Han Ling Emperor Liu Hong succeeded to the throne at the age of 12 and died at the age of 33. He was one of the most unpromising emperors of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Looking at his life, there are two legends that have been passed down to future generations: First, he devoted himself to learning; Founded the "Hongdu Sect"; secondly, clearly marked the price and openly sold officials and titles. A brief glance at "Book of the Later Han: Chronicles of Emperor Xiaoling" reveals the following:
——In the spring of the fourth year of Xiping (175), "all the Confucian scholars were ordered to correct the text of the Five Classics, and a stone was engraved on it to stand at the Taixue Gate." outside".
——In February of the first year of Guanghe (178), "Yiwei, there was an earthquake. Hongdumen students were first established." Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty was quite literary and artistic. He was good at playing piano, chess, calligraphy and painting. The eunuchs liked him and founded a national school at the Hongdu Gate of the South Palace of Luoyang Palace, namely "Hongdu Gate School", with a collection of poems and poems. , calligraphy, painting, and music majors, but accidentally became the earliest junior college in China. However, at the end of the year, Emperor Ling, together with a group of crooked eunuchs, wholesaled official hats in the official residence with great fanfare. "When I first opened the West Residence to sell officials, the money I received from Guannaihou, Huben, and Yulin each varied. Private orders left and right. Selling the prince for tens of millions of dollars and the prince for five million." When the emperor sells his official position, the price is clearly marked. The prices vary depending on the official title, 10 million for "gong" and 5 million for "qing".
Book Shadows of "Book of the Later Han"
——In June of the third year of Guanghe (180), Emperor Ling issued an edict to select talents. "Poetry", "Zuo Shi" and "Gu Liang Chun Qiu" each have one person, except Yilang." One person was selected from each of the scholars who were proficient in the five Confucian classics and appointed as Yilang.
——In October of the fourth year of Guanghe (181), Emperor Ling began to behave like a monster again. "The emperor built a store in the harem, so that the prostitutes were sold, and they even stole and fought with each other. The emperor ordered merchants to appraise and convince, There was a banquet for fun. He also played with dogs in the Western Garden. He also drove four donkeys, with the emperor bowing and steering the bridle, and the capital turned around to show his effect." Book and Shadow of "Eastern Han Dynasty"
An emperor who paid great attention to Confucianism but was also shameless, because of commending the outstanding authors of "Eastern Han Dynasty", he launched a series of ridiculous corruption cases. It has become an eternal joke; and the person who took the lead in exposing these "elegant cases" was the famous cruel official Yang Qiu.
"Dongguan Hanji" is a chronological history that records the historical facts of the Eastern Han Dynasty from Liu Xiu, Emperor Guangwu of Han Dynasty, to Liu Hong, Emperor Ling of Han Dynasty. It is named after the Dongguan Temple compiled in Nangong, Luoyang. After the publication of this book, it had a huge influence and was called the "Three Histories" together with "Historical Records" and "Hanshu". Unfortunately, with the publication of Fan Ye's "Book of the Later Han", this book was squeezed out of the "Three Histories" and gradually fell into decline. In the end, it disappeared into the smoke and clouds of the sea of ????history, which is regrettable.
This historical masterpiece is the crystallization of the collective wisdom of several generations of historians in the Eastern Han Dynasty. From the early days when Ban Gu laid the foundation and the embryonic form loomed, to the mid-term period when Empress Dowager Deng called the dynasty and issued an edict to continue the revision, to the late period when Emperor Huan of the Han Dynasty continued to write the edict, to the final period when Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty and Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty made the last revision, it can be said that time is long. A lot of manpower and material resources were consumed. "Shi Tong·Ancient and Modern Official History" records that during the Xiping period of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty, Guanglu doctor Ma Rixi, Yilang Cai Yong, Yang Biao, and Lu Zhi successively came to Dongguan to "continue the chronicle and biography, and Cai Yong did not write two records about court meetings and chariot services. He later moved to Shuofang and wrote a letter asking for return, which was continued into the Ten Records. "This renewal was made by the great talent Cai Yong. After he returned from being unjustly exiled to Shuofang, it was continued into the Ten Records. He also wrote 42 chapters of Chronicles of the Ling Emperor and 42 biographies.
Empress Dowager Deng of the Eastern Han Dynasty
Historical records show that the authors who participated in the writing of "Han Ji" received various awards. During the period of Empress Dowager Deng, there was rain and dew, and there were constant rewards; Emperor Ling was unique. , a portrait of an outstanding author, hung on the east wall in recognition. The famous scholar Gao Biao wrote a book about Dongguan and made great achievements. He "ordered Dongguan to paint a portrait of Biao to persuade scholars" ("Book of the Later Han·Wenyuan Biography"). Emperor Ling ordered a portrait of Gao Biao as a reward. Unexpectedly, this inspiring move attracted a group of "Li Gui". These people are trying to gain fame and reputation, bribery, offer money and beautiful women to officials, and want to "hang up" their images for people to admire. Their ugly behavior, Disgusting. When Shangshu Ling Yangqiu saw the demons dancing wildly, he stood up from the table and wrote to the emperor, "I am going to stop Hongdu." His words said:
Fu Chengyou issued an imperial edict for Shangfang to be Hongdu Literature Lesong and Jiang Lan. Thirty-two people waited for the image to praise it to encourage scholars. I heard that "The Biography" said: "Every emperor must write a letter. If the letter is not lawful, what will happen to the heirs!" Case Song, Lan and others are all out of slight contempt, fighting against the villain, relying on relatives, entrusting powerful people, bowing their eyebrows and inheriting. Eyelashes, slightly entering the bright time. He may write a poem, or his bird seal script may be full of slips, and he may be promoted to a doctor, with picturesque figures.
