Historical facts about the interactions between Wang Anshi and Sima Guang, Xin Qiji and Zhu Xi

Turn friends into enemies: The right and wrong between Wang Anshi and Sima Guang

Sima Guang was an honest official. Most of his salary was given to poor relatives and friends. His personal life was very frugal. After arriving in Luoyang, , and the living conditions are even more primitive. In order to avoid being affected by the weather while compiling history, Sima Guang thought of a way to dig a cellar in his house and build a basement with bricks to live in.

Since ancient times, as long as there is an emperor, there must be ministers. "Chen" is a link of communication between the noble emperor and ordinary people. To the king, ministers are "officials who serve the king", but accompanying the king is like accompanying a tiger. Although ministers and ministers have no worries about food and clothing, they are always in danger of life. Yue Fei served his country loyally, but was eventually framed by a traitor, and his burial place is still a mystery; Yuan Chonghuan fought against the Qing soldiers for decades, but in the end he was known as a national scum. The officialdom is like a battlefield. There are military skills on the battlefield, and there are also hidden rules in the officialdom. A powerful minister who has been immersed in officialdom for many years knows how to be a minister. Although he is in a dangerous situation, he is still like a fish in water. Zeng Guofan had great achievements, but why didn't he support his troops and proclaim himself emperor? Kongming was so resourceful, why did he choose an ugly woman as his wife? Since ancient times, regardless of whether they are good ministers or ministers, they have played an important role in the center of power. It's hard to be lonely when you're in officialdom, and you can't comment on your merits or demerits.

Nalan Xingde, a great poet in the Qing Dynasty, wrote in "Mulan Ci": "If life is just like the first meeting, why is the autumn wind sad and painted on the fan? It is easy to change the heart of the old, but to understand the heart of the old Changeable." This poem is the most appropriate way to describe the relationship between Wang Anshi and Sima Guang.

Wang Anshi (1021-1086 AD), courtesy name Jiefu and later nickname Banshan, was born in Linchuan, Fuzhou (now Dongxiang County, Fuzhou). He was born in a family of small officials. He liked reading since he was a child and was influenced by it. good education. In the second year of Qingli (1042 AD), Wang Anshi became a Jinshi and served as many local officials. During the reign of Emperor Shenzong of the Song Dynasty, Wang Anshi was appointed prime minister. He implemented new laws and reformed the old government, and was known as Wang Jinggong in the world. Sima Guang, courtesy name Junshi and Mr. Sushui, was born in Sushui Township, Xia County, Shanxi Province. The story of "Sima Guang smashing the vat" has always been talked about by people. A group of children were playing in the courtyard. One child accidentally fell into a tank filled with water. The other children were terrified and fled in all directions. Sima Guang picked up a stone and smashed the lower part of the vat. The water in the vat broke and the child was saved. When he was young, Sima Guang, like Wang Anshi, also studied very hard and showed superhuman talents very early. In the first year of Baoyuan (AD 1038), 20-year-old Sima Guang passed the Jinshi examination and entered the official career. Sima Guang has been in politics for 48 years, rising from official to prime minister.

When Sima Guang talked about his ten-year association with Wang Anshi, he believed that he and Wang Anshi should be regarded as beneficial friends. He wrote in "Books with Wang Jiefu": "Confucius said, there are three beneficial friends: Losing three friends. Lack of talent is not enough to disgrace Jiefu as a friend; however, for more than ten years since he became a servant, it cannot be said that he has not been elegant for a day. The good relationship lasts a long time, and the good relationship lasts a lifetime. They had all been taught and recommended by Ouyang Xiu, and they had become close friends with Mei Yaochen, the great poet of the Northern Song Dynasty. They also served together as judges of the Qunmu Division under Bao Zheng, also known as "Bao Qingtian", and Bao Zheng was their immediate boss, the Qunmu Envoy. One time, the peonies in Qunmu Division's yamen were in full bloom, and Bao Gong bought wine to enjoy the flowers. Sima Guang recalled that he never liked wine, but when Bao Gong persuaded him to drink, he still managed to drink a few glasses. Wang Anshi didn't like wine either, but no matter how much Bao Gong tried to persuade him, he never drank, and Bao Gong couldn't do anything about him. Sima Guang knew from this that Wang Anshi was a stubborn person. In their respective anthologies, there are still many poems and poems that admire each other. The pinnacle of the friendship between Wang Anshi and Sima Guang was when they both held official positions - the emperor's literary attendants. "Compilation of Anecdotes of Song Dynasty" records: "Wang Jinggong, Sima Wen Gong, Lu Shengong, Huangmen Han Gongwei, Renzong were in the same class at the time, and they were very friendly to each other. They often met in the monk's workshop in their spare time, and they often talked all day long, and others rarely noticed. "The purpose is to help the four friends."

According to Sima Guang's "Zhai Ji" quoted in "Shao's Records of Knowledge", Sima Guang's evaluation of Wang Anshi was: "He is good at reading and can remember well. There is beauty in the writing skills and formulas of the latecomers. Once they are read, they will be recited in their mouths and will not be forgotten for the rest of their lives. After entering the family, he often had nothing to talk about for several months. He was able to express his views with great arguments, but no one could do so. , Wen Gong (Sima Guang) has a low profile, does not love official positions, and will benefit even if he does not colonize goods." These different characters and interests made their "admiration for each other not beginning to change." Even renting a house , Wang Anshi would rather be neighbors with Sima Guang.

Due to the praise from his elders and friends, Wang Anshi soon became famous all over the world. Sima Guang said in a letter to Wang Anshi that "people near and far, whether they know it or not, say that if Jiefu is gone, he will be alone, but if he rises, peace will be achieved, and the people will be benefited by it!" Ouyang Xiu also praised him! "Virtuous literature is highly recommended by the public, he keeps the road and is poor, he is strong and unyielding", and he also wrote a poem saying "Xiao Wang is the best in the world, comparable to Li Bai and Han Yu". Therefore, when Wang Anshi became deputy prime minister for the first time in the second year of Xining, Ouyang Xiu wrote a special letter to congratulate Wang Anshi, and Wang Anshi's friends were also gearing up to help him. In May of this year, Sima Guang discovered that his friend Lu Jie had an article about impeaching Wang Anshi hidden in his sleeve. He was very puzzled. After discouraging Lu Jie, he returned to the Academy and sat in silence all day, unable to think of any "bad things" done by Wang Anshi. ".

However, the good times did not last long, and the two had differences due to different political opinions. In 1067 AD, Song Shenzong succeeded to the throne. The empty treasury triggered the first real dispute between Wang Anshi and Sima Guang in front of Emperor Shenzong. Wang Anshi believed: "The reason for the poor financial situation of the country is that there are no people who are good at financial management. This is not a top priority." Sima Guang objected: "The people you said are good at financial management are just a clever name to burden the people. It's just taxes." Wang Anshi said: "That's not the case. As long as you are good at managing money, you can fill the treasury without increasing taxes." Sima Guangda disagreed, and he retorted: "How can there be such a truth in the world? It's not about the people, it's about the officials. Trying to steal from the people is worse than increasing taxes.