Yue Fei, a name that has resounded through the ages, carries many national integrity and patriotic feelings. However, after his heroic death, what kind of grievances and slander did he encounter? From the murder of Yue Fei in the eleventh year of Shaoxing (1141) to the final completion of the snow in the first year of Baoqing (1225), how many twists and turns and waves have occurred in the long years of 84 years? Why did it take 21 years to rehabilitate, but 84 years to complete Zhaoxue? In this long process of rehabilitation, who played a key role?
On December 29, the eleventh year of Shaoxing (1141), in the prison of Dali Temple in Lin'an City, a shocking case came to an end. Yue Fei, the former anti-gold hero, was executed by Qin Hui on "trumped-up" charges without a formal trial. This day was not only the end of Yue Fei's life, but also a sign of the submission of the Southern Song Dynasty court to the Jin State.
Yue Fei's death, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, set off huge waves in the entire Southern Song Dynasty society. When the news spread, the cry in Lin'an City shook the sky. In the streets and alleys, people wept bitterly and were indignant at the tragic death of this national hero. Lu You, a patriotic poet of the Southern Song Dynasty, vividly described the scene at that time in his poems: "Zhang Deyuan punished Fan Qiong in Jiankang Prison, and everyone was inspired; Qin Huizhi killed Yue Fei in Lin'an Prison, and everyone was in tears. Right and wrong are like that! This contrast clearly reflects the aspirations of the people.
However, under the high-pressure policy of the imperial court, it became a dangerous thing to publicly mourn Yue Fei. But this does not stop people from admiring and remembering Yue Fei. In Lin'an, there was a righteous man named Kui Shun, who risked his life to secretly carry Yue Fei's body out of the Dali Temple prison, climbed over the city wall, and buried it near the Jiuqu Cong Temple, and named it "Jia Yiren's Tomb" to hide people's eyes and ears. This move not only reflects the people's respect for Yue Fei, but also lays the groundwork for Yue Fei's rehabilitation in the future.
Among the people, people began to commemorate Yue Fei in various obscure ways. The children of officers and soldiers stationed in Xixi Village, Lin'an Prefecture, in the name of "Zigu God Manifestation", imitated Yue Fei's handwriting and wrote a quatrain: "After the twenty autumns of the Central Plains, the merit is too much and the lack is not fully paid; Who is the reason why Dan's heart is like a stone? There are empty spirits all over Kyushu! This poem not only expresses sorrow for Yue Fei, but also implies an accusation of injustice in the imperial court.
Not only Lin'an, but also people all over the country commemorated Yue Fei in various ways and denounced Qin Hui. In Jiankang, people wrote poems to praise Yue Fei and denounce Qin Hui through the way of "inviting immortals": "Strong gold disturbs me to raise troops, and the bitterness in the bloody war is not peaceful; The building has been obliquely supported by a tree, and the long feet are mistaken! This way of conveying public opinion through the gods became an important channel for the people to express their political demands at that time.
However, these mourning activities soon attracted Qin Hui's attention. He ordered severe repression, exile and even death of the participants. But instead of extinguishing the flames of civil mourning, this high-pressure policy has led it underground and continued in a more subtle form.
In Ezhou, Yue Fei's old ministry is still concerned about the old master. Nine of the ten families hung Yue Fei's portrait in their homes and worshipped at dawn and dusk. Although this kind of behavior is risky, it reflects the loyalty and admiration of the military and civilians for Yue Fei.
Yue Fei's friend Han Shizhong, three months after Yue Fei was killed, established a pavilion called "Cuiwei Pavilion" on the mountainside of Lingyin Feilaifeng in Hangzhou, named after Yue Fei's poem. This pavilion is not only a commemoration of Yue Fei, but also a silent protest against the framed Zhongliang by those in power.
With the passage of time, Yue Fei's death has spawned many legends among the folk. Every time it rained on Chinese New Year's Eve, there were rumors in Jiangsu and Zhejiang that it was the loyal minister Yue Fei who was killed on Chinese New Year's Eve, and even God cried bitterly for his unjust death. Although these legends do not conform to historical facts, they vividly reflect the people's sympathy for Yue Fei and hatred for Qin Hui.
The road to redress in Yue Fei's unjust case is like sailing against the current, and it is difficult. From the murder of Yue Fei in the eleventh year of Shaoxing (1141) to the rehabilitation of Xiaozong in the second year of Longxing (1164), the government and the opposition have experienced a difficult struggle in the past 20 years.
