During the Western Zhou Dynasty, Zhou Tianzi divided the princes, and the princes divided the princes. The place that is divided into vassals is the scope of the princes' governance. The princes then divided the feudal scholars according to their actual needs to help them manage the fiefdom together.
Zhou Tianzi is the owner of the world, and the land is owned by the Son of Heaven. There are also different hierarchies among the vassal states, which are divided into princes and princes. Although there were differences in status, each vassal state had independent jurisdiction. For example, if there are any specific affairs, Zhou Tianzi will not intervene, and it is the monarch of the vassal states who decides how to deal with it.
The Western Zhou Dynasty implemented the primogeniture inheritance system, and generally "the father dies and the son succeeds" is orthodoxZhou Tianzi would not interfere in the internal affairs of the vassal states at will. When it came to King Xuan of Zhou, he interfered in the succession of the monarch of Lu, abolished the eldest son, and supported the younger son of the monarch of Lu to ascend to the throne. Zhou Li is the foundation of the country, why did he do this?
If it is said that in the early Western Zhou Dynasty, Zhou Tianzi had the best relationship with any vassal state, it must be the Lu State. "Zhou Zhi is the closest to Mo Ru, and Lu is the one who wears the wings like Zhou." Why is the relationship between the two families so good? Then we have to talk about Zhou Gongdan.
Zhou Gongdan, surnamed Ji, Ming Dan, he is the younger brother of King Wu of Zhou, and he is also the "Yuan Sage" respected by Confucianism. His importance to the Western Zhou Dynasty is self-evident. It can be said that without Zhou Gongdan, there would be no prosperity of the Western Zhou Dynasty. For his exploits, history is summarized as:
"The regent of the Duke of Zhou, one year to save the chaos, two years to Ke Yin, three years to practice the dying, four years to build the Hou Wei, five years to camp into Zhou, six years to make ceremonial music, seven years to become the king. ”After King Wu conquered, he divided the world and gave the place of Qufu to Zhou Gongdan, which is the origin of the Lu State. However, after the death of King Wu, the young King Cheng was left to inherit the throne. Zhou Gongdan was busy helping King Cheng govern the world, and he lacked skills and could not manage the fiefdom. Zhou Gongdan's son Bo Yu went to Ludi. According to legend, Zhou Gong wrote "Zhou Li", and Bo Yu definitely agreed with his father's career. When he arrived in Lu to implement the "Zhou Li", it took three years of work up and down to achieve results. Lu Guo is a die-hard fan of "Zhou Li", and it is really not an exaggeration to say that the implementation is out-and-out.
King Cheng of Zhou also recognized the unremitting efforts of the Duke of Zhou and granted the political privilege of "suburb worship King Wen" to the state of Lu. At the beginning of the Western Zhou Dynasty, it can be said that the state of Lu was a well-deserved princely power. The hometown of the Confucian saints we know is in the country of Lu. Confucius also admired the "Zhou Rite" for many years.
Sage Confucius. The wheel of history is slowly advancing, and one day in the eleventh year of King Xuan of Zhou, according to the custom, the monarch of Lu went to meet Zhou Tianzi. At this time, the monarch of the state of Lu was Lu Wugong, who was the eighth generation of Bo Bird. Originally, he planned to take his eldest son Gongzi to go, but who knows, the younger son Gongzi also wants to go. It's good to let your children see the world more. Lu Wugong never imagined how much chaos this trip would cause to the Lu country.
Gongzi didn't know which aspect suddenly fell into the eyes of King Zhou Xuan. King Zhou Xuan was very fond of him, so he said to Lu Wugong: "Your youngest son is good, I think he is quite good as a monarch!" ”
When Lu Wugong heard this, it was no less than a thunderbolt on a sunny day, and he was worried to death. Lu is a state of etiquette, listening to the words of the Son of Heaven is a compulsory course for every good prince, this is "etiquette"; But the inheritance of the eldest son is also the foundation of "etiquette". How to choose between the two sides? Lu Wugong, who adhered to the Zhou etiquette, really couldn't figure it out, and as a result, he couldn't afford to get sick. With the support of King Zhou Xuan, the youngest son Gongzi ascended to the throne of the monarch of Lu State, this is Lu Yigong.
So many vassal states? The Zhou royal family has a deep relationship with the Lu State, why did King Xuan of Zhou have to meddle in the national affairs of the Lu State? Is it really because of your love for drama?
If you really like a child, the loving elders should not want him to grow up better. If King Xuan really likes child's play, how can he come up with such child's play-like words, isn't this roasting this child on the fire? King Zhou Xuan's behavior is more of a political temptation, and Gongzi Opera is just a pawn that happens to happen.
So why did King Zhou Xuan do this? What the hell is he trying to do?
This has to talk about the political situation of the Zhou royal family at that time. After King Xuan's father, King Zhou Li, was overthrown by the "Chinese Rebellion", the Zhou royal family entered a stage of "republican execution", and the great aristocratic class was already powerful. After King Xuan of Zhou ascended the throne, he worked hard to restore the original glory of the Zhou royal family.
However, what to do in the face of the vassal states that have become stronger? King Xuan of Zhou chose to support small countries and suppress large ones. What should I do if I have limited military power and want to suppress the vassal states? Provoking contradictions among vassal states is undoubtedly the best way. When the vassal states are weak, the Zhou royal family has a chance to become stronger.
Abolishing the elders and establishing the young, this kind of behavior that obviously destroys the "Zhou rites", does King Zhou Xuan really not know that it will bring disaster to the Lu State? However, this is the least costly and most effective method. The reason for choosing Lu Guo is obvious here. "Zhou rites are all in Lu land", and the whole country of Lu, whether it is princes, scholars, or ordinary people, is more deeply affected by "Zhou rites". Even if it is a habit for many years, it will form a strong **. If it is replaced by other vassal states, the impact of abolishing the long and young will definitely not be as violent as that of the Lu State.
The country of Lu is indeed in chaos. Everyone is the eldest son of the heir, how can Gongzi Kuo not understand what he did wrong? Tangled and tangled, and died early. Of course, Gongzi Kuo's son Boyu was not satisfied with such a result, on the one hand, he felt sorry for his father's experience, and on the other hand, he felt that his power was also deprived. Under the alternation of various emotions, Bo Yu made up his mind to do things, and he began to slowly develop his own power.
Duke Yi was the monarch of Lu for nine years, and he was killed by Boyu. Moreover, Bo Yu attracted a group of people to preach that it was reasonable for the eldest to succeed to the throne, and he became the monarch of Lu State. After King Zhou Xuan found out, he immediately felt that his authority had been provoked, and wanted to lead troops to teach this disobedient boy a lesson, but unfortunately he was dragged down by other wars. Eleven years later, King Xuan of Zhou, who had freed his hands, personally led his troops to attack the state of Lu, directly destroyed Boyu, and renamed Boyu's uncle as the monarch (Lu Xiaogong).
After the abolition of the long and the young, the national strength of the Lu State has never returned to its previous stateIn the subsequent historical stage of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, whether it is the Spring and Autumn Five Hegemons or the Seven Heroes of the Warring States, there is no figure of the Lu State.
The Zhou royal family can become the co-lord of the world, relying on strong military force as a guarantee. At the time of King Xuan, the military strength of the Zhou royal family was not absolutely superior compared with the vassal states. King Zhou Xuan was not wrong to find ways to strengthen himself. But,When Zhou Tianzi does not abide by the "weekly rites", who cares about the so-called "rites"? Without the ritual system as the last constraint, the princes began to "sing and I will appear", and the Zhou royal family also weakened faster.