Yu Shimingyan

Chapter 14

The future is dark and hard to know, and the autumn moon and spring flowers have their own time.Listen to God's distribution, why bother to run hard at night?It is said that the Zhenguan Temple of the Tang Dynasty was changed to the Yuan Dynasty, and Emperor Taizong was benevolent and righteous, and he was a trustworthy minister.Wen has eighteen bachelors, and Wu has eighteen general managers.The real one is: a lot of mandarin ducks, and Lu Xubinbin.All talented and wise people in the world recommend him to fulfill their ambitions.Therefore, the world is peaceful and the people are happy.

There is only one person in Zhongdanbiao, surnamed Ma, surnamed Zhou, Biaozi Binwang, and a surname of Chiping, Bozhou.His parents died, and he was destitute.Over thirty years old, not yet married, only one body left.Since childhood, he has been proficient in book history and has extensive knowledge; his ambition and strategy are extraordinary.Only for being lonely and helpless, no one recommended him.It was clearly a divine dragon trapped in the mud, unable to fly.Seeing that other people's talents are ten thousand times inferior to his, each of them has a prominent background and enjoys a noble salary, but his own talent is not recognized.Every day I sighed depressedly to myself: "Time, luck, and fate." I have earned a good drinker in my life, and when I am bored, I just drink and get drunk.Daily meals, one meal, one meal, don't care about it;If you don't have money to buy it yourself, you will find wine in the neighbor's house, and you will eat it.But he is arrogant and careless, and after drinking, he will talk wildly and swear at sitting down.This group of neighbors was impatient with his noise, and none of them hated him.Behind his back, he was called "Poor Horse Zhou", and he was also called "drunkard".Then Ma Zhou knew it, but he didn't care at all.It's exactly: before the Dragon and Tiger Club, a horse and bull call.

In addition, the governor of Bozhou, surnamed Da and named Xi, had heard that Ma Zhouming had learned classics, so he was hired as a teaching assistant in this state.On the day of taking office, all the scholars brought wine to congratulate, and they didn't feel drunk.The next day, the governor went to the academy to ask for advice.Ma Zhou was so drunk that he couldn't get up.The governor left in a rage.After Ma Zhou woke up, he knew that the governor had arrived, so he went to the state government office to apologize, and was reprimanded by the governor for speaking a lot.Ma Zhou said Weiwei, but he couldn't change it.Whenever a disciple asks a question about the scriptures, he will be kept to drink with him.All the salaries paid are paid to the restaurant, and if they are not enough, they still drink at the disciples' house.One day, when he was drunk, two disciples supported him and sang all the way back.He happened to meet the leader of the governor, and asked him to avoid him, how could Ma Zhou back down?He started swearing with his eyes wide open, and was attacked by the governor in the street again.Ma Zhou was so drunk that he didn't know it. When he woke up the next day, his disciples came to persuade Ma Zhou again and pleaded guilty to the governor.Ma Zhou sighed and said, "I am only lonely and helpless, and I want to get ahead, so I surrendered my ambition to others. Now that I have been humiliated by the governor because of drinking, why should I bow down again to ask for mercy? The ancients didn't do that. Five buckets of rice bent down, this assistant instructor is not something I will take care of for the rest of my life." Then he handed over the official uniform to the student, instructed him to hand it back to the governor, looked up to the sky and laughed, and went out.It's exactly: it's easy to go with a three-inch tongue, and it's worthless to come again.

Since ancient times, there is a saying: water does not move and does not jump, and people do not move and do not move.Ma Zhou was only insulted by the governor for eating and drinking, so he went out with a sigh, and met a man to support him, until he reached the position of Minister of the Ministry of Officials.This is a later story.

Let's say where are you going now?He thought: "It's not a big deal to run into the state, except that Chang'an is the capital of the emperor. Among the princes and ministers, there is Xiao Xiangguo who can be recommended, and Wei Wuzhi, who knows talents, asks for a bright future, and Fang Sui's life Wish." Looking west, we walked along the meandering, and within a day, we came to Xinfeng.It turns out that Xinfeng City was built by Emperor Han Gao.Gaohuang was born in Fengli, and later raised troops, punished Qin and destroyed Xiang, became the son of the Han Dynasty, and respected his father as the Supreme Emperor.The Supreme Emperor was in the city of Chang'an, thinking about the scenery of his hometown.Emperor Gao ordered skillful craftsmen to build the city according to Feng, and moved people from Feng to live there.All the markets and houses are generally the same as the Fengsato system.Put Zhang's chickens and Li's dogs on the street, and the chickens and dogs will recognize their own family and go home.The Supreme Emperor was overjoyed and named him Xinfeng.Today, the capital of the Tang Dynasty is still in Chang'an. This Xinfeng is always a place in the Guan, and the market is dense and lively!Just this China Merchants Hotel, I don't know how much it is.

