Haha, Xiang Xun laughed after he finished his lines, and he looked very happy. Today was a good day, so of course he should be happy. Maybe he also felt that he had to have a great time in front of so many guests.
Everyone talked noisily for a while, and then invited Prime Minister Wang to sit in the upper seat.
Soon, some servants came into the room and put two square tables together. They put a lot of things on them, including inkstones, short sword sheaths, books, bowls, strings of money, etc., in a circle. When everyone was having fun, a nanny came in with a child in her arms. The child was really smart and looked at the people in the room curiously without crying. The generals started to make a noise, and someone shouted with interest: "Look at what the second son of the general's family can catch!"
Xiang Xun took the child and put him directly on the table in the hall. The child was left alone and burst into tears. Everyone gathered around the table and teased him for a long time. Finally, the child stopped crying and looked at the things on the table. Then he turned over and lay down, crawled a little, and reached out to grab the inkstone.
Suddenly everyone was in an uproar, and a voice said: Hey, Mr. Xiang doesn't want to inherit his father's legacy.
Xiang Xun smiled and said: "If children like to read, it is of course a good thing. If they can become as learned as Prime Minister Wang in the future and become a pillar of the country, wouldn't it be wonderful?"
Wang Pu, who was sitting in the upper seat, chuckled and stroked his goatee. Everyone else agreed.
At this time, a voice said: I have a suggestion. Why don't we write a poem to congratulate the general today based on the current scene and the current mood
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and found that it was Zhao Kuangyi, the younger brother of Zhao Du Yuhou, who was speaking. Zhao Kuangyi was fat and looked grown up, but his voice still had a little childishness and had not fully improved, so he did not sound as rough as the men, and his voice was a little effeminate in comparison.
Zhao Kuangyi was a teenager, with delicate skin, plump body, and polite words. He was a harmless young man. In addition, he had no status and was able to get here only because of his elder brother Zhao Du Yu Hou. Therefore, everyone was unwilling to give him face, and of course they were not afraid of offending such a fat scholar-like young man, and they all opposed him.
No joke about writing poetry, right
Haha, I can drink, but writing poetry is nothing
No one really took Zhao Kuangyi seriously. The literati in the Five Dynasties did not have a very high status. It was fine if he was a civil official, but a literati without an official position would be a joke. It would be strange if the military generals bought into his account. His brother was a general but he was useless, and he was not a general himself.
Unexpectedly, Xiang Xun said: "Please Prime Minister Wang give me a poem, I will feel like I have found a treasure."
When everyone heard this, they immediately agreed with Xiang Xun. Wang Pu was a prime minister with great learning, so of course he could write poetry. If he suddenly felt like writing poetry, wouldn't it be very rude of you to stop him from writing
Wang Pu was also in high spirits today. He was truly a distinguished guest in Xiang Xun's presence, and was always flattered and respected by Xiang Xun. He could not bear to reject the good intentions of Xiang Xun and the generals, so he reached out and touched his chin, pondering.
This calm action immediately seemed to tell everyone through body language: I am going to write a poem
The crowd calmed down for a while, waiting expectantly. But perhaps some of them did not understand at all. Even if Wang Pu composed a masterpiece that would last forever, it would probably be like playing the lute to a cow in front of some people.
Wang Pu said: I have two lines in mind, but I haven't thought of the last two lines yet. Poetry is always hard to come by, and it's hard to ask everyone to wait like this.
Xiang Xun hurriedly said: Having two lines is also a good poem, not an essay. It does not mean the more words the better. Some people, even if they write dozens of bad lines, are not as good as two lines of good poetry.
"Passed, passed," Wang Pu said, waving his hand.
Guo Shao discovered today that Xiang Xun was not only a military commander, but also very different from those warriors who only knew how to fight. Xiang Xun was very good at flattering others, and he knew how to flatter others without belittling himself, and it was natural and not excessive. Even if Wang Pu knew that Xiang Xun was flattering him on purpose, he would be very pleased and would never resist; just looking at Wang Pu's expression, you can understand.
A person can remain calm even when a huge disaster strikes, but not changing color does not mean not showing any corresponding emotion in words or actions.
Sure enough, Wang Pu slowly chanted: The jujube flowers are very small but can bear fruit, and the mulberry leaves are soft but can produce silk.
Well, no matter whether they understood it or not, everyone cheered loudly. Of course, Guo Shao also joined in the joyful atmosphere and cheered along.
Wang Pu waved his hand again: "Since I have started, everyone can recite two lines if they have two, just as a congratulations to General Xiang's second son. This young man, your surname is Zhao. Wang Pu looked at Zhao Kuangyi and nodded to Zhao Kuangyin.
Zhao Kuangyi said: I am Zhao Kuangyi.
As questions and answers were exchanged, people became noisy again. Anyone who was interested in the self-introduction of a fat young man started chatting and laughing among themselves.
So much so that when Zhao Kuangyi was reciting the poem, even Guo Shao couldn't hear clearly what he sang.
