Chapter 151: Poetic Critique of the Heroes of the World

This moment.

The gazes of everyone in the hall became meaningful once again.

Among those seated today, the one with the highest status and the greatest power was undoubtedly the Prince of Wei before them.

By rights, he should be praised; if he were praised, no one would look down on Liu Zheng. But how to praise him—that was a delicate matter.

Praising him the way you praised the Crown Prince would clearly not do.

First of all, the Prince of Wei would absolutely not dare to be compared to "the heavens," as that involved the question of whether it was treasonous.

Secondly, the Prince of Wei dominates the world and is a hero of his time; faint praise that is actually criticism would also be inappropriate.

But how to express this praise exquisitely through poetry—that truly tested a person's ability.

"Come, speak freely. I am still quite magnanimous, haha! Today everyone is tipsy; poetry is just for amusement. No matter what poem or lyrics Prefecture Governor Liu composes, it shall be considered guiltless. After we are drunk, no one is allowed to hold it against you. How about that?"

The Prince of Wei laughed heartily, raised a wine goblet, and drained it completely.

The crowd agreed one after another, loudly praising the Prince of Wei's immense capacity for drink.

Liu Zheng smiled slightly: "In my drunkenness, I trim the lamp to examine my sword, dreaming of the sound of horns in the connected camps. Eight hundred miles under my command, the meat is roasted; fifty strings play the music of the frontier, the autumn battlefield gathers the troops. The horse, like the Dilu, flies fast; the bowstring twangs like a thunderbolt. To fulfill the sovereign's affairs of the world, to win a name before and after death. Alas, the white hair grows!"

The crowd clicked their tongues in wonder, shouting that it was a good poem.

The Prince of Wei was also slightly moved upon hearing it.

Although this poem could not be called grand and imposing, it was filled with heroic spirit. The Prince of Wei was able to become the number one prince of a different surname in the Longyan Dynasty by relying on his military merits. Because behind Qingzhou lay the Qiang! During the struggle for Xie Tianyao to inherit the throne, it was the Prince of Wei who, by his own strength, blocked the invasion of the Qiang.

Only then was Xie Tianyao able to successfully seize the succession and ascend the throne.

The old emperor, mindful of the Prince of Wei's great merits, invited him to the Lingyan Pavilion and enfeoffed him as a prince of a different surname.

Recalling those glorious years of gathering troops on the battlefield, the Prince of Wei could not help but feel his eyes turn red. With one hand holding his wine goblet and the other rhythmically patting his thigh, he laughed heartily: "To fulfill the sovereign's affairs of the world, to win a name before and after death. Alas, the white hair grows!"

"Good!"

"What a 'Alas, the white hair grows'!"

At this time, the Prince of Wei was already an old man nearing sixty, plagued by head ailments and recurring old wounds, suffering from pain so unbearable that he often could not sleep at night. Whenever he thought of this, he often felt nostalgic for his youth, when he was lighthearted and high-spirited.

This line from Liu Zheng, "Alas, the white hair grows," although it did not shy away from the fact of the Prince of Wei's old age, was slightly offensive.

But this final line was actually the finishing touch of the poem.

It exhausted the description of the Prince of Wei's lifelong struggles for the Longyan Dynasty, residing in the high position of the Lingyan Pavilion, which recorded the great men of the Longyan Dynasty—it was worthy of song and tears.

"Good!"

"Prefecture Governor Liu, you are truly overflowing with talent!"

The crowd offered their congratulations one after another.

The Third Prince, Xie Ling, smiled and said: "Prefecture Governor Liu, what about me?"

Liu Zheng looked over with a smile and said softly: "Why does a man not carry a Wu hook, to capture the fifty states of the mountain passes? I invite you to briefly ascend the Lingyan Pavilion; which scholar among you is a Wanhu Marquis?"

The whole hall was in an uproar.

The Third Prince, Xie Ling's expression changed slightly.

If the one just now for the Crown Prince was still faint praise that was actually criticism, this one was naked humiliation!

