Yu Liang (about 263 AD-about 324 AD) was a statesman and strategist from the end of the Eastern Jin Dynasty to the beginning of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Yu Liang was born in a famous family in Jiangnan. His family has been an official for generations. He was smart since he was a child and read a lot of books. In his early years, he worked in Sun Quanfu, Wu Jun, and later took refuge in Sima Yan, a ruler.
At the end of Jin Dynasty, Yu Liang won the appreciation of Sima Yan for his cleverness and loyalty, and was appointed as the minister in charge of political affairs. His outstanding performance in this post and his honest and clean style have won people's admiration.
Yu Liang advocated frugality in politics and opposed extravagance and waste. He actively carried out reforms, reorganized bureaucracy, reduced redundant staff and improved government efficiency. He also attaches great importance to education, advocates Confucianism, and advocates the idea of self-cultivation, keeping the family in order, and governing the country and leveling the world.
On the military side, Yu Liang also performed well. He presided over the construction of an important defense line, called the Great Wall of Yu Liang, which effectively stopped the invasion of nomadic people in the north. However, Yu Liang's political career did not last long. Shortly after the establishment of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, he was demoted to Jingzhou because of a conflict with the powerful minister Wang Dao, and died soon after. Nevertheless, as an important politician and strategist at the end of the Jin Dynasty, Yu Liang made important contributions to the development and stability of the Jin Dynasty, and was called "Golden Sage" by later generations.
Reasons for the decline of Jin Dynasty
1. Political corruption and economic recession: In the late Jin Dynasty, political corruption prevailed, officials were corrupt, and clan power was strong, which led to the weakening of government authority. Internal division also posed a great threat to the stability of the imperial court, and warlords everywhere divided themselves and fought against each other. During the Jin Dynasty, agricultural production declined, wars were frequent, and commercial trade was affected, which led to economic recession. At the same time, social unrest is also increasing, people live in poverty and social order is chaotic.
2. Foreign invasion and war: During the Jin Dynasty, northern nomads invaded the Central Plains, such as Xiongnu and Xianbei. These foreign invasions intensified political chaos and social unrest, and weakened the strength of the rulers. At the same time, the infighting among internal warlords and frequent wars also accelerated the decline of the Jin Dynasty.