Since the new emperor ascended the throne, the era when the Han Empire belonged to Emperor Kangzong and Liu Wenpeng has completely passed. Among all the emperors of the Han Dynasty, including Liu Wenji, no one can compare with Liu Wenpeng in terms of smooth succession, stable national power, and superior situation.
However, after eight years, the current empire has undergone major changes compared to the early years of Pingkang, and the situation is not that good.
The power of the emperor was weak, the government was unstable, and it was difficult to talk about political clarity. There were many conflicts among the powerful, and the government was like a runaway wild horse. Officials were redundant, extravagant, and the trend of comparison was revived. All the rules and good styles of the Taizong era were overthrown.
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The only thing worthy of praise may be that the private economy is still very dynamic and has achieved further development. However, the gap between the rich and the poor is widening, and the local clans are powerful and the gentry and landlords are rampant again.
From the prosperous age of Yongxi to the "well-off" of Pingkang, Emperor Kangzong and Liu Wenpeng obviously shouldered an unshirkable responsibility. After all, he was not a real little emperor and had enough self-care ability.
However, when we look at Kangzong’s perspective, there seems to be something worthy of “understanding”. To be fair, Kangzong may not be wise, but he is smart enough; he is absurd and willful, but not cruel; he enjoys neglecting government, is self-respecting and self-satisfied.
Idealistic, converting state weapons for personal use, and treating the world as private property, but the harm to the country may not be as bad as the negative effects brought about by the achievements of many "promising" wise kings in the history.
At the end of the Kangzong era, although many meritorious veterans were squeezed out and many loyal people were demoted, they never killed ministers. Perhaps they could not treat those meritorious elders fairly and justly, but for most people, they were still given a
basic decency.
In the final analysis, regardless of his status as emperor, Kangzong was just an ordinary person in a position that was not suitable for him. He was arrogant, vain, and had no enterprising spirit. His ancestors passed down to him a career that can be called the best in history.
Huge assets, the world's wealth, and billions of people are left to him to take whatever he wants. When the world is peaceful and his ambitions are insufficient, what should he do if he doesn't enjoy it, squander it, or waste it?
To hold Kangzong to the standards of Shizu and Taizong is simply to impose harsh demands on him. He was a mortal with mortal greed and selfish desires, and his actions were completely in line with the style and standards of most feudal autocratic monarchs.
In fact, until his death, Kangzong still had to thank Shizu, Emperor Taizong, and especially Emperor Taizong. If the empire they left behind was not strong enough to withstand his creation, perhaps the temple name "Kang" would not even be around.
he.
If it were another historical period, for the same deed, perhaps temple names such as "Xi", "Xi", "Min", and "Zhi" would have been assigned to him.
Regarding the posthumous title of Kangzong Temple, there was some discussion within the imperial court, and it took a lot of thinking. It is impossible to give a bad posthumous title, otherwise how could the ministers in the Pingkang era get along with themselves, and how would they thank the world? A beautiful posthumous title cannot be exclusive.
With all my heart, I finally gave him an unconventional title like "Kang", and the posthumous title was much "shorter". He was named Emperor Ruiming Wu Minxiao. I really couldn't put more gold in his face.
Of course, from the perspective of the new emperor Liu Wenji, he might prefer to give Kangzong a posthumous title, but in the end he still recognized the suggestions of the ministers. From the reign name to the posthumous title of the late emperor, Liu Wenji always followed the advice smoothly.
, this was also the tone of Liu Wenji’s governance during the Duan Gong period.
After all, Kangzong left, leaving an extremely complicated and troublesome situation for Liu Wenji, who had just ascended the throne. The Han Empire was obviously sick again, and this time, Liu Wenji, a "doctor", was needed to diagnose and treat it.
But before that, what he really wanted to do was how to consolidate his throne, which was the basis of everything he did. Even without Mrs. Xiao's reminder, he had sufficient thinking and understanding about this.
The problem is serious and the challenge is arduous. However, for Liu Wenji, no matter how difficult it is, it cannot be more difficult than the ten years of disappointment and even despair of persistence and suffering, nor can it be more difficult than being sick in bed and waiting and waiting for several years.
When Liu Wenji ascended the throne, settled on the dragon's bed, and safely accepted the worship of officials and envoys from various countries, he knew that the most difficult moment was over, and "the supreme emperor" was his greatest source of confidence and confidence.
Liu Wenji is not an immature Liu Wenpeng. He has been deeply influenced by Shizu and Taizong since he was a child, and he has been working hard in the imperial system for more than 20 years. The hardships and experiences he has experienced have made him full of wisdom from his thoughts to his vision, and he has a deep understanding of the empire.
He saw people, things, and systems far more clearly and profoundly than Liu Wenpeng. When he sat in the position of emperor, he also knew better how to exert its functions.
