Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 153 Lu Beigu's "On Xiang Ji" [Seeking monthly votes!]

In Su Xun's view, Lu Beigu's criticism did not negate his core point of "not worrying about taking over the world," but rather demonstrated from a more realistic and complex perspective that even if Xiang Ji chose the seemingly correct path, it would be difficult to succeed due to his own "fatal flaws."

This is a deeper analysis that closely links strategic choices with personal traits and historical circumstances.

Therefore, even someone as eloquent as Su Xun was unable to refute him for a time.

Su Zhe was taking notes rapidly on the side, and his gaze toward Lu Beigu already held a hint of admiration. After all, as a peer, these were questions that he had never even considered after reading Su Xun's "On Xiang Ji".

Cui Wenjing, Han Ziyu, Zhou Mingyuan, and others were deeply shaken.

They originally thought that it was already an honor for Lu Beigu to gain the appreciation of Chen Yuanli, the professor of Jiaozhou State School, but they never expected that he could be so sharp-tongued with Su Xun, who was famous throughout Sichuan, on the subject of historical theory, and even put forward more subtle insights!
This was completely beyond their understanding of Lu Beigu.

After a long while, Su Xun let out a long sigh of relief, as if he had released all the pent-up emotions in his chest.

His face displayed an extremely complex expression, a mixture of the exhilaration of meeting a worthy opponent, the sudden realization of being enlightened by a junior, and the awe at the boundless potential of the young man before him.

Su Xun's voice was hoarse with excitement: "This argument is truly enlightening, revealing what I had not yet expressed! Indeed, I only discussed what 'ought to be,' while you pointed directly to what 'is'! Xiang Yu was stubborn, self-willed, and tyrannical beyond redemption. Even with good strategies, I fear he would find it difficult to implement them. This argument is profound and incisive!"

He stood up, walked to Lu Beigu's desk, solemnly picked up his essay "On Xiang Ji," and then, to everyone's astonishment, placed it over the candlelight!

The flames instantly licked a corner of the page.

"Father!" Su Zhe exclaimed in surprise.

Su Xun remained unmoved, letting the flames devour his carefully written article, his eyes filled with only new expectations.

"This argument is not entirely sound; what good is keeping it? After I return, I will certainly write a better 'Discourse on Xiang Ji'!"

The flames eventually consumed the manuscript, turning it into a few specks of ash that drifted into the air, carrying the scent of burnt incense ash.

He looked at Lu Beigu with burning eyes: "I am increasingly looking forward to your 'Treatise on Xiang Ji'! I hope you will not hold back and will fully display your profound knowledge!"

Meeting Su Xun's intense gaze, Lu Beigu picked up his brush and dipped it in thick ink.

The inkstone is like a deep pool, and the ink is like a dark sea.

The snow-white Xuan paper is laid out on the table, waiting for the thunder to roar, waiting for the dragons and snakes to rise from the land.

—The sword duel with Su Xun, one of the Eight Great Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties, is only just beginning!
Lu Beigu's pen fell to the ground.

"Xiang Ji's demise was not due to a lack of skill in battle, but rather to the division of his territory! In the Battle of Julu, he broke the cauldrons and sank the boats, his might shaking the feudal lords, who crawled on their knees at the gate and dared not look him in the eye. At that time, if Xiang Ji had possessed the power of Heaven and Man, grasped the pivot of the world, reformed the harsh laws of the tyrannical Qin, and won the hearts of the people, then an imperial enterprise could have been established, what difficulties would there have been?"
However, when the Qin tripod was melted down, Ji actually wanted to mend the cracks in the Zhou bronze vessel, which was absurd!
Judging from the way he divided the land, he enfeoffed Zhang Han, Sima Xin, and Dong Yi, three generals who had surrendered, in Qin territory to block Liu Bang. This is what is meant by "making them hold the blade of their enemies to guard their doors and windows." How could such a situation last long? Therefore, Sima Qian criticized him for "turning his back on Guanzhong and turning his back on Chu," which shows that he was still confined by the private interests of his former Chu state.

