Fan Zhi

Fan Zhi

Fan Zhi (911-964) was a native of Daming Zongcheng (now Weixian County, Xingtai City, Hebei Province). From the late Zhou Dynasty of the Five Dynasties to the early years of the Northern Song Dynasty.

Fan Zhi was studious and knowledgeable since he was young. After the Tang Dynasty Changxing four years (933) ascended Jinshi, official to the Ministry of minister. After the establishment of the Later Zhou Dynasty, he served successively as the Minister of the Ministry of war and the Deputy Secretary of the Privy Council. Xiande six years (959), Zhou Shizong critically ill, Tuogu in Fan Zhi and others. He was granted the title of Duke Xiao. After the Chenqiao mutiny, Fan Zhi and prime ministers Wang Pu and Wei Renpu were forced to support Zhao Kuangyin as the emperor. Zhao Pu, LV Qingyu, Dou Yi and others were recommended. In the first year of Qiande (963), he was granted the Duke of Lu. The next year, he went out. He died in September of the same year and was presented with a Chinese calligraphy order.

Fan Zhi once presided over the compilation of the "code of criminal law of Xiande" in the Later Zhou Dynasty, and the first code of Song Dynasty "code of criminal law of Song Dynasty" came directly from this code. His works include fan Lu Gong Ji and Tong Lu of Five Dynasties.

Life of the characters

Stepping into official career

Fan Shouyu, Fan Zhi's father, was appointed defense judge of Zhengzhou. On the evening of Fan Zhi's birth, his mother dreamed that the immortal had given her a five color pen. Fan Zhi was smart and studious when he was young. He was able to write poetry at the age of nine, studied the book of songs at the age of 13, and began to recruit students as a teacher at the age of 14.

In the fourth year of Changxing in the later Tang Dynasty (933), fan zhikaozhong was a Jinshi, and was appointed as the governor of Zhongwu army. Later, he was promoted to Fengqiu.

During the Tianfu period of the later Jin Dynasty, he presented an article to Sang Weihan, the prime minister, which was highly valued by sang Weihan. He was immediately awarded the title of censor. When sang Weihan went out of the capital to guard Xiangzhou and successively served as the governor of Taining and Jinchang, he asked the imperial court to let Fan Zhi work for him. When sang Weihan was Prime Minister for the second time, fan Zhiqian was promoted to wailang and zhishiguan. More than a year later, he called Fan Zhi into the imperial court to be a scholar of the Imperial Academy, and he was also a doctor of the Ministry of comparison and a scholar of zhizhigao.

When Khitan invaded the border, Shi Chonggui ordered Liu Zhiyuan and other 15 generals to fight. That night, Fan Zhi was on duty in the middle of the court. Shi Chonggui ordered to call all the scholars to draft the imperial edict. Fan Zhi said, "the palace city has been closed. If you call people again, I'm afraid the situation will be revealed." Fan Zhi drafted the imperial edict alone, which was highly valued for his excellent words and reasoning, and was praised at that time. At the beginning of the later Han Dynasty, Jiafeng Fanzhi was the official of Zhongshu Sheren and the Minister of Hubu.

Every time Guo Wei sent envoys to deal with military affairs, it was opportune. Guo Wei asked who was the envoy who drafted the edict. Zhou Zu sighed: "what a prime minister!"

Zou Ming Hou Zhou

Guo Wei attacked the Imperial Palace from Yedi. The capital was in chaos. Fan Zhi was hiding among the people. Guo Wei sent people to look for it everywhere. Later, he found it. He was very happy. At that time, it was snowing heavily. Guo Wei untied his robe and gave it to Fan Zhi. He also ordered Fan Zhi to draft the Empress Dowager's edict and discuss the etiquette of welcoming Xiangyin. Fan Zhi drafted it quickly, which was in line with Guo Wei's mind. So Guo Wei told the Empress Dowager to appoint Fan Zhi as the Minister of the Ministry of war and the Deputy privy minister.

In the early years of Guangshun in the Later Zhou Dynasty (951), Guo Weijia worshipped him as the Minister of Zhongshu, pingzhangshi, and the grand Bachelor of Jixian hall. The next day, he also served as a counsellor in Privy Council. After Jiao Si, he was promoted to the official position of Zuo pushe, the servant under the door, pingzhangshi, and supervising the revision of national history. After Guo Wei came back from the expedition against Gao Ping, he became an official situ and a Bachelor of hongwenguan.

