Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 198 You're also a member of the Green Pine Society? [Seeking monthly votes!]

The next day.

As dawn broke, the four of them left Jiangling City together when the city gates opened.

Having just gotten into trouble, Lü Huiqing dared not linger in this place for even a moment longer.

After all, just because Wang Kui is temporarily hesitant to touch him out of respect for Song Qi doesn't mean he can roam around Jiangling City indefinitely.

Once Song Qi left, Wang Kui, a cruel official, could manipulate Lü Huiqing, a mere scholar who had not yet received official recognition, as easily as he could manipulate an ant.

So once they left Jiangling City, Lü Huiqing disregarded the original route, and after a brief discussion with Lu Beigu and the other two, they boarded a boat that would travel down the river.

On the ship, Lu Beigu understood why Lü Huiqing and Wang Shao had come to Jiangling.

For the vast majority of candidates, going to the capital for the imperial examination was their first opportunity to travel far from home, so unless they were extremely pressed for time, they would choose to visit famous scenic spots.

For people from Jiangxi and Fujian, since Suzhou and Hangzhou are close by, if they don't pass the exam, they can visit them on their return trip. If they do pass the exam, they will always pass through on their way back home. Therefore, they especially like to visit Jinghu first and then go north to Kaifeng.

But now, in a panic, Lü Huiqing could only choose the fastest way out of Jiangling Prefecture: "going down the river."

Without the constraints of mountains, the Yangtze River stretches out comfortably across the vast Jianghan Plain.

The scenery on both sides of the river is quite different from that in Sichuan. As far as the eye can see, there are only vast, flat, and fertile fields.

The autumn harvest is nearing its end, and the vast rice paddies are displaying varying shades of golden yellow and brownish-ochre, like a giant brocade spread across the horizon, interspersed with patches of mulberry groves and scattered fishponds.

The village houses are mostly built of adobe or brick and stone, with thick thatched roofs or blue tiles. Smoke rises from the chimneys, carrying the scent of burning firewood, and drifts on the river in the wind.

Boats come and go on the river, much more densely packed than upstream. Small fishing boats can often be seen casting nets in the river branches and lakes, with egrets perched on their bows.

With a flick of the fisherman's bamboo pole, the black waterbird plunged into the water like an arrow, and soon emerged with a silvery-scaled fish in its beak, prompting the children on the boat to clap and laugh.

The waterwheels on the bank creaked and turned, drawing water from the river into the ditches to irrigate the late-ripening vegetable plots.

Occasionally, a shepherd boy rides on the back of an ox, slowly walking along the riverbank, his short flute playing an off-key, melodious tune that blends into the tranquil scene.

"The ancient Jingzhou region is indeed extraordinary."

Wang Shao pointed to the fertile fields on both sides of the river, his tone filled with admiration for this land: "A land of fish and rice, with a dense network of waterways and the advantage of boats, it is truly much better than Fujian, which is full of mountains and hills."

Lu Beigu agreed wholeheartedly, noting that the farming conditions in this area were even better than in Sichuan.

Along the way, the people were dressed simply and their faces were weathered, but they did not show any signs of hunger. Their busy figures in the fields exuded hope.

After a day's journey by boat, they passed through Jianli and were finally out of the jurisdiction of Jiangling Prefecture. All four of them breathed a sigh of relief, and the river gradually veered southeast from there.

The air became increasingly humid and rich in moisture, carrying a unique scent that blended with the aroma of aquatic plants, fish, shrimp, and silt.

The river surface also seemed to be wider, and looking into the distance, the water and sky met in a vast expanse of white.

"We're almost at the mouth of Dongting Lake!" the boatman said.

Faced with this beautiful scenery, Lü Huiqing seemed to have regained his spirits: "So, what lies ahead is the ancient Yunmeng Marsh, which stretches for eight hundred li."

Looking out over the lake, the water is vast and misty.

The lake is dotted with islands, among which Junshan Mountain, like a dark green ink painting, floats far away on the horizon.

Countless seagulls and egrets soar above the lush islets, their calls clear and melodious. The lake breeze carries the coolness of late autumn and a strong fishy smell, making people's clothes flutter.

Yuezhou City guards this strategic point where Dongting Lake and the Yangtze River meet.

The city walls are not as majestic and towering as those of Jiangling Prefecture, but they possess a unique charm that comes from living by the water.

The docks remain busy, but most boats are moored in the western part of the city, near the lake entrance.

After abandoning their boat and going ashore, the four of them, finally relieved, did not rush into the city to find lodging. After discussing it for a while, they headed straight for the towering pavilion in the west of the city.

Even from a distance, one can see a magnificent three-story pavilion perched atop a high platform on the lake shore.

With its green tiles, red railings, flying eaves, and bracket sets, the green tiles and red railings stand out prominently against the clear autumn sky.

—That is Yueyang Tower, which was only rebuilt a little over ten years ago!
The four followed the crowd up the steps. Most of the people climbing the stairs were scholars, merchants, and officials. They all walked slowly, talked in hushed tones, and their eyes were filled with a kind of pilgrimage-like piety.

