Author: Lao Tan, Source: Tang Poetry song poetry ancient poems (ID: tsgsc8)
I don't know if you found out, six of the eight great people of the Tang and Song dynasties lived during the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Northern Song Dynasty. To dig deeper into the reasons, there are probably two possibilities.
First, Song Renzong reigned for a long time, a total of more than forty years, the history of the Northern Song Dynasty is only 167 years, he occupies 1/4 of it, if you pinch the head and tail, the most prosperous years in the middle, almost the year of Renzong's rule.
Second, the Song Dynasty was already heavy on literature and light on martial arts, and during the reign of Emperor Renzong, he also treated intellectuals with great courtesy, the emperor did a good job, the country was peaceful, and the readers naturally appeared in groups.
However, on the other hand, the reason why the eight people (at least the six masters of the Northern Song Dynasty) came into being was with a very helpless component. These six people in the Renzong period were difficult to achieve in politics and were not easily recognized by officials, and only through scholarship could they be recognized by future generations.
The so-called "Eight Greats of the Tang and Song Dynasties", that is, "Han Liu Ou Wang Zeng Sansu", Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan, living in the former dynasty, will not be discussed for the time being. At least in terms of age, Ouyang Xiu was ahead of the other five, and probably based on this consideration, he occupied the first position.
1
The world knows Ouyang Xiu's writings, such as the "Drunken Pavilion Record", his articles are written in pearls, and the world respects him and includes him as one of the "Eight Greats of the Tang and Song Dynasties". In addition, later generations deliberately listed the best of the eight, Ouyang Xiu, Han Yu, Liu Zongyuan and Su Shi, also known as the "Four Great Masters of the Ancient Articles".
Undoubtedly, the gold content of this title is greater, and the "ancient article" has long been not limited to the Tang and Song Dynasties, and takes the entire Chinese history as the dimension.
However, if you open Ouyang Xiu's resume, before the writer, you must add the title of politician.
How did Ouyang Cultivator do? I'm afraid it didn't go very well, but his articles were beautifully written, but his personality was quite straight.
During the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Northern Song Dynasty, the country experienced war with the Western Xia and became increasingly tired, and the history books said that "wealth and use are empty, and the world is in a hurry." Seeing this situation, under the promotion of Ouyang Xiu and other advisors, the emperor reused Fan Zhongyan and others and began to implement the so-called "New Deal for celebrating the calendar".
Measures such as deposing, suppressing luck, advancing into meritocracy, and retiring from the country are all the administrative programs of the "New Deal for Celebrating the Calendar." It is conceivable that Fan Zhongyun intentionally or unintentionally moved other people's cakes, so the crusade against him can be described as one after another.
Emperors since ancient times have been afraid of the word "friend party", and those who have a good temper like a benevolent sect are actually quite suspicious of this. Fortunately, the people who support the New Deal even take the pride of forming a party with Fan Zhong. Conservative officials' rebuke of their attacks can also be imagined.
When Ouyang Xiu saw this, he wrote a "Theory of The Partisan Party" with great enthusiasm, and the gentleman was frank and had some thoughts in his heart, and wrote an article, Ouyang Xiu wrote:
The righteous soldiers are in the dynasty, the evil people are jealous, the courtiers are not used, and the enemy's service is also.
The kings looked at this article, a courtier with an iron backbone, a gentleman who stood proudly, jumped on the paper.
The "New Deal for the Celebration of the Calendar" eventually failed, and Fan Zhongyan also ushered in the fate of being reviled, and most of the officials in the imperial court were silent. At this moment, Ouyang Xiu stood up, and he defended the reformists.
In a tit-for-tat confrontation with the diehards, he angrily pointed out that you centrists, who are usually silent, "wait for their self-defeat, and then follow them", "Is it that you no longer know that there is shame in the world?!" ”
Only with faith in the heart can we fight to the death, Ouyang Xiu does not know, speaking for the failed, hitting the leader's face, is equivalent to digging his own grave. However, for the sake of morality, Ouyang Xiu, who was as evil as a vendetta, still did it desperately.
Later novelist Jin Yong wrote a rather heroic ancient poem describing the chivalrous righteousness of Bo Yuntian, and if it is used on the scribe Ouyang Xiu, it will complement each other perfectly.
Always stupid, drunk ever since. The water pavilion listens to the incense and points out the group of heroic plays. Drink a thousand cups of boy affairs. In the apricot forest, the business is slightly flat.
Cause of the past, meaning of the present. Hu Han is enmished and must shed heroic tears. Although thousands of people are looking forward to it. Quietly standing goose gate, there is no word left on the wall.
