Chapter 72: The List of the Second Year of Jiayou

“Once again, I thank you, sir!”
Within the Zhang residence, Zhang Youzhi helped Zhang Yue to his feet, patted his shoulder, and laughed, “Ah, between teacher and student, there’s no need for thanks. Now that you’ve been admitted to the county academy, focus your efforts on the imperial examinations. Your knowledge of the classics is solid—passing the Mingjing exam before thirty is within reach. But you must not neglect seal script. On the first and fifteenth of each month, come here and I shall personally instruct you in the art of seal script!”

Zhang Yue smiled, bowed once more to Zhang Youzhi, reflecting that in life nothing is more rare than finding a good teacher.

After bowing three times to Zhang Youzhi, Zhang Yue departed the Zhang residence.

Watching Zhang Yue’s figure fade into the distance, Zhang Youzhi’s face broke into a gratified smile. Teachers choose their students, just as students choose their teachers. Many bear the title of teacher and student, but lack the true bond.

Soon after, a stern-faced elder with graying hair arrived. He was none other than the steward of the clan academy’s library.

“You’re not at the South Peak Hall. What brings you here?”
The steward, holding a book, sighed, “Jiefu has written to me.”

“What did Jiefu say?” Zhang Youzhi inquired.

The steward replied, “He said that the Three-Character Classic is useful for enlightenment. As the magistrate, he’s printed a hundred copies, and now all the primary schools in Changzhou read this poem. The students are quite fond of it, I hear.”

This steward was Zhang Wangzhi, courtesy name Biaomin, for whom Ouyang Xiu once chose his courtesy name. Following the meaning of “Wangzhi,” Ouyang Xiu selected “Biaomin,” signifying “a model for the people,” and composed the essay “Preface to the Courtesy Name of Zhang Wangzhi” to explain: “The famous mountains and rivers are the hope of a region; the peaks and valleys are the hope of the world.”

Before adopting his courtesy name, Zhang Wangzhi served as an official, but his uncle Zhang Dexiang also held office at court, so he resigned to avoid conflict. Afterwards, Zhang Wangzhi spent his days wandering scenic spots.

His brother, Zhang Gongzhi, once served as magistrate of Jinjiang County, offending the renowned official Cai Xiang, who was then the prefect of Quanzhou. Zhang Wangzhi pleaded on his brother’s behalf, incurring Cai Xiang’s displeasure, and since then has become disheartened with officialdom.

Zhang Wangzhi is also a famous expert in Meng studies in Jianzhou—a trait shared with Wang Anshi. Zhang Youzhi once engaged in a literary feud with Master Li Gou of Xijiang.

Li Gou was a celebrated scholar of the era, lecturing throughout the southeast, with thousands of students including Zeng Gong. His teachings were filled with advocacy for practical reform. During Fan Zhongyan’s Qingli reforms, Li Gou cheered on Fan from below the dais, providing theoretical support.

Yet Zhang Dexiang did not approve of Fan Zhongyan’s reforms, and Zhang Youzhi also opposed them. This angered Li Gou, who sent Zhang Youzhi a letter entitled “To Zhang Youzhi.”

He omitted courtesy name and honorific, addressing him directly—a form of insult.

The letter contained phrases such as, “Zhang, I know you not; your reputation is but the talk of others. How is it that you possess much talent, yet at forty have achieved nothing?”
“Strive to remember the sages before; my words are not a reproach.”
The tone was polite, but the content was essentially a rebuke. Thus, friends and disciples from both sides gathered and the quarrel erupted.

Zhang Wangzhi and Wang Anshi were once generals in opposing camps, but through this feud, they became friends, frequently corresponding.

Zhang Youzhi smiled, “Jiefu certainly has an eye for talent. Yet this poem is too heavily influenced by Mengzi. I believe human nature possesses both good and evil; Xunzi even claimed that man’s nature is inherently evil.”