When Ma Zhou came to Xinfeng City, it was getting late, so he just picked a big inn and walked in.But seeing the world of mortals rolling, there are many cars and horses, and many merchants and guests, carrying goods, go into the shop to rest.The owner, the prince, greeted him, and hurriedly assigned the head of the house to pile up the travellers.All the guests searched and chased each other, each sitting on the head, counting the rice and asking for wine.The little second brother couldn't carry it in time, and he was as busy as a revolving lantern.Ma Zhou sat on the side alone, no one paid any attention to him.Ma Zhou was upset, and yelled, "Master, you're such a bully! Why don't you come and take care of me if you're not a guest?" The prince got angry when he heard that, so he came to accept him and said, "You don't need to be a guest. Angry. There are many people over there, so I have to put him first; you are only one, but it is easy to agree. But for wine and food, just pay the old man." Ma Zhou said: "I have traveled all the way, and I did not wash my feet. Let me ask for some Use clean hot water." The prince said: "The pot is inconvenient, we need hot water and wait for a while." Ma Zhou said: "In that case, let's get the wine first." The prince said: "How much wine will you use?" Ma Zhou pointed A group of guests on the head of the big seat opposite asked the host, "I will use as much as they use." The prince said: "The five guests each use a bucket of good wine." Ma Zhou said: "Let's talk about it." Don't make me half-drunk, but I only drink five buckets on the way. If you have any good food, you can bring it." The prince handed over to Xiaoer.Warm five buckets of wine in a row, put them on the table, put a big magnetic pot, a few bowls of meat and vegetables and so on.Ma Zhou drank alone with his Ou, as if there was no one else around.

After eating about three buckets, he asked for a footbath and poured the rest of the wine into it. He took off his boots and stretched his feet down to wash them.All the guests were surprised when they saw it.The prince secretly marveled, knowing that he was very human.At the same time, Cen Wenwen painted the "Ma Zhou Washing Feet Picture", which was later praised by Yanbo Diaosou, who praised it:
The world is still talking, but I am alone.The mouth is easy to make waves, and it is enough to land.

If you don't lean down, you can chase thousands of miles.Hard work rewards little, silent humiliation.

Reward him with wine, comfort your servant.It makes you forget your worries, and beats my disgust.

Shout out to King Bin, see the extraordinary.

I had no words to rest that night.The next day, the prince got up early to collect the banknotes and sent the guests on the way.Ma Zhou had no belongings, thinking that the weather was getting hotter, so he took off his fox fur and gave the prince money for wine.Seeing that he was a generous man, the prince thought that fox fur was too expensive, so he repeatedly refused to accept it.Ma Zhou asked for a pen and wrote a poem on the wall.Poetry goes:
The ancients felt that a meal is worth a thousand pieces of gold.Dagger and chopsticks are paid enough?The focus is on the confidant.

I drink Xinfeng wine, and I don't need fox fur.Xianzai is the protagonist, full of energy!
Later, I wrote the weekly title of Chiping people and horses.The prince saw that he was excellent in writing, and he respected him very much.Then he asked, "Where is Mr. Ma going now?" Ma Zhou said, "I want to go to Chang'an to seek fame." Wang Gong said, "Have you ever had an acquaintance's apartment?" Ma Zhou replied, "No." Wang Gong said, "Mr. Talent, if you go here, you will be rich and honored. But Chang’an is a land of rice, pearls, and laurel. My husband’s capital is empty, so where will I save it? The old man has a niece who married Zhao Sanlang’s house on Wanshou Street. The old man wrote a letter, It’s easier to send your husband to live there than other homes; there’s even a tael of silver, and the right to help with the road, don’t think it’s meager.” Feeling his kindness, Ma Zhou had to accept it.The prince has finished writing the book and handed it to Ma Zhou.Ma Zhou said: "He will make progress every day, and never forget each other." Thank you and say goodbye.

