The turmoil in the imperial court seems to have nothing to do with Luoyang. As one of the accompanying capitals, many retired officials live here.
At the same time, there are many famous families here.
For example, the former Prime Minister Lu Mengzheng came to the south of the Lu family and settled here.
Kou Zhun also lives here now. Although Liu E doesn't like this veteran minister, on the surface he treats Kou Zhun well and deserves everything he deserves.
The job of staying behind in Xijing is completely a sinecure, and there is nothing serious to do on weekdays.
As we all know, Kou Zhun was a heavy drinker. His biggest hobby was drinking, and he wanted to drink good wine.
Ordinary wine costs about 50 Wen per liter, but the wine Kou Zhun drank was silver bottle wine, which cost 500 Wen per liter.
Not only that, Kou Zhun's drinking capacity is also very large. He can drink two or three liters at a time. In terms of drinking expenses alone, Kou Zhun drinks several bucks a day.
Thanks to Kou Zhun's wealth, if he were an ordinary person or a low- to mid-level official, he would probably go bankrupt.
On this day, Kou Zhun did not hold a banquet with wine as usual. The reason why he did not hold a banquet today is also very simple. Yesterday he received a greeting invitation, and today he has a descendant visiting him.
Zhang Dexiang, a magistrate of Quandu branch and a doctor of the ancestral temple, happened to be passing through Luoyang. Zhang Dexiang was born in the Zhang family in Pucheng. He met Kou Zhun because of his cousin Yang Yi.
The Zhang family in Pucheng was a famous family in the south. During the Song Dynasty, every time a scholar was admitted, the names of the children of the Zhang family could be found on the list, almost without interruption, and there were even multiple children of the Zhang family living together on the list.
The most well-known should be the list of the second year of Jiayou. Zhang Dun and Zhang Heng's uncle and nephew were on the same list, and Zhang Heng was the top pick in that list.
The Jiayou Second Year List is also known as the Millennium Number One Dragon and Tiger List.
The two brothers Su Shi and Su Che, Zhang Zai who called out the Four Sentences of Hengqu, the Neo-Confucian master Cheng Hao, the two brothers Cheng Yi, and the two brothers Zeng Gong and Zeng Bu.
In the future, the most effective generals of the new party were Lu Huiqing, Wang Anshi's close comrade-in-arms (although the two later turned against each other), and Zhang Dun, the iron-blooded prime minister who left behind the legacy of "Prince Duan is frivolous and cannot rule the world."
In this list, there are three of the eight great masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties, the two brothers Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi, who are the masters of Neo-Confucianism, and the two brothers who set up a heart for the world, establish a destiny for the people, carry forward the unique knowledge for the saints, and create peace for all generations.
Zhang Zai.
Although Lu Huiqing, Zhang Dun, and Zeng Bu were not as famous as the above people, they were all high-ranking ministers and became famous ministers at that time.
In addition, there was also a Confucian general Wang Shao who helped the Northern Song Dynasty expand the border area for more than 2,000 miles. The expansion of the border area for more than 2,000 miles was also the largest military victory in foreign wars since the founding of the Northern Song Dynasty.
Zhang Heng's ability to defeat Su Shi and others and take the lead was definitely not just luck.
His own talent is very important, and the family tradition of Pucheng Zhang's family is also very important.
An interesting thing happened in this ranking. Zhang Heng, the top scholar, was Zhang Dun's nephew. Zhang Dun gave up his status as a Jinshi because he was ashamed to be ranked below his juniors.
Two years later, at the age of 25, Zhang Dun took part in the imperial examination again and passed the imperial examination again.
Although the Pucheng Zhang family has had Jinshi for generations, at this time, the Pucheng Zhang family was only a prominent family in the south and had not yet become a famous family with worldwide fame.
Zhang Dexiang was a crucial figure in Pucheng Zhang's future achievements.
Zhang Dexiang was a Jinshi in the fifth year of Xianping (1002). Wang Zeng, Wang Sui, and Han Yi were all in the same year as him. Thanks to his cousin Yang Yi's relationship, there were many people from Zhang Dexiang and Kou Zhun's line.
