kvmb Chapter 64 Zhang Xingcheng: A Man of Brilliant Talent and Integrity
Chapter 64 Zhang Xingcheng: A Man of Brilliant Talent and Integrity
Speaking of Zhang Xingcheng, a minister who dared to speak frankly and truly cared for his wise elder brother, he was a great figure in the Tang Dynasty who helped the country!
When Zhang Xingcheng was young, he studied under the great scholar Liu Xuan.
Liu Xuan often praised him, saying, "This young man is accomplished, has brilliant writing skills, and a broad mind. He is definitely a pillar of society who can accomplish great things."
Liu Xuan (a renowned scholar with a keen eye for talent): "This young man, Xingcheng, is no ordinary person! His literary talent is outstanding, and his demeanor is exceptional. He is definitely a future treasure of the nation!"
Zhang Xingcheng (with a calm smile): "Teacher, you flatter me. These are just small things, nothing special."
At the end of the Sui Dynasty, Zhang Xingcheng was already a junior official in the Imperial Secretariat. Later, he followed Wang Shichong for a while and became the Minister of Revenue.
At this point, Sizi blinked her curious big eyes, tilted her head and asked, "What kind of official is a Sancong Yuanwailang?"
Brother Zi'an stroked his chin and said, "Oh, well, we have to go back to the era of Emperor Wen of Sui. At that time, there were a few people in the Secretariat who were called Attendants-in-Ordinary. Their official rank wasn't high, only the third rank, but their work was not easy."
They had to be like the emperor's personal bodyguards, always available when called upon, and like the court's surveillance cameras, always on high alert.
Later, as this group grew, six different types of Attendant Gentlemen-at-Arms were created.
In the sixth year of the Kaihuang era, it was felt that some of the Attendants-in-Ordinary were too idle, so some of them were dismissed.
Then, in the third year of Emperor Yang of Sui's reign, he felt that some of the Attendant Gentlemen-at-Arms and Gentlemen-at-Arms were superfluous, so he simply had them "killed."
Zhang Xingcheng served at the Yezhetai (a high-ranking official post) during the late Sui Dynasty.
Zhang Xingcheng (pats his chest): "I'm just a minor official, which may not sound like much, but the fact that I'm still around proves that I can do great things!"
Si Zi asked curiously, "Who exactly is Zhang Xingcheng's master?"
Brother Zi'an replied, "Liu Xuan has been exceptionally intelligent since childhood, possessing many extraordinary talents. He has sharp eyesight and can look directly at the sun without feeling dizzy. When he reads, he can read ten lines at a glance and remember everything he reads. In addition, he can simultaneously draw a square with his left hand and a circle with his right hand, recite aloud, count with his eyes, and listen with his ears, performing five activities in parallel without any contradiction or omission."
Sizi blinked and asked curiously, "Who exactly is Zhang Xingcheng's master?"
Brother Zi'an laughed: "Liu Xuan, he's truly an extraordinary being! This guy has been a genius since childhood; the legends surrounding him alone are enough to fill a legendary novel. They say his gaze is so sharp he can stare at the sun without blinking—"
Si Zi found it amusing and replied, "Is this the 'anti-blue light master' of our Sui Dynasty?"
"Then people can read books quickly, reading ten lines at a glance and remembering everything they read."
Sizi added, "That's called a walking photocopier!"
"Besides that, he also likes to play a god-level skill called 'five-line racing': drawing a square with his left hand, a circle with his right hand, reading aloud, counting with his eyes, and listening with his ears at any time... His skill points are maxed out!"
Si Zi's mouth dropped open as he listened: "His master is so talented, and he has such high hopes for this young man. It's hard for Zhang Xingcheng not to succeed! He must succeed, he must succeed!"
Later, Zhang Xingcheng followed Wang Shichong:
Zhang Xingcheng (thinking to himself): "Although this boss is unreliable, it's still okay to make a living."
Wang Shichong: "Go and be the Minister of Revenue, and help me manage the money!"
In 621, Wang Shichong was defeated.
Zhang Xingcheng: "It's over, the boss is gone. Fine, then I'll go join the Tang Dynasty and continue to showcase my talents!"
He was an honest and upright official, and he enforced the law strictly.
He first served as a minor officer in Gushu, then was transferred to Chencang. Due to his exceptional talent, he became the registrar of Fuping, rising through the ranks until he finally became a Palace Attendant Censor!
