Inheriting a Taoist temple, the story begins with Wu Zetian offering incense.

Chapter 179 The Dragon of Poetry—Xin Qiji! [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

Upon hearing the words "from Licheng," Zhou Yi and Wu Meiniang exchanged a glance, and the man known as the "Lyric Dragon"—Xin Qiji—immediately popped into their minds!

When Xin Qiji is mentioned, many people's first impression is that he was a bold and unrestrained lyricist, often referred to as Su Xin along with Su Shi, and also known as one of the "Two Ans" along with Li Qingzhao because he was born in Jinan... In short, everyone would think of him as a literary figure.

In reality, Xin Qiji was a military general, and he always considered himself one. His poems and songs were merely a form of entertainment for him to vent his frustrations.

Zhou Yi put down his chopsticks, got up, and walked out. Huo Qubing was even faster, striding out of the restaurant. He saw a tall, handsome man of similar age standing outside and took the initiative to bow.
"I am Huo Qubing of the Han Dynasty. May I ask your name?"

Upon hearing the name, the visitor was slightly taken aback, and after a long while, he returned the greeting with clasped hands.

"I am Xin Qiji from Licheng, Qizhou, courtesy name Tanfu... May I ask, are you the Marquis of Champion, General Huo Qubing?"

Huo Qubing nodded:
"Indeed, this is my master's cave dwelling, called Hunyuan Palace, which can connect with countless worlds. I just finished the Battle of Dingxiang North with my uncle, and today I have come to report the results to my master..."

Xin Qiji looked around, his eyes filled with astonishment:

"Is this a celestial abode? No wonder it seems quite different from the Song Dynasty to me."

At this moment, Zhou Yi, Wu Meiniang, Li Qingzhao, and others all came out, and Huo Qubing began to introduce them:
"This is my master, Immortal Master Yiyuan, who is also the abbot of Hunyuan Palace. He used his great magical power to communicate with the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, which is why we have gathered here to drink and make merry."

Upon hearing this, Xin Qiji quickly bowed and paid his respects.

"This humble citizen, Xin Qiji, greets the Immortal Master Yiyuan. Please forgive any inconvenience caused!"

To be fair, Xin Qiji was cultured and learned, and he was proficient in martial arts, military strategy, and tactics. However, he ultimately died a melancholy scholar. In terms of ruining people, the Song Dynasty was truly far ahead.

After introducing the Book of Changes, Huo Qubing began to introduce Wu Zetian:

"This is the head steward of Hunyuan Palace, and also my elder sister Wu Meiniang. You people of later generations should be more accustomed to calling her Empress Wu Zetian."

Xin Qiji gasped, never expecting that this stunningly beautiful woman was actually Her Majesty the Empress of the Wu Zhou Dynasty. He quickly paid his respects.
"This humble subject, Xin Qiji, pays his respects to Your Majesty the Empress!"

Wu Zetian smiled gently:
"I now belong to the Hunyuan Palace, with the Taoist name Peony Fairy, and I will no longer seize the Li family's throne to become empress."

Huo Qubing put his hand on Li Bai's shoulder and introduced the senior disciple of Hunyuan Palace:

"This is the first disciple of Hunyuan Palace, and also my senior brother. His Daoist name is Qinglian. He is a famous poet in history. You should have heard of him, right?"

Qinglian Jushi?

Xin Qiji was even more shocked, never expecting that the boy in the Taoist robe was actually the renowned poet Li Bai.

Before he could react, Huo Qubing continued:

"This is Granny Gongsun from the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty, who was famous for her sword dance that moved all directions. Her Taoist name is Pomegranate Fairy. She and my senior brother both come from the Kaiyuan world and now run the Yiyuan Temple there to worship my master."

Finally, we introduce Li Qingzhao, who was intoxicated by wine.

Upon hearing this name, Xin Qiji's eyes widened in disbelief:

"Last year when I went to Yanjing to take the imperial examination for the Jin Dynasty, I heard that Li Qingzhao had passed away in Hangzhou. I never expected to meet her here, and she was still so young... I, Xin Qiji, a junior scholar, have met Li Qingzhao."

Li Qingzhao said:
“I have abandoned the name Yi’an. Now I am called Osmanthus Fairy. I come from the world of Emperor Zhezong. Strictly speaking, I am not the same person as Li Qingzhao from your world.”

