Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 128: Scholars from Seven Prefectures Collaborate on a Poem – “Lotus Blossoms Reflecting the Sun Are Especially Red”

The Qinhuai River is shrouded in mist and waves, and the painted boats with their beaded curtains are filled with the tide of poetry.

Jiang Xingzhou stood facing the wind, picked up his brush and splashed ink, and a poem entitled "Looking at the Tide: The Scenic Beauty of the Southeast" was completed and leaped onto the paper.

[Battle Verse Mingzhou] —

“Boom!

Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Thump—!

The five-tone bell of the Confucian Temple resounded throughout the heavens.

A spectacular sight filled the sky above Nanjing, obscuring the moon—

A thousand riders in black armor break through the clouds, their iron horses and icy rivers appearing in distant dreams.

This poem from Mingzhou bursts forth with talent, transforming into a thousand elite cavalrymen arrayed in formation, surrounding a golden-armored general, their vanguard aimed directly at the raging tide of the Qiantang River.

A chilling, murderous aura swept across the sky, turning the heavens above Jinling City into a frosty hue, radiating a terrifying military pressure.

Outside Jinling City, in a large infantry camp of ten thousand soldiers, the old soldier's spear jingled without wind.

At the Jinling City Water Fortress, three hundred warships fluttered with banners as if facing a formidable enemy.

On the walls of Jinling, rows of soldiers guarding the city stood with their hands on their swords, looking north. They seemed to see a beacon fire rising from the southeast, obscuring the sky and the sun.

The soldiers throughout the city felt a chill run down their spines, filled with dread—as if they could hear the sounds of clashing swords and galloping horses shattering mountains and rivers, and that an imminent bloody battle was about to erupt.

a long time,

On the city of Jinling, the illusion of war that blotted out the sky and the terrifying might of heaven gradually dissipated.

The painted boats on the Qinhuai River are brightly lit, like daytime.

On the desk, the Xuan paper inscribed with "Looking at the Tide: The Southeast's Scenic Beauty" moved without wind; the ink, though not yet dry, had already solidified into a page of war poems, a precious treasure.

Golden light swirled, its sharp edge subtly revealed, and the sounds of iron horses and icy rivers faintly emanated from the words, as if a thousand troops were hidden between the lines.

Inside the painted boat,

Scholars from the ten prefectures of Jiangnan held their breath, their eyes filled with both amazement and undisguised envy.

In just one hour at the poetry gathering, Jiang Xingzhou had already written one [Dazhou]-level and two [Mingzhou]-level masterpieces!
Such talent is unmatched even by the most prominent families of Jinling.

The prominent families of Jinling Prefecture have all accumulated their wealth over hundreds of years, producing numerous scholars and even members of the Hanlin Academy. Their profound cultural heritage is nurtured by ten generations of literary tradition.

Yet Jiang Xingzhou, a commoner from a humble background, was able to rival the prestigious families of Jinling with his own strength!
Absolutely breathtaking!

Xu Canming from Hangzhou Prefecture, Tang Yanqing from Suzhou Prefecture, Zhu Hezhi from Yangzhou Prefecture, and others cast piercing glances at the scholars from the other prefectures of the ten prefectures in Jiangnan.

At this moment, there are still seven prefectures whose scholars have not yet set their questions—Jiangzhou, Changzhou, Ningjiang, Shaoxing, Jiaxing, Songjiang, and Huzhou.

"Gentlemen, it's your turn to pose the questions!"

Xu Canming said, holding a fan.

The crowd looked at each other, and for a moment no one stepped forward.

Who would willingly invite such humiliation?

The scholars from the three major prefectures of Suzhou, Yangzhou, and Hangzhou have a profound cultural heritage and have always been the most talented in the Jiangnan region.

If they are already being suppressed by Jiang Xingzhou, the number one talent in Jiangzhou Prefecture, and cannot even raise their heads, wouldn't the other prefectures be inviting humiliation if they rashly make a move?
"You must never write about the scenic spots of this prefecture again!"

"If we go back, how will we face the elders of this household?"

