What were the changes in China's ancient relationship with the Xiongnu

Jia Yi (200 B.C.-168 B.C.) lived in the early years of the Western Han Dynasty, going through the four dynasties of Emperor Gaozu of Han, Emperor Hui, Empress Lu and Emperor Wen. In the early Han Dynasty, society faced two major conflicts: the conflict between the central government and the vassal kings, and the conflict between the Han Dynasty and the Xiongnu. Jia Yi took a strategic view of these two major social conflicts and put forward suggestions and ideas to resolve them. In this paper, I would like to present my own views on Jia Yi's strategic thinking towards the Xiongnu, so as to educate my colleagues.

I, the expansion of Xiongnu power in the early Han Dynasty and Han's "peace" policy

Xiongnu, in the pre-Qin canonical books, called Shanrong, long-snout tribe, meat porridge. They lived in the border areas of northwestern China and led a nomadic life, often harassing the mainly agricultural peoples of the central plains. During the Warring States period, Qin, Zhao, and Yan built the Great Wall in their border areas in order to defend themselves against the Xiongnu. "After Qin destroyed the six kingdoms, Shih Huangdi made Mengtian to attack Hu in the north with a crowd of 100,000 people ("The Book of Han - Xiongnu Biography", "hundreds of thousands of people" - quoted) and collected all the land south of the river. Because of the river for the plug, building forty-four counties near the river, migrating the right garrison to fill it. And through the straight road, from Jiuyuan to Yunyang, due to the side of the mountains and moats and valleys can be repaired to rule, from Lintao to Liaodong more than 10,000 miles. There are crossing the river according to the Yangshan northern false middle"① played a role in the defense of the Xiongnu.

The most powerful period of the Xiongnu was after Boldun took the throne, and the Records of the Grand Historian (史记-Xiongnu列传) said, "The Xiongnu was the most powerful until Boldun." Boldun killed his father and established himself in 209 BC, three years before Liu Bang claimed the title of King of Han. Boldun died in the sixth year of Emperor Wen of Han (174 BC) and reigned for 35 years. This was the period of Emperor Gaozu, Emperor Hui, Empress Lu and Emperor Wen, the period in which Jia Yi lived. This period of Xiongnu power greatly expanded, not only broke the king of the East Hu, "the west hit go Yuezhi, and south and building trouble, Baiyang Henan king," and take advantage of the destruction of the Qin Dynasty, the Han-Chu dispute, China's tired of the opportunity of military, "all the recovery of the Qin made the Mengtian captured the Xiongnu land, and the Han Guan the old Henan plug, to the Chao Na, Benshih, Sui invaded Yan Dynasty." ② The strength of the Xiongnu in this period was unprecedented. The area it ruled extended from the Xing'an Mountains in the east to the North Sea in the west, and from Yan Dai in the south to Boshi, some of which had already crossed the Great Wall. In terms of the whole area, it was larger than the territory of Qin and the early years of Western Han. Boldon's dominion within the Xiongnu tribe was even more consolidated, so the Historical Records of the Xiongnu (史记-Xiongnu列传), says: "Then all the noble ministers of the Xiongnu were convinced, and they took Boldon monarch to be the wise one."

After Liu Bang unified the world, he felt threatened by the Xiongnu Boldun. In the sixth year of Emperor Gaozu's reign (201 BC), he sent Han Wangxin to Dai and stationed him at Mayi to defend himself against the Xiongnu. When the Xiongnu attacked Mayi, Han Wangxin could not resist and surrendered to the Xiongnu. The Xiong Nu sent troops southward through Jubei and attacked Taiyuan, reaching the bottom of Jinyang. Feeling that the situation was serious, Han Gaozu personally led more than 300,000 soldiers to attack the Xiong Nu, hoping to deal a major blow to the Xiong Nu. It backfired and Han Gaozu was besieged by the Xiong Nu at Mount Baideng in Pingcheng. The Xiong Nu's cavalry that besieged Han Gaozu was divided into four types, "all white horses in the west, all green hazel horses in the east, all wu li horses in the north, and all bay horses in the south". Han Gaozu was besieged for seven days, and was cut off from the outside world, and his food was about to run out. Gaozu used Chen Ping's plan to send someone to see Boldun's Xiongnu, and gave her a generous gift, so Xiongnu said to Boldun, "The two masters are not trapped, and now we have the land of Han, but Shan Yu is not able to live in the land. And the king of Han is so deep that Shan Yu sacrificed himself to him." So Shan Yu led his troops away, and the siege of Pingcheng was lifted. ③

