Hu Yan (about 7 15 ~ 629 BC) was a minister of the state of Jin in the Spring and Autumn Period. Also known as son, uncle, strange, mortar, fox, fox's son, Jin Wengong Zhong Er's uncle, so it is also called uncle. Zhong Er (that is, Jin Wengong)' s uncle, also called uncle (the first offender). His father, the word Boxing, is Hu (now from Chabo Village, Jiaocheng, Shanxi). The ancestors of the Jin Dynasty were Jinzhi people who lived in Zhurong tribe. Hu Yan is busy with Rong Da. After her elder sister (or younger sister) Fox Ji married Prince (Jin Xiangong), her father Fox suddenly became a doctor, and Hu Yan followed her father to Quwo in Jindun (now Wenxi, Shaanxi). As a teenager, Zhong Er studied under Hu Yan and Zhao Shuai. These people are "really under control, their son is in the next place, and their movements are clumsy", which is still the case in adulthood. Later, King Chu Cheng praised him as "generous, thrifty and polite", which was obviously the result of the attention of the fox Zhao and others. Dedicated for eight years (before 67 1 year), he moved his capital to Jiangxi (now Xinjiang and Shanxi, called Yicheng), and Huyan followed Zhong Er to Jiangxi. After twelve years of dedication, the prince lived in Quwo, the son lived in Pu (now northwest of Xi County, Shanxi Province), Yi lived in Qu (now Shilou, Shanxi Province), and Hu Yan followed him to Pu. Twenty-one years of dedication, Li Ji tried to kill his father by flattering Shen Sheng, and Shen Sheng hanged himself. Hu Yan protected his ears and "prepared for Pucheng" and died a year later. The history of Hu Yan's deeds in these decades is unknown. According to the test, Zhong Er was an adult when he was a prince, but Hu Yan relied on others. He tried his best to be a father and a teacher, and he wouldn't do much, but he had a far-reaching influence on the political situation at the end of Jin Dynasty. "Wen Gong had an affair with an uncle and nephew criminal, so he was the main vassal and his fame was passed down to later generations." This evaluation is pertinent.
When Hu Yan died, he was over sixty years old. He still took pains to help and made many plans for him, so that he could finally return to the State of Jin and have a bright future.
When the party left the state of Jin, Hu Yan urged them to go to Germany. At that time, Qi was the most economically developed country in the Central Plains. After the North Apricot Covenant, Qi Huangong actually became the leader of the Central Plains. Chu is also an economic and military power in the south. Why did Hu Yan abandon the strong for the weak? Because he realized that Qi Chu had trekked thousands of miles, mountains along the way, struggled, fled hastily and lacked supplies, even if he could avoid being hunted down, he would be trapped on the way. Whether Qi and Chu are willing to accept it is also doubtful. And virtue is near and easy to reach, and it is the home country, and its son should be reasonable. And adjacent to Jindi, you can wait and see, save your strength and buy time. This shows that this decision is the best policy.
Zhong Er stayed in Di for twelve years, and Hu Yan advised him to go to Qi. At this time, Rong Di's strength was greatly weakened, and he was unable to help Zhong Er "succeed". Although he is old, his ambition is still there. He wants to use gold to compete with Qin Chu and maintain his dominant position. And Guan Zhong's Death, Mourning is greater than dying in the heart, and Seeking Benevolence and Loyalty will certainly take in Zhong Er and his party. When I arrived in Qi, I was warmly received by Huan Gong, especially. Just because Qi Huangong died, the five sons fought for power, the princes rebelled against the State of Qi, and the sons knew that they could not move, they resolutely left the State of Qi. At this time, years of exile depressed Zhong Er. He is resting peacefully, "so he has no intention of going away" and "he has the ambition to reach the finish line." Hu Yan also colluded with the Jiang family, "drunk and carrying." If Hu Yan hadn't bravely forced Zhong Er to leave Qi, Zhong Er would have lived in Qi all his life, and there was no way to compete for hegemony, and the historical situation in the Spring and Autumn Period would have been greatly improved.
Zhong Er's return to China coincided with the Jin Dynasty turmoil. For more than ten years, the Jin Dynasty was in constant civil strife, and the country was in chaos and the people were worried. First, the "rebellion", and then the death, Rick and Pi Zheng killed Qi, Zhuo Zi and Xun, and then after Emperor Wu of Jin came to power, they killed Li, Pi and other ministers with real power, which made people panic and alienated each other. Betraying foreign interests and launching unjust wars have greatly damaged the vitality of Jin.