Xiao Si asked curiously, "What exactly does an Imperial Censor do?"
Brother Zi'an laughed and said, "Oh, that's a super oversight team, six official positions, all seventh-rank officials. As for the salary, it's a bit like a part-time job, a little less. The censorate where this censor works is mainly responsible for supervising the order and etiquette of the court, and later also in charge of the palace gates and the national treasury."
Xiao Sizi looked puzzled: "What an 'all-around' manager! What exactly does he do?"
Zi'an continued, "Two officials are responsible for keeping an eye on the other officials, practically a 'two-person supervisory team'; another two are responsible for delivering 'information' to the emperor, like 'the emperor's personal deliverymen'; and the remaining two are responsible for the security of the capital, ensuring that everyone can live peacefully."
Little Sizi: "What a know-it-all! They sound incredibly busy!"
Xiao Si said that when Emperor Taizong of Tang (Li Shimin) first came to power, he was drinking and chatting one time, and somehow the conversation turned to Guanzhong and Shandong people. As a result, he said some things that made people uncomfortable.
It is said that Zhang Xingcheng immediately retorted upon hearing this: "Your Majesty, you must treat the entire country as one big family. You cannot discriminate based on region. This will make the people unhappy."
When his father heard this, he thought it made a lot of sense, so he gave him a fine horse, several sets of clothes, and 100,000 silver dollars.
From then on, Emperor Taizong would always call him over whenever important state affairs were discussed.
Zhang Xingcheng continued to speak frankly, and most of his suggestions were adopted by Li Shimin, leading to a rapid rise in his position.
On one occasion, Li Shimin prepared to take Crown Prince Li Zhi to Lingzhou:
Zhang Xingcheng (waving his hand to stop him): "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince must guard the capital. If you take him all over the country like this, who will take care of the capital?"
Li Shimin (suddenly realizing): "Good heavens! That makes sense! Then let's do it this way, I'll promote you again!"
Sizi added that when Zhang Xingcheng was in Dingzhou with Li Zhi, who was still the crown prince, he recommended many talented people to Li Zhi.
Li Zhi always entrusted Zhang Xingcheng with handling any important matters.
"It was this time that Father was going to Lingzhou and wanted to ask Brother Zhinu to go with him. Uncle Zhang Xingcheng jumped out and said bluntly: The Crown Prince should stay in the capital to handle national affairs. This way, he can control the capital and show the whole country the power and virtue of the Crown Prince."
Not only did his father accept the suggestion, but because of his loyalty, he appointed him as a Chamberlain and also concurrently as the Minister of Justice.
After Li Zhi ascended the throne, he said, "Uncle Zhang, how about helping me compile the national history, and also serving as the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince?"
Zhang Xingcheng (secretly pleased): "Your Majesty is quite knowledgeable. Good, I'll continue for your sake!"
Zi'an chimed in, "That's right. After Emperor Gaozong ascended the throne, he enfeoffed Zhang Xingcheng as the Duke of Beiping County and appointed him to supervise the compilation of the national history. Later, he also served as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince."
However, in the fourth year of the Yonghui era, there was a severe drought that lasted for three months.
Zhang Xingcheng (looking up at the sky, thinking of the unshakeable and increasingly corrupt forces around him, feeling guilty, and thinking of an excuse):
"Your Majesty, I can't take it anymore. My old arms and legs are failing me, so I have to resign. Otherwise, the sky will stop raining!"
Li Zhi (with tears in his eyes): "Uncle Xingcheng, this is no fault of yours! If you leave, who will the country rely on?"
Zhang Xingcheng (insisting): "No need to say anything more, it's fate, I've already submitted my resignation."
A few months later, Zhang Xingcheng died of illness in his official residence at the age of 67.
Li Zhi (upon hearing this, burst into tears): "May Uncle Xingcheng rest in peace! All the officials of the ninth rank and above in the court came to see him off, and my most capable palace maids also went to help with the funeral arrangements. He was given the posthumous title 'Ding'! His memorial tablet must be placed in a temple, so that the bond between us as ruler and subject cannot be broken!"
Si Zi said, "Yes!! Emperor Gaozong issued an edict ordering all officials of the ninth rank and above to attend his funeral and also gave him the posthumous title 'Ding'. Thirty years later (in the first year of Hongdao, 683), his memorial tablet was placed in the temple of Emperor Gaozong."