Han Gaozu Pingcheng Baideng of the siege, the Han dynasty is a strange shame. When Gaozu asked Liu Jing for advice, he said:

"At the beginning of the world's settlement, the soldiers are not yet ready for military service. The first time the world was settled, the soldiers stopped in the army, but not the military service. Bolden killed his father to stand in his place, his wife's mother, and his power as a threat, but not benevolence and righteousness. The only thing I can do is to plan for the long term, and my children and grandchildren will be my ministers! But I am afraid that Your Majesty can not be." The emperor said: "True can, why can't! Gu for what?"

Liu Jing said, "Your Majesty can be suitable for the long Princess wife, thick worship legacy, they know the Han suitable for women to send thick barbarians, must be adored as a Xiongnu, the birth of a son will be Prince, on behalf of the single Yu. What is it? Greedy Han heavy coin. His Majesty to the time of the year, Han's surplus of their fresh, several to the legacy, because of the defense of the wind Oracle to etiquette. Bolden in, solid for the son-in-law, die, then grandson for the monarch, I have never heard of grandson dare to fight with the great father of the rituals of the person? Soldiers can be no war, to gradual ministers also. If Your Majesty can not send Princess, and make the clan and the harem fraudulently called Princess, he also knows, refused to noble close, no benefit." Gao Di said: "Good!"

Want to send Rapunzel.

This is the famous policy of the Han Dynasty, which is to "make peace" and send gifts. When Empress Lu found out about this, she cried day and night, saying that she only had a crown prince and a princess, so why should she marry her only daughter to the Xiong Nu? After listening to Empress Lu, Gaozu chose another daughter of the royal family to replace her and sent Liu Jing to Xiong Nu to make a peace treaty. The Records of the Grand Historian (史记-Xiongnu列传) reads, "Gao Di made Liu Jing present the princess of his clan as the monarch of the Xiongnu Xiongnu, and he offered the Xiongnu a number of wadded fabrics, wine, rice and food to them, and made a pact of peace with them as Kun-Di." This policy lasted for 60 to 70 years through the reigns of Emperor Gaozu, Emperor Hui, Emperor Wen, Emperor Jing, and even the early years of Emperor Wu. For example, in the third year of Emperor Hui's reign (192 B.C.), in the sixth year of Emperor Wen's reign (174 B.C.), and in the first and fifth years of Emperor Jing's reign (156 and 152 B.C.), princesses were successively sent, and their possessions were even more generous year after year.

But this policy of "peace" and gift-giving did not achieve the desired purpose, and the Xiong Nu continued to invade and harass the south. At that time, Longxi, Beidi, Shangxun, Yunzhong, Shanggu, Liaodong and other counties (today's Gansu Lintao, Qingyang, Shaanxi Yulin, Inner Mongolia Toktor, Hebei Huailai, Liaoning LiaoYang area) often be infested. Wherever the Xiongnu cavalry went, they destroyed crops, plundered property, killed officials and people, and took away the population, causing great damage to the social economy.

The death of Han Gaozu and the reign of Empress Lu, Bolden, in addition to continuing to infest the south, also wrote an extremely arrogant and insolent letter to Empress Lu, which said:

"Lone instigator of the king, born in the frustration of the Ze, grew up in the plains of the field of cows and horses, a number of borders, and would like to travel to China. Your Majesty is independent. The king of the Lone Ruin lived alone. The two masters are not happy, there is no self-sufficiency, I would like to have all, easy to have nothing"②

This is extremely insulting words to the Empress Lu.

