Among the eight masters in Tang and Song Dynasties, if we say that the person with the most mediocre qualifications, the most down-to-earth personality and the hardest study is Ceng Gong. Ceng Gong's fame is far less than that of others, but this is the true nature of an ordinary person.
Later generations gave him an evaluation and called him the most pedantic person in the world. "pedantic" means pedantic. In fact, most people who adhere to orthodox laws are regarded as pedantic. But that doesn't mean they are all wrong. And "broad" refers to two aspects: mind, character and knowledge. Take reading as an example. Ceng Gong dabbles in a wide range, reading everything about agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery. Just don't read Buddhism and Taoism books. He is very disgusted with these. It can be said that he is another successor who firmly defends Confucianism after Han Yu; A generation of articles; A poor and hardworking poor scholar!
? Regard backwardness as the norm
Compared with Han Yu, their family is similar. Ceng Gong's old father was a scholar at the age of thirty-six. Since then, he has been a local official, and the biggest one is just a magistrate of a county. Later, he was impeached and dismissed, and his meager financial resources were broken. However, Ceng Gong didn't pass the entrance examination for many years, so he had the legendary experience of farming in rural areas for ten years.
In the third year of Jing You (A.D. 1036), 18-year-old Ceng Gong and his eldest brother Zeng Ye started from their hometown Nanfeng County and went to Beijing to catch the exam. After the results were announced, both of them failed the list and became a couple. He is my brother. I was in a bad mood, but Ceng Gong met someone at this time. This man is more an acquaintance than an acquaintance, because he and Ceng Gong are related. This man is Wang Anshi, a famous reformer later.
According to historical records, Ceng Gong's cousin married Wang Yi, Wang Anshi's father. In this way, Wang Anshi should call Ceng Gong uncle. At that time, Wang Anshi was only a young man of 16 years old, and he was two years younger than Ceng Gong. So although they have an uncle's name, they are actually brothers.
Wang Anshi said: "At this time, young people are constantly striving for self-improvement, and their spirit is glory for the sun. It doesn't matter if you fail the exam. Go back to review. Come back in two years. " Ceng Gong failed for the first time, so he didn't take it seriously and soon packed his bags and went home. Soon he wrote a long poem to Wang Anshi, expressing his ambition and admiration for him. When the two met for the first time, everything was quiet.
By the first year of Li Qing, 23-year-old Ceng Gong, accompanied by his younger brother Zeng, came to Beijing again to participate in scientific research, while his older brother had given up the exam. The two brothers studied in imperial academy for some time and took exams together. As a result, both failed. Later, someone wrote a poem:
In the triennial exhibition, two scholars of the Zeng family were unsuccessful.
There is a curtain between Shuang Yanzi, and a pair flies.
To tell the truth, this poem is very irritating. Last time I came to the list with my eldest brother, this time I changed my younger brother. It seems that all the Zeng children are idiots. Let's fold them in half. Nine times out of ten, this is what his parents said. After Ceng Gong and his younger brother failed the list, they felt very uncomfortable, but they were also laughed at and ridiculed by the villagers. This custom has always been like this.
Ouyang Xiu once wrote a passage: When he became an official, he returned to his hometown with wealth. This is the honor of human feelings, but the present is the same as the past. When Gai Shifang was poor, he met with difficulties and was a beggar, so he was easily insulted. Once the tall horse is riding, the banner leads the way, the rider is behind, and the people on the road are tired and look forward to consulting; The so-called mediocre husbands and stupid women run away in fear and sweat, crawl in shame and repent in mistakes. This humble man was successful and prosperous at that time, and his predecessors were even more proud of his clothes and brocade.
The baby is bitter in heart. But there is no way. Life goes on. And his nephew, Wang Anshi, was also ridiculed by his relatives. This time, he won the Jinshi and almost ranked first. He sent a poem to comfort his uncle: Ceng Zi's article is nothing, and there is a competition among the stars in Jianghan. Using talent is not flattering, but hurting all children. Don't slander me. Without Ceng Zi, he will eventually become an emperor. If you die unfortunately, you will still be a class and a young man the day after tomorrow.
