Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 301 "Understanding Changes to Ensure the People's Fatigue" [Seeking Monthly Tickets!]

Lu Beigu carefully read through the draft.

This poem, "A Bountiful Harvest with High Grain," has twelve lines with precise rhyming, all rhyming with the level tone "xian".

At the same time, the tones are correct and the parallelism is perfect, such as "Taiji" matching "Cangxiang", "Ying" matching "Ji", "Qianqing" matching "Wanchan", "Ruyun" matching "Bizhi", "Deng" matching "Yin", and "Longmu" matching "Jiaoqian", which can be said to fully meet the requirements of the imperial examination poem.

In terms of content, it depicts the abundant harvest scene of "thousands of acres of grain" and "ten thousand granaries filled with grain"; it uses metaphors such as "like clouds" and "as numerous as combs" to describe the abundance of the harvest; the spatial transitions of "climbing the fields" and "hiding in the suburbs" show the layers; the allusions of "Fu Zhou Song" and "Ji Shun Pian" connect the scene before us with the auspicious omens of the ancient sages' rule; "divine granary" and "pure temple" point out the connection between granaries and national sacrifices, attributing it to "reverence"; and the allusion of "singing the song of Yao" cleverly attributes the achievement of the bumper harvest to the sage ruler and the mandate of heaven.

Although the poem "A Bountiful Year with Abundant Grain" has no extraordinary theme, it excels in its stability, neatness, and magnificent style. It is a standard qualified work for the provincial examination, and its accurate use of allusions and rigorous structure are enough to make it stand out among many eulogistic poems.

He checked it again before copying it onto the poem title scroll.

Putting down his pen, Lu Beigu let out a soft sigh of relief.

The mental exhaustion persisted, but his young body did not feel overwhelmed. He wrapped the blanket tighter around himself again and tucked the warm hand warmer into his sleeve.

He closed his eyes, trying to calm his thoughts and gather his strength for the upcoming essay topic.

Fu (赋) was a crucial tool in the imperial examinations, characterized by its comprehensive scope and profound thought, far surpassing the short verses of poetry.

It demands a broader vision, more rigorous logic, more ornate language, and a precise and demanding control over the eight-character rhyme scheme.

Lu Beigu knew that a superior poem could make him stand out among thousands of candidates, but a mistake could also make all his efforts vanish in an instant.

"when--!"

The sound of the gong ripped through the silence once more, carrying a chilling sense of impending doom.

"Silence, students!"

"In the second year of the Jiayou reign, the Ministry of Rites held its provincial examination, and the papers were distributed with essay topics!"

Lu Beigu took the scroll and saw this year's essay topic.

—"Ode on Understanding Changes so that the people may never tire", with the rhyme "Understanding the changes of things so that the people may never tire of using them".

The moment the question appeared in his eyes, Lu Beigu's heart skipped a beat, and then a warm current instantly dispelled the chill in his body and even the fatigue brought on by the continuous exams!
Although Lu Beigu wasn't quite sure if this essay topic was the original one from the second year of the Jiayou era in history, there was no doubt that this topic was perfect for him!

There are countless talented people in the world, but when it comes to writing about "adaptability and change," who dares to say they can surpass Lu Beigu by even half a point?
Lu Beigu took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement that was almost overflowing from his chest, and tried his best to calm himself down. He couldn't be complacent, nor could he be careless in the slightest. Although the questions were suitable for him, the examination room was like a battlefield, and the slightest mistake could ruin everything.

He had to ensure that every word in the poem was accurate, every parallelism was perfect, and every allusion was appropriate and fitting.

After conceiving the idea, Lu Beigu wrote it down.

"Understanding Changes to Ensure the People's Fatigue"

The Way is constant, but laws are not; the people, driven by profit, forget their weariness. Sage kings observe the phenomena to make adjustments, adapting to the times. For when tools are worn out from long use, ingenuity arises naturally; when benefits are guided by daily renewal, joy is seen everywhere. In the past, people ate raw meat and drank blood, living in nests and caves. Suiren drilled wood, igniting the sun; Youchao built huts, warding off wind and rain. All these examples demonstrate that when people are exhausted, they think of ways to adapt and consider changes. This is not solely due to divine intervention, but truly a result of the people's livelihood.

Consider the people of ancient times, whose simplicity and knowledge were yet to be discerned. Before nets and traps were laid, birds and fish would escape; before plows and hoes were made, crops would be difficult to cultivate. Sages, however, developed their wisdom and understanding, and things began to fulfill their purpose. Hollowing out wood to make boats and forging wood to make oars, the benefits of crossing rivers began to flourish; harnessing oxen and riding horses, pulling heavy loads over long distances, relieved the toil of the body. Markets were established at midday, bringing together the wealth of the world; the power of bows and arrows awed the rebellious forces of all directions. All these changes adapted to circumstances, their achievements reaching the pinnacle of the world, causing the foolish to revel in their benefits without realizing it, and the contented to be complacent in their occupations without utilizing their talents.

