Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 327 Lu Beigu's "On Heroes" [Seeking monthly votes!]

The smug look on Xu Shunqing's face froze instantly.

He was confident in his talent and his original intention was to intimidate the audience with a carefully prepared essay, "On Heroes," and suppress the morale of the remaining Song people who had not yet been divided.

Unexpectedly, the other party did not respond and instead threw the difficult problem back at them.

He squinted at Su Xun, who was stroking his beard and remaining silent, then looked at Lu Beigu, who had a calm expression, and quickly weighed his options.

This suggestion seems fair, but it is actually tricky. No matter who Xu Shunqing chooses, it is not a good choice.

At the stalemate, Su Shi suddenly sneered and added fuel to the fire, saying, "Imperial Censor Xu just spoke eloquently, discussing the past and present. Why are you hesitating now? Could it be that you feel that although your writing is good, it is no match for the clear voice of the old phoenix of Sichuan, or the chicks of a fledgling phoenix? If you are feeling guilty, you can retreat now and still save face."

These words made Xu Shunqing's face turn pale.

Behind him, a Tangut warrior who seemed to understand some Chinese, saw him in an awkward situation, let out a low growl, and placed his large, fan-like hand on his waist. Although there was no weapon, the threat was self-evident.

Su Zhe immediately turned halfway to the side, shielding his elder brother behind him.

Cheng Jianyong, Yang Yaozi, and others also stood up. Although these scholars from Sichuan were afraid of the ferocity of the Dangxiang warriors, none of them retreated.

Xu Shunqing raised his hand, stopping the Tangut warriors behind him from moving.

He knew that if he resorted to violence here, even if he gained a temporary advantage, he would completely ruin the important matter entrusted to him by the prime minister, which would be detrimental to the overall situation.

After all, as one of the first envoys, Xu Shunqing had already completed his mission of announcing the change of power in the Xia Dynasty to the Song Dynasty, but he did not return to the Xia Dynasty with the team because he was familiar with the situation in the Song Dynasty.

The Prime Minister's intention was for him to assist the second group of envoys in creating complications in the diplomatic incident of the Quye River boundary demarcation, and not to be limited to the Quye River boundary demarcation itself, but to do everything possible to gain the initiative for the Xia Kingdom.

Xu Shunqing's actions today indicate that he intends to take a different approach.

If he could use his persuasive rhetoric to recruit one or two disillusioned scholars from the State of Song, and then carefully devise some events to smear the State of Song, he could achieve a very good propaganda effect.

He handled this matter brilliantly, which is enough to give him the opportunity to continue his promotion after returning to the Xia Kingdom.

Xu Shunqing's intrusion into the private banquet without resorting to violence or engaging in verbal sparring could be interpreted as an attempt to make friends through literature. However, his somewhat impulsive nature made him appear rather reckless.

However, if he were to order his men to beat up the people, especially if one of them was a newly appointed provincial governor from the Song Kingdom, then the Xia Kingdom would instantly find itself in an extremely passive diplomatic situation. This would be tantamount to playing a joke on his career in the Xia Kingdom, which is precisely what Xu Shunqing cherishes most.

So Xu Shunqing suddenly laughed heartily, feigning magnanimity, and pointed at Lu Beigu: "Very well! Then please, Professor Lu, enlighten me! Let me see just how brilliant the essay of the top candidate in the Song Dynasty provincial examination is!"

He ultimately chose Lu Beigu.

After all, Su Xun is older, and even if he wins, he will inevitably be seen as bullying an old man. At the same time, his opponent is a failure in the imperial examination, so what is the significance of his victory?
Even though Lu Beigu is the provincial champion, he is still just a young man who is not yet twenty years old. His writing skills may not be as good as mine, a veteran who has been immersed in the field for many years and is well prepared. If I can subdue him in public, the effect will definitely be much better than defeating Su Xun.

Lu Beigu showed no surprise. He calmly left his seat and walked to the long table where the writing brush and inkstone were placed.

His gaze swept over the essay "On Heroes" that Xu Shunqing had just placed beside him.