Lu Beigu's heart involuntarily quickened.

Sure enough, a huge blue stone tablet was embedded in the west wall of the building.

The inscription, written in vigorous and dignified regular script, profoundly conveys an article.

Lu Beigu held his breath and read silently, word by word, "The Yueyang Tower Inscription."

Although I already knew it by heart, being surrounded by the vast autumn scenery of Dongting Lake and seeing the original stele carved on the famous tower, feeling the overwhelming aura, is a completely different experience from reading this article in a study.

"Lord Fan."

Cui Wenjing stood beside him, his eyes filled with admiration.

Lu Beigu remained silent, gazing at the stone tablet for a long time.

Although Fan Zhongyan has passed away, his magnanimous spirit of "not being elated by external gains, nor saddened by personal losses," and his great spirit of "being the first to worry about the world's troubles and the last to enjoy its pleasures" still resonate deeply in people's hearts.

After silently reading "The Yueyang Tower Inscription," the four bowed to the inscription in unison before continuing their ascent up the stairs.

Reaching the top floor and gazing into the distance, the magnificent view of the 800-li Dongting Lake instantly comes into view!

Near the shore, large swathes of withered yellow reeds swayed in the wind, making a rustling sound, like whispers.

The sails dotting the lake are fishing boats returning home and merchant ships coming and going.

The vast lake water rippled in the autumn wind, stretching to the distant horizon where it merged with the sky.

A gust of wind swept by, stirring up a misty fog, and the world was shrouded in a vast expanse of white, truly giving one the feeling of "vast and boundless expanse"!
Just as the four were admiring the beautiful scenery of Dongting Lake, a sigh sounded beside them.

“Those who are wiser than anyone else in the world are admired by all! I still vividly remember the scene of talking with Master Fan when I went to the capital for the imperial examination during the Qingli era.”

Has this person ever met Fan Zhongyan?
Lu Beigu turned his head curiously and saw a middle-aged man not far away. His hair was mostly white, and he looked to be in his forties. Next to him stood a young man who was about the same age as Lu Beigu.

Both men were dressed rather shabbily, their long gowns were old and covered in patches.

The young people looked quite energetic, while the middle-aged people looked miserable and were extremely thin.

"After failing the imperial examination, we parted ways after a year. I never expected that Master Fan would still remember my hardships."

The middle-aged man next to me was talking when he suddenly burst into tears.

Moreover, his emotions became increasingly agitated, and even when he covered his face with his sleeve, tears still streamed down his face, and he could not control himself for a moment.

"Brother, don't cry." The young man helped the middle-aged man up, somewhat at a loss.

The middle-aged man cried even harder. He squatted on the ground and said intermittently, "When Fan Zhongyan was exiled to Binzhou, thousands of miles away, he still sent someone to deliver a letter and silk to encourage and support me. Now I have climbed this tower and seen Fan Zhongyan's writings, but he is gone. How can I not weep bitterly!"

Lu Beigu was filled with curiosity. Who exactly was this person?

At this moment, Cui Wenjing stepped forward, carefully examined the gaunt middle-aged man, and suddenly exclaimed in surprise.

"This, isn't this Brother Zeng? How come you've become so thin?"

The middle-aged man looked up, his eyes blurry with tears, and recognized Cui Wenjing.

"Brother Cui? Is this the Brother Cui from Luzhou with whom I had conversations in Bianjing during the Huangyou era?"

"It's down."

Cui Wenjing handed over his handkerchief, which the middle-aged man took and wiped away his tears. It took him a while to recover. He looked at Cui Wenjing, who seemed to be about the same age as him, and said with a wry smile, "The scene brought back memories of Master Fan. I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Brother Cui. Are you also going to the capital to take the imperial examination this year?"

"Yes, Brother Zeng is also one?"

"I am ashamed to have failed my teacher and Master Fan's expectations."

Cui Wenjing was at a loss for words.

Although the other person was famous throughout the country in his youth, he, like him, failed the imperial examinations repeatedly at the age of nearly forty. Now he was taking the exams with a young man who was almost twenty years younger than him.

Cui Wenjing introduced them to the group: "This is Zeng Gong, Zeng Zigu, a student of Ouyang Yongshu."

"And who is this?" Cui Wenjing asked, looking at the person next to the other person.

Zeng Gong quickly looked at the young man beside him and said, "My cousin Zeng Bu."

At this moment, Lu Beigu's heart skipped a beat when he heard these two names.

—We've encountered the "Eight Great Masters of Tang and Song" again!

Afterwards, Cui Wenjing introduced Lü Huiqing, Wang Shao, and Lu Beigu, and the group greeted each other with bows.

When Lu Beigu was introduced, Zeng Gong looked at the jade bamboo prayer beads on Lu Beigu's wrist that shimmered in the sunlight and suddenly asked in surprise, "Are you also a member of the Green Pine Society?"

(End of this chapter)