Chapter 7: Early Spring Gift to Wang Buque
"The clouds cover the sky. I want to go on a picnic, but it's raining. It's fate that I can meet you, sir."

Wang Wei replied to Li Xuan with a smile. After all, Li Xuan was young, and he thought Li Xuan could not understand his hidden meaning.

He had heard of Li Xuan's name a long time ago. He was brave and aggressive. The scene of him beating Li Yi up in the brothel yesterday was talked about a lot.

Wang Wei addressed him as "Young Master" instead of "Mr. Lang", which meant that he did not want to get close to Li Xuan.

In this era, only the sons of the royal family could be called "gongzi", which was a written title. "Lang" was integrated into the style of the Tang Dynasty and was a close title.

In private, the emperor would call his subjects "Lang".

"The wind and rain are dark, and the cocks are crowing. It is rare that Wang Buque has such a refined mood. I present a poem to Wang Buque, hoping that the sky will clear up after the rain, and you can enjoy it to your heart's content."

Li Xuan also smiled slightly. He understood the character of literati, especially great talents like Wang Wei. If he did not have real talent and knowledge, they would only be perfunctory.

"Wang Wei is honored to receive a poem from you, young master."

Wang Wei was stunned when he heard Li Xuan's words. This tone was not like the Li Xuan he had heard before.

Besides, it is not very reasonable to give someone a poem when you first meet them.

He couldn't refuse the gift of poetry directly. He also wanted to see what kind of poetry Li Xuan could write.

"Come here, write some pen and ink!"

The doctor in charge of the teahouse shouted loudly after hearing what Wang Wei and Li Xuan said.

Li Xuan revealed his identity, which surprised and delighted him.

These are the real dignitaries, and with the visit of the great talent Wang Wei, the teahouse is now flourishing.

If Wang Wei could give a poem in return and a good story would spread, the teahouse would surely have a prosperous business in the future.

The scholars around were also discussing the matter, but most of them were murmurs and doubts.

Li Xuan is so young, his poetry writing must not be very good, it is more of a show-off.

Li Xuan was the son of a prime minister, not the prime minister. If his writings were mediocre, they would be discarded like waste paper and would not have been able to be circulated with the help of Wang Wei.

In the middle of the teahouse lobby, the manager cleared a table, spread out a piece of white paper, and told the maid to grind ink for Li Xuan.

During this period, Li Xuan kept calm and said nothing, as if he was thinking about poetry.

"My dear, please!"

After the ink was ground, the store manager asked Li Xuan for permission.

"Spring rain is as precious as oil. I am here in Zhuque Street, thinking of a poem. I am now presenting it to Wang Buque, and I will title it "Presented to Wang Buque in Early Spring."

Li Xuan sat down and took a pen, writing down the title of the poem while speaking.

He wrote in regular script, but his calligraphy was not good. As soon as he wrote the title, people around him booed.

The literati all despised it in their hearts, thinking, how could one write poetry with such poor handwriting?
But considering Li Xuan's identity, he did not dare to accuse loudly.

Wang Wei was quite interested. Being proficient in calligraphy, he could see that when Li Xuan put pen to paper, he immersed his mind in the strokes and was very serious, without a trace of perfunctoriness.

If you are willing to study hard and practice diligently, you will definitely have a good future. Li Xuan is still young.

Li Xuan knew that his calligraphy was still immature and understood that the viewers were laughing at him in their hearts.

But he was meticulous and devoted to writing what would later become Han Yu's masterpiece.

In Li Xuan's view, this poem is just right for the scene.

Wang Wei is a "literary leader" with a wide range of friends. If a poem can get his approval, he will surely become famous in the literary world.

The rain on the Tianjie Street is as crisp as the grass, but the grass color is far away but not close.

The most important thing is the one-year spring benefits.

As soon as Li Xuan finished writing a sentence, the literati around him began to read it unconsciously.

Just the first seven words amazed everyone.

The drizzle on Zhuque Street outside the window is compared to ghee, light and delicate.

