Chapter 319

"He said he was untalented, so he was abandoned by the brilliant master; this both acknowledges the emperor's brilliance and expresses his own frustration," Liu Xiu continued.

"If Emperor Xuanzong of Tang could have been more tolerant at the time, perhaps history would have been rewritten."

Li Shimin had not spoken, and after everyone had finished, he slowly spoke:

"I actually think that Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's reaction at the time cannot be said to be entirely wrong."

"As an emperor, hearing a subject say such things as 'the brilliant master abandons' to his face, no one would be happy."

"But..."

He paused, his gaze looking at the portrait of Meng Haoran on the sky screen, his tone filled with a hint of regret.

"But I regret even more that this Meng Haoran could have become a famous minister of a generation, but ruined his future because of one sentence."

"This is not only his misfortune, but also the misfortune of my Great Tang."

Gu Shanhe heard this and secretly gave Li Shimin a thumbs up—this is the breadth of mind a wise monarch should have.

The bullet comments became active again—

【Bullet Comment · Tang Dynasty Netizen】: The opportunity to meet the emperor was wasted just like that! Heartbroken!

【Bullet Comment · Song Dynasty Netizen】: The brilliant master abandons the untalented... these words were too blunt; if it were me, I wouldn't dare to say that.

【Bullet Comment · Modern Netizen】: Isn't this like telling the interviewer during an interview, "It's your loss if your company doesn't want me"?

A scene of social death.

【Bullet Comment · Onlookers】

Meng Haoran: I don't know how to speak, but I am very good at writing poetry.

The scene on the sky screen changed again,

Meng Haoran's figure appeared among the landscapes of Wu and Yue—

He was riding a small boat, moving leisurely on the river;

He was staying overnight by the Jiande River, staring blankly at the river moon;

He was drinking and talking in an old friend's manor, discussing poetry and literature...

【The sky screen began to recount Meng Haoran's life achievements】

【1. Status in the poetry scene: Founder of the landscape and pastoral poetry of the Prosperous Tang, vigorously creating five-character landscape poems, opening a clear and natural poetic style, influencing later generations for a thousand years.】

【2. Literary style: The poems are not deliberately carved, the language is simple and straightforward, the artistic conception is ethereal and distant, he is good at capturing the beauty of the landscape and pastoral life, the scenery is fresh, and the expression of emotion is sincere.】

【3. Influence on later generations: Li Bai highly admired him, writing "I love Master Meng, his romantic spirit is known throughout the world";

Du Fu praised him, saying "Every line of his clear poetry is worth passing down";

The "Theory of Divine Charm" of the Qing Dynasty took his poetry as a model.】

【4. Contribution to the school: Together with Wang Wei, he laid the foundation for the landscape and pastoral poetry school, becoming an important school of Tang poetry.】

The sky screen immediately showed Meng Haoran's representative poems—

【"Spring Dawn"

In spring, I sleep and do not realize the dawn, everywhere I hear birds chirping.

The sound of wind and rain came in the night, who knows how many flowers have fallen.】

Once this poem appeared, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly changed.

It was not because this poem was stunning; on the contrary, it was because this poem was too simple, simple enough that even a three-year-old child could understand it.

But it was precisely this simplicity that made everyone present fall silent.

"... Just this?"

Liu Bang widened his eyes. "Just these four lines? Twenty characters? And this makes him one of the top ten poets?"

Liu Che also showed an expression of incomprehension.

"I admit that this poem is comfortable to read, catchy, but... just this simple?"

"No gorgeous rhetoric, no profound philosophy, just writing about waking up from sleep, hearing birds chirping, and thinking about the flowers blown down by the wind and rain last night? This..."

Liu Xiu savored it for a moment and said slowly, "I actually think the beauty of this poem lies precisely in its simplicity."

"'In spring, I sleep and do not realize the dawn'—who hasn't had the experience of sleeping soundly in spring and not wanting to get up?"

