Neither the prefect nor the academic administration would have thought that the final trigger of the fight at the 'Yangcheng Inn' would turn out to be a poem.
The cause was that several students in Leizhou were talking about a poem called Bamboo Stone that had just spread to Leizhou.
Because the discussion was quite loud, the students at the table next to him from Huizhou Prefecture heard him.
It just so happens that the most talented person in Huizhou also recently wrote a poem called Bamboo Stone.
They thought Leizhou students were talking about the same song and joined the discussion.
It was only after a detailed chat that both parties discovered something was not quite right, so they each wrote out the entirety of the two poems, and only then did they discover the problem.
There are many similarities in the style and wording of the two poems.
However, the bamboos and stones written by the students in Leizhou Prefecture are obviously several grades higher than those written by the most talented scholar in Huizhou Prefecture.
So there was a dispute between the two sides,
Since the students in Leizhou Prefecture did not know the origin of this poem, their disputes were limited to verbal disputes.
What is at issue is also the quality of the poetry itself.
It's just that their dispute attracted the attention of many people, including the students of Nanhai Mansion.
Bamboo and stone were originally spread from Nanhai, so the students of Nanhai Prefecture were more familiar with them than others.
When I heard someone getting into an argument over this poem, I felt full of pride. In the past, this kind of thing happened to talented people from Beppu.
Has anything like this ever happened in Nanhai Mansion?
So the student who was doing something good couldn't help but get involved too.
"The bamboo stone was made by Yao Yingzhe, the most talented man in our Nanhai Prefecture. Why are you arguing like this?"
The student's information was wrong and they thought the bamboo stone was the work of Yao Yingzhe, the most talented man.
In his opinion, only Yao Yingzhe in Nanhai could produce poetry of such a standard.
When Leizhou students heard this, they immediately became furious. Although Leizhou did not find out who wrote this poem,
But this poem came from the Lei family, and everyone is guessing that it is probably related to the most talented man Ming Hongbo.
The Nanhai students caused great disaster with just one word, and were besieged collectively by the scholars from Leizhou and Huizhou.
Leizhou has always despised the scholars of Nanhai, thinking that they were shameless and plagiarized the poems of Leizhou talents.
Huizhou, on the other hand, was unwilling to admit that Nanhai talents could write better poems than Huizhou talents.
He said that this poem was plagiarized by a talented person from Nanhai and copied by a talented person from Huizhou. It was only after careful revision that it became so good.
The Nanhai students were not convinced that someone was confusing right and wrong, and the students involved did not know much about the matter.
So they had no choice but to ask for help from their fellow villagers, and attracted more Nanhai students to argue with them.
It's just that this happened to a small group of students in Fucheng, Nanhai Prefecture, and they didn't know much about it in detail.
After being challenged, he made many mistakes and omissions, and struggled to explain the truth. Finally, he became angry and took action.
This action caused a big fuss. Their argument had already attracted many onlookers.
When the two groups started fighting, they would inevitably bump into each other, so many onlookers also went in.
Some people who were beaten for no apparent reason ran to bring in reinforcements.
In the end, more and more people were trapped, resulting in a big riot.
The cause of the matter was a controversial poem, which may also involve plagiarism.
Since the prefect has intervened in this matter, he naturally needs to find out the key to it.
First, let’s compare the two bamboo and stone poems:
From Nanhai Prefecture: He sticks to the green mountains and never relaxes. His roots are still in the broken rocks. He has been strong despite countless blows, regardless of the winds from east to west, north and south.
Huizhou Prefecture: Standing on the green mountain, it is as straight as a pine, its roots stand in the cracks of the rock, and it is still strong despite the wind from all directions.
A discerning person will know at a glance that the bamboo and stone in Nanhai Mansion are several grades higher.
But when it comes to whether the ones from Nanhai Prefecture have copied those from Huizhou Prefecture, it’s hard to say.
After all, the two poems are very similar, so it’s possible that someone else came up with the idea first and then refined it into a fine product.
The prefect inquired about the academic administration of Nanhai Prefecture,
The Academic Affairs Officer didn't know much about this matter, so he could only ask Yao Yingzhe to ask.
"Yingzhe, the poem "Bamboo and Stone, Let the Winds of East, West, North and South" was written by you? And did you learn from other people's poems? "
The prefect knew Yao Yingzhe, knew his identity, and spoke more politely.
Yao Yingzhe looked confused and had no idea what was going on. Just now he was having barbecue with Hou Yao and Hou Chengyun.
I was suddenly invited here by a few guards, and I didn't even know what was going on.
Immediately I could only answer honestly:
"My lord, this was not done by a student. I wonder where this question comes from?"
The prefect told Yao Yingzhe what happened here,
Yao Yingzhe also told how Hou Yao composed this poem in public at the Hai County Poetry Festival.
This moment shocked all the students present.
Composing poetry in public is already extremely difficult;
He also took the initiative to ask for restrictions on the subject matter and rules. Isn’t this an old man who eats arsenic and thinks he will live longer?
At that time, Cao Zhi composed a poem in seven steps, which has been cited as a beautiful story through the ages.
But it was also done without any restrictions.
If the subject matter and meter were restricted at that time, it would be doubtful whether it could be done.
Hou Yao, a scholar from Hai County in Yazhou with little reputation, was as talented as Cao Zijian.
No, it's not comparable, it's simply beyond.
This is simply an operation against humanity. Who can believe it? Who dares to believe it?
