20demayo Chapter 20: Five Generations of Famous Prime Ministers, Capable Reformers, The Mission Begins Again
Chapter 20: Five Generations of Famous Prime Ministers, Capable Reformers, The Mission Begins Again
[Ding! Heavenly-level Political Summoning Card in use.]
The two Heavenly-level summons were naturally Liu Xiao's way of cultivating his own power. It wasn't that he didn't trust his father, but his father had to win over or even bind the two powerful families in order to establish a foothold in Jizhou. In the subsequent reforms, although it wasn't exactly cutting flesh off the families, it did damage their real interests.
[Ding! The first list of Heavenly-level political talents is as follows.]
[The first person, Zhuge Liang of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, Wang Pu, Politics 98.]
A talented man with skills assists a wise ruler; a genius who is born young can be tragically harmed.
Wang Pu was hailed as the most capable minister of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period and was praised as the Zhuge Liang of the Northern Zhou Dynasty. After Chai Rong ascended the throne, Wang Pu first presented the "Strategy for Pacifying the Borders," advocating that "the way to conquer should begin with the easiest things." He suggested taking the Jianghuai region first, then eliminating the separatist forces in the south, and finally destroying the Northern Han. Later, he presided over the expansion of Kaifeng City, the revision of the calendar, and the research on classical music. The two complemented each other and were regarded by later generations as the foremost ministers of the Five Dynasties.
Unfortunately, this period of prosperity was short-lived. In 959 AD, Wang Pu died suddenly, and three months later, Chai Rong also died of illness in Kaifeng, and the world eventually fell to the Song Dynasty.
Zhao Kuangyin once bluntly stated, "If this man were alive, I would not be able to wear this robe." There is also a saying among the people, "If Heaven wants to bless the Song Dynasty, it must first destroy Pu."
[The second person, the true prime minister, Fan Zhi, with a political score of 95.]
Compared to Wang Pu's late-blooming talent, Fan Zhi was known as a child prodigy from a young age. At the age of 23, Fan Zhi passed the imperial examination and was highly regarded by the prime minister Sang Weihan. During the Later Han Dynasty, he was praised by Guo Wei, who was then the Privy Councilor, as "having the potential to become prime minister." After the establishment of the Later Zhou Dynasty, he assisted three emperors: Guo Wei, Chai Rong, and Chai Zongxun.
After Zhao Kuangyin returned to the capital, Fan Zhi questioned Zhao Kuangyin about his actions during the Chenqiao Mutiny. Knowing that the situation was hopeless, Fan Zhi then assisted Zhao Kuangyin, who respected him even more.
[The third person, a wise and virtuous official, Zhang Chengye, politically ranked 97.]
Zhang Chengye's ability is evident in his rise from a young eunuch castrated into the palace to a trusted advisor to Li Keyong. He served as military supervisor in Hedong and assisted in eliminating Li Kening. While Li Cunxu was fighting on the front lines, he took charge of military and political affairs in Taiyuan, providing ample logistical support for Li Cunxu's military victories.
Unfortunately, Zhang Chengye remained loyal to the Tang Dynasty throughout his life. While he was bedridden, he heard that Li Cunxu was going to ascend the throne and become emperor at the urging of his generals. So he ordered his men to carry him from Jinyang to Weizhou, but in the end, he was powerless to change the situation. After returning to Jinyang, he fell ill and died in depression.
[The fourth person, a veteran of ten emperors, Feng Dao, with a political score of 97.]
He served four dynasties and ten emperors, and was ridiculed by later generations.
Emperor Renzong of Song said he "lived a life of ignominy and sought only personal gain, with no merit to be commended," while Emperor Qianlong cursed him as "the most shameless person in history." Even he himself mocked himself as "a talentless, immoral, and stubborn old man." But is this really the case? The answer is no.
He once advised Li Cunxu and mediated the conflict between him and Guo Chongtao. When a general presented him with beautiful women he had captured, he sought out their owners and returned them. When someone was needed to go on a diplomatic mission to the Khitan, everyone else declined out of fear, but Feng Dao volunteered. He served each ruler with utmost dedication and was kind and benevolent on behalf of his people.
[Fifth person, 100 Palace Poems, He Ning, Politics 95.]
A willow-colored shawl adorned with golden phoenix threads, her delicate hands lightly pluck red beans. Her brows furrowed, filled with longing; in the Peach Blossom Cave, in the Jade Terrace dream, who can share this spring sorrow with her?
