Sui and Tang Dynasties: Awakening the Supreme Skills at the Beginning

"Now, let's start this round of the poetry competition. The champion is Li Zhen, and the topic of this round is wine."

Qian Shu stood in the middle of the stage and announced loudly.

"The time is still three incense sticks, start now!"

As he spoke, Qian Shu waved his hand.

Someone nearby inserted a stick of incense into the incense burner.

Li Zhen walked to his desk and knelt down.

Wine? In his mind, there are countless poems about wine, but if he had to say the most eye-catching one, it would have to be Li Bai's "Song of the Wine". Well, that's it.

……

Qian Shu stood on the stage, holding a piece of manuscript paper in his hand, and spoke loudly.

"Next, let's look at Mr. Lin Feng's poem. The scenery of East City is getting better and better, and the rippling waves welcome the guests. The morning chill is light outside the green willows, and the spring is bustling on the red apricot branches. I always regret that I have little joy in this life, and I am willing to love a thousand golds for a light smile. I hold wine for you to toast the setting sun, and let the evening light stay among the flowers."

After Qian Shu finished reading, everyone was stunned and turned to look at Lin Feng.

"Well done, Master Lin! This song is enough to overpower that idiot Li Zhen!"

"What a beautiful scene of spring on the red apricot branches, what a scene of spring!"

Amid the crowd's cheers, Cui Wu's suppressed emotions erupted again.

"Mr. Lin is worthy of being the number one poet in Daxing. It's no problem for him to beat that idiot Li Zhen with this poem!"

"Haha! Young Master Lin will definitely win this round!"

Cui Wu laughed and said to the people around him.

His tone was extremely firm, and he didn't even think of any other possibilities.

"Haha, idiot Li Zhen, although you won the last round by chance, it won't be so easy to win this time. So, you've been beaten by Master Lin, right? Why don't you kneel down and call the Third Master grandpa three times?"

"That's right, that's right! Li Zhen, kneel down and kowtow!"

Cui Wu's people were very enthusiastic.

Seeing Cui Wu's eager face, Qian Shu really didn't want to discourage him. If he didn't know Li Zhen's work, Qian Shu would have had a feeling of unreality and felt that the winner this time should be Lin Feng.

"Now I will recite the poem by Mr. Li Zhen, "Drinking Wine". This poem is majestic, heroic, and passionate. It is very appealing. Even I can't help but express myself boldly."

Qian Shu stroked his silver beard and spoke slowly.

Seeing Qian Shu so excited, the audience was very curious about what Li Zhen had done to cause Qian Shu to lose his composure.

"Have you not seen that the water of the Yellow River comes from the sky, rushes to the sea and never returns. Have you not seen that the white hair in the mirror in the hall is sad, which was black in the morning and turned into snow in the evening..."

"Good, good poem!"

"What a rebellious, arrogant person!"

"When life is good, you should enjoy it to the fullest, and don't let the golden cup face the moon in vain. I was born with talents that will be useful, and I will get them back even if I spend all my money..."

If the three poems just now still made people doubt Li Zhen, then this poem now will dispel all doubts.

This was a random question. No matter how capable Li Zhen was, he could not possibly know the topic, and there was no place to copy it. Besides, poems and essays have been passed down through the ages since ancient times, and no one would be willing to let others copy their own poems.

There is only one possibility, that these poems were really written by Li Zhen. His poetic talent is naturally far superior to that of anyone else of this era, including the self-important Lin Feng.

During the Sui Dynasty, the imperial examination system was just beginning to gain popularity. Scholars attached great importance to poetry, and poets were more likely to win people's respect.

Now, the expressions of the people in the audience looking at Li Zhen were full of respect and admiration, without any contempt or disdain.

There are even many scholars who had just stepped on Li Zhen harshly, and now they are apologizing to Li Zhen continuously. At any time, the best people in various fields can easily gain everyone's respect.

As for Lin Feng's side, everyone looked at each other in confusion, as if they had seen a ghost.

