In ancient China, exile was a common punishment that deported criminals to remote and inhospitable places. This punishment was incorporated into the national legal system from the Sui Dynasty and continued until the end of the Qing Dynasty. However, it is incomprehensible that the arduous task of escorting female prisoners to the penal colony has become a sweet spot for the officials. Why are these officials so keen on this errand? Is it simply to escape from the constraints of daily work, or is there something else going on? Let's step into history and unravel this seemingly contradictory but seductive mystery.
Millennia of Exile: The Evolution of Punishment and the Changing Times
Exile, a word that sounds a little unfamiliar, actually has a lot of history in China. Its history can be traced back to the pre-Qin period, when it was not called "exile", but "exile".
During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, in order to consolidate their rule, princes of various countries would often drive disobedient ministers or people who threatened their status to remote areas. This practice is the prototype of exile.
In the Qin Dynasty, after the First Emperor unified the Six Kingdoms, in order to strengthen his control over the border areas, he began to relocate prisoners and civilians to the border areas on a large scale. This approach not only solves the population pressure in the Central Plains, but also strengthens the defense capability of the border areas, which can be described as killing two birds with one stone.
During the Han Dynasty, the exile system was further improved. At that time, there was a punishment called "Zhan Shu", which was to send prisoners to the frontier to serve as soldiers. This punishment not only punished the prisoners, but also solved the problem of insufficient military resources in the border areas, which can really be described as the wisdom of the ancient government.
During the Sui Dynasty, exile was formally incorporated into the country's legal system. From then on, exile became the second most severe punishment after the death penalty. During the Tang Dynasty, the exile system was more systematic, divided into two types: "flow" and "migration".
"Flow" refers to the dispatch of prisoners to places far from their hometowns, while "migration" refers to the relocation of prisoners to closer places. The difference between these two types of punishment is as severe as the modern prison sentence and supervision.
During the Song Dynasty, the exile system developed further. At that time, the places of exile were mainly concentrated in Lingnan and Guizhou. These places have a harsh climate and a harsh environment, and the survival of those who are exiled there is in question.
In the Ming and Qing dynasties, the exile system reached its heyday. During the Ming Dynasty, the places of exile were mainly concentrated in Yunnan, Guizhou and other places. The Qing Dynasty expanded its penal colony to Xinjiang, Northeast China and other places.
These places are located on the frontier and in harsh conditions, and those who are exiled there have to endure not only physical torture, but also mental suffering. Leaving one's hometown and dying in a foreign country was worse than death for the ancients.
Speaking of penal colonies, it's interesting. The ancient penal colony was not chosen randomly. They all have one thing in common: remote, inhospitable, and harsh environments.
For example, the Fangling area in Hubei Province, near the current Shennongjia. Although this place is rich in products, it is isolated from the outside world due to high mountains and dense forests. Lü Buwei and Chang Yu of the Qin Dynasty were exiled here.
Hainan Island, for example, is now a holiday destination, but in ancient times it was a remote and wild place. The Han Chinese were exiled here, which inadvertently contributed to the development of Hainan culture.
There is also the miasma river near Chaozhou, where the miasma is heavy, and there are many mosquitoes and poisonous insects, and many prisoners have arrived here, but they have not been able to adapt to it.
The most bitter is Ningguta, the northernmost part of the continent, cold and dry, with almost no grass. Those who were exiled here either froze to death or starved to death.
In addition to these places, there are also Cangzhou, Qianzhou and other places, which are also famous penal colonies. The environment in these places is harsh, and the living conditions are harsh, and the people who have been exiled here have all complained of hardship.
The exile system, though brutal, had a profound impact on Chinese history. It not only maintains social order, but also promotes regional cultural exchanges and economic development.
Many literati and writers were exiled to remote areas and brought advanced culture with them. For example, Su Shi was demoted to Hainan, which brought advanced agricultural technology and cultural knowledge to Hainan.
The exile system lasted until the end of the Qing Dynasty when it was abolished. Although it has become history, it leaves us with many questions to ponder. It reflects both the wisdom of the ancient rulers and the cruelty and imperfection of the ancient judicial system.
The Long Road: The Arduous Journey of Escorting a Female Prisoner
Escorting female prisoners is not an easy task. Think about it, from the Central Plains to the frontier, it is often thousands of miles.
Along the way, the mountains and rivers are long, the roads are rugged, the weather is changeable, and the dangers are everywhere. The escort team had to climb mountains, trek through mountains and rivers, and sometimes through dense jungles or deserts.
Not to mention the long distance, you have to prevent the prisoners from escaping. Do you think, some of these female prisoners who were escorted were extremely vicious, and some were masters of the rivers and lakes with unique skills. If one is not careful, they may take advantage of the opportunity to escape.
Therefore, the escort officials must always be vigilant. I was in a hurry during the day, and I had to take turns at night for fear that something would go wrong.
