Chapter 266 Extreme Reversal
What?
Scholar Yu actually spoke up for Wei Shuyu?
With Yu Zhining's approval, everyone put aside their underestimation and began to carefully consider the verses.
Changsun Chong's heart was in his throat!
That's exactly what happened with the theory of building a strong military. They had clearly won, but Wei Zheng's words completely reversed their position.
Will we avoid repeating the same mistakes this time?
I glanced furtively at the crowd.
Thankfully, Wei Zheng wasn't there!
“Zhong Mi, you’re mistaken.” (Yu Zhining’s courtesy name was Zhong Mi)
Gavin Da countered, "Perhaps Wei Shuyu's poems resonate with the sentiment, but we are the ones making the judgments!"
"Judgment should be based on a comprehensive evaluation."
"From every other perspective, Wei Shuyu's poem is slightly inferior."
Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement.
Changsun Chong also breathed a sigh of relief.
That's right, how could I possibly lose to vernacular poetry?
"I also agree with Yicheng's words" (Gai Wenda, courtesy name Yicheng)
Su Xu nodded in agreement: "A five-character poem, only twenty-five characters in total."
"The bright moon appears twice in Wei Shuyu's poems, which is a major taboo."
"This one flaw alone makes the poem flawed."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
The two scholars' arguments were reasonable and well-founded; they simply couldn't think of any advantage that "Quiet Night Thoughts" had.
"The quality of poetry should not be constrained by rules."
Yu Zhining remained adamant: "Have neither of you ever experienced homesickness?"
"Whenever the night is quiet and I look up at the moonlight, I can't help but think of all the little things about my hometown..."
As trees grow taller, people also grow old.
"Only that full moon remains unchanged throughout the ages!"
The talented scholars fell silent.
The Imperial College was a gathering place for talented scholars from all over the country, and they too had longed for their hometowns.
Now, I will repeatedly ponder the "Quiet Night Thoughts".
It has a unique charm.
"No, no, no..."
Su Xu shook his head: "The type of poem by Wei Shuyu existed as early as the Wei and Jin Dynasties."
"Cao Pi wrote two similar lines in his miscellaneous poems: 'Looking up at the bright moonlight, I endlessly think of my hometown...'"
Yu Zhining insisted on his opinion and refuted: "The first of the miscellaneous poems has a total of sixteen lines, but it only mentions two lines. Its charm is far less intense than that of Wei Shuyu's poem."
Gavinda sighed and began to argue again: "Zhong Mi, we are the judges... The theme this time is the bright moon, and Wei Shuyu's poem is too intense in its homesickness, overshadowing the bright moon!"
Yu Zhining countered again: "Using the background to highlight the theme, I might think that way about other poems, but in Wei Shuyu's poem, three out of four lines describe the bright moon, and he even mentions the bright moon directly twice, bringing the atmosphere of this poem to its extreme..."
"The moon evokes homesickness, and homesickness is the moon!"
"Wei Shuyu perfectly integrated the theme with the background, reaching another level, so it can be said that he did not go off-topic!"
Everyone was shocked.
The three scholars actually started arguing.
All for a poem in vernacular Chinese!
Moreover, judging from Yu Zhining's reasoned and argumentative attitude, it is clear that he greatly admires Wei Shuyu's poems.
"Three great masters..."
Just then, the madam finally stepped in to smooth things over: "It's getting late, there are still a few rounds to go."
"If it's curfew time, everyone will have to stay overnight at my Myriad Flowers Pavilion..."
The three stopped arguing only when the madam's teasing voice rang out.
"Scholar Yu and Scholar Su, do you still believe that Changsun Chongsheng is the best?" the madam repeated.
Upon hearing this...
Everyone turned their attention to the two of them.
“Wei Shuyu is top-notch in every aspect, but he also has a flaw in every aspect. I still choose Changsun Chongsheng,” Gavinda said.
“I feel the same way. If this contest weren’t about poetry, but about homesickness, I would definitely vote for Wei Shuyu. But…” Su Xu shook his head and didn’t finish his sentence.
Yu Zhining was stunned.
Finally, he sighed helplessly.
The judges were three people, and two of them chose Changsun Chongsheng. He said that there was no point in saying anything more.
"good."
The madam chuckled and began to announce: "Now, I declare that in the first round of the poetry contest, Changsun Chong has won!"
We won.
Changsun Chong couldn't help but clench his fist.
Congratulations!
Several of Changsun Chong's close friends came forward to offer their congratulations.
Changsun Chong responded to each point.
When he glanced at Wei Shuyu, his eyes held the smugness of a victor!
A private room.
"What a pity, what a pity..."
Li Shimin sighed and shook his head.
After Yu Zhining's analysis, he also felt the charm of the poem.
He grew up in Taiyuan.
Images of loved ones flashed through my mind unintentionally...
Li Jiancheng, Li Yuanji, Princess Pingzhaoyang, Empress Taimu...