This is an extremely insulting statement to Empress Lu, who read it and was furious and wanted to send troops to attack Bolden. Later, due to Ji Bu's counseling, Empress Lu only swallowed her anger and replied to the letter. The old age and the decline of gas, hair and teeth fall, walking out of order, Shan Yu overheard, not enough to stain themselves. I am not guilty, so I should be pardoned. I have two royal cars and two horses to serve my regular driver."

After receiving the letter, Boldun sent an envoy to Han to thank him for his offense: "I have never heard of Chinese courtesy and righteousness, and Your Majesty is fortunate enough to pardon me." At the same time, he sent horses to Empress Lu and made a peace treaty, but in the sixth year of Empress Lu's reign (182 B.C.), the Xiong Nu invaded Didao and attacked Ayang. After a year, the Xiongnu invaded the said place again and plundered more than 2,000 people.

After the death of Empress Lu and the accession of Emperor Wen to the throne, the Xiongnu continued to invade and plunder the area. In the third year of Emperor Wen's reign (177 B.C.), the Right Honorable King of the Xiongnu invaded and occupied the land south of Henan Province, invaded Shangxian County, and killed and plundered the people. Wendi issued an edict saying:

Han and Xiongnu were covenanted to be kun-di, and there was no infringement of the border, so the loss and dispatch of Xiongnu was very generous. Now the Right Honorable King away from his country, will be living in Henan land,

Very old. The first time I saw this, I was in the middle of the night, and I was in the middle of the night, and I was in the middle of the night, and I was in the middle of the night, and I was in the middle of the night. The government's policy was to prevent the government from taking advantage of the situation, and the government was to take advantage of the situation to prevent the government from taking advantage of the situation to prevent the government from taking advantage of the situation.

So Emperor Wen sent 80,000 border officials to Gao Nu in Shangxian County, and sent Prime Minister Gu Ying to lead the army to attack King You Xian. When King Yu Xian saw the Han army attacking, he fled to the outskirts of the city.

In the fourth year of Emperor Wen's reign (176 B.C.), Boldon wrote to Emperor Wen about the invasion of the Right Honorable King, saying, "The Han border officials invaded and insulted the Right Honorable King, and the Right Honorable King, who was not willing to do so, listened to the plan of Hou Yilu Hou Nianzhi and other plans, and hated the Han officials, and cut off the covenant of the two masters, and separated from the kinship of the Kun brothers." ② expressed his willingness to make peace with Han and resume the old treaty. When Emperor Wen got the letter, he convened a meeting of the ministers to discuss whether it was better to make peace or to attack. Or to attack? The ministers all said, "Shan Yu has newly defeated the Yuezhi and is riding on the victory, so we should not attack. Moreover, the land of Xiong Nu is not inhabitable, so it is very convenient to make peace with them." Emperor Wen followed the advice of the ministers and continued to make peace. In the first six years of Emperor Wen's reign (174 B.C.), he wrote to Bolden: "Your letter says, "I wish to give up my troops and rest "the soldiers", to remove the former things, to restore the old covenant, so that the people on the border can be safe and peaceful and happy for the rest of their lives", and I am very pleased with this. This is the will of the ancient saint king, I wish to make peace as before. ③

There have been different views on the merits and demerits of the policy of "affinity" and gift-giving that was practiced for six or seven decades in the early Han Dynasty. Chen Xujing, in his Draft History of the Xiongnu, said that it was a compromise made by the Han dynasty "for the sake of peace and tranquility at the borders." Lin Gan said, "The peace of the early Han Dynasty was a negative policy, a kind of tribute in disguise, and a kind of compromise under the historical conditions of the time." ⑤ All these views are very reasonable.

