Crown Tang emperor

"It's not just Liu Lang. Before that, half of the people who came out of the house should have gone straight to Fengge for use. Today's Lintai, it can be said that there are few things and people are trapped, and everyone is looking for a way out."

Wang Shaozong closed the scroll and said to the young king with a smile.It's just that after he finished speaking, Shen Junliang and Li Qiao, the chief supervisor in the hall, looked a little unnatural.

Shen Junliang was ashamed because the official of Lintai couldn't supervise his duties inside, and he couldn't resist forced recruitment outside, which made the whole Lintai feel distracted.As for Li Qiao, he is exactly what Wang Shaozong said is the representative of being restless in his duties and looking for another way out.

During the half day of entering the office, Li Tong understood Lintai's sophistication.Shen Jun understood that this superintendent was just a fake, with little sense of presence inside and outside.If the others still had a way out, they would all go their separate ways, and had no intention of guarding Lintai at all.The only ones who are still in it now are relatively pure old scholars like Wang Shaozong.

To put it in a more youthful tone, this is a besieged city, the people outside squeeze their heads and want to come in, and the people inside want to get out with wide eyes.

There was still some time before noon, and another official came to the hall, bringing a mission from Wenchang Province: General Youweiwei Dugu Qingyun died of illness in Fangzhong's house the day before yesterday. The task of the department was to prepare for the funeral of the minister, and the Works Bureau under Lintai was responsible for drafting the epitaph, sacrificial text and other manuscripts.

"General Dugu has passed away?"

Li Tong was a little surprised to hear this. Not long ago, he told Dugu Qingyun's son-in-law Yang Zhiyi about this matter on his way to court, but he didn't expect that such a Nanya general would have passed away the next day.

But this is not worth too much sadness, at least it can be regarded as a good death.As far as Li Tong knew about the current Nan Ya generals in power, several of them would not be able to escape the cruelty of the political struggle and die unexpectedly in the next few years.

Among other things, there was finally something serious to do.Probably because it was too boring, even though this was a task assigned to the Book Bureau, several provincial officials from Lintai Zhitang also got together to discuss it.

Officials from the Shangshu Bureau sent Dugu Qingyun's career statement. The so-called career statement is a person's life history, materials needed for epitaphs and sacrificial inscriptions. archive.

It must also be said that after the History Museum was divested, the Bureau of Books had very little business, only small matters such as writing epitaphs for people remained.

Li Tong was very interested in this. He had picked up a lot of ancient tombstones before, and sorted out many epitaphs and other inscriptions. If it wasn't for the nature of this job, he would not have come to this world.There are many finished products, but the production process of this business has not been seen much.

The profile was written by Dugu's family members outside, summarizing the life of Dugu Qingyun in thousands of words.When it was circulated to Li Tong, he also read it very carefully. It can be said that it is the most primitive historical material. Although he is not very interested in Dugu Qingyun and his affairs, he can understand it after reading it. Many details of the era that have been lost in many history books in later generations.

When he saw the signature of the writer of the ending statement, Li Tong couldn't help being surprised again. The author of this record was actually a master Liu Zhiji.Liu Zhiji may not be well-known in the traditional literary circles, but he is much more famous in the historiography circles. His "Shi Tong" is a great work of historiography.

Li Tong is still lamenting that Lintai is worthy of the attention of scholars. In such a short time since he came here, he has come into contact with so many famous scholars of the early Tang Dynasty either directly or indirectly. Several people behind him circulated the manuscripts, but they have already started talking about it. .

"This paper is a detailed ruling, widely cited, like a clever woman and a skilled hand, with meticulous details. The author Liu Zhiji, my brother Liu Zhirou and I have a good relationship, and I often hear him say that a handsome family is better than a young man. Brother Nai, looking at it now, he is indeed extraordinary."

Several people around were still talking about Dugu Qingyun's affairs. Hearing Li Qiao's emotion, they couldn't help being curious, and they all came forward to wait for the article to be circulated.

Anyone who has any talent in the National People's Congress is always thinking of showing off his skills. The paper written by Liu Zhiji was submitted to the office, which quickly diverted the attention of the literati and ink writers in Lintai, and the content of the discussion also changed. Turned to the appreciation of the article.

