100 Historical Stories That Unlock Teenage Wisdom

Chapter 98 4 Liu Xiu reuses literati to rule the country

Chapter 104 Liu Xiu reuses literati to govern the country——you must know how to apply it
There are thousands of things in the world, and there is always one that suits you. Don't force yourself to do things beyond your capabilities, which will often make you fall into the swamp of pain.

After Liu Xiu became the founding emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, he was very melancholy for a while.Seeing that the emperor was unhappy, the ministers talked about it for a while, not knowing why.

One day, Liu Xiu's favorite concubine saw that he was worried, and said timidly, "Your majesty is frowning, and my concubine is deeply anxious. Can I share your worries for your majesty?"

Liu Xiu smiled wryly, and said wistfully, "I am worried about state affairs, how can you share your worries? As the saying goes, to rule the world, you should use craftsmen to rule the world. I am worried that although there are many heroes and generals in the court, there are too few scholars who rule the world. If the situation doesn’t change, how can we do it?”

Concubine Chong then suggested: "There are many literati and Confucians in the world. As long as your Majesty issues an edict to inquire and search, you will eventually get something."

Liu Xiushen thought so, so he sent people to visit many places and recruited them with great courtesy.Soon, Zhuo Mao, Fu Zhan and other famous Confucian scholars entered the court one after another, and Liu Xiu was happy.

Liu Xiu appointed Zhuo Mao as Tai Tuo, made him the Marquis of Baode, paid the tax of two thousand households, and rewarded him with a few sticks of chariots and horses, a set of clothes, and five hundred catties of silk floss.Later, Zhuo Mao's eldest son, Zhuo Rong, was made a doctor of the Taizhong, and his second son, Zhuo Chong, was made a Zhonglang, serving the Huangmen.

Fu Zhan was a well-known Confucian scholar and former minister of the Western Han Dynasty. Liu Xiu appointed him as Shangshu and put him in charge of formulating the imperial court system.

Zhuo Mao and Fu Zhan were deeply grateful for Liu Xiu's great kindness. They once declined Liu Xiu, saying: "We are just scholars and have not made any contribution to the establishment of the Han Dynasty. Your Majesty uses us so much. I am afraid that the heroes will not accept it. It is not good for His Majesty. For the sake of the imperial court, it is better for Your Majesty to lower our official positions, no matter what position we hold, we will serve His Majesty to the death."

Liu Xiu let them do things at ease, but he was also thinking about how to persuade the heroes. He was determined, so he deliberately said to the heroes in the court: "You have made great contributions to the establishment of the country, and I will always remember it. However, governing the country It’s different from conquering the world, I appoint some Confucian scholars to participate in governing the country, this is also due to the situation, I hope you don’t misunderstand.”

Even so, some heroes were still dissatisfied with Liu Xiu's appointment of Confucian scholars. Some of them wrote to Liu Xiu and expressed their opposition in the first letter. Seeking fame and fortune, but I can't bear to see Your Majesty being fooled by corrupt scholars. Confucian scholars are greedy for life and fear of death, they will only stir up their tongues. If Your Majesty listens to their rhetoric, what will it help? Confucian scholars have always lacked loyalty. This matter is a serious problem. The ministers are loyal, although they don't study much, they are loyal and reliable, Your Majesty should not give up easily."

Liu Xiu saw that the hero's words were fierce, so he paid more attention to it. He called the heroes together and said to them patiently: "It is a matter of national importance. I have my own judgment. No one else can change it. Here, I don't know how to say it." It is also true. You have worked hard and made great achievements, but you must also understand the principle of "retire after success". If you blindly rely on your achievements to be proud and not satisfied, it will not only be detrimental to the country, but it will also be of no benefit to you. Worry, it's great joy, why do you always have to be greedy for power? I hope you think twice." In the second year of Liu Xiu's reign as emperor, he gradually began to enshrine meritorious officials.The status of feudal lords is respected, but Liu Xiu rarely grants them real power.Those with real power, Liu Xiu also gradually suppressed their power, and then took away their power.

The great general Deng Yu was granted the title of Marquis of Liang, and he also assumed the post of Grand Situ who controlled the government.Liu Xiu once said to Deng Yu: "Since ancient times, many heroes have never had a good death. I don't want to do this. You are both wise and brave. You should know my painstaking efforts the most."

Deng Yu was deeply moved, but he didn't express anything for a while.He said to his family in private: "The emperor is worried about the heroes. It is rare for the emperor to open his heart. The emperor still loves us sincerely."

Deng Yu's family asked Deng Yu to hand over the power, but Deng Yu shook his head and said: "The emperor said to me bluntly, there must be deep meaning, the emperor may let me persuade others, so as not to embarrass the emperor."

Deng Yu then persuaded the dissatisfied heroes one by one, letting them understand Liu Xiu's difficulties.When the heroes calmed down, Deng Yu had an audience with Liu Xiu again and said: "I am the head of all generals, and I have the most prominent official position. I ask your majesty to remove me from the position of chief apprentice, so that others will not wait and see." .”

Liu Xiujia encouraged Deng Yu, and immediately let Fu Zhan replace Deng Yu as the chief disciple.The other heroes then had no more complaints and resigned from their official positions one after another.After they resigned, Liu Xiu let them be pampered and treated preferentially, avoiding the occurrence of meritorious officials interfering in the government.

Wisdom Interpretation:

Everyone has a specialization in a technical field, so different things require talents from different fields.Otherwise, it would be ridiculous to ask Zhang Fei to embroider instead of fighting.

Therefore, it is necessary to be clear about each person's specialty, and only the amount is applicable, so as to realize the optimal use of human resources.

(End of this chapter)