My brothers are all warriors capable of taking on ten thousand men; I'll roam freely in the Thr

The next day, on the banks of the Ying River.

The autumn sun shines on the shimmering water as a painted boat slowly leaves the shore.

Ji Xuanyuan was dressed in white, his long, dark hair fluttering in the wind of Yingchuan. His peerless beauty, set against the backdrop of mountains and rivers, was even more ethereal.

Guo Jia leaned against the gunwale, half of his wine gourd gone, a habitually unruly smile playing on his lips.

Xun Yu sat upright in the boat, dressed in a dark blue robe, with an elegant demeanor, and was personally brewing tea.

On the shore, Dian Wei, clutching his twin halberds, stared intently at the painted boat with his large, copper-bell-like eyes. This simpleton was now filled with regret, having been tricked by Guo Jia yesterday into revealing the old story of "the lord requesting Tian Feng and Ju Shou to compose poems."

The painted boat gradually reached the center of the lake.

"Fine wine! Beautiful scenery!"

Guo Jia tilted his head back and took a large gulp of wine, then laughed loudly, "Wouldn't it be a waste if there were no good poems?"

Xun Yu handed the brewed tea to Ji Xuanyuan and said gently, "Senior brother, you are not in good health, so you should drink less wine. Please try this Yingchuan autumn tea."

Ji Xuanyuan took the tea, sipped it, and felt a refreshing fragrance fill his mouth. He smiled and said, "Wenruo's tea-brewing skills are still so exquisite. I remember at Shuijing Manor, you always loved to brew tea and discuss philosophy on moonlit nights..."

The three reminisced about the past, from the morning bells and evening drums of Shuijing Manor to the undercurrents of the world's affairs.

Although Ji Xuanyuan was sickly, his insights into politics, people's livelihood, and military strategy always amazed Xun Yu. Guo Jia, on the other hand, would crack jokes and make witty remarks, turning serious topics into lighthearted conversations.

After a few rounds of drinks, Guo Jia's eyes suddenly lit up, and he leaned close to Ji Xuanyuan: "Senior brother, that fool Dian Wei let slip yesterday that you wrote a fine poem to invite Mr. Yuan Hao and Mr. Gongyu! On such a fine occasion, with the three of us brothers gathered here, how can we not compose a poem?"

He shook his wine gourd and smiled slyly: "In my life, Guo Fengxiao has only loved beautiful women and fine wine. As for beautiful women... there are none right now, but my senior brother... can be considered a 'peerless beauty'."

These words made Xun Yu unable to suppress a laugh.

"We already have fine wine," Guo Jia said, pointing to the wine jars on the table.

"Senior brother, let's not talk about seeking talent today. Instead, let's use this wine as a theme and compose a poem. Let Fengxiao broaden his horizons!"

Xun Yu also looked over with a smile, his eyes filled with expectation.

Ji Xuanyuan's pale face flushed slightly from the alcohol.

He got up and walked to the bow of the boat, gazing at the vast lake, already having made up his mind.

If you're going to make a name for yourself, make a big one...

He raised the wine cup beside him; the jade cup gleamed warmly in the autumn sun.

The pleasure boat fell silent, with only the gentle murmur of the water.

"Have you not seen the Yellow River's waters come from the sky, rushing to the sea never to return?" Ji Xuanyuan's voice rose clear and melodious, carrying a hint of drunkenness and a touch of heroic spirit.

"Have you not seen the bright mirror in the high hall reflecting the sorrow of white hair, like black silk in the morning turning to snow by evening?"

Xun Yu paused slightly in his teacup.

This opening sentence... its atmosphere is so grand!

"Enjoy life to the fullest when you are successful, and don't let your cup be empty before the moon."

"Everyone has their own unique talents, and though I may spend all my money, it will come back again."

A glint flashed in Guo Jia's eyes. "Everyone has their own talents," he said arrogantly and confidently.

"Let's cook lamb and slaughter sheep for pleasure, and drink three hundred cups of wine in one go."

Ji Xuanyuan turned around, looked at Xun Yu and Guo Jia, and smiled brightly: "Xun Wenruo, Guo Fengxiao, let's drink! Don't stop drinking!"

He actually incorporated their names into the poem!

Xun Yu was startled, while Guo Jia laughed heartily and drank deeply from his gourd.

"I will sing you a song, please lend me your ear." Ji Xuanyuan's voice turned deep, as if filled with endless emotion.

"Bells and drums, delicacies and jade are not worth treasuring; I only wish to be drunk forever and never wake up. Sages and worthies of the past are all forgotten; only drinkers leave their names behind."

"King Liang once held a banquet in Liang Garden, where he drank ten thousand cups of wine and indulged in merriment."

"Why does the host speak of having little money? Just go and buy some wine to drink with me."

