Bao Zheng is a household name in China. The image of black-faced Bao Gong is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and it is still widely circulated as a loyal minister stage image, vindicating the people and eliminating rape for the country. But is the true image of Baolong in folklore really like the legend? This man does exist in history, but he is far from a legendary figure.
Bao Zheng, now a native of Hefei, is well-off, smart, diligent and handsome since childhood, which is different from the legendary black-faced Bao Gong. During the reign of Song Renzong, he was a scholar. After he became a scholar, because his parents were old, he followed the old saying that parents should not travel far, and refused the appointment of the court twice. This is the same as in the play: parents from poor families died young, raised by eldest sister-in-law, and respected her as a mother. There is a big discrepancy, and there is no record of his brother and sister in history.
Bao Zheng was the first magistrate of Tianchang County. He became an official after his parents died. The highest achievement in his life is the straight bachelor's degree in Longtuge, which is also the basis for people to call it Baolongtu. The highest office is the Deputy Special Envoy of the Council of Government Affairs, which is equivalent to the current Deputy chairman of the Central Military Commission and the Minister of National Defense. He served as an imperial adviser, which is also the basis for impeaching treacherous court officials and understanding Kaifengfu in folklore. This is also the origin of the folk saying that Bao Zuozen Kaifengfu and Zuozen Nanya.
According to historical records, Bao Zheng was an upright official. He once asked Renzong to get rid of us and cut taxes to benefit the people. During his tenure as a Tang Dynasty envoy, he made certain contributions to strengthening the defense of Daizhou. As for the legend that the day breaks and the night breaks, the yin breaks and the night breaks, like a god, to see the case clearly, punish the evil and promote the good, and avenge the people, which may be related to the reform of the litigation system when he was the magistrate of Kaifeng. The complainant can directly complain about grievances in the lobby. In the past, the complainant had to submit a complaint through the clerk and other personnel, but the plaintiff did not see the official in Kaifeng, which bred corruption and blocked the litigation path. The real enemy plaintiff may be unable to sue and extend because he has no money to bribe the relevant personnel. After the reform of the litigation system, the litigation channels are smooth, and people can complain conveniently, so they can directly seek the chief executive, which has won Bao Zheng the reputation of being an honest and upright official.
Bao Zheng had two sons, the eldest son died young, and the second son was an official in Song Ting, but he was a county magistrate with a low official position, and there was no record of other descendants.
Bao Zheng is well-known among the people. People call him Bao Qingtian, and there are many related novels and films. The names of Bao Qingtian figures such as Gongsun Ce, Zhan Zhao, Mahan, Zhang Long and Zhao Hu are deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Let's see what the real Bao Zheng looks like.
Bao Zheng was an official of Renzong Dynasty in the Northern Song Dynasty. He has served as an official of Kaifeng government, an admonition official, a middle-ranking official, a stone official and a Tang envoy. The real Bao Zheng is first and foremost an honest official. We can know who he is through his will-Bao Zheng's will only contains one sentence: "Those officials who have committed crimes and abused, and officials of future generations, shall not be sent back to their homes, nor shall they be buried in big coffins after their death. Not from my ambition, not from my descendants. "
Bao Zheng is also an outspoken advocate. He quarreled with the emperor and dared to spit in his face. Let me cite an anecdote recorded in Zhu Bian's "Old News of Quyi" in the Song Dynasty to illustrate: Yao Zhang assisted in promoting the emblem, and the court's theory was not harmonious, so it stopped. After a long time, the temperature becomes the reason. Want to apply for a life. One day, he sent Yu Chao and Wen Cheng to the door of the temple, stroking his back and saying, "Butler, don't forget to announce the emblem today!" " The master said, "Yes, yes." Since the imperial edict, Bao Zheng for power, big Chen Qi can't. He repeatedly said hundreds of words and vented his anger on the emperor's face. The emperor died. Wencheng sent Xiao Huangmen to visit him for the second time and thanked him for knowing that he was upright in front of him. The emperor raised his sleeves and wiped his face, saying, "Zhong Cheng came forward to speak and spit in my face. You just want to engage in Xuan Hui, Xuan Hui. Don't you know that Bao Zheng is Zhong Cheng's suggestion? "
But Bao Zheng is not a commendable judge, because he is too harsh and likes to emphasize "re-treatment outside the ordinary law". For example, Zeng Minxing's magazine "Awakening Alone" said: "Bao Xiao Su Gong is silent, and people dare not commit crimes. One day, the alley caught fire. Burning party rescue is urgent, and there are rogues, so they change their tune when they meet. When he left, he said in front of him,' Taking water from Sweet Water Lane is like taking water from Bitter Water Lane.' If it's hopeless, it's ordered to be cut down. "A rogue was put to death by Bao Zheng because he made fun of Bao Zheng's words when putting out the fire. It is harsh.