"'Everywhere I hear birds chirping'—who hasn't been awakened by birds chirping in the early morning?"

"'The sound of wind and rain came in the night, who knows how many flowers have fallen'—who hasn't thought about the wind and rain of the previous night after waking up, worrying about how many flowers outside the window have fallen?"

"These are the most ordinary life experiences, but Meng Haoran wrote them into a poem, written so naturally, so movingly. This is true skill."

Wei Zheng clapped his hands in admiration. "What His Majesty Guangwu said is well put!"

"When I was young and read the 'Book of Songs,' I always felt that lines like 'Guan-guan go the ospreys, on the islet in the river' were simple, yet they have been passed down for thousands of years."

"Why? Because it writes about human nature, and it doesn't need gorgeous rhetoric to move people's hearts."

"Meng Haoran's 'Spring Dawn' inherits this tradition of the 'Book of Songs'."

Fang Xuanling also nodded. "Seemingly plain, but actually the ultimate taste. This is a master."

Li Shimin recited it once, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth:

"Reading this poem, I feel as if I am in the early morning of a spring day, hearing the birds chirping and seeing the fallen flowers."

"This feeling is hard to describe in words, but Meng Haoran did it in twenty characters."

Ying Zheng was silent for a long time and suddenly spoke: "My Qin land also has spring."

These words were spoken without head or tail, but everyone present understood—

The First Emperor was expressing his approval of this poem in his own way.

Liu Bang laughed. "First Emperor, are you admitting that this poem is good?"

Ying Zheng was expressionless. "I am just stating a fact."

Gu Shanhe sighed inwardly:

To be able to make the First Emperor say something like "stating a fact," Meng Haoran's poem is indeed powerful.

Another poem appeared on the sky screen—

【"Visiting an Old Friend's Farm

An old friend prepares chicken and millet, inviting me to his farm.

Green trees encircle the village, blue mountains slant outside the city walls.

Opening the window to face the threshing floor and vegetable garden, holding wine and talking about mulberry and hemp.

Waiting for the Double Ninth Festival, I will come again to enjoy the chrysanthemums."】

"This one is also good!"

Ying Zheng's eyes lit up. "'Green trees encircle the village, blue mountains slant outside the city walls'—"

"This sense of imagery is too strong; I feel as if I have seen that village, seen the green trees by the village and the blue mountains in the distance."

Liu Xiu continued: "'Opening the window to face the threshing floor and vegetable garden, holding wine and talking about mulberry and hemp'—"

"Sitting in front of the window, facing the threshing floor and vegetable garden, drinking wine while talking about farm work."

"This kind of pastoral life, although simple, has an indescribable comfort."

Li Shimin was even more filled with emotion. "Reading this poem, I actually envy this Meng Haoran a little."

"Although he didn't become an official, he had friends he could truly interact with, landscapes he could enjoy, and a free and easy life."

"Such days are not necessarily worse than the backstabbing in the imperial court."

Zhangsun Wuji smiled. "Has Your Majesty developed a desire to live in seclusion?"

Li Shimin waved his hand. "I am an emperor; how can there be any reason to live in seclusion?"

"But I do hope that the scholars and poets of my Great Tang can all live as freely and easily as Meng Haoran."

The bullet comments became lively again—

【Bullet Comment · Tang Dynasty Netizen】

I have been able to recite "Spring Dawn" since I was a child; I didn't expect it to be a work of the top ten poet level!

【Bullet Comment · Song Dynasty Netizen】

Finding true taste in plainness, Meng Haoran's poetry becomes more flavorful the more you savor it.

【Bullet Comment · Ming Dynasty Netizen】

Someone even Li Bai admired, how bad could he be?

【Bullet Comment · Modern Netizen】

When I was a child, I thought "Spring Dawn" was too simple, but after growing up, I realized this poem is truly awesome.

【Bullet Comment · Onlookers】

Meng Haoran: My poetry doesn't show off skills, but none of you can write it.