The scholars from the other prefectures whispered among themselves.

—Our own family's premier literary site was written about with such brilliance by a scholar from another family, while our own family's disciples were completely helpless!

How can one swallow such humiliation?

A scholar from Changzhou suddenly clapped his hands: "How about... the fourth poem should be titled 'Jiangnan'?"

"Everyone will be prosperous, and everyone will suffer a loss!"

"Yes! If we write about Jiangnan, even if it's a masterpiece from Mingzhou, it will be a shared honor for all ten prefectures!"

Everyone's eyes flickered as they secretly plotted their next move.

— Could Jiang Xingzhou, by his own strength, write a masterpiece of Jiangnan that would make all the scholars of the ten prefectures of Jiangnan bow their heads?

"So shameless!"

Tang Yanqing slammed his fist on the table and stood up, pointing at the crowd and shouting angrily: "Why is it that my three prefectures of Suzhou, Yangzhou, and Hangzhou have only lost our own famous scenic spots—Hanshan Temple, the Twenty-Four Bridges, and the Qiantang River! But you want to gamble with the entire Jiangnan region?"

"Not bad!"

"That's unreasonable!"

Scholars from Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Yangzhou angrily denounced the incident, and the pleasure boat immediately became as noisy as a marketplace.

"How about writing about 'lotus flowers'? In the height of summer in June, it's the perfect time to sing about lotus flowers."

Someone suggested.

"Absurd! The lotus is a subject that scholars throughout the world have written about; how can you be allowed to defile it like this?"

"In my opinion, we should write about the famous scenic spots of each prefecture!"

"Yes! Since it is a poetry gathering of ten prefectures in Jiangnan, it should be fair and just, with each prefecture setting a topic. There should be no opportunism!"

On the painted boat, the scholars argued endlessly, their voices almost overturning the night sky over the Qinhuai River.

However, the scholars of the seven prefectures, having learned from the mistakes of the scholars of Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Yangzhou, were naturally unwilling to jump into the fire pit again. Among the famous scenic spots of the ten prefectures in Jiangnan, which family could withstand Jiang Xingzhou's amazing pen?
"Talented men from the ten prefectures of Jiangnan, please heed my words!"

A powerful and resonant voice came from the private room of Mingyue Tower, like a great bell, instantly drowning out the noise inside the painted boats of Qinhuai.

The scholars looked in the direction of the sound—

On the banks of the Qinhuai River, the carved windows of the Mingyue Tower were wide open.

An elderly man with white hair and a youthful face stood by the railing, dressed in a blue robe, exuding a dignified and composed air.

It was none other than Zhou Dunshi, a Hanlin scholar and a leading figure in the literary world of Jiangnan!

In an instant,
You could hear a pin drop on the painted boat.

Suzhou scholar Tang Yanqing hurriedly adjusted his hat, Yangzhou scholar Zhu Hezhi immediately stood up, and even Hangzhou scholar Xu Canming, who had been arguing most fiercely, quickly fell silent.

More than three hundred scholars from Jiangnan bowed in unison, performing the disciple's salute: "Juniors and juniors greet Master Zhou!"

A night breeze swept across the Qinhuai River, causing the jade pendant at the old scholar's waist to tinkle.

His gaze was sharp as he slowly swept over the scholars, finally settling on Jiang Xingzhou in the middle of the painted boat, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

With that one glance, he seemed to have seen through the literary fortunes of Jiangnan for the next few hundred years—Jiang Xingzhou was destined to be the number one literary figure in the ten prefectures of Jiangnan for hundreds of years!
The scholars from the ten prefectures of Jiangnan and the young men from the twelve families of Jinling all stood solemnly and bowed with their hands clasped in greeting.

This literary giant, who has been in charge of "Jiangnan Elegance" for more than ten years, stands against the wind at this moment, his hair and beard all white but his spirit vigorous.

The jade pendant at his waist jingled softly in the night breeze, and he gently waved a Xiangfei bamboo folding fan in his hand, exuding an indescribable elegance and refinement.

"Please enlighten me, sir. I am all ears!"

