Wang Anshi: A Long Historical Novel (A Trilogy)

Author: Wan Bingsheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: The Three Volumes of Wang Anshi is a long historical novel, and Gongming is its volume. During the reign of Emperor Yingzong of Song, Zhao Shu was foolish and often ill, with constant factional struggles and intrigues within the court, internal discord, the of wealthy families across the land, the displacement of the common people, and constant border conflicts. The Great Song Dynasty was in turmoil, facing numerous dangers. At this time, Wang Anshi was mourning his mother in a tomb on Niushoushan Mountain. Su Shi and Su Zhe, returning home with their father Su Xun's coffin, encountered danger in the of Runzhou and were rescued by Wang Anshi's son, Wang Wu. They visited Wang Anshi in Jiangning Prefecture but did not meet him. Emperor Yingzong issued multiple decrees summoning Wang Anshi to the capital, but he firmly refused to attend court, choosing to mourn his mother, teach students, examine the hardships of the people, and prepare for political reform and the New Policies. Soon after, Emperor Yingzong Zhao Shu passed away. Emperor Shenzong Zhao Xiang ascended the throne at the age of 19, in the prime of his youth, determined to reform the country and strengthen the military. Faced with a court full of conservative officials who were unwilling to advance, his gaze turned to Wang Anshi, who was renowned for his ability to correct societal norms and transform customs. He issued multiple decrees appointing Wang Anshi to high positions and urging him to come to the capital. On his way to the capital, Wang Anshi gained a deeper and more concrete understanding of the people's suffering and met Du Shan (Miao Zhen), a female disciple who secretly admired him, and Nan Tiandan, a young farmer from Dongming County, laying the groundwork for grassroots support for his reforms in the capital. Upon arriving in the capital, Wang Anshi passionately advocated for the New Policies and engaged in disputes with high-ranking officials such as Sima Guang over issues like "lecturing while seated" and "the case of A Yun," as well as "refusing and accepting rewards." Emperor Zhao Xiang, defying opposition, appointed Wang Anshi as Vice Chancellor of State Affairs to lead the reforms. Wang overcame resistance, established a new reform institution, the "Special Commission for the Implementation of the Three Financial Bureaus," and recruited reformers such as Lü Huiqing, Zeng Bu, Wang Shao, and Shen Kuo, kicking off the Xining Reforms. At this time, Su Shi and Su Zhe, having completed their mourning period, returned to the capital and resumed their official duties, becoming pioneers in opposing Wang Anshi's reforms. Volume carefully lays out the rise of the reforms, with intricate and dramatic developments that draw the reader in. Kuxin is the highlight of the long historical novel Wang Anshi. At the beginning of the reforms, Wang Anshi faced fierce opposition from court officials, nobles, and wealthy families. Official censors, such as the Vice Director of the Censorate, Lü Hui, led the charge, accusing Wang of "ten major crimes," with accusations flying thick and fast. Wang defeated them, and Emperor Zhao Xiang dismissed Lü from office. Later, Su Shi, who worked at the "Special Commission for the Implementation of the Three Financial Bureaus," launched an internal attack on the new policies and was transferred out. Prime Minister Fu Bi opposed the new policies and resigned, beinged to serve as a judge in Bozhou. Sima Guang, Su Shi, and other reform officials repeatedly engaged in fierce debates in the court. The magistrate of Dongming County, Jia Fan, deliberately acted to undermine the implementation of the, spreading rumors and dirtying its name. Wang Anshi sent Lü Huiqing and Zeng Bu to secretly investigate the implementation of the, only to fall into Jia Fan's traps. Under the influence of elderly officials like Han Qi, Emperor Zhao Xiang once wavered, considering abolishing the. Wang Anshi expressed his dissatisfaction by resigning, and Sima Guang drafted a response on behalf of the emperor, which infuriated Wang Anshi, who submitted a memorial in protest. Emperor Zhao Xiang realized his mistake and strengthened his resolve to continue the reforms. Un soddisfatto, Sima Guang wrote a letter urging Wang Anshi to stop the