Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty has different opinions on this.
Reading Historical Records of Xiaowu, you will be full of doubts about the life of Liu Che, the Emperor of the Han Dynasty. The whole story is about him cruising to worship ghosts and gods, but he doesn't seem to have done anything serious. This is probably because Sima Qian was castrated by Liang Wudi in order to defend Li Ling's surrender to Xiongnu, and he deliberately ignored or dispersed his literary martial arts in the biographies of other courtiers. However, the evaluation of Liu Che in history is often mixed.
For example, after describing the deeds of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Ban Gu, a historian of the Eastern Han Dynasty, said: "If the talents of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty are average, it is impossible to save the people without changing the courtesy of the landscape, although it is said in the poetry book!" It means that there are only so many ancient sages praised in The Book of Songs and The Book of History, which can be said to be the martial arts of Emperor Wu. This kind of evaluation often focuses on his achievements such as four-sided expedition, territorial expansion and national prestige promotion.
However, a thousand years later, after Sima Guang recited Ban Gu Zan Yue, there came another passage "Minister Guang Yue", which was mostly derogatory: "Filial piety is extravagant and extravagant, and the palace is extravagant, and foreign affairs are four foreigners, and the people are fascinated and become thieves. There are very few people who are different from Qin Shihuang. " Obviously, Sima Guang's evaluation of Qin Shihuang is negative, but in his eyes, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty is no different from Qin Shihuang. This kind of evaluation often focuses on his belligerence, "luxury at home and luxury at home", and the result is "the world is cold and the financial resources are exhausted"
However, in employing people, most of them are positive comments, and Sima Guang and Ban Gu have similar opinions. Sima Guang wrote after recounting the death of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty: "The emperor is clever and decisive, good at employing people, and his actions are without false loans", which can be described as a final decision. Ban Gu has long been praised: "Filial piety has been established, a hundred schools of thought contend, and outstanding achievements have been made. The Six Classics are displayed, so I seek advice from the sea, praise its cleverness, and make contributions to it."
Of course, in Sima Guang's view, there is no shortage of talents in the world. The key lies in what you want to do and what kind of talents will be used by you. He wrote: "Emperor Wudi has made great contributions to the four barbarians, and those who died bravely were all over the court, and they were all satisfied. After that, the people attached importance to agriculture, and Zhao Guozhi taught the people to work hard, and the people also benefited from it. This gentleman's body is very interesting. Scholars should respond and sincerely let the amount of Emperor Wu and the three kings (Yu Xia, Shang Tang and Zhou Wenwang) promote the rule of Shang and Zhou Dynasties. There are no ministers of three generations! " The implication is that governing the country generally determines the strategy of employing people. If the overall focus of governing the country is on benefiting the people, the prosperity of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties can be revived and a large number of corresponding auxiliary talents emerge, so much the better.
It is a fact that Emperor Wudi changed his thought of governing the country, and it is also a fact that military commanders and civil servants used it, but the premise is that Emperor Wudi is good at appointing talents. If you don't make good use of people, you will be empty and can't do your best. No matter how good the country is, it will be finished in three years like Qin Ershi and Hu Hai, and it won't take long.
Absorb/attract all available talents
In fact, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty started his career by recruiting talented people. In the first month of14 BC1year, Liu Che was in office at the age of 16. In the winter of the following year, in October, I wrote a letter "To a virtuous and upright person who speaks frankly and remonstrates extremely", and personally wrote the title "How to govern Taoism in ancient and modern times". In fact, today, this is in the same year, because the ancient Gregorian calendar year began in winter. It was also during the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty that the new moon was revised in the summer of 104 BC. He ordered Gong and Sima Qian to draw up the calendar of the Han Dynasty, which started in the first month of each year and continues to this day.
It is an atmosphere of governing the country to recruit talented people to open a new bureau of governing the country.
At that time, there were more than 100 people taking the exam, among whom Dong Zhongshu, a Guang Chuan native, wrote a long answer sheet, which was appreciated by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty and was appointed as Jiangdu Xiang. There is also a discussion on the way of employing people, which has a potential impact on Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.
Dong Zhongshu criticized the disadvantages of the times in his "Policy": "The husband and officials are mostly from doctors, doctors and officials, but the rich officials are not necessarily virtuous." "It takes time to get expensive, and it will take a long time to become an official." In today's words, most officials are the second generation and the second generation. How can we choose talented people? At the same time, you can get rich and get promoted by seniority, which will obviously block the benign road.
