Early Tang Dynasty: forge ahead

Chapter 326 The unity of literature and Taoism

But Shangguan Yi didn't expect it to come so quickly!

The speed of Chen Qingsi’s rise is also breathtaking.

I think he was famous all over the world at a young age. He was highly regarded by two generations of emperors and became a famous scholar. He often drafted edicts for the emperor and was sought after by scholars. The poems he wrote were even given the surname Shangguan, known as Shangguan style, and he was popular among scholars all over the world. People imitate.

Even so, it took more than ten years to reach his current status as the Minister of Zhongshu.

But that’s it, it’s already enviable.

But Chen Qingsi has only been serving as Minister of the Ministry of War for only three years. Although he is slightly inferior to his peers, he has been promoted to the core of the temple and is difficult to shake.

"Originally, I planned to give him an advantage in his official career, so that he would have scruples and not dare to act recklessly. By the time he matures, you and I will be old, and we will be like Xu Xiang today, no matter what happens after his death. But who can It's almost terrifying to think of how quickly he has been promoted, and it won't be long before he will be above you and me."

Hearing Shangguan Yi's heartfelt words, Xue Yuanchao lost his mind and said: "Sure enough, a woman's kindness has caused you and me to fall into such a forbidden place."

When Chen Qingsi came to Beijing, there were many people with ulterior motives who wanted to watch them fight.

Especially the noble families with five surnames in Guandong.

Shangguan Yi and Xue Yuanchao were both outstanding scholars with outstanding literary talents. The imperial court used their literary talents to win the respect of scholars when they were given high priority.

Compared with Chen Qingsi, who is a pure Han clan, Shangguan Yi and Xue Yuanchao are down-and-out nobles.

The ancestors of the Shangguan family in Shaanzhou and the Xue family in Hedong both had certain status. They had great talents and were supported by the court. They naturally became the leaders of the scholars in the capital, and many people gathered around them. Among them, the nobles of Kanto are indispensable...

Whether Chen Qingsi was a scholar from the south of the Yangtze River or a scholar from a poor family, he could not be ranked among the five surnames.

Therefore, when Chen Qingsi came to Beijing, many people were already instigating Shangguan Yi and Xue Yuanchao to attack Chen Qingsi.

Shangguan Yi ultimately rejected all suggestions...

At that time, many people said that they were benevolent women. This is exactly what Xue Yuanchao said at this moment.

At that time, Chen Qingsi was the best...

Shangguan Yi also felt some regret in his heart, but his eyes were clear again, and he shook his head and said: "Fu Chao must not think like this. After all, they and I are not the same people, and we must not lose the bottom line that a gentleman should have... "

This is also the attitude that Shangguan Yi has always adhered to. Matters in the literary world should be resolved in the literary world, rather than using other despicable means to achieve the goal by targeting Chen Qingsi.

Xue Yuanchao looked at Shangguan Yi and said in admiration: "Brother You Shao's gentleman's weapon is admirable. If I had a brother who was so open-minded, he wouldn't be so messed up."

Shangguan Yi said: "Isn't this like your usual self?"

Xue Yuanchao looked sad and said: "I am confused. Chen Shilang's words are too passionate, and I can't help but be moved by them. Can you imagine what the situation will be like in the Shilin now?"

Shangguan Yi was stunned, and then became more understanding.

In fact, Shangguan Yi recognized Chen Qingsi deep down in his heart. The emergence of Shangguan style was essentially a reform of the decadent Mi Mi music in the Southern Dynasties.

It's just that the reform was not thorough enough. It focused on the formal skills of poetry and pursued the rhetorical beauty of poetry. The original intention was still palace style poetry to serve the games of emperors and nobles.

But it is undeniable that there has been progress compared to those erotic words describing beauties in the Southern Dynasties.

Shangguan Yi has realized the change, but he just took a small step forward, while Chen Qingsi took a hundred steps.

Chen Qingsi directly bypassed the explorations of the Four Great Masters of the Early Tang Dynasty and laid the foundation for Chen Zi'ang, Liu Xiyi, and Zhang Ruoxu, directly showing the style of top literary figures such as Li Taibai, Cui Hao, and Han Yu, the poets of the prosperous Tang Dynasty.

The steps were too big for Shangguan Yi to adapt to, but it did not prevent him from understanding.

But he cannot say that he is the leader of palace poetry. If even he chooses to compromise, then he himself has no existence value.

Xue Yuanchao's situation is more serious than Shangguan Yi.

Shangguan Yi knows what he wants to do and what he wants to do, but Xue Yuanchao doesn't know his own definition or what he wants to do.

He entered Hongwen Hall to study at the age of eleven. After becoming an official, he also served as a bachelor of Hongwen Hall. He spent the twenty years of his life seeking knowledge in Hongwen Hall. He actively participated in the literary life of the court here, and was the main figure in the court music of Li Shimin and Li Zhi. Among the poets at that time, the most famous ones were Shangguan Yi and Li Yifu, and he was deeply influenced by them.

