The Great Wei Music Bureau

Chapter 46: The Battle of Talents (Part )

Continuing from the previous chapter, Sun Ru asked Li Yi and Yang Hua to compose a poem on the topic of battlefield. The two agreed to answer in turn, and Li Yi answered first.

Li Yi took a step forward, gathered his righteous energy and chanted:

"I look at my sword under the lamp while drunk, and dream of blowing the horn in the camp. Eight hundred miles of roast meat is distributed to the subordinates, fifty strings play the music from the frontier, and the soldiers are inspected on the battlefield in autumn.

The horse is as fast as Lu, and the bow is as loud as thunder. I have done the king's work, won a good reputation in life and after death, but my hair has turned white. "

The purple air visible to the naked eye condensed into a river, circling around Li Yi, and finally flowing into his palm. There was a burst of exclamations from the audience. Sun Ru savored Li Yi's poem and remained silent for a long time. He did not comment and just looked at Yang Hua.

Yang Hua was not willing to be outdone. He took a step forward and also concentrated on reciting. His poem focused on freehand brushwork, expressing the heroic spirit of the soldiers on the battlefield who disregarded life and death and bravely killed the enemy.

It also attracted the gathering of purple energy, which poured into the body like water and waterfalls. The audience instantly became quiet because they could not tell which of the two poems was better. Everyone turned their eyes to Sun Ru, hoping that he could give a judgment.

Seeing everyone's gaze, Sun Ru shook his head and sighed, "It's great to be young, full of vigor and vitality. Li Yi's poem describes the battlefield scene, as if I was there in person, and it brought back many memories for me.

Yang Hua's poem expresses the courage of the soldiers to move forward without fear of death, which is also inspiring. I can't tell who is better here, so let's call this a draw! "

As soon as these words were spoken, there was a sigh from the audience. Everyone had their own ideas. This is how it is that there is no first in literature. Sun Ru returned to his seat and lowered his head in thought.

Han Ru smiled and said, "Then I will come up with the topic!" He came between the two of them, thought for a moment and said, "As the saying goes, there is no order without rules. I, the Confucian and Legalist school, believe in governing a country by law, so let's write a poem on the topic of rule of law."

Both of them were shocked. Writing a poem about the rule of law was indeed a difficult topic. Li Yi thought about it for a long time but couldn't find a poem about the rule of law.

On the other side, Yang Hua was also in a dilemma and said, "Han Ru, it's not good to write about the law in a poem. If someone with ulterior motives uses it to make trouble, something bad might happen."

Li Yi immediately chimed in, "Han Ru, Brother Yang is absolutely right. This law is indeed not suitable to be mentioned in poetry."

Han Ru thought for a moment and nodded, "I understand your difficulties. Let's change the topic. I, the Legalist, also emphasize seeking truth and being pragmatic, so let's use this as the topic."

Li Yi and Yang Hua looked at each other, both of them were a little puzzled. They were both good at romantic poems, and they were at a loss for a moment when it came to realistic writing. Han Ru saw what they were thinking and laughed, "Why can't you two write poems that are big and empty, and not true and realistic? It seems that my question is difficult again?"

Yang Hua knew that if he talked about changing the subject again, he would be embarrassed, so he stepped forward and recited a poem, but there was no talent. He sighed and stepped back to look at Li Yi, who raised his lips and stepped forward and recited aloud:

"Spring comes and goes by the cold window, flowers bloom and fade, wisdom is hard to find.

The path to the mountain of books is made through diligence, and the boat to the boundless sea of ​​learning is made through hard work. "

The purple air reappeared and flowed into Li Yi's palm. Now everyone knew that Li Yi had won this question. Han Ru smiled and said, "What a great saying! The path to the mountain of books is made through diligence, and the boat to the boundless sea of ​​learning is made through hard work. This sentence expresses the bitterness of me, a Confucian student. Great! Li Yi, great! There is no doubt that you won this question."

Li Yi bowed and thanked Han Ru, who returned to his seat with satisfaction. The scales of victory had already begun to tilt towards Li Yi, and the pressure naturally came to Yang Hua. He thought in his mind: The next person should be Kong Ru who will ask questions, and I think it will be about etiquette. I have to strike first and consider every word carefully, and I must win back a game!

The result was as Yang Hua expected. Kong Ru asked the two to write a poem on the theme of obedience to etiquette. However, Li Yi should answer this question first. Without any hesitation, Li Yi stepped forward and recited:

"Good times and happy events are hard to come by in ancient times, embroidered cocoons and red silk are presented to the two palaces.