Gu Yong quickly stepped forward and asked respectfully.

Zhou Dunshi's gaze swept over the assembled talents. He stroked his long beard and said in a clear voice:
"Tonight's 'Twelve Masters of Jinling' poetry gathering has produced one poem by Da Fu and two poems by Ming Zhou. This is truly an unprecedented success for this poetry gathering, and can be described as a perfect event."

"The cultural lineage of the ten prefectures in Jiangnan is interconnected; we must not let momentary anger damage our harmony."

"I propose that the scholars from the remaining seven prefectures jointly propose a topic as the finale of the poetry gathering. What do you all think?"

Before the words were even finished, an uproar broke out on the pleasure boat.

—This is clearly an attempt to give the scholars from those seven prefectures a way out!

"Your insight is excellent! We will certainly follow your advice!"

Upon hearing this, the scholars from the ten prefectures of Jiangnan breathed a sigh of relief, as if they had been granted a pardon, and bowed deeply in gratitude.

—The three prefectures have already been defeated. If Jiang Xingzhou were to defeat the remaining seven prefectures in succession, the scholars of the ten prefectures in Jiangnan would probably be terrified of Jiang Xingzhou in the future.

Zhou Dunshi's gentle gaze swept over the group of young scholars, finally settling on the upright figure in the blue robe: "Among the ten prefectures of Jiangnan, Jiang Xingzhou of Jiangzhou should be considered the best."

He stroked his long beard and smiled, "Jiang Xingzhou, why don't you set the last question?"

"Yes, Lord Zhou!"

Jiang Xingzhou stepped forward calmly, his robes fluttering in the night wind. He bowed respectfully, his voice clear and melodious like shattered jade: "This student dares to pose a question."

—At this response, the hearts of all the talented men in the room trembled.

Jiang Xingzhou, the most talented scholar in Jiangzhou Prefecture, has set the poetry question. I wonder what kind of difficulty it will be!
On the painted boat,

Jiang Xingzhou stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the three hundred scholars from various prefectures in Jiangnan.

"Since Lord Zhou has said that the seven prefectures will jointly compose a topic, and now it is June, when lotus flowers are everywhere in Jinling, let's take 'lotus flower' as the key word for the topic."

He looked up at the banks of the Qinhuai River and said in a clear voice, "In addition, there is a small restriction: if any scenery is to be found, it must be within the territory of my 'Jiangnan Road'!"
Let this be the theme for the closing of the poetry gathering. What do you all think?

—Upon hearing this,
The scholars from the seven prefectures breathed a sigh of relief and clapped their hands in approval: "Excellent! The theme of 'lotus' is perfectly timed. And limiting it to the Jiangnan region is also something we excel at!"

This "lotus flower" question is extremely common, limited to the "Jiangnan" region, and is not difficult.

The scholars from Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Yangzhou looked helpless.

Since the seven prefectures jointly set a poem topic, they naturally could not choose a topic that reflected the characteristics of only one prefecture. The best topic was "lotus flowers, limited to the area of ​​Jiangnan," and they had no choice but to accept this topic.

“Excellent! Lotus flowers are a very common sight in Jiangnan!”

That's when true talent and ability are most evident!

Zhou Dunshi sat down again in the private room, stroked his beard and chuckled, his eyes gleaming.

Inside the painted boat, the air was filled with the fragrance of ink.

More than three hundred talented scholars from the ten prefectures of Jiangnan wielded their pens like swords, sweat beading on their foreheads, yet none of them bothered to wipe it away.

On the table, Xuan paper is spread out, and a wolf-hair brush is dipped in thick ink, each stroke seemingly a desperate struggle.

This is their last chance!

Some people grit their teeth and write with flowing, powerful strokes;
Someone closed their eyes in thought, their fingertips lightly tapping the table.
Some people even turned red in the face, completely unaware that their cuffs were stained with ink.

Losing to Jiang Xingzhou is tolerable, but to be inferior to the other nine prefectures would be a disgrace.

"Snapped!"