There are also those whose pens do not mark the letter, whose words do not express their feelings, who use fake hands to ask for words, and who are of all kinds of fakes. All of them are favored by others, and the cicadas are sloughed off. Therefore, if you cover your mouth with knowledge, the world will sigh. When the minister heard about the design of the image, he used it as a warning, hoping to make the king learn about the pros and cons. I have never heard of a scoundrel named Shuzi who pretends to compose an ode, but can steal the heavenly official's name and look down upon his image. Now Taixue and Dongguan are enough to declare sanctification. I wish to give up the choice of Hongdu to eliminate the slander of the world. ("Book of the Later Han·Biographies of Cool Officials")
He said that he was deeply moved when he heard that the emperor issued an edict to praise the portraits of 32 Hongdu scholars, including Le Song and Jiang Lan, in order to encourage future scholars to learn. "Zuo Zhuan" says: The king's actions are recorded by historians. If the records are not passed down, how should future generations view them? According to the investigation, Le Song, Jiang Lan and others came from humble backgrounds, were narrow-minded, and had little talent. They relied on flattering their relatives and licking the powerful to get fame and reputation. Some of them might offer a poem, which was just a cliche, or some of the seal characters were carved with bird's scrolls, but they were scrawled by crows. , but you can get promoted and make a fortune, and your portraits and pictures will be praised, it’s really ridiculous! Some of these guys were clueless and couldn't express what they meant, and some hired ghostwriters to write for them, making all kinds of mistakes. However, the emperor favored them, making them jump out of the mud like cicadas, and screamed more and more, which made some people laugh. The knowledgeable people covered their mouths and snickered, sighing endlessly. I have heard that the purpose of praising people is to promote learning and to punish evil. I have never heard of a scoundrel villain who can seize an important position by flattering him and writing a few frivolous eulogies. I want the portrait to serve as an example for the world! Taixue and Dongguan are the palaces where the imperial court commends sages and promotes enlightenment. How can we tolerate such defilement? It is recommended that your Majesty should eliminate the "Hongdu Selection" to eliminate the fierce criticism from the people of the world.
Yang Qiu was impassioned and stated the pros and cons directly, but failed to attract the attention of Emperor Ling. He was "incomprehensible in writing and memorial", and the emperor ignored him at all. At this time, Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty and the imperial court of the Eastern Han Dynasty were already in a state of decay. They were like dead trees creaking, like rocks falling off the cliff. There was no cure. Let's take a look at the "Book of the Later Han·Cui Shi Biography" which tells a story about how his brother Cui Lie spent money to buy an official position, which makes people laugh endlessly:
During the reign of Emperor Ling, he opened the Hongdu gate list to sell official titles, and Gongqing Zhoujun There are differences down to Huangshou. The rich will invest money first, while the poor will lose twice as much when they reach the official position, or they may gain access by themselves because they are often servants or Abao. At that time, although Duan Jiong, Fan Ling, Zhang Wen, etc. had a reputation for hard work, they all lost money first and then ascended to the official position. During the Lie period, Fu's mother invested five million yuan and became a Situ. When it comes to worshiping the sun, the emperor comes to the pavilion and all officials gather together. Emperor Gu said to those who were lucky enough to be close to him, "If you regret little Jin, it could be tens of millions." Mrs. Cheng responded by saying, "How can Mr. Cui, a famous scholar in Jizhou, be willing to buy an official position? It's up to me to get it, but I don't know Shu Xie!" So the reputation wanes.
"Bangmai" refers to selling an official by posting a list; "Yellow Ribbon" is a yellow ribbon with official seal, which refers to officials with a salary of less than 600 shi and more than 200 shi. The standard is a yellow ribbon with a copper seal. "Li", Cui Lie, a native of Anping, Zhuojun (now Anping County, Hebei Province), an official to Situ; "Fu Mu", nanny; "Linxuan", refers to the emperor leaving the main palace and visiting the imperial palace; "Xiao Jin", stingy , stingy.
Situ Cui Lie of the Eastern Han Dynasty
This record can be said to be both emotional and physical. There are three main points: First, Emperor Ling opened the Hongdu Gate to sell officials. The sales of official positions included For low-level officials such as imperial ministers, governors of prefectures and counties, and Huang Shou, those who have a lot of money will practice "one clear one", paying the money in one hand and holding the official hat in the other hand to take office; those who are short of money will take a "credit loan" and go to the office first. , double the repayment, and return the money directly to the emperor through the palace attendants such as Chang Shi and Abao. Secondly, Duan Jiong, Fan Ling, and Zhang Wen were all high-ranking officials who were bought with money and were appointed as Taiwei; thirdly, Cui Lie was born into a prominent family in Jizhou, his grandfather Cui Xiang, his father Cui Pan, and his younger brother Cui Shi. Both are famous, so he spent 5 million to buy a Situ official hat through the Ling Emperor's nanny, Mrs. Cheng. The Ling Emperor thought it was too little and said it should cost 10 million. Mrs. Cheng was very unhappy and said that Mr. Cui was only willing to pay for an official position because of my reputation. Now that I have fallen into disgrace, where is the justice?