Finally, Ji Xuanyuan raised his wine cup to the vast lake, his voice as clear as metal and stone:

"A swift steed, a thousand pieces of gold—call the boy to exchange them for fine wine, to dispel with you our age-old sorrows!"

After the poem was finished, the entire boat fell silent.

An autumn breeze swept across the lake, and distant mountains appeared as dark as ink.

Xun Yu stared blankly at Ji Xuanyuan's back. His white robes fluttered in the wind, so thin that he seemed about to collapse at any moment. But the lofty aspirations, profound understanding of life, and detachment from fame and fortune in that poem he had just recited... could not possibly be found in a frail body like him.

"Excellent! What a wonderful saying, 'Everyone has their own unique talents!'" Guo Jia was the first to slam his fist on the table, his face flushed with excitement.

"This poem by my senior brother deserves a hearty toast!"

He tilted his head back and drank the remaining wine in the gourd, then laughed loudly, "For Fengxiao to be included in this poem and ranked alongside Senior Brother Wenruo is enough! Enough!"

Xun Yu slowly rose, walked to Ji Xuanyuan's side, and bowed deeply: "Senior Brother Wenlie's poem... can be described as a masterpiece for all time. Yu, how fortunate I am."

His voice trembled slightly.

The poem's atmosphere, artistic conception, and diction have reached a state of perfection.

What's even more remarkable is the poem's confident disdain for the world and its magnanimous understanding of human nature: "Heaven has endowed me with talents that will surely be put to use; though a thousand pieces of gold are spent, they will return again." What a magnanimous spirit this is!

The Liang Garden mentioned in the poem was built by Liu Wu, the King of Liang, who welcomed talented people from all over the world. Sima Xiangru, Mei Cheng, and others were among his guests there.

The senior student compared himself to this, his ambition was self-evident...

He looked at Ji Xuanyuan with a complicated expression.

Xun Yu suddenly understood the meaning of his father's words yesterday, "to select virtuous men for the world."

If even such figures cannot achieve anything in this chaotic world, then who can?

But he ultimately did not speak, for he could not entrust the Xun family's century-old reputation and all his learning to a single poem.

He needed to see for himself whether his senior brother truly possessed the ability to "spend a thousand pieces of gold and have it return again," as the poem described, and whether his army was as disciplined and popular as rumored.

"Wenruo," Ji Xuanyuan turned around, his eyes clear.

"This poem is dedicated to you and Fengxiao. If anyone asks about it in the future, just say... This was written by Ji Wenlie of mine, when I was drunk with my two junior brothers by the Yingchuan River."

Xun Yu solemnly agreed.

On that day, Xun Yu personally copied "Bring in the Wine" onto plain silk.

The poem was completed and hung in the main hall of Xun's residence.

Within three days, the poem spread like wildfire throughout Yingchuan.

Scholars and literati eagerly copied it, and it was recited in restaurants and teahouses.

The saying "Everyone has their own unique talents" inspired countless talented but unappreciated students from poor families; the saying "Sages and worthies of the past have all been lonely" expressed the sentiments of scholars in turbulent times; and the names of "Xun Wenruo and Guo Fengxiao" resounded throughout the world.

News travels like the wind, spreading in all directions.

Luoyang, Nangong.

Emperor Ling, Liu Hong, was having a banquet with the Ten Attendants. After several rounds of drinks, a young eunuch rushed over and presented Emperor Ling with a roll of silk.

Emperor Ling, Liu Hong, took the rolled-up silk scroll and began to shake the bamboo slips in his hand, muttering to himself, "Have you not seen the Yellow River's waters come from the sky... Hmm, what a fine poem! This Ji Xuanyuan is quite a remarkable man!"

Liu Hong himself has always been very interested in literature and art. He even specially established an academy called Hongdumen Academy to recruit talents who are proficient in poetry, calligraphy, painting and other skills.

Seeing this, Zhang Rang, standing to the side, immediately smiled obsequiously and said, "Your Majesty is wise and mighty, but in my humble opinion, although this man is quite talented in poetry, he is, after all, young and impetuous, and I'm afraid he will be difficult to completely control..."

It should be noted that the line "Bells and drums, delicacies and jade are not worth treasuring" in this poem is already a blatant contempt for the powerful and the established system of etiquette. Moreover, the poem also mentions Liu Wu, the powerful King Xiao of Liang in those days.

What kind of person is Liu Wu?

Not only did he dare to put on a grander spectacle than the emperor when he went out, but he also recruited a large number of talented people in his fiefdom. More importantly, he always harbored a desire to ascend the throne...

Ji Xuanyuan's ambition was obvious.

However, in response to Zhang Rang's words, Liu Hong waved his hand dismissively, saying, "I know what I'm doing. It's just a poem. After the Yellow Turban Rebellion is completely quelled, I'll summon him to the capital and give him a sinecure. I don't trust someone like that to be left unattended."

Changshe Camp.

