《世說新語・文學》〈張憑〉

張憑舉孝廉出都，負其才氣，謂必參時彥。欲詣劉尹，鄉里及同舉者共笑之。張遂詣劉。劉洗濯料事，處之下坐，唯通寒暑，神意不接。張欲自發無端。頃之，長史諸賢來清言。客主有不通處，張乃遙於末坐判之，言約旨遠，足暢彼我之懷，一坐皆驚。真長延之上坐，清言彌日，因留宿至曉。張退，劉曰：「卿且去，正當取卿共詣撫軍。」張還船，同侶問何處宿？張笑而不答。須臾，真長遣傳教覓張孝廉船，同侶惋愕。即同載詣撫軍。至門，劉前進謂撫軍曰：「下官今日為公得一太常博士妙選！」既前，撫軍與之話言，咨嗟稱善曰：「張憑勃窣為理窟。」即用為太常博士。

Zhang Peng was recommended as an upright scholar-official and left the capital, confident in his talent and bearing; he believed he would surely be counted among the leading figures of his time. He wanted to visit Liu Yin, but fellow townspeople and those recommended with him all laughed at him. Zhang went to see Liu anyway. Liu, while handling official matters and cleansing his robes, seated Zhang in a lower seat, only exchanging pleasantries about the weather; there was no real engagement of minds. Zhang wanted to find an opportunity to speak without prompting. After a while, the magistrates and learned men came for a philosophical discussion. When there were points of confusion between host and guest, Zhang suddenly offered his opinion from the far end of the seating. His words were concise yet profound, fully expressing both sides' thoughts; all those present were astonished. Zhen Chang invited him to the upper seat and they engaged in refined discussions throughout the day, so engrossed that Zhang was even kept overnight until dawn. After Zhang left, Liu said: "You may go for now; I shall soon come to visit you together at the military governor's residence." On his way back by boat, a companion asked where he had stayed. Zhang smiled but did not answer. After a short while, Zhen Chang sent an attendant to search for Zhang's boat; his companions were both regretful and astonished. They immediately took the same boat to visit the military governor. Upon arriving at the gate, Liu stepped forward and said to the military governor: "Your subordinate today has for you a most excellent candidate for the position of Taichang Doctor!" After Zhang was brought forward, the military governor conversed with him and exclaimed in admiration: "Zhang Peng has suddenly emerged as a profound scholar of principles!" He was immediately appointed as Taichang Doctor.