The Shadow of Fan Zhongyan and the Rise of Bao Zheng
After Fan Zhongyan left his post as Prefect of Kaifeng, another legendary figure took up the mantle: Bao Zheng, universally known as “Lord Bao” (Bao Gong). Both men served as Scholars of the Longtu Pavilion, leading the populace to often conflate their stories, referring to them collectively as “Bao and Fan.” Folklore frequently misattributed Fan’s posthumous title “Wenzheng” to Bao (whose actual title was “Xiaosu”) and credited Bao with resolving the dispute between Empress Dowager Liu and Consort Li, a case that actually occurred when Bao was merely beginning his career, over a decade younger than Fan. Despite these conflations, Bao Zheng carved out his own legacy as a paragon of integrity.
The Man Who Left No Inkstone
Born in Hefei, Luzhou (modern Anhui), Bao Zheng served in various local and central posts. His reputation for incorruptibility was cemented during his tenure as Prefect of Duanzhou (modern Zhaoqing, Guangdong), famous for its prized Duan inkstones. While previous prefects had levied excessive taxes on inkstones to enrich themselves, Bao strictly collected only the quota mandated by the imperial court. Upon his departure, his attendants suggested he take a few inkstones as souvenirs. Bao famously replied, “If I take even one, how can I distinguish between public duty and private gain?” He left without a single stone, establishing his name as a model of clean governance.
Champion of the People: Fiscal Reform and Remonstrance
Later appointed to manage financial affairs in the capital, Bao argued that the state’s foundation lay in its people, urging the court to reduce burdensome taxes. When a drought struck Chenzhou (modern Huaiyang, Henan), local officials exploited the crisis by forcing farmers to pay taxes in cash at inflated rates rather than in grain. Bao investigated, exposed the scheme, and persuaded Emperor Renzong to abolish the unfair conversion rates, saving the populace from ruin.
Impressed by his candor, Emperor Renzong appointed Bao as a Remonstrance Official. Emulating the Tang dynasty’s Wei Zheng, Bao submitted memorials urging the emperor to avoid bias and shun flatterers. His most famous confrontation arose over the appointment of Zhang Yaozuo, the uncle of the emperor’s favorite consort, Lady Zhang. Despite Zhang’s lack of qualifications, the emperor intended to promote him to high financial office. Bao, joined by other officials, vehemently opposed the move. In a dramatic court session, Bao argued that appointing such an incompetent relative would disgrace the dynasty. Speaking with such fervor that his saliva splattered onto the emperor’s face, Bao declared, “You are listening to a concubine and promoting a ghost of the daylight!” Surprisingly, Emperor Renzong, displaying remarkable tolerance, wiped his face, revoked the promotion, and decreed that relatives of consorts should not hold key positions. When Lady Zhang later asked about her uncle, the emperor recounted the incident, acknowledging Bao’s unwavering duty.
Justice Without Favor: The Case of the Uncle
After two years as a remonstrator, Bao was sent to govern his home region of Luzhou. He refused to meet with visiting relatives, believing that personal connections compromised official impartiality. When a distant uncle (his mother’s cousin) was accused of bullying neighbors, Bao immediately summoned him to court. Upon confirming the guilt, Bao declared, “The law is the scepter of the state; it must be applied strictly regardless of relation.” He ordered his uncle to be beaten seventy strokes with a staff. This act terrified local elites and earned the admiration of the common people, who saw that no one was above the law in Bao’s jurisdiction.
The Iron Face of Kaifeng
Recalled to the capital as Prefect of Kaifeng – the same post once held by Fan Zhongyan – Bao faced a city rife with powerful aristocrats and eunuchs who often acted with impunity. Determined to champion the common people, Bao abolished the bureaucratic barrier where gatekeepers filtered lawsuits, often demanding bribes. He ordered the main gates of the yamen to be opened directly to petitioners, allowing them to speak their grievances face-to-face.
One significant case involved the Huimin River, which had been narrowed by illegal gardens and pavilions built by wealthy officials and eunuchs, causing frequent flooding that devastated nearby homes. Bao investigated land deeds, exposing many as forgeries. He ordered the immediate demolition of all illegal structures and punished the obstructing officials, some of whom were dismissed by the emperor. Under his supervision, the river was dredged and restored, turning the “Harmful River” back into a benefit for the people.
The Legacy of “King Yama”
Bao Zheng served in Kaifeng for many years, earning the nickname “King Yama Bao Lao” (Old Bao, the King Yama of the Underworld), implying that just as no bribe could sway the King of Hell, no influence could bend Bao’s justice. His integrity was absolute; he lived modestly and left a strict family injunction: “Any descendant of mine who becomes an official and commits corruption shall not be allowed to return home, nor be buried in our family graveyard. Those who violate this are not my descendants.”
Bao’s ability to speak truth to power was matched by Emperor Renzong’s unusual magnanimity. Though not as militarily or politically brilliant as Tang Taizong, Renzong’s tolerance allowed figures like Bao to flourish. After reigning for over forty years without a biological son, Renzong adopted a nephew, Zhao Shu, as crown prince. Upon Renzong’s death in 1063, Zhao Shu ascended the throne as Emperor Yingzong, marking the end of an era defined by the unique partnership of a tolerant monarch and an iron-faced judge.
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