Standing in the straight hall, Li Tong couldn't help but sweat profusely when he saw this scene, and thought to himself that fortunately there is no Dugu family in Lintai, otherwise, seeing you guys making such disrespectful and crooked talk, a punch would be inevitable.The elder is already very sad when someone dies, even if you judge, you have to find the key point!

Li Tong was still complaining in his heart. After hearing the news from outside, Lintai Lang Yuan Xingchong finally brought the topic back after reading the scrolls, and talked about Dugu Qingyun, which was just what he said But it is even worse than the previous few who discussed literature.

"This document is very detailed and detailed. It only talks about the life experience of the deceased, but it is different from the story..."

Yuan Xingchong held this paperwork and began to talk eloquently.

Li Tong had a great interest in gossip, and when he heard Yuan Xingchong tell a story from a long time ago, he also leaned over and listened carefully.

It turns out that this Dugu Qingyun, although Dugu's surname sounds like a Xianbei person, but in retrospect, he is actually a Han Chinese with Miaohong roots, and he is also the Longxi Li family of Li Tong and his family.

It was originally a distant branch of Li Tang's clan, but in the Sui Dynasty he was given the surname Dugu because of his meritorious service. It was a national surname, but it was lost because the ancestors were too competitive.

But this is not the most depressing part of Dugu's family, Yuan Xing rushed to defend, and even took off all the shame-covering underwear of Dugu's family.

It turns out that the surname given by the Dugu family was not because of any great achievements in the Sui Dynasty. Its real surname was still in the Northern Zhou Dynasty. Xin's favor, this was given the surname Dugu.

After hearing the reasons for this, Li Tong was also overjoyed, thinking that Yuan Xingchong was too bad.The dignified Longxi Li family was given the surname Hu. It is already very wronged. It is not easy to change the surname now. To hide this disgraceful past of the ancestors is to save face. In the end, you insisted on digging out the old things of the person to show can you?

It is reasonable for Yuan Xingchong to insist on this. He was born in the Tuoba family of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Duguxin's master, Yu Wentai, was originally a servant of his family. You, a domestic slave, still want to play sloppy eyes in front of your master's master's master's descendants , When people don't read books or study history?

But besides feeling funny in his heart, Li Tong looked at Yuan Xingchong's serious face again, and felt a wonderful feeling that the wheels of history were rolling: "What about your Northern Wei royal family? Now you see me, the Li family of Longxi, the king of the Tang Dynasty." , don't you have to bend over obediently and bow your head?

After everyone discussed it, they returned to the matter of writing the epitaph for Dugu Qingyun.Originally, Li Qiao didn't take this kind of small work very much, but after seeing the job description written by Liu Zhiji, he felt a little bit of a competition in his heart, and even planned to write it himself.

Seeing that Li Qiao was already contemplating his ideas, Shen Junliang, the superintendent next to him, felt his heart move, turned to look at Li Tong and said with a smile, "I don't know if Your Majesty is interested in trying your handwriting?"

It's my business?

When Li Tong heard this, the rolling wheel of history in his heart stopped suddenly, and when he looked up again, he saw all the officials in the hall looking at him with great interest.

Chapter 0177

Shen Junliang's proposal was actually a bit reckless.

A small matter such as writing an epitaph is the task of the Book Bureau of Lintai's subordinate organization. Even the author Lang Li Qiao, if he hadn't seen Liu Zhiji's biography written in a smooth manner and full of literary talent, he probably wouldn't have done it. Knowing how to make a move, he casually arranges the subordinates in the game to do it.

The young king has a high status and is an official in Lintai Shaojian. It's not that he can't make a move, but Dugu Qingyun's weight is not enough.

The second is the age of the young king. Although the form of "Vientiane" has long been in front, it has been greatly appreciated by the emperor and praised by all the officials, but there are still many people who still have doubts about whether the poem was written by the young king.Although there are works that have been handed down after the young king, they are not of the Athenian style. They are novel and interesting, but they are not amazing.

