Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 6: Poetry, songs and prose are ultimately minor paths!
"Last winter, a friend from the north sent me a letter, telling me that the snow was heavy and magnificent near the Great Wall."

"Although the two grandchildren grew up in the south and have never been to the north, they have both seen snow."

"Let's write a poem or lyrics about the snow on the Great Wall. The time limit is one stick of incense. Let's see who can write better."

After Huang Zicheng finished speaking, a smile flashed across the corner of his mouth.

Generally speaking, most poems written on a given topic are based on the scene, emotion or event.

He was afraid that Zhu Yunhuan had already made preparations, so he decided to do the opposite.

The question asked is a million miles away from this.

In this way, even if Zhu Yunhuan came prepared, it would be completely useless.

More importantly, Huang Zicheng had previously taught Zhu Yunwen his lessons and had just written a poem about snow.

It’s just right to use it now.

After he finished asking the questions, he looked at Zhu Yunwen deeply.

Zhu Yunwen immediately understood.

He immediately pretended to be in deep thought.

Zhu Yunhuan shook his head gently and asked, "Second brother, have you made up your mind?"

Zhu Yunwen was stunned for a moment.

Isn’t it just the time of a stick of incense?

Why are you asking this question right at the beginning?
Could it be that this boy really has a talent for poetry?

It would be bad if he got ahead of us.

Thinking of this, Zhu Yunwen smiled and said, "I do have a few words, but I'm afraid they are not worthy of being sung in a high-class place. However, since you asked me, I will show you my ugliness."

There was a sudden burst of whispers in the court.

In ancient times, Cao Zijian was able to compose a poem in seven steps, which has been passed down as a famous story for thousands of years.

I didn’t expect that the second emperor’s grandson would have such ability.

The question has just been asked, and you’ve figured it out so quickly?
However, some people looked at Huang Zicheng and immediately understood.

After all, Huang Zicheng was from the Eastern Palace and had worked under Zhu Biao.

I heard that he has always had a good relationship with Zhu Yunwen.

This question was deliberately asked at this time, and I think Zhu Yunwen had written about it before.

From this it seems that Zhu Yunhuan is most likely to lose!

This boy is arrogant and doesn't know his place. He should be taught a lesson.

……

Soon, the eunuch brought paper and pen.

Zhu Yunwen immediately wrote:
The Great Wall is even more majestic after the snow, and its silvery appearance shines brightly in the sun.

The ancient road winds along, covered with white silk, and the majestic pass is silently wrapped in silver waves.

The cold wind blows the flags and the chill sharpens the swords.

This scene and this feeling are worthy of being painted, and people will sing about it for thousands of years.

"it is good!"

"What a poem!"

"The second grandson is talented!"

When Zhu Yunwen finished writing the poem, there was a burst of praise in the court.

It’s hard to say how good this poem is.

It can only be said to be quite satisfactory.

But when it comes to composing a poem on a given topic, I have no time to think about it and I just write it down in one go.

In addition, Zhu Yunwen was just a teenager, and it is truly commendable that he had such talent.

As for whether it had been written in advance, even if everyone knew it, no one would expose it. They would just treat it as an impromptu performance.

The eunuch presented the poem to Zhu Yuanzhang's desk. Zhu Yuanzhang took a look at it and nodded with satisfaction.

Zhu Yunwen was extremely filial and fond of Confucianism, poetry and prose, making him a very suitable ruler to maintain the status quo.

Although Zhu Yuanzhang only learned to read for two years, he was very studious.

Even during the war, he continued to read.

When it comes to true knowledge, Lao Zhu is certainly not a semi-illiterate person who only studied for two years.

In terms of literary attainments and cultivation alone, the history books and poems that Lao Zhu had read far exceeded those of later college students.

He looked at Zhu Yunwen's face and smiled slightly.

Since ancient times, the world has been conquered by horsemen and ruled by literary talent.

Zhu Yunwen's characteristics are in line with Zhu's expectations for the future successor to the throne.

……

"In ancient times, Cao Zijian could recite a poem in seven steps. Now, the second grandson of the emperor has written an article with his pen. This will be a great story for generations to come!"

"The Second Emperor's grandson is so talented that no one of his generation can match him. How ridiculous that some people still say he has no talent?"

"Summer insects cannot talk about ice. Some people are shallow-minded, rude and arrogant. They don't know how high the sky is and how deep the earth is, and they still think they are talented."

"How can he compare with the Second Grandson?"

……

A group of civil officials were discussing the matter.

Zhu Yunwen was a descendant of the Lu family.

The Lu family is also a civil servant.

