Liu Zhi (1030-1098 AD), courtesy name Xin Lao, was born in Dongguang, Yongjing. In the fourth year of Jiayuan, he was a Jinshi in the first grade, with outstanding ability and outstanding political achievements. Because Liu Zhi was upright, upright, loyal and patriotic throughout his life, after the death of Song Zhezong, Han Zhongyan became the right prime minister, reversed Liu Zhi's case, and gave him the title of Zhongsu, and was later awarded the title of Yuan Zhongxian. Liu Zhi loved learning throughout his life, was rigorous in scholarship, and talented. His "Zhongsu Collection" has been widely circulated by future generations.

When he was first appointed as the magistrate of Nangong County in Jizhou, he was known as the three magistrates of Heshuo together with Li Chong, the magistrate of Xindu, and Huang Xin, the magistrate of Qinghe, because of his outstanding political achievements. Later, he served as the observation and promotion officer of Jiangling Prefecture. He was recommended by Han Qi to be the editor of the pavilions and pavilions, and was promoted to the title of author. At that time, Wang Anshi had just begun to take power, and he valued Liu Zhi very much and promoted Liu Zhi to the official post of the Secretary and the Secretary. Later Liu Zhi was promoted to supervisory censor Li Xing. After Wang Anshi paid homage to the Prime Minister, he implemented the new law. Liu Zhi thought that the new law had many disadvantages, so he wrote to Song Shenzong to state the shortcomings of the new law. Shenzong favored Wang Anshi at that time and demoted Liu Zhi to oversee the salt warehouse in Hengzhou. In the early years of Yuanfeng, he was appointed as the school manager of Jixian Academy. He became known as the Prime Minister of Dazong Zhengsi and promoted officials to Kaifeng Prefecture. Later, he was appointed as a doctor in the Ministry of Rites, and soon he was promoted to a doctor in the Yousi Department. After Emperor Zhezong of the Song Dynasty succeeded to the throne, Liu Zhi was promoted to the post of Secretary and Shaojian, and was promoted to the imperial censor. In the first year of Yuanv, he was promoted to the imperial envoy Zhongcheng. In the sixth year of Yuanv, he worshiped Shangshu Youpushe at the same time as Shangshu Zuopushe Lu Dafang. Take power and scrap the new law. Later, there was a conflict between Lu Dafang and Liu Zhi. The censor Yang Wei attached to Lu Dafang and impeached Liu Zhi, who was dismissed as prime minister. In the eighth year of Yuan Dynasty (1097 AD), Zhezong of the Song Dynasty came into power and implemented new laws. In the second year, Liu Zhi was demoted to Guanglu Qing. In the fourth year of Shaoxing (1097 AD), Liu Zhi was exiled to Xinzhou and died soon after with resentment.

A brief introduction to the life of Liu Zhi, minister of the Northern Song Dynasty

Born in the eighth year of Tiansheng in the Northern Song Dynasty (1030 AD).

In the first year of Baoyuan of the Northern Song Dynasty (1038 AD), at the age of 9, he served with his father Jiang Hua (Yongzhou, Hunan), and his mother and uncle Chen Xiaoruo went with him.

In the second year of Baoyuan of the Northern Song Dynasty (1039 AD), when he was 10 years old, his parents died one after another. His mother died in Jianghua and his father died in Hengzhou (Hengyang, Hunan). After that, he moved to his maternal grandparents’ home in Dongping, Shandong Province, where he lived and went to school.

In the first year of Emperor V of the Northern Song Dynasty (1049 AD), he was 20 years old and lived in Yunzhou (Yuncheng, Shandong). While reading, I traveled around the mountains and rivers, looking for close friends and making friends.

In the third year of Jiayu in the Northern Song Dynasty (1058 AD), at the age of 29, he met the famous monk Wenying in Jingzhou.

In the fourth year of Jiayu in the Northern Song Dynasty (AD 1059), he was awarded Jinshi Jiake at the age of 30. In May of the same year, he was appointed as the Nangong Order of Jizhou.

In the third year of Zhiping in the Northern Song Dynasty (AD 1066), at the age of 37, he served as the observation and promotion officer of Jiangling.

In the third year of Xining in the Northern Song Dynasty (AD 1070), at the age of 41, in April, he was recommended by Prime Minister Han Qi to collate the pavilions.

In the fourth year of Xining in the Northern Song Dynasty (AD 1071), at the age of 42, Song Shenzong and Wang Anshi joined hands and determined to eradicate bad governance and reform to become stronger. Liu Zhi was appreciated by Wang Anshi. In February, he was appointed as the inspector of official affairs in the study room. In April, he was appointed as the supervisory censor Li Xing.

