Chapter 343: Ranking the Ten Great Poets in History, Number Four—Ancestor of Chu Ci, Qu Yuan!

Villa living room, all lights off.

A hundred-inch projection screen hung on the wall, the scene frozen at the moment a hovercar flew over a skyscraper.

On the sofa, the five emperors sat in a row, each holding a bucket of popcorn, eyes fixed on the screen.

Gu Shanhe curled up in the single sofa next to him, boredly scrolling through his phone.

He had already watched this movie three times and really couldn't get interested.

"This building is higher than my Epang Palace."

Ying Zheng stared at the skyscraper in the scene and said expressionlessly.

Liu Bang stuffed his mouth with popcorn and said vaguely: "Brother Zheng, you didn't finish building that Epang Palace, can it compare?"

Ying Zheng looked at him coldly.

Liu Bang shrank his neck and continued to eat popcorn.

Liu Che pointed to the flying car on the screen: "If my Great Han had this stuff, would the cavalry still need to raise horses?"

Liu Xiu whispered: "Martial Ancestor, this stuff burns oil, where are you going to find oil?"

Liu Che thought about it and felt it made sense, so he didn't speak.

Li Shimin watched most seriously, nodding while watching: "This movie is about the future world."

"I think some things are not much different from the Zhenguan period—there are good people, bad people, power struggles, and wars. It's just that the tools are different."

Gu Shanhe looked up at Li Shimin—

As expected of the Emperor Taizong of Tang, he could see political philosophy in a sci-fi movie.

Just then, the sky screen lit up.

Golden light poured down from the dome, passed through the villa's ceiling, and directly illuminated the entire living room.

The scene on the projection screen was instantly washed out, and the hovercar and skyscraper disappeared into a golden light.

"It's here!"

Liu Bang was the first to throw away the popcorn bucket and stand up to the window.

Ying Zheng put down the popcorn in his hand—the movement was light, but everyone noticed.

The First Emperor's attention to the sky screen was getting higher and higher.

Liu Che and Liu Xiu also walked to the window, and the five stood side by side.

Gu Shanhe turned off the projector and walked behind them.

On the sky screen, golden light flowed, and a setting poem slowly emerged—

【Holding jade and virtue, the soul of the Chu land, a heart of loyalty shines through the universe.】

【The *Li Sao* has been elegant for a thousand years, not failing the common people, not failing the monarch.】

Li Shimin recited it once and frowned: "Chu land? Warring States period?"

Gu Shanhe nodded: "Earlier than all of you. Mid-to-late Warring States, Chu State."

Liu Bang's eyes lit up: "Before my Great Han? That's my predecessor!"

Liu Che ignored him and stared at the sky screen: "This aura, tragic."

"Unlike the previous poets' unrestrained or leisurely style."

The sky screen's loud broadcast sounded, piercing through ancient and modern times—

【Today's ranking, Ten Great Poets in Chinese History, Number Four—Ancestor of Chu Ci, Qu Yuan!】

The living room was quiet for a moment.

Liu Bang scratched his head: "Qu Yuan? I've heard of him, the one who jumped into the river?"

Liu Che held his forehead: "Your Majesty, can you not be so vulgar? That was sacrificing one's life for the country."

Liu Xiu added: "The origin of the Dragon Boat Festival is to commemorate him."

Gu Shanhe said with a smile: "That's right."

"More than two thousand years later, Chinese people are still commemorating him."

The comments flooded the screen—

【Comment from a modern netizen】: Qu Yuan!!! Finally waited for you!!!

【Comment from a Song Dynasty netizen】: Originator of Chu Ci, soul of Chinese poetry!

【Comment from a primary school student】: We have *Li Sao* in our textbooks! Although I can't memorize it all...

【Comment from a foodie netizen】: Thank you, Mr. Qu Yuan, for contributing the Zongzi Festival!

On the sky screen, the scene unfolded.