During Qin Hui's reign, the slander and suppression of Yue Fei reached its peak. In order to consolidate his position, Qin Hui not only vigorously purged dissidents within the imperial court, but also severely cracked down on any commemoration of Yue Fei among the people. He ordered Yue Fei's death sentence to be printed on a list and published throughout the country, in an attempt to fundamentally smear Yue Fei's image.
However, Qin Hui's high-pressure policy did not completely suppress the people's admiration for Yue Fei. People began to commemorate the national hero in a more subtle way. On the shore of the West Lake in Hangzhou, someone secretly carved poems on the stone in the place where Yue Fei frequented before his death, alluding to Yue Fei with "Feilai Peak". Although these stone carvings do not directly mention Yue Fei's name, anyone with a discerning eye can see the meaning.
In literati circles, it became a trend to sing the praises of Yue Fei in an obscure way. The famous poet Lu You once wrote the poem "A strong man dies and his confidant, and he sings a long song with tears" to express his sorrow for Yue Fei. Although these poems do not dare to call Yue Fei by his name, they all reveal their admiration for heroes and dissatisfaction with the mediocre regime.
Folk commemorative activities are also carried out in various forms. In Yue Fei's hometown of Tangyin, the local people privately circulated Yue Fei's deeds and compiled them into dramas to perform at the temple fair. Although these dramas do not dare to directly describe Yue Fei's life, they often use the loyal ministers and martyrs in history as the theme, using the past as a metaphor for the present, and placing the memory of Yue Fei.
In the twenty-fifth year of Shaoxing (1155), Qin Hui died of illness. This was supposed to be a good opportunity for Yue Fei's rehabilitation, but Gaozong appointed Wan Qiao, who was on the same hill as Qin Hui, as the prime minister. After Wan Qiwei took office, he continued to obstruct Yue Fei's rehabilitation. He said to Gaozong: "If you take care of peace, once you record it, you will be suspicious of the world's heart and unreachable. "It means that Jin Guo has just reconciled with us, and if Yue Fei is rehabilitated at this time, I am afraid that it will arouse the suspicion of the people of the world, and we must not act rashly.
Despite this, the call for Yue Fei's rehabilitation is getting louder and louder. In the summer of the thirty-first year of Shaoxing (1161), Wang Che went to Ezhou to inspect in the imperial history, and Yue Fei's old subordinates complained to him about Yue Fei's grievances. Wang Che expressed his willingness to report the matter to the court on the spot, causing the officers and soldiers present to "cry like thunder". This incident shows that even under the high-pressure policy, Yue Fei's old ministry remained loyal to him and determined to rehabilitate him.
However, Wang's efforts did not immediately change the situation. Gaozong's attitude towards Yue Fei's case has always been ambiguous, and he is unwilling to completely deny what Qin Hui has done, and he has to face the growing call for rehabilitation. This contradictory attitude made Yue Fei's road to rehabilitation difficult.
During this period, some brave officials began to avenge Yue Fei within the imperial court. As Zhang Jun mentioned in the above book: "Yue Fei's injustice is known to the world", which directly challenged the official statement of the imperial court. Although these suggestions did not have an immediate effect, they laid the groundwork for future rehabilitation.
With the passage of time, the people's admiration for Yue Fei became stronger and stronger. In Hangzhou, people began to secretly build Yue Fei's tomb by the West Lake, although the scale is not large, but it has become an important place for people to mourn Yue Fei. Every year during the Qingming Festival, many people take the risk to come to worship to express their respect for this national hero.
It was not until the first year of Longxing (1163) that Xiaozong ascended the throne that the situation began to take a turn for the better. Soon after Xiaozong ascended the throne, he began to investigate the Yue Fei case. He ordered people to secretly collect relevant evidence to prepare for the eventual rehabilitation. This move marks the dawn of Yue Fei's rehabilitation.
In the second year of Longxing (1164), Xiaozong officially ordered Yue Fei to be rehabilitated, which marked that Yue Fei's case finally ushered in a turning point. However, this rehabilitation was not complete, it only restored Yue Fei's official position and title, and did not completely clarify his grievances. This half-assembled rehabilitation reflected the complicated political situation at the time and the cautious attitude of Xiaozong.
When Hyojong ordered rehabilitation, he took a compromise approach. On the one hand, he restored Yue Fei's official position and title, but on the other hand, he did not hold Qin Hui and others responsible. Although this practice has calmed the discontent of the people to a certain extent, it has also sparked new controversies.