Upon seeing this, Xu Shunqing subtly curled his lips, as if mocking her.

"Xu Yushi's calligraphy has the essence of Yan Zhenqing, which is indeed extraordinary. However, I cannot agree with the comparison of Zhang Yuan and Wu Hao to Guan Zhong and Han Xin in the article."

Lu Beigu slowly ground the ink, buying himself time to compose, and said casually, "The evaluation of heroes begins with their hearts, followed by their actions, and lastly their encounters. If the heart is not upright, the actions will inevitably be treacherous; if the actions are not proper, even if the encounters are extraordinary, they will be nothing more than illusions. Guan Zhong and Han Xin both had the peace and stability of the world in their hearts, and their actions were all about governing the world, so they were able to shine in the annals of history, rather than being judged as heroes solely by their achievements."

"Confucius went to Chu and Mencius traveled to Liang to spread his teachings and enlighten the world with the way of the king. How could they teach people to abandon their homeland and use the weapons of neighboring countries to harm the people of their homeland? But Zhang Yuan and Wu Hao, in order to vent their personal grievances, let wolves into the house, causing the northwest border to be engulfed in war for years and the people to be displaced. Imperial Censor Xu used the beauty of words to cover up the injustice, just like covering rotten wood with brocade. It may look gorgeous from a distance, but it inevitably exudes the smell of decay up close."

Before the other party could refute, Lu Beigu suddenly spoke up: "As for the 'good bird chooses a good tree' mentioned in the text, I have a question—if everyone abandons their country and family under the pretext of 'choosing a tree,' then when the Xia Kingdom is weak in the future, will Imperial Censor Xu also choose a higher branch? If this continues, what loyalty and trust can be said in the world?"

This sudden, sharp question hit the nail on the head, leaving Xu Shunqing speechless for a moment.

Yang Yaozi couldn't help but applaud, "Well said! Brother Lu's words are indeed the right thing to do!"

Seeing that his momentum had been overturned, Xu Shunqing could only sneer, "What a righteous and awe-inspiring words! Since that's the case, why don't you immediately write an essay on 'On Heroes' and let me see what the 'right reason' of the Song people is?"

"Since Imperial Censor Xu is interested in making friends through literature, I, Lu, will certainly accompany him."

Lu Beigu stopped looking at him, his wrist hovering in the air. After a moment of concentration, he suddenly put down his pen!

The brush moved swiftly, ink splashed like silver hooks, and lines of upright and elegant running script leaped onto the paper, possessing an even sharper edge than usual.

He wrote extremely quickly, almost without thinking, clearly having already figured it out in his mind.

A moment later, Lu Beigu threw down his pen, picked up the plain paper, straightened up, looked around at everyone, and finally looked calmly at Xu Shunqing, and read aloud.

"On Heroes"

A true hero's ambition lies in upholding principles and adhering to rules. Upholding principles is as immovable as Mount Tai, and adhering to rules is as unyielding as metal and stone. Even in the face of adversity, he will never betray his principles. This is what makes him a true hero.

In the past, Zhang Xun occupied the isolated city of Suiyang. When his food supplies ran out and he was starving, he cooked by breaking open corpses, yet he still fiercely cursed the enemy. Yan Lugong raised the banner of righteousness, knowing full well that he would die, yet he stood up and rebuked the rebellious Hu people, blunting their advance.

These two gentlemen knew the value of life, yet they chose to die rather than yield. What was the reason for this? The key to being a hero lies in upholding one's principles without wavering!
Looking at Taigong fishing, it's not about the bait and the hook; Zhuge Liang sitting with his knees drawn up, is it about indulging in the Liangfu chant? Poverty and success are predestined, and opportunities come at a time. If one's talents are not used, one should wait for fate and not change one's principles because of misfortune.

If a person, whose talents are not recognized, harbors resentment and uses foreign power to overthrow his country, causing chaos and disaster to his hometown, he is not a hero, but a traitor to the nation.