At the beginning of his succession to the throne, Liu Wenji was constantly under pressure and all kinds of troubles. Even though he had shown himself to be easy-going and harmless enough, there were still people who kept testing him.
But no matter how many troubles there are, in the final analysis it is still a human problem. If you can grasp the changes in the court's favor and handle the interpersonal relationships with the powerful, even if nothing is accomplished for the time being, Liu Wenji can at least be as stable as Mount Tai.
Liu Wenji did not interfere much in the personnel issues of the new dynasty. Especially in the political affairs hall of Guangzheng Palace, which represented the center of imperial power, the configuration of the late Kangzong period was basically maintained.
Although such a structure made the nobles powerful, it had an advantage for Liu Wenji, who had not yet established himself. At least he had the support from Kou Zhun, Xu Shilian, Xiang Minzhong, and Wang Qinruo.
These four people have become the central spokesmen of the empire's vast group of common people bureaucrats, far worse than they were at the beginning.
You must know that when the common people's bureaucrats were at their peak, at least at the central level, they had to overshadow the noble bureaucrats. Of course, this needs to be viewed after dialectically excluding the influence of the emperor, and the development of the entire Kangzong era seems to have
This illustrates one thing. In the current Han Empire, the meritorious nobles have the final say.
As for Shangshu Ling Wang Dan, his downfall is inevitable. On the one hand, he cannot control the situation. Someone also needs to pay for the twists and turns in Liu Wenji's succession. As the "prime minister", starting from the time when he sided with Empress Dowager Murong, he failed.
Then the only option is to dismount.
However, Liu Wenji cared about his veteran ministers from three dynasties and his past achievements, so he gave him a dignity and allowed him to serve as the mausoleum envoy to supervise the construction of Kangzong's mausoleum and the subsequent state funeral ceremonies.
It needs to be mentioned here that after King Zhao came out and supported the emperor, and the court reached a consensus on Liu Wenji's succession, Kangzong's funeral affairs were continued. Liu Wenji's accession to the throne was also after the national mourning was over in accordance with the principle of "changing the day for the month".
However, Kangzong did not build a mausoleum during his lifetime. Therefore, his "An Ning" was still under urgent construction, and it would take some time before the funeral. During this period, the Zi Palace had to be parked in the Chui Gong Hall.
To show respect, after Liu Wenji ascended the throne, he chose the palace where he would manage politics and affairs in the Wansui Palace, where Shizu often lived in his later years. As a result, Emperor Duangong did not live in the Chui Gong Palace.
As for Liu Wenji's arrangement with Wang Dan, many dignitaries saw it and expressed their satisfaction. At least this cautious and tolerant attitude was worthy of praise. Compared with Kang Zong's absurdity and elusiveness, Liu Wenji, who had just come to power, performed admirably.
It's so comfortable.
Wang Dan's resignation as prime minister was probably the "prime minister's abdication" with the least impact on the court. Compared with the impact of this incident, the position of Shangshu Ling itself was more anticipated. By the first year of Duangong, Shangshu Ling Han
The status and authority of the imperial prime minister have been completely consolidated. He is the leader of the officials who assist the emperor in administering the government and governing the country.
When Liu Wenji's era had just begun, this position could not be established only with the support of the emperor. As for the successor of Shangshu Ling, Liu Wenji first asked Zhao Wang Liu Fang, who strongly supported him, to take the position.
The result was not beyond his expectation. Liu Fang refused directly. He did not feel worried about the emperor's suspicion at all. He just calmly explained a few words to Liu Wenji and asked him to behave himself and treat his subjects well.
Liu Fang had a profound understanding of Liu Wenji's qualifications, caliber and ability as early as when he was on his southern tour, and he still remembers it vividly. Only a few people inside and outside the imperial court could see clearly the issue of the new emperor Liu Wenji.
, Zhao Wang Liu Fang is obviously one of them.
Faced with King Zhao's frank confession, Liu Wenji felt relieved and bowed to him, bending at ninety degrees.
At the same time, as a token of gratitude, Liu Wenji later granted the posthumous title of Queen Xiaocheng to Concubine Zhe. King Lu was directly kicked out of the court for this matter. At that time, there were constant discussions in the court, but Liu Wenji succeeded.
It's as simple as drinking water, and everyone agrees with it, with almost no objection.
This move undoubtedly allowed Liu Wenji to gain the recognition and support of dozens of descendants of Empress Zhe.
Another great hero, Yang Ye, was not ignored by Liu Wenji. Of course, it was unrealistic for Yang, who had been retired for many years and was over 80 years old, to become the prime minister. Therefore, Liu Wenji asked Yang Yanzhao to be the prime minister and also gave him a "general"
The reason for becoming a prime minister was also rejected by Yang Yanzhao, and he asked the emperor to find someone else who was virtuous.