Benevolence and filial piety should ward off evil, but mugwort and peach seals are useless. "

As the purple air entered his body, Li Yi returned to his original position and smiled at Yang Hua, who had beads of sweat on his head. Kong Ru nodded and said with a smile: "Yang Hua, it's your turn!"

Yang Hua calmed down, closed his eyes and meditated. With a deep breath, he recited the poem aloud, and the purple air surrounded and flowed into his body. He exhaled a breath of turbid air and returned to his original position, his heart pounding. His poem was about respecting heaven, but he knew it was not as good as Li Yi's. Fortunately, it was also a good work, so he didn't lose too badly.

Kong Ru smiled and said, "Well, Yang Hua's work is also top-notch, but..." Tao Zhongwen coughed and Kong Ru was stunned and looked at Tao Zhongwen. The latter raised his hand, as if signaling Kong Ru to continue.

But Kong Ru was not stupid enough to think that Tao Zhongwen's cough was an accident. He thought about it and finally figured it out. If Li Yi won this question again, there would be no need for Tao Zhongwen to ask this question. He wanted Kong Ru to give him face and let the victory or defeat depend on the last question.

Thinking of this, Kong Ru smiled and said, "Well, Yang Hua's work is indeed a good one. However, although Li Yi's poem is a masterpiece handed down from generation to generation, it is a bit off topic. The topic is clearly about observing etiquette, but you talked about benevolence and filial piety here. Of course, filial piety is the first of all virtues, which is also within the etiquette, but it is somewhat far-fetched. Moreover, hanging mugwort and peach charms to ward off evil spirits on the Dragon Boat Festival has been an ancient custom since ancient times. How can you say that it is useless! So Yang Hua won this question!"

Yang Hua felt relieved after hearing this. Li Yi was really excited. He had already greeted all the relatives of Old Silver Coin. Great, Old Silver Coin! You actually used such a despicable method to make your final appearance! What if you let me win first? I can give you a chance to appear. You are so old, but you still want to be in the limelight. You are too shameless! You are still playing dirty in this place that I have built. Do you think I am easy to mess with? Don't give me a chance to lose my temper! I will definitely hurt you when the time comes!

After saying this, Kong Ru returned to his seat with a smile, gave Tao Zhongwen a look and said, "I did help you." Tao Zhongwen looked back at him and said, "Thank you very much. I'll treat you to a drink tonight!"

The audience was very dissatisfied and agitated. It was obvious that Li Yi's poem was better, so why was he judged as the loser? Could it be that Kong Ru and Yang Hua had some unspeakable secret? There must be something fishy going on here! The audience could hear endless discussions.

At this time, Tao Zhongwen walked between Li Yi and Yang Hua, raised his hand and pressed it down, signaling everyone to be quiet. After the noisy voices from the audience died down, he smiled and said, "As you can see, the first three questions of Xiuyuan are now one draw, one win, and one loss. The two sides have tied, so I have to decide the winner of this question.

"Yang Hua, you must seize this opportunity. If you fail, your title of the most talented scholar in the capital will be handed over to Xiu Yuan!"

Yang Hua bowed and said, "Sir, what you said is very true. Please give us the questions."

Tao Zhongwen stroked his beard and smiled, "I have used the Five Constant Virtues of a Gentleman as a guide to establish one's destiny successfully. The topic I came up with must be related to gentlemen. This is not difficult to guess. But today I want you two to write an essay on the topic of The Way of a Gentleman. Tell me what the Way of a Gentleman is!"

Yang Hua has been to the Gentleman's Pavilion quite often recently, so he talked a lot with Tao Zhongwen about gentlemanly matters, and of course also about the gentleman's way. He smiled happily, stepped forward, concentrated his mind and energy, and talked about his understanding of the gentleman's way. Of course, this was his understanding after Tao Zhongwen's comments and modifications.

After reading the article, Tao Zhongwen nodded and smiled frequently, and was very satisfied with Yang Hua's article. Then he turned his head to look at Li Yi and asked, "Xiuyuan, I have discussed the way of a gentleman with Yang Hua before. You have heard what Yang Hua said just now. You have a deep understanding of it. If you fail this question, it's not surprising. Don't feel burdened!"

The central idea of ​​Yang Hua's article is that a gentleman should serve the country and the people, share the worries of the emperor, not fear life and death, and not make conditions. These were all specially prepared by Tao Zhongwen in order to brainwash Li Yi. As far as this article is concerned, on the surface it is a competition between Yang Hua and Li Yi, but in fact it is Old Silver Coin and Yang Hua who are trying to compete with Li Yi.

Li Yi was already cursing in his heart, thinking that you, old silver coin, were sent by God to play a trick on me! Ah, it would be fine if you didn't help me, but now you are helping him by asking questions! You are so good, old silver coin! I represent the moon and I will destroy you and me! I am so angry! You still want to brainwash me, dream on!