However, it was less than five years from the reign of Wen Gong in 636 BC to the battle of Chengpu in 632 BC. How does Wen Gong pretend to be a vassal and dominate the world? Zuo Zhuan said that he traveled all over the world in the Gregorian calendar and made preparations for "difficulties and hardships", so he learned to "make every effort to govern" after returning to China in order to seek hegemony. In fact, this is the result of Hu Yan, Zhao Shuai and other ministers helping Wen Gong to "love the people and prosper the land", of which Hu Yan played an important role.
Hu Yan and others helped Wen Gong to reform the internal affairs and quickly heal the wounds left by the turmoil, thus laying a material foundation to compete with Qin Chu. The main measures are:-selecting outstanding talents to govern the country. Over the years, a group of veteran ministers who share weal and woe with Zhong Er have been entrusted with important tasks. Second, we advocate filial piety to parents, respect for ancestors and the elderly, loyalty to state affairs, and "being kind to the people." Third, abolish heavy corvee, reduce exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous fees, and subsidize producers who are unable to live. Fourth, encourage farming, persuade people to divide fields, save the country for use, and prepare for war. Fifth, "the big search is in Shandong", and the upper and lower military systems are changed into the upper, middle and lower military systems. These measures have played a positive role in stabilizing social order, restoring social production, promoting industrial and commercial prosperity and improving the combat effectiveness of the Jin Army. As a result, the state of Jin presented a prosperous scene of "enriching the people with politics, and using the wealth in poverty". After four years of Wen Gong, the Jin army was able to defeat the Chu army in Chengpu, which is undoubtedly the inevitable result of reform.
In the first year of Wen (636 BC), there was chaos in Zhou's room. Uncle Zhao (brother Dai) and attacked Zhou and occupied Luoyi. He said that voting for Zheng made people go to Jane, and his father asked Jin and Qin for help. In the second year of Wengong, Qin Jun went down to the river and became king. Due to the chaos in the Jin Dynasty, there were many things and the national strength was still thin. Wen Gong hesitated about the diligent king. However, Hu Yan, with his keen political sense of smell and foresight, realized that this was a godsend opportunity for Kim to become an ally of the vassal. At that time, the whole situation was extremely unfavorable to Kim. Chu, far away in the south, has been expanding its territory to the north since it became king. After the convening of the Mausoleum in 656 BC, the State of Chu accelerated the pace of going northward, and it is likely to dominate the Central Plains after Qi Huangong. The Western Qin Dynasty did not favor the border, and always coveted the territory of the State of Jin. Hu Yan certainly knows that only by blocking Chu in the south and Qin in the west can he enter the Central Plains. At this time, Jin was poor and weak, and the country was struggling, and it was still unable to compete with Qin Chu economically and militarily. To this end, we must first gain the trust of the rulers in politics and improve Kim's prestige. Besides, the Zhou royal family and the Jin imperial clan have a nominal patriarchal relationship, which is also a loss. Hu Yan advised Wen Gong: "The stepfather's career, the success of martial arts and the peace of the country are all here." In the twenty-fifth year of Xi Gong (635 BC), Duke Wen finally sent troops to Qin Wang, killed the prince, and took him to Jicheng (now Fenyang, Shanxi) and Wang entered Chengzhou (now Luoyang, Henan). Zhou Wang gave a banquet and gave the land in the city to Fan, Wen, Yuan, Zanmao and others.
The King of Qin not only expanded the territory of the State of Jin, but also improved the status of the State of Jin in other countries, creating the necessary conditions for the State of Jin to enter the Central Plains.
Hu Yan not only has the extraordinary courage of a politician, but also has extraordinary military talent and great wisdom and courage. In the third year of Emperor Wen (634 BC), Chu threatened to attack Song, and Song turned to Jin for help. Judging from the situation of the vassal states at that time, the direct conflict between Chu Jin and China was inevitable. But the Jin army is not as good as the Chu army in quantity and quality. In the face of a strong enemy, Hu Yan adopted the strategy of "shifting the tiger in the mountain" to avoid its sharp edge and win with wisdom. He put forward: "Chu got Cao Wei at the beginning, but Wei at the beginning." If Cao Wei is cut and Chu saves it, Qi and Song will be spared. " Therefore, the Jin army attacked Cao Wei and took five deer (now southeast of Puyang, Henan Province). In March, it captured the capital of Cao, forcing the Chu army to scatter the Song State.