In the fifth year of Xining in the Northern Song Dynasty (AD 1072), at the age of 43, he was imprisoned because of his different opinions on the new law (Zhi advocated gradual change and opposed violent changes. He believed that the new law was implemented too quickly and the people could not adapt quickly). He was demoted to Hengzhou to supervise the salt warehouse. After being demoted, he returned to Yunzhou to move his ancestral graves.

In the seventh year of Xining in the Northern Song Dynasty (AD 1074), at the age of 45, he served as the magistrate of Nanjing.

In the tenth year of Xining in the Northern Song Dynasty (AD 1077), at the age of 48, Wang Anshi left the court and retired to Jiangning. Liu Zhi returned to Kaifeng and served as Tongzhi Taichang Liyuan, preparing for Yuanfeng's reform.

In the first year of Yuanfeng in the Northern Song Dynasty (1078 AD), at the age of 49, he was appointed as the director of Jixian School. He was promoted to an official in Kaifeng Prefecture and was changed to Yilang.

In the fifth year of Yuanfeng in the Northern Song Dynasty (1082 AD), he was 53 years old. In April, he was appointed as a doctor in the Ministry of Rites. In August, he went to Liao State as an envoy in Zhengdan.

In the sixth year of Yuanfeng in the Northern Song Dynasty (AD 1083), in the spring of 54 years old, he served as doctor Yousi. In April, he was dismissed from office and returned to his hometown.

In the seventh year of Yuanfeng in the Northern Song Dynasty (AD 1084), he was 57 years old and came to Huazhou (Hua County, Henan Province) in July.

In the eighth year of Yuanfeng in the Northern Song Dynasty (AD 1085), at the age of 56, Song Shenzong died of illness in March, Zhezong ascended the throne, and Empress Dowager Gao listened behind the curtain. In April, Liu Zhi was appointed as a doctor in the Ministry of official affairs from Huazhou.

In June, Prime Minister Sima Guangshang was promoted to Secretary Shaojian, and soon he was promoted to Shi Yushi.

In the first year of Yuan Dynasty in the Northern Song Dynasty (1086 AD), he was 57 years old and was promoted to the imperial envoy Zhongcheng in February. In September, Sima Guang (the chief assistant at the end of the eighth year of Yuanfeng) died of illness. After Sima Guang's death, Cheng Yi (Luo Party), Su Shi (Shu Party), and Liu Zhi (Shuo Party) fought against each other, and Shuo Party won. In November, he was promoted to the middle official, Shangshu Youcheng.

In the second year of Yuan Dynasty in the Northern Song Dynasty (1087 AD), at the age of 58, he was promoted to Minister Zuocheng in May.

In the third year of Yuan Dynasty in the Northern Song Dynasty (1088 AD), he was 59 years old and was promoted to the title of Minister of Zhongshu in April.

In the fourth year of Yuan Dynasty in the Northern Song Dynasty (1089 AD), he was 60 years old and concurrently served as a minister.

In the sixth year of Yuan Dynasty in the Northern Song Dynasty (1091 AD), he was 62 years old. In February, he was appointed as Taizhong doctor, Shangshu Youpushe and Zhongshu minister.

In the seventh year of the Northern Song Dynasty and Yuan Dynasty (1092 AD), he was 63 years old. In November, he was impeached by Zheng Yong, Yang Wei and others, and was demoted to the bachelor of Guanwen Palace. He left Yunzhou and moved to Qingzhou ( Qingxian County, Hebei Province).

How did Liu Zhi die?

In the eighth year of the Northern Song Dynasty and Yuan Dynasty (AD 1093), at the age of 64, Empress Dowager Gao died of illness in September. He was demoted to Huangzhou (Huangzhou, Hubei), then demoted to Guangluqing Branch Office in Nanjing, and lived in Qizhou (Qichun, Hubei).

In the ninth year of Yuan Dynasty in the Northern Song Dynasty (commonly known as the first year of Shaosheng, 1094 AD), he was 65 years old and was demoted to Huangzhou in June. He was demoted to Guanglu Qing.

In the fourth year of Shaosheng in the Northern Song Dynasty (AD 1097), at the age of 68, he was demoted to the deputy envoy of Tuanlian in Dingzhou (Changde, Hunan) and resettled in Xinzhou (Xinxing, Guangdong). He died in the demoted office on December 3, at the age of sixty-eight.