Chapter 243: Ascending the Tower

Wang Yang got up late.

He slept too late yesterday, and when he opened his eyes today, the sun was already high. Only after asking little A-Wu did he know it was already past the hour of the snake, which shocked him into getting up quickly, dressing in a mess: "A-Wu, why didn't you wake me up!"

Little A-Wu was also panicked, hurriedly putting down the copper basin, standing on tiptoe, and skillfully helping Wang Yang comb and tie his belt: "Young Master, forgive me! I saw that Young Master slept too late yesterday, so I thought I wouldn't practice boxing today—"

"Oh, it's not boxing, I'm accompanying... the belt!"

"Any one will do!"

"Young Master! Shoes! Shoes!"

Little A-Wu was busy turning around, and Wang Yang was also spinning like a top, shouting while wiping the water off his face: "Xiao Shan! Xiao Shan!"

Chen Qingshan flew into the room with her sword, her expression nervous: "What's wrong?"

"Tell Old Song to prepare the carriage! I'm going out immediately!"

"Good!" Chen Qingshan breathed a sigh of relief and walked out quickly to pass the message.

After taking a few steps, she heard Wang Yang call: "Call Old Black in too!"

The black man bowed and said: "Young Master, please order."

"Take my post, go to the White Tiger Arena, find Daoist Ji, and tell him this..."

Wang Yang whispered a series of instructions, and the black man nodded repeatedly.

Wang Yang gave the black man a note and asked him to pass it to Daoist Ji:

"Remember, don't prepare the Cold Food Powder, don't use the Zhang Zhongjing prescription, don't use the Ge Hong prescription. I want the one that He Yan added, and don't take anything else. He will probably sell it to you at a high price, you don't care what price he offers, just cut it in half directly. He will definitely cry out, and you tell him, I have seen all the alchemists in Jingzhou city, I know the market price, cutting it in half is already a big profit for him. Coming to him is because I had a good impression of him last time, and secondly, it is for convenience. If he wants to raise the price, there is nothing to talk about. After you finish speaking, turn around and leave, he will definitely keep you. After you finish this, go home and put the things away, then go to..."

Wang Yang was giving instructions here, while A-Wu brought breakfast on a food tray there.

"Did you remember?"

"Remembered, Young Master, rest assured."

"Good. I leave it to you, I'm going first."

Little A-Wu said: "Young Master, you haven't eaten breakfast yet!"

"It's too late!"

Wang Yang took a steamed bun, wrapped it in a few pieces of sliced salted goose meat, and stuffed it into his mouth while walking out. Little A-Wu hurriedly chased after him with tea.

Wang Yang walked quickly out of the inner courtyard and bumped into Chen Qingshan. Xiao Shan followed Wang Yang through the middle gate and walked out into the golden sunlight: "The carriage is ready, let's go."

"You don't have to go, I'll be cicada-shedding in a while..."

"Cicada-shedding?" Chen Qingshan was puzzled.

"It means slipping away. You go to the inner room now, find the 'Jianwen Tanshu' on the table, there is a piece of paper inside, you buy the things on the paper."

"Good." Chen Qingshan didn't ask much and turned back to the inner courtyard.

Wang Yang rinsed his mouth and called to Chen Qingshan's back: "Let Old Black pay the account! Don't pay it yourself!"

Chen Qingshan didn't look back, just raised her hand in a very stylish way, indicating she heard.

Wang Yang gave the teacup to A-Wu and instructed: "Tell your father, don't let your Chen sister pay."

Little A-Wu and Chen Qingshan were influenced by what they saw and heard, and had long learned the word "pay":

"Leave it to A-Wu! I won't let Sister pay! Young Master, go quickly!"

Wang Yang patted A-Wu's head and walked into the outer courtyard in big strides.

"... The way of heaven is obscure, who can measure the leaning and the covering? Dogs and horses bite back, jackals and wolves stand on the land. The ridge destroys the tall parasol tree, the forest ruins the old bamboo. People are gone, the country loses its shepherd..."

This eulogy was written by Huan Xuan during the Eastern Jin Dynasty. At that time, Wang Gong, the commander of the Beifu Army, hated the Prime Minister Sima Daozi (who was the assistant minister as a clan prince, so he was called the Prime Minister) for holding power and acting with power, so he started an army to support the king, becoming the leader of the alliance of various armies, shaking the world. Later, he was betrayed by his subordinates, defeated in battle and died, and his head was hung on the Zhu Que Bridge in Jiankang. When Huan Xuan heard of Wang Gong's death, he climbed the South Tower of Jiangling City, remembered his old friend, sighed deeply and said: "I now want to write a eulogy for Wang Xiaobo." He wrote it down after a long whistle, and it became this article. Although Huan Xuan was a chaotic minister and thief, his poetry and prose were not widely circulated, but this article was written by a loyal and righteous minister and has been passed down through the ages.

