Chapter 13

Li Si said softly: "Your Majesty is wise. Such integrity is not something an ordinary person can possess."

Meng Tian scratched his head: "This Yu Qian, is he also from the Ming Dynasty?"

Ying Zheng nodded: "Listening to the 'Ming Dynasty · Yu Qian' in the poem, he should be a man of the Ming Dynasty."

Meng Yi sighed with emotion: "This Ming Dynasty certainly has many loyal officials. The previous Shi Kefa, and now Yu Qian."

Ying Zheng didn't speak, continuing to stare at the sky screen.

He began to look forward to what this person had done to be ranked seventh on this list.

The Han Dynasty, Weiyang Palace.

Liu Che stood outside the hall with Wei Zifu, Wei Qing, and Huo Qubing.

"Ode to Lime" appeared on the sky screen; Liu Che read it slowly, and his eyes lit up.

"A good poem! What a great line, 'I fear not being crushed to powder, so long as I leave my purity in the world'!"

Wei Zifu said softly: "Your Majesty, this poem is written truly well."

Huo Qubing scratched his head: "Your Majesty, is this poem talking about lime, or about a person?"

Liu Che smiled: "It is both lime and a person. This Yu Qian is using lime to speak of himself."

Wei Qing nodded: "Not afraid of a thousand hammerings and ten thousand strikes, not afraid of being burned in fierce fire—such integrity is not something an ordinary person can possess."

Huo Qubing thought for a moment and said earnestly: "Then when I fight in battles, does that count as a thousand hammerings and ten thousand strikes?"

Liu Che glared at him: "That is fighting in battles; this person is an official. Can they be the same?"

Huo Qubing sheepishly shut his mouth.

But his eyes remained fixed on the sky screen, not blinking.

The Tang Dynasty, during the Zhenguan era.

As soon as the poem appeared on the sky screen, Cheng Yaojin scratched his head: "This poem... what is it saying?"

Fang Xuanling smiled: "General Cheng, this poem is talking about lime, but also about a person."

Cheng Yaojin was even more confused: "What does lime have to do with a person?"

Li Jing explained: "Lime has to be hammered and struck thousands of times to be extracted from the deep mountains, and it must be burned in fierce fire before it can be used. This Yu Qian is saying that in his own life, he must be like lime—not afraid of hardship, as long as he remains pure."

Cheng Yaojin suddenly realized: "Oh—then this person must be a tough nut to crack!"

Li Shimin smiled: "Cheng Yaojin is right this time. A person who can write such a poem must have a strong backbone."

Empress Zhangsun said softly: "Your Majesty, I am becoming increasingly curious about this Yu Qian."

Li Shimin nodded: "Then let's keep watching."

The Song Dynasty, Dongjing Bianliang.

Zhao Kuangyin stood on the city tower of the imperial palace, accompanied by Zhao Pu, Shi Shouxin, and others.

The poem on the sky screen slowly appeared; Zhao Kuangyin read it once and was silent for a moment.

"A good poem."

Zhao Pu nodded: "Your Majesty, this poem is indeed good. Especially the last line—'so long as I leave my purity in the world.' Not everyone can achieve that."

Zhao Kuangyin sighed,

"In my Great Song, there are also such people. Li Gang is one."

Shi Shouxin said softly: "Your Majesty, could this Yu Qian also be like Li Gang..."

Zhao Kuangyin was silent for a moment: "We will know if we keep watching."

The Ming Dynasty, Hongwu plane.

As soon as the poem appeared on the sky screen, Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned.

"A thousand hammerings and ten thousand strikes to emerge from the deep mountains, burning in fierce fire is treated as nothing. I fear not being crushed to powder, so long as I leave my purity in the world..."

As he read, his eyes suddenly turned a little red.

Empress Ma said softly: "Your Majesty?"

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and took a deep breath:

"A good poem. I also climbed up from the bottom; I know what a thousand hammerings and ten thousand strikes means. This Yu Qian is a man of backbone."

Zhu Biao said softly: "Father is right. A person who can write such a poem is definitely not one who fears death or clings to life."

