Chapter 190: Zhao Bo Hanoi Seeking Famous Scholars, Taichu Bamboo Forest Society Two Sages
Cao Shuang gained Wang Ling but lost Wei Zhen. At this time, his mood was uncertain.
"I wonder, General, have you ever heard of some famous reclusive men in Hanoi County?"
He Yan, Ding Mi, Deng Yang and others understood that at this moment, when General Cao Shuang was in the court, it was the time when his wings were gradually becoming fuller, but after all, there was still a shortage of manpower. This was not the time to stand still, on the contrary, they
I think it's time to add another fire at this time, so that the general's power will reach an unparalleled level.
"Oh? What you are talking about are the hermits living in the bamboo forest in Hanoi County?"
When Cao Shuang heard this, he was also moved in his heart. It was obvious that he was also a little moved by this when he was hiring people.
"Of course. Now the general has nothing but enough reputation. If we can recruit these famous people in the field to serve for the general, it will be of great benefit and no harm to the general.
ah!"
"Well..." Cao Shuang thought for a moment and nodded, indicating that he agreed with what they said. However, he still frowned. After a while, he answered: "It's just that these famous people in the bamboo forest are known as hermits and have always secluded themselves from the world.
If you don't come out, how can you easily get involved in the court and be used by me?"
"Don't worry, general." The erudite Shangshu He Yan, who has always paid attention to famous people in the world and their articles and poems, said: "I have read the "Lectures on Music" written by Ruan Ji, Ruan Sizong, a famous scholar in the bamboo forest, and Xiahou Taichu once replied:
"Bian Yu Lun", and they often exchanged letters and discussed literature. It can be seen that Taichu should have been in contact with these famous people in the bamboo forest for a long time. Furthermore, Taichu was an outstanding person among his peers, with a well-known reputation, and he always liked to grow old.
Zhuang Zhixue often debates and talks with others, so he may be able to talk with those famous people in the bamboo forest. Yan believes that as long as he starts this trip at the beginning, he will definitely succeed!"
"Well, okay. In that case, let Taichu go to Hanoi himself." Cao Shuang clapped his hands and laughed, nodding his head in approval.
——————
The sun shines through the clouds that appear and disappear from time to time, reflecting on the thin snow that is about to melt by the roadside.
A young knight wearing a white fox fur, riding a tall white horse with majestic horns and a silver bell hanging from its neck, was standing on the north bank of the river, looking into the distance.
This person was none other than Xia Houxuan, who was planning to go to Hanoi County to visit wise men.
He set out from Luoyang, rode hundreds of miles, crossed the river, and finally arrived at the border of Hanoi County.
Next to an inn that was not very eye-catching but had a good business, Xia Houxuan got off his horse, shook the slush from the hem of his fur cloak, handed the reins to the groom and strode towards the inn.
Although spring has begun at this time of year, the snow melts, which adds a bit of chill.
Xia Houxuan blew on the hot jujube tea in his hand and took a sip.
"Sir, your side dishes!" The waiter placed two exquisite-looking plates on the table. The plates are exquisite and cute, but the dishes on them are even better. It seems that business here is booming, and it is not unreasonable.
Xia Houxuan came all the way and was naturally hungry. After a while, the two dishes of side dishes were swept away.
"Little brother." Xia Houxuan put down his tea cup and turned around to ask, "Have you heard that several wise men have come to this county in recent months and live in a bamboo forest in this county?"
When the waiter heard this, he felt very happy for some reason. He smiled and said:
"Idle person? Yes!"
When Xia Houxuan heard that the waiter said that there were wise people in Hanoi, he felt very proud and asked quickly:
"But I don't know where these wise men live now? Are they really living in the bamboo forest as the rumors say?"
When the waiter heard this, he suddenly realized, he laughed and said:
"Hahaha, brother, let me tell you that there are not many wise men in Hanoi County as you mentioned, but there are quite a few idle drunkards here in recent days. Well, it's just north of the shop, not far away more than ten miles away.
There is a bamboo forest in the place where there are several drunkards. I heard that they are drunk all day long and are unconscious. Just two days ago, a man came to the shop drunk and bought several jars of wine on credit.
I don’t know how long or how long it will take to repay the money for the wine.”
The waiter shook his head and sighed.
When Xia Houxuan heard that he was an idler and not a wise man, he couldn't help laughing at first, but he was also a little disappointed in his heart. But after hearing what the waiter said, his heart moved, as if he saw hope again. Xia Houxuan sipped the hot tea and nodded. After a while,
, after he drank all the tea in the cup, he took out a piece of broken silver and placed it on the table:
"Second brother, I have some friendships with those friends in the bamboo forest. This money should be treated as wine money for these friends."
"Oh, thank you sir, I have enough money to keep your friends here drinking for several months!"
Seeing Xia Houxuan's generous spending, the waiter in the shop hurriedly collected the money, smiling apologetically and thanking him profusely.
After leaving the inn, it was already the time of arrival.
Xia Houxuan did not want to delay, so he picked up the bridle and rode his horse towards the north.
The melted slush splashed onto the white snow, leaving spots on his white fox fur cloak.
After arriving ten miles north of the inn, he finally saw the lush bamboo forest in front of him.
The winding path leads to a quiet place. When the main road reaches this point, it turns into several small roads, winding towards the bamboo forest. It is unknown where they lead.
