Destroy Jin and conquer Song, and carry the Northern Expedition through to the end

Chapter 507 The east wind blows flowers and thousands of trees on a night

Zhu Xi's image in history is that of a scholar, a mentor, and a moral role model.

But in fact, many labels were added to him by later generations.

The so-called "I annotate the Six Classics, and the Six Classics annotate me."

A mature scholar does not interpret the teachings of the sages, but uses the teachings of the sages to endorse his own teachings.

In the Ming and Qing dynasties, when Zhu Xi was regarded as a sage, he became a symbolic figure like Confucius.

However, the real Zhu Xi was not like this.

He discovered snail and clam shells and fish fossils in Wuyi Mountain, and speculated that the ancient ocean was today's land. He also personally conducted field investigations and pointed out many errors in "Shan Hai Jing" and "Yu Gong".

Zhu Xi drew maps, studied tidal phenomena, summarized the patterns of flower blooming and falling, improved the community granary system, revised the village covenant system, established schools, and reformed and simplified rituals for weddings and funerals. He even organized and commanded a militia.

In terms of political thought, he made profound criticisms of imperial politics, the imperial examination system, and the bureaucratic state's encroachment and extortion of local and civil society.

But that's all in the past. If I were to use four words to describe the 30-year-old Zhu Xi, it would be "violent old man."

There is a reason why Zhu Xi's adoptive father Liu Ziwu, a scholar-official, was ranked among the famous generals who fought against the Jin Dynasty.

Under the guidance of his adoptive father, Zhu Xi could not say that it was a common thing for him to break into battle and kill the enemy like Xin Qiji, but he did have some of the style of a master who was invincible in the world when he turned against a fat man.

"Tang Shuo! You really deserve to die!" Zhu Xi's eyes were red. After throwing all four chairs, he kicked a table leg in half and rushed forward with it in his hand: "Second Brother Yang, please move aside a little."

Yang Neng was at a loss for words. He held up his shoulder, which had just been hit by a stool, and said, "Zhu San, Tang Er, how old are you? What are you doing? Stop it!"

As the second son of Yang Yi Zhong, Yang Dan was actually not a person who pursued fame and fortune. Apart from holding the title of Yuanwailang in the Ministry of Revenue, his biggest hobby was the same as his father's, which was collecting prescriptions.

Later, Yang Neng compiled the more than a thousand prescriptions he had collected into "Yang's Family Prescriptions", which was also spread to Japan.

But not pursuing fame and fortune does not mean that anyone can look down on Yang Tan. His biological father Yang Yizhong is not dead yet!
Even Tang Situi’s second son Tang Shuo is not allowed!

After Yang Tan persuaded them a few times and many people separated Tang Shuo and Zhu Xi, the two finally dropped the things in their hands and turned the fight from physical to literary.

Xin Qiji pinched the soybeans and threw them into his mouth. He pulled a servant over, threw a few silver coins into his arms, and asked what had just happened.

Inspired by the money, the servant explained the matter clearly and concisely.

it's actually really easy.

Now that the political struggle in the Song State has reached a point where blood is drawn, the pro-war and pro-peace factions no longer want to maintain superficial harmony.

There is no other way unless you try your best.

Whether there would be war or peace during these months almost determined the future political careers of many people.

Whether he will enjoy high official positions and generous salaries, and prosperity for three generations, or step down in disgrace and live the rest of his life in misery, all depends on this one move.

For example, Zhu Xi and Chen Liang, the outstanding figures of the younger generation, gave up their studies and official positions, came to Lin'an, and then followed the central government to Jiankang, but it was not to drink and prostitute on the Qinhuai River.

More importantly, it was necessary to build momentum for the pro-war faction. No matter what, a public outcry must be created to force the pro-peace faction in the court to make concessions and send troops to the north.

Under such circumstances, it would be impossible for Tang Shitui's second son to fall in love with Zhu Xi.

Tang Shuo also started to act up under the influence of alcohol, using the excuse that the rhythm of someone's poem was wrong, and started to curse. However, he was not cursing a specific person, but all the scholars whose political inclinations were pro-war.

