When it comes to Chinese history, the first thing that pops up in our minds is the profound, long-lasting and long-lasting. In short, China’s long history is like the vast ocean. Whenever we stand in front of it and want to study Sometimes, will always find that he is so small, just like the mayfly mentioned in the poem of Red Cliff, a drop in the ocean.
This vast sea of history is composed of countless social evolutions and dynasty changes. The feudal society of more than two thousand years is filled with countless dynasty changes. The rise and fall of dynasties is like the ebb and flow of the ocean, and the waves. The height and size are like the social status at the peak of the dynasty.
This ocean started from the Qin Dynasty and ended with the Qing Dynasty. Everything that happened before the Qin Dynasty was like one tributary after another that gathered into the vast ocean. After the evolution of the times, it came together. Later, the unified country, and the most powerful among these tributaries, was the Qin State in the late Warring States Period.
We know that the reason why the Qin State became the Qin Dynasty was because of the talented and ambitious Qin Shihuang After decades of fighting, he finally achieved the unification of the Seven Heroes of the Warring States Period . The reason why Qin Shihuang was able to achieve such great achievements was not only his own outstanding talents. In addition, the strong comprehensive national strength represented by the country's military strength and wealth is also an indispensable part.
Let’s talk about the history of the development of the Qin State. Duke Mu of Qin made a very outstanding contribution to the development of the Qin Dynasty, but when he died, he did something that was very harmful to the Qin State. Duke Mu of Qin, who cherished talents, asked three people to be buried with him before his death, which made the Qin Dynasty unable to conquer the east for 260 years.
The Rise and Fall of Human Sacrifice
It must be said that the system of human sacrifice adopted by Duke Mu of Qin was very cruel, but in fact this system existed before. After all, it was still in the pre-Qin period, which was the transition from primitive society to Slavery society still attaches great importance to funerals and sacrifices, so this kind of human sacrifice occurs.
In fact, this kind of horrific sacrificial method is due to people's simple understanding of death, which has triggered an extraordinary emphasis on funerals. As early as and the Western Zhou Dynasty , there were already requirements and positions related to sacrifices, and even at that time Very precious bronze vessels are regarded as sacrificial objects. In fact, people do not focus on the dead.
but do not admit the existence of death at all. They believe that after people lose their vitality, they will go to another world to continue their current occupation, and the items used for sacrifice can be brought to the other world they are going to through prayer. You can avoid taking some detours when fighting again.
Therefore, in the early years, sacrificial activities were quite grand. For ordinary people, they would use some fruits, vegetables, paper money and food as sacrifices. Because the family's financial conditions were limited, they could only be used on Huangquan Road.
For some wealthy families, the sacrifices are relatively luxurious. In addition to fruits and vegetables, big fish, meat, and delicacies are all available. Not only that, some wealthy families even make sparkling dishes for people. The gold and silver are burned to the deceased, firstly for travel expenses, and secondly for establishing relationships in another world.
At that time, when the kings offered sacrifices, human sacrifices appeared. Especially when the king passed away or the ministers passed away, most people would use human sacrifices, because in their view, had become accustomed to it in this life. Nobles who have someone to serve them should still have someone to serve them in another world, so "living burial" was adopted.
But most of the candidates at that time were slaves plundered from the defeated side after winning the war. In the eyes of the people at that time, the captives from the defeated side were their spoils of war. After becoming slaves, they basically had little relationship with livestock. Difference, so it is normal to use it for sacrifice. But the people Duke Mu of Qin used to bury him were important talents in his country.
The important role of Qin Mugong
The subsequent strength of the Qin Dynasty is inseparably related to Qin Mugong. As one of the five hegemons of the Spring and Autumn Period, Qin Mugong was actually the least powerful among the five overlords at that time because his methods were relatively unique. The other overlords continued to wage wars in the Central Plains in order to seek hegemony, but Qin Mugong was different.
He targeted the relatively remote ethnic minorities. Through continuous battles and victories, he not only stabilized the frontiers of Qin's area, but also expanded a considerable part of the territory. Of course, these are secondary. Qin Mugong was the biggest. Its role is not in the military, but in its political achievements.
Duke Mu of Qin had a very strategic vision in politics. He broke the old pattern and no longer adhered to the stereotype that his countrymen only contributed to their own people. Instead, he created the system of guest guests. In short, it was the main If you are talented, you can come to Qin to make suggestions and get a certain amount of compensation. This behavior is similar to the guest professor in the university today.
