[1] According to Song dynasty scholar Wang Bishi’s historical Biji collection Mianshui Yantanlu (澠水燕談錄), "Teng Zijing, after being exiled to Baling, governed so well that it was said to be the best administration in the country.
"[2] The History of Song praised him, stating: "Zongliang was driven by a strong sense of honor, unconventional and self-assured, generous in giving, and when he passed away, he left no personal wealth behind.
During the early years of the Tiansheng period (1023-1032, specifically before 1031), Teng Zijing was assigned the chief judge of the Court of Judicial Review (大理寺丞, Dalisi Cheng).
The Book of Fujian (闽书, Minshu) written by He Qiaoyuan during the Ming dynasty remarked Teng as such: "He was once again appointed as the administrator of Shaowu, and he was known for being generous, enthusiastic about building schools, and had a bold and unrestrained character.
[6] In the aftermath, Teng Zijing mobilized local farmers to defend the city gates and recruited courageous soldiers to scout enemy movements.
With both the soldiers and townspeople dispirited and fearful, Teng organized a grand feast to reward the troops with meat and wine, and generously compensated the families of the fallen.
As a result, the emperor, who initially intended a more lenient judgment, demoted Teng Zongliang to Baling Prefecture in Yuezhou (modern-day Yueyang, Hunan) in the spring of the fourth year of the Qingli reign (1044).
[12] During his three-year tenure in Yuezhou, Teng Zongliang issued a proclamation to private lenders, stating that, upon paying a certain fee, the government would pursue debt collection from borrowers who had failed to repay.