The general marched south with courage and courage, and his waist was crossed with a Qishui Yanfei saber.
Meaning: General, you are fighting against the South with great courage, and the steel sword on your waist is as bright as a stream of autumn water. Source: Zhu Houcong·Ming Dynasty's "Send Mao Bowen" Original text:
The general marching south is brave and brave, with a wild goose feather sword in the autumn water across his waist.
The wind blows, the mountains and rivers move, the lightning flashes and the flags rise high at the sun and the moon.
There is a species of unicorn in the sky, but how can the ants in the hole escape?
On the day when the imperial edict comes back in peace, I will take off my shirt with my husband. Translation:
General, you are fighting against the South with great courage, and the steel sword on your waist is as bright as a stream of autumn water.
Flags are fluttering in the wind and lightning, war drums are beating, mountains and rivers are shaking, and the sun and moon are high.
The general is born brave, like a descendant of the unicorn in the sky, and the enemy is like an ant in a hole. How can he escape?
When the world is at peace, the general is ordered to return to the court, I (referring to Jiajing himself) personally take off the general's shirt and greet the general. Notes:
Notes
Mao Bowen: named Ruli, a native of Jishui (belonging to Jiangxi). He was a Jinshi during the Zhengde reign of Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty. In 1539 (the 18th year of Jiajing reign of Emperor Shizong of the Ming Dynasty), he was sent to attack the Mo Dengyong rebellion in Annan (Vietnam). He went on an expedition for more than a year and conquered Annan without losing any blood. He was awarded the title of Crown Prince and Taibao for his merits.
General: refers to Mao Bowen.
Horizontal: carried across the body. Autumn water: describes the sword as bright and shining as autumn water. Wild Goose Feather Knife: A knife shaped like a wild goose feather.
Tagu: a war drum made of crocodile skin.
Flag: the military flag used to command operations.
Qilin: a legendary mythical beast, here a metaphor is used to praise Mao Bowen's outstanding talents.
Ants: Molecules and ants are used here to describe the vulnerability of the Annan rebels.
Edict: The emperor’s edict.
I: The emperor’s self-proclaimed title. Sir: Refers to Mao Bowen. Brief analysis:
This is a powerful poem written by Zhu Houcong (cōng), Emperor Shizong of the Ming Dynasty, for Mao Bowen when he went to Annan. The first couplet describes the general's spirit and attire when he leaves the army, which is full of heroism. The couplet on the chin is written with the sound of drums and the display of flags to highlight the military power. The first four sentences are praises for Mao Bowen and the soldiers, praising them for their heroic spirit and shaking the mountains and rivers. The neck couplet analyzes the enemy and ourselves, saying that the unicorn has seeds and the ants cannot escape. The "ant" is used to despise the rebels, and there is discussion in the metaphor. The tail couplet not only expresses confidence in Mao Bowen's victory in the expedition, but also trusts and encourages Mao Bowen. The whole poem is clearly written, sonorous and powerful, with extraordinary momentum, reflecting the spirit of Emperor Shizong of the Ming Dynasty who worked hard to govern in the early days.
Character evaluation:
Overall evaluation
Emperor Jiajing was a controversial emperor. He made great achievements in the first two decades of his rule and was not conventional. His innovative spirit created the situation of ZTE; but after the 21st year of Jiajing, it became increasingly corrupt, the government became worse and worse, and the situation became unstable. Emperor Jiajing was an extremely smart and confident emperor, and he was somewhat arrogant, but he was also very stingy, liked to spend money randomly, and was very concerned about face. The only people he could deal with were veterans of officialdom such as Xu Jie and Yan Song.
As many scholars and researchers have pointed out, Emperor Jiajing’s governance and administration had many bad deeds, such as whipping ministers with sticks during ceremonial discussions, advocating Taoism to his own detriment, and seeking to create great prisons. Misuse of sycophants, self-willedness, lewdness and cruelty, etc., but we cannot help but see that he followed the trend of history, dared to break tradition, was considerate of scholars, farmers, industry and commerce, and was beneficial to social development. We should also see that many buildings of his era, such as Beijing The four altars of heaven, earth, sun and moon, Zhongxiang's Mingming Mausoleum, Yuanyou Palace, etc. still show the artistic creativity of the working people and contribute to the development of culture.
Historical books will say that Emperor Jiajing did not go to court for decades, favored Yan Song, the "Qingci Prime Minister", traitors were in power, and the country's affairs were deteriorating day by day. It is true that I have not been in court for more than 20 years, but not going to court does not mean that I am not taking care of things. While Emperor Jiajing was practicing Taoism in Xiyuan, he insisted on reviewing memorials personally and always firmly controlled all power. The Jiajing Dynasty suffered from serious foreign aggression, with continuous Mongolian intrusions from the north, and even surrounded Beijing in the 29th year of Jiajing, causing shock to both the government and the public. On the southeast coast, Japanese pirates were raging again. Under attack from the north and the south, the court was in a panic. Emperor Jiajing was worried but not afraid. He selected important ministers to deal with the intrusions from the north and the south, and gave local officials both great power and heavy responsibilities. When officials get things done, they will be promoted and rewarded without hesitation. If there is even the slightest mistake, they will be taken back to Beijing and imprisoned without mercy. Judging from the results, at the end of the Jiajing period, the turmoil between the north and the south basically ceased. Although Yan Song had been in power for more than 20 years, as long as Emperor Jiajing took action, Yan Song would lose his official position and go home with an order. He could not even save his own son. Emperor Jiajing even played with other governors and ministers.
