Chapter 333: Not Bending One

The scene on the celestial screen switches to the court of the late Eastern Jin—

In the foul, smoky court, the powerful schemed and plotted, forming cliques for personal gain, while scholars of humble origin bowed low and flattered.

The scene shifts to the war‑torn north, where the populace is displaced and mournful cries fill the fields.

【Era Background: Late Eastern Jin, the great division of the Wei‑Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties, with a weak imperial authority, aristocratic dominance, and frequent wars.

The court is rotten and dim; the powerful form cliques for selfish ends, and corruption runs rampant.

Men of humble origin have no foothold; to become officials they must flatter and go along with the corrupt.

In chaotic times, literati either attach themselves to the powerful and become dependents, or drift with the current to survive; few can keep their true hearts and preserve their integrity.】

Cao Cao's barrage floated out first—

【Barrage·Three Kingdoms·Cao Cao】

Late Eastern Jin?

That was more than a hundred years after my death.

Yet this description of the court sounds so familiar to me, the Prime Minister.

Wasn't the late Eastern Han the same?

Aristocratic dominance, a corrupt court, and loyal ministers and capable generals have no place.

I, the Prime Minister, deeply understand that.

【Barrage·Three Kingdoms·Liu Bei】

Cao Mengde is right.

When Liu Bei was young he wove mats and sold shoes, knowing the people's hardships.

In such chaotic times, those who can keep their true hearts are indeed rare.

【Barrage·Three Kingdoms·Sun Quan】

I am indeed curious how Tao Yuanming survived in such chaotic times.

Not aligning with the powerful, not flattering—what did he rely on to live?

Zhuge Liang slowly sent a barrage—

【Barrage·Three Kingdoms·Zhuge Liang】

Replying to Sun Zhongmou, I think Tao Yuanming relied on the words "retreat into seclusion."

He did not go along with worldly corruption, did not join court disputes, found a pure place, farmed for himself, and found contentment in poverty.

This is a way out for literati in chaotic times.

Great Tang, the tenth year of Zhenguan.

In the pavilion, Ying Zheng watches the barrages and suddenly says, "Did this person never think of changing this chaotic world?"

Gu Shanhe replies, "Your Majesty the First Emperor, Tao Yuanming did think about it."

"In his youth he also had ambitions to aid the world and bring peace to the people, and he even entered official service."

"But he soon discovered that in that era, trying to change the situation by his own power was almost impossible."

"He refused to go along with corruption, yet was unwilling to drift with the tide, and finally chose seclusion."

Ying Zheng is silent for a moment, then says, "One who knows the times is a true hero."

Liu Bang, unusually serious, says, "I think not everyone must achieve great deeds."

"Some are suited to conquering the world, some to governing it, some to writing poems and essays for posterity."

"Tao Yuanming is the latter."

Liu Che nods, "Your Highness Gaozu is right."

"If everyone strives for great deeds, who will record this era?"

"Who will leave spiritual wealth for future generations?"

【Era Gap: Until now, the literary world has praised court, frontier, and abstruse language, lacking a dedicated poetic system that depicts pastoral life and simple hearts.】

Li Shimin sees this line, thoughtful,

"So before Tao Yuanming, no one specifically wrote about pastoral life?"

Gu Shanhe nods, "Exactly."

"During the Wei‑Jin period, the poetry scene favored Xuan Yan poetry, discussing abstruse doctrines; the diction is ornate but the content hollow."

"Tao Yuanming founded the pastoral poetry school, pulling poetry from the heavens back to the human world, from abstraction back to life."

"This is a major revolution in the history of Chinese poetry."

The scene on the celestial screen changes again, showing a middle‑aged scholar sitting in an office, his expression solemn.

Outside the window comes a rapid knocking; a junior clerk rushes in, saying the inspector is arriving and he must dress neatly and receive him respectfully.

The middle‑aged scholar remains silent for a moment, then slowly speaks:

"I cannot bend my waist for five dou of rice; I will not pander to petty villagers!"

Having said that, he removes his official seal, takes off his robe, and walks out of the office without looking back.

【A timeless choice, resigning to return to the fields: When appointed magistrate of Pengze County, he refused to meet the inspector or bow to the powerful, citing the line "I will not bend my waist for five dou of rice to the petty villagers," and resolutely quit office, fully leaving the official world.】

In the pavilion, everyone fell silent.

"I will not bend my waist for five dou of rice..."

Li Shimin repeats the phrase, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

"This sentence carries too much weight."

