Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 255 Wang Anshi [Third Update, Requesting Monthly Tickets!]

"Young Master Lu, the street intersection outside the Vermilion Bird Gate is heavily congested; we'll probably have to take a detour."

The driver's voice came through the thick carriage curtain, tinged with a hint of helplessness.

"It's alright, just try to be as fast as possible," Lu Beigu replied.

The driver shouted, his whip cracking in the air, urging the mule to try and find a gap in the crowd of carriages and horses.

After finally managing to turn into a relatively quiet side alley, we were able to avoid the congestion on the main road. After taking a long detour, we finally arrived at the river bend where Qingfeng Tower is located.

Upon arriving here, even the biting cold wind seemed to be kept out by the bustling prosperity along the Cai River.

The three-story Qingfeng Tower was brightly lit, resembling a huge glazed pagoda inlaid on the riverbank, with the copper bells on the eaves and brackets making intermittent, clear sounds in the wind.

The area in front of the building was still bustling with activity, and the doors were wide open, wafting out the aromas of alcohol, cosmetics, incense, and the smoky scent of roasting food.

Lu Beigu got off the mule cart, and a chilly wind immediately swept over him. He subconsciously shrank his neck, wrapped his silk robe tighter, and strode towards the gate.

The noise on the first floor was no different from last time. On the lotus platform, courtesans were singing popular slow lyrics, accompanied by melodious music, and guests were everywhere.

Upon reaching the third floor via the stairs, the manager there, with his sharp eyes, immediately recognized this young talent who had recently gained fame in Kaifeng. In particular, the string of jade bamboo prayer beads on his wrist was a symbol of the distinguished guests of the Green Pine Society.

"Young Master Lu has arrived!" the steward said eagerly. "Please come in quickly; he's still at the 'Pine Waves Pavilion' by the river."

"Thank you."

Lu Beigu nodded in acknowledgment and walked straight along the suspended corridor he had walked through last time.

He noticed Zeng Gong standing at the door. Lu Beigu guessed that Zeng Gong was waiting here on purpose so that Wang Anshi wouldn't be able to find the place and could be served at any time.

After all, Wang Anshi knew only Zeng Gong and no other members of the Qingsong Society.

Senior figures like Ouyang Xiu and Mei Yaochen were not allowed to go out to greet Wang Anshi, so only Zeng Gong was capable of doing this task.

When Zeng Gong saw Lu Beigu arrive, a gentle smile appeared on his face, and he waved for him to come in.

"Come in and warm up, this awful weather is freezing!"

Pushing open the heavy, carved wooden door, a warm, inviting atmosphere mingled with the delicate scents of incense and tea wafts out.

Unlike last time, this time, near the carved windows in Songtao Pavilion, an additional relatively independent warm space with a thick carpet has been partitioned off.

The warm pavilion is draped with brocade curtains on three sides, leaving only one side open to the main hall, ensuring privacy while allowing guests to enjoy the shimmering scenery of the Cai River outside the window.

Inside the warm pavilion was a huge brass brazier, with a blazing charcoal fire. The leaping flames illuminated the interior, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere with flickering light and shadow.

At this moment, about half of the people had arrived.

Ouyang Xiu remained seated in the main seat, chatting and laughing quietly with Mei Yaochen beside him.

Yan Jidao stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the painting on the wall.

The Cheng brothers and Zhang Zai have not arrived yet.

The overall atmosphere seemed more relaxed and lively than last time.

Lu Beigu hurriedly stepped forward and greeted Ouyang Xiu, Mei Yaochen, and everyone present.

Ouyang Xiu became much more friendly towards him, stroking his beard and smiling, "You've come at the perfect time. Jie Fu will be here shortly. Today, the Green Pine Society has gained another true scholar. Congratulations!"

Unlike any other time, Wang Anshi's reputation was at its best at this time.

Since Wang Anshi passed the imperial examination in the second year of the Qingli era, ranking fourth, he not only gave up several opportunities to stay in the capital, but also took the initiative to apply to work in hardship areas.