A scholar was so focused that he strained his eyes, and suddenly a purple-tipped brush broke, sending fragments flying everywhere.

Referee Gu Yong stood with his hands behind his back, pacing inside the painted boat. His gaze swept over the tense or pale faces, and he shook his head almost imperceptibly.

The poem sheets on the desk gradually filled up.

Some lines are delicate and graceful, like "the oars break through the glass reflection," while others are majestic and powerful, like "swallowing up the clouds and marshes." There are even wonderful lines like "lotus threads are used to make a boat on Taihu Lake."
Unfortunately, he ultimately lacked some talent.

As the incense burned out, the scholars from the ten prefectures of Jiangnan laid down their pens and handed in their papers.

Judge Gu Yong examined the case file, and a look of surprise gradually appeared in his eyes.

Perhaps it was this theme of "lotus flowers, limited to the Jiangnan region" that resonated with the current state of mind of these talented scholars, as masterpieces emerged one after another like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.

"One article on [Dazhou]!" "Ten articles on [Leaving the County]!"

"[Knocking on the town] fifty articles. [Hearing about the village] more than two hundred!"

Gu Yong's voice suddenly rose, "I've heard that those below the village level wrote only a dozen or so articles, probably because their emotions are not at peace!"

The whole house was in an uproar.

Zhou Dunshi clapped his hands and laughed: "To produce such a masterpiece within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, you truly deserve to be the elite of the ten prefectures of Jiangnan!"

A gentle breeze wafts through the boat.

—This only work by a Dafu official is actually Han Yugui's "Ta Sha Xing: Wu Wa Lotus Bridge"!
[Ta Sha Xing: Wu Wa's Lotus Bridge]

Willows dipped in golden waves, bridge spanned by fragrant mist.
Wu Wa smiled and pointed to where the lotus flowers were blooming.

The moon hangs high outside the crystal curtain.
The neon skirt once left its mark on the mossy path.

Sober at midnight, sorrow arises again and again.
The sound of the jade flute has faded; who will care now?
To seek past dreams, ask Chang'e.
The moonlight is full; it's time to cross the river.
Once this article was published,
Han Yugui's poems and notes are full of all sorts of strange images.

In an instant, the painted boat was filled with a rosy glow, the fragrance of lotus flowers was like mist, and the moon shone brightly, making people feel intoxicated.

It instantly amazed everyone present, drawing endless praise from the scholars on the painted boat.

"Wonderful!"

Gu Yong excitedly tapped the table with his finger, splashing half a cup of tea.
The phrase "金波" (Jinbo) originates from the "Treatise on Rites and Music" in the Book of Han, which describes the moon's radiance reflected in the water, creating shimmering waves. It also subtly incorporates the character for "moon."

"The 'Wu Wa' (a type of child from Wu), capturing the charm of Jiangnan—a perfect finishing touch!"

"The final line, with the word 'full,' not only describes the moonlight but also symbolizes a heart overflowing with sorrow. 'Returning home by ferry' echoes the opening line's 'bridge across,' a clever and subtle connection!"

"Jiangzhou Prefecture truly lives up to its reputation as a place where talented individuals emerge in droves!"

The scholars surrounded the table, pointing and commenting, praising it highly.

Han Yugui's face was flushed, and he couldn't stop smiling as everyone praised him. "I dare not accept Brother Jiang's praise. I feel a lot of pressure."

This piece is a labor of love. Unexpectedly, it has become a poem about lotus flowers from the Dafu region!

His voice trembled, and his fingertips in his sleeves were still twitching slightly—the back of his blue robe was soaked with sweat, as if he had just experienced a battle of wits.

The word "渡" in "归时渡" had already exhausted his last bit of literary talent.

In this piece, he unleashed all his potential.

Once he returns to the Jinling Inn, he will need to take a good rest and recuperate for three days and three nights to regain his creative spark.

The scholars in the room stared intently, all with expressions of envy.

Everyone knows that poetry and prose are often "skilled by chance." Inspiration is like a dewdrop on a lotus tip, fleeting and ephemeral.

