Ouyang Zhan lived in Fujian and Vietnam for generations, and his ancestors worked as officials in Fujian and Vietnam, many of whom were state-sponsored and county magistrates. Fujian and Vietnam have fertile land and rural fun brought by mountain springs, birds and fish. Although there are many outstanding people among the people, they are literate and understand laws and regulations, which can be comparable to the celebrities in Beijing, but they refuse to come out as officials. At the beginning of the emperor's establishment, the former prime minister Chang gun was appointed as the governor of Fujian Province, in charge of Fujian and Vietnam. Long sticks personally make friends with ordinary people who can read, write and recite poems in all villages and counties, receive them as guests and friends, make friends widely, and feast together. Ouyang Zhan was outstanding at that time, and the long stick took care of him. Other scribes also admire Ouyang Zhan.
During the years of Jianzhong and Zhenyuan, I lived in Jiangnan to make a living, and I didn't have much contact with people, but I often heard Ouyang Zhan's name among the people, which shows that Ouyang Zhan's reputation in Jiangnan has a long history. Zhenyuan went to Beijing for the first time in three years. At that time, I heard that Ouyang Zhan was even more famous. In the spring of Zhenyuan eight years, Ouyang Zhan and I were admitted to the same list of scholars, and then we met. Later, Ouyang Zhan returned to Fujian to visit relatives. Sometimes I am in the capital, sometimes I am in other places. Long time no see, only when Ouyang Zhan returned to Fujian. At other times, I left Ouyang Zhan for less than a year. I will see you again soon after I leave, and I don't want to go anywhere after I see you. It was a long time before I left. So I have a deep relationship with Ouyang Zhan.
Ouyang Zhan respects his parents, treats his wife and children well, and is loyal and sincere to his friends. He has a simple temperament, good conduct and extraordinary physical appearance. He usually likes telling jokes to adjust his mood. His article is profound and tortuous, and he is good at explaining problems in his own words. Reading his poems, we know that he respects filial piety most. In the winter of fifteen years, I went to Beijing as a Xuzhou native to congratulate the emperor. At that time, Ouyang Zhan was the teaching assistant of four doctors in imperial academy, and he was going to lead his students to kneel at the palace gate and ask the emperor to recommend me as a doctor. It happened that there was a prison lawsuit in imperial academy at that time, and there was no result in writing letters. Look at his sincerity. As long as it is for my own good, he can forget the humble words and do it.
Alas, Ouyang Zhan is dead now! Ouyang Zhan is a native of Fujian and Vietnam, and his parents are old. He gave up taking care of his parents day and night and came to Beijing. His initial wish was to earn something in Beijing, and his parents were honored by his clothes. Even his parents' wishes are the same: although his son is around, he is not happy in his heart; My son is in the capital. Although he was sad to leave, he was happy for him. People like Ouyang Zhan probably respect their adoptive parents by fulfilling their parents' wishes!
Although Ouyang Zhan didn't get a high official position, his reputation spread among the people in Beijing, and his virtue won the trust of his friends. He and his parents have nothing to regret. Li Ao wrote Ouyang Zhan's life story and articles, so I wrote this eulogy to express my grief and pass it on to his parents to forgive their grief and settle Ouyang Zhan's heart.