Zhu Xi was naturally no pushover either. He had a much higher level of cultural literacy. When he scolded someone, he not only didn't use any dirty words, but he even quoted from classics. After listening to his words, people had to react for a moment before they could determine whether he was praising him or scolding him. This made Tang Shuo furious.

Xin Qiji filled his glass with wine, picked it up and sipped it slowly. He couldn't help but laugh as he saw that the scholars who had just been feasting had split into two factions and were arguing with each other.

However, after a while, Xin Qiji felt bored again.

Does it really make sense to deal with these people?

It’s not about whether they can accomplish things, do they have the ability to do bad things?
Thinking of this, Xin Qiji put down his wine cup and said to Luo Huaiyan, who was chewing a pig's trotter with his mouth full of oil, "Eat quickly. After you finish, we'll leave."

Luo Huaiyan wiped his face and said, "The eldest brother said that you, the fifth brother, should become famous. Isn't it true that you won't become famous?"

Xin Qiji shook his head: "If you want to become famous, you can do it anytime, but this place is like a cesspool. Although I am not as pure as a green lotus rising from the mud, I don't want to be like this in the dust."

Luo Huaiyan nodded and quickly competed with the pig's trotter: "Fifth brother, this chef's cooking is very good. The pig's trotter is much more delicious than the stewed horse meat in the army. Don't you want to try it?"

Xin Qiji smiled and shook his head: "I'm not hungry yet."

As soon as he finished speaking, Tang Shuo said with a big tongue: "You guys are only good at writing, and you don't know the dangers of war. You talk about the Northern Expedition, but it's all empty talk. But who will fight in the battlefield when the time comes? You? You? Or you?"

After Tang Shuo pointed at a few people, he looked at Xin Qiji coldly: "Are you going to rely on those soldiers and bandits from Shandong?!"

All the scholars followed Tang Shuo's gaze, but they only saw Xin Qiji standing up and sneering: "You fat bastard, if you have the guts, say it again."

Tang Shuo had recognized Xin Qiji long ago.

He was not a young official who knew nothing. When he entered the city in triumph that day, Tang Shuo had already memorized many generals of the Jingnan Army.

As Tang Situi's son, he naturally shared the same hatred with his father. Tang Shuo immediately pointed at Xin Qiji and said, "I'm talking to you..."

Before he could finish his words, a jade pendant came flying towards him like a crossbow arrow. It rapidly magnified in Tang Shuo's eyes. He felt a pain in his scalp, and then his head was knocked to the ground.

The two strong servants guarding the door quickly stepped forward.

The fight between the literati just now was one thing, but now that the warrior Xin Qiji has taken action, it is another matter.

However, although these two servants came from military backgrounds, they were no match for Xin Qiji with their bare hands.

After easily knocking over two servants, Xin Qiji kicked off a table leg, weighed it in his hand, tilted his head and grinned at Tang Shuo, "What did you just say?"

Zhu Xi and other pro-war scholars all watched this scene happily, and did not try to stop the fight. They just watched Xin Qiji surround more than ten scholars.

Tang Shuo swallowed his saliva, and the fat on his big fat face trembled. Although Yang Neng was by his side, he did not feel safe at all.

This guy suddenly realized that Shandong warriors like Xin Qiji cannot be treated like ordinary Song warriors.

Even if Xin Qiji killed Tang Shuo on the spot, what would happen? He would then escape back to Shandong and change his name. Who could do anything to him?
The Chief Justice and the Procuratorate guarantee that every one of them will die.

"I...I say you Shandong people are all vulgar and uncultured. You've ruined a good literary gathering." Tang Shuo's hair was disheveled, but he gradually became more confident. "We are all friends who gather through poetry. Why would we resort to violence?"

It was as if this guy was not the one who had just started the trouble.

Xin Qiji just felt bored, threw down the stick, bowed to Zhu Xi and Chen Liang, and then turned to leave.

