There was quite a love-hate relationship between Ouyang Xiu and Bao Zheng.
The two had been close friends in their early years, but once they rose to high office, they began to clash because their political views differed.
Old Bao was a reformer, while Ouyang Xiu counted as a conservative. Yet Ouyang Xiu was not thoroughly conservative. He believed reforms should not be rushed or carried out too fiercely. At the same time, he maintained good relations with the reformists.
For instance, he had spoken up for Fan Zhongyan and been driven out of the capital along with him.
As a result, even the conservatives were not truly of one mind with Ouyang Xiu. He did not share the reformists' path, yet he could not fit in with the conservatives either. Even when he became chancellor, he only pushed literary reforms. More often, he maintained stability and balanced the court—or rather, his very appointment was meant to balance the court. He introduced no major new policies.
Thus, Ouyang Xiu's greatest achievements lay in literature, as well as classical studies, historiography, epigraphy, and the like—in short, all scholarly fields.
Old Bao was different. Later folk tales turned Bao Zheng into an incorruptible judge, and the criminals he handled were all vicious men, deeply reflecting his spirit of law enforcement. Moreover, after the Qingli Reforms failed, he advocated resolving the problems of redundant officials and excessive troops. He also supported refining the army and strengthening frontier defenses. Defense, of course, was for the sake of future offense. To some extent, Old Bao was still a pro-war man.
Over time, it was only natural that he and Ouyang Xiu would find each other displeasing. Fortunately, Ouyang Xiu also advocated reforming the weak tendencies in literature and valued the integrity of scholars. Otherwise, Old