After being rehabilitated, the imperial court began to restore Yue Fei's tomb. In the first year of the main road (1165), on the Qixia Ridge on the bank of the West Lake in Hangzhou, a new Yue Fei tomb was built. Although the scale of this tomb is small, it has become an important place for people to commemorate Yue Fei. Every year during the Qingming Festival, there is an endless stream of people who come to worship, reflecting that the people's admiration for Yue Fei has never diminished.
However, the construction of Yue Fei's tomb was not all smooth sailing. It is rumored that when excavating Yue Fei's old tomb, Yue Fei's bones were found intact, and he could even smell a fragrance. This rumor quickly spread among the people, and people regarded it as a symbol of Yue Fei's loyalty. Although this rumor lacks historical evidence, it reflects the people's reverence for Yue Fei.
In literati circles, poems praising Yue Fei began to circulate publicly. The famous poet Lu You wrote a number of poems in memory of Yue Fei during this period, such as "A strong man dies of a confidant, and a long song is stained with tears". These poems not only express admiration for Yue Fei, but also reflect the literati's dissatisfaction with the current political situation.
At the same time, the imperial court also began to revise Yue Fei's biography. In the new biography, Yue Fei is described as a loyal and patriotic general, rather than a sinner who "rebelled". This change in the official narrative marks the initial rehabilitation of Yue Fei's image at the official level.
However, this rehabilitation did not completely clarify Yue Fei's grievances. In the official documents, there are still some records that are unfavorable to Yue Fei. For example, in the "History of the Song Dynasty", although Yue Fei's merits are affirmed, the saying that "Yue Fei deserves death for his crimes" is still retained. This contradictory record reflects the hesitation and compromise of the imperial court in handling Yue Fei's case at that time.
Among the people, the worship of Yue Fei gradually evolved into a belief. In Hangzhou, Kaifeng and other places, temples dedicated to Yue Fei began to appear. Although these temples are small in scale, they have become important places for people to express their patriotic feelings. In these temples, Yue Fei was portrayed as the embodiment of loyalty and righteousness, and became the spiritual sustenance in people's hearts.
In the eighth year of the dry road (1172), the imperial court ordered a monument to be erected in front of Yue Fei's tomb. This inscription, written by the famous literati Wang Shipeng, comprehensively expounds Yue Fei's life deeds and exploits. The foothold of the inscription is the word "loyalty", which portrays Yue Fei as a loyal and patriotic hero. The erection of this inscription marks that Yue Fei's image has been further affirmed at the official level.
However, there are still many deficiencies in this rehabilitation. First of all, the imperial court did not hold Qin Hui and others responsible, which still cast a shadow on the truth of Yue Fei's case. Second, the imperial court still had reservations about Yue Fei's military claims. Criticism of Yue Fei's "belligerence" can still be seen in official documents. This contradictory attitude reflected the vacillation of the imperial court in its policy toward Jin at that time.
Nevertheless, the partial rehabilitation of the Hyojong period is still significant. It not only restored Yue Fei's reputation to a certain extent, but also laid the foundation for his later complete rehabilitation. More importantly, this rehabilitation sent an important signal: the imperial court began to reassess Yue Fei's case, which provided the possibility for further clarification of grievances later.
During the period of filial piety, although Yue Fei was partially rehabilitated, the truth of his case has not yet been fully revealed. This state of affairs lasted until the Ningzong period, when it was finally completely clarified. This long process of rehabilitation not only reflects the complexity of the political situation in the Southern Song Dynasty, but also reflects the difficulty of revealing the historical truth.
After Ning Zong ascended the throne, the rehabilitation of Yue Fei's case entered a new stage. During this period, the imperial court not only completely clarified Yue Fei's grievances, but also severely punished Qin Hui and others, marking that Yue Fei's case had finally been completely rehabilitated.
In the first year of Qingyuan (1195), Ning Zong ordered a retrial of Yue Fei's case. The trial was presided over by the then Prime Minister Han Yanxuan, who organized a special investigation team to find relevant evidence in depth. During the investigation, Han Yanxuan discovered many important documents that had been hidden, including the memoirs and military newspapers that Yue Fei had submitted to the imperial court during his lifetime. These documents clearly show that Yue Fei not only did not rebel, but always served the country loyally.
