Dragon's literary shadow

Author: (Ming) Xiao Liangyou
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-06-01
Features: Luo Fu, a beauty from Handan, was the wife of King Ren of Zhao and also known as Qin Luo Fu. Ren served as the chief administrator of the Zhao Royal Family. Luo Fu was picking mulberries on the path when King Wang ascended the tower and saw her, fell in love, and wanted to take her away. Luo Fu was skilled at playing the zither and composed the song "Mulberry Path" on the path to clarify her position, which was included in the "Ancient Music Collection." Handan is a county name in Zhao. The zither is a Qin musical instrument invented by Meng Tian. The daughter of Han Yanian, named Luo She, was also known as Luo Fu. Fan Tongde, a concubine of Han Lingxuan, was a maid of Zhao Feiyang. She could recount the stories of Feiyang and her sisters in the palace. Lingxuan said, "They are all ashes now. Wasting their spirits, indulging in desires, how could they know they would end up in wild fields and grass?" Tongde covered her face and looked at the candlelight, holding her hair in her hands, and sadly shed tears. Lingxuan then wrote the "Biography of Feiyang."
The Han Dynasty is called "Seven Systems," while the Tang Dynasty is called "Three Emperors." From Emperor Gaozu of the Western Han to Emperor Xuan, there were scholars, warriors, and emperors; from Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han to Emperor Ming, there were wise, and capable emperors, while the rest had no such titles. Therefore, Wang Tong of He Fen once used the "Seven Systems" to judge them. Nan Gong Jingyi said: "Throughout the Han Dynasty, when benevolence, righteousness, and tolerance were practiced, and when the burden of labor and punishments were light, like the prosperity of the 'Seven Systems,' the Han Dynasty thrived. However, when empresses and concubines seized power and eunuchs and relatives held sway, like the decline of the 'Seven Systems,' the Han Dynasty fell."
Emperor Taizong brought order to the chaos left by the Sui Dynasty, matching the achievements of Tang and Zhou in governance. Emperor Xuanzong at the beginning of the Kaiyuan era worked diligently to govern, and his policies were as strict as ice and snow, earning him the title of "Ultimate Governance." Emperor Xianzong was resolute and decisive, though he harbored ambitions of rebellion, ultimately achieving success and reviving Tang's glory. The Tang Dynasty had twenty-one emperors, and historical ranked the "Three Emperors" as the most notable. The character for Sui is "," but Emperor Wen of Sui removed the radical to form .
Gaozu injured his chest when Guoqing cut off his tongue. Tang Yanqiqing, styled Xinzhi, served as the governor of Changshan. During the An Lushan Rebellion, the rebel general Shi Siming captured Changshan. Yanqiqing, unable to prepare defenses, was taken captive and never ceased cursing the rebels. An Lushan, furious, ordered his tongue cut off, causing Yanqiqing to bleed to death. Wen Tianxiang's "Song of Righteousness" mentions "Yan Changshan's tongue," referring to this event. "Dai" is pronounced as "gao."
Emperor Gaozu of Han competed with Xiang Yu for supremacy. In the fourth year of the Han Dynasty, Xiang Yu and the Han King met in the area between Guangwu and argued. The Han King listed ten crimes against Xiang Yu, who, enraged, aimed an arrow at the Han King, wounding his chest. The Han King touched his foot and said, "A brute has hit my toes." He lay down in pain, but Zhang Liang forcibly urged him to rise and review the troops to reassure the people. "Men," he pronounced, "touching the foot, as if it were a door."
Prince Wei was straightforward and De Shu was tolerant. Song Han Qi, styled Zhiyui, was from Anyang and was enfeoffed as Prince of Wei. As prime minister of Emperor Renzong, he was bold and outspoken, such as when he abruptly drew back the curtain for Empress Cao, or when he blamed the empress for failing to care for the emperor's illness, or when he advised against the Qingmiao policy—all of which were consistent with the stories of Lou Shu and Di Renjie. His son, Zhongyan, became the governor of Dingzhou, and the people celebrated, saying, "This is the son of the old prime minister." Zhongyan, styled Shipu, passed the imperial examinations and was later appointed as the Right Vice Minister and Grand Academician of the Guanwen Hall.
Tang Lou Shu, styled Zongren, served as prime minister during Empress Wu's reign. He was generous and forgiving, once telling his brother, "If someone spits on your face, let it dry naturally." He once recommended Di Renjie as prime minister, but Di later pushed him aside. Empress Wu showed Di the letter and Di sighed, saying, "Liu Gong's great virtue has long been my refuge."
Song Kou Zun often criticized Wang Dan, but Dan always praised Kou Zun's abilities and secretly recommended him as military governor and co-prime minister, similar to the stories of Lou Shu and Di Renjie.
Chen Hong, styled Zhengping, was from Zichuan. While traveling in Ying and Xu, he had a name slip that was too blurred to use. Kong Rong deeply admired his talent and became close friends with him. He offered vegetables and said, "A hundred eagles are better than one osprey. If Chen Hong serves in the court, he will surely be outstanding." Cao Cao urgently sought to meet him, but Chen Hong claimed to be mad and refused. Cao Cao, enraged, appointed him as a drum player. He once performed the "Fisherman's Tune" with a mournful and powerful rhythm, moving the audience deeply. Later, he was killed by Huang Zu.
Tang Zhang Lusi served as the magistrate of Xuancheng. His wife, Shi, had nine sons. Once, while fishing at Jiao's Terrace, he returned with a wet and cold body. His wife asked why, and he said, "I am a dragon, and so is the man from Liao, Zheng Xiangyuan. Today, I contested the fishing terrace with its treasures, and tomorrow we will fight. Let my nine sons assist me. I lead the red silk army, and Zheng leads the green silk army." The next day, they shot at the green silk, hit it, and the nine sons turned into dragons and left. Liao is pronounced as "lu," which is now Anhui Province.