Confucianism under Heaven

Chapter 11 Poems of Nostalgia

Chapter Eleven: Poems of Nostalgia

Looking at those two words that seemed like a curse, Ye Ru took a deep breath, filled with shock.

While Ye Ru was momentarily lost in thought, a bright light suddenly appeared in the Siku Quanshu (Complete Library of the Four Treasuries), directly absorbing the "Collected Works of Li Bai" into it.

The Siku Quanshu (Complete Library of the Four Treasuries) automatically flipped through the pages, finally settling on Li Bai's poems. However, during the prosperous Tang Dynasty, the poems of Li Bai, the "Poet Immortal" on Earth, were slowly revealed.

When each poem is compared with the others, it turns out that only the signature and the title are the same; the content of the poems is completely unrelated.

However, the story of this Li Bai is almost identical to that of Li Bai during the prosperous Tang Dynasty.

"What on earth is going on? Is it a historical error? That's impossible."

These secrets completely baffled Ye Ru, and he couldn't figure them out for a long time, so he gave up and began to study the poems in "The Collected Works of Li Bai".

Although these poems are different from those of Li Bai during the High Tang period, they still have their merits. Thanks to Ye Ru's advancement to the rank of Tong Sheng and the help of the Siku Quanshu (Complete Library of the Four Treasuries), reading them was not difficult at all.

After reading "The Collected Works of Li Bai" for two days and two nights, Ye Ru felt refreshed and drowsy.

The classics, commentaries, poems, and essays that scholars read can enhance their talent and increase their intellectual capacity.

Over the next three days, I spent time with Su Tongyao, and then it was time for Fang Zifeng to challenge me.

In Fang Zifeng's study.

"I just learned a couple of days ago that He Shengming's student published a poem in the Congyun Shengkan, which was praised by the scholars of the National Academy for its exceptional poetic talent."

"The poems selected by those National Holy Academies are all poems and essays of high moral character."

"Moreover, according to the letter, this person was sent to the front lines by my old rival for a year to gain experience, which made his grasp of battle poetry even more precise."

Fang Zifeng said with a serious and worried expression.

Although Ye Ru created two amazing poems, he was still worried about whether the former could surpass the latter.

After all, Ye Ru's experience is still very limited.

Therefore, he was not confident that Ye Ru could defeat He Shengming's student; he just hoped that Ye Ru wouldn't lose too badly.

"Crack!"

"Brother Fang, you seem to be getting more and more energetic after a year apart."

Just as Ye Ru was about to speak, the door opened, and a middle-aged man dressed in the robes of a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations, with piercing eyes, walked in.

"Brother He looks radiant too."

Upon seeing this, Fang Zifeng quickly stood up and cupped his hands in greeting to He Shengming.

"Remember our gentleman's agreement?"

He Shengming didn't exchange many pleasantries and went straight to the point, his words still carrying a hint of mockery.

"I've heard that your student is very talented; he actually published a poem in the Congyun Shengkan. He's truly a promising young man."

Fang Zifeng's expression changed, and he said with a forced smile.

Ye Ru simply watched from the sidelines. Since ancient times, scholars have looked down on each other, which is probably one of the major drawbacks of scholars.

"Tong Xiao, come in."

He Shengming waved his hand, and when Tong Xiao came in and saw Ye Ru, both of them were stunned.

Because this Tong Xiao was none other than the young man who had previously fought with Ye Ru for "The Collected Works of Li Bai" in the bookstore and mocked him.

"Ye Ru, let me introduce you. This Tong Xiao is Brother He's student, and he's also the one who published a poem in the Congyun Shengkan."

"Oh, it's you. You're very kind."

Tong Xiao, abandoning his previous arrogance, spoke with utmost respect.

"Brother He, who is this person behind me...?"

"This callow child, could he be a student you personally taught?"