Have contacts.
Recently, there has been a lot of commotion in the capital because of the difficulty in questioning the law of tea. Zhang Dexiang, the official to the Quanduzhizhi magistrate, is not a member of Ding Wei's group.
Therefore, he was sent to other places by Ding Wei and others to collect news.
After traveling in circles for more than a month, Zhang Dexiang's mission was basically completed. On the way back to Beijing, he made a special detour to Xijing to visit Kou Zhun.
After Zhang Dexiang attained the rank of Jinshi, he was first appointed as a judge in Dali Temple, and served as the magistrate of Shaowu Guihua County. Later, he served as the magistrate of Yushan County in Xinzhou, observed and judged official affairs in Gunzhou, and became an official in Taizhou, Nanxiong Prefecture (now Nanxiong, Guangdong) and other places.
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After serving as a local official for more than ten years, Zhang Dexiang was recommended by his cousin Yang Yi and was ordered to take the examination. From then on, he became a capital official.
Zhang Dexiang was able to change his position from selecting people to being a capital official. Although it was mainly due to Yang Yi's connections, it was also closely related to Kou Zhun.
Therefore, Kou Zhun can be regarded as an important figure in his official career.
The last time Kou Zhun returned to Beijing, Zhang Dexiang wanted to meet him outside the city, but because of Wang Zeng's relationship, he couldn't go.
Later, Zhang Dexiang couldn't get away because he was busy with official duties and had no time to make a special trip to Xijing.
noon.
As expected, Kou Zhun took Zhang Dexiang to drink again. He had no other hobbies. Now that he was a wealthy and idle man, he naturally couldn't let go of drinking.
Although there were only two people at this banquet, he and Zhang Dexiang, so they couldn't enjoy themselves.
Looking at Kou Zhun drinking from the cow, Zhang Dexiang felt his head pounding.
"Kou Xiang, you should drink less of this wine."
Hearing this, Kou Zhun waved his hand.
"If you are happy in life, you must have all the fun. Don't let the golden bottle stand in the sky. I have dedicated my life to the court. What's wrong with enjoying it now?"
As he spoke, Kou Zhun clapped his hands and signaled the dancers in the courtyard to continue dancing.
"Come on, let's play music and dance!"
Not far away, a well-dressed middle-aged man couldn't help but reveal a wry smile when he heard Kou Zhun's words.
This man's name was Kou Sui, and he was Kou Zhun's son. He was originally Kou Zhun's nephew. Because Kou Zhun only had a daughter and no children, he adopted him as his son.
In fact, Kou Sui tried to persuade Kou Zhun to drink less, but it was of no use.
With my father's qualifications and character, even if the official personally issued an order to prohibit my father from drinking, I'm afraid he wouldn't be able to control it.
As time went by, Kou Sui stopped caring about it. What his father said was right. He had devoted most of his life to the Song Dynasty. Now he is old and cannot enjoy it?
Zhang Dexiang thought for a while and persuaded him earnestly.
"Prime Minister Kou, the court is now dominated by sycophants, and the court needs you. Maybe one day the officials will summon you to join the court and preside over the affairs of the court again."
"So, for the sake of the world, you still need to take care of yourself."
This was not the first time that Kou Zhun heard such remarks, and it was not the first time that Zhang Dexiang persuaded him. It seemed that such remarks could not sway him from drinking.
The Kou family was originally a famous family, and Kou Zhun had lived a luxurious life since he was a child. How could he change it just by asking for so many years?
Therefore, Kou Zhun smiled heartily and waved his hand.
"I know my body very well. This little bit of wine will not cause any problem at all."
Hearing this, Zhang Dexiang stopped admonishing him because it was useless. Kou Xiang drank too much partly out of habit and partly out of leisure.
We have to find something for Kou Xiang to do to distract Kou Xiang's attention.
Thinking of this, Zhang Dexiang had a vague idea in his mind.
Perhaps, this easier tea method is an opportunity.