As times change and the world evolves, laws, once established, breed abuses. The old system of knotted ropes became tiresome, so written contracts were adopted. Cave dwellings were deemed too damp and lowly, so palaces were built to be grand and imposing; simple wine vessels were considered shameful, so elaborate sacrificial vessels were arranged in a neat and orderly fashion. The people knew that ignorance and disorder could not last, so they sought the pleasure of literary refinement. This is all because the sages were flexible and adaptable, accommodating the people's desires; and the people, progressing day by day and month by month, found joy in action. Observe the *Book of Changes*: the hexagram 'Revolution' speaks of discarding the old, and the hexagram 'Cauldron' signifies the new; examine the *Book of Documents*: the hexagram 'Fields' presents the constant way, which is then applied and bestowed. Weariness and indolence do not arise, all based on this fundamental principle.

As for the three dynasties that rose and fell, their approaches differed greatly. The Xia dynasty valued loyalty, the Shang dynasty valued simplicity, and the Zhou dynasty valued culture, each reaching its own pinnacle. Some emperors traveled in carriages to spread their influence, while others cast bronze tripods to commemorate events. Though their tools differed, their convenience for the people was the same; their methods differed, but their effectiveness was appropriate to the times. Thus, the construction of grand carriages and simple carts does not mean that the present is inferior to the past; the burning of Kunlun Lake does not mean that the future will not surpass the past. Those who cling to the past are ignorant of the times, like Wang Mang's restoration of the well-field system, which only caused turmoil; those who embrace innovation value practicality, like Cai Lun's reform of bamboo slips, which led to widespread dissemination. Thus, it is known that governance should be based on flexibility, and the goal of benefiting the people should be to achieve the best possible outcome.

Alas! Heaven moves ceaselessly, and Earth's ways are boundless. Seasons change, forming years; rivers rush forth to the ocean. The sage follows the ways of Heaven, thus adapting to change without stagnation; the people rejoice in transformation, thus striving with fervor. Tools are only meant for practical use, and laws must align with the times. If change suits contemporary customs, what harm is there in differing from the past? To transform with divine inspiration is to fully realize the wonders of the universe; to promote and implement it is to encourage tireless effort. May the people forever enjoy peace and prosperity, and may all look up to its radiant light!

Lu Beigu's thoughts surged like a river, and his pen seemed to be divinely inspired.

In his writing, the ancient scenes of Suiren drilling wood and Youchao building houses reappear; the civilized innovations of hollowing out wood to make boats and riding oxen and horses leap off the page; the historical changes of the three dynasties valuing loyalty, simplicity, and culture; the futility of Wang Mang's adherence to the past and the achievements of Cai Lun's innovations—all these anecdotes are precisely placed in their proper positions within the framework of rhyme, forming a grand historical scroll of "adaptability and convenience for the people."

When the last four characters, "Xian Yang Geng Guang," were written on the draft paper, Lu Beigu felt a powerful sense of control filling his heart.

The entire essay, over six hundred words long, flows smoothly from its opening to its conclusion, without the slightest error!

Furthermore, it closely adheres to the core concept of "adaptability and convenience for the people," progressing step by step. The first paragraph generalizes the necessity of "change," the second paragraph elaborates on the examples of "adaptability and convenience" created by ancient sages to benefit the people, the third paragraph discusses how "change" is in line with the will of the people and the needs of the times, the fourth paragraph uses historical anecdotes to demonstrate the merits and demerits of "adaptability and convenience" versus "blindly adhering to the past," and the final paragraph elevates the discussion by comparing the ceaseless operation of the Way of Heaven with the sages' constant adaptation and convenience, highlighting that "adaptability and convenience" is the foundation for making the people "work hard without weariness," echoing the beginning and concluding the entire piece.

The entire piece is written in parallel prose, with neat and orderly sentences. The precision of its rhyme, the strictness of its antithesis, the aptness of its allusions, and the progressive development of its meaning are all the best he could achieve at this moment.

Lu Beigu put down his pen, stretched his fingers which were stiff from focusing, and carefully checked the draft paper from beginning to end, word by word, sentence by sentence, rhyme by rhyme and allusion by allusion.

After confirming that everything was correct, he picked up his pen again, dipped it in fresh ink, and solemnly began to copy the exam paper onto the official exam paper.

(End of this chapter)