Is Yang Guang, the King of Jin, really a tyrant: uncovering the real Yang Guang in history, is he a tyrant or a promising person?
As the second emperor of the Sui Dynasty, Yang Guang left a strong mark in Chinese history, with the nickname "Yang". Yang Zhe - The ancient "Tanfa" said: "Those who want to travel far away are called yang, those who are far away are called yang, and those who perform rituals are called yang, and they insult people in heaven." , called yang, adversity called yang, unhappy called yang. When Yang Guang was hanged, it meant "good government and internal slackness", "internal and external turmoil", and "inferiority" and "evil slander".
Later generations' evaluation of the Sui Emperor mainly comes from the Book of Sui compiled by historians of the Tang Dynasty. In the eyes of posterity, the Sui Emperor was the "first emperor under heaven". This evaluation seems to be the conclusion of thousands of years. However, from the point of view of historical dialectics or historical materialism, this view seems to be biased. Since history requires us to look at problems from two aspects, we must look at Yang Guang objectively. Judging historical figures, merit is merit, and passing is passing. The advantages are not compromised, and the disadvantages are not hidden. In the final analysis, it depends on the social significance of his historical activities, whether progressive or reactionary.
Leaving aside the meaning of the title of "Emperor Yang", as far as Yang Guang's achievements are concerned, compared with the former Qin Emperor Wudi, the Sui Emperor can also be called a great historical figure. digit. He is one of the most accomplished emperors in the history of Chinese feudal society.
The first is to lead troops to destroy Chen and unify the north and the south. In the autumn of the same year, the twenty-year-old Yang Guang was ordered to lead hundreds of thousands of Sui troops through the moat of the Yangtze River, enter Jiankang (present-day Nanjing), and capture Empress Chen and Concubine Zhang Lihua. Hide in a well. Later, folklore said that Yang Guang was obsessed with Zhang Lihua's beauty and derived many peach-colored strips, but in many historical materials, it was Yang Guang who personally ordered Zhang Lihua to be killed. Ending the country's nearly hundred years of separatist wars and ushering in a new era of reunification and prosperity, Yang Guang established a lofty prestige.
2. Govern Jiangnan for ten years, so that the counties of Jiangnan are completely subordinate to the Great Sui. At that time, the Chen Dynasty was stable, the situation in Jiangnan was unstable, and the local landlords instigated great chaos. "Wang Wenjin of Wuzhou, Gao Zhihui of Huiji, Chen Xuan of Suzhou, and others all rebelled, proclaimed themselves emperors, and sent hundreds of officials." Many local tycoons "claimed to be governors and captured states and counties." It originated in Huaizuo, Sanwu, Eastern Zhejiang and Western Zhejiang, and later spread to Zhejiang and Fujian. In order to quell the rebellion, Emperor Wen reappointed Yang Guang as "Governor of Yangzhou, Governor of Jiangdu", military governor of Yangzhou forty-four prefectures. "More than seven hundred battles before and after, thousands of miles away", finally put down the rebellion. At that time, Yang Guang based in Yangzhou, carefully ruled the south, recruited talents, crowned him as the crown prince, and then laid the foundation for the emperor. Of course, as emperor, he was also related to his intrigue and trickery.
Third, with Luoyang as the center, the Grand Canal connecting Zhuo County in the north and Yuhang in the south is the main artery of north-south transportation and has played an important role in economic culture. North-South exchanges have consolidated national unity. The opening of the canal had a long-term and positive impact. It has been used for generations and has become the main artery of north-south transportation, promoted economic and cultural exchanges between the north and the south, and played an important role in consolidating unity and social and economic development.
Fourth, the implementation of structural reform, the implementation of the first three provinces and six ministries, the establishment of the imperial examination system, the Tang Dynasty and later generations have been used, has had a far-reaching impact on Chinese history. In particular, the imperial examination system broke the family restrictions since the Wei and Jin dynasties, and provided ordinary intellectuals with the opportunity to become officials and participate in politics. At the same time, it also broadened the way for rulers to absorb and attract talents. It was not abolished until the end of the Qing Dynasty, which shows its long-term effects.
5. Resist the Turks, destroy the Khitan base camp, conquer Vietnam, expedition to Korea, establish the four counties of Longxi, annex North Vietnam, and recover Ryukyu.
Yang Guangzhi's evil is not weakness and incompetence, not cruelty and injustice, but ambition. The Sui Dynasty Emperor was actually both literate and martial. See if he can achieve in just a dozen years. How many people!