Emperor Jiajing and his father were obsessed with reading sages' books, which is still rare in history. This can also be related to his tough attitude in the etiquette dispute. In addition to competing for power with the veterans of the previous dynasty, Emperor Jiajing was more concerned about fighting for his beloved parents' status, so he ignored his own power. With little strength, he decided to fight for a more honorable position for his parents amidst the turbulent public sentiment. Emperor Jiajing was a completely filial son, but he pursued his own personal filial piety and ignored the justice of the world. After all, he was too stingy and too narrow, which went against the broad and mighty way of being a king. Later generations said that he was the "master of Chinese materials", which seems inappropriate. Confirm the opinion.
Historians of later generations said that Jiajing never loved anyone except himself and his parents. During his forty-five years of rule, he was merciless in killing ministers and officials, and even the harem was filled with his tyranny. The relationship between Emperor Jiajing and his sons could not be said to be harmonious. He did not establish a prince until his death. It can be said that after the death of his parents, Emperor Jiajing had no one with whom he could get along warmly. During festivals and the anniversaries of his parents' deaths, Emperor Jiajing would always withdraw from the crowd, kneel before his parents' memorial tablets, weep and silently pray, with a miserable look on his face, which moved even the palace maids who peeked at him. It was only at this time that the strong emperor Only then did he show some warmth and vulnerability in his bones.
Positive review
During the early period of Emperor Jiajing’s reign, there was a situation of “Jiajing Zhongxing”.
Political attack on powerful ministers and feudal landowners and aristocrats, taking charge of internal and external affairs, highly centralizing imperial power, actively reforming, implementing the New Deal, reducing the power of the ceremonial supervisors, abolishing the guarding eunuchs, strictly supervising the system, and strictly punishing He assigned the duties of the Factory, Wei and Legal Departments and attached great importance to the appointment of wise ministers such as Zhang Cong and Xia Yan.
Economically, we strictly cracked down on corruption and perversion of the law, cleaned up the land of nobles and villagers, encouraged production, reorganized taxes and servitude, provided disaster relief, and showed consideration for the people's sentiments, and capitalism sprouted.
Culturally, the shortcomings of the imperial examination were reformed, and the title and ceremony of Confucius were corrected. Culture and science and technology prospered unprecedentedly, and excellent literary works and outstanding figures emerged in large numbers.
Militarily, the army regiments and camps were reorganized and the troops were guarded in the southeast to prevent Japanese pirates from invading.
Negative comments
In the later period of Emperor Jiajing's reign, it became increasingly corrupt. He not only abused people's power for major construction projects, but also had a superstitious belief in alchemists and respect for Taoism.
Twenty-one years after Jiajing, he moved to Xiyuan to practice Xuan and seek immortality every day. Yan Song, the first assistant, had been in charge of the country for 20 years, devouring military pay and corrupting the official system.
Border affairs were neglected, and Japanese pirates frequently invaded the southeastern coastal areas, causing great damage.
To the north of the Great Wall, the leader of the Mongolian Tatar tribe Ada Khan continued to invade the border. In the 29th year, he even came to the city of Beijing and plundered wantonly. During the Jiajing period, the southern Japanese and northern captives were always the greatest scourge of the Ming Dynasty.
In terms of employing people, Emperor Jiajing was "suddenly wise and foolish" and "neglected his merits and deeds". His attitude changed greatly. He had a strong grasp of power and strong control over the civil service group. Heroic officials and direct ministers were often killed and demoted.
In his later years, Emperor Jiajing alienated Yan Song and appointed Xu Jie as the chief minister of the cabinet. Only then did the country get back on track.
Evaluations of past dynasties
Year Mingyue: He was the smartest emperor in the history of the Ming Dynasty. Among the dozen or so emperors of the Ming Dynasty, if we were to rank him by IQ level, he would be at least third. Famous, he is as smart as Zhu Yuanzhang, very cunning, and good at controlling the overall situation; Jiajing is concentrating on practicing Taoism during the day, and changing memorials at night. This is the key to his ability to control the ministers. He changed the music at night until five o'clock in the morning, then he lay down to sleep for a while. He never missed any opportunity to control the ministers. There have been stupid emperors since ancient times, but there were no stupid emperors in the Ming Dynasty. Jiajing practiced Taoism in order to live for two more years, because he had mastered the rules of being an emperor, and no one could shake him. This is the foundation of Taoism. About the author:
Ming Shizong Zhu Houcong (September 16, 1507 - January 23, 1567), Han nationality, grandson of Zhu Jianshen, Xianzong of Ming Dynasty, nephew of Zhu Youtang, Xiaozong of Ming Dynasty, and Zhu Youqi, king of Xingxian Son of Zhu Houzhao, cousin of Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty. The eleventh emperor of the Ming Dynasty, reigned from 1521 to 1566, with the reign name Jiajing, and was later called Emperor Jiajing. Emperor Jiajing was the most unique emperor in Chinese feudal history, and the most willful and stubborn among the Ming Dynasty emperors. He was very smart, especially in calligraphy and literary literacy. History books evaluated Emperor Jiajing as the "Lord of the ZTE", saying that he had "six unique qualities, four unparalleled heroes, and five unique qualities that shook the world."