Xu Da nodded: "I think so too. This person must be a tough nut to crack."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the sky screen and muttered: "People of my Great Ming should be like this."

The Ming Dynasty, Yongle plane.

As soon as the poem appeared on the sky screen, Zhu Gaoxu shouted out:

"This poem is written well! 'I fear not being crushed to powder'—just like me fighting in battles!"

Zhu Di glared at him: "Shut up. He is writing about his own integrity, not about fighting in battles."

Zhu Gaoxu sheepishly shut his mouth.

Zhu Gaochi said slowly: "Father, I actually think that the word 'purity' in this poem is the hardest thing to achieve."

Zhu Di nodded: "The eldest is right. Purity is harder than anything else."

The Qing Dynasty, Qianlong plane.

Qianlong stood outside the Qianqing Palace, with Heshen accompanying him.

As soon as the poem appeared on the sky screen, Qianlong's eyes lit up.

"A good poem! What a great line, 'so long as I leave my purity in the world'! I have also written many poems, but I really haven't written a sentence like this."

Heshen hurriedly said: "Your Majesty is being modest. Your Majesty's poems are eternal masterpieces; how can this Yu Qian's poem compare to yours?"

Qianlong nodded with satisfaction, but his eyes remained fixed on the sky screen.

He had learned his lesson now and didn't dare to speak recklessly.

If another lightning bolt came, his old bones wouldn't be able to take it.

The Three Kingdoms plane, Cao Wei.

Cao Cao stood on the city tower of Yecheng, accompanied by Cao Pi, Cao Zhi, Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, and others.

The poem on the sky screen slowly appeared; Cao Cao read it once and was silent for a moment.

"A good poem."

Cao Zhi nodded: "Father, I admire the integrity in this poem."

Cao Cao looked at him: "Can you write such a poem?"

Cao Zhi thought for a moment: "I... cannot write it."

Cao Cao sighed: "People who can write such poems are all unafraid of death. Zhi'er, your life has been too smooth; you cannot write it."

Cao Pi didn't speak on the side, but his eyes were fixed on the sky screen, deep in thought.

Xiahou Dun scratched his head: "Prime Minister, who is this Yu Qian?"

Cao Cao shook his head: "I don't know. He should be a person of later generations."

Zhang Liao said softly: "Listening to this poem, this person must be upright and unyielding."

Cao Cao nodded: "Wenyuan is right. Such a person is either a famous official for all ages or a wronged soul for all ages."

The Three Kingdoms plane, Shu Han.

Liu Bei stood on the city tower of Chengdu with Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun.

As soon as the poem appeared on the sky screen, Zhang Fei shouted out:

"This poem is written well! 'I fear not being crushed to powder'—just like me, old Zhang!"

Guan Yu glared at him: "That is fighting in battles; this person is an official. Can they be the same?"

Zhang Fei was unconvinced: "So what if he's an official? I, old Zhang, am not afraid of death when I'm an official either!"

Liu Bei shook his head helplessly.

Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan and said slowly:

"My Lord, if this person is an official and can write such integrity in a poem, he must be an honest official."

Liu Bei nodded: "The strategist is right. A person who can write 'so long as I leave my purity in the world' will never be corrupt or break the law."

Guan Yu stroked his beard and said: "I respect such a person."

Zhao Yun said softly: "I just don't know if he can truly leave his purity in the world throughout his life."

The Three Kingdoms plane, Eastern Wu.

The poem on the sky screen slowly appeared; Sun Quan read it once, deep in thought.

"A thousand hammerings and ten thousand strikes, burning in fierce fire... is this talking about lime, or about life?"

Zhou Yu said softly: "My Lord, this person is using lime as a metaphor for himself. No matter how many hardships he experiences, he must maintain his purity."

Sun Quan nodded: "Gongjin is right. This person is a man of backbone."

Lu Su sighed: "I just don't know if he can truly achieve that in his life."

Zhang Zhao snorted: "How many people can actually achieve that?"

Lu Xun said softly: "Those who can achieve it are heroes."