At this time, on the South Tower, brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were all ready.

Wang Yi, Wang Yang, Kong Zhangyu, and the three upper assistants of Jingzhou (the Chief Clerk of the four upper ranks was vacant, so only three arrived), Vice Governor Le Zhan, Provincial Standing Committee Member Yin Tancan, and Provincial Military Region Deputy Commander Xi Gongmu climbed the tower to send their eyes, looking at the mountains and rivers from afar, talking about Huan Xuan writing a eulogy for Wang Gong on this tower, all sighing endlessly.

Wang Yi recited the eulogy written by Huan Xuan, and Le Zhan composed a mourning poem:

"The Beifu banners are broken, and there are many tears in Jiangdong. The evil of the king's side has not been cleared, and the jade tree branch has withered first.

The moon is cold in the desolate camp, and the wind is sad for the old country's spears. Outside the Xu Temple for a thousand autumns, it still sings the song of angry waves."

When everyone heard the last four lines, they all praised them endlessly.

Of course, this poem was written by him in advance, and the last four lines were continued by his wife. And the wife wrote the same as he wrote! And the wife said, if it weren't for his "desolate and cold atmosphere" in the first four lines, she wouldn't have been able to write the last four lines, so in the final analysis, his poetic talent was extraordinary. Le Zhan was very satisfied!

Xi Gongmu also wrote it in advance, using the Chu style to compose "Summoning the Soul":

"Soul, come back! Jingkou cannot stay! The vermilion banners are torn, the rhinoceros armor is moth-eaten!

The sycophants are already owls, the straight ministers are crushed! The stone city is locked in fog, burying the loyal bones!

Soul, come back! Changtang cannot roost! Once holding the king's festival, now entrusted to the mud!

Wang Guobao's head has already become paste! Who will sue for your injustice? Heaven listens humbly!

Soul, come back! The big truss cannot be traveled! The king's army is old, the blade rolls frost!

The six armies are scattered like stars, the ghosts cry at night! The Guangling melody is broken, who can be a companion?!

Chaos says:

The orchid is burned by fragrance, the ointment is fried by light. When the public dies, the Jin tripod will move.

Later there are mourning guests, leaning on the railings to write chapters. Throwing sleeves and covering tears, the wind is rustling and the rain is rippling!"

When everyone read it, they all had sorrowful colors and sighed for it. Wang Yi said: "The last sentence has a sound of tearing silk in the tone, and the chanter should observe it." Everyone pondered and nodded in agreement. Wang Yang also deeply agreed.

Yin Tancan composed a four-character mourning speech on the spot:

"Alas, Wang Gong, the world carries his heroism. Phoenix feathers and dragon chapters, the essence of the river and mountains.

Ambition for the country, disaster arises from the army flag. Jade broken at Nitang, pearls sunk in Dongting.

The drums at the camp gate fall silent, the wind howls over the desolate graves. Bones are buried on the battlefield, frost and dew drift and scatter.

The pine and cypress bones are rotten, the gold and stone leave inscriptions. Once buried with blue blood, now shining in the history books."

Everyone also gave face and praised a few words, but even Yin Tancan himself admitted that it was not as good as Le Zhan's, mainly because there were no warning lines. He said: "Like scattered soldiers without generals, losing the vitality (the energy of vitality)."

Xi Gongmu said: "The sentence 'Once buried with blue blood' can also be considered a general, but only a lieutenant general, not a great general."

Le Zhan read it again and sighed: "The whole article is not bad, but these last four lines didn't lift up, which is a pity."

Wang Yi shook his feather fan lightly:

"My nephew is here, if you want vitality and great generals, what is difficult? Zhiyan, can you change these four lines?"

Everyone looked at Wang Yang, their eyes expectant.

Wang Yang didn't push, he picked up his brush, pondered slightly, and wrote four lines:

"Blood fertilizes the southeast, the spring grass is not green. Until now, the river water, listening to soldiers every night."

When everyone read it, the sound of applause rose everywhere!

Xi Gongmu sighed:

"With these four lines, it is equivalent to Han Xin being a great general, and all the sentences are unified."

Le Zhan clicked his tongue and said:

"Zhiyan's mourning words are extremely sad, but the difficulty is that they can also have character. The phrase 'listening to soldiers' is sad but has bones, not losing to 'high towers have many sad winds,' 'thinking of you like flowing water'!"

Except for the attendants, everyone present was a noble family. Kong Zhangyu had no chance to speak, and at this time, seeing the opportunity, he also praised: "Spring grass has the legacy of Chu Ci. The last two lines are even more bloody but not falling into sorrow, with the sound of ancient generosity."

