Jin Yong: I read "Zhang Juzheng" When I read serial novels, especially serial novels in Chinese classical and traditional genres with strong storytelling, I often have a sneak peek. Mr. Xiong Zhaozheng's recent work "Zhang Juzheng" is one of them.This huge historical novel was published by Ming Pao Publishing House in Hong Kong (the simplified Chinese version of the four-volume historical novel "Zhang Juzheng" was published simultaneously in the Mainland by Changjiang Literature and Art Publishing House, and was changed to "The Story of Zhang Juzheng" when it was published in Hong Kong).Because of my historical relationship with this publishing house, I have a little privilege. Before "Zhang Juzheng" is on the market, I can get it first and start reading it with relish.There is one principle for me to enjoy any privilege, that is: this privilege must never hinder or infringe on the interests of any other person.Reading "Zhang Juzheng" first will not make this book out of stock in the market, nor will it make any reader temporarily unable to buy it, thus depriving him of the pleasure of seeing it first. If any privilege violates this principle, I will never Use it, because it is Zhang Juzheng's firm opposition, and I have worked hard to deal with it all my life. I also despise the bully behavior.A few years ago, a friend praised me for a trivial matter in a small column in the newspaper: The two of us went to visit a book fair in Hong Kong.I just said that there is no queue, and I will come back in a day or two when there are fewer people.The friend asked me why I didn't use the privilege, because I was the owner of the participating publishing house, and I had the privilege not to have to queue up. I said that if I went in without queuing up, one reader would be squeezed out unfairly and hindered. Access to other people's privileges cannot be used.It's such a trivial matter that it's not worth mentioning, and it's not a good thing, but I think this kind of fair, anti-privilege concept should be applied to any aspect of society.Zhang Juzheng's administration is actually the three characters of Ju Qizheng.

When Zhu Rongji took office as the Premier of the State Council, he emphasized that his job was full of difficulties, and he knew that there were landmines in front of him. In order to work, he should not be afraid of sacrifice and kick down.Premier Wen Jiabao said after he was elected at the National People's Congress that he was determined to take the two sentences he remembered as the creed of his work. They are the life and death of the country, and they should be avoided because of misfortune. This couplet was written by Lin Zexu, meaning that as long as it is beneficial For the affairs of the country, one must go all out, and personal life and death, honor and disgrace, advancement and retreat, misfortunes and fortunes are completely out of the question.I think to be a person of the country, one must have such a manly ambition.Looking back on the big figures in the history of our country, Lin Zexu is worthy of this, and Zhang Juzheng can also be awe-inspiring in major joints.

Historical fiction is not history, it is fiction.Historical novels should be novels above all, and their content generally does not depart from history.Since it is a novel, it should have vivid and tense plots, rich characters, both character and inner life, the conflict between emotion and reality in his personality, his difficulties, his strength and weakness, His last resort. The so-called not breaking away from history in general means that not only material life cannot violate historical regulations, but also spiritual and conceptual aspects.Although historical novels can have three falsehoods and seven falsehoods, the three falsehoods cannot be excessive.Alexandre Dumas of France wrote "The Three Musketeers" in the era of the dynasties of Louis XIII and XIV in France. Warriors can use muskets, but they cannot use new-style pistols. In Chinese historical novels, Zhang Juzheng cannot use a lighter to light cigarettes, and he cannot use a lighter at home. Turning on the air conditioner, although he pays attention to the rule of law, fairness, and opposition to tax evasion by big landlords, he cannot have Marxism.

Mr. Xiong is from Yingshan, and he is from the same hometown as Zhang Juzheng in Hubei.This historical novel examines the official system and social life during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty in great detail. When I read it, I was ashamed and admired. I believe he did a lot of investigation and research.When I met with him, I asked Mr. Xiong about the historical facts of Li Zicheng's murder of his comrades in the uprising, which was used as the basis for my revision of "Jade Blood Sword".I am interested in Ming history. In my "Critical Biography of Yuan Chonghuan", I had a high opinion of Zhang Juzheng. I wrote this: From the first year to the tenth year of Wanli, Zhang Juzheng's political achievements were remarkable. At that time, China is the most advanced, richest and most powerful country in the world.At that time, when European literati and scholars mentioned China, they all admired and yearned for the major achievements of China in the fifteenth year of Wanli when I quoted, most of which were attributed to Zhang Juzheng.Historian Mr. Huang Renyu wrote "The Fifteen Years of Wanli", choosing the fifteen years of Wanli to represent China's institutional lag behind Europe, saying that the main reason is that China does not use numbers to manage the country.In fact, Zhang Juzheng passed away in the fifteenth year of Wanli, and Zhang Juzheng's good governance has not been corrupted. Compared with advanced European countries in the fifteenth year of Wanli, China is still far ahead.At least, big cities like Beijing, Nanjing, Yangzhou and Hangzhou are far more hygienic, clean and advanced than London and Paris.

The main shortcoming of China at that time was not that it did not use numbers to manage the country, but the Chinese politics of centralization and supremacy of the monarchy in the Ming Dynasty (the absolute monarchy established by the Ming Taizu), Zhang Juzheng attached great importance to the system, the rule of law, and fairness, even under the feudal rule It can also manage a big country like China very well.He pays attention to following the name and being responsible for the facts. In modern terminology, he basically seeks truth from facts. Although "Zhang Juzheng" is a novel, it is more real and closer to the facts than academic articles like "The Fifteen Years of Wanli".

Historical novels have the function of using the past for the present, but you can’t write novels with the goal of serving the past for the present, it may be far-fetched and barely alluding to the role.In literature, the theme-first style never succeeds.To write about the topic, be clear and straight to the point of writing a political essay. I appreciate "Zhang Juzheng" because the author chooses Zhang Juzheng, a character who seeks truth from facts regardless of personal success or failure, is determined to fight for the country, opposes privileges, fights against tyrants, and insists on the system and the rule of law. In the frame of reality, alluding to reality, reflecting reality.Only real characters can be used to reflect the reality, the ancients are the ancients, and the true description of the ancients is a very good historical novel.