A young "prodigy" who admires Gao Xian
Yu Qian (1398 May-1457 February), a famous minister in the Ming Dynasty, was a national hero. Official to less insurance, the world called less insurance. He was born in Kaocheng (now Minquan County) and his hometown is now Minquan County. Yu Qian's Zeng Zhou left home to be an official in Hangzhou in the Yuan Dynasty, and later his family moved to Taiping Lane in Qiantang, so Yu Qian was born in Qiantang, Zhejiang. Yu Qian, Yue Fei and Zhang Huangyan are also known as the "Three Masters of the West Lake".
Yu Qian received a good family education from an early age and was smart and diligent. He made up his mind when he was a teenager. When he was seven years old, a monk was surprised by his appearance and said, "None of the people you saw are like this. He will save the Prime Minister in the future." 14 years old can write poetry, 15 years old Jinshi, known as "prodigy." Yu Qian admired Zhuge Liang, Su Wu, Wen Tianxiang and other outstanding figures, and wrote poems praising them for their loyalty to the country and taking them as examples. It is under the inspiration of these sages' spirits that young Yu Qian made the ambition of "taking the security of the world as his own responsibility". At the age of 65,438+07, he wrote a poem Ode to a Lime.
I have been a clean governor for 19 years.
In the 18th year of Yongle (1420), 22-year-old Yu Qian took the senior high school entrance examination, and took the senior high school entrance examination the following year. His literary talent, opinions and arguments are highly appreciated by examiners, ranking first. However, he attacked the malpractices of the times, which was taboo by the powerful and powerful, and was finally crushed into a ninety-two scholar in the top three. In the first year of Xuande (1426), Hanwang Zhu rebelled in Le 'an County, and Yu Qian personally signed with Xuanzong. When the heat came out, Xuanzong asked Yu Qian to count his crimes. Yu Qian's words are vivid and his voice is shocking. Under the fierce offensive of the suggestion, Zhu was so scolded that he couldn't lift his head, shivering (lying down) on the ground, claiming that he deserved to die. Xuanzong was so happy that he appointed Yu Qian as the suggestion and immediately ordered him to inspect Jiangxi. Yu Qian toured Jiangxi to avenge hundreds of wronged prisoners. He went to the official school in Shaanxi to harass the people and issued letters to arrest them. The emperor knew that Yu Qian could shoulder the heavy responsibility. At that time, he was preparing to add the right assistant ministers of various ministries as the governor of Zhili. Yu Qian's outstanding talent and incorruptible style won the praise of the imperial court. In the fifth year of Xuande (1430), the emperor personally wrote Yu Qian's name and gave it to the official department. At the age of 32, Yu Qian was promoted to the right assistant minister of the Ministry of War and the governor of Henan and Shanxi, ranking third. Since then, he has entered.
When he took office, there were no gongs and drums and no guards to clear the way, unlike the governor. During his first few years in office, serious droughts and floods occurred in Shanxi and Henan provinces. After the disaster, the dry land was full of sadness. On the one hand, Yu Qian truthfully reported the disaster to the imperial court, exempting the tax and grain in the disaster area over the years, and on the other hand, he took the trouble to travel all over Taihang Mountain area and both sides of the Yellow River. He urged state and county officials to check the disaster and give money and food. Set up pharmacies in various places to distribute medicines to the victims free of charge. He set up two wooden signs in front of his office, "seeking public opinion" and "willing to listen to pros and cons", and listened carefully to public opinion. He resolutely implemented the law of purchasing and storing two kinds of grain, buying at a fair price in good years and selling at a fair price in bad years. Yicang is donated by local virtuous people and distributed to the hungry free of charge. These acts of kindness have saved countless lives in two provinces. In order to tame the unruly Yellow River, Yu Qian led farmers to plant trees on the riverbank to strengthen it, and dug wells and built pavilions on the riverside roads.
During his tenure in 19, Yu Qian has always maintained a clean and honest style. He is clean and honest, does not engage in personal grievances, pleads for the people, and avoids the importance. He has always been called "Yu Qingtian" and "Yu" by the people of the two provinces. Some people even set up statues for him at home, and some counties even set up "shrines" for him.
Honest and clean, not afraid of dignitaries.
Orthodox years, eunuch Wang Zhen authoritarian, Wang Zhen "luck, seize the power of the Lord; Treacherous laws, sectarian chaos; Everything is not due to the imperial court claiming to be an imperial edict, "selling official titles and killing mowgli", which has formed a dark situation of eunuch dictatorship. Up and down the court, corruption is rampant. When local officials go to Beijing to handle affairs, they must first bribe their superiors, but Yu Qian never gives gifts. He was advised not to send gold and silver, at least to bring some local products. Yu Qian smiled and shook his sleeves: "I only have two sleeves!" " "To this end, he wrote a poem" Going to Beijing ",which clearly stated:" Handkerchiefs, mushrooms and incense are harmful to the people. Clear wind and sleeves to heaven, so as not to talk short! " Yu Qian is so awe-inspiring, Wang Zhen is naturally greatly jealous; Yu Qian's reputation spread like wildfire, and everyone praised Yu Qian for being an honest official. This poem "Going to Beijing" was also read by the ruling and opposition parties.