I have to complain: Wang Anshi really can't talk. At least it's your uncle. He always mentions the word "death". Although the praise is good, the price is too high. And this time, Ceng Gong's article has not reached the point of hitting the nail on the head. In this way, he returned to his hometown to make a living.
? Ouyang Gong's chief disciple
Ceng Gong is twelve years younger than Ouyang Xiu. The first time I read his article was about Jia Yi being younger than the minister. This article is upright, taking Jia Yi's misfortune and the country's misfortune at a glance. Readers are full of indignation, regret and admiration. This is just Ceng Gong's type.
Ouyang Xiu, on the other hand, always ignored the common customs and took it as his duty to reform the literary atmosphere, which made Ceng Gong even more impressed. Both of them are fellow villagers in Jiangxi, so it is natural to worship him as a teacher.
Ceng Gong told Ouyang Xiu that his family was poor and he could only read and write, hoping to inspire him to become a saint. Being able to enter your door and learn from you is actually learning from saints. After Ceng Gong said these words, Ouyang Yongshu was deeply moved and gave him a lot of school supplies. Ceng Gong published several articles of his own, and Ouyang Xiu sat in the study drinking tea and reading every day. I often say to people around me: "I have hundreds of disciples, and I am most happy to get Ceng Gong as a disciple."
Ceng Gong studied under Ouyang Xiu, and his level soared, making him more and more famous. Now he has returned to the countryside to study and recommend Wang Anshi to his teacher. Wait until the seventh year of Li Qing, Ceng Gong's father received an imperial edict and went to Beijing to wait for the transfer of troops. At this time, the family is already very poor. Father and son packed their bags and set off for Bianjing.
It never rains but it pours. Not only did he not get any benefits from his visit to Beijing, but Ceng Gong's father died in the Nanjing Guest House. When he died, he was wrapped in a worn-out mat. In addition to being penniless, I still owe a lot of medical expenses and accommodation. Ceng Gong felt depressed and helpless. He didn't know how to transport his father's body back to his hometown for burial. At this time, former Prime Minister Du Yan extended his hand to him.
Du Yan not only paid off his debts, but also bought a coffin for his great-grandfather and gave Ceng Gong a sum of money to help him return home. Such kindness, self-consciousness, and unrequited, Ceng Gong wrote several articles in succession to thank Dade and vowed to uphold justice like Mr. Dade. ..
Take pleasure in farming.
Scholars are farming in the countryside. My first impression was Tao Yuanming, followed by Meng Haoran and then Ceng Gong. Tao Yuanming goes without saying that both Meng Haoran and Ceng Gong were somewhat forced. Does Ceng Gong like agriculture? To be honest, I didn't like it at first. But he had to do it.
It is different from other hermits who experience pastoral beauty, drink tea and play the piano and paint. They are enjoyment after success, or they are up for grabs. What about Ceng Gong? He will starve to death if he doesn't farm. Since Ceng Gong's father died of illness, the family has finally paid off the loan and has been penniless. At this time, Ceng Gong had a 40-year-old brother who was weak and had almost no labor force to take care of. There are four younger brothers and nine younger sisters, and the youngest is only five years old. Although dad has gone to the west. But as the second son of the family, can you ignore these? So Ceng Gong became the pillar of this family. In his poem, he said: "Time flies, sitting at dusk, family poetry has become independent. Businessmen are crowded with people, and all directions are afraid. I am like a cloud, flying in the wind. "
I remember my father had a sudden myocardial infarction right after graduating from college. I was sent to the hospital twice in a few months, and my meager savings were swept away in an instant. Moreover, I have not been admitted to the special post teacher myself, so I can't bring a little improvement to my family's predicament. I have no job, no girlfriend, no way out, and I don't know where my hope is. Often a person squatting on the side of the road confused. A squat is a long time. Later, I really couldn't find a way out, so I simply went home to herd sheep. During that time in the field, I kept thinking about Ceng Gong and the man who went back to his hometown to farm because there was no way out. I'm going to get married in my thirties like him. Maybe more than that.
