Did Shang Yang finally tie himself up?

Shang Yang, a patriot, was a famous politician, reformer, thinker and one of the main representatives of Legalism in the Warring States Period. Its main achievement was to help actively carry out political reform, making Qiang Bing a rich country at that time and making great contributions to the State of Qin. Shang yang reform? . Shang Yang reformed the rule of law, but eventually he died under his own commercial law. Is it a kind of self-discipline?

A Shang yang reform

During the Warring States Period, the royal family of Zhou Dynasty declined, and the vassal states sought political reform, developed economy and enhanced national strength.

Under such a background, Qin, who was weak at that time, was also actively seeking the road to reform and strengthen the country. In order to strengthen the strength of Qin, not to be annexed by other countries, and to be in a favorable position in feudal hegemony, it was ordered to recruit talents to join Qin, and Shang Yang was also reused. Later, a series of reform measures were carried out. .

Shang Yang is one of the founders of legalists' legal thoughts in the pre-Qin period, and his thought of popularizing law is also an important part of his theory of rule of law. Shang Yang's thought of rule of law greatly increased the national strength of Qin in the ten years after the reform, and there was no powerful country outside Qin.

In addition, Shang Yang also helped Qin lead the army to recover Hexi area, and was named as "Daliangzao" because of his outstanding meritorious service, enjoying fifteen fiefs. At that time, it can be said that it was in power, so why did it end up in the name of rebellion? We have to discuss the specific content of Shang Yang's political reform.

(A) the content of the reform

Shang Yang's political reform can be roughly divided into two stages. The first stage is the promulgation of the Order of Reclaiming Grass, the main purpose of which is to restrain commercial development, stimulate agricultural production, reshape social values, improve agricultural social consciousness, weaken the privileges of nobles and officials, break the monopoly position of nobles, and implement unified tax and rent system and other reform strategies.

This reform expanded the sources of national tax and military corvee, and laid a very solid institutional foundation for the growth of Qin's economic strength and military strength in the later period.

The main contents of this reform include the use of heavy penalties for minor offences and the increase of sitting together; Reward the army and forbid private fighting. It is meticulous to abolish the old nobles and reward them with titles according to military achievements. Paying attention to agriculture and restraining commerce rewards agricultural weaving, especially for reclamation. In order to encourage production, it is stipulated that those who produce more grain and cloth can be exempted from labor tax, which not only restrains business development, but also limits the business scope of businessmen.

The second reform mainly abolished the well field system, implemented private ownership of land and allowed free trading; In the national administrative system, the county system is generally implemented and the enfeoffment system is abolished; The system of weights and measures was unified, and the national measurement standards were standardized and unified. In terms of taxation, the military tax was levied according to the population. In addition, moving the capital to Xianyang laid the foundation for the eastward expansion of Qin.

(B) the results of the reform

After Shang Yang's political reform, the old system of Qin was completely abolished and the economy made a qualitative leap. In agriculture, according to the unearthed Yunmeng bamboo slips, Qin State spread advanced farming techniques with detailed legal provisions, which greatly promoted the development of agriculture in Qin State. Coupled with the system of rewarding meritorious military service, Qin's military strength developed rapidly, and Qin gradually became the most powerful country among the Seven Heroes of the Warring States Period.

Although Shang Yang's political reform was of great benefit to Qin, every political reform inevitably touched the interests of many layers. Coupled with the severity of commercial law, all sectors of society had great resentment and hatred against Shang Yang.

The political reform touched the interests of the nobles to a great extent, and the military law clearly rewarded the soldiers and touched the original class system, which was bound to be strongly resisted by the old aristocratic forces. Although during the political reform, due to the strong support of Qin Xiaogong, the implementation of various laws and regulations was successfully completed, but the resentment from the old aristocracy did not disappear.

In the process of implementing the rule of law, due to its? Will you avoid doctors after punishment? This offended many powerful people, so after Xiao Gong's death, the new king was retaliated by the old nobles and the new king after he succeeded to the throne.

The main content of Shang Yang's political reform is to replace the rule of man with the rule of law. What is its core idea? Reward goodness without leaving people, punish doctors without avoiding it? . Even people with lower status should be rewarded for doing good deeds, and even those with power should be punished for breaking the law.

For example, Qin Huiwen and Wang Ying made mistakes when they were princes, but Shang Yang excused the princes. Punish his Fu Gongzi money, and punish his teacher Gong? Although there is nothing wrong with it from the legal point of view, it has offended both the Prince and the Prince Fu. This is only a small part of his offending powerful people, not to mention the abolition of the mining field and hereditary system, which touched the interests of all the old powerful people, so it is reasonable to infer that he was slandered and rebelled in the later period and suffered a car crack.

In the Law of the Tenth Five-Year League, one person commits a crime, and the whole family and even neighbors have to bear joint punishment. If neighbors report criminals, they can be exempted from punishment or given a lighter punishment, while those who fail to report them will be given a heavier punishment. This extreme legal system is not only not conducive to the stability of social relations, but also makes everyone feel insecure, so people's grievances are quite deep.