In the third year of Xiande's reign (956), Fan Zhi became an official in the imperial court, but he could not put his hands down. When someone comforted him, Fan Zhi said, "some people who are good at physiognomy say that I will become prime minister in the future. If this is the case, how can we deal with political affairs without learning political skills? " Later, he followed Chai Rong in his expedition to Huainan. Most of the imperial edicts were drafted by him, and the literati in Wuzhong were not surprised. Every time Fan Zhi issued the imperial edict, he never disobeyed the laws and decrees. He ordered the county magistrate to be assassinated. He must take the registration of registered permanent residence as the top political matter. Every time the imperial court sent envoys to inspect mintian and prison litigation, Fan Zhi met them, stated to them the emperor's intention of worrying about diligence, and then sent them. Chai Rong had conquered Huainan and was stationed in shouhe and Haohe. He was determined to take it and was ready to go to Yangzhou. Fan Zhi thought that the army had been fighting for a long time. After weeping with Wang Pu, Chai Rong gave up the idea. When Chai Rong came to Yangzhou for the second time, Dou Yi was angry with Shizong, and he didn't know what he was going to be convicted of. Fan Zhi goes to the palace to see Chai Rong. Knowing that he is here to save Dou Yi, Chai Rong stands up to avoid him. Fan Zhi came forward and said, "Dou Yi is a close minister. His fault is very small and should not be killed." So he took off his official hat, kowtowed and wept, and said, "can you make the Lord angry and cause the next minister to die? Ask for forgiveness for Dou Yi's sins. " Chai Rong's anger subsided. He returned to his seat and immediately sent an envoy to forgive Dou Yi.

In the summer of the fourth year of Xiande (957), Fan Zhi followed Chai Rong and returned from his expedition to Shouzhou to increase the number of knights. Fan Zhi pointed out that because of the complexity of laws and regulations, there is no basis for the severity of the case, officials can be predestined. Chai Rong specially ordered him to examine and approve the law in detail, which is the criminal code.

In the summer of the sixth year of Xiande (959), Chai Rong went to the north and Fan Zhi stayed in the capital because of illness. Chai Rong gave him millions of money for medical treatment and medicine. When Chai Rongping arrived at Guannan and Yingzhou, Fan Zhi met him on the left side of the road. When the army returned to the capital, Chai Rong appointed Wei Renpu as prime minister, and appointed Fan Zhi and Wang Pu to serve in the Privy Council. When Chai Rong was seriously ill, Fan Zhi went to the palace to accept his dying orders. When Chai zongxun ascended the throne, he added Fan Zhi to Kaifu, Yitong and Sansi, and granted Xiao Guogong the title.

Serve the Song Dynasty

From Zhao Kuangyin's northern expedition to Chenqiao mutiny, he was still in the capital (it is recorded in the history of Song Dynasty and the chronicles of the emperor song Tongjian that the Russian soldiers and soldiers supported him, not that he led Wang Pu and others to meet Zhao Kuangyin. Here are two meanings). At this time, Fan Zhi was eating in the building. Zhao Kuangyin led Wang Pu and Wei Renpu to meet him. Zhao Kuangyin sobbed at him and stated that he was forced to support him. Before Fan Zhi and others answered, Luo Yanhuan of the military academy raised his knife to Fan Zhi and said, "we have no master. Today we must have a son of heaven." Zhao Kuangyin scolded Luo Yanhuan. Fan Zhi went down to the palace, took Wang Pu's hand and said, "it's our crime to send the general in a hurry." Nail pinched Wang Pu's hand almost bleeding. Then he questioned Zhao Kuangyin face to face and said, "the emperor Shizong of the former dynasty kept Taiwei, just like his son. Now his body is not cold, how can you do that?" On one side, Zhao Kuangyin's younger brother, Zhao Kuangyi, was in tears. But Fan Zhi knew that the situation was over, so he said, "now that it's over, don't be too hasty. Since ancient times, emperors have had the ceremony of abdication. Now it can be held." Therefore, he made a detailed statement and said, "since Taiwei accepted abdication through etiquette, he should serve the Empress Dowager as his mother, support the young master as his son, and never fail to live up to the old kindness of the former Emperor." Zhao Kuangyin made a promise with tears, and then ascended the throne with the support of Fan Zhi, Wang Pu and other officials. Therefore, song Taizu respected Fan Zhi and continued to regard him as prime minister.