Liu Zheng compared the Third Prince to a "scholar," meaning he coveted the prosperity of Jinghua, did not think of making progress, and only knew how to scheme against others, yet did not know how to go to the battlefield to kill the enemy. The Crown Prince was of the Eastern Palace and could not join the army, so that could be justified, but you, a mere prince, why could you not go and build merit?

You were not even as good as the Second Prince, who had been stationed at the frontier for years!

You indulged yourself in the lap of luxury in Jinghua every day; what kind of great man could you become, and what great achievements could you build?

"Good! Hahahaha, good!"

Xie Fang could not stop laughing.

Xie Ling snorted coldly and flicked his sleeves in displeasure.

"Me, me, me, what about me!"

The Prince of Lu jumped out.

Liu Zheng glanced at him: "In the Wu palace, night after night of dance and song; how can one use sentimentality to govern a country? The day the Yue armor trampled Gusu, ashamed to see the son-in-law at the East Gate!"

"This, this, this..."

The Prince of Lu was drenched in sweat and glared fiercely at Liu Zheng.

The crowd roared with laughter.

This poem was written about the Prince of Lu, who was content to remain in a corner, indulging in song and dance every night, warning him to be careful of others trampling through his city gates, and that he would do well to strive for governance.

The Prince of Wei laughed until he was doubled over: "Prince of Lu, why don't you hurry and thank Prefecture Governor Liu for his guidance?"

The Prince of Lu snorted coldly. He was, after all, a prince of the second rank; although he could not compare to the Prince of Wei, he was the emperor's own brother. To make him thank a junior was something he could not bring himself to do.

"Then what about the Prince of Yong?"

The crowd started clamoring again.

Liu Zheng continued.

"Walking ten miles in the cold night, carrying a bundle of clothes, throwing away the poetry bag. The weather is cold, the road is slippery, the horse's hooves are stiff; it is the Prince of Yong, coming to send off the young Xie. Drunk and flushed, talking of literature. Startling the neighbor's wall, knocking over the folding bed. Bystanders clap and laugh at the eccentricity. What does it matter if one is eccentric? What does it matter if one is wild?"

The Prince of Yong's expression changed drastically.

A flash of light appeared in the Prince of Wei's eyes.

When this Prince of Yong was young, he was also extremely famous for his talent, but later he seemed to begin to degenerate, coveting enjoyment...

In reality, that land of Hanzhong was a thoroughfare for several prefectures, a place that military strategists must fight for.

The Prince of Yong lived in the cracks, which was already not easy. If he were too sharp and exposed, he would surely be beaten by others joining forces. He could only throw away his clothes bundle, drop his poetry bag, and slowly change from a high-spirited young man into a muddled prince who went everywhere fawning and begging for mercy...

This poem was originally a gift between friends.

After being slightly modified by Liu Zheng, it became a muddled Prince of Yong, bidding farewell to his own youthful lightheartedness and wildness...

The last line, "What does it matter if one is eccentric? What does it matter if one is wild?" even more vividly and aptly described the changes in the Prince of Yong's state of mind over these years.

Life is helpless; even if one bears the title of the imperial family, what can one do?

"Good!"

"Good poem!"

"The Prince of Yong has had it hard all these years..."

"Indeed!"

The Prince of Yong bowed deeply and remained silent.

"What about me? What about me?"

At this, everyone became curious.

"In youth, I sleep to the sound of the rooster; in old age, I wake to its call. People of all ages and generations are worn away within those few sounds!"

"And what about the Prince of Shu?"

"A pure and wondrous gate is the Zen barrier; it is a waste of gold to go buy a mountain. As long as the heart's light is like the full moon, staying at home is more leisurely than becoming a monk."

"Good!"

"What about General Zheng?"

"Hardship and fortune began with one classic; the spears and shields have been sparse for four years. The mountains and rivers are shattered, like willow catkins drifting in the wind; my life and status drift and sink like duckweed in the rain. At Frightened Beach, I speak of my fright; in the Sea of Loneliness, I sigh at my loneliness. Since ancient times, who has ever escaped death? I shall leave behind a loyal heart to shine in the annals of history!"

