After all, generals are much more dangerous than civil officials. Compared to the warlord separatism at the end of the Tang Dynasty, how serious can the factionalism of a few civil officials be?
Zhao Kuangyin thought so, his heart calmed down a bit, and his eyes looking at the Golden List became more determined...
…
The Great Ming Hongwu Realm, outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
“What? The Donglin Factionalism?!”
Seeing the first glimpse of the Donglin Factionalism in the Great Ming, Zhu Yuanzhang stood up abruptly, his face full of shock!
“Impossible! How could this group of civil officials and scholars who can't even hold a knife cause factionalism in our Great Ming?”
Zhu Yuanzhang was baffled. He never thought that the Great Ming could have factionalism!
Before Zhu Yuanzhang established the Great Ming, he lowered his stance and courted civil officials, even giving them many benefits. But since the Great Ming was established and Zhu Yuanzhang ascended to the throne, everything changed!
In Zhu Yuanzhang’s eyes, these literati are useless, just tools for him to rule the world. He uses them when needed, and throws them away when done!
He even killed many officials for being corrupt and depraved. He instigated the “Guo Huan case” and the “Empty Seal Case,” leaving the Hall of Supreme Harmony drenched in blood!
With such ruthless measures, how could the civil officials of the Great Ming still cause factionalism?
“Biao'er, did the Golden List say it wrong? How could our Great Ming have factionalism?”
“Father, the Golden List should not be wrong. The Tang Dynasty had the Niu-Li faction, the Song Dynasty had the New and Old Parties. These are all undeniable facts. Our Great Ming’s Donglin Factionalism should also be true…”
Zhu Biao smiled helplessly.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang was immediately furious. He slammed his hand on the table and roared:
“These damned civil officials, they dare to cause trouble in our Great Ming!”
“When the Golden List reviews everything, I will take a good look at all of you insects!”
…
【Speaking of the New and Old Parties faction in the Northern Song Dynasty, one must mention a great change during the reign of Emperor Shenzong of Song, the Xi Ning Reforms, also known as the Wang Anshi Reforms!】
【It can be said that it was the Xi Ning Reforms that triggered the New and Old Parties faction that lasted for fifty years and deeply affected the fate of the Northern Song Dynasty!】
【In the first month of the fourth year of the Zhi Ping era, Emperor Yingzong of Song, Zhao Shu, died, and the Crown Prince, Zhao Xu, ascended the throne. The following year, he changed the era name to Xi Ning, which is known as Emperor Shenzong of Song.】
【When Shenzong ascended the throne, the Song Dynasty faced many crises. Internally, the “Three Redundancies” problem remained unsolved, with bloated government agencies, excessive redundancies, and dwindling treasury revenues. Externally, there were huge military expenditures, with a large number of troops but weak combat effectiveness. They often lost more battles than they won against the Western Xia in the northwest and the Liao Dynasty in the north.】
【At this juncture, Shenzong was different from previous Song emperors. As soon as he ascended the throne, he was determined to revitalize the government and rectify the court. He decided to vigorously resolve the internal and external problems of the Northern Song Dynasty and revive the nation.】
【To this end, Emperor Shenzong quickly appointed the famous Wang Anshi as the Chancellor, giving him control over the government.】
【Wang Anshi had the ambition to “secure the country, establish a government, and benefit the people”, and he had a close relationship with Emperor Shenzong. Therefore, he was deeply trusted by Emperor Shenzong.】
【The sovereign and his officials shared the same mind and goals. Under the strong support of Emperor Shenzong, Wang Anshi embarked on his path of reform…】
…
In the Xi Ning Realm of the Great Song Dynasty, within a spacious courtyard, an elderly man in fine clothes looked up at the sky. The people around him stood in a row respectfully, but no one dared to interrupt him.
This man was the actual Prime Minister of the Song Dynasty, the most trusted minister of the current emperor—Wang Anshi!