Traveling to Chang'an, it really is a beautiful place, which is different from Xinfeng City.Ma Zhoujing went to Wanshou Street to chase after Zhao's house, and delivered the prince's letter.It turned out that the Zhao family sold this rice for a living, and Zhao Sanlang passed away the year before last.His wife was a widow at home and took over the store. This is the niece of the prince in Xinfeng store.Although he is over thirty years old, he is still gorgeous and charming.People in the capital all call him "selling glutinous rice and chasing a concubine".The character "媪" in the north is just like the character "Ma" in the south.At the beginning, this lady Wang was in a shop selling poultry chasing, and Yuan Tiangang, the god, was shocked when he saw it, and sighed: "This lady's face is like a full moon, her lips are like red lotuses, her voice is clear, and her roots are unbroken. She is a noble figure!" As a first-class wife, how can I live here?" I occasionally talked about this matter in front of Zhonglang General Chang He.Chang He firmly believed in Yuan Tiangang's words, and paid Cangtou, only in the name of buying meat and chasing him, and went to his shop every day to gossip, saying that the king's wife was married and wanted to marry him as a concubine.Mrs. Wang just laughed dryly, without saying anything.exactly:
Marriage is predestined in previous lives, don't force it if it's not marriage.

But she said that Mrs. Wang had a strange dream the night before. She dreamed that a white horse came from the east, came to his shop, and ate up the powder in one bite.I insist on chasing after him, but I don't know how to get on the horse.The horse turned into a fire dragon and soared into the sky.Waking up is hot all over, thinking about this dream is very hot.Just on this day, I received a letter from my uncle, prince, and sent a guest surnamed Ma; Ma Zhou was also dressed in white.Mrs. Wang was very suspicious, so she stayed in the store as a residence, and provided three meals a day with hospitality.That Ma Zhou seems to be a matter of course, and he has no intention of being humble; here, Mrs. Wang has never been negligent.There is a group of rambunctious children in the neighborhood of Po Nai, who usually sees Mrs. Wang as a pretty and lonely widow. She leans against the door and leans against the wall when she is free.Seeing him staying at home with a single guest from far away, he would talk a lot and create a lot of discussion.Mrs. Wang is a delicate person. She had already listened to her ears, so she said to Ma Zhou: "The concubine wants to stay with each other, but she is in a widow's house. People say it is not elegant. Mr. has a bright future, so you should choose a high branch to live in. Make progress; it would be a pity to bury great talents here." Ma Zhou said: "I would like to be a hotel guest, but I have no way to listen." Before I finished talking, I saw Cangtou of Chang Zhonglang's family come to buy food and chase again. .Mrs. Wang thought that Chang He was a military official, so he must have the help of literati.But he asked Cangtou, "a well-educated man with a close relative, Ma Xiucai, is looking for a building here. I don't know if your master can use it?" Cangtou replied, "very good." In the event of a drought, Emperor Taizong ordered officials above the fifth rank to think carefully and speak out about their gains and losses in order to adopt them.No matter what official position you have, you should play it. When you want to visit a learned man, I asked him to write it as a ghostwriter. It happened that when Mrs. Wang talked about Ma Xiucai, it was clear that she was scratching her itchy spot when she was hungry and thirsty.Cangtou went back to report to Chang He, Chang He was overjoyed, and immediately sent people to prepare horses to meet him.Ma Zhou left Mrs. Wang and went to Chang Zhonglang's house.How often do you see Ma Zhou's appearance is extraordinary, and he is very respectful.On the same day, treat each other with wine, clean the library, and stay on horses for a week.

The next day, Chang He took 20 taels of platinum and ten pieces of colored silk, and delivered them to the museum in person, as a gift for Zhi.Discuss with Ma Zhou about asking for the imperial decree.Ma Zhou asked for a pen and studied it, brushed aside the plain paper, waved his hand continuously, and the sketch was [-] pieces cheaper.Chang He was amazed.It was written neatly overnight, and will be presented to the imperial court tomorrow morning.Emperor Taizong looked at it and praised everything for good.Then he asked Chang He and said, "This kind of knowledge and discussion is beyond your reach. Where did you get it?" Chang He bowed to the ground and said, "Death crime! It's [-] pieces cheaper, and the foolish minister can't make it clear. This is the work of Ma Zhou, a guest of the minister's family." Emperor Taizong said: "Where is Ma Zhou? You can announce to see me quickly." The Huangmen official received the imperial edict and went to Chang Zhonglang's house to announce Ma Zhou.Ma Zhou had had breakfast and was snoring, unable to wake up.Another decree came down to urge.By the third time, Chang He came by himself.This shows that Emperor Taizong loved talents very much.There is a poem by the historian: "Three requests for letters are urged one after another, and the emperor of Zhenguan cherishes talents."All lovers of the imperial court are like this, and the hero is trapped in grass?

Chang He went to the library in person, taught the boy to help Ma Zhou up, and sprayed his face with cold water, and Ma Zhou just woke up.Hearing the imperial decree, he hurriedly got on his horse.Chang He led to Jinluan to meet him.After the dance worship, Taizong Yuyin asked: "Where is your family name? Have you ever been an official?" Ma Zhou said: "I am from Chiping County. I used to be an assistant teacher in Bozhou. Because I didn't know what I wanted, I abandoned my official position and came to travel. Kyoto. It’s really a blessing to have the face of heaven today.” Taizong was overjoyed, and he paid homage to the inspector censor on the same day, and gave him a robe and official belt.Ma Zhou put it on, and Xie En came out.I still went to Chang He's house to thank him for his recommendation.Chang He re-opened the banquet and congratulated him with wine.