Tang Shuo seemed to have seen the opponent's vital point and laughed out loud: "Look, am I right? A warrior is a warrior! He will run away in disgrace when the matter of Wenhua is mentioned!"

Luo Huaiyan had originally wanted to eat the pig's trotter on the way, but upon hearing this, he immediately scolded him, "What do you southerners know? My son is from the prestigious Xin family of Shandong, renowned in the north for his literary talent. He studied under the great scholar Liu Zhan of Yingning, a lay Buddhist in Bozhou. How could you possibly know anything about him?"

Tang Shuo pointed at Xin Qiji, who had already turned around, and shouted, "Look at your son. Do you have the courage to go back to this desk and pick up a pen to write some doggerel? And you..."

Tang Shuo pointed at the scholars around him and said, "Are you really willing to let this group of warriors take charge of the world?"

This fellow had mastered the art of subverting the concept, transforming the debate between those who favored war and those who favored peace into a dispute between civil and military officials. Xin Qiji walked to the entrance of the pleasure boat just as a huge firework burst into life in the sky, its flames cascading down like willow branches. Seeing this, he finally sighed and turned around.

"You...what are you going to do?" Tang Shuo was startled, thinking that Xin Qiji had finally turned against him, and quickly stepped back: "My father is the governor of Jiankang, if you..."

"Pen, ink, paper and inkstone." Xin Qiji said coldly, then sat down in front of the desk, staring at Tang Shuo like a cheetah seeing a fat antelope, ready to strike.

"Brother Xin, let me do it!" Chen Liang rolled up his sleeves and immediately came to grind ink for Xin Qiji.

Although he was young and had a rather eccentric temperament, he could understand the situation and immediately realized that now was the time when the pro-war and pro-war factions in the literati circles were competing with each other, and he had to contribute no matter what.

After sitting at the desk for a while, when everyone thought that Xin Qiji was going to write a bold poem with a brush as big as a rafter, this already famous warrior picked up the brush and slowly wrote the title on the paper.

New Year's Eve.

Chen Liang nodded as he ground the ink. It was the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, so this was the appropriate title.

However, this kind of theme is so overused that it is difficult to stand out.

Thinking of this, Chen Liang couldn't help but worry about Xin Qiji.

It would be better to write some lyrics and music about battlefield killings. With the example of Su Shi, it would not seem unorthodox. At worst, Chen Liang could sing to his heart's content with the copper pipa and iron clapboard. He couldn't let Xin Qiji lose the show.

During this moment of thinking, Xin Qiji had already written the first sentence on paper.

Chen Liang stood beside him, reciting slowly.

"The east wind brings forth flowers and thousands of trees at night."

Several fireworks flew into the sky, and after exploding, they fell down like colorful flowers, illuminating everyone in the pleasure boat with a golden glow.

Tang Shuo's face changed. Although he was a young master and his cultural level was not that of a literary giant, anyone with a certain literary appreciation ability could see the extraordinary nature of this poem from the first sentence, and he was no exception.

But Tang Shuo still forced a smile and said, "This is just a cliché."

Chen Liang raised his eyes and glanced at the guy, then slowly recited.

"The wind blows down, and the stars fall like rain."

At this moment, the eyes of several scholars were full of surprise. They wanted to applaud, but did not dare to interrupt Xin Qiji's train of thought. They quickly waved back and called over several courtesans hiding behind the curtains, waiting for this Lantern Festival poem to be written and then started to sing it immediately.

"BMW's car-shaped cars fill the road with fragrance."

"The sound of the phoenix flute moves, and the light of the jade pot turns."

"A night of fish and dragon dance."

After writing the first stanza, the pleasure boat was already silent.

"Ha..." Tang Shuo wanted to say something else, but Yang Neng pulled his arm hard.

"Do you want to bring shame to your own father in history books?" Yang Neng first warned Tang Shuo harshly, then looked up at Xin Qiji.

At this moment, Xin Qiji also looked up at Yang Tan and nodded to him.

