Zheng Xia

Zheng Xia

Zheng Xia (1041-1119), whose name is Jiefu, was born in Fuqing, Fuzhou (now Fujian). He was a Jinshi in 1067, the fourth year of the reign of emperor yingzongzhi. All his life, he pleaded for the people's orders and achieved the goal of "low salary, frugality, and self-respect". His works include the collection of Xitang, the collection of works of Mr. Xitang, etc.

(overview chart source)

Life of the characters

Zheng Xia, whose name is Jiefu, was born in 1041, the first year of Qingli in the Northern Song Dynasty. He lived in Fushan, Haikou Town, Fuqing (now niuzhai Village), and later moved to Xitang, the county seat. Therefore, he is also known as "Mr. Xitang". In 1059, Zheng Hui, the father of Zheng Xia, was appointed as the wine tax supervisor of Jiangning (now Nanjing). Due to his father's low rank, honesty and uprightness, Zheng Xia had many brothers and sisters, so his family life was very poor. Zheng Xia's only way out is to study hard and become famous. He once wrote a poem: "leakage with the book, spring by bottle open." This is the portrayal of his diligent study career. In 1065, Zheng Xia went to his father's office and studied in Qingliang temple. At that time, Wang Anshi was the magistrate of Jiangning. He was known for his outstanding talent and attached great importance to him. He not only invited him to meet him, gave him encouragement and comfort, encouraged him to become a good scholar, but also sent his student Yang Ji to Qingliang temple to accompany Zheng Xia to study. In 1067, when Zheng Xia was 27 years old, he was a senior high school scholar. He was a general and a secretary. In 1069, Wang Anshi got the attention of emperor Shenzong of Song Dynasty, and took the post of political counsellor (i.e. Prime Minister) to carry out political reform. He immediately promoted Zheng Xia to Guangzhou (now Huangchuan County, Henan Province) and joined the army. He was in charge of the civil and criminal cases in Guangzhou. Once Zheng Xia tried all the suspected cases in Guangzhou, he clearly reported them to the police. According to Zheng Zhishi's request, he was grateful to Wang Anshi. In 1072, when Zheng Xia's term of office was over, he visited Wang Anshi when he came to Beijing to report on his work. At that time, the Imperial Court promulgated a new examination law to elect talents, and those who passed the examination could be promoted to Beijing officials. Wang Anshi let Zheng Xia use it in this way. Seeing the drawbacks of the new law, Zheng Xia disagreed with the implementation of the new law, so he refused politely on the pretext of not being familiar with the new law. He visited Wang Anshi many times, and Wang Anshi inquired what he saw and heard. He directly explained Wang Anshi's Qingpu law, exemption law, Baojia law, city change law, and the malpractice of causing harm to the people in the process of waging war on the border. Wang Anshi didn't answer. He didn't say much. After Zheng Xia left, he didn't go to see him any more. However, he still sent letters to Wang Anshi many times, stating the harm the new law caused to the people, hoping that he would change his ways. The difference of political opinions made Wang Anshi's eyes turn from green to white. Zheng Xia not only did not get the promotion he deserved, but was demoted to be a small official in the capital. Although Wang Anshi didn't like Zheng Xia, he still thought that Zheng Xia was a loyal person. He wanted to use him. First, he asked his son Wang Xun to tell Zheng Xia that the state had set up a Council for the selection of talents. Wang Anshi wanted Zheng Xia to take the post of reviewing the Council. Then he asked Li Dongmei, a disciple, to persuade him again. Zheng Xia said, "I don't read much, so I can't hold an important post in the review of the Council. In order to increase my talent and knowledge, I applied for advice from Xiangjun. However, Xiangjun's argument was that he should be an official first. This shows that the etiquette used by Xiangjun to treat the street officials is too simple. Xiang Jun, if you really want to promote Zheng Xia to achieve Su Zhi, then please take out the things that Zheng Xia has offered for the benefit of the people and do one or two of them, so that I can be worthy of using them. Isn't that better? " at that time, the trade law of the city announced that small businessmen thought it was hard. Those who carried water, had haircuts, sold porridge and tea could not do business without paying taxes. Taxes have been increased layer upon layer. Some goods tax money exceeds the capital, and small traders even fight to death. Through Li Dongmei's statement, Zheng Xia was partially adopted by Wang Anshi. For example, the peddlers were exempt from tax, the businessmen who taxed too much were reduced by seven tenths, and the others were ignored. Zheng Xia didn't mean to be humble in his official position, but he was also loyal to his duty and went to inspect the city gate in person. From the sixth year of Xining (1073) to march of the next year, there was no rain. The land was bare and the people didn't make a living. Often the wind was blowing and the sky was dark. The people supported the old and carried the young. They were tired, and they were in trouble and had no clothes to wear. Local officials all over the country urged the victims to return the principal and interest borrowed by the Qingmiao law. The hungry people who were in good condition bought maimaifu to eat, but the poor could only satisfy their hunger with grass roots and trees. They also had to be equipped with locking instruments and tools of torture to remove the tiles and trees, and sold the property to repay the official money. Knowing that Wang Anshi couldn't listen to the harsh advice, Zheng Xia drew a picture of refugees in March 1074 and wrote a book on the new law into the refugees, asking the court to strike down the new law. The memorials were sent to the gate of the pavilion, but they were not accepted. They had to pretend that they were secret and urgent reports. They were sent to the Yintai division and presented to the emperor Shenzong. They said, "but you can cry with your eyes, and what's more? As your Majesty's minister said, ten days without rain, that is, begging to cut off the minister Xuande door, in order to correct the crime of bullying. Sparse play, Shenzong repeatedly look at the picture, long call four, sleeve to enter, is the night sleep can't sleep. On the next day, the Kaifeng government was ordered to issue the money for exemption. The three secretaries investigated the city's law of change, and the Si Nong distributed the grain for Changping warehouse. The three guards reported to Xihe about the use of troops. The reasons for the people's Diaspora were reported from all walks of life. The Qing Miao and exemption laws were suspended, and the Fangtian and Baojia laws were banned together. A total of 18 measures were taken. The people cheered and congratulated each other, and Shenzong issued the "imperial edict of responsibility and bow" to ask for Frank words. Coincidentally, three days later, heavy rain, "far and near contact.". The assistant minister came in to congratulate them. The emperor Shenzong showed them the pictures and memorials of the refugees Zheng Xia had entered. At the same time, he blamed them for their wrong ways. They all bowed twice to thank them. Wang Anshi had to go up and ask to leave. It was only outside that they knew why Shenzong's new method had been eliminated. As a result, they "cut their teeth among the group of traitors", and handed over Zheng Xia to the censor's desk to "punish him for being good at sending horses and handing over crimes". Lu Huiqing and Deng Wan said to the emperor, "Your Majesty, over the past few years, you've forgotten your sleep and food, and achieved this beautiful policy. The world has been given it. Once you use the words of a madman to stop and abolish it, you don't care." the new party surrounded Shenzong, crying bitterly. Shenzong was convinced, and the new law was restored. When Zheng Xia saw that Wang Anshi had left his post, he recommended LV Huiqing to serve as a political adviser. He criticized him again. He selected biographies of Wei Zheng, Yao Chong, song Jing, Li Linfu and Lu Qi from the Tang Dynasty and painted them into two pictures, which were called "a picture of an upright gentleman, a minister of the state" and "a picture of a villain, a minister of Rong Yue". He thought that LV Huiqing, who was in power, was like Lin Fu but not like Chong and Jing, Playing for the crime of "slandering" and managing Tingzhou. When Zheng Xia went to Taikang, LV Huiqing accused him again and recovered him. "Huiqing proposed to die." emperor Shenzong said, "what Zheng Xia said is not for himself. He is loyal and praiseworthy. How can he go deep into it?" So he sent Zheng Xialiu to England. After Zheng Xia was demoted, he lived in a monk's house that was going to collapse. The British respected him regardless of the poor, the rich and the poor. They asked their children to study with him and build a house for him. In the first year of Yuanyou in the Northern Song Dynasty (1086), Emperor zhezong Zhao Xu ascended the throne and granted amnesty to the whole world. Only when Zheng Xia was pardoned did he return to Fuqing. After the joint recommendation of Su Shi and sun Jue, he was appointed professor of Quanzhou. In April of the first year of Shaosheng (1094) in the Northern Song Dynasty, Zhang Dun, Luo Zhiwen Yanbo and other 33 people were charged with crimes, aiming at "Yuanyou party members", and they attacked them politically. All these people were demoted and exiled, and Zheng Xia was demoted to Yingzhou again until the collapse of zhe Zong and the succession of Hui Zong in the third year of Yuanfu (1100) of the Northern Song Dynasty, when he recovered 33 demoted officials. In 1107, the first year of Daguan in the Northern Song Dynasty, Cai Jing became Prime Minister of the imperial court and established a monument for Yuanyou party members. He was imprisoned politically. Zheng Xia ranked 15th. He was dismissed and returned to his hometown for 12 years. He died in August of the first year of Xuanhe (1119). He died at the age of 79. He was buried in shuinanshan, xinfengli, Fuqing City (now the South Gate of Fuqing City). He sent a collection of Mr. Xitang to the world. In the third year of Shaoxi (1192) of the Southern Song Dynasty, he was granted the title of imperial fenglang and took his grandson Zheng Jiazheng as Shanyin Wei. In the sixth year of Jiading (1213) of the Southern Song Dynasty, the imperial court granted him the posthumous title of "Jie".