Spring blossoms flutter softly at the cave entrance, a fairy maiden's brows furrowed with sorrow. Why does my beloved not return? Too lazy to burn gold, too weary to inscribe jade, the flowing water and peach blossoms fall in vain.
When the young Liu Xiao from his previous life read this poem in the library, he was extremely shocked, as he had never even watched an action movie at the time and only knew the talented He Ning.
He Ning served under the Liang, Tang, Jin, Liao, Han, and Zhou dynasties, during which time he selected a large number of talented individuals, earning him the reputation of "getting the right people".
He established the Mingfa Academy in the Later Tang Dynasty to select legal talents, and also secured a place in the ancient literary world with his long and short ballads. In addition, he compiled the earliest extant collection of cases in China, "Ningyu Ji," which laid a certain foundation for Song Ci's "Xi Yuan Ji Lu."
"System, remove Fan Zhi and He Ning, and summon Wang Pu, Feng Dao, and Zhang Chengye instead," Liu Xiao said without hesitation.
[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have obtained Zhuge Liang of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, Wang Pu.]
Wang Pu: Command 65, Military Strength 68, Politics 98, Intelligence 96.
Implanted identity: Gao Jiong's friend, who came to seek refuge with Wu Qi.
[Ding, the second round of summoning for a Heavenly-level political talent is underway.]
[The first person, the leader of the Four Wise Men, Xiahou Xuan, Politics 97.]
He was one of the founders of Wei-Jin metaphysics and an early leader of metaphysics.
Xiahou Xuan was exceptionally handsome, and his contemporaries described him as "bright and clear as the sun and moon in one's bosom." In politics, he proposed systems such as "examining officials and selecting people," "removing redundant officials," and "changing the dress code," but these were not fully implemented due to the Sima clan's control of power. Sima Yi praised them as "all of them are excellent."
[Second person, Yongzhen Reform, Wang Shuwen, Politics 97.]
Shuwen's administration benefited the country and the people, but it was detrimental to powerful eunuchs and domineering regional governors.
As the head of the "Two Kings and Eight Ministers," Wang Shuwen advocated dismissing corrupt officials, abolishing the palace market, and stopping the extortion of the people by corrupt officials. He also attempted to seize military power from the eunuchs and reform the corrupt policies left by Emperor Dezong of Tang. Unfortunately, he lacked military power, and the eunuch group forced Emperor Shunzong of Tang to abdicate. After Emperor Xianzong of Tang ascended the throne, Wang Shuwen was killed.
[Third person, Yongjia Wenzhong, Zhang Cong, Politics 99.]
The two reformers of the Ming Dynasty are known as the "two Zhang Wenzhongs" – the latter being Zhang Juzheng, and the former being Zhang Cong.
Zhang Tong was the initiator of reforms in the mid-Ming Dynasty. He was an honest and upright official, courageous in innovation, and after assuming power, he cleaned up the manors, eased social conflicts, and laid the foundation for the "Jiajing Restoration." He weakened the power of the eunuchs, reformed the imperial examination system and school education, and made the greatest contribution to the ritual reforms of the Jiajing reign, earning him the title of "the foremost reformer of the Ming Dynasty."
Zhang Juzheng: SO? Then I'll leave?
[The fourth person is Tao Shu, with a score of 98 in Politics.]
He was a representative figure of the pragmatic school of thought during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty. Throughout his life, he supervised maritime transport, reformed the salt administration, developed water conservancy, promoted education, strictly prohibited opium, improved people's livelihoods, reformed the currency system, practiced the philosophy of practical application of knowledge, and promoted key reformers such as Lin Zexu, Wei Yuan, Hu Linyi, and Zuo Zongtang. He is known as the source of modern reform thought.
[Fifth person, Zheng Chuandao, Politics 99.]
Jeong Jeon-do is considered the most important institutional designer and reformer in the early Joseon Dynasty. He spearheaded the establishment of the land system, military system, official system, and Confucian governance system, and is one of the most representative reformers in ancient Korea.
"System, remove Wang Shuwen and Xiahou Xuan, and summon Zhang Cong, Tao Shu, and Zheng Daochuan instead."
[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have obtained Zhang Cong.]
Zhang Cong: Command 66, Military Strength 65, Politics 98, Intelligence 90.
Implanted identity: A poor scholar from Jibei Dao, recruited into the household because the host had heard of his extraordinary abilities in his youth.
Not bad, both times they summoned talents with a political attribute of 98, which is considered high among Heavenly-level talents.
"System, using..."
Before Liu Xiao could give the order, the system announced: [Ding, system task issued...]