The "prime minister" who turned the tide.
In October of the 14th year of the Ming Dynasty (1449), the Ming army fought against the invasion of the capital by the Mongolian Vara.
In August of that year, the Ming army was attacked by the Walla army in the civil war, and the whole army was defeated, and Yingzong Zhu Qizhen was captured. The news of defeat spread to the capital, which increased the fear of North Korea. Empress Dowager Cixi ordered Zhu Qiyu, the younger brother of Yingzong, to supervise the country and called ministers to discuss state affairs. The assistant lecturer program of the Hanlin Academy advocates moving the capital to the south to escape. Yu Qian, then assistant minister of the Ministry of War, resolutely opposed it. He said: "Those who advocate moving south should be beheaded! Shi Jing is the foundation of the world, and the general trend will go. " In view of the crisis, he called for the establishment of a new monarch to preside over state affairs in order to consolidate people's hearts. And quickly mobilized diligent soldiers from all over the country to join the capital, vowing to fight the Walla army and defend the security of the capital. Yu Qian's proposition was endorsed and supported by Empress Dowager Cixi, Zhu Qiyu and most courtiers. So the Queen Mother decided to let Wang be King Jing, and Ming Yingzong was renamed the Emperor's Father. Yu Qian was promoted to be the minister of war, commanding the whole army, and was responsible for commanding the military and civilians to guard the city.
On June+10, 5438, the Walla army fought at the gates of Beijing and camped outside Xizhimen. Yu Qian called the generals to discuss countermeasures. General Shi Heng advocated behind closed doors, and when the enemy was in trouble, he would withdraw. Yu Qian advocates taking the initiative to attack. He sent generals to lead the troops out of the city, arrayed himself outside the nine gates of Beijing, personally led the troops to be stationed outside Deshengmen, and ordered the garrison commander in the city to close all the gates, indicating his determination to cross the rubicon and fight to the death. And ordered the general to retreat first; The soldiers did not obey the general's command, and the deserters were beheaded by the soldiers in the back team. So the whole army has high morale and high morale, and they are determined to fight against the enemy and defend the capital. At this time, diligent Ming troops from all over the country also arrived in Beijing one after another, and the number of Ming troops outside the city increased to 220 thousand.
Under the unfavorable situation of internal and external attack, the leader of Walla Department also lost first and retreated. Yu Qian valued merits more than military affairs, so he sent more troops to guard calm (now Zhengding, Hebei Province), Baoding, Zhuozhou (now Zhuoxian, Hebei Province), Yizhou (now Yixian, Hebei Province) and other places, and sent generals to guard Shanxi Pass to prevent Vara troops from going south. First of all, I see that the military strength of the Ming Dynasty is getting stronger and stronger, and it is impossible to defeat the Ming Dynasty militarily. At the same time, the internal contradictions in Vara have become increasingly acute, and the "superior emperor" who dominates the sky is not only no longer a trump card, but has actually become a burden. So he decided to give up and send it back to Zhu Qizhen. Immediately send messengers to make peace with the Ming Dynasty. Ministers repeatedly invited the emperor to welcome him, which made King Zhu Qiyu very unhappy. He said angrily, "The imperial court wants to break up with Kou because it is good to make up." "I am not greedy for this position, but I am a strong tree. What's different today? " At that time, the ministers were terrified and speechless. Yu Qian advised, "Heaven has decided. I'd rather have him! Coulee should welcome ears immediately. " Finally, Emperor Jing calmed down and said, "From you, from you."
On August 5, A.D. 1450, Ming Yingzong returned to Beijing, and the Ming Dynasty became friends with Vala, making friends, and the trade between the envoys and envoys was endless. "Ming History" commented: "I am grateful for the return of the emperor, and I am also humble."
After the "Cultural Reform", Yu Qian was promoted to the post of Minister of War and became the "Prime Minister of Salvation". He still abandoned the bad habit of arrogance in officialdom. Yu Qian has served as an official for decades, or led the army to defend the enemy, or ruled the country, or pleaded for the people, or defeated the powerful. Throughout his life, he was diligent and devoted to the people, honest and self-disciplined, and fulfilled his clanking promise of "keeping the world innocent forever" with practical actions.
A brave man dedicated to his country.