Upon meeting Xin Qiji, Li Qingzhao couldn't help but wonder how she was doing in that other world.

Hearing that he had passed away, I couldn't help but feel relieved.

It's good that he's gone. He's finally free and doesn't have to trouble his son to take care of him anymore... His good little brother in that world must be a decrepit old man now, unable to wear skateboard shoes anymore, right?
Li Qingzhao and Xin Qiji lived sixty years apart, yet their worlds were at opposite ends of the spectrum.

One side was determined to advance, defeating the Western Xia and forcing the Tibetan Empire to submit, thus bringing the entire Hunan and Hubei region under the control of the Central Plains.

The land was shattered, the capital fell, the emperor fled north, and the court retreated to a corner of the country. The vast northern lands had all been lost.

In terms of social atmosphere, it was completely different. During the reign of Emperor Zhezong, the New Party was in power, water conservancy was promoted and the army was expanded. The court and the government were all pragmatic, the people were open-minded, and society was thriving.

However, during Xin Qiji's time, the old party regained power and purged all members of the new party. Social atmosphere became increasingly conservative, and the Cheng-Zhu school of Neo-Confucianism began to flourish, leaving no fertile ground for the new party to survive.

Starting from the Southern Song Dynasty, the scholar-official class was left with only the old party, which was good at engaging in factional struggles and suppressing the people's thoughts. All reformers became outcasts and public enemies. This trend continued for hundreds of years until the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Zhou Yi was somewhat surprised when he heard the suggestion to go to Yanjing to take the imperial examinations:
"You even went to the Jin Kingdom to take the imperial examinations?"

Historical records about Xin Qiji's early life are vague, and he has always been referred to as a Song dynasty figure. His sudden appearance in Yanjing to take the imperial examinations made Zhou Yi feel as if he had encountered a traitor.

Xin Qiji reached into his robes and pulled out a folded piece of silk. As he unfolded it, he said:
“When I was fifteen, my grandfather ordered me to go to Yanjing to take the imperial examination and record the defenses of the passes along the way, in order to prepare for the future counterattack against the Tartars… The first drawing was not very detailed, so I went again last year. Based on my two observations, I have recorded the defenses and passes along the way very clearly. I hope the gods will take a look.”

Zhou Yi: "!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Wow, what an amazing person! While others are nervous and trembling when taking the imperial examinations, you actually secretly engaged in espionage and even drew up maps... You're practically a born strategist!

Wu Meiniang took the piece of silk and examined it carefully in front of Zhou Yi.

The drawings are indeed very detailed, with some levels even labeled with the names and preferences of the guards, showing that the artist has paid close attention to detail.

Li Bai glanced at it twice and asked in surprise:

How did you obtain this information?

Xin Qiji answered loudly:
"Just ask them directly. I've dealt with countless Jurchens along the way, and I've taken the initiative to strike up conversations with them and inquire about their family situations..."

No, is the word "fear" even in your dictionary?
Imagine Xin Qiji leading fifty cavalrymen into the Jin army camp of 100,000 men to rescue the traitor Zhang Anguo, and then escorting him all the way to Hangzhou to be beheaded... Recording the names of the guards along the way doesn't seem so significant anymore.

The more Huo Qubing looked at Xin Qiji, the more he liked this peer:
Why do you have this name?

The two men lived more than a thousand years apart. Not only were their names in sync, but their lives were also completely opposite. One achieved fame at a young age, made great achievements, and died young. The other had lofty ambitions but remained frustrated and unfulfilled throughout his life.

Huo Qubing possessed exceptional military talent, employing bold and unrestrained tactics that defied conventional military strategy. Xin Qiji, on the other hand, was renowned for his magnificent and powerful lyrics, earning him the title of "Lyric Dragon," and he effortlessly wielded various styles.

Xin Qiji cupped his hands in reply:
“My father has always admired the Marquis of Champion. After I was born, he named me Qiji after you, hoping that I could be like the Marquis of Champion, who sealed the wolf and went straight to the heart of the enemy and destroyed the Jin Tartars.”

Zhou Yi found Xin Qiji's map very useful, so he had Wu Zetian take a picture of it as a souvenir, and then said:
"Xin Qiji, haven't you eaten yet? Come, come, let's eat together. You can talk to us about life in the enemy-occupied areas. This aspect is blank in history, and we know very little about it."

