Before the death of Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty in 87 BC, Liu Fuling, an eight-year-old son, was appointed Emperor Zhao of Han Dynasty. At the same time, General Fu Huo Guang, General Zuo Shangguan Jie, Prime Minister Tian, and Imperial Minister Sang Hongyang were appointed as assistant ministers. Among the five people, Tian died early, and Tian was tactful and gentle, and he didn't take a stand when something happened, while Sang Hongyang and Shangguan Jie opposed Huo Guang's monopolization of power, so there was a struggle between two political groups in the government. In order to overthrow Sang Hongyang, who had been in charge of finance and economics for a long time, Huo Guang, starting from the economic reform he started from, strongly advocated the convening of a "salt-iron conference", hoping to create public opinion against Sang Hongyang. In the sixth year of Emperor Gaozu (the first 8 1 year), Confucian scholars with "literary" and "moral" status in various counties and countries, on behalf of the people, raised questions about the economic policies at that time to the prime minister Tian, Yu Shi Sang Hongyang and his subordinate prime ministers Chang Shi and Yu Shi, which was called the "Salt and Iron Conference".

At the beginning of the meeting, a Confucian scholar named Tang Sheng (now living in Maoling) took the lead in challenging: "I'm here to speak for the people. Since the state implemented the salt and iron official camp and liquor monopoly, the people have suffered! This is simply competing for profits with the people and making the country rich and poor disparity. Such a policy should have been abolished long ago. " As soon as the voice fell, another Confucian scholar stood up and said to Kan Kan, "Confucius said that a gentleman is more righteous than a villain. We should advocate morality, benevolence and righteousness, and oppose valuing profit over morality, so as to pursue our goals at the expense. In this way, the people will be honest and obedient, and the country's financial use will naturally be sufficient. "

Sang Hongyang fought back. He said: "I think the two people who spoke just now are parasites who are idle, eat and don't plow, wear clothes and don't weave." You clamored for the rich and the poor, as if pleading for the people, but actually pleading for the powerful and powerful forces and industrial and commercial dajia. If the salt and iron official camp and liquor monopoly are abolished, only these people will benefit, and the national interests will be damaged, and the people will be the real victims. What you want to oppose is centralization, and what you want is the right to divide and rule, which is absolutely impossible. As for carrying forward morality and advocating benevolence and righteousness, these decadent preaching can't govern the country at all. "

The counterattack hit the key, and the Confucian scholars were dumbfounded. At this time, their commander-in-chief and suggested doctor Du Yannian came out in person. He turned the topic to the issue of opposing fighting against the Huns: "In ancient times, morality was emphasized and fighting against soldiers was ignored. Kong Ziyun: If the enemy is far from satisfied, influence him with morality and make him submit. It is a waste of people and money to give up morality and abuse force now. "

The Confucian scholars present echoed in succession. A Confucian scholar named Wansheng said: "The war against the Huns can no longer be fought, and the result of the war can only be that the people are in poverty." Truce is still the best policy. "

Sang Hongyang denounced: "Huns invade and rebel, and they can only resort to force against stubborn enemies who are treacherous." In the era of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the income from the salt and iron official camp was used to build fortifications and strengthen defense, and Xingyi soldiers used violence to protect the lives and property of ordinary people. Now we must follow the policy of Emperor Wu and strengthen our armament. You said to make friends with beautiful women and Huns with money, shameless. What kind of morality is this? "

The other side carried Confucius out and continued to attack. Sang Hongyang said: "All students are eager to do nothing, and it is useless to talk a lot. Their feelings and appearances are different. If you are a thief, you will suffer from it since ancient times. It was Kong Qiu who banished lujun and never used it again. who is it? With its first shot, don't be pedantic sometimes. Therefore, Qin Wang burned the technology without doing it, and it was useless in the pit. " In Sang Hongyang's eyes, Confucian scholars only talk big, unrealistic and duplicitous. Like those thieves who call chickens, they have been a scourge since ancient times. Therefore, the monarch of Lu was expelled and abandoned only because his first mouse seemed smooth at both ends, but it was pedantic and had no practical ideas. This is why Qin Shihuang wanted to burn the works of Confucian scholars so that their remarks could not be circulated. He would rather bury them alive than appoint them. Sang Hongyang also accused them of "whitewashing empty words and confusing facts, making the past serve the present" in an attempt to change the political line of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty to consolidate national unity and strengthen centralization.