Yin Tancan sighed:

"In the past, Huan Wen ordered Yuan Hong to write the 'Rhapsody on the Northern Expedition.' When the rhapsody was completed, the sages read it together, and Wang Dongting said: 'I hate that there is one sentence missing. If you get the word 'write' to rhyme, it will be good.' Yuan Hong immediately picked up the brush and added: 'The feeling is endless in my heart, tracing the wind and writing alone.' Huan Wen said: 'Today I have to push Yuan for this matter.' I think today's matter is better than that time! So I say today I have to push Wang for this matter."

He turned to Wang Yi and bowed:

"The clothes and crowns of Jiangzuo, Wang and Xie are the leaders. The Langya lintel is especially high, and it has always been the table of the Chinese family. Today's literary style, all in the Gentleman-in-Waiting's family!"

Wang Yi returned the salute, his words were small and humble, but his face was very proud, looking at Wang Yang, unable to suppress the corners of his mouth:

"Zhiyan, today's masterpiece is none other than you. I wonder what you are going to write?"

With Wang Yang's state of mind at this time, looking at the

But there was no need to mention that many of the allusions he wanted to use in his eulogy had not yet appeared at this time. More importantly, the literary form of *ci* poetry could not be accepted yet; it was fine to write it for fun at home, but it could not be brought out on an occasion like this. As for seven-character poetry, that wouldn't work either; the seven-character form had not yet flourished at this time. Writing songs, ballads, or *yuefu* style tunes was fine, but as a form of mourning and lamentation, it would not be solemn enough.

Wang Yang still respected Wang Gong. Although he had selfish motives and shortcomings, and was neither good at governance nor at commanding troops, he excelled in his obsession. He loved reading the line "Accepting the King's command to punish those who do not submit" from the *Zuo Zhuan*, and even when he raised troops to attack the palace, he said until his death that his original intention was for the sake of the state. He was straightforward and carefree, leaving no surplus wealth behind when he died. The line "My father-in-law does not know me; I have no worldly possessions as a man" was truly quite dashing. As for his appearance, "clear and bright like a willow in the spring moon," or walking through the snow in a crane-feather cloak like an immortal, these were not as important compared to Wang Gong's heroic spirit.

Wang Yang focused his mind and thought for a moment, then said, "I shall try to compose a eulogy."

Hearing this, everyone was surprised, because today's memorial service was initiated by the eulogy composed by Huan Xuan. That eulogy had already been widely circulated, which was enough to show its excellence. With such a eulogy already existing, unless one could surpass the ancients, wouldn't it be like building a house on top of a house? It would inevitably invite ridicule. This was the reason why none of the scholar-officials present had chosen the eulogy as their literary form.

But Wang Yang wanted to do it, not because he had the confidence to surpass the ancients, but simply because he wanted to.

Wang Yang took a deep breath, picked up his brush, and wrote:

"Alas, the Jin dynasty is about to topple, its rafters and beams are lost;

Mourning the loss of the loyal and righteous, the dawn sun has no light.

Once wearing jade and ringing bells, now bones are abandoned on the battlefield;

Ambitions unfulfilled while the body perishes, who can understand this lingering hatred?

The verse says:

The vast heaven is unkind, sending down these hundred calamities;

Taking away my commander-in-chief, tearing apart my official robes!

The clear stream is severed, the muddy waves surge and swell!

Who will strike the oars? Who will hold the reins?

(Empty line)

Remembering the commander-in-chief, the six armies soared like eagles.

Banners covered the sky, swords and halberds frosted with cold.

Determined to clear the side of the monarch, his spirit swallowed the eight wildernesses.

Betrayal from within, the brave warrior is crushed and wounded!

(Empty line)

Autumn deep in Jiankang, the leaves turn yellow and scatter;

Night rain in Gushu, the cold moon is like frost.

The crane-feather cloak is covered in dust, the remaining scrolls leave a fragrance;

The lone star does not fall, still shining on the broken spear!

The concluding verse:

The mountains and rivers are silent, the intent remains unfulfilled; the frosty crane stands alone, crying in the vastness.

The great wilderness is desolate, sinking into heroic brilliance; the heroic soul is steadfast, rushing to the national tragedy!"

At this moment, a few crane cries sounded, and the river wind suddenly rose, blowing the robes of the crowd until they rustled, as if there were sounds of sobbing coming from the horizon...

——————

Note: Before Wang Gong was executed, he only said two sentences. The first: "I was blind in trusting people, which led to this. If one traces my original intention, was it not for the sake of the state?" The last sentence was: "Just let the hundred generations to come know that there was a Wang Gong."

Those who read this chapter today all know Wang Gong now.

Ps. I only realized after finishing the eulogy that I had smashed a key on my keyboard...

So sleepy, taking a day off, which means the next chapter will be updated the day after tomorrow.