Humph, isn't it just an old man and a young boy who are against me? You just wait! Thinking of this, Li Yi exhaled a breath of turbid air, calmed down, walked to Han Ru, calmed down and said loudly:

"In Xiuyuan's opinion, the way of a gentleman is to follow the civil or military path. Those who follow the civil path may enter the court to serve the emperor, often admonish the emperor and keep the people safe, with a broad mind to worry about the world before they worry about themselves, and be happy after the world is happy. They serve the people and petition for the people. This can be said to be worrying about the people when they are in a high position in the temple." A purple air broke through the air, and Li Yi just waved his hand to stop it above his head.

Then he turned around and said to Confucius who was sitting upright: "Maybe you can hold a ruler to teach the world, impart knowledge and solve doubts, so that scholars can get the way, the young have their teachers, and those who doubt can understand their doubts. This can be said to be far away from the rivers and lakes, and worry about their king. And follow the warriors."

Li Yi turned and looked at Sun Ru, walking step by step while saying: "As a warrior, or a general, you need to practice the art of war, break through trickery, and win battles thousands of miles away. This can be said that if a general can fight a hundred battles, there is no need for the emperor to build the Great Wall." Another two purple air flew over.

Li Yi also waved his hand to stop him and said: "Some people pick up swords, wield swords across the cliffs, do justice and eliminate violence, and the greatest heroes serve the country and the people. It can be said that a gentleman holds a three-foot sword and performs unparalleled merits, so what does he care about life and death?" Another purple air was also stopped by Li Yi. He waved his hand, and four purple airs swirled and contracted, emitting purple light.

Li Yi walked up to Tao Zhongwen and continued, "Indeed, the way of a gentleman is not just about studying. A chivalrous heart and a righteous heart, serving the country and the people, can be called a gentleman; a doctor with a kind heart and a miraculous hand can be called a gentleman; a skilled craftsman who casts the country's important tools can also be called a gentleman; the way of a gentleman does not depend on birth, status, power, or wealth. If you are poor, you can only take care of yourself; if you are rich, you can help the world. It is clear that worrying about the country and the people, thinking about the king and the virtuous, cultivating oneself and rectifying one's nature, and planning the politics in one's position, so cultivating oneself, managing the family, governing the country, and pacifying the world can be the way of a gentleman!"

After Li Yi finished speaking, the four swirling purple air above his head emitted a dazzling purple light, reflecting purple clouds in the night sky. Suddenly, a purple lightning bolt from the sky fell straight towards Li Yi, but the latter seemed to have known it already. He raised his right hand high, opened his palm, and used the Vajra Magic Power. The entire right arm turned purple-gold. Purple air emanated from the palm of his hand to form a vortex. The purple lightning bolt struck right in the purple air vortex, but like a stone sinking into the sea, it failed to cause a huge wave, but was swallowed up in an instant!

Just as the purple lightning struck, everyone in the audience was in a panic. Some people were even frightened and fell backwards, falling at the feet of the back seat, but most people just leaned back tactically, covering their faces and peeked at the stage. At this time, Li Yi had already absorbed the purple lightning into his body and put down his right hand.

The great scholars on the stage all had solemn expressions on their faces. They all knew that the purple thunder just now was a gift from heaven. It was transformed from the great and righteous energy. It was the purple thunder of heaven. This meant that the gentleman's way that Li Yi had just spoken of was recognized by heaven.

Several great scholars looked at each other, stood up and saluted Li Yi. Li Yi returned the salute and said, "Brother Yang, you are frightened. This is Xiuyuan's fault. Come, come, I will help you up." He reached out to help Yang Hua, who was sitting on the ground, straightened his robe, and said with a smile, "Brother Yang, are you okay?"

Yang Hua bowed and said, "Brother Li, you are joking. I am deeply moved by your insightful remarks. I don't know what to say for a moment. Please forgive me, Brother Li."

"Brother Yang, you are joking. There are probably not many people in this world who can regard the Purple Sky Divine Thunder as an ordinary thing. It is normal for Brother Yang to be frightened. Don't worry about it."

Yang Hua and Li Yi looked at each other, then bowed and said, "Purple Sky Divine Thunder? I understand! I get it! Thank you, Brother Li! Thank you, Brother Li! I finally know how to practice Confucianism in the future!" After that, he left laughing like crazy.

Only Li Yi and Tao Zhongwen were left standing on the stage, along with three great scholars. Tao Zhongwen laughed and said, "Xiu Yuan is right! Cultivate yourself, regulate your family, govern your country, and bring peace to the world! This is the way of a gentleman! Good! I understand!"