During the Qingli era, Wang Anshi served as the magistrate of Yin County for four years, where he promoted water conservancy and expanded schools. During the Huangyou era, Wang Anshi was promoted to the position of Vice Prefect of Shuzhou, where he was diligent in his duties and cared for the people, achieving remarkable results. During the Jiayou era, he became famous throughout the southeast as the Prefect of Changzhou.

Wen Yanbo recommended Wang Anshi to the emperor, citing his indifference to fame and fortune and his adherence to discipline and morality, and requested the court to commend him to encourage good morals. Wang Anshi refused, saying that he "did not want to incite a trend of promoting people beyond their rank."

Ouyang Xiu then recommended him to be an advisor, but Wang Anshi declined on the grounds that his grandmother was old.

It can be said that Wang Anshi gave up countless opportunities for promotion.

So much so that people at the time considered him a noble man who had no interest in fame or fortune. When he was transferred to assist Bao Zheng, the officials were even worried that Wang Anshi would not be willing to be promoted.

Of course, Wang Anshi's good reputation only lasted for a few years.

Later, he launched the Xining Reforms, which made him an enemy of the whole country. There was even a saying that "the Song Dynasty perished because of Wang Anshi" that lasted for hundreds of years until modern times when public opinion turned around.

Lu Beigu's gaze swept across the warm pavilion, and he found an empty seat at the lower end of the room.

Warm tea was already laid out on the table. He picked up the teacup, feeling the warmth from his palm, but his gaze involuntarily drifted toward the half-closed entrance to the warm pavilion.

After a while, the Cheng brothers, Zhang Zai, and others arrived.

About fifteen minutes later, the door to the warm chamber was pushed open again.

A figure appeared at the door, accompanied by Zeng Gong, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

The man was around forty years old, of medium build and slightly overweight, wearing a dark blue robe with a worn-out sable coat over it.

His face bore the marks of a long journey, his cheeks were full, his brow bones were high and his eyebrows were thick, and his nasolabial folds were very deep. But what was most striking was his eyes, which were exceptionally sharp and bright, like stars in a cold night.

As for his long beard, it was not carefully combed and appeared somewhat disheveled, with a few strands even stubbornly sticking up, making him look rather unkempt.

—Wang Anshi!

Although the image differed considerably from the powerful reformer Lu Beigu had imagined, this unique appearance and temperament, bearing a strong personal imprint, instantly overlapped with the image in historical records.

Ouyang Xiu stood up to greet him and said.

"You must be tired from your journey! Please take a seat and warm yourself up!"

Mei Yaochen, Yan Jidao, and others also stood up to greet them.

Wang Anshi smiled faintly and returned the greeting with a cupped hand: "Thank you all for waiting."

Zeng Gong quickly led Wang Anshi to sit in the seat of honor, which had been specially reserved for Ouyang Xiu on his left. This seat was second only to Ouyang Xiu, which shows how much Ouyang Xiu valued him.

Of course, it is also related to official position and status in the literary world.

Wang Anshi did not refuse, but took his seat with ease, his gaze calmly sweeping over everyone present.

Zeng Gong took the initiative to introduce the people present to Wang Anshi.

When Lu Beigu was introduced.

"This is Lu Beigu, a scholar from Luzhou, who is currently preparing for the imperial examination at the Imperial Academy."

Zeng Gong specifically said, "Brother Lu is quick-witted and has exceptional classical Chinese skills. A few days ago, he wrote an essay titled 'On Zhongda,' which directly defeated Liu Ji, a student of the Imperial Academy, and won the deep appreciation of Ouyang Xiu."

Wang Anshi bowed to Lu Beigu.

Lu Beigu also quickly bowed: "I have long admired your noble character and outstanding achievements in governing Changzhou. I have long admired you."

Wang Anshi's gaze lingered on Lu Beigu for a moment. He nodded slightly, his voice still steady: "He was just doing his duty."

His tone was calm, without the slightest hint of arrogance.

Wang Anshi was not enthusiastic towards anyone, even Ouyang Xiu, and seemed to be completely unskilled in social interaction.