When the Chu army attacked Song again, Hu Yan was not afraid at all. Determined to fight Chu. He predicted: "If you fight, you will win the princes. If you don't win, it won't hurt. " Dispelled Jin Wengong's concerns. Hu Yan's contempt for the enemy in the war was based on the premise of attaching importance to the enemy in tactics. "Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals" said: "When the Duke Wen will fight the Chu people, he will ask his uncle,' The Chu people are outnumbered, what can I do?' The culprit will say,' My gentleman has heard countless rituals, but not enough words, which is not enough to bully the monarch. Although he has fought countless battles, the monarch also bullies him. "In the battle of Chengpu, 8 jin j always implemented Hu Yan's" deception "strategy. At the beginning of the war, the Jin army "retreated three places to avoid it", which made the Chu army more arrogant and underestimated the enemy. In the middle of the war, Hu Yan ordered the Jin army to hide the horse with tiger skin, drag branches behind the horse, raise dust, create the illusion of escape, "cut its wood to cover its soldiers", confuse the Chu army, and make it passively beaten everywhere, ending in "defeat".
The outcome of the battle of Chengpu, the victory of Jin and the defeat of Chu, has far-reaching significance It changed the political pattern of the Central Plains in the Spring and Autumn Period, established the hegemony of the Jin State, and began to dominate the Central Plains for a hundred years. As for the commander of this war, some scholars believe that it was mainly Xian Zhen. In fact, the role played by Hu Yan should not be underestimated. "Wen Gong encouraged the culprit and defeated the Chu people in Chengpu." That makes sense. Even Jin Wengong praised "Yan Yan's contribution to the world" and gave Hu Yan a high evaluation.
In the thirty-first year (629 BC), Hu Yan died. In the winter of 32 years, Jin Wengong died. It can be said that Hu Yan devoted his life to the hegemony of Jinwen. Without Hu Yan, there would be no hegemony of Jinwen. This reputation is not exaggerated. Hu Yan's character and talent are highly respected by governors and doctors all over the world. Song Gongsun Gu called Gu Yan a "wise man"; Doctor Cao praised Hu Yan: "He is a man of virtue." Chu ordered Yin Zi to meet his talents and even "invited nonsense." Hu Yan is of the same clan as his father Hu Tu, and his brother Hu Mao is deeply missed by later generations. The reason is that Hu Yan has the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation's hard work and humiliation. On the way to exile, I went through hardships. The countries they pass through are treated with courtesy, but more often they are treated coldly and lightly, and even they are inevitably begging or in danger of being killed. In order to repay the overall situation of the country, Hu Yan swallowed his pride and was competent, which won the praise of the people at that time and the respect of future generations. Secondly, the orphan father and son are loyal to the country and have a fearless spirit of sacrifice. After the Li Ji Uprising, Hu Tu sent his second son to help Zhong Er escape from the State of Jin. When Hu Yan was in Qin, he heard that all the people who died had returned to China, and those who did not return were threatened to "destroy their homes". He refused to return to Jin with indignation. His father, Fox Tu, also died heroically, and Fu Jian died. Emperors in the Han Dynasty, Wei and Jin Dynasties, Southern and Northern Dynasties, Sui and Tang Dynasties all regarded the loyal monarch who was butchered by the fox as a model of loyalty to the country. In the Song Dynasty, Song Huizong named the butchered fox as a loyal minister. July 14, the birthday of Hutu people, is still a traditional ancient festival in Jiaocheng area. Finally, as an outstanding politician and strategist, Hu Yan played a positive role in the development history of the Spring and Autumn Period. "Jin fell into hegemony, and most of them were suppressed", and the hegemonic system curbed the expansion of countries with relatively backward productivity, such as Qin Chu, and shook the patriarchal clan system in the Western Zhou Dynasty, which was beneficial to the social, economic and cultural development of the Central Plains. Then, Hu Yan's historical contribution is obvious.