The epitaph is a real coffin-setting article and a real applied style. Its solemnity and formality and high difficulty of writing are far from being comparable to a few poems.It is very difficult to develop excellent writing skills without many years of calligraphy training.

Rao Li Qiao, who has always been quite supportive of the young king, was also taken aback for a moment after hearing Shen Junliang's words, and looked at the young king with some concern.

When Shen Junliang made this proposal, he also weighed it in his heart.He didn't deliberately make things difficult for the young king, he just wanted to see with his own eyes how capable the young king was.

After all, hearing is believing, seeing is believing.Entering the straight waiting edict is not just as simple as performing duties in the forbidden area. When the king reads it, he writes it down, shows it to all officials, and promulgates it to the world. It is indeed extremely glorious, but if there are any shortcomings in the writing style, it will be infinitely magnified.

If the young king can't even write an epitaph well, then he might as well just stay in Lintai honestly and play for his seniority.For example, Wu Chengsi, the right minister of Wenchang today, also took office in Lintai in his early years. Although there is no word about it, he also has a resume of clear appointments.

However, if the young king can really show extraordinary writing skills, Shen Junliang also wants to support the young king and praise the young king as a rising star of their Lintai, which will be of great benefit to Lintai and himself .

Of course, all this depends on whether the young king is really capable.

As for the other Lintai officials, they may not have thought as deeply as Shen Junliang, but they came together with the mood of watching the excitement about how deep the young king was.

Seeing the atmosphere in the hall like this, Li Tong knew that it was not easy to refuse. If he refused, it would be difficult for Lintai and even Shilin, the capital of gods, to muddle through in the future.

Even if his grandma praises him a lot now and is willing to give him a chance, whether he can seize the opportunity and gain a firm foothold depends on his own ability after all.

If he showed his timidity and was seen by others, he was just a scumbag like Wu Jiazi who was fooling around relying solely on the grace of the gods. If he still enjoys a high position in the future, he would only become a pawn in his grandma's hands. It is difficult to realize one's own ambition.

"Although Xiao Wang is clumsy and shallow in writing, since the superintendent has orders, he dare not say anything."

Li Tong turned around and slightly raised his arms to Shen Junliang, "I want to be a career, not just bragging, I will do whatever you tell me, so you can do it yourself."

Hearing that the young king agreed to come down, the atmosphere in the straight hall suddenly became lively, not to mention whether the young king's writing skills were neat or not, this courage has already changed people's opinion of him quite a bit.

Shen Junliang raised his hand and ordered: "Quickly prepare the library for the king..."

"That's not necessary. Xiao Wang is also very nervous about the new sentence. I hope that the chief ministers in the hall can correct it immediately. If it is really difficult to do it with clumsy pens, then don't just waste books and materials and make the Fang family laugh."

Li Tong interrupted Shen Junliang's words with a smile, and his tone was a bit ambiguous, implying that if I can write this article well, one of you present will count as one, and whoever beeps blindly in the future will make himself unhappy!

After hearing the words, everyone present, such as Shen Junliang, Wang Shaozong, etc., had a somewhat unnatural expression, but some good people had already brought pens, inks and stationery to display on the copywriting, and treated the young king respectfully.

Li Tong didn't procrastinate any longer, walked up to the desk and sat down, first closed his eyes and meditated, and the others all held their breaths and concentrated on seeing this, not daring to disturb the young Wang Wensi.

"My lord, the ink has been adjusted."

Hearing the clerk's soft voice, Li Tong opened his eyes, grabbed Liu Zhi's few books and quickly browsed through them, then picked up his pen and wrote slowly: Gongbao Qingyun, whose original surname was Li, Longxi Cheng Jiren also...

The beginning is unremarkable, but it is just a brief description of life experience.Although the officials in the straight hall were curious, they all avoided standing outside the screen, worried about disturbing the young king, but the clerk who was waiting for the pen next to him was shocked when he saw the young king's gestures.

Hearing the scribe's startled sound, Li Tong raised his head and smiled at him, secretly thinking that Lintai really had a profound background, and even an ordinary clerk could see that his writing skills were different from those of his predecessors.Seeing that the young king was looking at him, the officials hurriedly covered their mouths, and then bowed and crossed their hands flusteredly to apologize.