Even though Yang Neng was over forty years old, he was flattered and bowed to Xin Qiji.

After hearing the first stanza, Yang Tan knew that this poem would be immortal, and everyone on the pleasure boat would also be recorded in history books, just like when Wang Bo wrote "Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng" that day. The villain would really be ridiculed for hundreds of years!
On the other hand, if he performs properly, he will be recorded in history books like the governor Yan Boyu.

Yang Tan's mentality is quite normal. It can only be said that no Chinese can resist the temptation to be recorded in history books.

At this time, Xin Qiji lowered his head, as if he had put down a huge stone, and began to write on the paper resignedly, while Chen Liang beside him continued to recite.

"Moth snow willow golden strands."

"The laughter is filled with fragrance."

"I have searched for him among the crowd for a thousand times, and suddenly I turned around."

When he read this, Chen Liang's tone became somewhat pious, as if he was satisfied, and he sighed slightly as if he was a little embarrassed, and read out the last sentence.

"Suddenly I looked back, and that person was in a dimly lit place."

After reading it, Chen Liang took two steps back and bowed.

The others also bowed in awe towards Xin Qiji.

It is said that when Cangjie created writing, the sky rained millet and ghosts cried at night.

Although this poem "Qingyu'an Yuanxi" did not reach the level of Cangjie's creation of characters, the appearance of such a famous piece made all scholars feel sincerely shocked and even trembling.

Zhu Xi was about to express his admiration when he heard Yang Tan clapping his hands and exclaiming, "This is a genius! He will surely be immortal!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xi immediately felt disgusted.

Damn it, the chance to be recorded in history books was snatched away by this guy.

However, Xin Qiji made no response. He simply stood up, put down his brush, and said with a folded hand, "Poetry is a minor art. We cannot defeat the Jin thieves, nor recover our homeland. Our natural culture will be reduced to ashes under the swords of the Jin thieves. One day, after we have recovered the Central Plains and conquered Huanglong, I will discuss poetry with you again."

After saying that, Xin Qiji bowed again and strode away, leaving the scholars in the pleasure boat looking at each other in bewilderment.

Yang Dan was also a little embarrassed.

It was a waste of expression. What made this poem famous all over the world was not my sigh, but Xin Qiji's subsequent remarks.

Tang Shuo was even more embarrassed.

How the hell is it that any martial artist can just kick a brick wall?
Who would dare to say that a warrior led the Northern Expedition? If you say he's a warrior, then why don't you write a poem on the level of "Qingyu'an: Lantern Festival"?

If you can't write, don't stir up a dispute between civil and military officials. Compared with Xin Qiji, it's hard to say who is the military man!
Moreover, Xin Qiji's final indifferent departure seemed as if he really did not take the poem he had just written seriously, which gave people a feeling of being confused.

Does this person really not care about poetry, or has his attainments in poetry reached such a high level that the sentences he can easily come up with have reached this level?

"The east wind blooms thousands of trees at night..."

When the singing was heard, everyone looked over and saw that the courtesans did not dare to pick up the manuscript. They just stretched their necks to look at it from a distance. After reciting it silently several times, they began to sing.

The singing was melodious and the poetry was profound. Amid the fireworks, in just a moment, the song "Qing Yu'an" was spread to all the pleasure boats, and immediately triggered a series of exclamations and praises.

Soon, Yu Yunwen and Chen Junqing also arrived at the pleasure boat. They waved their hands to let the scholars who were paying their respects stand up. Then, they came to the table, picked up the paper, and read it carefully. Yu Yunwen smiled and said to Chen Junqing, "Everyone says that after Su Xueshi's "When Will the Bright Moon Rise," it's difficult to write Mid-Autumn Festival poems. Now, in my opinion, after Xin Wulang's "Lantern Festival," it's also difficult to write Lantern Festival poems."

Chen Junqing stroked his beard and smiled, "What a good word."

Yang Neng, who was listening to these words, felt very regretful. Why didn't he think of this sigh just now?

Now it will be even more difficult to go down in history.

(End of this chapter)