reforms, to which Wang replied with righteous indignation. Sima Guang and Wang Anshi broke off their ties and left the capital for posts outside. Wang Anshi and his allies took the initiative, adjusting the Censorate and cracking down on officials who deliberately undermined the reforms. The reforms surged forward, with a series of new policies being implemented, causing panic among the nobility and even harming the interests of the imperial family. The opposition, seeing their plans unraveling, plotted an assassination attempt on Wang Anshi outside Xuan Gate. Fortunately, Du Shan (Miao Zhen) and Bao Yu intervened, saving Wang from certain death. Du Shan shed blood at Xuan Gate. The plot of this volume is intricate, the struggles sharp, and the climaxes frequent, with waves of ups and downs. The characterizations of Wang Anshi, Emperor Zhao Xiang, Sima Guang, Lü Huiqing, and Su Shi are detailed and vivid, making the reader reluctant to put the book down. Luanzhen is the climax of the long historical novel Wang Anshi. After the Xuan Gate incident, with Emperor Zhao Xiang's weak response to the incident, his support for the reforms wavered, the reformers were divided, and Wang Anshi considered resigning, submitting a memorial to resign as prime minister. His successor, Prime Minister Han Jiong, and Vice Prime Minister Lü Huiqing continued to implement the new policies. Lü Huiqing drafted and implemented the, which drew widespread opposition and resentment from the people. Meanwhile, the Liao state watched the Central Plains with predatory eyes. Internal and external troubles led Emperor Zhao Xiang to summon Wang Anshi back to the capital to resume his post as prime minister. After returning to office, Wang Anshi worked tirelessly, rising early and resting late, devoted to state affairs. However, Emperor Zhao Xiang became increasingly stubborn, no longer taking Wang's advice to heart, while Han Jiong and Lü Huiqing harbored their own ambitions. Reformers posted outside the capital could not be recalled, and Wang Anshi's beloved son, Wang Wu, died young. Feeling that he could not stand alone, Wang Anshi resigned again and retreated to Jiangning. Sima Guang, living in Luoyang in retirement, rarely interfered in court affairs. He built three estates in Luoyang and maintained close ties with elderly officials like Fu Bi, Wen Yanbo, and Lü Hui, discussing and criticizing the new policies. After the Zizhi Tongjian publishing house moved to Luoyang, Sima Guang continued his writing while waiting for an opportunity to return to power. Su Shi, having beened for opposing the new policies, served in Hangzhou, Mi, Xu, and Huai'an, indulging in poetry, wine, and the company of beauties, while also doing some good deeds for the people. In the process of implementing the new policies, he discovered their shortcomings and wrote numerous satirical poems, which led to his arrest and the "Black Tower Incident," where he narrowly escaped execution. Upon learning of this, Wang Anshi submitted a memorial on his behalf, and with the help of Wang Anshi's family and others, Su Shi was leniently punished and exiled to Huangzhou. Upon completing his term, he passed through Jiangning and visited Wang Anshi, speaking candidly and resolving past grievances. At this time, Sima Guang had spent 19 years completing his monumental historical work, the Zizhi Tongjian, which was praised by Emperor Zhao Xiang. Emperor Zhao Xiang, in an attempt to reclaim lost territory, launched two campaigns against Western Xia without heeding the advice of Wang Anshi and others, resulting in a humiliating defeat and the loss of face for the empire. The pain of this defeat contributed to Emperor Zhao Xiang's early death. The young Emperor Zhao Xiu ascended the throne, with the Empress Dowager Gao ruling behind a screen, summoning Sima Guang and other officials who opposed the new policies and the elderly to the court. Sima Guang became prime minister and, without discrimination, abolished all the new policies. Su Shi strongly disapproved of his actions. Wang Anshi, filled with grief and anger, passed away. After 17 years, the reforms ultimately failed. With the passage of time, the situation grew colder, and the faces of the virtuous and the unscrupulous in the reform debates were depicted objectively and vividly in this volume, further elevating Wang Anshi's moral character.