Wei Zheng strokes his beard and says slowly, "Five dou of rice is the salary of a county magistrate."

"To earn that salary one must bow, perform rituals, and flatter? Tao Yuanming thought it unworthy."

"It's not the money that's worthless, it's his dignity that is priceless."

Fang Xuanling nodded: "These words have become a motto for later scholars to uphold their integrity."

"A thousand years later, people still use this phrase to warn themselves."

Liu Che sighed: "If my Great Han had more people like this, perhaps it would not have …"

He did not continue, but everyone understood.

Liu Bei's barrage floated out—

【Barrage·Three Kingdoms·Liu Bei】

Not bowing for five dou of rice! Good!

Liu Bei has spent his life in turmoil, yet never bowed his head to the powerful.

Tao Yuanming's act deeply wins my heart!

【Barrage·Three Kingdoms·Guan Yu】

Elder brother is right.

One should have pride, better to stay poor and keep integrity than to bow and flatter the powerful.

Tao Yuanming, truly a gentleman!

【Barrage·Three Kingdoms·Zhang Fei】

Elder brother and second brother are both right!

If serving as an official feels uncomfortable, just go home and farm, how refreshing!

Old Zhang hates those slick, boot‑licking petty men the most!

【Barrage·Three Kingdoms·Cao Cao】

Yun Chang, Yi De, the three of you really have resonance.

However, I will also speak fairly—Tao Yuanming's choice shows backbone, but it may not be the only correct path.

Staying in the officialdom, even if one cannot change everything, at least one can do some practical deeds for the people.

【Barrage·Three Kingdoms·Zhuge Liang】

Mengde's words also have reason.

But each person has their own aspirations; Tao Yuanming chose a path that matches his true heart. This is not avoidance, it is clarity.

Zhuge Liang's words received many likes.

The barrage on the sky instantly flooded the screen—

【Barrage·Tang Dynasty·Li Bai】

How could I crush my brows and bow to the powerful, depriving me of a happy face!

Tao Gong, Taibai, you share the same heart!

【Barrage·Song Dynasty·Su Shi】

Tao Yuanming's aspiration, a model for us.

Every time I read "Returning Home", my heart feels at peace.

【Barrage·Ming Dynasty·Yu Qian】

Even if my body is pulverized and bones shattered, I am not afraid; I want to keep my integrity among the world.

The style of Tao Gong, we should learn!

【Barrage·Modern Netizen】

The forefather of bare resignations!

First person to reject workplace PUA!

Tao Yuanming yyds!

……

On the sky, the scene switches to a tranquil countryside.

Tao Yuanming, wearing coarse cloth, tills the fields.

He goes out to work when the sun rises and returns home to rest when it sets.

His house, though simple, has bright windows and tidy floors;

His meals, though simple, are eaten with peace of mind.

His five children play nearby, and his wife weaves cloth inside the house.

Life, though poor, is filled with the warmth of everyday life.

【Self‑cultivating the southern hills, living a modest life: after retreating, personally farming, staying away from court turmoil, working at sunrise, resting at sunset, placing body and mind in the countryside's simple joys.】

The sky displays Tao Yuanming's most famous poem—

【"Returning to the Garden Farm – Part Three"】

Planting beans below the southern mountain, the grass is lush while bean sprouts are sparse.

Rising at dawn to clear the wasteland, returning with the moon bearing a hoe.

The path is narrow, grass and trees grow tall, evening dew dampens my clothes.

Clothes stained, not a pity, as long as my wishes remain uncontradicted.

In the cool pavilion, everyone savors the poem.

Liu Che was the first to speak: "Planting beans below the southern mountain, the grass is lush while bean sprouts are sparse—this… his farming skill seems off, doesn't it? The grass is more vigorous than the bean sprouts?"

Liu Xiu couldn't help laughing: "Your Majesty the Wu Emperor, the point you focus on is indeed… unique."

"But the point of this poem is not the farming skill, but 'rising at dawn to clear the wasteland, returning with the moon bearing the hoe'—"

"Going out to work in the morning, returning only when the moon appears."

"Although it is physical labor, he does it with great peace of mind."

Li Shimin nodded, "The last two lines are the finishing touch—'Clothes getting wet is not worth lamenting, as long as one's wishes are not violated.'"

"Clothes getting wet is no cause for regret, as long as one does not betray one's true heart."

"What he cares about is not how many beans he has planted, but whether he has become the person he wants to be."