Zhang Yuzhao, a famous historical figure in Ezhou, was a famous essayist and calligrapher in the late Qing Dynasty. Everyone knows that he is one of Zeng Guofan's four disciples, but who is his first teacher? Maybe not so many people know.
Zhang Yuzhao's first teacher is Yang Weinong from Yueshan Village, not far from Longtang Village, Donggou Town, Zhang Yuzhao's hometown.
When Zhang Yuzhao was young, he and his brother Zhang Yuxi studied under Yang Weinong and received enlightenment education. "As soon as the teacher saw it, he put me on his knee and gave me a sacred text. He wanted to fall into reality, and the roots of Japanese dung moved to Xia and Shang Dynasties. He worked hard for five years." Zhang Yuzhao is full of affection in Dedicated to Mr. Yang Weinong, describing his teacher's expectation and diligence in cultivating him. Therefore, Zhang Yuzhao laid a solid foundation for his scholarship.
The friendship between Zhang and Yang is very deep. According to Yang's Genealogy, Yang Qingxi, the cousin of Yang Weinong, once set up a library in Zhangjia, and was the teacher of his father Zhang Pingquan. Zhang Pingquan and Yang Weinong were friends when they were young, and they both studied at the gate of Yang Qingxi. After Zhang Pingquan died, Yang Weinong returned to his hometown from Xiangyang. He didn't go home first, but went directly to Zhang Pingquan's cemetery and wept bitterly. After Yang Weinong's death, Zhang Yuzhao gave a lecture at Huhu Academy. He held a funeral and ceremony for his disciples. Zhang Heyang's kindness became a much-told story.
Yueshan's style of writing, as well as Zebei Fanhu, actually produced a generation of masters like Zhang Yuzhao, which shows the prosperity of Yueshan's culture and education at that time.