But in fact, Xue Yuanchao, Luo Binwang, Wang Bo, and Lu Zhaolin were from the same group, and they were all reformists in the literary world.

It's just that he failed to face himself...

Historically, he was demoted to Shu for ten years. Under specific circumstances, he completed self-sublimation and transcended Shangguan style poetry. He went one step further than Shangguan Yi and became an active supporter of poetry innovation.

The appearance of Chen Qingsi, facing the reform trend instigated by Chen Qingsi, made Xue Yuanchao feel justified, but at the same time he could not accept that he had learned a decadent culture in twenty years, which directly shattered Xue Yuanchao's "Taoist heart" and made him distrust himself. Serious doubts arose and I was completely confused.

Shangguan Yi said: "Perhaps the emergence of the Tang Dynasty style is the general trend, but I feel that the Shangguan style also has value and significance. The decadent music of the Southern Dynasties is certainly inappropriate, but who can deny the talents of Xu Xing, Yu Jianwu and Xu Ling ? Let future generations judge..."

At this moment, Shangguan Yi really felt as if he was born in a good state, but how could he be so bright?

Xue Yuanchao was still trapped in self-denial, somewhat unable to extricate himself.

**********

The Xu family's residence.

When Xu Jingzong returned home from duty, he saw his grandson Xu Yanbo waiting respectfully with a folded book in his hand. He nodded slightly and said, "Go to the study and talk!"

Xu Jingzong didn't know the details. He was on duty in the palace today and accompanied Li Zhi to handle affairs until he returned.

But his favorite grandson was waiting for him so much, and he knew something special had happened.

The grandfather and grandson came to the study.

Xu Yanbo presented the folded book in his hands with both hands and said: "This is what Chen Shilang said in the Imperial College today. Now most of Chang'an has been shaken by him."

When Xu Jingzong heard about Chen Qingsi, his eyes couldn't help but squint, and his slender white eyebrows were raised directly at the corners of his eyes.

"Did he make the move?"

Xu Jingzong's first reaction was that Chen Qingsi was not willing to let himself get the upper hand. He took the folded book and read it carefully:

My originally narrowed eyes looked at the sharp words on the folded book, but I couldn't help but slowly opened them and looked at them carefully: The article has been evil for five hundred years. The style of the Han and Wei Dynasties was cut off from the Jin and Song Dynasties. The poetry and prose of the Southern Dynasties between Qi and Liang were colorful and complex, but they overly pursued the gorgeousness of words and lacked the inner soul.

Articles are the great cause of governing the country, and they set the tone and reflect the aspirations. Scholars like us should speak truthfully and without fear, so how can we only pursue empty statements? Gorgeous rhetoric?

Chen Qingsi seems to have transformed into a keyboard warrior of later generations, criticizing the poetry of this era for its emphasis on form, empty content, and divorce from reality. It only pursues gorgeous rhetoric, without emotional sustenance, and has only literary grace but no content.

More than a thousand words are spoken eloquently and heartily.

But the most important thing is the last sentence.

"Liberal arts and principles should be integrated into one!"

Articles and principles should be integrated and coordinated with each other.

Articles should not only focus on the beauty and expressiveness of language, but also focus on conveying profound thoughts and concepts, so that readers can gain inspiration and understanding while appreciating the article.

"What a combination of literature and art!"

Xu Jingzong was so impressed.

It is true that Xu Jingzong is morally corrupt, but there is no denying that he is the most apex literary master of our time. It was also because of this that Xu Jingzong understood the lethality of the four words "integration of literature and Taoism" in this era.

In an instant, Xu Jingzong also understood Chen Qingsi's intentions, shook his head and said to himself: "This kid is amazing."

The news revealed by Empress Wu allowed him to successfully push Yuan Sijing out of his hand.

He knew Li Zhi very well. As long as he liked him and helped him solve problems, he would not be stingy with a minister of etiquette.

What's more, Yuan Sijing was carefully selected by him. His abilities and talents were all chosen at the moment, and he was not inferior to Gao Zhizhou. Therefore, he is sure that he can help Yuan Sijing ascend to power...

Unexpectedly, Chen Qingsi was not affected by him, but started a new chess game.

Guan Longxungui can no longer make waves, and will be merged into various places and become a part of Li Zhi's court.

Next, in addition to our own development, we will naturally suppress the five surnames of Guandong...

If the cultural reform launched by Chen Qingsi this time is successful, he will be able to become the leader of the scholarly community and gain power in the literary world from a humble family. This will undoubtedly be a major blow to the nobles of the five surnames who think highly of themselves.

This time, the situation made him come back.

Xu Yanbo looked at his grandfather who was full of praise and said with some hesitation: "What Shilang Chen said is indeed good, but will it affect my grandfather?"

Shangguan Yi is Shangguan style after all, but Xu Jingzong is the king of palace style poetry, and most of his body is invading palace style poetry.

There is no other reason: Li Shimin likes it.

Xu Jingzong engraved the word "Mei Shang" in his bones.