Lin Feng himself was trembling slightly. The poetic talent of this idiot Li Zhen was far superior to his own. It would be too difficult to defeat him. However, if he admitted defeat, losing money was a small matter, but where would Mr. Cui's face be?

No, I have to fight to the death today, let’s fight!

At this time, Qian Shu, who was sitting in the middle of the stage, announced loudly: "In this round of competition, I think Li Zhen's poems can be regarded as famous poems handed down from generation to generation, and he deserves to be the first in this round. Do you have any objections?"

"I, Ma Ziming, have no objection."

"I, Li Hui, don't have any either. I'm willing to admit that Li Zhen's poems are better than mine. I'll have a chance to drink with Master Li and discuss poetry in the future..."

"Well then, I hereby declare..."

"Wait a minute! I don't accept the defeat and want to fight with this Li Zhenwen. I wonder if Li Zhen dares to take it?"

Lin Feng stood up directly, stared at Li Zhen, and said viciously.

Hearing this, Li Zhen smiled slightly, flicked his sleeves, and then sneered.

"I'm a defeated general, why shouldn't I be afraid?"

"Ha, come and see! Master Lin Feng is going to challenge Master Li Zhen. With their talents, this fight is sure to be exciting!"

"Yeah yeah!"

"Brother, please make way!"

Everyone was talking about it and moving their hands and feet non-stop, pushing their way to the front of the stage. The scene was very chaotic for a while.

"Silence, silence! This is disgraceful! Stop pushing!"

Qian Shu shouted loudly in displeasure.

The crowded crowd finally quieted down a little.

Li Zhen knelt quietly in front of his desk, his face as gloomy as water.

Lin Feng looked at Li Zhen, feeling doubtful and uncertain. Looking at the look of this fool, could it be that he was confident and was just trying out his skills before?

How is this possible? Absolutely impossible!

He is the number one poet in Daxing City. This time, he must find ways to defeat him and take back the honor that belongs to him. He will let Young Master Cui severely humiliate this ignorant fool. He can even imagine the scene of Li Zhen kneeling on the ground, wagging his tail and begging for mercy to Young Master Cui, calling him grandpa.

We must win! We must!

Lin Feng took a deep breath and regained his gentlemanly appearance. He said in a cold voice.

"Two monkeys are cutting wood in the deep mountains. Let's see how the monkeys fight."

As soon as the first couplet came out, many people began to think about how to come up with the second couplet.

After thinking about it carefully, I was surprised to find that this couplet was actually a metaphor. On the surface it was about seeing how the monkey responded, but actually it was about seeing how Li Zhen responded. It was brilliant, really brilliant!

"Mr. Lin's couplet is full of meaning. I don't think Li Zhen will be able to come up with a couplet. Even though he is a good poet, he may not be a match for Mr. Lin when it comes to couplets!"

"Yes, yes!"

Everyone seemed to be enjoying the show, and Cui Wu and others mixed in, fanning the flames and doing everything they could to mock and slander.

Hearing what Lin Feng said, Li Zhen smiled slightly, feeling disdainful in his heart. With this ability, I still think highly of you.

"A horse is stuck in the mud, let's see how the old beast kicks out."

Li Zhen blurted out almost without thinking.

"boom!"

The crowd in the hall was boiling.

"This……"

"Brilliant! Not only is the couplet well-balanced, it also contains metaphors, responding to the irony in the first couplet, which is equivalent to saying that Master Lin is a beast."

Someone nearby had already explained.

After hearing this, the onlookers suddenly realized that there was such a thing going on. Li Zhen was really not polite at all!

There is something, and it actually happened, and you still call yourself a beast?

Lin Feng's face changed color slightly, and he opened his mouth to utter another couplet.

"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven."

"Filial piety, loyalty, faith, courtesy, righteousness, and integrity."

"What does this mean? Why are the first couplets all numbers, and the second couplet is so weird?"

