"Combining leniency with severity, combining rigidity with softness" is an effective practical experience summed up by politicians since ancient times. Politics is complicated and simple, and things are urgent; Abnormal potential and impermanence of water; Appropriate width is wide, and appropriate strictness is strict; Combining rigidity with softness, combining kindness with prestige; These truths are easy to say but not so easy to do. In fact, whether it is combining leniency with severity or combining rigidity with softness, it should be based on the ability to manage society, develop economy, stabilize people's livelihood and make people happy. If people live a satisfied, safe and happy life, the policy is correct.
From ancient times to the present, there has been a dispute about the scale of leniency and strictness in "combining leniency with strictness", and a political essay by Mao Cui in the late Eastern Han Dynasty is very targeted. Sima Guang recorded this article in forty-five articles of Zi Tongzhi Han Jianji, which is worth reading.
In November of the first year of Yuan Jia (A.D. 15 1 year), an earthquake occurred in Luoyang, the capital of China, and the emperor issued a letter asking officials to recommend people with special skills to Beijing to discuss countermeasures. Zhuo Jun chose Cui Ya and sent him to the bus station (the inn that receives bachelor candidates can let bachelors come and go). However, he claimed that he was ill and could not come up with a plan to deal with the earthquake. After returning to Zhuo Jun, he wrote a paper on state affairs, entitled "On Politics". Its contents are as follows: The reason why the world can't be governed is often because the peaceful days of kings have been too long, the social atmosphere is getting worse and worse, the political affairs and state affairs are getting worse and worse, they don't think about reform, they are used to being confused, don't ask about safety, and turn a blind eye. Or dissolute, regardless of state affairs; Or, they are all eyes and ears, not listening to persuasion, loving flattering lies and hating the truth of criticism; Or hesitate and be at a loss when encountering problems; Even close cronies and ministers, in order to keep Jue Lu, kept silent; Or think that alienated officials have low status, even if they have good suggestions and advice, they will not listen. Therefore, with the indulgence and relaxation of Chaogang from top to bottom, the wise have to be sad from bottom to top. What a sad situation this is!
It has been more than 350 years since the establishment of the Han Dynasty. Now that the decree has been abandoned, the people are complaining. They all look forward to national rejuvenation again and again. The way to save time and save the world lies in cutting off necrosis and filling up cracks; Supporting pillars, righting and tilting; Cut with the shape and change at any time. The key is to make the world peaceful according to the actual situation. Therefore, when a saint is in power, he has his own settings according to time and different steps. He won't force people to do things they can't do, and he won't give up urgent things and yearn for rumors. Confucius once told Ye Gong that government affairs should be from near to far. Tell Aigong to choose talented people in government affairs; Tell Gong Jing to save money and pay attention to manners in government affairs. This is not because Confucius' ideas have changed, but because of different emergencies. Vulgar people, bound by classical provisions, can not reach the plan of intrigue; Just respect rumors and ignore the reality you see; How can we talk about state affairs with them? Therefore, although the person who wrote this letter can get the attention of the emperor, he is often restrained by treacherous court officials. Why? This is because those stubborn people do not know how to change the way of governing the country at any time, stick to the rules, and are unwilling to achieve something. How can they consider innovation? I have to sneak in, this is still a chapter; Those who are eager to express themselves, or want to become famous and have a family, despise people who have different views because they are jealous of their talents. Therefore, they use their own words to slander others' remarks. This makes a good strategy abandoned because it is outnumbered. Even if Hou Yi and Zi Qi are still alive, there is no way. This is why the opinions of intelligent and talented people are full of anxiety and anger, but they can't do it.
Whoever rules the world, unless he has a high moral cultivation, under normal circumstances, strictness can level the world, and looseness is chaotic. Close contact with Xiao Xuan, familiar with his way of governing the country, insight into his way of governing the country. Therefore, he used harsh laws to make the evil villains frightened, so the sea was calm and the world was at peace. Therefore, it is better to evaluate Emperor Xiaowen than to evaluate his political achievements. After Yuan Di ascended the throne, his administration was lax, which led to the decline of government and authority, and eventually he became the monarch of the Han Dynasty's insurrection. Political gains and losses can be seen from this. Confucius used to write Chunqiu, praising Qi Huangong, praising Jin Wengong and lamenting Guan Zhong's contribution. Will Confucius disrespect the rule of Zhou Wenwang and Zhou Wuwang? The reason why he did this is really to achieve the purpose of saving the disadvantage with the camera. Sages can decide their strategies over time, but vulgar people don't know the changes. They believe that the chaotic politics in the last years of the Qin Dynasty can be controlled by the ancient knotting method. With the ancient dance of unity, the siege of the city of peace of Gaozu can be lifted. Imitating the movements of bears and birds is a way to prolong life, but it is not the pharmacology of treating typhoid fever; Breathing and breathing exercises, although methods to prolong life, can't replace plaster for persistent fracture. Therefore, the law of governing the country is like the principle of fitness. Usually pay attention to conditioning and treat diseases with drugs. Punishment is a medicine stone for chaos; Moral education is the basic necessities of life in peacetime. If you want to use moral education to eliminate cruelty, it is tantamount to treating diseases with white rice and fat meat; If you want to treat Taiping with punishment, it is equivalent to using a medicine stone to keep fit. Now is a difficult time to inherit the accumulated disadvantages of successive kings. For generations, government affairs advocated forgiveness, horses abandoned their reins, horses took off their titles, and horses were scattered everywhere. The Royal Avenue is full of dangers, and the brakes are braked suddenly to save the day. So, do you have time to worry about whether the bells are in harmony? Although Emperor Wen abolished corporal punishment in the past, those who should have their right toes cut off were still sentenced to death, and those who were whipped were often killed. This is Emperor Wen's rule of Taiping with severe punishments, not with forgiveness.
It is not known whether Cui Ai typed this article. But from the history books, it must be widely circulated in a certain range. The author of Chang Yan has read this article and was deeply impressed. He said, "All kings should copy it and put it on the right side of the seat."
Sima Guang also commented in "As a Mirror": "The laws of the Han Dynasty were strict enough, but Cui Ai was too lenient. Why? Because the declining monarchs are mostly weak; Stupid assistant ministers only know tolerance and accommodation. In this way, autocratic and lucky officials will not be punished if they are guilty; A cunning man will not be beheaded if he breaks the law; Shilun Boone, just look at the present; The treacherous man succeeded and the system was abandoned. Therefore, Mao Cui's remarks, although they can correct the temporary shortcomings, are not the eternal principle of governing the country. Confucius said:' If the law is loose, the people will be light, while the people will be light and strict; The decree is too strict, people are hurt, people are hurt, and the decree is relaxed. Only when leniency helps strictness and strictness helps leniency can government affairs be harmonious. "This is the unchangeable rule of governing the country!" It seems that Sima Guang agreed with Cui Ai's proposal, but in a special period it was overkill. But Confucius advocated more: the political way, combining leniency with severity.
Mao Cui's exposition in this article is based on the corruption of officials and the worsening political style in the last years of the Eastern Han Dynasty, which is very targeted. The article did not say how to deal with the earthquake, but commented on the current politics from the perspective of personnel. Cui Ai's courage is amazing. He compared the rule of law to medicine and moral education to food, and thought that the rule of law lies in treating diseases and moral education lies in keeping fit. They have different functions, but they can complement each other. Intuitive metaphor can deepen the understanding of legal system and moral education. This argument is also worth pondering.
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