The atmosphere in the hall was enthusiastic, with people exchanging toasts.

Liu Zheng made a round, but he didn't drink a single cup of wine.

Finally, when he encountered Chen Ping and the Baiya Inspector Zhang Chengjiang, he laughed heartily, raised two cups in succession to show his contempt, and then strode away.

"This..."

"Too much!"

"Extremely arrogant!"

The faces of Chen Ping and Zhang Chengjiang both turned the color of pig liver.

"Hahahaha, satisfying, truly satisfying!"

On the way back to their lodging, the three men from the Baiya Army followed. Du Biao laughed with immense pleasure.

Yang Ke also couldn't help but praise Liu Zheng's talent.

Liu Zheng hadn't had time to converse much with the Great Leader Wei Shao, who had just returned today, but now he finally had the chance. The three of them returned to the Baiya Palace together. Wei Shao had someone bring a few bowls of hangover soup, then looked at Liu Zheng with a smile: "People say the Young Master is of great talent. At first, Wei Shao had his doubts, but seeing you today, I know the rumors are not false; they don't even capture a ten-thousandth of the Young Master's brilliance!"

Liu Zheng repeatedly claimed he dared not accept such praise.

Wei Shao looked sincere: "Young Master Liu led troops to support our Baiya Army with true and earnest feelings. It is inconvenient for Wei Shao to express his gratitude today; I hope the Young Master will be magnanimous!"

Saying this, he stood up tall and bowed to the very end.

Liu Zheng also hurriedly stood up and said with a bitter smile: "The Great Leader is too kind to this youngster. Although the Yinzhou army is present, looking at the city outside, the various armies are hindering one another, and Liu Zheng cannot be of much help."

Wei Shao laughed: "Life and death are fated; wealth and honor are in the hands of Heaven. That the Baiya Army is trapped is simply the law of nature; do not blame others. It is just that my brothers and I have been unable to break free."

Liu Zheng said: "The chaotic flowers are beginning to dazzle the eyes, only shallow grass can hide the horse's hooves. I love the east of the lake best, where I never tire of walking, along the white sand embankment in the shade of green willows. Being in such a position, how many can leave with ease?"

Wei Shao was stunned, then laughed loudly: "Good, good, what a 'chaotic flowers are beginning to dazzle the eyes'! Indeed, we brothers have truly been terrified by poverty. Who can resist the temptation of money coming in every day? Several times I wanted to put it all down, but several times I thought, let's make one more haul, just one more haul. Hahaha, I let Young Master Liu laugh at me!"

Liu Zheng smiled bitterly.

There was nothing to laugh at; since ancient times, who wasn't like this?

However, this Wei Shao's ease of manner truly carried a sense of the pugilistic world.

Liu Zheng smiled: "If you have the support of the Prince of Wei, you might be able to get through it."

Wei Shao mocked himself: "Since ancient times, when the crafty rabbit is dead, the hound is cooked; who can support whom? If the Baiya Army wants to protect itself, it can only rely on itself! Hahahaha!"

Liu Zheng, Yang Ke, and Du Biao exchanged glances.

Sure enough, this Wei Shao held that Account Book that everyone feared!

After chatting for a few moments, Liu Zheng and the others took their leave.

After walking a distance out the door, Yang Ke couldn't help but say: "Young Master, there is no time to lose. Once the War Horse Fair opens tomorrow, we can take action!"

Liu Zheng nodded: "Mr. Yang must provide me with two clever brothers who are familiar with the terrain."

Yang Ke immediately agreed: "That is no problem at all!"

The three of them agreed and went their separate ways.

Back in the room, Qin Zhangfeng, who had just been replaced by Jiang Xuan, stood up and said: "Young Master, this is what Jiang Xuan instructed me to give you!"

Liu Zheng took the note, looked closely, and was instantly shaken, standing up abruptly.

For a moment.

His eyes widened, he felt a chill run down his spine, and he hurriedly said: "Let's go, come out with me!"