The Tang Dynasty Zhao Xuan recorded such a story in the "Record of Words of Reason":
"Pei Xian had to be in the Zhongshu. There are deceased people, and officials are not humble, and they visit each other from afar. Pei Gong gave a generous shirt and calmly negotiated. In its first, do everything, take the opportunity to ask the Kyofu Judge. Pei Gong said: "Gongcheng Jiashi, but this official is not comparable to the public, and does not dare to use the selfishness of the deceased, but the imperial court gangji." He who has been harmed by the eyes of the prime minister and the prince may as well be blessed. Something must not be. ’”
The "Pei Xian deHuan" here is the Tang Dynasty minister Pei Yan. "In Zhongshu", wow, that is amazing, entering the core organ and decision-making body of Zhongshu Province, it has become the prime minister under one person and above ten thousand people! So, an old friend rushed to the capital from a long way away to visit him. This old friend Guan Er's work is not small, but compared with Pei An, who is the current prime minister, it is naturally not worth mentioning. However, Pei Yu did not show the slightest contempt because of the disparity in status, not only "giving generous kindness" and giving generous material treatment, but also "calmly and generously", that is, hospitality, often drinking with him and reminiscing about the past, getting along very well. What is even more precious is that he also gave his old friend full freedom - the old friend in the Pei Mansion, can "do everything", it is conceivable, such as calling a maid to make a servant, such as indulging in fun, such as eating and drinking fiercely, without any restrictions, can do whatever he wants, simply more free and more comfortable than in his own home.
Pei Ya (?) -811)
Seeing that Pei Yao attached so much importance to feelings and cherished friendship so much, and his old friend's heart was naturally beautiful, he took the opportunity to ask Pei Yao to use the power in his hands a little, transfer himself to the capital Chang'an, and get an official of the "Jingfu Judges" to be a pawn. Unexpectedly, this time I touched a big nail and was rejected by a mouthful: you do have talent and achievements, but this position is not suitable for you. I don't dare to sabotage the country's laws because of my old friend's personal friendship. The old friend obviously did not have a dead heart, and probably put forward a lot of specific difficulties: for example, in the field, the parents are old, the family can not take care of it; for example, the wife is sick, the water and soil are not satisfied, so that they can not work at ease; for example, in the middle of nowhere, the children can not find a good teacher, can not get a good education; and so on. In short, it is really difficult, and it needs to be taken care of by old friends. Pei Yuan's answer was even more crisp: If he met a blind prime minister in his youth, he might sympathize with you and give you this position; as long as Pei An remained in the position of prime minister, it was "must not be"! There was no room for negotiation, and the back door was completely blocked at once.
Pei Ya is a popular person in Shanxi. It is not known what year he was born, but only that he entered the cabinet in September of the third year (808) of Tang Xianzong's reign, and two years later he lost his post due to a stroke and died of illness in the sixth year of Yuan He (811). The history books also say that he was "young and used to handle it"; "although he was young, he suddenly fell into phase". It can be seen that he is very young, and it is estimated that he has only lived for about thirty years. However, his political achievements could not be ignored: he straightened out the administration of officials and suppressed eunuchs from interfering in government affairs; he reformed the two tax laws and abolished harsh and miscellaneous taxes, which greatly reduced the burden on the people, especially the people of Jianghuai, who were the main source of taxation, to recuperate; he encouraged the officials to speak and do things, and the promoted Bai Juyi, Yuan Shu, and others were known for speaking freely and daring to criticize the current politics; and the Li Dai, Cui Qun, And Pei Du and others he recommended later became famous ministers of a generation.
In addition to the trust of Tang Xianzong and Li Chun, Pei Yao was able to achieve such political achievements, and his own reasons were nothing more than two: first, he was talented, especially a discerning and talented "Bole"; second, he was selfless and did not rely on his power for personal gain. Pei An was admitted to the Jinshi at the age of twenty, and during the reign of Emperor Dezong of Tang, the imperial court elected the "Xianliang Jizhi", and he was appointed as a lieutenant of Mihara County because of "countermeasures first" ("Old Book of Tang · Biography of Pei Yuan"). In the early years of yuan and early years, he was summoned to Beijing to serve as a Hanlin scholar and a Zhongshu Sheren. Later, the new prime minister Li Jifu, who had just entered Beijing and was not familiar with the situation, asked Pei An to recommend "Caijie". Pei An picked up his pen and wrote more than thirty names, which were selected by Li Jifu in "a few months." Therefore, the whole world praised Li Jifu for knowing people and being able to use people. At that time, people did not know that it was not Li Jifu who was really good at appreciating people, but Pei Yuan.
Pei An is selfless in his iron face and is famous for "keeping the integrity and not being entrusted, and the assessment is pragmatic and practical". Not only did those courtiers and nobles in Chang'an City see him, but they did not dare to entrust him with private affairs, and even Emperor Xianzong Li Chun was jealous of him. When Li Chun was still serving as crown prince in the Eastern Palace, the eunuch Tutu Chengcui began to serve him; Li Chun became emperor, and Tutu Chengcui was the most favored. However, when Tutu Chengxuan took advantage of the small talk with the emperor to "talk about it", the emperor actually "admonished not to speak" because of "fear". To put it bluntly, even the emperor Lao Er was afraid of Pei Yao, and warned Tutu Chengcui: Don't say it again, then Pei Zaixiang will definitely not sell this affection; he is full of righteousness, even I, who is the emperor, can't help it!
Unfortunately, Pei An only served as prime minister for two years; unfortunately, Pei Ya only lived for about thirty years. If the day is taken for a year, he will certainly be able to make greater contributions to the country and the people; if the day is taken for a year, future generations may have an additional "Pei Qingtian" who is not inferior when singing the praises of "Bao Qingtian" and "Hai Qingtian". Although in the mighty tide of world democracy, the "Great Master of Qingtian" is so out of date; however, in our big country, which attaches great importance to the "essence of the country," before all sentient beings have fundamentally degenerated from "consciousness of subjects" to "consciousness of citizens," at a time when materialism is rampant and corruption is pervasive, the "Great Lord of Qingtian" is, after all, more popular than the "blind prime minister" and more popular than corrupt officials, right?
Later, the Northern Song Dynasty historian Sima Guang included this story recorded by Zhao Xuan in the Zizhi Tongjian, obviously to give some reference to the emperors and ruling ministers at that time or later; perhaps, the young Pei Yao chancellor can also provide us with a little inspiration and thinking today?