Da Tang Si Zi: My Six Super Rich Little Nuggets!

Chapter 166 Zhang Jiuling, Special Guest of the Tang Dynasty Roundtable Party

Zhen Xiaosi never dreamed that she would be able to travel freely throughout the Tang Dynasty and meet so many famous scholars.

She actually became the host of "The Great Tang Roundtable," of course, all of which happened in her dream.

And today's guest is none other than Zhang Jiuling.

Zi'an coughed lightly a few times, gently stroked Zhen Xiaosi's hair, and said with a smile:

“It’s time to wake up and stop daydreaming. Zhang Jiuling was a prime minister and poet during the Kaiyuan era of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. He was even more famous than the ancients you met at the Yellow Crane Tower.”

Zhen Xiaosi shook her legs:

"I haven't prepared my interview transcript yet, and I'm really a little afraid to face it..."

He quickly adjusted himself, yawned, and said sleepily:

"However, I could tell his character at first sight. Just as the poem says: 'The bright moon rises over the sea, we share this moment though we are far apart.' It is from Zhang Jiuling's 'Looking at the Moon and Thinking of a Distant Friend'..."

Zi An smiled slightly and said softly, "If you don't prepare other countermeasures, I'm afraid he won't give you any face given his personality."

As the two were discussing, a sudden sound of footsteps approached, and Zhen Xiaosi's heart immediately became even more tense:

"Oh dear, he's here, he's here! Zi'an, we don't have time to prepare, we're doomed, he's coming!"

Zi'an, however, stood up calmly, with a hint of confidence that was barely perceptible:

"Don't worry, Zhang Jiuling is no ordinary person. He will give us little people some face. You can treat this like an interview."

When Zhang Jiuling approached, the first thing that caught the eye was his gentle and refined demeanor. His brows revealed the elegance and composure of a scholar, unlike the arrogance of some high-ranking officials.

He recognized Zi'an at a glance, nodded slightly, and showed a hint of approval in his eyes.

"Zian, the child prodigy praised by Liu Xiangdao, and the grandson of Wang Tong, a prominent figure at the end of the year. I am very honored to meet you today." His voice was magnetic, with a gentle smile.

Xiao Si was surprised that Mr. Zhang could recognize Zi An's predecessor—Wang Bo.

Zi'an smiled and said, "You flatter me. Mr. Zhang's great talent is already well-known. Moreover, mentioning my grandfather moved me. Everyone knows Wang Bo because of the 'Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng,' but they don't know that my grandfather was also a great Confucian scholar of the Sui Dynasty."

Zhang Jiuling smiled slightly and bowed to the two of them.

Zhen Xiaosi chimed in quietly from the side:

"No, Brother Zian, as soon as your grandfather's name 'Wenzhongzi' is mentioned, everyone will understand. Even the Three Character Classic lists him as one of the Five Masters. Among the Hundred Schools of Thought, there are five masters: Xunzi, Yang Xiong, Wenzhongzi, Laozi, and Zhuangzi. There is also the 'Wenzhongzi Sayings' edited by his disciples Yao Yi and Xue Shou as proof."

Zi'an paused for a moment, then looked at Xiao Si with admiration. "As expected of you, Xiao Si. It seems you have a very deep understanding of history, and you even know my family's genealogy very well."

However, you see, Xunzi, Yang Xiong, Laozi, and Zhuangzi are all one character each, and everyone knows they refer to Xunzi, Yang Xiong, Laozi, and Zhuangzi. But my grandfather would say three characters, "Wenzhongzi," and many people still don't know he was referring to Wang Tong.

"Hahaha." Zhang Jiuling laughed, seemingly amused by the lighthearted conversation. "It seems that you two, a talented man and a beautiful woman, have quite a few interesting stories to tell."

As the three continued their conversation, Zhang Jiuling also showed great interest in Zhen Xiaosi.

Xiao Si began the interview:

Mr. Zi'an, thank you very much for accepting my interview. Today we are honored to have Mr. Zhang Jiuling, the famous prime minister and poet of the Tang Dynasty, as an observer. I believe his presence will make our conversation even more interesting.

Zi'an was taken aback. This little girl is sharp; she actually turned it into an interview with me.

Xiao Si smiled at Zhang Jiuling and said, "Lord Zhang, please correct me if he says anything wrong."

Xiao Si asked: Do you know Lord Zhang's courtesy name?

Zi'an replied: Zishou.

Zhang Jiuling nodded with a smile.

Xiao Si asked: Where was Zhang Jiuling from?

Zi'an replied: Zhang Jiuling was... from Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province.

Zhang Jiuling: Guangdong? Yes, Qujiang, Shaozhou.

Xiao Si smiled; she knew that Brother Zi An was referring to a place name in the future, so she was right.

Zi'an said, "Little Si, please let me go. Let me introduce Mr. Zhang to you. Sir, you can interrupt me at any time if I say anything wrong."

Zhang Jiuling smiled and waved his hand modestly.

"The gentleman was intelligent and literate from a young age, and passed the imperial examination at a young age, becoming a proofreader."

Zhang Jiuling stroked his beard with a humble demeanor.

Later, he passed the "Dao Mou Yi Lü" examination and became a Left Remonstrance Official. In the eleventh year of the Kaiyuan era, he was appointed as a Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat.

Later, when Zhang Shuo resigned as prime minister, Zhang Jiuling also suffered misfortune and was transferred to another place.

In the nineteenth year of the Kaiyuan era, he was recalled to the court and appointed as the Junior Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat and Academician of the Jixian Academy. He was later promoted to Vice Minister of the Chancellery.

In the twenty-first year of the Kaiyuan era, he became prime minister with the title of Vice Minister of the Chancellery.

In the twenty-fourth year of the Kaiyuan era, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang promoted Zhang Jiuling to the position of Right Chancellor of the Ministry of Personnel, thus removing him from political affairs.

Later, because Zhang Jiuling angered Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, he was sent to Jingzhou to serve as the Prefect.

Xiao Si is equally knowledgeable about literature:

"Lord Zhang is quick-witted, writes excellent articles, and writes exceptional poetry. He was an important poet in the early Tang Dynasty."

You may not know that your five-character ancient poems hold a very high position and have a great influence in the development of Tang poetry.

Xiao Si gave Zi An a look, and knowing he was out of ideas again, Zi An quickly took over.

"Mr. Zhang's representative works are all widely circulated masterpieces, and his 20-volume collection, *Qujiang Ji*, has also survived. Xiao Si, as you know, the literary activities Mr. Zhang organized at the time greatly contributed to the prosperity of the Kaiyuan era's poetry scene."

Little Si nodded quickly:

"Everyone has heard that Lord Zhang is courageous, farsighted, loyal to his duties, dares to speak the truth, never flatters the powerful, and dares to fight against bad forces."

Zhang Jiuling had never seen such a witty, humorous, sharp-tongued, and playful young man before. He couldn't help but ask Zi'an:

“My friend, your words are witty and extraordinary. Apart from Wang Bo, they remind me of many ancient literati. However, are you still a member of the Tang Dynasty?”

Zhen Xiaosi chimed in casually from the side:

"Oh, you're asking about that? Well, I have to tell you, he definitely didn't come from another time with me. My brother Zi'an has really confused me. I think Qu Youjiu is more like Li Bai, and Yu Zhanmo is more like Gao Shi. I don't even know who he is..."