During the investigation, an elderly woman named Wang provided important clues. She was the wife of the jailer who was in charge of Yue Fei's care. She revealed to the investigation team that in order to frame Yue Fei, Qin Hui had ordered someone to poison Yue Fei's food, in an attempt to create the illusion that Yue Fei committed suicide in fear of crime. However, Yue Fei saw through this conspiracy and insisted on a hunger strike for three days, and was finally secretly killed by Qin Hui's faction. This testimony provided key evidence for exposing Qin Hui's crimes.
As the investigation deepened, there was more and more evidence that Qin Hui and others framed Yue Fei. In the second year of Qingyuan (1196), Ningzong held a court meeting and announced the results of the investigation. At the meeting, Han Yanxuan elaborated on the truth of Yue Fei's case and exposed the various crimes of Qin Hui and others. After hearing this, the courtiers were all indignant and asked for severe punishment of Qin Hui and others.
Ning Zong adopted the courtier's suggestion and ordered Yue Fei's case to be completely rehabilitated. He not only restored Yue Fei's official position and title, but also posthumously presented Yue Fei as the Taishi and King Wuhui. At the same time, Ning Zong also ordered a monument to be erected in front of Yue Fei's tomb, and the inscription was written by the famous writer Lu Zuqian. This inscription comprehensively expounds Yue Fei's life deeds and exploits, and portrays Yue Fei as a national hero who is loyal to the monarch and patriotism and loyal to the country.
At the same time, Ning Zong also ordered the punishment of Qin Hui and others. He ordered the bones of Qin Hui and his wife Wang to be dug up, exposed to the sun in the market for three days, and then burned to ashes and scattered in the river. Qin Hui's descendants were also demoted to concubines and were never allowed to enter the ranks. This kind of severe punishment is not only a punishment for Qin Hui's crimes, but also a consolation for Yue Fei.
The complete rehabilitation of Yue Fei's case has aroused tremendous repercussions among the people. In Hangzhou, people spontaneously organized grand sacrificial activities to express their admiration for Yue Fei. In front of Yue Fei's tomb, people placed a large number of offerings and burned countless incense candles. Some people even knelt down in front of Yue Fei's tomb, crying bitterly, and the scene was extremely touching.
In literati circles, poems praising Yue Fei have sprung up. The famous poet Lu You wrote the famous sentence "Thirty merits, fame, dust and earth, eight thousand miles of clouds and moons" during this period, expressing his infinite admiration for Yue Fei. These poems not only praised Yue Fei's exploits, but also became important materials for later generations to understand Yue Fei.
The rehabilitation of Yue Fei's case also triggered a re-examination of other unjust cases by the imperial court. Ning Zong ordered a re-investigation of a group of loyal ministers who had been wronged during Qin Hui's reign, such as Zhang Jun, Wang Jun and others. These loyal ministers have also been rehabilitated to varying degrees, demonstrating Ning Zong's determination to uphold justice.
In the fourth year of Qingyuan (1198), Ning Zong ordered the construction of an ancestral hall in front of Yue Fei's tomb. This ancestral hall is large in scale and magnificent, and has become an important place for people to commemorate Yue Fei. In the ancestral hall, not only the statue of Yue Fei is enshrined, but also a plaque recording Yue Fei's deeds is hung. Every year during the Qingming Festival, a grand festival is held here, attracting a large number of people to come to worship.
The complete rehabilitation of Yue Fei's case is not only a justification of a hero, but also a kind of maintenance of historical justice. It sends an important message to the world: justice will be done, even under the oppression of the powerful. This rehabilitation also became an important turning point in the history of the Southern Song Dynasty, which marked the complete defeat of the capitulation faction represented by Qin Hui, and also laid the ideological foundation for the anti-Jin struggle in the later Southern Song Dynasty.
However, the rehabilitation of Yue Fei's case is not the end of history. In the years that followed, Yue Fei's image was constantly beautified and deified, and gradually became a symbol of the spirit of the Chinese nation. Although this process deviates from the historical truth to a certain extent, it reflects the inheritance and development of the national spirit.
The rehabilitation of Yue Fei's case is not only a clarification of a historical case, but also has a profound impact on the Southern Song Dynasty and even the entire history of China. This influence is reflected in many aspects such as politics, military affairs, and culture, and has become an important topic for later generations to study the history of the Southern Song Dynasty.
At the political level, the rehabilitation of Yue Fei marked a shift in the Southern Song court's anti-Jin policy. During the Gaozong period, the power of the main peace faction represented by Qin Hui gradually declined, and the voice of the main battle faction began to be taken seriously. In the first year of Jiading (1208), the Southern Song Dynasty court officially announced the resumption of Yue Fei's policy of "recovering the Central Plains", a decision that directly affected the foreign strategy of the late Southern Song Dynasty.