The people around him didn't understand.

“What you may not know is that these two couplets also have deep meanings,” the man explained.

"The first couplet is one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, but there is no eight, so it can be interpreted as a turtle."

"And the second line is about filial piety, loyalty, faith, courtesy, righteousness, and integrity, and shamelessness. These two lines are the best in the couplets of insults!"

So that's how it is. Everyone suddenly realized that they never thought that such a small couplet could contain such a profound secret.

After hearing what people said, Lin Feng's face suddenly turned ugly. How could this fool match such a metaphorical couplet?

"The Water Department caused a fire and Sikong Jin started a large-scale construction project", Lin Feng came up with another couplet.

"What kind of person is this, the Southerner and the Northern Prime Minister?" Li Zhen answered quickly.

Lin Feng's forehead was covered with sweat at this moment. Several couplets he came up with were matched, and even the metaphors in them were refuted. He realized at this moment that this fool was not simple. Not only was he an excellent poet, but he was also unrivaled in making couplets.

Lin Feng took the wine jug, poured himself a glass and drank it all in one gulp.

I thought it could be easily solved, but now I have to take it seriously.

Well, that makes it more interesting!

Under the smell of alcohol, Lin Feng sneered.

“Winter melon and potatoes are not fruits but vegetables.”

Li Zhen said casually with a nonchalant look.

"The turtle was not born for you, but for me."

"Which of these hybrids, rice, millet, beans, wheat, sorghum, and millet, is the master?"

Lin Feng's expression remained unchanged, and he quickly came up with another couplet.

"As expected of Daxing's most talented scholar, he came up with such an unconventional couplet. I don't think Li Zhen will be able to come up with a matching couplet."

"Yes, yes!"

"It seems that I will disappoint you all." Li Zhen smiled slightly and said casually.

"There are so many classics in the Book of Songs, Book of Changes, Book of Rites, and Spring and Autumn Annals, why bother asking Laozi?"

"Ah? He is right about this. It seems that Master Lin is going to use his ultimate move?"

"Well, there's something interesting to watch!"

"Don't talk, just watch!"

The person next to him said dissatisfiedly.

"A mantis trying to stop a chariot, a tiger leaning against a river, how can a common man be called brave?"

Lin Feng came up with another couplet.

"Ah, this couplet actually includes idioms and metaphors. Let's see how Li Zhen will respond!"

"That's right, that idiot is going to die!"

Cui Wu and others became excited again and looked at Li Zhen eagerly, hoping to see him make a fool of himself by failing to write the couplet.

Li Zhen smiled coldly and spoke out.

"Ants climb the locust tree, gnats shake the tree, and fools think they are heroes."

"Ah? That idiot got it right again!"

Cui Wu's face was grim. He was shocked by Li Zhen's performance. When did this fool become so talented? Who can tell me? Ah! Ah!

Lin Feng felt as if a huge rock was pressing on his chest, and he was holding his breath.

No, I can't lose. I can't let Mr. Cui lose face. Otherwise, how will Mr. Cui look at me? I must not lose!

"As the saying goes, it's impolite not to reciprocate. You've paid so much, it's my turn to pay as well."

Li Zhen smiled slightly and stood up.

"Your merits are too numerous to count. You have danced on cow dung, played the game in front of the crowd, and crossed mountains and obstacles. You can't bear to humiliate yourself. I can press your back and you can even puff on your butt. You are not afraid of stench and can smell and cover yourself. People give you the nickname: spanking bug."

Li Zhen spoke like a machine gun, and everyone was shocked. After hearing this, Lin Feng's face turned pale. This was a naked insult.

But Li Zhen had no intention of stopping and continued speaking.

"I'll give you another couplet: First line: A tree without bark is doomed to die."

"The second line: If a person has no shame, he will be invincible."

"you……"

"presumptuous!"

Hearing this, Lin Feng could no longer bear it. Thinking back to what happened today, he spat out a mouthful of blood.