As the Qingming Festival approaches, drizzle falls, Chen Caozhi is copying "Thirteen Chapters of Yili" under the north window of the west wing. Xie Daoyun returned the scroll yesterday morning. At that time, Chen Caozhi was summoned to the palace, and Xie Daoyun handed the scroll to Chen.
Shang went back, and asked Chen Shang to forward another piece of "Xiaoyao Lun" she had written recently to Chen Caozhi.
Yesterday at noon, Chen Caozhi returned to the Gu Mansion. Just after dinner, Fan Ning came to visit. He saw "Thirteen Chapters on Yi Li" on his desk. He was so happy that he asked to borrow it and copy it overnight. He was going back to Wuxian the day after tomorrow, so he just happened to take it back to present to him.
A list of father Fan Wang.
Chen Cao said: "I cannot accompany Brother Wu Zi to visit Fan Shibo this time, so I will make another copy of this volume of "Thirteen Chapters on Yi Theory" and forward it to Fan Shibo as a mark of respect."
Fan Ning knew that the copied volume "Thirteen Chapters on the Theory of Game" was what Chen Caozhi promised to give to the guard general Jiang Sixuan, so he nodded and said: "Okay, I will pick it up tomorrow evening."
There was a continuous spring rain outside the window, and it was quiet and warm inside. Xiaochan gently placed a cup of tea on the small rosewood case, and the fragrance of tea rose and dissipated——
Chen Caozhi picked up the tea cup and took a few sips. He smiled at Xiao Chan who was sitting beside him, and concentrated on writing. Chen Caozhi liked the feeling of writing very much. Zhang Zhi's pen, Zuo Bo's paper, Wei Dan's ink, that
The soft tip of the pen strokes the dots on the clean paper, as if dancing to the rhythm of the festival. There is a wonderful rhythm. This should be the rise from labor to artistic creation.
After writing the last sentence, "A gentleman never forgets danger when he is safe, and never forgets death when he survives." Chen Caozhi put down his pen, rubbed his fingers, and said, "We're done."
Xiaochan then put the needlework needlework in her hand back into the bamboo basket, came to help Chen Caozhi bind the more than twenty pages of Zuo Bo's paper written in small regular script at the bottom of the rope into a volume, and went to clean the pen and inkstone.
Gu Kaizhi came over and said, "Zizhong, come with me to Waguan Temple tomorrow. Elder Zhu Fatai has sent someone to invite us to discuss when to start painting the murals?"
Chen Cao said: "Okay, let's go tomorrow. Changkang will accompany me to see Jiang Hujun in the afternoon. I will give you this volume of "Thirteen Chapters on the Theory of Game"."
In the afternoon, Chen Caozhi and Gu Kaizhi went to visit the house of Jiang Sixuan, the general of the army. Jiang Sixuan was not at the house, so his son Jiang Kai accepted the guest on his father's behalf. Chen and Gu sat for a while and then left and went back to the house.
Chen Shang also just came back from Situ's Mansion, and said with joy: "Sixteenth brother, the Chief of Situ's Mansion, the Secretary of Zuo Min, and the officials of the Ancestral Hall have decided that starting from the first day of March in the first year of Longhe, Qiantang Mingsheng Lake will belong to my Chen family.
, I, Chen, will decide on the twenty shady households rewarded by the King of Kuaiji, and just register and register. The exemption certificate for the second-rank official of the sixteenth brother has not yet been issued, so it will be a matter of time."
Quanli, a regular attendant of Sanqi who has become an official, sent a steward to inform Chen Caozhi that he will leave for Qiantang in three days. Chen Shang and Chen Cao's brothers should prepare them early if they have letters from home or things to take with them.
Chen Caozhi and the two brothers Chen Shang discussed it. Chen Shang was appointed as Dian Shucheng in the Situ Mansion and would rarely return to Qiantang in the future. Logically speaking, he should bring his wife and children to Jiankang for reunion. However, the Chen family did not have a place to settle down in Jiankang.
After all, living in Gu's house was not a long-term plan. Chen Shang decided not to bring his wife and children to Jiankang for the time being. It would not be too late to buy a house in Jiankang next year and then bring them back for a reunion.
Chen Shang wrote another long letter, suggesting that his father Chen Xian use all the twenty yin households to recruit craftsmen and hundreds of workers. It does not need to be limited to the county. As long as they are skilled in craftsmanship, refugees from other counties can become Chen's yin.
