Then why is Liu Yong called "Prime Minister of Thick Ink"? Because Liu Yong was not only an excellent politician in the Qing Dynasty, but also an excellent writer. According to historical records, Liu Yong is very enthusiastic and serious about his official duties. In his spare time, he likes collecting ancient books and literary works! Liu Yong's family is rich in books, including Buddhist scriptures, Taoism, rubbings, calligraphy and painting, novels, operas, storytelling, music scores, poems and other types of classical books. In addition, Liu Yong's collection of strange stones, brush inkstone, guqin musical instruments, etc. It was also called a must by everyone who also liked to collect at that time!
In addition, Liu Yong not only studied hundreds of classics, history and literature, but also was a famous calligrapher in Qing Dynasty. His calligraphy field was initiated by the Northern Song Dynasty. Because of his calligraphy achievements, Liu Yong, Cheng and Weng Fanggang are also called the four great calligraphers in Qing Dynasty. The lower case letters written by Liu Yong are evaluated by later generations as almost the same as those written by Wang Xizhi, Yan Zhenqing and Su Shi. In addition, the words written by Liu Yong have the characteristics of thick ink, strong body and strong bones, so the reputation of "Prime Minister with thick ink" comes from this!
In the thirty-eighth year of Qianlong, Liu Yong's father Liu Tongxun died of illness. According to the folk custom of Qing Dynasty, Liu Yong resigned and went home to be filial to his father. It was not until forty-one years after Qianlong's mourning period that Liu Yongcai returned to officialdom. Later, he was appointed as a bachelor of cabinet by Qianlong from the second-class officer and worked in the south study room. In the same year 10, he was appointed as the vice president of the restoration and arrangement of sikuquanshu. In addition, Liu Yong is also responsible for sorting out and editing local chronicles of the Qing Dynasty, maps of the imperial palace and the western regions, and official versions of the Qing Dynasty. Later, Gan Long also appointed examiners in charge of Jiangsu political studies and rural examinations.
And this meticulous "prime minister of thick ink" also had many anecdotes during the Qianlong period. It is said that once Gan Long summoned Liu Yong, a little louse came from nowhere and climbed all the way down the clothes to Liu Yong's beard. During this period, Gan Long found out, but he was afraid of Liu Yong's embarrassment, so he said it face to face and kept smiling without a word!
Liu Yong, because he didn't know, looked puzzled at Gan Long and tried to smile. Back in the house, the servant found the little lice on his beard and asked Liu Yong if he wanted to catch the lice and trample them to death. Who knows that Liu Yong, with high emotional intelligence, shook his head and said, "This little louse has been on my beard all the time, and he also met the emperor with me. It must be a louse with only blessings. You'll never catch it. Let it stay on my beard first. " Later, this interesting story spread, and from then on, the people talked about this "thick ink prime minister"!