There is a vast expanse of white snow all around, but this place is lush and full of life.
Before Xia Houxuan got off his horse, he was attracted by the vitality and tranquility of the bamboo forest here.
"This bamboo forest is indeed a good place to retreat..." He slowly dismounted and walked along the path towards the bamboo forest.
He thought to himself that if he had not had unfinished ambitions, he might have chosen to live in seclusion here with his wife, and then meet up with two or three friends to travel around, enjoy the wind and the moon, drink wine and sing songs.
If this is the case, then this life can be regarded as carefree and unrestrained.
While he was thinking this, he led the horse deep into the forest.
Although the bamboo forest is very deep, there are trails in between, so you won't get lost.
Xia Houxuan slowly led his horse along the road while observing the straight and knotted bamboo poles and the bamboo leaves as tall and sharp as swords. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the quiet atmosphere in the forest.
, I just feel that my internal organs have been infiltrated.
With his eyes closed, Xia Houxuan's hearing seemed to become more acute.
In the forest in the distance, there was a sweet sound like a clear spring and flowing stones. When he listened carefully, he realized that the sound did not seem to be the sound of running water.
The path ahead becomes more and more twists and turns, and the branches and leaves of the bamboo forest become more lush.
Xia Houxuan tied the 'White Bird' in place and continued to explore forward.
The sound became clearer and clearer. Xia Houxuan finally heard it clearly. The clear sound like flowing clouds and flowing water turned out to be the sound of playing a harp and the sound of a sword cutting through the air.
After walking forward for a while, Xia Houxuan saw a handsome young man in the forest, wearing a crane cloak, using the ground as a mat and a stone as a table, playing the piano and singing; another young man was holding a long sword and was singing.
The swordsmanship of a dragon and a phoenix echoed with the sound of the piano like flowing water. The young man danced his sword and recited poetry at the same time. Just listen to him singing:
"There is a strange bird in the forest, which says it is a phoenix.
In the Qing Dynasty, people drank from Liquan and lived on hills during the day and night.
The sound is so high that it reaches all nine states, and I stretch my neck to look at the eight wastelands.
When the business wind started to rise, the wings were destroyed and hidden.
Once I go to the west of Kunlun, when will I return to heaven?
But the hatred is out of place, and the melancholy makes the heart sad.”
[Note 1: Ruan Ji's "Eighty-Two Songs of Love, Seventy-nine".]
The young man playing the piano looked to be only sixteen or seventeen years old, but his superb piano skills were the only one Xia Houxuan had ever seen in his life.
As for the poem sung by the young swordsman dancing and singing, Xia Houxuan had never heard of it. It was obviously improvised by the swordsman himself. This poem is broad and magnificent, and there is an unwillingness to be lonely hidden in it.
It is indeed a masterpiece. Not only that, the young man's sword skills are relaxed and graceful, showing the master's style between every blow and thrust.
What a good piano player, good literary talent, and good swordsmanship! Xia Houxuan could not help but hold up his palms in admiration. He walked forward and praised loudly: "Good! Good! Good!"
At this time, the young man playing the harp in the forest pressed the seven strings and stopped playing. The swordsman stopped dancing and singing. They both turned around and saw Xia Houxuan walking into the forest. He had a sword hanging on his waist and the god of wind was handsome.
young scholar in white.
The voice of the young man in the forest was like a green phoenix, and he couldn't help but ask:
"Your Excellency just applauded three times, but why?"
"I'm lucky enough to hear and see the music of two people, their poems, and their swordsmanship. It's really refreshing. All three are excellent, so Xuan couldn't help but cheer." Xia Houxuan took advantage of the interval between salutes and replies to pay attention again.
He looked at the two people in the forest carefully.
I saw the young man in a crane cloak who was playing the piano, with a majestic look on his eyebrows, a face like a crown jade and a slight mustache, which made him look naturally beautiful but unkempt.
The poetry swordsman, on the other hand, has disheveled hair and is handsome. He is dressed in a moon-white loose robe, which makes his handsome face look even more elegant.
"I don't know who you are, but you came to this bamboo forest today. Do you want to have a drink and talk with the two of you?"
The young swordsman was the first to say hello to Xia Houxuan.
"I am Xia Houxuan, whose courtesy name is Taichu."
"Are you Xiahou Taichu?" The swordsman looked delighted: "But the Xiahou Taichu who wrote "Leon on Music" and replied to "Lun on Music"?"
Xia Houxuan was also startled, and then he said happily: "Could it be that you are Ruan Sizong?"
"Of course! Hahaha..." Ruan Ji raised his palms to the sky and laughed without any trace of concealment: "I have been fascinated by Your Excellency for a long time. It is really a rare fate to meet you in this bamboo forest today. I wish you the best."
Hurry up and take your seat, I will prepare some wine with Ji Xiandi and get drunk with Taichu before we retire!"
"That's very good!" Xia Houxuan said with a smile. He heard Ruan Ji call the young man Ji Xiandi, and asked: "Could this be the son-in-law of Qiao Guo Xunyang Chang, the husband-in-law of the granddaughter of Cao Lin, the half-brother of Emperor Wen, King Mu?"
"It's me, Ji Kang, who has met Brother Xiahou." The young man in the crane cloak bowed to Xiahou Xuan in a neither humble nor overbearing manner.