Han Ji

As autumn deepened, the leaves on Mount Goushi began to turn yellow. That afternoon, Lu Zhi was tending to his small garden, with Liu Bei helping him.

Several newly transplanted flowers and trees were a little wilted, so Lu Zhi carefully added soil and watered them, his movements meticulous.

Liu Bei gazed at his teacher's focused profile, then at the renowned, secluded abode built against the mountainside. He recalled the past six months, seeing students from all over flocking to the academy, eager to witness Master Lu's brilliance and receive his teachings. A sudden thought struck him. He paused his work and murmured:

"Mount Goushi opened up a place of abundant resources, and passersby pointed out that it was the home of Lord Lu."

Lu Zhi paused slightly, but without turning around, he continued watering.

Looking at the carefully tended flowers and plants, Liu Bei's voice became clearer: "Lord Lu has students all over the world, why plant more flowers in front of his hall?"

After he finished speaking, the garden was quiet for a moment, with only the rustling of the leaves in the mountain breeze.

Lu Zhi slowly straightened up, turned around, and looked at Liu Bei. A clear hint of emotion appeared on his usually calm face. His gaze lingered on Liu Bei's face for a long time, as if he were re-evaluating his student.

"His students are all over the world..." He repeated these words softly, a faint but genuine smile slowly creeping onto his lips. "Liu Bei, oh Liu Bei..."

He didn't say anything more, but Liu Bei understood the meaning in his eyes. It was the satisfaction of having his thoughts revealed, a deeper sense of recognition.

Lu Zhi turned around and continued to tend to the flowers and trees, but his movements seemed to be gentler.

"In a few days, there will be a literary gathering in Luoyang," Lu Zhi mentioned casually after a while, "Cai Bojie will be the host, a moon-worship ceremony. You will come with me."

Liu Bei's heart skipped a beat. Cai Yong, also known as Cai Bojie, was a literary master of his time, renowned for his illustrious reputation. The literary gathering he hosted would undoubtedly be a gathering place for Luoyang's top scholars, literati, and young talents.

"Yes, teacher." Liu Bei suppressed the turmoil in his heart and respectfully replied.

He knew that this literary gathering would likely be another test, or even a broader stage.

The literary gathering to worship the moon was held in Cai Yong's villa within Luoyang city. As night fell, the lanterns were already lit.

Lu Zhi arrived with Liu Bei in a carriage. The place was bustling with activity, with carriages and horses everywhere. Servants led them through several courtyards to a spacious garden by the water. The garden had already been prepared, with tables and chairs arranged around it, lights shining brightly, and the faint sounds of string and wind instruments drifting through the air.

As soon as Lu Zhi arrived, many people stood up to greet him. A gaunt old man walked over with a smile; it was Cai Yong.

"Brother Zigan, we've been waiting for you to come!"

"Brother Bojie invited me, how could I dare not come?"

Cai Yong's gaze shifted to Liu Bei and Gongsun Zan, lingering for a moment on Liu Bei's face: "This is Liu Xuande, whom everyone in the world knows?"

Liu Bei stepped forward and bowed, saying, "This humble one, Liu Bei, greets Lord Cai."

"Good, good!" Cai Yong nodded and smiled at Lu Zhi, "Brother Zigan, you have such a fine student, it's truly enviable."

Liu Bei followed behind Lu Zhi, his gaze quickly sweeping across the scene. He saw a gathering of officials and nobles, each with their own distinct aura. There were refined scholars, reserved aristocrats, and sharp-eyed young men.

"That's Yuan Shao, the son of the Yuan family of Runan," Lu Zhi whispered a reminder.

Liu Bei followed the gaze and saw a young man, about twenty years old, with handsome features and luxurious clothes. He exuded an air of superiority and composure as he chatted and laughed with several people, his eyes shining brightly.

"The man next to him is Cao Mengde (Cao Cao)," Lu Zhi added.

Liu Bei looked at the man beside Yuan Shao. He wasn't very tall, but had a sharp, wiry face and bright, intelligent eyes that occasionally flashed with a sharp light. He wasn't as conspicuous as Yuan Shao, but standing there, he possessed a restrained yet imposing aura that made him impossible to ignore.

At that moment, a familiar figure strode forward to greet him; it was Gongsun Zan. He was also dressed in a brocade robe today, making him appear even more dashing.