“But the poem opens by echoing Mengzi’s teachings, its didactic intent too pronounced. Scholars may not favor it, though it serves well to encourage learning and enlighten the mind.”

“Literature should correct the heart, not merely instruct. Mencius’ learning is the shining path, continuing the intentions of the sages…”

“Enough, I won’t argue with you,” Zhang Youzhi shook his head. “No wonder Jiefu asked you; if I were him, I’d also suspect you wrote this piece.”

“But it truly isn’t mine. I only debate Mengzi’s teachings with the worthy, though their convictions are too entrenched for fruitful argument. Better to nurture and instruct children from the start, instilling uprightness—this is worth more than a thousand words of debate.”

Zhang Youzhi paced, “That makes sense. Speaking of uprightness, are you aware of who passed the jinshi exam this year in our county?”

“Besides Zhang Ziping from the academy, I’ve heard of no others.”

“Not so.”

Zhang Wangzhi added, “Are there others? I’ve heard of Huang Haoqian, Zisi’s son, whose ancestral home is here, but he’s moved with his father to Chenzhou and was examined there, not in this county. Ah, Haoqian’s wife is the daughter of Zhang Zichen, the registrar of Wu County in Suzhou.”

Zhang Youzhi said, “Zhang Yue’s second brother has now registered under Zhang Zichen’s household and changed his name to Dun, courtesy Zihou. He passed the exam in Suzhou and is now a jinshi.”

Zhang Wangzhi exclaimed, “What? Is that so?”

Zhang Youzhi replied, “Indeed. Ziping told me about it—he met Second Brother Zhang during the provincial exam, they conversed, and after entering the capital, he stayed at Lord Xun’s residence.”

Zhang Wangzhi laughed, “Is that so? You must feel some regret now.”

“You advised him to wait a few more years, to take the jinshi exam after twenty-five. It was well-intentioned, hoping to temper his character, but he ignored your advice. Now he’s succeeded in one attempt, and will be announced at Donghua Gate.”

Zhang Youzhi sighed, “He’s fiercely independent, but exceptionally talented—even Ziping admits he’s no match. If he doesn’t enter officialdom, all is well; but if he does, he may bring trouble to the clan, hard to contain. Pity none of you heed my warning.”

Zhang Wangzhi smiled, “It’s too late to say anything now. By the way, I heard his younger brother has just entered the county academy.”

Hearing this, Zhang Youzhi’s face brightened, “Indeed, he just left. The boy is quite thoughtful. Truth be told, I did little to help him enter the academy, merely vouched for his character, yet he insists on thanking me profusely.”

Zhang Wangzhi nodded, “He’s quick to grasp, memorizes what he reads, and has remarkable insight and drive. Your seal script method is mastered by none in the clan, yet he can understand it. Remarkable, indeed.”

Zhang Youzhi laughed, “Don’t praise the young too highly. If not for his brother, Zhang Yue would have entered the clan academy long ago. Now, relying solely on his own merit, he’s topped the county exam. People say the poor can produce noble sons—perhaps that’s true.”

Zhang Wangzhi sneered, “Some in the clan are truly shortsighted, repeatedly barring children from humble backgrounds from the academy—first the elder brother, now the younger… Brother Boyi, I don’t mean you.”

Zhang Youzhi shook his head, recalling the moment Second Brother Zhang stormed off in anger.

Suddenly, Zhang Youzhi said, “Now both Ziping and Zihou are on the same roster—does that not mean our clan will produce two jinshi this year?”

Zhang Wangzhi smiled, “It’s been ages since our clan had two candidates on the same roster—a fortunate event.”

Zhang Youzhi raised his hand, “A fortunate event? Have you forgotten what happened in the third year of Xianping?”

Zhang Wangzhi replied, “How could I forget…”

In the third year of Xianping, three members of the Zhang clan—Zhang Deyi, Zhang Di, and Zhang Pin—passed the jinshi exam together, with Zhang Di and Zhang Pin as brothers.

This caught the attention of Emperor Zhenzong, who issued an edict: ‘Brothers must not be examined together.’