In fact, in addition to Fan Zhongyan, Ouyang Xiu also spoke for many people, such as Bao Zheng, who could almost seal the gods in the folk.
2
Similar to Ouyang Xiu, Bao Zheng was also a rare courtier.
In the minds of the common people, he is actually more famous, not afraid of the powerful, not favoritism, the "History of Song" with a slang to describe Bao Zheng: "the joint is not enough, there is Yan Luo Bao Lao", his fortitude and indomitable, which can be seen from this.
However, frankly speaking, compared with Ouyang Xiu, Bao Zheng was actually more sleek and introverted.
In the novel "Three Heroes and Five Righteousness", Emperor Renzong's mother-in-law Li Guifei, because her son was not filial, blamed Renzong and ordered Bao Zheng to beat the emperor on behalf of the emperor.
Isn't that hard for the old bag? No matter how black Bao Zheng's face was, no matter how the six relatives did not recognize it, they did not dare to beat the emperor. Bao Gong's cleverness was just right, and he took off the emperor's dragon robe and whipped him in a similar manner.
Not only did he take care of the royal dignity, but also dissipated The anger of Concubine Li, the key, was to keep his head. Bao Zheng's approach, one word, absolutely.
It is true that these are the words of the novelist, and in the "History of the Song", the zhengshi also records an event, which only shows that he is clever and clever.
When Bao Zheng was making the Heavenly Order, someone stole the tongue of others, and the owner of the cow went to appeal, and Bao Zheng said, "Just go back, kill and sell it." ”
During the Tang and Song dynasties, it was illegal to commit suicide by cattle. Sure enough, not long after, a man exposed his act of privately committing suicide. This is the so-called thief shouting to catch the thief, Bao Zheng did not say a word, arrested this person and brought him to justice, and asked: "Why cut off the cow's tongue first, and then report to the people?" ”
Bao Zheng's sleekness also lies in the fact that during the "New Deal for the Celebration of the Calendar", including after that, Ouyang Xiu was distressed and generous; Bao Zheng was much more cautious, and during the frontal struggle, he often remained silent and never publicly stated his attitude.
Ouyang Xiu was 8 years younger than Bao Zheng, but the two went to the ceremonial department to participate in the examination in the same year.
According to the direction of the plot, they will definitely become friends, the situation seems to be like this, in 1056 AD, Bao Zheng was degraded because of improper officialdom, Ouyang Xiu wrote to speak for him, and the emperor adopted Ouyang's advice. The following year, Bao Zheng took charge of Kaifeng Province as a scholar of Longtuge.
However, between the two, they eventually fell in love and killed each other, and a fierce argument broke out.
Ouyang Xiu was more knowledgeable and had the talent to spit out lotus flowers; Bao Zheng was severe and upright, and when arguing with the emperor, his saliva could spray Renzong's face.
So, as you can imagine, this debate must be very interesting.
3
In the Song Dynasty, the Third Division envoy was a very important official position, in charge of the national Qiangu cashier and balanced fiscal revenue.
For a long time, the person holding this official position was Zhang Fangping. Zhang Fangping was extremely intelligent, talented, and his family was poor at an early age, so he borrowed the "Three Histories" from others to read, and returned them after ten days.
Zhang Fangping was proficient in military affairs, good at diplomacy, and very proficient in fiscal taxation. It is actually quite appropriate for him to serve as the envoy of the third division.
Just as the so-called morality is not worthy of the position, when Zhang Fangping took office, he did something disgraceful, and he took advantage of his power to buy other people's real estate at a low price.
Bao Zheng, who was serving as the inspector of imperial history, found out about this matter and proposed impeachment to Zhang Fangping, accusing him of losing his shame and not being suitable for him to occupy a high position.
Hearing Bao Zheng's report, Emperor Renzong was deeply impressed, and he ordered Song Qi to take over the post of envoy of the Third Division.
Song Qi had great talent, and most of the "New Book of Tang", one of the "Twenty-Four Histories" that has been handed down to this day, was compiled by Song Qi.
In addition, in terms of poetry, Song Qi is also very good at it, and he once composed a poem "Yulou Chun":
The East City gradually felt that the scenery was good, and the wrinkles and ripples welcomed the guests.
The green poplar smoke is cold and light, and the red apricot branches are full of spring.
Floating growth hates joy and entertainment, and ken loves Qianjin and smiles lightly.
For the king to hold the wine to persuade the sun, and to leave a late photo between the flowers.
Because the sentence "red apricot branches are full of spring", it is too famous, Song Qi is also known as "Red Apricot Shangshu", he loves beautiful women, enjoys pleasure, and has a lot of fun in life.