Seeing this scene, everyone outside the screen couldn't help being even more curious. Shen Junliang stepped forward, stood on the side of the case and looked down, his eyes seemed to be glued to the paper when he touched it. After watching for a while, he raised his hand and made a move to Wang Shaozong .

When Wang Shaozong saw this, he also walked over, his face became more startled when he saw it, and he murmured: "Your Majesty's brushwork is upright, his muscles are plump, full of old patterns, it will become a style!"

Hearing what Wang Shaozong said, everyone present was even more surprised.It should be known that Wang Shaozong was born in the Wang family of Langya, and he was a master of calligraphy. Although he is not famous for calligraphy, his appreciation ability is recognized by Lintai as superb.

Although there are many calligraphers in the country, but tracing back to the source, what they learned is just the old methods of the two kings, but Wang Shaozong said that the young king's brushwork is full of old ways, which is already very high.

Because at this moment, everyone could no longer care about being reserved, and they all came forward one after another, wanting to see how brilliant the young king's brushwork was, and how could he get such an evaluation from Wang Shaozong?

Everyone gathered around one after another, and the circle of the copy suddenly became cramped. Seeing this, Li Tong simply put down his pen, and pushed the words of the book to the front of the case, for everyone to appreciate first.

He also understands that although his calligraphy is still far away from the founding of the sect, all he has is nothing more than years of inexperienced craftsmanship, but he has a little advantage that what he has learned from the beginning is the set style of face and body.

Yan style was called Tang Shu Zheng style in later generations. Apart from Yan Zhenqing's own calligraphy, a very important reason is that it was not until Yan showed the world that Tang Dynasty calligraphy could be said to have completely got rid of the old methods of the Six Dynasties, especially the two kings, and created a new style. A new realm of calligraphy.

Of course, it does not mean that new is good. After all, any art form has its origins and inheritance. The reason why Li Tong's facial features can attract the attention and admiration of many people in Lintai is that it shows the prospect of a breakthrough in calligraphy art. .

The reason why Yan style can become an orthodox style is not obtained out of thin air, but based on Yan Zhenqing's full inheritance of the calligraphy styles of Erwang, Chu Shu and other ancestors, and then making breakthroughs, it is not just a simple innovation.

"Xueshi Li's praise is indeed true. The style of this book alone is enough for the king to sit in the hall. I hope that the king can study the law and study it carefully, and get out of work as soon as possible!"

After appreciating it carefully, Wang Shaozong personally bent down to spread the paper scroll back and smoothed it out. When he looked at the young king, his eyes were much more solemn.

Li Tong nodded and thanked Wang Shaozong for his encouragement, and felt that it would be more refreshing to surprise Fang's family if he showed off his skills.The descendants of the book sage praised him endlessly, and the satisfaction brought by this praise was a enjoyment that no one else could bring even if the tongue was full of lotus flowers.

Everyone gathered around the case at this time and did not disperse, Li Tong simply continued to write a pen and write slowly: Zhou Shizhu History, refers to the tree to start the clan; Han family flying general, Cheng Qi shows virtue.Later, Guizhang repeatedly attacked...

Li Tong is certainly not as good as the scholarly elites of this era, but his advantage lies in the fact that there are too many established rules to follow.

Seeing the young queen's letter, Li Qiao's originally worried mood was completely relaxed.These few examples are used appropriately and solemnly, even if he writes it himself, it is nothing more than that.

The sixteen characters at the beginning clearly explain the origin of the Li clan in Longxi. Lao Tzu Li Er and Parachutist Li Guang have allusions at their fingertips, and their style of writing is already very calm.

The epitaph is just a narrative, and Liu Zhiji has done a good job in this regard.

After Li Tong traced the origin of the first article, all he needed to do next was to transcribe the content of the lineage, simplify it, briefly describe Dugu Qingyun's life, and only praise him in key parts of his deeds. For example, when it comes to Dugu Qingyun's appointment as an official "The roc wants to move, but it has transformed into a kun in Beiming; when a good horse gallops, it will be friends with a dragon in the east."