"Tong Xiao is someone who published a poem on cultivating virtue in the Congyun Sacred Journal. You're making this novice a scholar compete with my student in a literary contest. Are you insulting me?"

Before Fang Zifeng could finish introducing Ye Ru, He Shengming's face darkened. A fifteen-year-old child did not look like a learned person at all. How could such a child be compared with his students?

"Yes, Mr. Fang, are you going to burn your bridges? Letting such a child compete with me in literature is like a mayfly trying to shake a tree, it's overestimating your own abilities. If you lose, not only will it damage the reputation of Wenxing Private School, but the literary reputation you have worked so hard to spread will also be greatly diminished."

Tong Xiao echoed the sarcastic remark.

"No, if we back down like this, it would be unbecoming of a true man. Let's begin. I also want to see what makes this scholar, whom the Grand Secretary praised for his exceptional poetic talent and who was also a top scholar in the provincial examination, so remarkable."

Fang Zifeng's expression was somewhat unnatural. If both of them wrote poems that reflected their virtues, that would be the best outcome.

"However, literary gatherings or literary contests always have to have a prize, and this poetry contest must also have a prize."

Tong Xiao sneered.

"what do you want?"

Ye Ru smiled.

"If you lose a poetry contest between the two of us, then I will gladly accept the 'Collected Works of Li Bai'."

Tong Xiao said confidently.

"What if I win?"

Ye Ru put away his smile and said.

"You have no chance of winning."

Tong Xiao shook her head, her words full of disdain and arrogance.

"The Book of Documents says: 'Humility brings benefit, while pride invites loss.' Brother Tong, don't be too complacent, or you'll bring shame upon yourself if you lose."

Ye Ru gave a mocking laugh, and then said:

"If I win, all I need is ten taels of silver, how about it?"

"So you're just a money-grubber. Fine, I'll grant your request."

After Ye Ru said that, Tong Xiao felt even more that Ye Ru was not very knowledgeable.

Scholars should regard wealth as something external; only through reading can they firmly uphold their sacred principles.

The other party is demanding money; their literary reputation is tarnished, and their sacred path is destroyed. They are not worth worrying about.

"Let's begin. I am a scholar appointed by the Grand Secretary, and I will proceed with courtesy. Please begin with your theme."

Tong Xiao raised her head and said arrogantly, then made a gesture of invitation.

Some of the scholars who had passed the imperial examinations back then were slightly inferior to him in poetry, let alone this child.

The so-called "theme" refers to explaining the central theme of the poem.

He Shengming nodded in agreement, thinking that it would be good for the boy to experience some setbacks.

The four people were quiet, creating a tense atmosphere.

“Alright, then I’ll make a decision. Let’s take homesickness as the theme and write a poem for each of them, either five-character or seven-character, it’s fine.”

Fang Zifeng pondered for a moment, glanced at Ye Ru, and found that the latter was still expressionless. His heart skipped a beat.

Nostalgia may be simple, but it is also the most difficult. Everyone can write simple poems, so to stand out, one must excel in rhyme, poetic meaning, and expressive techniques.

Poems about homesickness mainly depict the desolate and lonely feelings of travelers living far from home, as well as their longing for their hometown and relatives.

"No problem, a gentleman does not contend, Brother Ye, shall we go first?"

Tong Xiao shrugged, indifferent.

"The most capable go first, Brother Tong, you can go first."

Ye Ru was truly disgusted by the other party's hypocrisy, and immediately cupped his hands in greeting.

"Then it would be disrespectful for me to refuse."

Tong Xiao sneered, put his hands behind his back, and began to chant:

"A traveler's heart is filled with sorrow on this journey."

"I sit alone, unable to sleep, filled with sorrow."

"Wild geese fly south,"

When will the year end?

The poem was written, its orange light shining brightly, its talent illuminating the entire room.

Talent that extends two feet is a manifestation of moral cultivation.

Immediately afterwards, all three of them turned their gazes toward Ye Ru...