The second is Jia Yi's idea of "war and virtue"

Many ministers at the time were opposed to the policy of "peace and affinity" with the Xiong Nu at the beginning of the Han Dynasty, and a passage from Shusun Sheng's book in the volume of the Shiji (History of the Historical Records) reads as follows. "Han square a universe, super three or five, is no reason to decorate the love of women as the Xiong Nu Royal, can not laugh at the future generations! The Xiongnu jackals also, their father's not compassionate and hand-picked to death, why have the father of the woman, Bolden's son also, and see the death of his great father in Bolden also, it is said that my father and not martial, why only tolerate my great father and not tolerate outside the great father also? Otherwise, and to 100,000 riders into the plug pastoral, said: 'all and Sun also, I why no Han divided land, please get the nine states of the bias if the Yu Ji person abode pastoral.' Xi resigned to defend."

This account does not appear in the official history, but many politicians opposed to peace is recorded in the official history. Jia Yi was one of them. The Book of Han - Jia Yi's biography contains Jia Yi in the to the emperor of the Han Dynasty, said angrily:

"Now the Xiong Nu Man insulted and invaded, to the disrespectful, for the world's suffering, to the death of has also. And Han year to gold floss and silk to serve. The barbarians and the di levy order, is the Lord's manipulation also; Son of heaven **** tribute, is the courtesy of the subject also. Foot against the top, the first Guju down, upside down so, can not be solved, as if the state-owned people?"

Jia Yi believes that the relationship between the Han Dynasty and the Xiongnu, like the first foot, and now the first foot upside down, as "upside down", is tolerable, what can not be tolerated. He expressed great dissatisfaction and indignation at the Xiongnu's encroachment on the border. In the "New Book - Xie County" said: "Today, West County, North County, although there is a long title is not light to get back, five feet has not been light to get interest, if even more. In the middle of the left garrison, extended line thousands of miles, food feed to the difficult to carry on. The repulsors look at the beacon flint and do not dare to lie down, will be mandarins garrisoned or the medium armor and sleep, and the Xiongnu bully invasion and pillage of the unknown rest time, in yan look at the Xinwei Guangde difficult." ① in the "new book - Wei Bu Xin" said:

"Ancient justice, east and west, north and south, Gou Boat of the reach, the human track of the arrival, not rate of service, and then the cloud of the son of heaven; Germany thick, Ze Zhan Yan, and then called the emperor; and add the beauty of the year, and then called the emperor. Today's title is very beautiful, but actually not the Great Wall, they are not special not to serve also, and great disrespect. The side of the long is not peaceful, the center of the long is not quiet, such as ambush tiger, see then will move, when will it be over. Former Emperor Gao Di up cloth and service in the nine states, now Your Majesty staff nine states and not in the Huns, I think Your Majesty is not enough, and the situation is very contrary to the people." ②

In the face of such a situation, Jia Yi cried out for a complete solution to the problem of Xiong Nu's encroachment on the border. In his "New Book - Xiongnu" (③), he elaborated a set of strategic ideas to subdue the Xiongnu nobles. This idea is concentrated in one point is "war virtue", that is to emphasize "appropriate to the generous virtue of the four barbarians, to raise the bright righteousness and show the far side, then the car of the arrival, manpower to reach, not for the animal, not who dare to indignantly do not accept the emperor's will?"

First, the correct estimation of the enemy's strength, Jia Yi estimated that the Xiong Nu's cavalry is about 60,000, according to the five families out of a cavalry, then the Xiong Nu household of 300,000 people, the number, "not yet as large as the Han Qianshi county. " He pointed out that "I thought that the Xiongnu were not as large as Han's 1,000-stone county, and that the world was so large that they were trapped in the smallness of a single county, which I was ashamed of for the deacon." It was thought that the concessions to the Xiongnu were too much. In order to govern the Xiongnu, it would be appropriate to "set up an official to rule over the Xiongnu," and "revitalize them with the art of the cicada." What is the "Art of the Cicada"? Xunzi - Zhishi: "The Yao Cicada's business is to make its fire clear and to revitalize its trees. If the fire is not clear, even if the tree is revitalized, it is useless. Nowadays, if there is a human master who can realize his virtue, the world will return to him as the cicada returns to the bright fire." This means that the Xiongnu should be dismantled and conquered by means of grace and virtue, just as the cicadas are captured by means of a bright fire. With such a method, the world would certainly be greatly ruled. Jia Yi said: "Your Majesty is willing to listen to its affairs", "will be the Xiong Nu people for the Han subjects, the system of the order of thousands of families and a country, the list of places outside of the Seychelles, from the Longxi extended to Liaodong, each sub-division of the land to defend the border, so that to prepare for the Yuezhi, irrigation weakness of the changes are belonging to the county of its placement. And then the Rong rest border, the world's soldiers. The emperor's authority, internal behavior outside the letter, the four sides are pleased to serve, then the will of my humble servant is fast." Jia Yi said: "I heard that the strong state war wisdom, the king war righteousness, the emperor war virtue." This is traditional Confucianism.