At the poetry gathering of the "Twelve Masters of Jinling", I was inspired to write this poem and essay in the style of "Da Fu", which I am proud of for the rest of my life!
Painted boats on the Qinhuai River.

Of the three hundred scholars from ten prefectures in Jiangnan, all had completed a poem on "Lotus Flower," except for Jiang Xingzhou, who had not yet begun writing.

He was used to waiting for everyone else to finish their work before he would put pen to paper.

The painted boat suddenly became still.

Three hundred scholars held their breath, watching as Jiang Xingzhou finally picked up his pen.

Before the brush touches the paper, the literary spirit already spreads out in faint ripples on the rice paper.

Jiang Xingzhou stood before the desk, pondering for a moment.

He wrote about lotus flowers in June, and there are many famous poems about them in the Jiangnan region!
But Yang Wanli's "Leaving Jingci Temple at Dawn to See Lin Zifang Off" is undoubtedly a timeless masterpiece and the pinnacle of lotus poetry!
With a slight flick of his wrist, the tip of the pen flashed with a bluish light, and the pen moved with the grace of a dragon and a snake:
Ode to Lotus in West Lake

After all, West Lake in mid-June
The scenery is different from that of the four seasons.

The lotus leaves stretch to the sky, an endless expanse of green.
The lotus blossoms, bathed in sunlight, are a vibrant, unique shade of red.
Gu Yong froze, stunned, and the teacup in his hand clattered to the ground.

Before the ink was dry, cicadas suddenly began to sing along the Qinhuai River.

Suddenly, the fragrance of lotus blossoms filled the room.

The entire ship of scholars cried out in unison—

A bluish light flickered beneath Jiang Xingzhou's wrist, and a half-acre pond materialized on the Xuan paper—

The crimson lotus blossoms spread across the paper, turning the pupils of three hundred pairs of eyes into a rosy hue!
"boom!"

The poem is complete—[Mingzhou]!

On the table, a dazzling light suddenly shone forth, resonating with the heavens and earth.

The ink marks on the Xuan paper are spontaneously transforming into a painting of West Lake!
The entire city of Jinling has been plunged into strange phenomena—

Lotus leaves stretched to the sky, growing out of thin air, and quickly covered the entire city of Jinling, including all the lotus ponds, puddles, and water buckets.

A thousand acres of blue waves rippled without wind, withered lotus leaves and stalks instantly turning green again. Lotus leaves, stretching to the sky like emerald tides, swept across twelve painted bridges in the blink of an eye.

Street corners,

Crimson lotus blossoms emerge from the cracks in the bluestone slabs, and dripping water from the roof tiles transforms into lotus pods.

An old woman was surprised to find that her bamboo basket was filled with dewy lotus leaves.

In Nanjing, the Imperial Canal flows with crystal-clear water, overflowing with lotus leaves.

On the winding balustrade, the lotus pattern with vermilion and gold decoration seems to come alive, flowing like a dragon under the glazed tiles!

"Mingzhou, yet another [Mingzhou]!"

"The pinnacle of landscape poetry!"

"The pinnacle of poems and lyrics about lotus flowers!"

"The pinnacle of West Lake poetry!"

"The pinnacle of poetic talent!"

"A timeless masterpiece! Only those who have personally witnessed the West Lake in June can truly appreciate its beauty!"

Three hundred scholars stood motionless on the painted boat, gazing at the teacups in their hands, each one a lotus flower formed from their talent—

Every lotus petal reflects the line, "The lotus blossoms under the sun are especially red!"
If we were to discuss Han Yugui's poem "Ta Sha Xing: Wu Wa's Lotus Bridge," they could offer some commentary and analyze the source of the allusions.

Jiang Xingzhou's "Ode to the Lotus in West Lake" is vigorous and lively, like a thunderclap!

The beauty of poetry and prose needs no further scrutiny or critique.

Wherever the eye falls, it shines like a pearl emerging from its box, captivating everyone from young children to the elderly.

Xu Canming, a scholar from Hangzhou, suddenly beat his chest and stamped his feet, then looked up to the sky and wept bitterly.