There are many skills in document writing.When it comes to the skill of writing and conceiving, in fact, it is the same in ancient and modern times. Li Tong has no big problem in this aspect. His greatest weakness lies in the mastery and application of a large number of allusions. It is not as good as the ancients who have been immersed in it all year round.

However, the scope of application of epitaphs is inherently small, and there are many writing styles.Especially in his early work needs, he had been exposed to a large number of epitaphs of the Tang Dynasty. Even if he didn't memorize and study them very carefully, he could get over the ground and write down some examples of fixed sentences.It may not be possible to write a heroic chapter like "Preface to the Pavilion of King Teng", but it is not difficult to write a qualified epitaph.

"Glorious participation in the dynasty of Jianwu, doting on the generation of Yuanfeng... Gengxi is looking forward to his life, and still shows his ambition to travel... If the soul of General Dugu knows his life's aspirations and interests, he will be honored and favored, and he will be commended by the king, fortunately When you know yourself, go to hell with a smile..."

I don't know who made this compliment in the back. After Li Tong heard this, his pen trembled slightly, and his heart became even more hairy. If you don't know how to praise others, just shut up. , directly take you down!

After writing the epitaph and writing the inscription part, Li Tong's writing speed increased quickly.The inscriptions are short and lively, with a strong sense of rhyme. This is Li Tong's copywriting business. He writes in letter and pen with countless materials. In just a few quarters of an hour, he actually wrote seven inscriptions. I have to continue to write quickly.

Even so, when he wrote the pen, there was still a burst of applause in the straight hall, especially Li Qiao stepped forward and praised: "The inscription of the post-record is the most heart-wrenching, even if I draw up a pen to compose it, it will be difficult in a short time." Success. Your Majesty is quick-witted and quick-witted, but Qiao is not as good as him!"

Li Tong was also feeling quite tired at the moment, and lamented that it was no wonder that the former humanities copied the main poems, with clear memory and effortless copying, but he wrote this epitaph forcefully, with less than [-] words, but it almost emptied him. .

But this kind of copying is very necessary. The "judgment" in the selection of officials in the Tang Dynasty is the most important content for politicians, even if they are emperors.

How to make judgments about people and things, and write a pen, if you write it, it will be discarded. Even if you copy all "Three Hundred Tang Poems", you are nothing more than an idle poet, and you are also a waste in government affairs.

The epitaph is a judgment on a person's coffin, and it is also a kind of judgment in a broad sense.Li Tong's original reserve of poems and essays alone is actually very difficult to complete, and it is also due to the fact that he has been squatting in the palace for the past few months. In addition to conspiracy and calculation, he has a lot of contact with various contemporary applied styles. able to complete.

Seeing the reaction of the crowd now, it seems that he has done well.This also made Li Tong feel relieved. Although it is a short-term attack on the long-term to compete with the ancients, the problem is that the right to choose this kind of instant competition is not his.

Chapter 0178

After writing an epitaph, it was already late in the afternoon, and the audience who stayed in the hall naturally missed the time for eating.

However, they didn't have much thought of eating at the moment, and they rushed to pass the chapters of the young king's calligraphy one by one.

In fact, strictly speaking, in the eyes of experts such as Wang Shaozong and Li Qiao, the epitaph of Shaowang is only above average in terms of writing style and literary talent. .

Still, not being able to fault anything is a surprise in itself.It must be known that they are elites in their respective fields in the current world, and their eyes are high, so how can they be ordinary if they can catch their eyes.If the young king's age is also taken into consideration, then the surprise that the young king brought to them today is too great!

As for the chief supervisor, Shen Junliang, he was even more joyful, and he smiled at the young king again and again: "The great king is young and beautiful, and the utensils have been completed. It is enviable and self-ashamed. Given time, the bigger the handwriting, the more it will become a literary school in the country!"

Li Tong was a little embarrassed to be praised so much, and he stood up and bowed: "Little Wang Bocai is brave. Fortunately, everyone is kind enough to cover me up, whitewash my clumsy pen, and I am dignified. Use this to encourage yourself and dare not be arrogant. In the coming year But if there is a small success, don’t forget that the gentlemen have praised me today.”