Therefore, the most intuitive manifestation of this decade in Ceng Gong is a poor rural youth in his twenties with no background. And he is really just an ordinary person, not those who were labeled as "masters" from the beginning. Because of this, I like Ceng Gong.
? In Shan Ye, I eat my bread and drink my intestines.
Two years later (1050), Ceng Gong finally married a daughter-in-law. This woman is Zhao Deyi, the eldest daughter of Guanglu Shao Qing Zhao Zongke. Poor peasants in Ceng Gong can't afford a huge bride price. People can marry their daughters to him, an older young man, just because of one thing-being famous all over the world. Ceng Gong's articles were very famous at that time, surpassing Wang Anshi. Su Shi and others have not yet become famous. He has a famous "Mo Chi", which I believe will be liked by both me and some people who are mediocre but love books in later generations.
Mo Chi in this article is said to be the place where Wang Xizhi practiced writing. Because I often wash pens here, the pool was originally a fountain for making tea, but it turned into ink. Wang Xizhi simply dipped in water to write. The conclusion of this story in Ceng Gong's works is that the Book of Xi is good at night. If it can, it will cover itself with energy, which is unnatural. Then people who can't reach in the world are not as good as evil people. Then can you learn less? Those who want to be more moral are evil.
Ceng Gong put the emphasis of Wang Xizhi's calligraphy achievements on two words: diligence. Diligence can make up for it, and dripping water wears away the stone. No matter whether the talent is mediocre or brilliant, we must stick to this truth. However, some people still don't believe it, so Wang Anshi wrote Shang.
Ceng Gong knew this well, so even in the countryside, he didn't give up his studies. He built himself a study and named it "Nanxuan". Several green bamboos and vegetables were planted around, and the couple lived a quiet and comfortable life. Then write a poem:
There are dozens of dense bamboos, and there is high sentiment in dry days.
The wind has awakened you, and the rain is still clear to your distant eyes.
New bamboo shoots pass through moss stone skillfully, and the shade is slightly broken.
After everything is frosted, let's take a look at the color of the post getting brighter.
Contemporary people say that Ceng Gong can't write poetry. Judging from these daily notes, it really needs to be improved. But for a farmer who was still in the countryside at that time, it was unreasonable to ask for it by the standard of a first-class poet. What really made him famous was his achievements in the next twenty years.
The most pedantic person in the world
In the second year of Jiayou (1057), Ceng Gong took the imperial examination for the third time and eventually became a scholar. Zhang Ailing said: "Be famous early." If you reach a certain age, you will lose your original happiness even if you realize your dream. Because all your expectations have been erased on this long road. Everyone who lives in the present, including me, is defined by this sentence. However, Ceng Gong is different. Ceng Gong is a man with sage feelings. He is knowledgeable and ambitious. His ambition is not only to make a statement, but also to make contributions.
This time, under the guidance of Ceng Gong, my brother, cousin and brother-in-law all went to high school, and the ridicule of "climbing over the eaves" was washed away, but everyone looked at it. In the same year, there were Sur, Cheng Hao and Zhang Zai, which were called "Dragon and Tiger List" in the Song Dynasty.
Because Su Shi's writing style is extraordinary, there is a joke between him and his eldest brother Ceng Gong. Ouyang Slim, as the examiner, immediately wanted to be the first after seeing the most wonderful articles in the audience. But on second thought: Who but his disciple Ceng Gong could write such an article? So in order to avoid suspicion, I retired to the second place. This incident not only tells us that Su Shi's articles are not inferior to Ceng Gong's, but also reveals a message that Ouyang Xiu is particularly optimistic about Ceng Gong's articles. However, whether Su Shi or Ceng Gong, they finally caught up-caught up with the literary champion of reform.