In the letter, Chen Shang also asked his father Chen Xian to discuss with his sixth uncle and send a reliable person to the capital to bring money. At the beginning of the year, the two kilograms of gold brought by his two brothers were exchanged for 200,000 yuan. Only the king of Kuaiji married his daughter.
He Yi spent 75,000 yuan, and was about to run out of money——
Officials in the Eastern Jin Dynasty received meager salaries from the court, and they all relied on family support. Large families must have clan members as officials to protect their family interests. Otherwise, no matter how much land, money, and silk they have, they will be exploited by others. Therefore, poor families cannot support their children as officials. , it’s okay to be a small official.
In the evening of that day, Chen Caozhi took Xiaochan to the market on the south bank of the Qinhuai River in the rain to buy gifts for his sisters-in-law Ding Youwei, Zongzhi and Runer. Ding Youwei and Runer were born on the same day, April 11th, while Zongzhi was born in June. 18. Quan Changshi will leave at the end of February, and should be able to return to Qiantang at the end of March or early April, just in time to give birthday gifts to my sister-in-law and Run'er. This year is my sister-in-law's 30th birthday and Run'er's 10th birthday. It's a pity. Chen Caozhi could not wish his sister-in-law and Run'er birthday in person.
In the past, when Wang Meng went to the market to buy hats, the women in the hat shop liked his appearance and gave him new hats without accepting their value. Today, when Chen Cao was shopping, even though it was a rainy day, there were still crowds of people watching, and most of the things he bought were It was a half-buy, half-free gift. Xiaochan went back to the Gu Mansion to clean up and spent five thousand dollars to buy various gifts worth ten thousand dollars. Xiaochan said with a dazzled smile: "If you want to go shopping in the future, please ask Xiao Langjun to accompany me."
Chen Caozhi laughed and said, "But you can't do it once. If you go there a few more times, you will be blinded and scolded."
Ran Sheng laughed loudly as he listened.
That night, Fan Ning came to Gu's house to pick up "Thirteen Chapters of Yi Li" and left. Chen Caozhi wrote three letters to his sister-in-law, Zongzhi and Runer under the lamp. The letters to Zongzhi and Runer were to introduce the people on the way to Beijing. Experiences, Jiankang scenery and some interesting things. I wrote a long letter to my sister-in-law Ding Youwei, detailing the Zhongzheng assessment and Lu Weirui’s incident, as well as my longing for my relatives in my hometown——
When Chen Caozhi was writing a letter, Ran Sheng sat aside and read it, saying, "Xiao Langjun, I also want to write a letter to Uncle Jing."
Chen Cao said: "Okay, get yourself a pen and paper, sit next to me and write."
Ran Sheng held the pen with great strength. He didn't dare to write for a long time, and sweat broke out on his forehead.
Xiao Chan snickered and said, "Xiao Sheng, I'd better ask Xiao Langjun to write for you."
Chen Caozhi said without raising his head: "Write it yourself! Uncle Jing asked you to follow me because I just want you to study and practice calligraphy. Uncle Jing will smile with joy when he sees that you can write to him."
Ran Sheng responded: "Yes." After thinking for a long time, just when Xiao Chan thought he might not be able to write, Ran Sheng suddenly started writing, stroke by stroke, in the style of "Cao Quan Stele" written by Han Li. In Qian Tang Dynasty, Ran Sheng often practiced calligraphy with Zongzhi and Runer. Ran Sheng did not learn from Zongzhi's "Zhang Qian Stele", but learned from Run'er's "Cao Quan Stele". The "Cao Quan Stele" has a graceful and elegant font, which is suitable The calligraphy style that women studied was naturally devoid of any grace when written by Ran Sheng. His writing style was domineering and powerful, which often made Run'er giggle.
Before Chen Caozhi's long letter to his sister-in-law Ding Youwei was finished, Ran Sheng's letter to Jing Nu was already finished. It only had three lines. Xiaochan put her head over and read:
"How is Uncle Jing? I am very well in Jiankang. I have nothing else to do. I just miss Uncle Jing's injured arm and it still hurts in the rain. Uncle Jing is illiterate, so let Miss Run'er read it to you."
Ran Sheng said nervously: "I can't write anymore, so I'll just write these."
Chen Caozhi looked sideways and said with a smile: "Xiao Sheng's writing is good. It has the simplicity, simplicity and emotional connotation of Jin people's rulers. There are no typos and no missing strokes. Run'er will definitely praise him when he sees it. you."
Ran Sheng was very happy to receive the praise. He looked over and over at the first letter he had written in his life. The more he looked at it, the better it became -
…
At midnight on February 23, Chen Caozhi and Gu Kaizhi went to Waguan Temple to meet Zhu Fatai.