At the beginning of the Song Dynasty, he was appointed as an official and a servant, and was dismissed as a privy officer. Soon after he was ill, Zhao Kuangyin went to his house and gave him two hundred taels of gold, one thousand taels of silver, two thousand pieces of silk and two million yuan. Zhao Kuangyin had just ascended the throne, but he was modest and restrained in all things. As for the relatives in the vassal Town, there was no feudalism, and there was no official position for the assistant staff. Therefore, Fan Zhi said: "since ancient times, when emperors started their foundation, they all enfeoffed their children and set up barriers. Once the clan and relatives prospered, the country could be consolidated for a long time. In my opinion, the emperor's younger brother, Zhao Guangyi, the governor of Taining army, has gained fame since he was a general in the army and established himself as a vassal town. Zhao Guangmei, the defense envoy of Jiazhou, is a mature man who pays attention to self-cultivation and good deeds. He begged for a seal and a title. Although the prince and daughter are still babies, please issue an imperial edict to let the relevant departments implement the enfeng system. This is my wish. I also heard that the prime minister should recommend talented people to assist the emperor. I think that Lu Yuqing, the scholar of Duanming palace, and Zhao Pu, the Deputy envoy to the Privy Council, are well versed in the way of governing the country. They have been dominating the government for a long time. Their loyalty to the public can be relied on. They are requested to be granted important positions in the imperial court so that their talents can be applied for development. " Zhao Kuangyin praised and adopted his opinions.

At first, when the prime minister met with the emperor to discuss important political affairs, the emperor would order the prime minister to sit down and discuss them face to face. The emperor retired after giving him tea. The Tang Dynasty and the five dynasties also followed this system. Fan Zhi and others were afraid of Zhao Kuangyin's wisdom and wisdom. They wrote official documents to Zhao Kuangyin and stated to him that "only in this way can the ministers inherit the holy will and avoid the fault of recklessness." Zhao Kuangyin adopted the idea. From then on, more and more people began to play the throne, and began to abolish the old rites of sitting.

In the early years of Qiande (963), Zhao Kuangyin will worship heaven in Yuanqiu and appoint Fan Zhi as the envoy of rites. Fan Zhi discussed the old rules and regulations with the envoys Zhang Zhao and Liu wensou, and approved the painting of southern suburb salute. Zhao Kuangyin specially praised them. From then on, the etiquette system began to be perfect, and Fan Zhi made his own preface.

die in one's bed

After the ceremony, Fan Zhi was granted the title of Duke of Lu. Fan Zhi repeatedly declined to Zhao Kuangyin, but Zhao Kuangyin did not allow it.

In the first month of the second year of Qiande (964), Fan Zhi, Wang Pu, and Wei Renpu died on the same day, and Fan Zhi was awarded the title of Prince Taifu. In September of the same year, Fan Zhi died at the age of 54.

On his deathbed, Fan Zhi warned his son, Fan Yu, not to ask the imperial court for posthumous titles or to carve tombstones. After hearing the news, Zhao Kuangyin left the court in grief. In pursuit of Zhongshu order, he gave 500 pieces of silk and 100 stones of millet and wheat to the fan family for funeral.

Anecdotes and allusions

Fan has a strong memory of physical mechanics and is sensitive in nature. He Ning was in charge of the tribute department as an academician. Looking at Fan Zhi's examination words, I think highly of him. He Ning also ranked Fan Zhi in this number because he was 13 when he became a scholar. Gongyuan called the incident "spreading the mantle". Later, fan Zhiguan ascended the throne, became Prince Taifu, and was granted the title of Duke of Lu, just like he Ning.

Personality traits

Fan Zhi is impatient and likes to refute people face to face and make them yield. He is honest and honest, and has never accepted gifts from people from all sides

Chinese PinYin : Fan Zhi