Secondly, we must "fight with Shan Yu for his people, then the lower Xiongnu is still revitalized." It is as easy for us to win over the people of Xiongnu and solve the problem of Xiongnu's encroachment as it is for us to shake off the branches of a withered tree. How can we "compete with Shan Yu for his people"? Jia Yi proposed to "build three tables and set up five baits."

The so-called "three tables" are the faith, love, and goodness of the "message to the son of heaven". Jia Yi said:

"Your Majesty is willing to use my plan, and I will use the situation to tell the son of heaven's faith, so that the Xiongnu people will believe in your Majesty. The first thing I'd like to do is to talk to you, and I'm sure I'll be able to do it without any difficulty. Dreaming of promising someone, Jue and not back his faith; His Majesty to promise, if the sunrise of the burning. Therefore, when you hear a word from the king, even though there is a slight distance, its will is not doubtful; the people who are in enmity, their hearts are not in danger. If this is the letter oracle carry on, the figure is not carried out, a table. I also to the situation Oracle Your Majesty's love, so that the Xiongnu's self-view is also, Gou Hu face and Rongzhuo, it thought to see the love of the Son of Heaven also, as if the weak son of the 遌 mother also. If this is love Oracle carry on, a table. I also Oracle Your Majesty's good, so that the hu people also see themselves, if the skill of the long and its work, a can be when the will of the Son of Heaven. If this is good oracle carry on, a table. Love the shape of the good people, good people skills, humane; letter for the big fuck, the emperor is also righteous. Hobby has real, has promised to be expected, ten deaths, he will be there. This is called the three tables."

Jia Yi's "letter", is "words must be faithful, actions must be fruitful"; the so-called "love", is love "hu man The so-called "love" is the love of "hu man" (Xiongnu) face appearance; and "good" is like its exquisite skills. He said: "love the appearance of people, good people's skills, humane," that is, "benevolence" performance. Among the three elements of faith, love, and goodness, "faith is the great manipulation", which is a manifestation of the emperor's keeping faith and righteousness. It can be seen that the basic idea throughout the "three tables" is the Confucian "war virtues".