Besides, most of these female prisoners are pampered ladies or pampered ladies. Where did they suffer like this? I couldn't go far, and I began to complain.
Some people fainted while walking, and some people got sick because of the water and soil. At this time, the escort officials had to act as temporary doctors and nurses. It's looking for a doctor again, and it's boiling medicine, and I'm very busy.
Eating and drinking on the road is also a big issue. Some places are so sparsely populated that you can't even find a decent inn. The escort team could only sleep in the wilderness and eat some dry food to satisfy their hunger.
It's even worse on a rainy day. The officials had to find a way to shelter the female prisoners from the wind and rain so that they would not get sick from the cold. You know, if the prisoner dies on the way, it is a big deal, and the officials are responsible.
In addition to these difficulties, the escort team also faces a variety of dangers. For example, what should I do if I encounter a robber on the way? What to do if you encounter a beast? What to do in case of the plague?
All of this requires the officials to improvise and come up with countermeasures. Sometimes, in order to protect the safety of prisoners, the officials even had to risk their lives to fight the gangsters.
There is also the issue that has to be raised, and that is the special needs of female prisoners. Do you think, women always have a few days of inconvenience every month, how to solve it on the road?
At this time, the escort officials have to play the role of buyers. Running around town to buy some necessities, and having to find a way to create some privacy for the female inmates. This kind of thing is really difficult for a group of big men.
Let's talk about security. When escorting female prisoners, the most fearful thing is to meet those with bad intentions. Some ruffians and hooligans wanted to make some bad ideas when they saw that there were female prisoners in the escort procession.
At this time, the officials had to step forward to protect the safety of the female prisoners. Sometimes force is used to drive away those with bad intentions. Do you think this work is tiring?
There is another headache, and that is the cost of travel. Escorting prisoners is tolerance, and theoretically there is a government fund. But you also know that how could the ancient government be so generous?
The money set aside is often not enough. Halfway through, the money was gone. At this time, the officials had to find a way to raise money. Some people go around making connections, and some people simply pay out of their own pockets.
In short, along the way, the officials are both fathers and mothers. It is necessary not only to ensure the safety of the prisoners, but also to take care of their food and daily life. You also have to watch out for all kinds of unexpected situations and be ready to deal with emergencies at any time.
Do you think it's easy? But it was such a chore, but it became a sweet spot for the officials to scramble. Why? Let's listen to the next breakdown.
Servant Dispute: An escort mission with joy in suffering
It's strange to say, how did such a drudgery become a fragrant bait that the officials scrambled for? It turns out that there is a lot of knowledge here.
If you want to say that this errand of escorting female prisoners, the biggest advantage is that it can make money. How to fish? Listen to me slowly.
In ancient times, the salaries of the officials were pitifully low. After a month, even making ends meet has become a problem. But the job of escorting female prisoners can make them a lot of money.
Most of the female prisoners came from wealthy families, and their families were rich and powerful. In order to make the family suffer less on the road, the family members often stuff money into the escort officials.
This is not a small amount of money, it is often dozens of taels or hundreds of taels of silver. For an ordinary servant, that's a few years' salary.
In addition to the benefits of their families, the female prisoners themselves also give money to the officials. In order to be taken care of by mejor on the road, eat better, and live more comfortably.
Some female prisoners even promised that as long as the officials could take care of them on the road, they would be rewarded when they arrived at the place of exile. This is like pie in the sky for the officials.
Besides, although the escort journey is hard, it is much more comfortable than being on an errand in the yamen all day. There are many rules in the yamen, and he is scolded by his boss at every turn.
On the way to escort the female prisoners, the officials were the little leaders. They are free to arrange their itinerary, go as they want, and stop as they want. This feeling of being a petty official is not something that can be experienced in the yamen.
It's also a lot of fun to see and hear on the road. You think, from the Central Plains to the frontier, how many mountains and rivers you have to go through, and how many customs and customs you have to see.
For those who have never traveled far before, this is simply a free trip. They can take this opportunity to open their eyes and learn a long way.
There is also the benefit that cannot be ignored, and that is the possibility of promotion. Escorting female prisoners is an important task, and if done well, they are likely to be appreciated by their superiors.
Once you have made meritorious service, you may be able to be promoted to a knighthood. This is a rare opportunity for a small officer.
Of course, this is not an errand that everyone can take. There were also rules in the yamen, and usually only those who were old and well-behaved were qualified to escort female prisoners.
Therefore, it is an honor in itself to receive such an errand. It means that you have a certain status in the yamen and have the trust of your superiors.
Interestingly, the errand of escorting female prisoners can also train people. Dealing with various emergencies along the way, taking care of the prisoners' daily life and food, all of which require wisdom and ability.
After this kind of experience, the ability of the officials to do things is often greatly improved. After returning to the Yamen, they became more competitive among their colleagues.