There is a record in Zi Tong Zhi Jian:? At the beginning, Shang Jun was in phase with the Qin Dynasty, and his usage was harsh. After being in prison for a long time, Weishui is all red, and it looks like ten years. Many people complain about it. ? Because the legal system promulgated by it is too strict, it despises education and advocates heavy punishment for minor crimes, which has aggravated the exploitation and oppression suffered by the broad masses of people to a certain extent, so the people are also complaining about it.

The death of Shang yang

Historical records? Biography of Shang Jun: Qin Xiaogong died and the prince stood up. Childe Qian moved to tell him that he wanted to rebel and sent someone to arrest Shang Jun. Qin Huiwang insisted on sharing the money and said, Nothing is worse than the rebels in Shang Jun! ? Then destroy sang-joon's home.

As we all know, Shang Yang was punished for the crime of rebellion, but there is no record of Shang Yang's rebellion in the history books. Historians agree that Shang Yang's death was the result of offending powerful people and the revenge of declining slave owners. Of course, Shang Yang also died under the Qin law and his own laws and regulations.

In 338 BC, Shang Yang was accused of rebellion by Gongzi Qian, and Qin ordered his arrest. After Shang Yang fled to the border, he didn't bring any documents. Shang Jun's law, who gave up others, inexperienced, sitting on it? It is a crime to stay without a license, so the host refused to stay.

Later, I wanted to escape to Wei, but I was refused entry because of grievances. What's the history? Go to Wei, not affected? After that, he was forced to sneak back to the feudal commercial land and launch military forces to attack Zheng Xian. Finally defeated and died. The body was taken back to Xianyang to be cracked and displayed to the public. During the Qin Dynasty, the Qin people attacked and killed it, and the car split to the side, destroying its home? .

Why did Shang Yang die of his own reform? First, because the reform has not been widely supported by the masses. Shang Yang said to Qin Xiaogong? On those who are the most virtuous are not in harmony with the secular world, and those who have achieved great things are not interested in the public? It can be seen that Shang Yang did not want to seek everyone's support, nor did he consider the actual political environment in the later period, so he made countless enemies.

Shang Yang, on the other hand, lacks tolerance. Ten years after the reform? If Qin Min is inconvenient at first and someone gives orders, Yang Yang says? The people's chaos is also? , really moved to the side, that anyone dare to let? Coupled with harsh laws, ordinary people also have a bad feeling about their business.

The punishment of dismemberment is the punishment of dismemberment, and only those with special status and heinous crimes will bear this punishment. Shang Yang has made great contributions, and the reform is self-evident for the overall improvement of Qin's national strength. The reason why he was punished for the car crack was mainly that the Qin people killed Shang Yang, and then quickly became quite determined and angry.

According to the Warring States policy, after the death of Shang Yang? Isn't it a pity for Qin people? Not only did they have no pity, but they also celebrated with songs and dances, showing the people's fear and resentment against Shang Yang. Therefore, Shang Yang's death was caused by the resentment of Qin people brought about by Qin laws and political reforms, but no matter what kind of factors, they were bound by their own practices.

Three conclusions

Although Shang Yang was slandered, he did bear the charge of rebellion. On the basis that the authorities also want to get rid of him, if he can't prove his innocence in time, he must be punished by law. Although there is no conclusive evidence that Shang Yang has the intention of rebellion, it is not surprising that if he wants to add more crimes, he will become a sinner and be executed.

Because he was framed by design, Shang Yang faced a dilemma. If he doesn't leave, he will be killed. If he ran away, he would have a chance, but he was convicted of rebellion. Shang Yang chose to escape, but he didn't get that slim chance, and was finally killed by Qin people.

Investigate its reason,? Why not give up others and sit on it? The regulations make the owner of the hostel afraid to stay overnight, and according to the system of knowing but not reporting, he can't get help from others. In addition, due to the military system, Qin Jun has an extraordinary desire for the military, which makes it more difficult for him to escape.

Shang Yang's political reform greatly restricted the powerful forces, and the state power was highly concentrated in the hands of the monarch. However, Shang Yang did own the fiefs of fifteen cities. Although Qin Xiaogong made a promise when recruiting talents, the new monarch needs to take back the right to release them, so there is irreconcilable contradiction between them, and he needs to establish his prestige quickly after he ascended the throne.

Shang Yang, which everyone hates, is the best choice. Those who rejected businessmen not only recovered their rights, but also received strong support from the old nobles. In addition, with the help of people's fear and resentment of Shang Yang, this move can also be supported by civil forces, which can be said to be multifaceted.

Therefore, although Shang Yang's death was due to the planning and tactics of Qian Ying and others, it is not an exaggeration to say that Shang Yang's practice was self-disciplined. Shang Yang died of his own Qin law for three reasons. Treason is bound to be executed, which is one of them.

Secondly, when Shang Yang fled, the soldiers tried to strangle him to earn a title because he made strict laws and didn't dare to spend the night, which also set a great obstacle to Shang Yang's survival.

Third, the process of political reform touched not only the interests of dignitaries, but also the civil service system, which also put some pressure on the new emperor, so it was inevitable that it would be jointly targeted by all parties.

References:

1 Shang yang's political reform and the first Qin Jun knighthood

2 Shang Yang family system after Qin Reform

3 The legal significance of Socrates' death and Shang Yang's death

4 Shang yang? Popularize law? Thought and its modern value

5 the death of Shang Yang