History serves as a stark warning. Wei Lü, adorned in fine clothes and earrings, ultimately met a humiliating end, like a dog or pig. Zhonghang Yue, dressed in brocade and eating meat, was ultimately subjected to the cruel punishment of being pickled. Even those who attain temporary wealth and status cannot escape the calamity of having their hearts ripped out or their legs severed. Should we not fear this?

Therefore it is said: A man's spirit does not change because of fame or obscurity; a hero's ambition is not altered by poverty or success.

In the past, Su Wu held the imperial staff in the North Sea, his resolve unwavering; Fan Zhongyan was exiled to Dengzhou, his joys and sorrows unchanged. This was not due to external forces or the changing times, but rather to the preservation of their will, which will never be extinguished even after countless eons.

Alas, you men, be careful in your choices!

After Lu Beigu finished reciting, the pavilion fell silent.

The lingering echo of "Alas, you men, be careful in what you do" still resonated between the beams, each word carrying immense weight, pressing down on one's heart, yet also seeming to stir a surge of passion within.

Cheng Jianyong slapped his thigh hard, his voice trembling with excitement: "What a wonderful 'Upholding the principles, Mount Tai will not move; adhering to them, metal and stone will not be swayed'! This is the backbone of us scholars!" Su Shi's pale face flushed with excitement. He pushed away Su Zhe's hand that was trying to stop him, picked up the cup of wine that he hadn't drunk yet, gave it a perfunctory toast in the direction of Lu Beigu, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp. He drank too fast and choked, but his eyes were full of admiration and joy.

Su Xun's hand, which was stroking his beard, had already stopped. He exclaimed in admiration.

"The argument is upright, the integrity is awe-inspiring, the citations are precise, and the refutation is powerful; it can be called a magnificent piece of writing!"

Even those scholars from Sichuan who had been slightly shaken by their failure in the imperial examinations were now unconsciously moved by the powerful righteous spirit in the article and straightened their backs.

This essay, "On Heroes," not only refuted Xu Shunqing's fallacies but also brought them unwavering faith during their life's setbacks.

Xu Shunqing stood there stunned, his face turning from green to white.

Lu Beigu's impromptu article was not only brilliantly written, but more importantly, it was lofty in its intent, firmly occupying the moral and ethical high ground and thoroughly refuting Lu's sophistry.

In particular, the eight words "the calamity of having one's heart ripped out, the punishment of having one's shin cut off" precisely struck a chord deep within Xu Shunqing's heart, a hidden worry that he himself might not even be willing to admit. A chill rose from his tailbone, and the hairs on his back stood on end.

What will be my fate?
A tremendous fear suddenly arose in Xu Shunqing's heart.

His lips moved as if he wanted to find a flaw to refute it, but in his panic, he felt that Lu Beigu's arguments were as solid as a mountain, and every word hit the nail on the head. Any words seemed extremely powerless in the face of this article.

Although the Tangut warriors behind Xu Shunqing did not understand the deeper meaning of the article, they could tell who had been humiliated, and they looked at each other in bewilderment.

Seeing Xu Shunqing standing there motionless, just as some Tangut warriors were about to lose their temper, heavy and orderly footsteps suddenly came from the stairs.

More than ten soldiers in full armor appeared at the entrance of the private room, but the one in the lead was a beardless man wearing black boots.

"It is the Imperial City Guard of the Song Dynasty."

The Imperial City Division is the name of the Imperial Guards' military division, but although it is called the Imperial Guards, it is actually an intelligence agency. Its predecessor was the Martial Virtue Division, which originated from the Later Tang Dynasty.

After Emperor Taizu of Song established the country, he successively appointed his trusted confidants, such as Wang Renzhan, Liu Zhixin, and Wang Ji'en, as military commissioners. The so-called "observation and intelligence gathering, knowing every detail of border affairs" was largely due to the intelligence gathering efforts of the military commissioners.

