1, the first one to lose face: Aurora
In the seventh year of Tiansheng (1029), Liu E, the empress dowager of Zhang Xian, refused to delegate power to the government and asked Renzong, who was still immature at that time, to lead officials to celebrate their birthday in Huiqingtang. Fan Zhongyan thought it was impolite, so he tried his best to tell Song Renzong that it would undermine the majesty of the emperor and suggested that Injong give up worship. After the suggestion was not adopted, he went to the Queen Mother and asked her to delegate her power to Renzong.
Yan Shu, who was kind to Fan Zhongyan, heard about it, and criticized him for being impulsive and not thinking carefully, which harmed his own future and brought trouble to others. However, Fan Zhongyan wrote back a "Letter from the Prime Minister and Assistant Minister Yan". He said passionately that he would never flatter himself as a courtier, and he would say so as long as it was beneficial to the court, even if it led to death.
The following year, he took the initiative to apply for transfer from the capital. Friends sent him outside the capital, and they all praised "Fan Jun's trip was extremely glorious".
2. Being downgraded again: the brighter.
In the second year of Ming Dow (1033), because Queen Guo had no children, the Prime Minister abandoned the Queen in Shuren, which caused an uproar. Fan Zhongyan led his ministers to remonstrate and tried to dissuade Renzong, but he was expelled from Beijing on the same day.
Officials did not hesitate to leave the city to bid farewell to Fan Zhongyan. This time, they said, "Fan Jun's trip is more glorious!"
3. Three times: You Guang
You Jing for three years (1036), Fan Zhongyan was demoted for the third time and planted in the hands of his sworn enemy Lv Yijian again. At that time, Lv Yijian, as a recorder, cronyism, cronyism, cronyism and domination of the imperial court.
Fan Zhongyan drew a map of officials according to his own investigation and presented it to the emperor, denouncing Lv Yijian's selfishness in front of ministers. Two people who are not at peace with each other are in the same boat.
Later, because of the capital, Fan Zhongyan angered the powerful and was exiled to Raozhou.
This time, more people came to see him off. His relatives and friends Chao rushed out of the city with wine to say goodbye to him: "Fan Jun's trip is particularly glorious!"
Fan Zhongyan did not see a trace of melancholy in these three relegations. Instead, he humorously explained to relatives and friends that if he was demoted again, he would ask them to prepare roast mutton to see him off. I'm afraid only Fan Zhongyan has such a free and easy mind.
Fan Zhongyan, who was demoted, had a miserable life. His wife died in Raozhou, and he was still dying on his sickbed. The poet Mei wrote a poem "Lingwu Fu" to him, urging him to live a peaceful life as long as he kept his mouth shut. Who knows, Fan Zhongyan also replied to his "Lingwu Fu", claiming that "I would rather die and live than be silent". This sentence will remain immortal with Yueyang Tower and become the spiritual embodiment of Fan Zhongyan's noble bearing.
Fan Zhongyan's colleague, Han Qi, later paid a visit to the Prime Minister and praised him for being "loyal to the universe and reflecting on the sun and the moon". The former is worth learning from the ancients, while the latter can learn from the newcomers. "
He is not only a lifelong teacher. Everyone who is responsible for inheriting China culture has been familiar with his writing since he was young. His spirit has already entered the blood of China people with that faint ink fragrance, and it is full of vitality.
Author Mu Yi, a post-90s girl who worships Fan Zhongyan very much.