The introduction of this system allowed many frustrated talents from their own countries to flock to the Qin State to make suggestions and select the best. Driven by this system, the Qin Dynasty had more and more talents and the system became more and more perfect. , laid the foundation for the subsequent unification of the world. But the strange thing is, why did Qin Mugong, who valued talents so much, let them be buried with them?
attaches great importance to talents
In terms of attracting and valuing talents, it is ranked second. It is estimated that no one dares to be ranked first, because its level of care for talents is unprecedented. The combat effectiveness of Qin was not very strong at that time. , after all, he has been king in remote areas all year round. Anyone who does whatever he wants will look down upon him and think he bullies the weak.
The Jin State led by Jin Wengong at that time was very powerful. After all, the Jin State split into three large countries in the late Warring States Period, so Jin Wengong at that time often provoked the Qin State. Duke Mu is naturally not someone to be trifled with. A war broke out between the two sides soon, but due to Qin's strength at the time, it was soon at a disadvantage.
Soon after, Qin was not only defeated, but even the three generals who fought at that time were captured by Jin. Duke Mugong of Qin was very angry at that time, but later the relationship between the two countries changed, There was an internal situation in Jin In order to end the chaos and fighting, Qin Mugong also provided some help at that time, and the relationship between the two countries became better again.
After that, Duke Xian of Jin also married his daughter to Duke Mu of Qin. This is the familiar Qin-Jin relationship. Now that the conflict between the two countries has been resolved, it is logical that the general of Qin who was captured by Jin back then After being released, Duke Mu of Qin's behavior in the face of these three defeated prisoners was admirable.
According to the rules on the ancient battlefield, if you become a prisoner and suffer a defeat, you will have to be executed for the rest of your life even if you are dissatisfied when you return home. However, Qin Mugong was different. Not only did he not care about the faults of these three people, but he wore Su Yi went out in person to welcome them home, still holding the position of general.
And in his subsequent life, he valued and cherished talents who were beneficial to the country. However, when Qin Mugong was dying before his death, he made an incredible request.
Talents to be buried with him
In 621 BC, Duke Mu of Qin, who led Qin to Spring and Autumn Overlord , passed away. Before his death, Duke Mu of Qin ordered 177 people to be buried with him, including not only the slaves obtained from the victory, but also the Qin Dynasty. There are a large number of talents in the country, including Yan Xi, Zhong Xing, and Zhen Hu, who are known as the three good people of the Qin State. This is something that no one in later generations would have thought of.
After all, it was unprecedented and unprecedented to directly bury a large number of talented people collectively. Especially the three of them, Yan Xi, Zhong Xing, and Zhen Hu, were all the leading talents of the Qin State at that time, and they played a huge role in politics. It is obvious to all that they played a very important role in the development of the Qin State at that time, but they died collectively under the order of Duke Mu of Qin.
There are many speculations about the reasons why Qin Mugong did this. The first is the theory of potential threats. Because of the early Qin State's guest system, there were many talents from other countries in the Qin State's political system. These people were not so much for the Qin State. , it is better to say that he fell in love with Qin Mugong's personal charm. Qin Mugong can control it, but his descendants may not.
Therefore, in order to clear the way for future generations to rule, Qin Mugong cut off his strong men's wrists and chose to let them be buried with him.
The second reason is the theory of never betraying. This point has a greater relationship with these three people. It means that Duke Mu of Qin tested the loyalty of the three people when he was about to die. The situation at that time forced the three people to prove that they were loyal to the country. , so he could only choose to die to express his ambition. In short, there were many people who criticized Qin Mugong in history. After all, the wanton slaughter of talents is unreasonable.
Impact on the Qin State
It must be said that Qin Mugong's practice affected the Qin State for more than two hundred years. Because Qin Mugong's cruel talent burial system, it once led to the failure of the Qin Dynasty's guest system and human sacrifice. The terror caused made talents from other countries dare not come to Qin to offer advice, because they might end up like those people.
After all, ordinary people are not guilty, but they are guilty of having a jade. Even if you don't have this idea, the strategies and talents in your heart may be potential threats, so most talents would rather empty their talents and ambitions than go to Qin to offer advice. Even the talented people in the country no longer wanted to be regent because of this incident.
At that time, many people came to serve as court guests because they saw that Duke Mu of Qin valued talents. However, now the three good men of Qin have been eliminated as obstacles, and the other people who are not as talented as these three are even more worried.
This phenomenon in society once led to the vacancy of talents in the court after several generations of successors of the Qin Dynasty came to power. In addition, his own mediocrity led to the decline of the Qin Dynasty. Then Qin Shihuang's father was sent to Zhao after his defeat. The tragic situation of being a hostage.
Summary
Therefore, it should be understood that people should be employed without suspicion and those with suspicion should not be used. Once too drastic measures are taken against those who are suspicious, it will easily cause a series of serious problems, just like the Qin State, which suffered a death and declined for more than two hundred years.
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