Jia Yi said the "five baits"; one of them is to the embroidery and decorative bad its eyes, which is called "Xiongnu's coming, parents have been on the solid must be embroidered, the family less will be dressed in brocade, will be silver car five by five, the big carving and painting, driving four horses, carrying a green cover, from the number of riders, the Royal Samson ride, and even though the single in and out of it, not light to this. The first is to make the Xiongnu descendants have access to the silver car. So that the Xiongnu surrendered to get this and give the ear. A country heard of, see the people, and tell each other, everyone hope fortunate, think I can also get this, will be bad for their eyes." The second is to beautiful diced pork roast bad mouth, that is, the so-called "Xiongnu's envoys to the person, if the big drop also, the masses of people gathered also, on the will have to be called to give food. The meal was four or five sheng, beautiful diced meat sizzling, meat with acyl minced meat, square several feet in front, so that a person sitting here, the Hu people want to see the solid hundreds of people on the sidelines. The joy of those who got the gift, and laugh and rice, the flavor are all the taste and have not tasted also. So that those who come to enjoy this at all times. Those who heard and saw it in a country were envious and told each other, and the people who were molding their own, thinking that I would also get this when I came, would spoil their mouths." The third is to music and dance bad its eyes, that is, the so-called "the descendant of the Jie also, if the messenger to also, on the people must make some call guests. The knowledge that the Hu people want to see the people do not prohibit. Let the women Fu white ink black, embroidered clothes and serve their hall of twenty or thirty people, or thin or trap for its Hu play to phase meal. On the make the music house fortunately fake but music, blowing xiaojiao drums (brother call), pouring the prosaic face of the people more into the dancers and dancers, when they do. Less time to beat the drums, dancing their puppets. In the past, it was Rongle, hand in hand with Xuqiang on the guest after the woman successively support the solid more than ten people, so that the descendants may be able to get this and enjoy the ear. A country heard, see, xixu Xiang told, everyone is afraid of its later arrival, will use this to spoil its ear." Fourth, is to wealth and generous reward bad his abdomen, that is, the so-called "all descendants, His Majesty's call for honor, if so about to also. His Majesty must be rich, must make this have high halls and buildings, good kitchen, big grants, stables have horses, library has array of cars, slave girls, babies, animals. To make this a great tool, call the Hu guests, enjoy the Hu ambassador, on the fortunate to make the official help of the tools, fake music, so that this its residence Le Yu, granary King of the animals, are over its former king, consider out of its single Yu or when to give this and for the home ear. Xiongnu a country to pour their hearts and hope, everyone is afraid of its later arrival, will be this bad its belly." Fifth, is the generous treatment of Hu people aristocrats and their children, in order to bad its heart, that is, the so-called "in to surrender, on the top must be sometimes and some call for honor, patting and then get into the official. The Hu adults are difficult to kiss also, if on the Hu baby and the nobleman son good lovely, on the big dozens of people will be called, for this embroidered clothes good leisure, and out of the from, living is more to be. On that is to enjoy the Hu people also, the big frightened to also, the guest Hu make also, Lux warrior solid close service side, Hu baby get close service side, Hu nobleman more into get Zuo wine before, on is fortunate to defend this thin, so that to pay for the wine, the people of the time even. For leisure is out of the embroidered clothes, with a belt to serve the guest Yu, when to give it. On that is fortunate to pat Hu baby, pounded Thu of, teasing, is authorized to roast fortunate to eat, out of good clothes leisure, and since the Gan Gan. On the rise, Hu baby or before or after, Hu nobleman has been served wine, out of the clothes Peisui, nobleman and stood in front, so that a number of people to get this and live in the ear. A country heard, see, xixu and want, everyone is afraid of its later to also, will be this bad its heart."

Jia Yi's "five baits", bait, is the bait, are the content of the generous reward, that is, for the Xiongnu people, try to use various ways to satisfy their material desires and spiritual enjoyment, to achieve the "hold its ears, hold its eyes, hold its mouth, hold its belly, ... ...and draw their hearts, so that they will not come". Jia Yi believes that, as long as the implementation of the "three tables", "five baits", you can fight for the people of Xiongnu, isolate Shan Yu, and then subjugation, which is a very high strategic thinking. He said:

"Therefore, the three tables to Oracle, five bait is clear, the Xiongnu in the good and doubtful carry on; so that the single in the sleep is not tired of sleep, food is not sweet mouth, waving the sword and hostage bow and squatting dome of the corner of the hut, the left look at the right to think that all the hatred. His courtiers, although they want to go, if the tiger in the back; all want to come, fear or Xuan, this is the potential. Its nobleman to see Shan Yu, as if offending tigers and wolves; its south and return to Han, as if the weak son of a loving mother. Its people see the generals and officials, as if offending the enemy collation; southward and want to go Han, as if the water flowing down also. The Shan Yu will have no minister to make, no people to guard, the evil can not tie the neck to the forehead, please return to your majesty's righteousness! This is the virtue of war."

The content of the "virtue of war" mentioned by Jia Yi is the idea of "rule by virtue" and "rule by rites" advocated by Confucianism.

