Hu Su, a Hanlin scholar of the Song Dynasty (995-1067), served as an official of the Privy Council during the reigns of Song Emperor Renzong and Emperor Yingzong, and was the deputy envoy of the Privy Council. The Privy Council was in charge of national military and political affairs, and its power was comparable to that of the Chancellor, and the chief was called “Privy Counsellor”. Originally, the Hu family was poor and not distinguished, but from Hu Su began to gradually prosper, the reason for which is a happy story.
The monk wanted to pass on the art of gold-dotting
Hu Su was a man who valued righteousness over profit. As a teenager, he had a good friendship with a monk. This monk has some magic, just a piece of brick and stone tile, in his hands can be turned into gold. Before he died, the monk wanted to pass on the art of “turning stones into gold” to Hu Su, so that he could bury him properly. Hu Su refused, saying: “I will do my best to take care of your afterlife. Other things are not what I want.” The monk sighed for a long time, “This boy has a great ambition, and his future is unlimited.”
Saving thousands of lives from flooding
After he reached the top of the imperial examinations, Hu Su served as a lieutenant of Yangzi County. One year, the county flood, many people were trapped by the water, the county magistrate could not do anything. Hu Su led many official and private boats to save thousands of people. Hu Su was thus nominated for the Pavilion School Kan (official name), and later promoted to the Ji Xian School Manager (official name), since then, Hu Su career into the green, and became a minister of the court.
Follow the way of heaven to five elements to see the fate of the country
In the sixth year of Emperor Renzong’s reign (1046 AD), earthquakes occurred in the east of Beijing and the two rivers, especially in Dengzhou and Laizhou (both in present-day Shandong Province), the most serious disaster. Hu Su, knowledgeable in the five elements of yin and yang and the science of disasters, submitted a petition about the causes of earthquakes and ways to prevent disasters.
Hu Su said: “Next year, in the year of Dinghai, both crimes and rewards will take place in the area corresponding to the seven northern constellations of the Xuanwu (the seven constellations of the north: Dou, Niu, Niu, Xu, Gu, Muro and Bi). Yin energy will reach its peak in the year of Hai, before weakening. This year, Yin is still strong, while Yang is still weak and cannot overcome Yin, so an earthquake occurred.”
He suggested, “Dengzhou and Laizhou are located in the northeast of the capital in the position of Shao Yang (trigram Yang on Yin), now these two states set up gold pits, the government has gathered many people to dig the valley, resulting in the depletion of Yang Qi and the underground Yin Qi taking advantage of the deficiency. The only way to calm down the Yin energy and make the earth peaceful is to stop mining immediately.”
He also said, “Dinghai year penal de in the northern palace of the epiphenomenon corresponding to the manifestation of the chaos in the group of rivalry, will appear in the northwest. Therefore Hu Suo predicted that if there was no external chaos on the western and northern borders, there might be internal theft and chaotic events in the western and northern area around Heshuo (the area north of the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River).”
At that time, many ministers thought Hu Suo’s words were too pedantic. By the time the following year, Dinghai, the general of Heshuo, Wang Ze (AD? -1048) staged a mutiny in Beizhou against the Northern Song Dynasty. Hu Su’s prediction really came true.
As early as in Dazhong Xiangfu five years (1012 AD), Song Zhenzong had decreed the construction of Jingling Palace to worship the Yellow Emperor. Huang You five years (1053 AD) in the first month, Jingling Palace disaster. The winter solstice of that year, held a suburban ceremony for the sacrifice of heaven, and the two former emperors of the Northern Song Dynasty with the sacrifice. The following year, the world was in a severe drought. The drought this year was due to the improper rituals of the suburban rituals, so it was suggested that the ancient system should be adopted for the suburban rituals.
urge Pao Zheng to self-reflection
Hu Su is an upright official. One year, the soldiers in Jingzhou were caught by the government because they were not paid in time, so they spoke evil words and tried to incite a rebellion. The court ordered the officials of the three divisions to check the reason why the military pay was not paid in time. The Three Departments were in charge of the finance, rent and taxation, and salt and iron monopoly. Bao Zheng (998-1061 A.D.), who was then the envoy of the Three Departments, did not want to pursue his subordinates. Hu Su said to him, “The soldiers in Jingzhou were certainly rebellious and arrogant, but the military pay that should have been allocated had not been transferred for more than eighty-five days, so how could those auditors not be guilty?” Pao Zheng reflected on himself and immediately sent officials to assist in the investigation.
From fishing and reed-cutting to border management
When he was the deputy envoy of the Privy Council, he was always thinking about the welfare of the people. When he was the deputy envoy of the Privy Council, he once told Song Yingzong about the successes and failures of the imperial government: “Many worries originate in small places and are most easily overlooked. Since the Hu invaded the border, the people living in the north have been forbidden to fish or cut reeds, so there are many fights between the government and the people.
In the past, the north and south were well connected for sixty years, and there were no internal or external troubles. In recent years, border disputes have risen sharply. It is just a small matter of encroaching on the size of the land, and the border guards will send an alarm. In these matters, the officials of the guarded cities can send a document to ask for clarification, which is not to raise troops to fight? Now some officials are ashamed that Yan and Ji are occupied by Liao, but the conditions of time and personnel are not yet available, so it is difficult to recover the lost land. I hope to adhere to the laws of the two dynasties, so that the people can rest and recuperate, is the welfare of the people of the world.”
Hu Su usually treats people generously, internal rigidity and external harmony, respectful words and actions. He sharpened his reputation until he was in a prominent position, always the same as in his civilian days. His son Zongyan and his nephews Zongyi and Zonghui were all prominent officials and honored by the family.
Facts.
History of the Song Dynasty‧Hu Su Biography, Volume 318
The Complete Collection of Eight Virtues: Hu Su’s Funeral Monk, Volume 7
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