Hangzhou, West Lake!
Yonghe! "

In the end, the scholars of Hangzhou could not protect West Lake, the sacred place for their literary pursuits!

Jiang Xingzhou's "Ode to the Lotus in West Lake" has emerged out of nowhere. Although it does not fully capture the charm and beauty of West Lake, it has at least captured 30% of its literary spirit!

Inside Mingyue Tower.

From the gaps in the sandalwood table, a verdant lotus stem suddenly emerged, sprouting lotus leaves and roots, and in the blink of an eye, it unfurled into a round leaf as green as jade.

The cooled tea soup moved spontaneously without any wind, and a touch of crimson appeared at the center of the ripples—

A crimson lotus, like a blazing flame, bloomed in Zhou Dunshi's white porcelain cup.

He plucked the crimson lotus flower.

There was a soft "pop" sound.

With a touch of his fingertip, the old scholar caused the entire lotus flower to transform into a stream of talent and radiance, flowing through his entire body along his meridians.

He immediately felt as if his talent had been nourished by a refreshing rain, and a clear, resonant sound of his talent being restored echoed deep within his literary palace.

"What a beautiful description of 'lotuses blooming red in the sunlight'!"

This poem, "Ode to the Lotus," is already the pinnacle of poetic talent!
Even if one's talent is exhausted, a single red lotus can restore it in an instant!

The old scholar looked shocked, staring at the lingering glow on his fingertips, and suddenly realized that he had grown old.

This world now belongs to the young!

The lingering fragrance of red lotus still remained on Zhou Dunshi's fingertips.

He looked out the window—

On the Qinhuai River, thousands of red lotuses are still burning, and within the city of Jinling, talent bursts forth, soaring straight into the sky!
The crimson flames illuminated the old scholar's beard and hair, making him appear as if he had returned to his youth.

"I am truly dazzled by these strange phenomena that fill the city."

He caressed the lingering lotus fragrance on the teacup, then suddenly chuckled:
"Who knows whose mischievous child this is?"

Such extraordinary talent!

His poem "Ode to the Lotus of West Lake" is unparalleled among the ten prefectures of Jiangnan, fully showcasing the talent of poets on the topic of "Ode to the Lotus"!

"Lord Zhou, don't you know whose son he is? You should know him too!"

The scholar asked in surprise.

"Who?"

Zhou Dunshi was surprised and puzzled.

"Jiang Yan's son, Jiang Xingzhou!"

Back then, I even went to Beijing with my friend Jiang Yan to take the imperial examination!
He passed the imperial examination with the rank of thirty-second on the first-class list, stayed in the capital, and was promoted to Imperial Censor of the Demon Suppression Division.

But later, sigh...

The scholar said with some regret.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Dunshi was immediately taken aback, and a flood of memories rushed back.

Twenty years ago, that young man from Jiangzhou Prefecture also stirred up half the city's mist and rain in Jinling Prefecture of Jiangnan Province, and was considered one of the top three Taoist scholars in Jiangnan.

Back then, the young, inexperienced scholar in a blue robe who knocked on his door during the rainy season had once sought his advice on articles and discussed scholarship, and there was quite a teacher-student relationship between them.

"It's the son of an old friend!"

Zhou Dunshi stared at the figure on the painted boat, momentarily stunned.

No wonder, the look in his eyes vaguely resembled Jiang Yan's back then, but with an added sharp edge.

He couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness, yet also a sense of closeness.

"This child's literary talent far surpasses that of his father."

The old scholar sighed softly, "A poetry gathering, one poem from [Dazhou], and three poems from [Mingzhou]!"

"Sending a Poem to the Twenty-Four Bridges of Yangzhou," "Mooring at Maple Bridge at Night," "Looking at the Tide of the Southeast, a Scenic Wonderland," and "Ode to the Lotus in West Lake" stirred up a storm throughout the city, and all the talented scholars of the ten prefectures of Jiangnan bowed their heads in admiration.

A thousand exquisite poems were presented at the poetry gathering, yet none could rival its brilliance!

(End of this chapter)