So for a while everyone cursed Yao Yingzhe as a liar who made up the story to protect Hou Yao.
Even the prefect and academic and political officials could not believe it.
Yao Yingzhe can understand. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn't have believed that Hou Yao had such a talent.
But after spending these days together, he now has great confidence in Hou Yao.
"Sir, Hou Yao is also one of the scholars taking the exam this time. He lives with the students in the 'Shang Shu Yayuan'.
But if you send someone to invite him and ask him, you will know, so why make such random guesses."
The servant who invited Yao Yingzhe just now was very polite, and where is Yao Yingzhe's identity?
Hou Yao and Hou Chengyun naturally did not dare to ask for trouble by following them.
So the two of them stayed at the inn and continued to have barbecue.
But Hou Yao never expected that while sitting at home, a pot would come from the sky.
Not long after Yao Yingzhe left, two more guards came and took him away.
A large barbecue table can only be left to Hou Chengyun to enjoy alone.
Before Hou Yao left the house, he couldn't help but turn around and say:
"Save some of that waist flower for me. I'll have more to eat when I get back."
…
Hou Yao was taken to Yangcheng Inn. After figuring out the situation, he still couldn't laugh or cry.
I never thought there would be such a coincidence,
The prefect was slightly disappointed when he saw Hou Yao himself.
I thought he would be the kind of person who looks like a romantic and talented person at first glance, but I didn't expect that he just looks like an ordinary scholar.
"Hou Jieqiu, do you have evidence to prove that you made the bamboo stone alone?"
After hearing the prefect's question, Hou Yao was a little confused:
"I wonder what the evidence the young master said is?
That poem was written in public, and there were so many scholars in the county as witnesses at that time, how can we prove it?"
At this time, a scholar who was watching said:
"Usually the organizer of a poetry meeting will arrange for some scholars to prepare poems in advance.
Who knows if you were one of those people who arranged it in advance?”
As soon as this statement came out, everyone believed that it was indeed possible.
Hou Yao was also speechless. This is something that cannot be explained clearly. What is the point of arguing about this?
"Sir, if you have to say this, then I can't help it. Anyway, the poem was written at a poetry meeting.
There are so many people watching and listening. If this doesn't prove it,
The student can't think of any other way to prove that it was the student's doing.
Otherwise, whoever they like to say is who they are, students don’t have time to waste time on such a trivial matter.”
As soon as Hou Yao said these words, he immediately aroused the anger of the surrounding students.
If everyone had just suspected that Zhu Shi was plagiarized by Hou Yao,
But now, everyone is sure that this poem was not written by Hou Yao.
Even Yao Yingzhe couldn't help but wonder, could there be any secrets in the poetry meeting that day that he didn't know about?
This is the consequences of differences in thinking. Hou Yao’s poems were plagiarized, and he naturally had an indifferent attitude.
But real literati cherish the works they create. Who can have such an attitude as Hou Yao?
The prefect became angry on the spot and reprimanded loudly:
"Bold Hou Yao, you plagiarized other people's poems, why don't you punish me for it?"
Hou Yao looked confused:
“When did I plagiarize other people’s poetry?”
The prefect said angrily:
"If the bamboo stone was not plagiarized by you, how could you have such an attitude?
Creation is not easy, and creating a famous poem that can be sung through the ages is even more difficult.
If bamboo and stone were really created by you with all your heart and blood, how could you not cherish them so much?
Whoever you like is who you say? How can these words be said by the original author?"
The prefect's words were reasonable and reasonable, and they immediately received responses from the people around him. All the academicians and government officials also nodded in agreement.
"The prefect is right, I don't think this guy is a good person."
"That boy is a thief..."
"Please ask the magistrate to remove his title..."
"Kick him out..."
…
After hearing what the prefect said, Hou Yao also couldn't laugh or cry:
"Sir, if you say this, it means that there is no excuse for incriminating others. Students don't know what other people create.
However, Zhushi was originally a poem that students casually recited at a poetry meeting that should be used as the theme. How could it be said that it was said that it was heart-wrenching?
There are so many people present who can't prove that I did it, so how can the student prove his innocence?
If you don’t tell someone you love someone, what else can a student do?”
This statement makes sense, and there really is no way to prove it in this case.
The prefect was also in a dilemma for a while. At this time, an academic official said:
"You just said that the Bamboo Stone was a casual response to your poem at the poetry meeting. If this is true, then aren't you the reincarnation of the Poet Immortal?
Since you have such talent, if you compose a song on the spot today, then everything will become clear."
The prefect also nodded:
"Indeed, Hou Yao, do you dare to compose a poem in public right now to prove your innocence?"
Hou Yao said helplessly:
"Okay, okay, okay, what type of poetry do you want to hear? What is the theme?"
Everyone was utterly defeated.
Yao Yingzhe suddenly raised his palms and laughed loudly:
"Brother Hou is indeed a genius in this world. Others are afraid that the questions are too difficult, but he is the only one who thinks the questions are too easy.
Lord Prefect, bamboo and stone were also made in this way back then, so you should limit the subject matter."
The prefect was also in a dilemma for a while. At this time, another scholar came out and said:
"Why don't we just use the topic of encouraging students to learn? As for the rhythm, let's use it freely."
Another scholar said:
"No, no, no, I think it should be in seven words..."
Before he finished speaking, another scholar interrupted:
"This guy has already written a famous seven-character poem. Maybe he's good at this. I think it's inappropriate. In my opinion, how about asking him to write a nursery rhyme?"