The Zhang family was alarmed.

The Song emperors had done such things before: when a prime minister’s son passed the jinshi exam, the emperor personally urged him to withdraw so the place could go to a poor scholar.

Three jinshi from one clan in a single exam was conspicuous.

After Zhenzong’s edict, Zhang Pin relinquished his rank, yielding the opportunity to his brother. In truth, he wasn’t merely yielding to his brother, but complying with the emperor’s wish to let others have the chance. Three jinshi in one cohort was simply too noticeable.

Zhang Pin waited six years, then passed the imperial exam in the second year of Jingde. Though not in the first tier, Emperor Zhenzong appointed him as a metropolitan official, starting as a proofreader in the Imperial Library.

Though the position of proofreader was only ninth rank, it was in the capital.

Su Zhe once spoke of the difference between metropolitan officials and those on the selection list: only when one becomes a metropolitan official can one feel some satisfaction and comfort; those below toil endlessly, their spirits crushed, treated little better than servants.

The highest a selection-listed official can rise is eighth rank; above that, one must transfer to a metropolitan post. To do so, one needs a recommendation from five senior officials, then must wait in line. The chances are slim, or else one must retake the special civil service exams, which is equally unlikely. Cruelly, it is called ‘forever lost in the sea of selection.’

After Zhang Youzhi spoke, Zhang Wangzhi pondered, “Surely it won’t happen now—His Majesty is always generous. In this cohort, the Zeng family of Nanfeng produced four jinshi, and no one was asked to relinquish their rank. Our clan has only Ziping and Zihou—how could we draw envy?”

Zhang Youzhi nodded, laughed, “Yes, I’m overthinking it.”

He continued, “But I hear from Ziping that Second Brother Zhang’s change of registration to Suzhou has stirred some gossip among scholars in the capital and Suzhou, tarnishing our reputation.”

The second year of Jiayou.

For Pucheng County, it was destined to be recorded in the county annals.

This year’s examination produced a top scholar from Jianzhou’s Pucheng County.

When news of Zhang Heng’s success as the top scholar reached Pucheng, the entire county rejoiced.

Historically, the Jiayou second year cohort was filled with extraordinary talents—the so-called greatest list in history. This owed much to examiner Ouyang Xiu, who abolished the old practice of flowery but empty compositions, favoring true talent.

Su Shi’s essay in this cohort was initially rejected, but Ouyang Xiu personally retrieved it and ranked his treatise “On the Utmost Benevolence in Punishment and Reward” as second. It was said to have been first, but Ouyang Xiu mistakenly thought it was by his favorite pupil Zeng Gong, so he made it second. Later, Su Shi ranked first in the classics examination on the “Spring and Autumn Annals.”

In the imperial examination, Su Shi placed in the fourth tier.

Yet in all cases, Su Shi and his brother Su Zhe ranked below Zhang Heng.

The top scholar gives his name to the cohort; thus this group was known as the Zhang Heng List.

Zhang Heng’s victory was also a matter of fortune.

In his imperial examination, Zhang Heng began his essay, “Fate is bestowed by the sage, Heaven surveys the people.” Emperor Renzong, upon reading, remarked, “These are matters for the ancestors; how could I be fit for such?”

He reportedly asked his attendants, “Is this a disciple of Lord Xun?”
Upon confirmation, Emperor Renzong said, “Lord Xun is a solitary minister; his disciple is likewise.”

Thus Zhang Heng was chosen as the top scholar.

Zhang Heng not only became the top scholar but was also the sole jinshi from Pucheng.

As for the other candidate, Zhang Dun, upon receiving the imperial decree, refused the appointment, saying he would not rank below his younger clan member. Ultimately, he did not receive the jinshi title.

Thus, whereas the cohort should have had three hundred eighty-nine jinshi, it ended with three hundred eighty-eight, though other categories remained at three hundred eighty-nine.

ps: Another chapter tonight—please vote for me!