Ironically, such a cruel official who has no respect for the law and no sympathy for human life has been shaped into a representative judge of law enforcement by later literati. In fact, China's traditional judicial civilization has made great achievements, which cannot be represented by Bao Zheng.
As a suggestion, Bao Zheng suggested strengthening training and punishing corruption. After resigning from this post, he also went to Liao country. After returning, he wished to suggest that the imperial court select generals who were "accustomed to border affairs" and pay attention to selecting generals in Daizhou (now Daixian County, Xinzhou, Shanxi) to cope with the sudden border situation. Yanmenguan belongs to Daizhou, where Yang Jiajiang's story happened.
Bao Zheng in the third division of the Ministry of commerce agreement, the shipbuilding timber and bamboo rope bridge, exempt from heavy taxes. And let the people cultivate fertile land in Zhanghe area, with about10.5 million hectares of farmland. Bao Zheng also abolished the Zhizhou salt law; And actively provided military food for the Song and Liao border troops, which provided a good reputation foundation for Bao. Later, Bao Zheng was appointed as Tianzhangge, waiting for the system and knowing the suggestion court. The proposal calls for the abolition of rude behavior, the ban on lucky speculation, the ban on criminal law, the ban on construction projects, and the ban on rumors.
Bao Zheng, the most familiar official position, was officially named "Longtuge straight bachelor", which was held in 1052, so it was called "Baolongtu". Later, he was demoted to Chizhou (now Chizhou, Anhui Province) to be the magistrate because he pushed the official to protect his mistakes. Sadly, this year is 1055. In the following year, 1056, Bao Zheng was reinstated and took charge of Kaifeng. The drama "Sitting in South Asia Baolong" officially appeared. At this time, Bao Zheng is almost sixty years old.
Bao Zheng reformed the litigation system when he took office. Under the old Kaifeng government system, anyone who complains must first give the form paper to the gatekeeper, and then the official will forward it, and the official will inform him whether to try it. If the litigants can't see the Chief Executive, government officials can use it to extort money and engage in malpractices for personal gain, while the aggrieved people can't complain because they can't afford the money. Bao Zheng removed this drawback, left the front door wide open, and let the complainant go directly to the court to see the official, so that the case would be more just and reasonable. Therefore, there is an image of "Bao Heizi" in the play, which is honest and upright. Of course, the ancient artifact of the hay cutter should not exist. Since then, Bao Zheng mainly served as a speech officer, advising the emperor and impeaching ministers who violated the law. Bao Zheng once suggested that Song Renzong should establish a prince, because Bao Zheng had no children and was old. Injong was glad that Bao Zheng made this suggestion.
Bao Zheng and Ouyang Xiu, a great talent in the Song Dynasty, were officials in the same dynasty. Ouyang Xiu is a great talent, but his destructive power is also very great. Bao Zheng was chewed when he saw who chewed his master. He once told Injong that Bao Zheng impeached the first three ministers to hold this position for himself, so that Bao Zheng could only stay at home for a long time. Ouyang Xiu's overall evaluation of Bao Zheng is still very high, but it is a turning point that "he is not knowledgeable and unfamiliar, but unfortunately he is a good man", which is also an aspect of Bao Zheng.
Bao Zheng's overall evaluation, dare not comment, or quote "The History of Song Dynasty", "There is a precipitous nature, a harsh official, and a sincere thing. Although it is extremely hateful, it is not without loyalty and forgiveness." I don't agree with others, and I don't try to please others. I live in a selfless book. Therefore, my old friends and pro-party member are absolutely exclusive. Although expensive, clothes, utensils and diet are like cloth. "Bao Zheng's character is honest, he hates harsh and mean officials, and he is committed to a sincere and tolerant government. Although he hates evil deeds very much, he has never carried out government affairs disloyalty. He doesn't associate with people at will, he doesn't please people with sweet words, he doesn't have a personal letter at ordinary times, and he even cuts off friends and relatives. Although the status is noble, the clothes, utensils and diet are the same as those of ordinary people.
After Bao Zheng's death, Bao Zheng Temple was built in Kaifeng to commemorate Bao Zheng. Later, in order to commemorate Bao Zheng, Baogong Temple was built in many parts of the country, which shows that people have a "steelyard" in their hearts. Bao Zheng in history and Bao Zheng in the play, although their deeds are different, most of them are fabricated in the play, but their overall character, disposition and behavior are the same, and "including sunspots" is truly worthy of the name.