In 49 B.C., the last glorious period of the history of the Western Han Dynasty came to an end, and Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty, Liu Ai, had passed away in Weiyang Palace. After more than 50 years of ups and downs, the Western Han Dynasty experienced the inaction of Emperor Yuan of Han and Emperor Cheng of Han, as well as the rule of four puppets such as Emperor Ai of Han and Emperor Ping of Han, and was finally usurped by Wang Mang in 8 AD.
From 202 BC, Liu Bang established the Han Dynasty, to 49 BC, Emperor Xuan of Han died, the Han Dynasty experienced 153 years of glory, but from 48 BC, Emperor Yuan of Han changed the Yuan Dynasty, to 8 AD,"Wang Mang usurped the Han"The Western Han Dynasty only existed for 56 years before it came to an end and became a ruin.
If it is said that the reign of Emperor Liu Zheng of the Han Yuan Dynasty was the starting point of the decline of the Western Han Dynasty, then there were already some hints during the reign of Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty. Historians usually analyze this issue from the aspects of politics, economy, military, and people's livelihood, but such an article is often dry, long, and tasteless.
Today, let's take the life experience of a "little person" in the same period as a microcosm, and talk about the decline of the Western Han Dynasty in a peek. This person is Bingji, although his political level and scheming skills are not as good as those of his predecessors, but his life experience is full of wisdom.
He saved the life of Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty many times, and later became an existence above ten thousand people under one person. His official position and position are illustrious in history. Through Bingji's life experience, we can understand the decline of the Western Han Dynasty more deeply.
Bingji, the word Shaoqing, was a native of Lu during the Western Han Dynasty. He is thoughtful and intelligent, but he is reserved and does not like to publicize his good deeds. However, this was contrary to the Han Dynasty's "probationary system" (the method of selecting officials that valued the praise of good people and good deeds), which caused him to encounter many obstacles on his way to office.
Although Bingji was proficient in the Book of Songs and the Zhou Li, his officialdom started as an ordinary state and county prison guard. However, his hard work and profound cultural literacy eventually won him the opportunity.
After many promotions, he eventually became the warden of Tingweifu Prison, the highest judicial organ of the Han Dynasty. However, unfortunately, for some reason, Bingji was strained and lost this position.
In 91 B.C., the "Witch Plague" broke out, and the prince Liu Ju fled after the defeat, and was finally found in Hu County and hanged himself. His wives and concubines, children and grandchildren were also killed.
Bingji was deeply saddened by this, but he did not change his principles and beliefs because of this. He is a true "honest man" who always sticks to his morality and duty.
Although Liu Ai (Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty) was young, he survived and was taken back to Chang'an to be thrown into the "county prison". Hundreds of thousands of "witch curse" inmates awaiting trial were held here, and public prisons could not accommodate so many people, so temporary prisons, such as the county jail, were requisitioned.
Bingji was dismissed from his post and was again conscripted by the imperial court as the director of the "county prison". Liu Ai has no one to take care of him in prison, but fortunately, he meets the kind Bingji.
Out of conscience, Bingji found two experienced female prisoners to take care of Liu's illness. Why did Bingji lend a helping hand to Liu's illness? It is recorded in the history books that because he knew that the crown prince Liu was rehabilitated from wrongful imprisonment, they must have had exchanges, and even received the prince's appreciation.
Therefore, Bingji may have been held accountable by other cool officials for a certain redress of wrongs, so he lost his position as court lieutenant. In the witch curse, Bingji was not affected by the strain, so he may have helped Liu Ai because he cared about his old master.
Liu Aiji, a baby in swaddling clothes, received special care from Bingji. Bing Ji not only placed him in a single room, but also found him a female prisoner to breastfeed.
Although the witch plague aroused the suspicions of Emperor Wu of Han, and he sent messengers to the prison to kill all the prisoners, Bingji closed the door and resolutely refused to let him in. He insisted that even ordinary people could not be killed innocently, not to mention that Liu Ying was still the great-grandson of the emperor.
This decision brought Emperor Wu of Han back to his senses, and he also realized that it was providence. In 87 BC, after the death of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Liu was released from prison. However, he still needs to be taken care of.
Bingji decided to pay out of his own pocket and continue to take care of the poor baby. In those years, Liu was sick many times, but he survived because of Bingji's careful care.
Bingji's care for Liu is like a reborn parent. Even in 74 BC, when Huo Guang deposed the Marquis of Haidu, Bingji was the first to write to Huo Guang, advocating the establishment of Liu Aiji, and thus obtained the title of Marquis of Guannei.
Bingji was a low-key person, Emperor Xuan of Han didn't know him at first, until someone told him that Bingji had the grace to save his life, Emperor Xuan of Han was deeply shocked, and his admiration for him arose.
He named Bingji the Marquis of Boyang and made him the prime minister of the Han Dynasty. Even after becoming prime minister, Bingji still maintained a generous character, and did not hold his subordinates accountable for making mistakes, but only took long vacations, a model that later became the rule of the Han Empire.
Bingji's chauffeur likes to drink, and once he vomited in the prime minister's car after getting drunk, and the relevant law enforcement officers wanted to fire him, but Bingji disagreed, because he was worried that the chauffeur would not be able to find a new job.
The commander's hometown is in the frontier, and he is very familiar with the military intelligence transmission system, and once he saw the 800-mile urgent report and fast horse, he ran to the post station to spy on the military situation.
What is amazing is that a small official can find out the top secret (military intelligence) of the Han Empire. Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty praised Bingji for this incident, praising his professionalism and concern for border troubles.
Bingji said triumphantly: "There is no intolerable talent, everyone has their own strengths." If I hadn't heard the coachman's report in advance, I wouldn't have been praised by the emperor. ”
His subordinates praised him endlessly. However, this incident revealed a serious problem: a small official of the Prime Minister's Mansion can spy at will*** This is a problem with the workflow of the entire Han Empire.
As Xiangguo, Bingji has an unshirkable responsibility for this, but he is smug and confuses right and wrong. Thinking of Huo Guang, he was respectful and respectful during the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, knew the rules, and stuck to his post every time he went to work.
Due to his sense of rules, the entire Han government formed a good entrepreneurial atmosphere and created the "Han Xuan Zhongxing". However, the current Prime Minister Bingji has repeatedly broken the rules and shielded his subordinates because of his "benevolent heart", resulting in chaos and no rules in the officialdom of the entire Han Empire.
Zhou Yi said: "Walk on the frost and know that the ice is strong." "The first anthill in the levee is not stopped, and the final burst of the levee is doomed. Therefore, the moment Bingji became prime minister, the powerful Han Dynasty began to decline.