It is said that when he served in Yizhou Zhizhou, each meal was not less than 36 dishes, and meat dishes, vegetarian dishes, and half meat and half vegetarian dishes accounted for 1/3 each. In addition, Song Qi kept 32 maids, who shook his fan and beat his back, and every night, there would be a maid guarding her bedside all night.
Song Qi's older brother Song Qi also served in the imperial court, and according to the Song Dynasty's system of avoiding relatives, Song Qi should avoid entering the central system.
In Lao Bao's eyes, there was no room for sand, song Qi had been in office for less than 20 days, and he wrote a letter and successfully pulled Song Qi off the horse.
The most helpless thing was Emperor Renzong, this was not allowed, that was not allowed, the emperor stomped his feet, simply let Bao Zheng serve as the third envoy.
Bao Zheng did not resign, and he gladly accepted the appointment.
Old Bao has a personality, Ouyang Xiu also has a temper, he can see clearly, the feelings of old Bao pointing out, for his own interests.
During the Song Dynasty, advocating honor and humility, Bao Zheng acted in this way, and there was indeed room for discussion.
Ouyang Xiu couldn't sit still, since Bao Zheng could write sonatas, of course he would also write, and Ouyang Xiu's literary level was higher. He can write a model of ancient and modern articles, and the "Theory of Friends and Parties" mentioned above is an example.
4
As a result, Ouyang Xiuyang wrote a piece, "On The Book of the Three Envoys on the Elimination of the Three Divisions of Bao".
In this recital, Ouyang Xiu also cites the scriptures and cites the allusion of "snatching cattle from the fields".
"Snatching cattle from the field" comes from the "Zuo Zhuan", which means that the farmer who tramples on his own field because other people's cattle trample on his own field, and in turn robs other people's cattle.
Specific to this matter, the so-called "cattle" refers to the three divisions of the envoys, and the "person who snatches the cattle" naturally thinks that it is a bao.
The civil servants of the Great Song Dynasty have always paid attention to honor and decency, and the so-called "knowing honesty and shame and cultivating etiquette is not conducive to Gou De and is not conducive to Gou Sui", Ouyang Xiu sincerely hopes that Bao Zheng can "uphold discipline and keep righteousness" and "avoid suspicion".
It is true that under the private background, Ouyang Xiu had a good relationship with Zhang Fangping and Song Qi, and a few years ago, Ouyang Xiu degraded the official Chuzhou and wrote the immortal masterpiece "The Record of Drunken Pavilion", and Zhang Fangping composed "Reward Ouyang Sheren Sending The Title Drunken Wengting Poem", and sang peace with him:
I am a high-yang disciple, and the wild cover is clumsy.
Heaven forbid, order the secret to be cut.
As soon as it came out of the chengming, the ape bird was super easy.
The mountain state is silent, and the weather is quite depressed.
However, Ouyang Xiu's move, from an open point of view, was not only to preserve Bao Zheng's reputation, but also to preserve the general body of the imperial court.
Ouyang Xiu's article was written very well, and in the blink of an eye, Bao Zheng was on the cusp of the storm, and he did not make any arguments and resigned on the table.
The ball was eventually kicked back at Renzong's feet, and the emperor thought twice and still insisted on letting Bao Zheng take office - for Renzong, this may be the most appropriate choice, and Bao Zheng did not resign anymore and calmly came out of the mountain.
The following year, Emperor Renzong appointed Ouyang Xiu to participate in the affairs of the governor; Zhang Fangping was transferred to Nanjing and appointed Shangshu Zuocheng; as for Song Qi, he was relieved to compile the New Book of Tang.
Things seemed to have ushered in the most perfect ending, but unfortunately, the small boat of friendship between Bao Zheng and Ouyang Xiu had since overturned.
After Bao Zheng's death, Ouyang Xiu took the initiative to ask to write an epitaph for him, but bao Zheng's wife Dong Shi flatly refused.
After a few more years, Ouyang Xiu also passed away unexpectedly, and when his son Ouyang Fa wrote "Deeds" for his father, he also avoided remembering the relationship between Ouyang Xiu and Bao Zheng.
From this, it is known that those famous historical celebrities throughout the ages will even have careful eyes.
Resources:
1, Liu Sixiang: "A Brief Discussion on the Relationship Between Ouyang Xiu and Bao Zheng".
2, Wang Chunjiang: "Bao Zheng and Ouyang Xiu"
3, Detachment, Arutu: History of the Song Dynasty
-Author-
Always talk, always talk, always talk about people, nothing else.