After exchanging pleasantries, the servants of Qingfeng Tower filed in, placing steaming hot and fragrant delicacies and wines on each person's table.

The atmosphere inside the warm pavilion gradually warmed up, and the conversation naturally started with Wang Anshi's itinerary.

"I presume that Jie Fu came to the capital at the invitation of Bao Xiren?" Ouyang Xiu asked, while pouring Wang Anshi a cup of warm yellow wine.

Wang Anshi picked up his wine cup, but did not drink it immediately. He replied, "That's exactly right."

"The supervisor of all counties and towns is in charge of criminal justice, public security, waterways, granaries, taxation, and disaster relief in the counties under the jurisdiction of Kaifeng Prefecture. The affairs are complicated and the responsibilities are heavy."

Mei Yaochen sighed, "However, Bao Xiren is incorruptible and you, Wang Jiefu, are upright and honest. With the two of you working together, the people of the capital region are blessed."

Wang Anshi put down his wine cup, his expression becoming more serious: "In my duty, I only seek to have a clear conscience. In Kaifeng Prefecture, powerful and wealthy people gather, local strongmen occupy the territory, taxes are uneven, corvée labor is heavy, waterways are silted up, and granaries are depleted. These accumulated problems are as heavy as mountains, and without swift and decisive measures, it will be difficult to achieve results."

His words went straight to the heart of the problem, without any pretense, and carried a sharp edge that seemed to break through deep-seated problems.

Lu Beigu listened quietly. The pragmatic, even somewhat stern, style of this future "stubborn prime minister" was already evident in his middle age.

The conversation quickly turned to Wang Anshi's administration in Changzhou, especially how he managed floods, rectified official corruption, and developed water conservancy projects.

When Wang Anshi recounted his story, he used concise and clear language, emphasizing how he overcame obstacles and implemented government orders, while downplaying his personal achievements.

"The root cause of the floods lies in the disrepair of the river channels and the fact that powerful people have seized silted-up fields as their private property, thus blocking the waterways. The first priority is to clarify the ownership of the silted-up fields, order the powerful people to return the fields, and dredge the waterways. There will be many obstacles along the way, but things can be accomplished by human effort. By adhering to the law and prioritizing the interests of the people, we will eventually achieve results."

"What a wonderful 'human effort can accomplish anything'!" Ouyang Xiu exclaimed in admiration. "Jiefu's sense of responsibility is truly a model for us all! Come, let me toast you!"

Everyone raised their glasses.

After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became increasingly lively.

Zeng Gong looked at Wang Anshi and asked with a smile, "Brother Jiefu, you must have heard about the recent situation of the court since you came to the capital. Liu Hang was dismissed as prime minister and Zeng Gongliang entered the Council of State Affairs. The court has a new look."

Upon hearing this, Wang Anshi put down his chopsticks.

"The state of affairs should not be judged by appearances, but by their underlying causes. In the imperial court, personnel changes are common, but the deep-rooted problems are so severe that they cannot be eradicated by just one or two capable ministers in office."

He paused, his voice filled with deep worry: "The problem of excessive bureaucracy, excessive labor, and excessive official duties has a long history. The people's strength is exhausted, and the national treasury is empty. Northern barbarians and western bandits are lurking at our side. You gentlemen are confined by factionalism, forming cliques and attacking those who disagree. Few people can be like Fan Zhongyan, who cares about the common people and focuses on practical application of knowledge."

These words immediately quieted the warm pavilion.

"Brother Jiefu's words are truly enlightening!" Zeng Gong couldn't help but sigh. "However, the deep-rooted problems are difficult to reverse. What is the way to break this deadlock?"

After much deliberation, Wang Anshi said, "In my opinion, the key to breaking this deadlock lies in 'changing customs and establishing laws and regulations'!"

Six words, resounding with power!

"If customs remain unchanged, people's hearts will not be as they used to be, and empty talk will ruin the country; if laws and regulations are not established, the powerful and wealthy will act arbitrarily, and officials will abuse the law. What is urgent is to have extraordinary measures and do extraordinary things!"

(End of this chapter)