Due to Empress Yang's relationship, the Yang family's situation in the court was somewhat sensitive. If it weren't for Lao Yang Ye's fierce loyalty to the late emperor and the empire, he would never have spoken out rashly.
After that, Emperor Liu Wenji continued to show his "obedience to advice" and adopted the suggestions of his ministers. Finance envoy Xiang Deming succeeded him as the minister and presided over the operation of the government. This incident first caused the scandal among the ministers of the Ministry of Personnel.
Liu Jichang (son of King Xu Liu Chengyun) was dissatisfied. This clan veteran became more and more eager to reach the top as he got older.
At that time, Lu Mengzheng had overthrown the Minister of Libu. Now, with the Ling of the Lingbu in front of him, and was overthrown by Xiang Deming, he was naturally unwilling to accept it. Therefore, during the Duan Gong period, the center of the imperial court was based on the Ling of the Lingbu and the Lingbu of the Lianbu.
The struggle between them unfolds.
In this regard, Xiang Deming's background, qualifications, merits, and abilities were all profound enough, and he was not afraid of Liu Jichang at all. The emperor, Liu Wenji, stood beside him, silently observing, waiting, and waiting for an opportunity to remove these old nobles.
Of course, even if they survive, they can survive. Each of them is over sixty years old. How many years can they survive?
Of course, compared to the seemingly significant personnel changes in the court, Liu Wenji only really intervened or cared about a few positions, and he got them done.
First of all, Zhe Weichang, the commander of the capital within the pass, was appointed as the commander of the inspection department. Zhe Weichang was the great-grandson of Ruan, the Duke of Dai, and the younger brother of the late Duke Zhe Weizheng.
Xiao Hui was also appointed as the deputy capital commander of the Imperial Army, mainly responsible for the imperial squads. At the same time, Cao used to be transferred to the central government and was appointed as a cabinet bachelor and an expert in making imperial edicts.
Of course, Xiao Gong will not be forgotten, and Liu Wenji appointed him as the Shaofu. The former Shaofu Liu Gui died suddenly in the spring of the ninth year of Pingkang in a late spring cold. He had no illness or disaster during his lifetime, so he died without illness.
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Although he was a eunuch, he had served three generations of kings with very different styles. However, being able to control the imperial palace, a huge royal property organization, for more than thirty years as a eunuch was enough to leave a mark in history.
At the same time, although Liu Gui died, the complete set of affairs, finance, and personnel management systems that he established during his many years of service in the Shaofu were completely left behind. It is easy to do things, but difficult to establish rules. This is the most important thing for Liu Gui.
The great thing is that it is also the fundamental reason why he has been able to serve as the young master for more than thirty years. If he just relies on pleasing the emperor, it is not enough.
Of course, the secret service agency, which played an important role in the imperial power, was also included in Liu Wenji's care in a very short period of time. Zheng Yuanguo, the owl commander, lived up to his words. After Liu Wenji ascended the throne, he took the initiative to retire and asked to return to his hometown to recuperate.
Liu Wenji agreed. In addition to giving him a large amount of gold and silver, he also awarded him a third-grade civil official and gold and purple clothing. He gave him a heavy grace and allowed him to return to his hometown with honor and support his family in his old age.
Wang Yue, the famous envoy of the imperial city, paid the price for his previous half-heartedness. Of course, considering that he had served two generations of late emperors for decades, he still tried his best and did not kill him. Instead, he was exiled to Nanyang, so that
He took his property, attendants, concubines, and descendants with him (eunuchs were not insulated from women and children) and left the mainland, bidding farewell to the court forever. Although Wang Yue was unwilling to accept it, he kowtowed in the end to thank him.
In contrast, Lin Te, who had been waiting and watching, stayed. Of course, he did not stay in the position of Wude Envoy. After having a conversation with him and carefully examining this person, Liu Wenji decided to use him as the southeast transfer envoy.
For Lin Te, this was an appointment of great significance. He was so grateful that he knelt down to Liu Wenji on the spot to show his loyalty.
The last person to be treated like this was Wang Xuanzhen, and Wang Xuanzhen's subsequent experiences are still a role model in the minds of everyone in the secret service system. He even worshiped the prime minister and even became an auxiliary minister. Even if he was later ostracized, he was still a minister with a special background.
The pinnacle that can be reached (Although Li Shaoyou, Duke of Shou State, is responsible for the specific establishment of Wude Division, he cannot be regarded simply as a spy minister.)
At the beginning of his accession to the throne, Liu Wenji's series of operations, whether it was to seek fame in vain or to make profits pragmatically, were all aimed at building a moat to consolidate his throne, and they were very successful.
By the summer and June of the first year of Duangong, Liu Wenji had completely secured the throne. In the past few months, although he did not speak much in the court, no one in the court dared to look down upon him like he did in the early days of Kangzong.
Even ignoring the emperor's opinions seems to be the effect of the emperor's different temperament.