But when it was Zhao Kuangyin's turn, the surroundings became a little quieter. Even if some people were still talking and laughing loudly, they were reminded by their companions to listen for the time being. Zhao Kuangyin also wrote a quatrain. Guo Shao listened carefully and felt that it was not very good, just like a half-literary doggerel. Maybe Song Taizu was only good at conquering the world on horseback, not good at reciting poems and couplets, or maybe he was in a hurry and didn't have the mood. After all, not everyone can write a poem in seven steps like Cao Zhi. Guo Shao can't write poems, but he can copy poems, but at least he has memorized some poems and knows how to appreciate them. He can still tell whether they are good or not.
Then it was the turn of a military officer. He was not polite and started to speak: "The sun is out and the stones are hardened by the sun." There was a burst of laughter. Zhao Kuangyin shook his head and said: "Forget it, forget it. Don't do it. What are you singing? At least you can follow the scene."
Then the generals at that table stopped talking, and it was Guo Shao's turn, so he started.
Guo Shao was just thinking about whether to copy a poem written after the Song Dynasty. He was thinking about which one to copy, but soon came to his senses. The one that can still be recited now must be a fine poem that has been left over after the precipitation of time. I am afraid that the talent of crushing Wang Pu's two poems is not a problem. The problem is not whether everyone believes that he has that talent. The most immediate problem is: you are a military general, can you write poems better than the prime minister
Since he is a military commander with better literary talent than the prime minister, and is good at both civil and military affairs, what is the need for a prime minister? Wang Pu can't fight a war, let alone martial arts, and his talent is not as good as that of a 19-year-old young military commander. Isn't it shameful
The last time Guo Shao was promoted directly to the position of Inner Palace Guard, the most effective thing was probably Wang Pu's recommendation. Although Wang Pu probably did it for Xiang Xun's sake, he always promoted you. Is it really wise to publicly slap the face of the prime minister who promoted you
Guo Shao planned not to create this useless limelight. This saved him a lot of trouble as he didn't have to think about which song would be suitable for the occasion.
He was about to postpone it and say no, but the guy who wrote the poem about the sun drying the stones just now spoke rudely. Never mind, seeing him scratching his head and back like a monkey, I'm afraid he's even worse than me. Don't waste everyone's time.
Even among the middle-level military commanders, there are always some who can't even speak. Maybe it's because Guo Shao is sitting at the table below.
Damn it, Guo Shao was suddenly very angry, but she couldn't argue with him in public.
Should I just put up with it? Guo Shao thought that he could put up with it, after all, it was just insignificant nonsense. However, if there was no need to put up with that anger, Guo Shao's character didn't want to swallow it. Why should I make myself uncomfortable? If I were to give in to you, you couldn't even write a doggerel, and you took it out on me. You're happy but I'm not.
Guo Shao immediately smiled and said:
Everyone saw that he looked like a young military commander, and he was sitting at the military commander's table, so they were all happy to see him make a fool of himself. At the banquet today, Zhao Kuangyi had provoked some kind of poetry-writing issue, and except for Wang Pu, it had already turned into a farce, with the military commanders looking at each other and making fun of their embarrassment in writing.
This time it's Guo Shao's turn to make a fool of himself.
Guo Shao calmly chanted: Little Erlang, carrying his schoolbag to school, not afraid of the sun, nor the wind and rain, but afraid that the teacher would scold me for being lazy. I have no knowledge, I have no face to see my parents. I have no knowledge, I have no face to see my parents.
Even if there were some generals who could not understand Wang Pu's brilliant poems, there was no one who could not understand this poem. Moreover, such words were actually read out by Guo Shao, a tall and upright young general, which was really ridiculous.
Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment, and after a while they finally burst into laughter, laughing so hard that they were bent over and groaning with pain in their stomachs. One guy was the most exaggerated, slapping the table and laughing so hard that tears were about to come out. I was really afraid that he would roll on the ground, and how embarrassed Xiang Xun, the host, would be.
When everyone had almost finished laughing and only the sound of "hehe" remained, Guo Shao smiled and said to the general who had just spoken to him: "General, which one do you think is better, my song about Xiao Erlang or your poem about the sun drying the stones?"
The general was extremely embarrassed for a moment.
Guo Shao was not afraid of offending him at all. What did it matter if he was a general who was careless and spoke nonsense? He might be unhappy for a while and forget about it in a blink of an eye.
But at this moment, Guo Shao noticed that Zhao Kuangyi, who was completely ignored, had a glimmer of gloom in his eyes on his harmless, steady, white and fat face. The fleeting look surprised Guo Shao a little; but no one else noticed it, only Guo Shao noticed Zhao Kuangyi. Maybe it was an illusion. After all, he was only sixteen or seventeen, and he had such deep thoughts.
In any case, Guo Shao calmed down immediately. It might not be wise to leave a bad impression on Zhao Kuangyi right away. He didn't like this fat young man, but he didn't want to make a grudge with him too early, which was meaningless and useless.
Guo Shao took advantage of the fact that everyone's attention was still on him and said, "Excuse me, everyone. I think that the most talented poems today are those of the Zhao brothers, except for Prime Minister Wang."