Not the Chang'an of the prosperous Tang, not the Southern Mountains of the Eastern Jin, but the territory of the Chu State during the Warring States period—

Vast land, surging rivers, dense forests, and those towering palaces.

In the scene, a young man in Chu clothing stood by the river, looking into the distance.

His belt was blown by the wind, and the whole person was like a sword out of its sheath.

【Basic profile of the figure】

【Name: Mi Ping, courtesy name Yuan, known to the world as Qu Yuan】

【Identity: Chu State noble of the Warring States, politician, China's first epoch-making great poet, originator of the romantic poetic soul】

【Traits: Lifelong purity, unyielding, loyal to the monarch and patriotic, talent surpassing the pre-Qin period】

Liu Che recited the words "China's first epoch-making great poet" and asked: "First? What about Du Fu, Li Bai, and the others?"

Gu Shanhe explained: "Your Majesty, before Qu Yuan, most pre-Qin poetry was collective creation, such as the *Classic of Poetry*, without clear authors."

"Qu Yuan is the first poet in Chinese history with a name, a complete collection of works, and independent thought. He is the starting point of the concept of 'poet'."

Liu Xiu gasped: "In other words, before him, there was no word 'poet'?"

Gu Shanhe nodded: "You can understand it that way."

"Qu Yuan defined what a poet is—not someone who only knows how to write poetry, but someone who uses poetry to express thoughts, integrity, and ideals."

Ying Zheng suddenly spoke: "What did he write?"

Gu Shanhe hadn't had time to answer when the sky screen gave the answer.

【Qu Yuan's era: Mid-to-late Warring States period, seven heroes competing for hegemony.】

【Chu State had vast territory and the potential to unify the south, but because the monarch was dim-witted and treacherous officials were in power, it gradually declined.】

【The states reformed to become strong, but only Chu's reform stalled, internal and external troubles, on the verge of destruction.】

The scene switched—

In the court, a group of nobles in expensive clothes surrounded the King of Chu, whispering.

Their eyes looking at Qu Yuan were like looking at an intruder.

Liu Bang said seriously for once: "I understand now, this person wanted to reform, but offended the powerful, just like Shang Yang."

Liu Che nodded: "Shang Yang reformed, Qin became strong; Chu didn't reform, Chu became weak."

"Qu Yuan saw the problem, but no one listened to him."

Liu Xiu sighed: "The most painful thing is not seeing the problem, but seeing the problem and being unable to do anything."

Li Shimin stared at the sky screen: "And, he refused to leave."

"If it were someone else, the monarch wouldn't listen, and they would have left long ago."

Cao Cao's comment drifted out—

【Comment from Cao Cao, Three Kingdoms】

Good birds choose trees to perch on, wise ministers choose masters to serve.

This is the truth of the world.

But Qu Yuan wouldn't.

The monarch wouldn't listen, so he waited;

If he couldn't wait, he wrote poetry;

If poetry was useless, he jumped into the river.

I, Cao Cao, don't understand this obsession, but I respect him.

【Comment from Liu Bei, Three Kingdoms】

Mengde, of course you don't understand.

Because you only choose monarchs who can achieve your hegemony.

Qu Yuan chose his homeland; no matter how good or bad the homeland was to him, he wouldn't leave.

This is "loyalty."

【Comment from Sun Quan, Three Kingdoms】

Liu Bei is right.

Loyalty is divided into two types: loyalty to the monarch and loyalty to the country.

People loyal to the monarch change when the monarch dies;

People loyal to the country die when the country is gone.

Qu Yuan is the second type.

【Comment from Zhuge Liang, Three Kingdoms】

Zhongmou's words, I deeply agree.

Qu Yuan's loyalty was not to the King of Chu, but to the Chu State and the people of Chu.

So he would rather die than leave.

On the sky screen, the scene switched.

Qu Yuan walked alone by the river, holding a bunch of orchids in his hand.

The river wind was hunting, his robes fluttering, but his waist was straight.

In the distance, dark clouds pressed down, as if to swallow everything. ===== CHAPTER 344 =====