At this time, Wang Anshi looked up at the Golden List, looking at the introduction of his achievements, a smile spread across his lips.
Reform, this was Wang Anshi's heart's desire!
Today marked the fifth year of the reform, but Wang Anshi’s heart was not happy at all.
On the one hand, the resistance within the court was growing stronger, and on the other hand, Emperor Shenzong’s trust in him was not as deep as it was at the beginning of the reform. Wang Anshi was now worried about the outcome of the reform!
“I hope the Golden List will give me a good ending, so that I will not live in vain!”
…
【In the second year of Xi Ning, Wang Anshi began to implement sweeping reforms across the country. First, he established the Bureau of Three Departments Regulations, which was above the Three Departments, and the Zhongshu and Menxia departments were not allowed to interfere.】
【Then, in the third year of Xi Ning, he was promoted to the position of Prime Minister, equivalent to the Chancellor. He then successively proposed economic reforms such as the Qing Miao Law, the Jun Shu Law, the Exemption Law, the Shi Yi Law, and the Farmland and Water Conservancy Law. He also proposed military reforms such as the Pao Ma Law, the Military Equipment Supervision Law, and the General and Soldier Law. In terms of thought and culture, he proposed the Three She Law and the Jing Gong New Learning. The scale was undeniably grand.】
【In order to ensure the implementation of the new laws, Wang Anshi also promoted officials such as Lü Huiqing, Zhang Dun, and Cai Que, while vigorously demoting conservative officials who opposed the new laws. For a time, the court was invigorated, and the people at home and abroad were in awe.】
【However, although Wang Anshi’s reforms seemed to be going smoothly, they were actually fraught with difficulties and dangers. From the very beginning of their implementation, the new laws were met with opposition from almost all officials in the court, the most famous of whom was Sima Guang!】
【In the third year of Xi Ning, Sima Guang wrote three letters to Wang Anshi, urging him to abolish the new laws and uphold the old laws of the ancestors. However, Wang Anshi refused, and resolutely rejected Sima Guang’s request with the “Three Insignificances”: “The changes of heaven are not to be feared, the laws of our ancestors are not to be followed, and the opinions of the people are not to be considered”.】
【For a time, the court was shaken, and the voices opposing Wang Anshi became louder. Even Emperor Shenzong’s empress and the empress dowager in the palace were dissatisfied with Wang Anshi’s reforms…】
…
Looking at the words on the Golden List, everyone frowned and fell into deep thought.
The Great Qin Realm of the First Emperor, outside the Xianyang Palace.
Ying Zheng’s eyes were like torches, his fists clenched tightly. He took a deep breath and asked:
“Wang Anshi’s determination to reform is so great, it makes me feel ashamed!”
“Your Majesty, although Wang Anshi’s determination to reform is great, he has offended many officials. Even if the laws succeed, he is bound to suffer misfortune!”
Li Si, the Prime Minister, shook his head.
“Oh? So in your opinion, Wang Anshi’s reform will fail?”
Ying Zheng raised his eyebrows and asked in doubt.
After all, the Great Qin also had a reform, the Shang Yang Reforms, which laid the foundation for the Great Qin and enabled it to conquer the six states and unify the world!
It can be said that without the Shang Yang Reforms and the six generations of Qin rulers’ efforts in accumulating strength and ruling diligently, the Great Qin might have been forever trapped west of the Mount Yao, becoming a barbarian in the eyes of the Six States!
In the end, it would have been destroyed by any one of the six states in Shandong!
It can be said that the Shang Yang Reforms paved the way for the current Great Qin. Therefore, in Ying Zheng’s eyes, although Wang Anshi’s reform faced great resistance, wasn’t it also laying the foundation for the Great Song?
After all, when the Shang Yang Reforms were implemented, they faced huge resistance as well. Many members of the Ying clan openly opposed them!
Yet, isn’t the Great Qin still standing at the top of the world, becoming the only remaining unified dynasty in China?
…
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