After Yu Qian became the "rescue prime minister", he occupied a high position. However, he still insisted on "not letting the famous festivals fall to the ground, asking for nothing outside" and "biting the roots of vegetables in big festivals", and still lived a simple life, with poor clothes and unpalatable food. He "worries about the country day and night, and his family only takes shelter from the wind." Because there is no halberd in front of the door, it is often mistaken for a wild family. He described his family in the poem "Twilight Return": "A small rope bed can't be stretched out, and a mosquito net has been dusty for many years. Official capital is extremely expensive, and the situation is still the same as that of outsiders. Song Jun in the old nursery is good everywhere, and peaches and plums in the famous garden are new everywhere. Why do you need a distinguished guest in your seat when you sleep with only one book in your arms? "
It is admirable that an important minister of a country should be so poor with outstanding achievements! Seeing that his family was so shabby, Jingdi gave him a mansion. Yu Qian repeatedly refused, but after having to accept it, he only stored the items given by the emperor over the years here, and still lives in a simple house. He often said that "money is always bad for honor", "honor is more important than Mount Tai, and greed is less than a feather".
Yu Qian has a strong personality. When something goes wrong, he will always clap his chest and sigh: "I don't know where this blood will spill!" " He looked down on those weak and incompetent ministers, ministers and royalty, so many people hated him and never agreed to make peace. So although Yingzong came back smoothly, Yingzong was not satisfied. The program was reprimanded by Yu Qian for proposing to move the capital to Nanjing. At this time, I changed my name to Youzhen, which is more valuable for promotion and use. I often gnash my teeth at money.
Shi Heng was initially dismissed for violating military law. It was Yu Qian who asked the emperor to forgive him and let him be the Prime Minister of the 10th Battalion, but he didn't dare to be presumptuous and disliked Yu Qian because he was afraid. Shi Heng's contribution to the victory of Deshengmen was not greater than that of Yu Qian, but he got the hereditary marquis and felt guilty, so he wrote to recommend Yu Mian, the son of Yu Qian. The emperor ordered him to go to Beijing, but Yu Qian refused and neither did the emperor. Yu Qian said: "When the country is in trouble, courtiers should not consider personal kindness morally. As a general, Shi Heng didn't know that he recommended a hermit, promoted a rank, and only recommended my son. Can this be recognized by the public? I have tried my best to put an end to luck in the army, and I absolutely dare not use my son to take credit. " Shi Heng was ashamed and hated. Zhang Men, the viceroy, was impeached by Yu Qian for disobeying the law when harvesting seedlings, and the chamberlain always hated modesty.
A national hero who died of injustice
In A.D. 1457, Jingdi suddenly fell ill and was bedridden. Yingzong took the opportunity to regain the throne with the help of eunuch Cao Jixiang and general Shi Heng, and changed the title to Tianshun. After Yingzong was put back, he refused to make peace with money regardless of life and death, and supported Jingdi with resentment. On the 23rd of the first month, Yu Qian was arrested for "treason". By the time the property was purchased, there was no extra money at home, only the principal room was locked. When I opened it, I found that it was all embroidered robes and swords given by the emperor. Soon, Yingzong executed him at the age of 60.
"History of the Ming Dynasty" contains: Yu Qian beheaded his grandson, and the world was wronged. When Yu Qian's property was seized, Yu Qian's family was surrounded by walls, and there were no valuable furniture and utensils, let alone a decent dress, and even the bedroom was not well decorated. The only legacy left by a generation of senior officials is the history and art books piled on the bedside table. This made all the officers and men who raided cry on the spot, and everyone cried.
After Yu Qian, his confidant, Chen, was appointed Minister of War. In less than a year, the bad things they did were exposed, and the accumulated amount of bribes was huge. The emperor called the minister in to see it, changed his face and said, "Yu Qian is highly valued in Jingtai Emperor's court. When he died, he had no extra money. Why are there so many Chen? " Shi Heng could not answer with his head down. Soon a policeman appeared on the border, and the emperor looked sad. Jin respectfully waited on him and said, "If Yu Qian were here, no one would be allowed to do this." The emperor was speechless. This year, Xu Youzhen was slandered by Shi Heng and exiled to Jinyakou. A few years later, Shi Heng was also arrested and imprisoned and died in prison; The truth about Cao Jixiang's rebellion, genocide and Yu Qian came out.
In the early years of Chenghua, Yu Qian's son was pardoned and returned to China because of his involvement. He complained that he had been wronged, made Yu Qian rehabilitate and offered a sacrifice. The imperial edict said: "When the country is in great trouble, it is envied by powerful ministers and traitors to defend the country and make it not dangerous and uphold justice alone." My late emperor knew his injustice when he was alive, and I really felt sorry for his loyalty. "This patent has spread all over the country. In the second year of Hongzhi, he adopted the advice given to Sun Xu, presented it to Yu Qian, Dr. Guanglu, Zhu Guo, a teacher and posthumous title, and built an ancestral temple in the tomb, named "Gong Jing", which was worshipped by the local authorities on New Year's Day. Wanli was changed to loyalty. People in Beijing, Kaifeng, Taiyuan, Hangzhou, Nanchang and other places have set up shrines to commemorate him.
Yu Qian's noble character of loving the people, patriotism and clean government is undoubtedly an important treasure in the treasure house of the Chinese nation's spirit and should be an official and politician today.
(The pictures and texts are compiled from the Internet by Wang Xinhua, thanks to the original author).