At the end of the night, why don't you dare to leave Ma Zhou to stay in the library.If you want to prepare a sedan chair, send it to Prince Ling's wife's house.Ma Zhou said: "Ms. Wang is not a relative, but she just stayed at her house." Chang He was shocked and asked, "Does the Yushi have any family members?" : "Mr. Yuan Tiangang once said that Mrs. Wang is a lady of the highest grade. I am afraid that it will be a hindrance to her relatives. Since they meet by chance, it is a fate. If the censor does not dislike it, he will be punished if he is dismissed." Ma Zhou feels Wang's hospitality. , also had this intention, and said: "If you succeed in your ancestors, you will be deeply virtuous." At night, Ma Zhou was still resting at Chang's house.

The next morning, Ma Zhou and Chang He Mianjun again.At that time, the Tartar Turks rebelled, and Emperor Taizong was sending the four generals to send troops to conquer and suppress them, and ordered Ma Zhou to pacify the captives.Ma Zhou was in front of the imperial court, reciting fluently, and every sentence contained the holy meaning, so he changed it to a job in the middle of the matter.Often He Juxian has meritorious service and bestows a hundred bolts of silk.Chang He Xie En went out to the court, and the distribution was immediately led to the seller's chasing shop, and he wanted to invite Mrs. Wang to meet him.Mrs. Wang also only said that Chang Zhonglang insisted on marrying him, so she hurriedly dodged and was willing to come out there.Sitting in the shop, Chang He asked Cangtou to find an old lady next to him, and spread the message for him: "Chang Zhonglang came here today for nothing else, but to advise and marry the horse." Wang asked her why, and she knew the horse. The admonishment was Ma Zhou.Xiang Shi's dream of a white horse turning into a dragon has now been fulfilled;Chang He saw that Wang Yu agreed to obey, so he gave silk horses from the imperial court and hired them for Ma Zhou.Lease an empty house and teach Ma Zhou to live there.Choose an auspicious day and marry Wang Yu, and all the officials will come to celebrate.It's exactly: clearly begging for a relative and a cold scholar, but suddenly being a noble guest of the court.Mrs. Wang married Ma Zhou and moved her family to Ma's house.It's not a problem to be envied by everyone in Lizhong.

However, since Ma Zhou met Emperor Taizong, he listened to every word and obeyed all admonitions. In less than three years, he became Minister of the Ministry of Officials and Wang Yufeng was appointed as his wife.The Wang Gong, the owner of the Xinfeng store, knew that Ma Zhou had a rich fortune, and when he came to Chang'an to visit him, he first visited his niece.Walking to Wanshou Street, there is no shop selling food and chasing food, so I have to move.After asking the neighbors carefully, I realized that my niece is widowed, and Ma Shangshu was the one who married late. The prince's joy was nothing small.When I went to Shangshu's mansion, I met Ma Zhou and his wife and told some old stories.I have lived here for more than a month, so I have to say goodbye.Ma Zhou gave a thousand pieces of gold as a gift, and the prince was willing to accept it.Ma Zhou said: "The poems on the wall are still there. How can we forget them?"This is throwing melons and repaying jade, and repaying kindness for kindness, which is not a problem.

Besides, the governor of Daxi, because of Ding You's return to his hometown, he came to Beijing after serving his full service.Hearing that Ma Zhou was the Minister of the Ministry of Officials, he knew that he had offended him, so he was worried and dared not make up his official position.Knowing this, Ma Zhou asked him to meet again and again.Daxi fell to the ground and said: "If you have eyes but don't know Mount Tai, I hope to beg for forgiveness." Ma Zhou hurriedly helped him up and said, "The governor has taught everyone a lesson, and it is appropriate to choose a man of integrity. He is addicted to alcohol and screams, this is Ma Zhou. This crime is not the fault of a virtuous assassin." Today he recommended Da Xi as Jing Zhao Yin.When the officials of the capital saw Ma Zhou's measure of generosity, they all respected him.Ma Zhou was rich and honored all his life, and he grew old with Wang Yu.There is a poem from later generations that sighs: a generation of famous officials belonged to wine people, and they were also strange people who sold wine and chased after their wives.People at that time did not have Persian eyes, so it was in vain to make the pearl confuse the vulgar.

(End of this chapter)