In history, Guangdong Province has produced many famous prime ministers. Below, the editor of the History Encyclopedia brings relevant content to share with you.
zhang jiuling
Zhang Jiuling was born in Qujiang, Shaozhou (now Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province) during the Tang Dynasty. Born in 673 into a family of generations of officials, he was intelligent and agile in his childhood, skilled in writing articles. At the age of 9, one can read Chinese literature, and at the age of 13, one can write good articles. In his youth, he was exceptionally intelligent, diligent and eager to learn, and capable of poetry and literature. Although Zhang Jiuling was talented, she achieved great success late and only served as prime minister at the age of 56. When he was in charge of the court affairs, he dared to speak frankly and advise the emperor. He repeatedly advised Emperor Xuanzong to be prepared for danger in times of peace and to rectify the court order. It is suggested to cultivate farmland in Henan and divert water for rice cultivation, and then serve as the Henan Rice Field Commissioner. In response to social drawbacks, it is proposed to replace the “domineering” way of politics with the “royal way”, emphasizing the protection of the people and education, and opposing the use of military force; Advocate for provincial penalties, lenient taxation, and support for agriculture and mulberry cultivation; Adhere to the reform of official governance, select talented individuals, and appoint those who possess both moral integrity and professional competence as local officials. His policy objectives alleviated social contradictions, played an important role in consolidating centralization, and maintained the prosperity of the Kaiyuan era. Therefore, he was praised by later generations as one of the three heroes of “Qing Zhen serving as prime minister in the Kaiyuan era”. In addition, Zhang Jiuling actively developed five character ancient poetry in literature, with a light and simple poetic style. With simple and unadorned language, she expressed profound aspirations for life and made significant contributions to sweeping away the magnificent poetic style of the Six Dynasties that was followed in the early Tang Dynasty. He wrote the “Qujiang Collection” and is known as the “first person in Lingnan”.
Cui and Zhi
Cui Yuzhi was born in Zengcheng, Guangdong during the Southern Song Dynasty (now Zengcheng District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province). When Cui Hezhi was still young, he aspired to save the country and the people. In his youth, he participated in the imperial examination multiple times but failed to pass. At the age of thirty-two, he traveled thousands of miles, traveled alone to Guanshan, and walked to the capital city of Lin’an (now Hangzhou, Zhejiang) to study at the Imperial Academy. Cui and Zhi buried their heads in the study hall and studied hard. Three years later, in the fourth year of Shaoxi reign of Emperor Guangzong of Song (1193), they became the first person in Lingnan to pass the imperial examination from a Taixue student and entered the officialdom. After Cui Youzhi ascended to the throne, he served as an official in Xunzhou (now Guiping, Guangxi), Huaixi, Xincheng, Yongzhou (now Nanning, Guangxi), Binzhou and other places. He did not shy away from hardships and devoted himself to official duties. While in Huaixi, he was not afraid of power and enforced the law impartially; When in Yongzhou, he made a decisive decision to quell the mutiny of soldiers; When serving as a prison warden in Guangxi, he traveled throughout the 25 military prefectures of Guangxi, crossed the sea to Hainan Island, praised integrity and anti-corruption, visited the suffering of the people, and was deeply loved. During the period of managing the military and political affairs in Yangzhou, a serious natural disaster occurred in eastern Zhejiang, causing countless hungry people to flow into the Huaidong area and be blocked outside the gates of various cities. However, Cui and his team ordered the opening of the gates of Yangzhou to welcome refugees for resettlement, thus saving more than ten thousand refugees. Throughout one’s life, there are many talented individuals elected, but few mistakes. He remained indifferent to fame and fortune, bravely retreated from the rapids, and resigned from his official position in the 17th year of Jiading (1224) to return to his hometown. Afterwards, he resigned eight times as a political advisor and thirteen times as the Right Prime Minister, and was collectively known as the “Two Excellencies” with Zhang Jiuling. Cui Yuzhi was not only diligent in military and political affairs, but also made academic achievements, known as the “Lingnan Confucian School”. The “Jupo School” he founded is considered the first academic school in Lingnan history. He also has great literary skills and is known as the “beginning of Cantonese poetry”, marking the beginning of Lingnan Song poetry.
Liang Chu
Liang Chuming was born in Shicun, Shunde County, Guangzhou Prefecture, Guangdong Province (now Guicheng Shicun, Nanhai District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province). Liang Chu was quick witted since childhood and was able to match couplets at the age of six. At the age of 27, he participated in the imperial examination and achieved first place in both the imperial examination and the imperial examination. He was selected as a Shujishi and appointed as an editor in the Hanlin Academy, beginning his career. At the age of 64, he became the first assistant to the cabinet. Liang Chu, as an official, spoke frankly, dared to advise, was not afraid of power, and was upright and upright. Dare to persuade Emperor Zhengde of his extravagant lifestyle. During the Zhengde period, eunuchs held absolute power, but Liang Chu never associated with them. He thought of the people and directly advised Emperor Wu Zong to patrol and harm the people.
Fang Xianfu
Fang Xianfu was born in Nanhai County, Guangzhou Prefecture, Guangdong Province during the Ming Dynasty (now Nanhai, Foshan, Guangdong). Fang Xianfu has been diligent and hardworking since childhood, no different from cold and heat. His natural intelligence surpasses that of others, and he passed the imperial examination at the age of 20. Fang Xianfu was promoted from a seventh rank official with a jinshi degree to a fifth rank official, and was appointed as the Minister of Personnel, Crown Prince Taibao, and Grand Academician of Wuying Hall. He was revered as the “Old Master of Fangge”. He attached great importance to the education of his children. One day, Fang Xianfu entered the court to meet Emperor Wuzong. The emperor saw that he was frowning and asked, “Why is the Qing family’s complexion different from before? Fang Xianfu replied: Although I don’t have to worry about food and clothing at home, I’m afraid that in the future, my descendants may not be able to make progress, suffer from poverty, and fail to serve the country. I’m thinking about these things! The emperor asked, “What should we do then?” Fang Xianfu replied, “If the emperor issues an edict or imperial decree, the Fang family’s property will never be sold. If there are buyers who want to be killed, and if there are sellers who want to be killed too, that’s all. The emperor agreed and issued an imperial decree. Later on, the descendants of Fang Xianfu adhered to the family’s ancestral teachings, worked hard in farming and education, supported themselves, and lived in harmony with their neighbors, which became a popular topic in the village.
