A Study On The Strategies Of The Central Plain Dynasty Towards The Jianghuai Regimes During The Five Dynasties And The Early Song Dynasty

During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period,the Central Plain dynasty was generally stronger than the southern states,but there were equally powerful independent regimes in the Jianghuai region,namely the Yang-Wu and Southern Tang.The Jianghuai regimes were not weaker than the Central Plains in military,economic,and cultural aspects,and had a great influence on the Jianghuai region.As the political situation changed in different periods,the attitude or strategy of the Central Plain dynasty towards the Jianghuai region also varied.In the Later Liang period,due to the conflict with Jin,the state of Wu was treated mainly with the political strategy,constraining Yang-Wu by Jing-Hu and Liang Zhe region.After the unification of the north in the Later Tang dynasty,after weighing the situation,Zhuangzong decided to fight the war with the former Shu first,and then the Yang-Wu.But the plan was forced to end because of internal conflicts that led to his death.After the death of Zhuangzong,the attitude of the Central Plain dynasty changed.Mingzong still had the intention of deploitation in the early days,but because of the lessons of Zhuangzong dynasty and the failure of Jingnan,he gradually turned to maintain the security and stability of the border.Due to the special situation with Khitan and other reasons,The Later Jin,Later Han and Later Zhou Taizu periods continued the policy of Mingzong in his later years,which was mainly dedicated to internal matters.In the time of Shizong of the Later Zhou,the previous problems were basically solved,the internal reform was completed,and the government turned to expand the dynasty’s borders by external war again.Chai Rong and Zhao Kuangyin acquired the Huainan and Jiangnan regions through wars.In order to integrate the Jianghuai region,the Central Plain dynasty first made proper disposal of the old forces of the Southern Tang,represented by political figures and the army.In the Later Zhou period,the ministers were mainly sent back and the army was mainly integrated;in the early Song dynasty,the ministers were mainly incorporated and the army was mainly demobilized.In terms of specific appointments,Shizong made bold appointments,basically no restrictions.The early Song dynasty showed a certain degree of precaution and suspicion in moving high-ranking officials to the capital and in avoiding the appointment of officials,but the extent was not deep.Overall,active incorporation was main attitude and no discrimination.The local officials of prefecture and district,as well as some cultural clans still remain in the Jianghuai area.In the power pattern,the Later Zhou dynasty continued the vassal mode,set up the military commissioners to govern the Huainan area.In the early Song dynasty,it took control of the area through the establishment of various military prefectures in Jianghuai region and the imposition of weapons ban,and other aspects,and the system of vassal was replaced by the system of zhizhou.Secondly,in the process of power replacement,some propaganda policies of the Central Plain dynasty towards the soldiers and people of the Jianghuai region were not carried out to the end,promising to prohibit plundering and slaughtering before the war,but in reality,there were several massacres.This high-handedness actually contributed to frighten and breakdown the established resistance.In addition,by timely absolution,the Central Plain dynasty completed the task of co-opting and pacifying the new areas.The process of absolution also transmitted the message of power transfer to all groups and classes,and the local stability was achieved.Finally,the Central Plain dynasty made a choice in implementing policies,some moderate unified policies were carried out,such as lighting taxation and corvee,criminal laws,calendar and so on.While the rational distribution of field tax was not implemented due to the concentration of local conflicts.However,both of them were aimed at promoting the integration of the Central Plain dynasty in Jianghuai region and finally completing the unification.