A person with ability is called humble, and a person with no ability is called quiet.At any time, people who are too arrogant will not have good popularity. For example, Du Fu's grandfather, Du Shenyan, was called into the court at the beginning of the year because of his excellent performance in presenting poems for Dajiu. Zhang Pozui was demoted to another state.

The young king is handsome, talented, modest and courteous, and his family is upright. Who doesn't like such a person?

But although Lintai is free, it is not good for a group of people to gather in the straight hall and only flatter one person.Ordinary government offices usually stop dealing with government affairs after noon, and except for those who have stayed in the straight line, everyone else can go home.

At this time in the past, Lintai officials had already left.But today was an exception. Except for some people who left early, the rest stayed in the provincial government office for a long time.

If you listen to too much flattery, you will feel numb. Everyone is too enthusiastic, and Li Tong can't just leave. After pondering for a while, he suggested: "Xiao Wang is a newcomer, and there are many people who are unfamiliar. I want to hold a small banquet at my home. All my colleagues in the government office, I would like to talk with you, I wonder if you have any leisure time?"

When he made this proposal, everyone present, including Li Qiao, nodded in thanks. Only a few officials who stayed in Zhizhi regretted that they could not be taught.Everyone's enthusiasm made Li Tong a little suspicious. You said these good things and insisted on not leaving. You are afraid that you will go to my house for a meal, right?

"The office is at leisure. Since your majesty is in a good mood, you all follow the teaching. The old man is boring and hard to find happiness, so he will not tire of obeying."

Although the chief supervisor, Shen Junliang, did not need to be straight today, but after all, he was a senior official in Lintai, and he was not easy to get along with the young king due to the huge difference in age, but he still personally sent the young king out of the official residence, watching a group of more than a dozen people surrounded by mighty The young king went to Duanmen, and then turned back to the official office.

When he returned to the middle hall of Zhitang, Shen Junliang saw that Wang Shaozong, who stayed straight, was still reading the young king's articles carefully, so he went up to the hall and said with a smile: "This king is really a lot of surprises. Thin words are really angrily and forcefully argued, and they are superficial."

After Wang Shaozong heard the words, he nodded, his eyes still did not leave the scroll, and he sighed in his mouth: "Your Majesty is forced to clear the throne because of the holy family, and he is not the only one who follows this. Most of the previous types are vulgar. Before..."

Speaking of this, he also felt a little slip of the tongue, he hid it with a dry laugh, turned to Shen Junliang and asked for instructions: "According to what the supervisor saw, does General Dugu use this book for his funeral?"

"Since the arts and sciences are outstanding, why not use them? First send to the Publications Bureau, and then review and avoid taboos. If there are no omissions, they will be copied and submitted to the provincial government."

Shen Junliang was in a good mood, waved his hand to give instructions, then took some personal belongings, and went to his private official hall in the back hall.

After returning to the official hall, Shen Junliang pondered for a while, then picked up a pen and began to write a memorial, suggesting that the King of Hedong should wait for the imperial edict, and then send it to Wenchang Shangshu.

In the afternoon, many officials from various divisions and departments of Taiwan Province left the imperial city, and the group of more than a dozen people in Lintai was quite conspicuous.Lintai's affairs are already idle, and there are a group of literati and poets full of flirtatious feelings. They don't have much business, so they are keen to engage in interpersonal relationships, so they have a lot of people.

Although the distance from Lintai official house to Duanmen was not long, those Lintai officials called for friends along the way, and by the time they reached Tianjin Bridge, the team size had reached dozens of people.

Li Tong couldn't help but feel emotional about this, people still need to integrate into a small group after all.Although their brothers also participated in the imperial court before, they often spin out and in, almost like a lone ranger. Others don't pay too much attention to them, and they can't blend into other people's circles.

But now with the help of Lintai's subordinates, it has almost achieved the effect of responding to everyone.While expressing emotion, Li Tong did not forget to send an entourage back home quickly to inform his family to prepare the meeting place.