This shift in policy is also embodied in the military. In the third year of Jiading (1210), the Southern Song Dynasty army launched a series of attacks on the Jin State in the Jianghuai region, and achieved certain results. Although these military operations were small in scale, they showed the attitude of the Southern Song court to regain its determination to resist Jin. In these military operations, Yue Yun, Yue Yi and others, the descendants of the Yue family's army, played an important role, and their performance was regarded as a continuation of Yue Fei's spirit.
The rehabilitation of Yue Fei also had a profound impact on the cultural atmosphere of the Southern Song Dynasty. In terms of literary creation, a large number of poems and operas with Yue Fei as the theme have emerged. The famous poet Xin Qiji wrote a large number of poems praising Yue Fei during this period, such as "Through the ages, heroes are nowhere to be found, and Sun Zhong is seeking a place". These works not only praised Yue Fei's exploits, but also became an important source for later generations to understand the mentality of the literati in the Southern Song Dynasty.
In the folk, Yue Fei's image was gradually deified. In the sixth year of Jiading (1213), a peculiar phenomenon appeared on the shore of the West Lake in Hangzhou: some people claimed to have seen the phantom of Yue Fei on the lake. The news spread quickly and sparked a heated discussion among the people. Although this is most likely just a rumor, it reflects that the folk worship of Yue Fei has reached a level that borders on religious belief.
The rehabilitation of Yue Fei also affected the education system in the Southern Song Dynasty. In the eighth year of Jiading (1215), the imperial court ordered the establishment of "Zhongyi Hall" in schools across the country, which was specially used to publicize the deeds of Yue Fei and other loyal ministers. This move not only increased Yue Fei's popularity among the people, but also had a profound impact on the formation of values of the younger generation.
At the legal level, the rehabilitation of Yue Fei's case prompted the imperial court to carry out certain reforms of the judicial system. In the tenth year of Jiading (1217), Ning Zong ordered the establishment of a "redress of grievances" system, which was specially responsible for the trial of difficult cases. The establishment of this system has reduced the occurrence of unjust, false and wrongly decided cases to a certain extent, and is regarded as a major progress in the judicial system of the Southern Song Dynasty.
The rehabilitation of Yue Fei also had an impact on local governance in the Southern Song Dynasty. In places where Yue Fei was once stationed, such as Xiangyang and Yuncheng, local officials followed Yue Fei's methods of administering the army, strengthened military discipline, and improved combat effectiveness. These measures improved the local defense capability to a certain extent and provided a guarantee for the long-term survival of the Southern Song Dynasty.
In the field of art, a large number of paintings and sculptures with Yue Fei as the theme appeared. In the twelfth year of Jiading (1219), the famous painter Liu Songnian created "Yue Fei Shooting Willows", which vividly depicts the scene of Yue Fei's archery practice in his youth. This painting not only has high artistic value, but also has become an important material for future generations to understand Yue Fei's life.
The rehabilitation of Yue Fei also affected the foreign policy of the Southern Song Dynasty. The imperial court began to reassess its relations with the Jin state and adopted a more assertive attitude. This change in attitude was particularly evident in a diplomatic negotiation in the fifteenth year of Jiading (1222). In this negotiation, the envoy of the Southern Song Dynasty quoted Yue Fei's words and resolutely rejected the unreasonable demands of the Jin State, showing an unprecedented hardline attitude.
In terms of folk beliefs, Yue Fei was gradually deified as the god of war. In the Jiangnan area, there are many temples dedicated to Yue Fei. These temples are not only places for people to express their patriotic feelings, but also become an important carrier of the national spirit. Whenever there was a war, people would go to these temples to pray, hoping to be protected by Yue Fei.
The rehabilitation of Yue Fei's case also influenced the historiographical research of later generations. The "History of the Song Dynasty" compiled during the Ningzong period underwent a fundamental change in the evaluation of Yue Fei, and he was listed as the first of the loyal ministers. This evaluation provided an important reference for later historians to study Yue Fei, and also influenced the overall understanding of the history of the Southern Song Dynasty in later generations.
In general, the rehabilitation of Yue Fei's case is not only a clarification of a historical case, but also a profound change in the political, military, cultural and other fields of the Southern Song Dynasty. It not only changed the political landscape of the Southern Song Dynasty, but also profoundly affected the development process of Chinese history. This influence has continued to this day, and Yue Fei's image has become an important symbol of the Chinese national spirit.