Xu Jingzong smiled and said: "You, Aye, are very old, and your thoughts have long been exhausted. What does it have to do with me? The ones who have a headache are Shangguan Yi and Xue Yuanchao. They are those who devoted half of their lives to learning the literary style of the Southern Dynasties in order to get higher positions."

Xu Jingzong is now both open-minded and stingy.

He doesn't care at all about this kind of false reputation that does not affect his own interests. As long as his core interests are not affected, everything is easy to talk about.

Especially for people like Chen Qingsi, Xu Jingzong is even more tolerant.

After all, he didn't know how many years he could live, so there was no need to be at odds with Chen Qingsi, the future pillar of the temple.

Xu Jingzong was about to give his grandson a few words when the steward's voice came from outside.

"Master Lang, Lang Jun, Chen Shilang's steward Jiang Chen personally sent an invitation letter, saying it was for Lang Jun. I think it is very important..."

Xu Jingzong motioned to Xu Yanbo to get it.

Xu Yanbo took the invitation from outside the study, opened it and looked at it carefully on the way back to the study. There was a bit of joy in his eyes, and he frowned slightly. He quickly handed the invitation to his grandfather and said, "Shilang Chen, what are you going to do?" Hold a poetry banquet and specially invite your grandchildren to attend.”

Xu Jingzong smiled knowingly and said, "Do you think you should go?"

Xu Yanbo hesitated for a moment and said, "My grandson is not sure. He wants to go, but he is afraid of causing trouble for Aye."

Xu Jingzong said: "Go ahead, silly boy, this is my good intention. It will be of great benefit to you in the future if you go and get some glory."

Xu Yanbo understood the implication of his grandfather's words and asked: "Aye is saying that Chen Shilang will succeed?"

Xu Jingzong said: "Definitely."

He said leisurely: "Whether it is palace style poetry or Shangguan style poetry, there is no chance of winning against the Tang style poetry."

"There are many reasons, but the core lies in two words: simplicity."

"As long as anyone knows how to write, and has a little bit of ink in his heart, he can compose poems and essays, no matter how good or bad they are. Gong style and Shangguan style are too complicated. In order to have gorgeous words, you must first have enough talent to learn to pile up words and know enough Allusions are needed to fill the content, and even a lot of fame is needed to create profound words that are recognized and convincing."

"Gong style and Shangguan style are popular among the nobles. It's not that no one promotes them, but that the vast majority of people can't write them, let alone write them well."

"The prosperous Tang Dynasty style does not have this shortcoming, just like "Compassion for the Farmers", the day of hoeing is at noon,

Sweat drips down the soil.

Who knows the plate of Chinese food,

Every grain of grain is hard work. Anyone with a little knowledge of writing can understand it as soon as he reads it. "

"If it is too simple, it will naturally spread quickly and be recognized."

Xu Yanbo said: "But it is easy to get started, but difficult to master. Besides Chen Shilang, who else can use a few simple words to turn decay into magic?"

Xu Jingzong said: "The world doesn't think so. There is no shortage of fools who think too highly of themselves."

"In addition, the Tang Dynasty has many phenomena and is all-encompassing, while the palace style and Shangguan style are limited to words and are far less comprehensive than the Shengtang style..."

"Of course the above are all bullshit..."

Looking at his grandson's shocked eyes, Xu Jingzong said word by word: "Your Majesty will not let Chen Shilang lose."

To put it bluntly, there is someone behind Chen Qingsi, who will support him no matter how difficult he encounters.

The world is ultimately in the hands of the Li family.

Xu Yanbo bowed and said, "My grandson understands."

Council Hall.

General Xin Mao and Master Xu Yu were on duty today. They finished handling the matters at hand and chatted with each other.

The hottest topic in Chang'an now is "the integration of literature and Taoism."

Naturally, the two husbands inevitably talked about this matter.

Xu Yushi is still a literary fan of Chen Qingsi, and naturally he is full of praise for the theories he proposed.

"The literary style of the Southern Dynasties is too heavy-handed. It is true that they are a group of people who are drunk and dreamy. They are self-indulgent and have no intention of enlightenment. On the contrary, Chen Shilang's combination of literature and Taoism is the road to truth. The ancestors created words to explain the truth, not to self-destruction. .”

Xin Maojiang just smiled and did not argue with him.

He actually recognized it in his heart. After all, he could read Chen Qingsi's poems, but he needed to translate Xu Jingzong's poems.

However, he was Xu Jingzong's confidant, and Xu Jingzong was the leader of palace poetry, so naturally he did not dare to say anything.

Master Xu Yu suddenly narrowed his eyes and said with a smile: "Xin Xianggong, Yuan Sijing or Gao Zhizhou, which one do you prefer to be promoted to the Minister of Rites?"

He is now in the theater stage. There are two ministers in the Ministry of Rites. One is vacant. Yuan Sijing and Gao Zhizhou are competing for it, but the other one is his.

Therefore, the Minister of Rites has nothing to do with him, so he is happy to watch the show.

At this moment, an imperial edict came: "Xia Yu, the minister of the Ministry of Rites... moved to Shangzhou to be the governor..."

(End of this chapter)