Holding the copy, Huangfu Song repeatedly recited, "Have you not seen the bright mirror in the high hall reflecting the sorrow of white hair, black as silk in the morning, turning to snow by evening?" He sighed, "This child... is accomplished in both literature and martial arts, but unfortunately, he is too weak."

Zhu Jun paced back and forth in the tent, muttering, "I wish I could stay drunk forever and never wake up... Was he lamenting the hardships of this chaotic world?"

When Cao Cao received the poem delivered by fast horse, he narrowed his eyes slightly and after a long while said to Xiahou Dun, "Yuan Rang... Ji Wenlie's ambition is not small."

He felt both admiration and wariness; if this person were a friend, he would be a great help; if he were an enemy...

The Prefectural Governor's Office of Zhuojun.

Tian Feng, Ju Shou, and Lu Zhi sat around a table with a collection of poems spread out in front of them.

Tian Feng clapped his hands: "My lord is truly talented!"

Ju Shou pondered, "Once this poem is published, all the scholars in the world will surely yearn for it."

Lu Zhi gazed at the line "Sages and worthies of the past have all been lonely," and, recalling his own ups and downs in his official career, felt deeply saddened.

Ji Xuanyuan was unaware of all this.

Three days later, outside Yingchuan City.

Three thousand soldiers were fully prepared for battle. Ji Xuanyuan had already bid farewell to Xun Yu and was now standing with Guo Jia at the front of the army.

"Fengxiao," Ji Xuanyuan looked north.

"Do you know what I want most right now?"

Guo Jia took a sip of wine, tilted his head and thought for a moment: "Fame? With the performance of 'Bring in the Wine,' my senior brother's literary fame has already spread throughout the land. Profit? What Guangzong gained is enough to support our army for three years. Military power? The imperial court is about to bestow an honor, and he'll be a general with a minor title..."

Ji Xuanyuan shook his head: "None of these are it."

"That..."

"I want the power to establish my own government," Ji Xuanyuan said, enunciating each word clearly.

Guo Jia's eyes widened suddenly.

Establishing a government office! According to the Han system, only a very few important officials, such as the Three Dukes, the Grand General, and the General of Chariots and Cavalry, were allowed to establish their own government offices, appoint their own staff, and form their own staff.

This means an independent administrative and military system, almost a state within a state!

"The Yellow Turban Rebellion will be quelled, and the imperial court will surely bestow rewards." Ji Xuanyuan coughed twice and continued.

"I want the court to know that Youzhou cannot do without me, Ji Xuanyuan. I want the world to see that I, Ji Wenlie, am not only capable of writing poetry, but also of governing the country, leading the army, and governing the people."

He gazed towards Yingchuan City, his eyes filled with a profound sense of purpose: "When I establish my own government, I will rightfully recruit talented individuals and proclaim this to the world... At that time, Wenruo will naturally come to serve me."

Guo Jia asked solemnly, "Senior Brother, do you intend to... use Youzhou as a base to practice benevolent rule?"

"Chaos is coming, without a solid foundation, everything is just empty talk." Ji Xuanyuan mounted his horse.

"Back to Zhuojun, there are Yuanhao, Gongyu, Lu Gong, my brothers, the new recruits we trained, and tens of thousands of surrendered soldiers... that is where our true starting point lies."

He paused, then said softly, "As for this poem... it's merely to make the world remember my name, Ji Xuanyuan. The real contest will take place after I establish my own government, in the imperial court, and on the vast battlefield."

"Set off!"

Three thousand soldiers returned north, and dust began to rise.

On the city tower of Yingchuan, Xun Yu leaned on the railing and gazed into the distance, holding the original copy of "Bring in the Wine" in his hand, his knuckles turning slightly white.

"Everyone has their own unique talents..." he repeated softly.

Beside him, Xun Kun arrived unnoticed and slowly said, "Yesterday, news came from Luoyang that your sixth uncle has been appointed Guanglu Xun. He sent someone to tell you that Ji Wenlie's poem is extraordinary in spirit, but poetic talent is not the same as administrative talent... I urge you to think carefully."

Xun Yu remained silent for a long time, then suddenly said, "Father, if he can truly establish his own government and govern Youzhou..."

"That's another matter," Xun Kun said, his gaze deep.

"The power to establish a government office is not something that can be obtained by anyone but those with great merit, talent, and trustworthiness. If the court truly grants him the power to establish a government office, it would be tantamount to acknowledging his ability to govern a region and appoint his own subordinates... At that time, it would not be a disgrace to our Xun family to serve him."

Xun Yu looked north, where the smoke and dust had dissipated, leaving only the vast autumn sky.

He had already made up his mind; let's see if this senior brother can make a name for himself in Zhuojun.

If one can truly establish a government and recruit talented individuals, showcasing their abilities in governing the world...

Why not entrust all of Xun Wenruo's knowledge to him?