In the fourth year of Kaiyuan in the Tang Dynasty (AD 716), the champion of Bingchen Branch was Fan Chongkai from Neijiang, Zizhou (now Neijiang, Sichuan).
There are not many records about Fan Chongkai in historical materials, but it is said that he was a young man who was eager to learn, had lofty aspirations, and was extremely knowledgeable. Fan Chongkai is quick-witted and quick-witted. Such people naturally have excellent test-taking ability. Therefore, it is reasonable to get good grades in the imperial examinations.
Li Longji, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty, once built a building in Xingqing Palace, called “Calyx Xianghui Building”. After Lou Cheng, Li Longji held a feast for princes, nobles, and high-ranking officials in the court to celebrate. In order to help the top leaders, Fan Chongkai deliberately wrote “The Fu of the Calyx Tower”. Li Longji, who likes arty style, appreciates it greatly after reading it, and evaluates it as the best in the world. Being awarded the first imperial seal, Fan Chongkai was out of the limelight for a while.
As the longest-serving emperor of the Tang Dynasty, Li Longji can be called a figure with two points of merit and demerit. In the early days of his administration, Li Longji was able to do his best and focus on selecting and appointing talents. In the Tang Dynasty, a “prosperous age of Kaiyuan” appeared with strong national strength, political clarity, economic development and cultural prosperity. In the middle and late period of his power, Li Longji began to become faint. He trusted and reused traitors, favored concubine Yang Guifei, and lived a luxurious and flashy life. In particular, he had a legacy of raising tigers and condoned An Lushan’s growth, which led to the outbreak of the “An-Shi Rebellion” that lasted for eight years, causing great damage to the country and people’s livelihood, and causing the Tang Dynasty to decline.
If an emperor reigns for too long, it is inevitable that there will be a situation of laziness and laziness. On the other hand, even if a person is shrewd and capable, and in a long-term atmosphere of praise and flattery, it is inevitable that he will gradually step into a lost path and lose his basic judgment. In this case, the person who feels better about himself is more likely to go from taking it for granted to fluttering and then fainting under the praise of others.
Fan Chongkai has a fellow classmate named Xue Yong. The reason why this person is mentioned is because a story related to the imperial examination happened to him. Xue Yong had been a high-ranking government official such as the Minister of Rites and the Minister of Personnel, but he was a two-faced person with different words and deeds.
One year, Xue Yong heard that the government was going to appoint himself as the chief examiner of the imperial examination. On the stage, Xue Yong pretended to be selfless and not selfish, and told his colleagues and subordinates with certainty that he would adhere to principles, act impartially, and admit candidates strictly in accordance with the prescribed standard conditions.
On the first day of the new year, when Xue Yong went to his brother-in-law’s house to pay New Year’s greetings, he asked if anyone in their family took the imperial examinations that year. His eldest sister pointed to her son and said, “Our family Pei Shu will participate.” This Pei Shu is not the same person as the prime minister who was killed by Zhu Wen in Baimayi at the end of the Tang Dynasty. The two people lived more than a hundred years apart. However, in some historical documents, the deeds of the two Pei Shu were mistakenly mixed up, which should be corrected.
After hearing that Pei Shu was going to take the imperial examination, Xue Yong pretended to be serious and said, “Our thirty-six sons (referring to Pei Shu) are just the talents that the country needs. Therefore, you don’t have to ask for it. I took special care of him, he was admitted as a pinch.” Pei Shu is a very strong-willed young man, he heard Xue Yong’s overtones, and said disdainfully, “Uncle is self-deprecating, it turned out to be a personal statement. The two-faced person who does the same thing and the queen does it!” After speaking, he took a glass of wine and poured it on the ground, swearing, “I, Pei Shu, are upright, and I will do things according to my true ability. If my uncle is the chief examiner, I will never do it. Sign up for the exam!” Pei Shu’s move made everyone embarrassed. His mother picked up a stick and beat Pei Shu while forcing him to apologize to his uncle Xue Yong. But the stubborn Pei Shu never bowed his head and gave in.
In the second year of Yongtai (766 AD), the chief examiner appointed by the imperial court was Jia Zhi. Pei Shu, who had no worries, just signed up for the exam and won the first place in one fell swoop. After Xue Yong heard the news, he went to congratulate him, but Shu Li ignored him. After a long time, the two became strangers. After much talk from relatives and friends, the relationship between the two eased slightly. Pei Shu, who is upright and has a deep sense of righteousness, is really an admirable and good young man.
Xue Yong’s character and official morality are indeed very problematic. After mastering the power of cadres and personnel (Officer of the Ministry of Personnel), Xue Yong was severely demoted (relegated to Shezhou Governor) because of his favoritism in the selection and appointment of officials. Later, Xue Yong, who was favored by the emperor because he was a “gentle old minister”, made a comeback and served as a high-ranking official at the level of deputy prime minister (Shangshu Zuocheng). But it didn’t take long for Xue Yong to commit another crime. During his tenure in Shezhou, his behavior of concealing and embezzling huge amounts of public funds was exposed. This time, Xue Yong was subjected to a more severe cliff-like demotion, and he was suddenly demoted from the deputy prime minister level to the deputy county level (Lianshan County Lieutenant).
Fan Chongkai, the champion of the undergraduate program, has a younger brother named Fan Yuankai. Fan Yuankai was also a great talent at that time, and his poems and articles became famous for a while. Fan Yuankai and Fan Chongkai were called “Wugang Shuangfeng” by the people of the time.
One Point Gudi