Throughout history, many emperors have been widowed or orphaned.
Li Shimin's feelings were more profound than those of others.
“Xuancheng”.
Li Shimin suddenly looked at Wei Zheng and said, "Shuyu's talent has not been wasted. If I were the judge, I would choose him to win."
"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty!"
Wei Zheng rose and bowed: "To receive a word from Your Majesty is more valuable than winning or losing!"
In the attic.
Wei Shuyu sighed helplessly.
He can remember the poem... not only because it's easy to recite.
Furthermore, there is one great strangeness about "Quiet Night Thoughts".
To date, no trace of "Quiet Night Thoughts" appearing in the Tang Dynasty has been found.
The first discovery of "Quiet Night Thoughts" was...
It is found in the Shu edition of Li Bai's collected works from the Song Dynasty.
Therefore, it is highly likely that this poem was not particularly outstanding in the Tang Dynasty...
"Fine, so be it."
Wei Shuyu thought helplessly.
Just then, several young voices rang out from below the stage...
"The bright moonlight shines before my bed."
I know the next line: "It seems like frost on the ground."
"I will too, raise my head and gaze at the bright moon."
"Hey, the last line is 'I bow my head and think of my hometown.'"
Thump.
The sound was like a stone being thrown into a lake, creating ripples!
Everyone's eyes involuntarily turned to the source of the sound.
Several flower girls from the Wanhua Pavilion were seen reciting poems while swaying their heads.
Once!
They remembered it after Wei Shuyu only said it once!
"Do you know what this poem means?" Yu Zhining asked in surprise.
"ah?"
A strange old man suddenly appeared, startling them.
These flower girls were trained by Wan Hua Ge or served as backup dancers for the top flower girl.
Knowing their lowly status, they hesitated and dared not respond.
"When Grand Secretary Yu asks you questions, speak boldly..."
The madam smiled and reassured her.
She had a feeling that things might take a turn for the worse.
"The moon is like frost!"
A flower girl pointed to the moon outside the window.
"I look up at the moon and think of my father and mother..."
Do you really understand?
Everyone was shocked.
Easy to remember, simple and easy to understand.
The poem's charm is obvious...
A widely circulated and easy-to-understand poem.
What can it do?
Snap!
Yu Zhining slapped his thigh.
I've finally figured out the crucial point!
"Shuyu, what's the name of your poem?"
Yu Zhining looked up and asked Wei Shuyu.
"Reporting to Uncle Yu, tell Jingye Si!" Wei Shuyu replied respectfully.
It seems things have taken a turn for the better?
"Thoughts on a Quiet Night, Thoughts on a Quiet Night..."
Yu Zhining murmured a few times, "Wonderful, truly wonderful!"
"In the quiet night, unable to fall asleep, I gaze at the moonlight and long for my hometown..."
"Everyone!"
Yu Zhining's sharp gaze swept over everyone...
"Even if the whole world says that Shuyu has lost today, I will still support this poem, 'Thoughts on a Quiet Night'!"
"I'll put my words here..."
"Changsun Chong's poem isn't even worthy of carrying the shoes for 'Quiet Night Thoughts'!"
What?
The entire audience erupted in uproar.
He risked his life's worth of reputation for a single poem written in vernacular Chinese.
Has Yu Zhining gone mad?
"Zhong Mi, stop talking nonsense!"
"Come back quickly, do you want to destroy yourself?"
Gavinda and Su Xu were extremely anxious.
As members of the same group of eighteen scholars during the Zhenguan era, the three had a good relationship.
"I'm not crazy!"
Yu Zhining shook his head: "Yicheng, Shenxing, if we don't support Jingyesi today, we will truly be infamous for eternity!"
Um?
Both of them were stunned upon hearing this.
Yu Zhining is definitely not an impulsive person...
On the contrary, Yu Zhining is still the most successful of the three!
Yu Zhining is currently serving as the Vice Minister of the Chancellery, a senior fourth-rank official!
If we had to give the Vice Minister of the Chancellery a title, he would be the Deputy Chancellor!
"Everyone!"
"Everyone has seen the charm of 'Thoughts on a Quiet Night'..."
"After the Mid-Autumn Festival, I will report to His Majesty to include 'Thoughts on a Quiet Night' in the children's primer of poetry!"
boom.
The whole place erupted!
So that's the key point...
What does a collection of poems for children's early education represent?
This means that "Quiet Night Thoughts" will soar to new heights!
Your poetry is very good?
What's the point of writing well if it's all bad?
In this world, reputation matters.
Once "Thoughts on a Quiet Night" is included in children's primers, it will become one of the essential courses for every reader!
Wei Shuyu's name will be remembered by all scholars.
This reputation.
Reaching the heavens and the earth!
From then on, all students who met Wei Shuyu would have to call him "Teacher Wei"!
"No...impossible!"
Changsun Chong shook his head as if he were insane.
I thought I had won, so why did things turn around again...?
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