Dong Zhongshu suggested: Let officials such as Liehou, county magistrate, and 2,000 stone officials select talents from their own officials and the people they manage, and send two people to the court every year to "examine the ability of ministers" and "reward those who make contributions with talents; Those who are corrupt and unscrupulous will be punished. " Taking recommending talents as an important basis for inspecting officials is actually an institutionalized measure to recommend talents. What if the talent is recommended? "If you don't take the sun and the moon as merits, you will do your best, award officials with materials, record yourself with virtue, and be ashamed of yourself, and you will be different!" It means that seniority is not valued, but practical ability is emphasized, and appointments are made according to the size and character of talents. This idea of employing people was advanced at that time and valuable even today.
In fact, when Emperor Wudi ascended the throne, he also selected "literary talents" all over the country for reuse. At that time, many people wrote letters to discuss the gains and losses of national politics, and thousands of people promoted themselves and recommended themselves. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty selected outstanding talents from them for reuse. For example, Zhu Maichen, Sima Xiangru, Dong Fangshuo, etc. He became the left and right confidant of Emperor Wu. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty often asked them to debate the gains and losses of state affairs with court ministers, which was repeatedly refuted. Of course, these talents are entertaining, and Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty may not really pay attention to them. "Even if you reward them, you will never do anything." This shows that Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was very aware of the weight of talents. Dong Fangshuo often takes the opportunity to speak out, which has played a certain beneficial role in national affairs.
Recognize Ji' an
Besides Dong Zhongshu, the appointment of Ji An also reflected the wisdom of Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty. In 135 BC, Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty promoted and appointed Ji An, the prefect of the East China Sea, as the country's Lord and Taishi, with the same status as Jiuqing. Previously, Ji An focused on selecting talents in the East China Sea, and then let go of the appointment. He only arranges and inspects major government affairs and does not ask for details. He was ill at home for more than a year, but Donghai County managed it well, and the people praised him. Hearing this, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty used Ji An. Before that, a fire in Hanoi county destroyed more than 1000 houses, and Emperor Wu sent him to inspect them. So, Ji An ordered officials to distribute the grain stored in the official warehouse to help the poor, and he repented his sins when he returned. But Emperor Wudi appreciated him very much and pardoned him.
When Emperor Wu appointed Ji An, he paid attention to the reputation of talents, which belongs to the category of "all Chinese are virtuous". At the same time, he also paid attention to the loyalty and courage of talents and personally inspected them. There is probably nothing to lose by employing people like this. However, Ji An is not perfect. Historically, Ji An was disdainful, criticized people face to face and could not tolerate other people's mistakes. On one occasion, he went straight up to embarrass Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty. However, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty finally endured it, which was indeed heroic. Everything is based on national affairs, and he didn't choose it out of personal anger.
At that time, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was recruiting talents and saying what I wanted. Ji An replied: "Your Majesty wants benevolent government outside and benevolent government inside. Why do you want to treat Tang Yu?" It means hiding a lot of desires and pretending to be benevolent, so it is difficult to achieve the situation of ruling the world like Tang Yao and Yu Shun. This is simply not to save face for others. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was silent, then flew into a rage, and then ended the meeting with an ugly face. Back in the inner palace, he also said to the attendants: Ji An's simplicity and faithfulness are too much! However, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty did not punish Ji An after all.
At that time, a minister criticized Ji An, and Ji An said, "Did the emperor set up a minister to help rectify the situation just to flatter him and put the monarch in an unkind and unfair position?" ? Besides, since I am already in the position of minister, if I only want to take care of my own life, it will bring shame to the court, then how can I get it! Ji An is indeed a loyal minister, and advice is most unpleasant to the ear. Many people in ancient and modern times take pains to listen to it, but it will be soon after listening. Only talented people have such a generous mind and can tolerate words of loyalty. Although they are angry for a while, they will not increase any accountability.
In fact, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty always cared about Ji An. Ji An was very ill, and when the three-month sick holiday approached, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty granted many special extensions of sick leave. Later, when he was seriously ill, Zhu Zhuang asked for leave for him, and Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty asked Zhu Zhuang about Ji An. Zhu Zhuang said: There is no talent beyond ordinary people to make him an official. But when it comes to letting him assist the young monarch, he will unswervingly safeguard his ancestral business. Someone lured him with huge profits, and he wouldn't take refuge. The monarch will drive him away severely, he will not leave, and no one can change his loyalty. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty said: "In ancient times, the ministers of the country were as dark as the sky, so close!" Emperor Wu's approval of Ji An is also to the point.
In BC 134, Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty ordered all counties and townships to inspect Lian Xiao for the first time, which is said to be an action adopted by Dong Zhongshu.
On the whole, in the past few years, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty only paid attention to the strategy of governing the country with talents, and his talents were not fully displayed. It's just an interpretation of history, putting the current situation in front of him, making decisions by him, and Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty took advantage of the situation, which opened the prosperous era of the Han Dynasty and brought forth many talented people.