Thirdly, Jia Yi had great confidence in his "art of cicadas" and his strategy of "three tables" and "five baits", and he recommended himself to Emperor Wen of Han, willing to realize this plan in person. He was very confident in the strategy of "Three Tables" and "Five Bait". He said: "Your Majesty is interested, why don't you let me try to realize this? The Hu people were sickled by the small vassals in the ancient times, why would they dare to defend themselves like this? I was an official of the subordinate state to master Xiong Nu, because I was fortunate to carry out the plan of the minister, within half a year, Hu Tu lost his mouth; between a few holidays, Hu Tu tied his neck with grass, knee line Pelte the forehead, and asked to return to Your Majesty's righteousness, and the only thing is that Your Majesty is fortunate. And after the dismissal of the subordinate state of the official, I give to return to the ambush fields and huts, no more stagnant water the end of the court, then the loyal ministers of the will of the fast." ① Jia Yi worried about the country and the people's heart, the Emperor's loyalty to the Emperor of Han Wendi burned on the paper.

Jia Yi's strategy of "three tables" and "five baits" was often criticized as pedantic in the past. Ban Gu said in the Han Book - Jia Yi biography of praise: "and want to test the vassal state, Shi five bait three table to tie Shan Yu, its technique is certainly to sparse." Lu Xun in the "Outline of the History of Han Literature", comparing Jia Yi and Chao in the treatment of Xiongnu's different ideas also said: "However, compared to the two of the Xiongnu, it can be seen that Jia Sheng's words, is quite sparse, can not be compared with Chao's deep understanding of the Lun." ② But there are also people in history who affirmed Jia Yi's proposition in a positive way. For example, Cheng Yi in the Song Dynasty, when reading about this matter, said: "Jia Yi has five baits, said at that time, laughing at its in the sparse, today the court is making use of, so get a lot of time to rest." ③ Zhu Xi also agreed with Cheng Yi's statement, said: "Ichuan tasted, this dynasty is using this technique. The Khitan is clearly bought by the gold and silk. The same is true of the Jin captives today." ④ In Cheng Zhu's view, Jia Yi's statement of three tables and five baits was a tactic of wistfulness against the Xiongnu, which was not impossible to use. According to some scholars, "This kind of tactic is the same kind of seduction that is often used in war." ⑤ In essence, it was to satisfy the needs of the Xiongnu people with all kinds of material benefits and spiritual enjoyment under the banners of "faith", "love" and "goodness", so as to achieve the goal of dividing and disintegrating the hearts and minds of the Xiongnu people and conquering the Xiongnu people by peaceful means. The purpose of conquering the Xiongnu by peaceful means was to divide and disintegrate their internal hearts and minds. This was a far-sighted strategic thinking at that time.

Three, "war ethics" and "people-oriented" ideas

Jia Yi's strategy of governance is the idea of benevolent government. The core of the idea of benevolent government is to take the people as the basis, and only by adhering to the "people's basis" is the "great government" of the country. The importance of the people in political and social life, in the "New Book - Dazheng on" the opening paragraph has a generalized discussion:

Wen in the political also, the people are not not for this also. The state is the basis, the ruler is the basis, and the officials are the basis. Therefore, the state takes the people as the safety and danger, the ruler takes the people as the threat, the officials take the people as the noble and lowly. This is what is meant by the people are not for this also. Went to the government also, the people are not for life. The country thought of life, the king thought of life, officials thought of life. Therefore, the country to the people for the survival of the king to the people for the blind, officials to the people for the virtuous or unworthy. This is the so-called people are not for life. Hearing in the government, the people are not not for the work. Therefore, the country thought the work, the king thought the work, the officials thought the work. The country to the people for the rise and fall, the king to the people for the strong and weak, the officials to the people for the ability or not. This is the so-called people are not not for the work. Went to the government also, the people are not not for the force also. Therefore, the country thought the force, the king thought the force, the officials thought the force. Therefore, if the battle is won, the people want to win; if the attack is won, the people want to win; if the defense is saved, the people want to be saved. Therefore, the rate of the people and guard, and the people do not want to save, then there is no way to survive; therefore, the rate of the people and attack, the people do not want to get, then there is no way to get; therefore, the rate of the people and war, the people do not want to win, then there is no way to win. Therefore, the people of the people for its upper also, receive the enemy and happy, and then can not stop, the enemy will be horrified, the war from the victory also. The people of the upper also, receive and fear, will go, the war thus lost. Therefore, the disaster and the blessing, not purely in the sky also, must be in the people also. ...... The will of the people, can not be avoided.