Character evaluation

General comments: Geng Jie is not vulgar and famous in the world. He loves the people, takes the people as the foundation, cares about the interests of the weak groups, runs around for the small people, does not lure them to gain wealth, and does not move to personal relationships. Although he has been hit repeatedly, he is determined to stay. Although his official position was humble, he was able to be thrifty and honest, which made Su Shi "never forget his soul and dream." He also said to himself that "no contribution to the country, no virtue to the people, if the Chinese clothing food, and steal no different.". Ye Xianggao, a member of the cabinet of Ming Dynasty, said: "after thousands of words of admonishment, I believe that red and green can understand the LORD; when I return to the place where I am the only one, I know that Qin and crane are harmful to people." Zhao Yanbin: "the salary is thin and thrifty, the official is humble and self-esteem.".

literary works

Anthology

Xitangji was originally 20 volumes, which was later deleted by Ye Xianggao of Ming Dynasty. Among the 10 volumes, there are Wanli edition of Ming Dynasty and Sikuquanshu edition. The collection of works of Mr. Xitang is 9 volumes, and the series of books of Hongshi gongshantang is kept today. There is one volume of Xitang poetry anthology, including 56 poetry anthologies of Song Dynasty.

poetry

Ancient friendship: sometimes the sea is exhausted, but this heart is drained. Thick ground sometimes crack, this heart no crack text. if you take this as a contrast, you will be dazzled by all kinds of bronze. Use this to benefit each other, BEIBI gold plate. On the other hand, there is no words on the back. Virtue and righteousness are high, and honor is first. It's like a day for thousands of years, and a feast for thousands of miles. this is the golden stone friendship. Who can talk with the knower. "Tongzizhong going to the West Tower" because I saw off my guests to the West Tower, I love Jiacheng and pillow the sea together. A thousand alleys,