Another advantage that has to be mentioned is that you can get to know officials from all over the world. Along the way, you have to pass through different states and counties, and every place you go to, you have to report to the local government.
In this way, the officials had the opportunity to come into contact with officials from all over the country. Maybe one day you will be able to climb the high branches and find a better errand.
Some officials will even take advantage of this opportunity to start a small business on the road. For example, bring the specialties of the Central Plains to the frontier to sell, or bring the native products of the frontier back to the Central Plains.
Although this kind of behavior is not very proper, as long as it is not too excessive, the upper side will turn a blind eye. After all, the officials are not having a good time.
In general, the errand of escorting female prisoners is hard, but it has many benefits. You can not only make money, but also open your eyes, and have the opportunity to be promoted.
No wonder the officials were vying for this errand. In their eyes, this is a chore, it is simply fragrant.
However, behind this phenomenon, it actually reflects some problems in ancient officialdom. Why did what should have been a chore become a sweet spot? What are the underlying reasons for this? Let's listen to the next breakdown.
The ills of officialdom: the chaos of escort exposes deep problems
This errand of escorting female prisoners seemed to be a chore, but in fact it became a sweet spot for the servants to compete for. Behind this, it reflects the various ills of ancient officialdom.
If we want to talk about this officialdom malaise, we have to start from the roots. In ancient times, officials, especially those at the grassroots level, were pitifully low. After a month, barely making ends meet has become a problem.
In this case, officials are looking for ways to make money. Accepting bribes and enriching one's own pockets is commonplace. Over time, the entire officialdom has formed an unspoken rule.
As the lowest level of officialdom, the officials naturally followed suit. The errand of escorting female prisoners became a good opportunity for them to make money. Family members send money, prisoners send money, and do business on the road, these have become tacit unspoken rules.
The problem is that the consequences of this approach are not small. You think, in order to make more money, the officials may relax their control of prisoners. If the prisoner escapes, that's a big deal.
In addition, some officials may give special treatment in order to curry favor with rich and powerful prisoners. In this way, the fairness and justice of the law is undermined.
What's more, some officials even deliberately delay their trips. Why? Because the longer the journey, the more opportunities they have to make money. In this way, it not only delayed official business, but also increased the expenditure of the government.
In fact, all these problems reflect a deep-seated contradiction in ancient officialdom: the income of officials does not match their duties. Officials are responsible for upholding the law and managing society, but they cannot even guarantee their own basic livelihoods.
In this case, corruption becomes inevitable. From the top officials to the lowest officials, almost everyone is trying to find a way to make money. Over time, the entire officialdom became corrupt.
Besides, this errand of escorting female prisoners was originally an important judicial link. But under this system, it becomes a tool for the exchange of interests. The officials rushed to snatch this errand, not to do their duty, but to make money.
This phenomenon actually reflects the problems of the entire judicial system. What should have been a fair and impartial judicial process has turned into a bargain of interests. Rich and powerful prisoners can buy better treatment, while poor prisoners can only consider themselves unlucky.
What is even more frightening is that this practice affects the legal perception of the whole society. When the people see that even law enforcers are taking advantage of the loopholes of the law, how can they still believe in the fairness of the law?
In the long run, the foundation of the rule of law in society as a whole will be shaken. People no longer believe that justice can be obtained through the right way, but are more inclined to go through the back door and give gifts.
This situation was actually very common in ancient societies. Not only is it a trivial matter like escorting a female prisoner, but even major judicial cases are often influenced by money and power.
Rich and powerful people can influence the direction of the case through various channels, while ordinary people can only be slaughtered. This kind of injustice has always been a stubborn disease in ancient societies.
Back to the issue of escorting female prisoners. On the surface, this is a small judicial process. But in reality, it reflects the corruption of the entire officialdom.
From the emperor at the top to the officials at the bottom, everyone has a role to play in the system. The emperor may be aware of these problems, but he is powerless to change them. Because once corrupt officials are really severely punished, the entire officialdom may be paralyzed.
Local officials may have seen these problems as well, but they themselves have profited from the system. If they want to change, it means that their own interests will also be damaged.
As for the lowest level of officials, they are the direct beneficiaries of this system. For them, this system, while unfair, at least allows them to provide for their families.
It can be said that this system has become a social norm. Everyone knows about its drawbacks, but no one wants to change it. Because change means the restructuring of the entire social order, the price is too great.
Therefore, the seemingly simple errand of escorting female prisoners actually reflects the deep contradictions of the entire ancient society. It tells us that a society's problems are often not isolated, but systemic.
To solve these problems, what is needed is the reform of the entire system. But in ancient societies, such reforms were almost impossible. Because it involves the interests of too many people and touches too many vested interests.
This is why, although there have been Ming monarchs in all dynasties who wanted to rectify the rule of officials, they ultimately had little effect. Because they are not just facing one or two corrupt officials, but a whole corrupt system.