Alas! Their wisdom was blinded by the views of the nobility, their hearts were misled by feudal selfishness, they failed to perceive the changing times and shifting circumstances, and merely yearned for the old system of allotted land and fiefdoms. They sacrificed their wealth to feed the remnants of their ancestors, restored ancestral temples to rekindle their dead spirits, and further divided up vast tracts of land and resources, yet they still harbored a festering sore in their own backyard without realizing it!
They regarded the divine weapon as meat on the chopping block for the nobility, and dividing the land and sharing the spoils as a matter of course according to the Zhou rites. Little did they know that the common people were weary of the suffering of war, and that the fierce and ruthless longed for a battle in the clouds. Therefore, before the official seals were even sealed, fires were lit in Qi, and rifts arose in Zhao, and the world was in turmoil!
Liu Bang's wisdom lay in his keen insight into the flaws of the system, recognizing that the corrupt and decadent nobles were unreliable, while the strength of the common people was the true guarantee. Therefore, he was willing to sacrifice the empty fame of the six states to feed the hungry eagles of the four seas. As a result, Han Xin conquered the Three Qin regions with unstoppable momentum, and Peng Yue's raids on Chu were like a breached dam. Even if Liu Bei possessed the strength to uproot mountains and lift tripods, how could he alone turn the tide and permanently control this crumbling empire?
Furthermore, during the Warring States period, nobles and hereditary officials could sometimes hold onto their own territories. However, with the unification under Qin, the prefectures and counties were established, and the power of the common people became apparent. As the people suffered under Qin, they yearned for stability, a stark contrast to the old ways of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. Xiang Yu attempted to go against the tide, forcibly imposing feudal rules from eight hundred years ago on a newly created order—this was like trying to play a zither with glued-to-the-pipes strings, or carving a mark on a boat to find a lost sword; his defeat was inevitable. Liu Bang, on the other hand, inherited the essence of the Qin system, abandoned the name of feudalism, gathered the strength of the common people, and responded to their hopes; thus, he was able to achieve the great feat of dynastic change.

Therefore it is said: Xiang Yu was defeated by clinging to the past, while Liu Bang succeeded by the change of dynasties.

Alas! The lessons of the rise and fall of Chu and Han are not merely lessons for human affairs; indeed, old tools cannot bear the weight of new times, and those who cling to the past will ultimately be abandoned by the times!

When Lu Beigu finished the last stroke and slowly put down the wolf-hair brush, the study fell into a deathly silence.

The slight crackling of the candlelight was now exceptionally clear.

Su Xun's expression shifted from initial astonishment and solemnity, to deep thought and shock in the middle, and finally to a pale, almost absent-minded look.

He stared intently at the article, its ink dripping and each word sharp as a knife.

Lu Beigu's argument transcends the entanglement with personal courage and strategy, and directly addresses the core contradictions of historical change.

—The conflict and replacement of the old and new systems!
His views were sharp, his perspective grand, and his arguments rigorous. In particular, his ultimate conclusions on "adherence to the past" and "dynastic change" resonated like a great bell, shaking even this scholar known for his historical theories.

Many of Su Xun's past thoughts seemed to be connected and illuminated by Lu Beigu's "On Xiang Ji," which brought him sudden enlightenment. He then felt a strong sense of being swept away by the waves of the future.

Su Zhe stood beside him, silently and repeatedly pondering the phrases "the great power of the common people can be relied upon," "the empty fame of discarding the decaying bones of the six kingdoms," and "those who cling to the past will eventually be abandoned by the times." He felt an unprecedented historical insight wash over him!

Zhou Mingyuan, Han Ziyu, and the others were dumbfounded, as if they were clay sculptures or wooden statues.

They could understand every word of Lu Beigu's argument, but they could not imagine how a peer could conceive such a powerful and insightful article in such a short period of time.

This goes far beyond the scope of essays on provincial examinations; it is a masterpiece of historical theory worthy of being passed down through generations!
Cui Wenjing's gaze towards Lu Beigu changed from admiration to complete awe!
"The Xiang family was defeated by clinging to the past, while the Liu family prospered through dynastic change!"

Su Xun's lips moved, but he couldn't find the right words to describe the turmoil in his heart: "This argument is not just about Xiang Yu, but about the great principle of rise and fall throughout history. The four words 'adherence to the past' and 'dynastic change' are like a great bell, deafening and resounding. Only today do I realize what it means to be awe-inspiring among the younger generation! What it means to have a talent bestowed by heaven!"

He picked up the thin piece of paper from the table as if holding a rare treasure, or as if wielding a sharp sword capable of cleaving through the fog.

The previous feeling of "meeting a worthy opponent" has now completely transformed into a strong premonition of seeing a future literary giant rising.

This young man is no ordinary person!

(End of this chapter)