Next, it describes the haziness of spring grass after the rain.

The praise in the last two sentences expresses the joy of early spring, and as Li Xuan said, he hopes that Wang Wei can enjoy himself.

The whole poem is written in one breath and is lively and vivid. It does not seem like the work of a young person.

But they had never heard of it.

At this moment, no scholar cared about Li Xuan's ugly handwriting anymore, but instead praised Li Xuan for being worthy of being the son of the Left Prime Minister, and saying that a good father will have a good son!

"The poem is very well done, wonderful!"

Every time Li Xuan wrote a line, Wang Wei took a step closer. When Li Xuan finished writing four lines, Wang Wei was already leaning close to the low table. He changed his calmness and clapped his hands in praise.

The scene on Zhuque Street was described in such detail that if he had not seen it with his own eyes and had not seen the scenery at that time, he would not have believed that it was written by Li Xuan.

"I have never practiced calligraphy seriously since I was a child, sorry to embarrass you. In front of Wang Buque, I am just showing off my skills in front of an expert." Li Xuan said modestly.

"There are only a few people in the world who can convey the spirit of the universe with just a little rain and the color of the grass. Qilang is truly a genius."

After reading it silently again, Wang Wei was full of praise for the simple words and plain expression.

Hearing about someone is not as good as meeting him/her in person. He changed his impression of her and looked at her differently.

"When Wang Buque was seventeen years old, he wrote 'One less person among those wearing dogwood branches', which amazed the world for more than twenty years. I will continue to humbly seek advice from Wang Buque in the future." Li Xuan took the opportunity to get close to Wang Wei. He sincerely admired Wang Wei's talent.

"I look forward to seeing you at my humble home anytime! It is impolite not to reciprocate. I wanted to give you a gift, but I couldn't think of any comparable poem or writing. After I go back, I will think carefully and paint another picture for you to thank you for this fine work."

Wang Wei was moved by Li Xuan's personality and became friends with him despite the age difference between them.

After a brief contact, Wang Wei felt that Li Xuan was a strange person.

“I’ve heard that there are paintings in poetry and poems in paintings. It’s a great honor to have Wang Buque’s paintings!”

Li Xuan was secretly happy.

Wang Wei was a promoter of the landscape and pastoral poetry school, so his painting style was influenced by this.

He is not a professional painter like Wu Daozi who makes a living by painting. Therefore, his paintings are casual, fresh and elegant, pursuing the "natural" scenes that are in line with Zen Buddhism.

He was praised by later generations as the "founder of the Southern School" of landscape painting.

Unfortunately, only copies have been made and no originals have been circulated. Li Xuan was naturally overjoyed to be given a painting by Wang Wei.

When Wang Wei heard the compliment that "there is painting in poetry and poetry in painting", he felt that Li Xuan was a close friend regardless of age difference.

In this way, Li Xuan naturally invited Wang Wei upstairs for tea.

The literati wished they could sit at the same table with Wang Wei.

But Li Xuan's "Early Spring Gift to Wang Buque" was memorized by them and soon spread throughout Chang'an.

The doctor in charge of the teahouse immediately asked scholars to rewrite Li Xuan's poems and hang them in the lobby.

Once a famous work comes out, taverns, teahouses and brothels will inevitably be frequented by literati and make a fortune.

The store manager promised Li Xuan and Wang Wei that tea and snacks would be free of charge as a token of gratitude for the creation of their masterpieces.

"I wonder if Qilang has any other masterpieces?"

When making friends with a poet, even if you don't know the poet well, you should definitely ask about this to understand his style.

It is often said that "you can judge a person by his poetry".

"I've written a few before, but they were just scribblings."

Li Xuan answered Wang Wei modestly.

Wang Wei immediately asked Li Xuan to read the previous poem.

Li Xuan brought out four later masterpieces: Cui Tu's "Orchid", Zheng Xie's "Bamboo and Rock", Wang Anshi's "Plum Blossom", and Yang Wanli's "Small Pond". The first three poems use objects to express one's aspirations, while "Small Pond" is a fresh and pleasant poem.