In the "Dazheng Shang" chapter, on the importance of the people, in addition to this concentrated words of discussion, there are a number of times to talk about, such as: "Therefore, the people, the most lowly and can not be simplified, the most stupid and can not be deceived. Therefore, since ancient times, and the people for collusion, there are late and contrary, and the people will win." "The people, only the king has it, for the human ministers to help the king to manage it. Therefore, the person who is a minister of the people, to rich and happy people as a merit, to poor and bitter people as a crime. Therefore, the ruler is wise to know the wisdom of the people, and the official is loyal to love the people." "The people, the foundation of the world, cannot be deceived. Anyone who resides in a superior position, Jane Shi suffering the people, is called stupid; respect for the people worried about the people, is called wisdom." "Therefore, the people of the people, the great clan, the people must not be afraid. Therefore, the people of the people, much power and not suitable (enemy) also." "He who is an enemy of the people, the people will win." "Therefore, the soldiers and the people, the state of the tree and the vassals of this also, not to be light." And so on. ①

Here, Jia Yi uses the concepts of "essence," "destiny," "merit," and "strength" to illustrate the position and role of the people in history. He thinks that "essence" is the root, and the people are the foundation of the state; "life" is life, and the people are the life of the state; "merit" is efficacy, and in order to improve the efficacy of governing the state, we must rely on the people; "force" is the power of the people; and "power" is the power of the people. Power" is strength, and the people are the strength of the country. He clearly illustrated the truth that the people are the foundation of the state, so the people can constrain the destiny of the state and determine the rise and fall of the state, as well as its strength and weakness.

Because the people are the foundation of the state, the monarch must love the people, saying, "A ruler honors the people and loves the people to the end of his life," and "There is no virtue higher than the love of the people." ② Jia Yi, in the New Book's "Oracle Sincerity" and "Lian Yu", cited many historical stories of the pre-Qin dynasties to illustrate that those who practiced virtue and loved the people gained the support of the people and consolidated their rule; on the other hand, those who turned their backs on righteousness and wreaked havoc on the people came to a shameful end. Only by adhering to the way of loving the people, worrying about the people's worries, and enjoying the people's happiness, can the monarch get reliable defenders.

To love the people, we must benefit the people, give the people visible benefits and benefits, so that the people's material interests can be satisfied. Jia Yi quoted Emperor ?a?rul as saying, "Politics is no higher than benefiting the people." He also quoted Da Yu as saying, "If the people have nothing to eat, then I cannot make it happen; if the achievements are not favorable to the people, then I cannot persuade them to do so." How can we do to benefit the people, the most crucial one is to enrich the people, he quoted the words of King Cheng of Zhou in the "Xiu Zheng Shi Shi 下"(Xiu Zheng Shi 下), "I have heard that the saints in the upper position make the people rich and live a long life." Only when the people are made rich can the position of the monarch be consolidated.

Jia Yi's "war of virtue" against the Xiong Nu, mentioned above, was based on the idea of the people. His "Art of Cicada", "Three Tables", and "Five Bait" focused on one point, which was to win over the Xiongnu people, give them material benefits and spiritual enjoyment, and treat them like the Han Chinese people, so that they would be treated like the Han Chinese people. To treat the Xiongnu people like the Han people, to separate the Xiongnu people from Shan Yu, to isolate Shan Yu, and to achieve the purpose of tranquillizing the border and developing production. More than two thousand years ago, Jia Yi had such a high strategic thinking, is rare, we should draw on, learn and inherit.