"Historical Records. Biographies of Xunli" says: "Sun Shu'ao is a scholar from Chu. Yuqiu's came to King Zhuang of Chu, and he took his own place. In March, he was the Prime Minister of Chu, teaching the people, and harmonizing the upper and lower levels. The world is prosperous, the government is slow and forbidden, the officials are free from evil, and thieves cannot afford it. In autumn and winter, people are encouraged to collect from the mountains, and in spring and summer, everyone can find their own way, and the people are happy. " Sima Qian "Historical Records. As the first person to follow the official system, the history is clear. The account can be calculated as :
Sun Shuao (about 630 BC - 593 BC). Gui's surname, first name Ao, courtesy name Sun Shu, a native of Yingdu, Chu (Today's and Nancheng ). From 601 BC to 596 BC, he served as Ling Yin, King of Chuzhuang, and experienced "three ups and three downs". Sun Shuao assisted King Zhuang of Chu in attaching great importance to the people's livelihood economy: he built water conservancy projects and improved agricultural production conditions; he presided over the formulation and implementation of a series of policies and laws related to the national economy and people's livelihood, and tried his best to make farmers, workers, and businessmen feel comfortable. Shi taught the people, lenient sentences and suspended administration, achieved impressive political results, and advocated putting the people first. Stop fighting and stop fighting, recuperate and recuperate, so that agriculture and business can develop simultaneously, culture can flourish, and China can become a leader.
When Sun Shuao was young, he once encountered a two-headed snake. It is believed that anyone who sees a two-headed snake will die. He thought: I am the only one who wants to die, and I don’t want others to see it. So he beheaded the snake and buried it in the hill. His character was admired by his tribe. The hill was therefore named "Snake Entering the Mountain" and is located in the Shengli Street Office of Shashi District, Jingzhou City today.
King Zhuang once thought that the cars of Chu State were too small at that time, so he ordered the whole country to transform tall cars. Sun Shuao advised that if you act with orders, it will arouse the resentment of the people. It is better to raise the thresholds at both ends of urban streets and alleys. If low cars cannot pass, people will consciously modify high cars. King Zhuang also thought that the original currency was too small, so he changed it to larger coins and forced them to be circulated. This made it inconvenient for the people to use and caused market chaos. Sun Shuao believed that "convenience to the people is the most important" and persuaded King Zhuang to resume the use of small currencies, and the market became prosperous again.
In 605 BC, Sun Shufang built China's earliest large-scale canal water conservancy project - Qisiyu (yu) Lou Irrigation District (Qisipei), and also presided over the construction of Shao (shao) Pei. Floods occurred frequently in the Huaihe River, so Sun Shuao volunteered to take charge of flood control and spent all his family resources. It took three years to finally successfully build the first water conservancy project in Chinese history - Shaopei Temple (today's Anfengtang County, in China's Shouxian County). It used the Huaihe River ancient road to discharge floods and built ponds to irrigate farmers and mulberry trees, which benefited the country. Huaihe people. This oldest and famous water conservancy project in China is known as the "Crown of Water Conservancy". More than 2,600 years have passed and it is still playing a role today. In today's Jiangling area of Hubei Province, water conservancy projects were also built, the Yangtze River and the Han River were opened, and canals were built in all directions, which prospered the trade economy, greatly facilitated military campaigns and the transportation of grain and grass, and established immortal achievements. Comrade Mao Zedong mentioned Sun Shuao many times when he inspected the Huaihe River, saying that he was a great expert in water control.
Sun Shuao chose articles suitable for the Chu State and established them as military law. He formulated clear regulations on the actions, tasks, disciplines, etc. of each army and applied them to training and actual combat. In the 16th year of King Zhuang (598 BC), the Chu army built a city in Lidu (now Zhengyang, Henan). Due to his proper use of people, careful planning, and sufficient material preparation, the task was completed in 30 days. The next year, Chu and Jin fought in a war. He assisted King Zhuang in commanding the war tactfully and began to dispatch chariots. He immediately encouraged the Chu army to attack bravely. With one go, he quickly approached the Jin army, catching it off guard and causing it to collapse in panic. , fled back to the north of the Yellow River , and his position as the overlord of the Central Plains turned to the Chu State.