Naturally, they would be happy to see Zhu Yunwen come to power.

As for military generals and nobles, do they understand poetry and songs?
The civil servants commented that they could only watch the fun from the sidelines!
"Third Grandson, what else do you have to say?" "Third Grandson, have you thought of your poem yet?"

"Your Highness, Third Grandson, it's not like an incense stick of time has passed and you still can't write it, right?"

The civil servants asked one by one, full of joking.

Huang Zicheng obviously wouldn't help him.

This means that he couldn't have written it in advance.

It is not an easy task to write a poem within the time of a stick of incense and the level must not be lower than that of Zhu Yunwen.

Many of the people present were Jinshi graduates, and they were first-rate masters in composing poems and lyrics with ease.

But if they were in their shoes, even they themselves might not be able to write it easily.

After all, time is of the essence.

What's more, Zhu Yunhuan was just a fourteen-year-old boy.

Everyone was waiting to see him make a fool of himself.

Zhu Yunxun was not in a hurry and said loudly:
"For a ruler, governing the country is the most important thing."

"Poetry and songs are just minor things after all."

"In the past, Li Houzhu was fond of poetry and wrote famous lines that have been passed down through the ages, but he still ended up being the ruler of a fallen country!"

"The most important thing for a scholar is to apply what he has learned. To cultivate oneself, manage one's family, govern the country and bring peace to the world is the real ability."

As soon as he finished speaking, someone immediately refuted him.

"Just now you were so arrogant, claiming that your ability and talent far surpassed the Second Emperor's grandson, but now you are so flattering and don't dare to write poetry?"

"That's right. Don't say too much. Just write a poem to prove it."

"Although poetry is a minor art and has nothing to do with governing a country, it can reveal a person's talent and ability. Is it because the Third Grandson's talent is far inferior to that of the Second Grandson that he cannot write?"

……

Everyone spoke out one after another.

The words became more and more excessive and more and more unpleasant to hear.

If they hadn't taken his status as the grandson of the emperor into consideration, these guys would have started scolding him a long time ago.

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Hu'er, since the question has been given, you should answer it. If you can't answer it, just admit that you are not as good as Hu'er."

"Grandpa Emperor has given his order, and I shall obey it."

Zhu Yunxun said: "I have already written the poem in my mind, you can take a pen and write it down."

He didn't plan to write it himself.

It’s really because my calligraphy is really bad.

Since I want to show my talent today, I cannot reveal my weaknesses.

"As ordered!"

The young eunuch next to him quickly prepared pen and ink.

Everyone stopped talking and looked over together.

But the light in his eyes said it all.

Everyone is waiting for Zhu Yunxun to make a fool of himself.

Zhu Yunhuan said: "The scenery of the north is a thousand miles of ice and ten thousand miles of snow."

As soon as these words came out, everyone's eyes suddenly brightened.

This is a pretty good opening sentence.

This boy is arrogant, but he also has some talent.

I just don’t know what to do next?

"Looking inside and outside the Great Wall, I can only see the vastness, and the river up and down suddenly stops flowing."

"The mountains dance with silver snakes, the plains gallop with wax elephants, trying to compete with the sky for height."

The court became increasingly quiet, with only the sound of breathing being audible.

Zhu Yunhuan continued to read: "It must be a sunny day to see the red dress and white snow, which is particularly enchanting."

"There are so many beauties in the country that it attracts countless heroes to bow down."

"it is good!"

Lan Yu clapped his hands and praised.

He had made many expeditions to the northern desert and seen the beautiful scenery of the north.

When I wrote down Zhu Yunhuan's poems at this moment, I suddenly felt that they were exactly the same as what I had seen and heard in the past.

More importantly, the words used are simple and majestic, with the momentum to swallow up the mountains and rivers of the world.

Although Lan Yu was a rough man and did not understand poetry, he thought it was well written.

As soon as he shouted, he saw that everyone in the court was looking at him. Then he realized that he had lost his composure and quickly kept silent.

The civil servants were all silent, with extremely complicated expressions.

Zhu Yunhuan recited aloud.

"It is a pity that the Emperors of Qin and Han were slightly inferior in literary talent; the Emperors of Tang and Song were slightly inferior in style and elegance."

"A generation of arrogance, Genghis Khan, only knows how to bend the bow and shoot the eagle."

Above, two rays of light suddenly shot out from Lao Zhu's eyes.

What a courage!

I never thought he had such courage. I had always ignored it before.

Zhu Yunhuan smiled slightly and uttered the last sentence.

"All the past is gone, but the heroes of today are still to be seen."

(End of this chapter)