Xin Qiji didn't stand on ceremony and followed the group to the restaurant. He sat down at the lower end of the table, and Huo Qubing poured him a glass of white wine. After thanking him, he began to recount the tragic lives of the Han people under the rule of the Jin Dynasty.

Although he was new to the place, Xin Qiji was not nervous at all. He ate and chatted as if they were old friends who had known each other for many years.

After recounting his observations, he let out a long sigh:
"The Jin Dynasty is not a concern. These Tartars are disloyal and will surely perish within a century. What I am worried about is the Mongol Khanate. If we do not intervene, the Mongol Khanate will surely be the one to unify the world!"

Mengwu?

Zhou Yi seemed a bit confused, so Li Qingzhao quickly explained:
"This is the name the Song people used for the Mongols."

Zhou Yi then realized that Xin Qiji had earnestly explained this matter to the Song Dynasty court in his "Memorial on the Fall of the Barbarians," but unfortunately, no one in the court took him seriously. Instead, they were secretly wary of him because Xin Qiji came from "enemy-occupied territory" and was not trustworthy.

Xin Qiji not only predicted the fall of the Jin dynasty and the rise of the Mongols, but also submitted a series of strategic memorials on the Northern Expedition, such as the famous "Ten Essays on the Beauty of Celery," which elaborated on the feasibility of the Northern Expedition from ten aspects including economy, politics, geography, and military affairs. It can be regarded as the Song Dynasty version of "On Protracted War."

In terms of leading troops, he not only had the feat of storming the Jin camp, but also organized the "Flying Tiger Army," which eliminated the tea merchant bandits in his jurisdiction in less than a month.

If Li Bai was a genius at cultivating immortality whose talents were wasted on poetry, then Xin Qiji was a military genius whose talents were buried in poetry.

Unfortunately, he never had the chance to demonstrate his abilities throughout his life.

Everyone ate and chatted until it was completely dark outside before finishing dinner.

As they left the restaurant, the large lanterns outside the Sanqing Hall were lit up. Xin Qiji stared at them, lost in thought. When he saw Zhou Yi approaching, he bowed respectfully.
"May I ask the gods, what should I do to save the Song Dynasty?"

Zhou Yi thought for a moment, then took the tablet, switched it to Traditional Chinese characters, searched for Xin Qiji's Baidu Baike entry, and placed it in front of him:
"You can turn the page by swiping up with your hand. With your strong strategic vision, why don't you take a look at your own life story before making a decision?"

For intelligent people, there's no need for deliberate guidance; just let them see things from a holistic perspective. As for how to make the right choice, they should know very well in their hearts.

On the other side, Wu Zetian found Li Qingzhao and whispered to her:
“Sister Zhao’er, could you go back tonight? Go to the palace to find Zhao Xu, tell him that Xin Qiji has arrived, and tell him everything that was discussed at the dinner table.”

Li Qingzhao blinked her beautiful big eyes:

"Does my sister want Xin Qiji to save the Song Dynasty?"

Wu Meiniang was taken aback, then shook her head:

"Yue Fei has been executed. What can be saved for this Song Dynasty? Immortal, your cultivation requires merit. Of all the merits in the world, the greatest is the merit of founding a nation. I would like to bestow upon you a merit of founding a nation."

Li Qingzhao immediately covered her mouth:

"Is my sister planning to have Xin Qiji establish a nation? This is so exciting!"

Wu Zetian said:
“Xin Qiji is now a Jurchen. He has established a state and declared himself emperor on Jurchen territory. He has nothing to do with the Song Dynasty. I asked you to find Zhao Xu so that he could give Xin Qiji some support. If Xin Qiji marches into Jiangnan one day, he can save some face for the Southern Song royal family.”

Li Qingzhao, who usually only drinks and plays cards, seems to have wandered onto a historical film set:

"Sister, is this easy to fight?"

Wu Zetian said earnestly:
"I will offer advice in the early stages. If I am not capable, I will ask Wei Qing and Li Shimin to provide remote guidance. If that is still not possible, I will ask the Immortal Master to bring Han Xin to teach Xin Qiji personally... In any case, I am determined to claim this founding achievement for the Immortal Master!"

(End of this chapter)