In the second year of Jiayou (1057), Ceng Gong was appointed as the judicial army of Taiping government, and he embarked on the road of civil service. In contrast, the younger brothers' careers are smoother. In the second year of Xining, Wang Anshi began to "do things", while Ceng Gong had already started a diplomatic career of 12 years. Whenever Wang Anshi asks for tax laws such as young crops, exemption from service, equal loss, easy market and equal land, he will definitely implement them one by one. This has nothing to do with their years of brotherhood. As long as it benefits the people, he will actively implement it.
The Young Crop Law is being implemented. Although the poor households got the seeds, the taxes and loans were taken away after the autumn harvest, and their livelihood became a problem, so they could not spend the winter. Without further ado, Ceng Gong gave him food directly in the form of disaster relief. This not only charged the interest of the rich, but also helped those who were starving to death. Then, implement the "farmland system" to completely solve this problem. As for Garbo's laws, others almost started an uprising. However, Ceng Gong wrote to the emperor in Mizhou, saying, "I defended Mizhou yesterday, which is a place where many thieves pay attention to the law. I promote the armor law to ban thieves, but fortunately it will not be ridiculous. " In this way, he really realized the idea in Wang Anshi's mind and grasped the essence of reform.
In the third year of Yuanfeng, Zongshen appointed Ceng Gong to work in a tertiary hospital and said to him, "With your talent, it is no wonder that they want to frame you. You can stay here and do what you like later. " The following year, Ceng Gong began to write History of the Five Dynasties.
Any history of this country is not easy to repair. The word "taboo" has been deeply rooted in the bone marrow since ancient times, and people who claim to tell the truth often become rumors. As soon as Ceng Gong began to repair it, he was scolded by the emperor. Ceng Gong wrote an article "Entering Mao your legend and Xing" and told the story of "the sound of candles and axes". This is a taboo in the world, not only mentioned, but also said that this is to follow Yao and Shun's example and understand the political truth. Then someone stood up and slandered Ceng Gong. Fortunately, Zongshen was a wise monarch. The more people stand up and do their best to slander, the more Shenzong Yue feels that there is something else to hide. He called Ceng Gong and gave him a good scolding so that he could continue writing. Later, due to the lack of first-hand information, Ceng Gong gave up this great cause and was transferred to the Zhongshu Sheren. This is a promotion.
The article is eternal, and the gains and losses are well known.
In the fifth year of Yuanfeng, Ceng Gong's stepmother died. The following year, several brothers sent their mother's coffin home. When passing by Jiangning, Ceng Gong suddenly fell ill. So I lived in Wang Anshi's house. At that time, Wang Anshi had retired, and he saw in Dibao that the emperor told Cai Jing to try to be a calligrapher in China. Unconsciously, he said with emotion, "What can others do except edit the annotation text?" Not only for my uncle, but also for my disappointment with officialdom in my later years.
On this day, Wang Anshi pushed Ceng Gong to watch the pear blossom and willow dance in the yard. Ceng Gong can't talk because of illness. An Shi said, "I still remember that year when catkins were flying and we met in Beijing. Now, almost fifty years have passed. Fifty years, a snap of your fingers! " Ceng Gong nodded, and two lines of turbid tears overflowed from the corner of his eye. On April 1 1, he finally bid farewell to his 60-year-old good brother. Three years later, Wang Anshi died.
Looking back on Ceng Gong's life, he can be called a generation of Confucian. He is not only a pure scholar, a great writer, but also a charming gentleman with profound moral qualities. Some people laugh at him for being pedantic and not flexible, and he has not achieved much in seven States; Ten years of farming is tantamount to wasting one's time. But in fact, from the beginning, he just wanted to do everything down-to-earth and seriously. Whether writing words or farming; Whether for life or for the pursuit of ideals; Whether it's ridicule or admiration. He has been calm for ten years.
Lu Yao said, "Work like an ox and give like land." Only by never-ending persistence and continuous dedication can we live a meaningful life. And those who can do this, even an ordinary person, can leave their footprints in the long river of history.