"Master Lu!" Gongsun Zan bowed first, then immediately moved closer to Liu Bei, patted him on the shoulder forcefully, and chuckled, "Good lad, you really came! Let me tell you, this spectacle today, hehe, is going to be quite a show! Be smart later!"

As they were talking, Liu Bei felt a gaze fall upon him. He turned his head and saw Cao Cao smiling at him. When Cao Cao saw him looking over, he raised his wine cup and nodded in greeting.

Liu Bei nodded slightly in return.

On the other side, Yuan Shao also noticed the unfamiliar face next to Lu Zhi. He whispered a few words to the person next to him, his gaze lingered on Liu Bei for a moment with a slight scrutiny, before he casually looked away.

The garden was growing larger, and the noise was rising. Liu Bei stood calmly beside Lu Zhi, experiencing this top-tier social scene in Luoyang. He felt no fear, only a clear-headed detachment. He knew that in the eyes of these people, he, a nobody from Zhuojun, was probably no different from the rocks and plants in this garden.

After the moon-worship ceremony, the banquet officially began. After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became increasingly lively.

It's unclear who started it, but the conversation turned to poetry and literature. Soon, someone began composing poems on the theme of the autumn moon. What started as just for fun gradually took on a competitive tone. Young talents took turns reciting and chanting, drawing cheers from the audience.

Yuan Shao also rose and recited a Yuefu poem, its language ornate and its scope expansive, displaying the style of a master, winning applause from the audience. He sat down with a smile, his gaze casually sweeping over everyone present, carrying a hint of barely perceptible arrogance.

Cao Cao also smiled and recited a few lines of five-character poems by a scholar. The style was quite different, and it was more ancient, straightforward and vigorous. Although short, it left a deep impression.

At this moment, one of the people at the table suddenly laughed and said, "I've heard that Lu Gong's esteemed disciple is Liu Bei of Zhuojun, whose poem 'Farewell to Zhuojun' has been passed down through the ages. Who in the world doesn't know your line, so full of heroic spirit that inspires awe? On this auspicious occasion, why not invite Brother Xuande to display his talent and broaden our horizons once again?"

These words immediately drew many eyes to Liu Bei. Some were curious, some were expectant, and some were waiting to see him make a fool of himself. Although "Farewell to Zhuojun" had some fame in Luoyang, hearing about it was unreliable, and most people wanted to see for themselves just how capable this young man, recently favored by Lu Zhi, really was.

Gongsun Zan, sitting opposite Liu Bei, winked at him, meaning, "You'd better hold on."

Lu Zhi held his wine cup calmly, neither declining on Liu Bei's behalf nor urging him, as if he were making the decision himself.

Liu Bei felt the gazes converging from all around him, and the pressure suddenly increased. He took a deep breath, stood up, walked to the open space in the center of the arena, and bowed to Cai Yong, Lu Zhi, and the others in the main seats.

The garden fell silent, and the music stopped. Everyone stared at the simply dressed young man, whose face still held a touch of boyish innocence, yet whose eyes were unusually calm.

Liu Bei remained silent, seemingly lost in thought. Moonlight bathed him, casting a long shadow. He wasn't conceiving a plan, but rather recalling memories, deliberating. After a moment, he raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the bright moon in the sky, and slowly spoke, his clear voice piercing the night:

"The bright moon rises over the Tianshan Mountains, amidst the vast sea of ​​clouds."

The opening lines were grand and imposing, instantly creating a sense of grandeur. Everyone's hearts skipped a beat.

"A long wind blows for tens of thousands of miles, passing through the Jade Gate Pass."

The vastness of time and space, the boundless beauty of nature, and a sense of desolation on the frontier wash over you.

"Emperor Gaozu of Han traveled to Baideng Road, where the barbarians spied on Qinghai Bay."

The story moves from landscape to history, evoking thoughts of ancient and modern warfare, and possesses a majestic and powerful spirit.

"This place has always been a battlefield, and no one ever returns."

With a single stroke, he captured the cruelty of the battlefield; his tone was solemn and resonated deep within.

"The soldiers stationed on the frontier gaze towards their distant lands, their faces etched with longing for home."

The perspective shifts to the homesickness of soldiers on campaign, evoking deep emotions.

"In the high tower this night, sighs will surely not cease."

The poem concludes with a scene of gazing at the moon from a high building, accompanied by sighs, leaving a lingering and profound impression.

The sound faded, and the entire hall fell silent.