In the sixth year of the Taiping Xingguo era, Emperor Taizong changed the Wude Division to the Imperial City Division, which was no longer under the jurisdiction of the Three Military Offices and became an intelligence agency directly under the emperor. It was responsible for both palace guards and espionage and surveillance, and had thousands of elite armored soldiers and countless "inspectors" under its command.

The Tangut warriors frowned; clearly, their movements were being closely monitored.

Only in this way can we explain why so many Imperial Guards rushed over so soon after they broke into the next room.

The bearded man at the head of the group glanced around the private rooms, his gaze settling on Xu Shunqing: "Why is Imperial Censor Xu drinking in the next room?"

Xu Shunqing sneered, "What? Does Commander Lü even want to control envoys visiting friends?"

"No," the eunuch surnamed Lü said indifferently. "It's just that things haven't been peaceful in the city lately. To ensure your safety, please come back to the inn with us."

As he spoke, several Song soldiers silently blocked the route from which the Tangut warriors might suddenly attack. Although they did not draw their swords, their hands were resting lightly on the hilts, indicating that they were well-trained.

Seeing this, Xu Shunqing's expression became even more unpleasant.

He knew that it would be difficult for him to write a new work that could surpass Lu Beigu in a short period of time, and the people from the Imperial City Guard had come again. If he continued to entangle himself with them, he would only humiliate himself.

"All the schemes, provocations, recruitment, literary displays, and goading tactics employed today have been thwarted by this young provincial governor, and have instead enhanced his reputation."

Looking at Lu Beigu's indifferent expression, Xu Shunqing felt bitter. He suddenly picked up the wine glass on the table and gulped it down. The wine was spicy, but it couldn't suppress his anger and embarrassment.

He put down his wine cup with a dull thud, turned around, and shouted in a low voice to the warriors behind him in Tangut: "Let's go!"

After saying this, Xu Shunqing didn't even glance at the crowd again. He led the few fierce Dangxiang warriors away in a huff, and the Imperial City Guard did not stop him.

Seeing that these uninvited guests had all left, the eunuch bowed politely and said, "I am Lü Mao from the Imperial City Guard, and I have been ordered to monitor the movements of the Xia envoy. Since you all have nothing else to do, we will take our leave."

Lu Beigu returned the greeting solemnly: "Thank you!"

Lu, the magistrate, waved his hand and left with his men, closing the door behind him.

The private room was quiet for a few moments, then burst into hearty laughter.

"That was exhilarating! Absolutely exhilarating!" Cheng Jianyong almost danced with joy.

Yang Yaozi patted Lu Beigu heavily on the shoulder: "Only today do I realize that the talent of a provincial champion lies not only in the examinations, but also in his character!"

Su Shi laughed heartily, then poured himself a cup of wine and handed it to Lu Beigu: "This essay, 'On Heroes,' deserves a big toast!"

Su Xun stroked his beard and smiled, looking at Lu Beigu, who was surrounded by people but still looked humble. His eyes showed both satisfaction and emotion.

Lu Beigu handled today's events exceptionally well, not only preserving their dignity but also upholding the integrity of the Song Dynasty scholars.

Lu Beigu, however, did not show any smugness; instead, he frowned slightly.

Xu Shunqing's appearance and his arrogant words, though intended as a provocation, may also reflect the tense situation on the border, which seems even more severe than what he saw in the documents from the Central Secretariat.

"He's just a clown, a mad dog barking at the sun. Why let him spoil the fun?"

Cui Wenjing didn't know why Lu Beigu had such an expression, but that didn't stop him from trying to smooth things over.

“We, the talented people of Sichuan, are destined to serve the emperor and bring peace to the common people. How can we stoop to the level of such people? Fill it up! Today we are celebrating and bidding farewell to each other. Let's not let these barbarians spoil our mood!”

Upon hearing this, everyone calmed down and raised their glasses in response.

After this commotion, the sadness of parting seemed to have been diluted considerably, replaced by a sense of shared hatred for the enemy and a spirit of camaraderie among fellow villagers.

Outside the window, the night in Bianjing was deep, and in the distance, the lights of thousands of homes spread out like stars.

(End of this chapter)