Yuwen Hu's mother was captured by Northern Qi in her early years, and the mother and son were separated for thirty-five years, and later Northern Qi released her back. Yuwen Yong also tried his best to flatter her, and whatever was rewarded to her must be extremely luxurious. Every four o'clock in the evening, Yuwen Yong would lead his royal relatives to perform family gifts to Yuwen Hu's mother, so as to win Yuwen Hu's favor.
All of this, on the one hand, made Yuwen Hu relax his vigilance, on the other hand, he also made Yuwen Hu more arrogant.
Yuwen Yong learns the lessons of the two brothers and maintains a superficial peace with Yuwen Hu, but secretly has been accumulating strength and looking for opportunities. In 572, Yuwen Hu returned to Chang'an from the Tongzhou garrison, and Yuwen Yong, who had endured for twelve years, finally decided to take this opportunity to eliminate Yuwen Hu.
Yuwen Yong summoned Yuwen Hu and said to him, "The empress dowager is old, but she is greedy for good wine. Our brothers repeatedly persuaded, but the empress dowager could not listen to it. Since the elder brother has entered the dynasty, can he go forward to give advice, and the empress dowager may listen. Although Yuwen Hu was stubborn, he had always been filial and obedient, so he gladly accepted. On the same day, Yuwen Hu came to the empress dowager's residence, took out the "Wine Curse" that Yuwen Yong had prepared for him in advance, and read it to the empress. As he was reading intently, Yuwen Yong lifted the jade on the table and slammed it on the back of his head. Yuwen Hu immediately fell to the ground, and Yuwen Yong hurriedly ordered his close attendant He Quan to slash and kill Yu Wen Hu with a knife prepared in advance, He Quan was panicked and trembled, and he did not even hit the point of cutting a few knives. At this time, Wei Gong Yuwen, who was originally hiding aside, ran straight out, and Yuwen Zhi was the younger brother of Yuwen Yong's mother's compatriot and one of the few people around Yuwen Yong who could be trusted. In the end, under the combined efforts of the three people, a generation of powerful ministers Yuwen protected his life under the sword.
In the next five years, Yuwen Yong revitalized the state administration and enriched the armament, and soon destroyed the Northern Qi in the east, ending the division of the north.
Conclusion: Destroying Yuwen's forces enabled Yuwen Yong to avoid the old path of a short-lived emperor and rescue Northern Zhou from internal turmoil. After Yuwen Hu was killed, the power of Northern Zhou really began to be in the hands of Yuwen Yong. Yuwen Yong got rid of the troubles in his heart and began a series of reform measures, and on the basis of the foundation established by his father Yuwen Tai, he finally turned northern Zhou, which was originally weaker than Northern Qi, into strong, laying the foundation for the destruction of Northern Qi and the unification of the north five years later.
After Yuwen Hu's death, Yuwen Yong began to pro-government.