The more Wang Wei listened, the more solemn his expression became. He asked the storekeeper for paper and pen so that he could write down the four poems and appreciate them carefully when he got back.

When the people around learned that Zuo Xiang Qilang had other poems, they came to read and record them.

Plum, orchid, bamboo and lotus are all poems about objects. The literati all felt that Li Xuan was elegant, like an ancient gentleman.

"Although Qilang has not written many poems, each one is a masterpiece, which is rare! Such poems should be passed down to the world."

Wang Wei was curious as to why Li Xuan, who was so talented, did not show off his talents.

The general impression of Li Xuan among the scholars in Chang'an is that he is a brave and aggressive playboy.

"Don't dare to take it seriously."

Li Xuan sneered.

Although I feel embarrassed, poetry evokes the spirit of the prosperous Tang Dynasty, and only poetry is worthy of the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty.

Li Xuan's reputation must start with poetry.

Watching the spring rain and drinking moonlit tea. The two did not discuss the politics of the court, but only talked about elegant literature and the vast mountains and rivers.

Because Li Xuan knew that Wang Wei was indifferent and open-minded, and did not deliberately pursue career advancement. At that time, Li Linfu was all-powerful, and as a censor, Wang Wei could only protect himself and be moderate in politics.

Soon after, Wang Wei began to run his "Wangchuan Villa".

So Li Xuan deliberately avoided politics.

Li Xuan's knowledge of later generations is wisdom, and Wang Wei has repeatedly gained new ideas.

Li Xuan's words were wonderful and philosophical, and often made Wang Wei put down his cup and think.

After Wang Wei learned that Li Xuan was not good at music, he invited Li Xuan to his home and taught him how to play musical instruments.

A gentleman in this era needs to understand music.

Even though Li Xuan was about to leave Chang'an, he still responded to Wang Wei and expressed his willingness to learn from him.

There is a long way to go, and he will come back eventually.

After drinking several cups of Mingyue Tea, the drizzle stopped.

"Today I meet you, if the teahouse is a wine shop, it will be good!"

When they said goodbye outside the teahouse, Wang Wei said regretfully.

The literati in the Tang Dynasty were obsessed with wine, and the Buddhist poets were no exception.

"We are all in Chang'an. There are many opportunities. We will visit you one day."

Li Xuan replied with a smile.

With the farewell of a group of literati, Li Xuan and Wang Wei said goodbye to each other.

Perhaps in a few days, a poet named Li Xuan will become famous in Chang'an.

……

"Qilang, your husband asked you to go see him immediately after you come back."

After returning to the Zuo Xiang Mansion, the housekeeper Zhao Zong informed Li Xuan and reminded him, "Today, the prime minister returned from the court and was very happy. He drank a few cups."

Li Xuan understood that it must be Li Shizhi who made Li Linfu suffer a loss in the court.

"Qi Lang, the cunning Li Linfu really bit me back."

As soon as he entered the front hall, Li Shizhi put down his wine glass and spoke to Li Xuan.

Thinking of Li Linfu's gloomy face, Li Shizhi felt happy.

"Li Linfu is a cunning man who will take revenge for any slight. If father does not associate with him, he will surely scheme against him. In the future, father needs to think twice before acting. If you cannot make up your mind, consult with a trusted subordinate!" Li Xuan was still worried about Li Shizhi and reminded him solemnly.

Li Linfu was a typical powerful official. Although he made a joke of "beating Du with a stick and playing with a deer", he had excellent governing ability.

The policies he formulated were always able to ease current conflicts and difficulties.

In handling government affairs, Li Linfu adjudicated cases during the day and read documents at night, often working all night long, which made the emperor feel at ease.

If his own interests are not involved, he will enforce the law impartially and perform his duties conscientiously.