Sun Shuao is a model of uprightness and integrity for officials in ancient times. During Sun Shuao's tenure as Ling Yin, he went up and down three times. He was not complacent when he was promoted or restored his position; he did not regret or sigh when he lost power. As prime minister, Sun Shuao had power below one person but above ten thousand people. However, he was simple in his carriage, food and clothing, his wife and children had no clothes, and his horses did not eat millet. Become a saint recorded in " Lu's Spring and Autumn " and " Xunzi. Feixiang". Around the 20th year of King Zhuang of Chu (about 594 BC), Sun Shuao died of gangrene. As a prince, his family was so poor that they had only four walls and no coffin was prepared.After his death, his son wore coarse rags and lived by collecting firewood.
Youmeng is an artist who performs music, dance and opera. He often persuades King Zhuang by talking, laughing and acting. When Sun Shu'ao was the commander-in-chief, he knew that Youmeng was a wise man and treated him very politely. Sun Shuao lived an honest life and did not leave much property. Before he died, he told his son: "You will definitely be poor after I die. Then you can pay homage to Youmeng and say that you are Sun Shuao's son." Sure enough, within a few years, The family situation is becoming increasingly difficult. One day, Sun Shuao's son met Youmeng on the road. Remembering his father's last words, he said to Youmeng: "I am Sun Shuao's son. Before his death, my late father told me that I can go to see you when my family is poor." Youmeng explained : "Don't go far away, wait patiently for my news." You Meng lamented that Sun Shuao devoted his life to the country, but his family was impoverished after his death, so he spent a year imitating Sun Quan'ao's words, deeds, voice, and smile. The gender is so high that no one else can distinguish it.
At a banquet hosted by King Zhuang of Chu, Youmeng put on Sun Shuao's clothes and stepped forward to toast King Zhuang of Chu. King Zhuang was shocked, thinking that Sun Shufang was resurrected, and wanted to ask him to be the prime minister again. You Meng replied: "The prime minister of Chu is not worthy of being a prime minister. Sun Shu'ao has governed Chu with loyalty and integrity throughout his life, so that you can dominate the princes. Now that he is dead, His son has no place to stand and is in poverty." You Meng then sang a song: "It is hard to live in the fields and find food. He is also afraid of committing a serious crime and his family will be destroyed. How can a corrupt official do it? Incorruptible is an honest official who obeys the law and dares not do anything wrong. Sun Shu Aochi, Prime Minister of Chu! He was so honest that he died, and now his wife is poor and has to live without a salary, which is not enough!" King Zhuang of Chu was very moved after hearing this, and felt that he had not taken good care of his old minister, so he summoned Sun Quan'ao's son and gave him land and slaves. Their family life has been improved and they have no worries about food and clothing. This is the allusion of "Excellent Meng Yiguan".
" Liezi. Shuofu" records: A hermit named Huqiu Zhangren once said to Sun Quanfang: "People have three resentments, do you know them?" Sun Shuao asked him what the "three resentments" were. The hermit replied: "Those with high titles will be envied by others; those with high officials will be hated by the masters; those with high salaries will be resented." Sun Shu'ao told him: "My title will be high, my will will be low; my official will be good." If my heart is big, my heart will be small; my salary will be thick, and my charity will be rich, so I will avoid the three grievances, okay?" Sun Shuao explained to his father-in-law Huqiu how to avoid the three grievances because of his high position:
First of all, the higher the title. , the heart becomes more humble. He must not be arrogant or arrogant to the people who live in lower positions, but should become more humble, always maintain a feeling of respect, and return the glory that was given to people to the greatest extent. Secondly, the greater the power, the more cautious one must be in dealing with things. will never use power as , leaving ample room for Shangfeng to exert his will and completely eliminate the feeling of being threatened; he will carefully handle things in accordance with certain etiquette norms and various practical requirements, and strive to handle affairs smoothly and properly. Third, the thicker the salary, the more extensive the charity should be to the people. The generous salary in his hands was not a capital for his own comfort and enjoyment, but a capital for him to help the poor and benefit the people. Through this, he showed his selfless and noble sentiments of serving the people as an official and charity. Sun Shuao used his own power as the prime minister, breaking Huqiu's father-in-law's assertion about the world's three grievances in high positions, and showed the superb way of doing things.
Under his careful governance, Chu State entered a heyday of political, economic and cultural development.
Sun Shuao's tomb is located on the bank of Jiangjin Lake in Zhongshan Park, Shashi, Jingzhou City, next to Chunqiu Pavilion . Its tombstone was erected by Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1757 AD), with the inscription "The Tomb of Sun Shuao, the Emperor of Chu".
