DNA of Chinese history

Author: Zhu Aimin / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-08-01
Features: The heart and nature ideals of the Chinese people are nothing more than those modeled by the ancients. To seek progress and improvement, one must trace the origins and examine the strengths and weaknesses of the ancestors' heart and nature ideals, only then can one find ways to correct imbalances and rectify flaws. The special role of history lies in making it clear why certain policies or political views succeed or fail. Studying the past enables us to face reality with greater caution and boldness.
—[Ancient Greece] Polybius
The greatest lesson history teaches us is that people rarely learn from it.
—[England] Shaw
To read history is to become wise.
—[England] Bacon
Part 2: Defects of the Feudal Election System
Part 1: The so-called rise of cities and fall of states was actually the result of Emperor Yang's excessive desires leading to the downfall of the entire nation. Emperor Yang, with his supreme imperial power, could destroy the country in an instant, and this stemmed from Emperor Gaozu's decision to. Therefore, in the Annals of Emperor Gaozu in the Book of Sui, Wei Zheng remarked: "The signs of chaos and collapse originated with Emperor Gaozu and were completed by Emperor Yang." Attributing the downfall of feudal dynasties to a single individual is merely incidental; the feudal system itself was the inevitable cause of dynastic decline.
Wei Zheng once lamented the tragic fate of the Yang family, whose successive members were killed and the empire taken over by others. The Sui-Tang historian Cen Zhongmian, in his History of Sui and Tang, Volume 1, History of Sui, included a section titled The Transformation of the Yang Family, with the subtitle "The Poison of Autocracy." In it, he listed the fates of Emperor Wen's five sons, arguing that due to the inherent contradictions of the feudal system, efforts to prolong the Yang family's rule only hastened their downfall. The Yang family perished swiftly, leaving only a single lineage behind. "The poison of autocracy is terrible!" Cen Zhongmian wrote. The rise and fall of the Yang family caused suffering for millions of lives. This suffering stemmed directly from "the inherent contradictions of the feudal system." But where did these contradictions lie? Cen Zhongmian did not elaborate, but they were, in fact, quite clear. Under the feudal system, power was first unlimited, and second, the methods of acquiring power were severely flawed. This method of acquiring power was the feudal election system. The downfall of the Sui dynasty was a typical example of the severe defects of this system.
Upper selects lower, and one selects many.
The feudal election system was characterized by upper selects lower and one selects many. In feudal society, the emperor held the right to elect and depose future national leaders. Upper selects lower directly led to subordinates going to great lengths to curry favor with superiors. As the sole elector of the crown prince, the emperor had to manage the state while also performing the election duty, and with limited energy, he could only focus on one aspect at a time. One selects many directly caused those seeking advancement to resort to deception to impress superiors. The roots of these characteristics lay in the extreme concentration of power, and the fundamental reason for this concentration was the rule of man rather than law.
Yang Guang flattered Emperor Wen by praising his virtues and deceived him by concealing his flaws. Through this packaging, Yang Guang was portrayed as a nearly saint-like, qualified, even outstanding candidate for crown prince. He appeared to possess all virtues: frugality, integrity, humility, caution, and a proper conduct, with a strong popular base. Where there was popularity, everything else followed.
Yang Guang's Campaign for the Crown Prince
Designating the eldest son as crown prince was legitimate. After pacifying Chen, Yang Guang's reputation rose, and his ambitions swelled. Upon learning about the's situation, he decided to run for the position. To this end, he assembled a campaign team, with key members including Zhang Heng, Yu Wenшу, Guo Yan, Yang Yue, and Yang Su. Zhang Heng, along with Zhang Qianwei, was a trusted figure in the Jin, known as the "Two Zhangs." Unlike the cautious Zhang Qianwei, Zhang Heng played a leading role in planning Yang Guang's campaign. Yu Wenшу was a powerful military figure who had fought alongside Yang Guang in the pacification of Chen, making him a natural choice for Yang Guang. To win Yu Wenшу over, Yang Guang recommended him as the governor of Shouzhou, and thereafter, Yu Wenшу became Yang Guang's loyal supporter. At the time, the most influential figures in the court were Gao Can and Yang Su. Gao Can and Crown Prince Yang Yong were related by marriage and could not be swayed. Only Yang Su could be approached. Yu Wenшу and Yang Su's younger brother Yang Yue were friends, allowing Yu Wenшу to connect with Yang Su. "The only one who can sway the emperor is Yang Su. The only one who can advise him is his younger brother Yue." Indeed, Yang Su played a significant role in Yang Guang's campaign. First, he secretly consulted Empress Solo to gauge her opinion, then subtly hinted at the matter to Emperor Wen, and finally directly testified against Crown Prince Yang Yong, completely undermining him.
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