But if his power is hindered, it will lead to widespread unjust imprisonment, implicating hundreds of thousands of people and suppressing the channels for speech.

Such a powerful official is hard to figure out. By the time he comes to his senses, Li Xuan may not be able to crack the trap he has set.

"Qilang can share my worries. Once the Longsha River gold mine is mined, your prestige in the court will surely increase." Li Shizhi treated Li Xuan as his own son and had an unprecedented confidence.

"When the Saint heard about the gold mine in Longsha River, he was immediately delighted. If more gold is found, Qilang will be the main contributor. I can recommend you to the Saint and make you his guard."

Without waiting for Li Xuan to reply, Li Shizhi mentioned the Longsha River gold mine again.

"Alas! There is a lot of gold in Longsha River. I wonder how much of it can be used for the people."

Hearing about the Longsha River gold mine, Li Xuan sighed: "If the saints were as wise as they were in the early Kaiyuan period, they would immediately dismiss my father from his position as prime minister."

Gold is a plaything of the nobles. It is of little help to the common people and it is impossible for it to fall into the hands of the common people.

The increase in gold only meant that the "Five Yangs" would drop more gold along the way when they went out for spring outings; and that all the pots, pans, and bowls in An Lushan's "magnificent" mansion would be covered in gold.

"What are you talking about, Shichiro?"

Li Shizhi's face changed. He was relieved that his son was finally like a beautiful jade. But recently he often said things that made him angry.

He can't be hit or scolded!

"Father, may I ask, which is more important, a piece of gold or a stone of grain?"

Li Xuan asked Li Shizhi.

"Of course gold is important. One piece of gold can be exchanged for countless copper coins and can buy thousands of buckets of rice." Li Shizhi said without hesitation.

"That's true. But among the nine million households in the Tang Dynasty, who has gold? Only us nobles and dignitaries have gold. Would we use gold to buy food? No, we would only make gold utensils, gild precious objects, and show off our wealth. What the people want is not gold, but a true official who can help them produce more food and reduce rent and taxes."

Li Xuan said some thought-provoking words.

Li Shizhi had a silver bowl and a pair of silver chopsticks. He often said that using gold and silver as tableware could prolong one's life.

The Tang Dynasty nobles firmly believed that gold and silver tableware could prolong life.

Before, Li Xuan thought that the Tang Dynasty’s gold would be used to trade with foreign countries and prosper the economy.

After arriving in the Tang Dynasty, Li Xuan discovered that there was very little gold available for trade.

Because that road is called the Silk Road.

On the contrary, the gold obtained from foreign merchants made the gold articles of princes and nobles more valuable.

"Qi Lang's idea is so unique."

Li Shizhi stammered something.

He actually felt that what Li Xuan said made sense.

"Father, I am not the only one who is unique. During the Zhenguan period, the Imperial Censor Quan Wanji wrote to Emperor Taizong, saying that there were many silver mines in the mountains of Xuanzhou and Raozhou, and asked him to send people to mine them. However, not only did Emperor Taizong not mine these silver mines, he also immediately dismissed Quan Wanji from his post. Emperor Taizong believed that silver was not a circulating currency, and even if there was a lot of it, it could not compare to a person with both virtue and ability. In the past, Yao and Shun threw the jade into the mountains and sank the pearl into the deep valley, and thus they gained eternal fame."

"The Tang Dynasty is based on farming. Now land annexation is rampant, the powerful are domineering, the fields are connected to the fields, and the poor have no place to live. We should find talents to govern the counties and prefectures so that the people can have land to farm and have surplus food at home. On the contrary, Emperors Huan and Ling of the Later Han Dynasty valued profit over righteousness, were greedy for money and lustful, and were infamous for thousands of years..."

After Li Xuan pondered for a while, he spoke to Li Shizhi word by word, and his words were shocking.

Especially when mentioning Emperors Huan and Ling of the Later Han Dynasty, Li Shizhi opened his eyes wide and looked out.

Fortunately, there were only the father and son in the front hall.

(End of this chapter)