Waguan Temple is located outside the Qingxi Gate of Jiankang City. Salmon Huili asked for help to build the temple. At first, it only had one hall and one pagoda. Zhu Fatai crossed the Yangtze River and lived in Waguan Temple. He began to lecture on the "Radiant Prajna Sutra" and began to gain popularity among the lay people.
He believed in it, built temples and built many businesses, and Waguan Temple became the first of the four famous temples in Jiangzuo.
Zhu Fatai is different from Zhi Daolin. Zhi Daolin is a famous scholar wearing cassock. Zhu Fatai is a Buddhist who has been a monk since childhood. He studied with the "Qi Taoist" Shi Dao'an and the eminent monk Fotu Cheng from the Western Regions.
After Cheng passed away, Zhu Fa Tai took Shi Dao'an as his teacher. Shi Dao'an lived in Xiangyang and sent Zhu Fa Tai to Jiangdong to promote Buddhism. Zhu Fa Tai was a representative figure of the "original no different sect" of the six schools of Prajna Buddhism and advocated "
"The Learning of Heart-to-Heart" is very close to the later Zen Buddhism. Zhu Fatai was good at debating. He debated with Zhu Daohuan for a day and night in Jingzhou. He convinced Zhu Daohuan and received Huan Wen's respect, so he sent someone to send Zhu Fatai to Jiankang.
When Zhu Fatai saw Chen Cao coming before him, he was very happy. He led Chen Caozhi and Gu Kaizhi to the newly built Daxiong Hall to pay homage. He pointed to the east and west walls and said, "This is for Gu Tanyue, and Chen Tanyue is painting the walls."
Gu Kaizhi said: "I will paint the image of Vimalakīrti in the east, and Zizhong will paint the eight-part celestial dragon image in the west. Let's see who can finish it first. How about that?"
Chen Cao said: "I have never painted murals before. This time I will learn from Changkang while painting."
Gu Kaizhi said: "This is also the first time for me to paint on the wall. Five years ago, Master Wei painted the 'Seven Buddhas in Lengyan' at the Jinling Buddhist Temple. It took more than three months to paint. I have been observing and learning, and I have gained a lot of experience. I am waiting for painting.
I will explain them one by one to Zizhong."
Chen Caozhi asked: "According to Changkang, how many days will it take for me to paint these eight celestial dragon statues?"
Gu Kaizhi thought for a while and said: "Zizhong painted very quickly. He painted for two to three hours every day. It will take about thirty days to complete. He will definitely be able to catch up with the Buddha's birthday celebration on the eighth day of April."
Chen Cao said: "Okay, I will learn from Changkang and paint at the same time."
Gu Kaizhi became more interested and said, "Zizhong, let's start painting today."
Chen Cao said: "Okay, I'll observe first."
Elder Zhu Fatai immediately summoned all the monks in the temple and recited "The Great Peacock King Divine Mantra Sutra", "Lighting Prajna Sutra" and "Light Praising Prajna Sutra" in the main hall, and then Gu Kaizhi began to paint.
The east wall is about two feet high and five feet wide. You can imagine how difficult it is to paint in such a large location. Gu Kaizhi asked Zhu Fatai to specially make two wooden ladders a few days ago, on which one can sit or stand.
Convenient for painting on the wall.
In order to paint this Vimalakīrti mural, Gu Kaizhi had previously painted two paper portraits of Vimalakīrti, one smaller and one larger, so that he could compare the similarities and differences in the painting techniques after enlarging the images. At this time, he imparted his experience to Chen Caozhi.
While using a bald pen, he began to draw an outline on the wall——
Gu Kaizhi painted and Chen Caozhi watched. They did not leave Waguan Temple until the evening and returned to the city. The next morning they went to Waguan Temple again. Chen Caozhi also started painting, starting with Emperor Shitian, the leader of the Eight Tribes.
, I also first sketched the outline, using the spider web drawing method taught by the Wei Xie. This painting took a whole day, and it was enough to outline the head and upper body of Emperor Shitian. After the painting was completed, Emperor Shitian would be two feet tall.
high.
Returning to the city in the evening, Chen Caozhi said to Zhu Fati: "Elder, Cao Zhi has secular affairs to attend to tomorrow, so he won't be able to paint until the next day."
Zhu Fatahe said: "Easy to say, it's very hard for the two Tan Yue to paint. From now on, we will paint on even days and rest on single days."
Gu Kaizhi said: "That's good. Zizhong and I have been painting for four hours today, and our backs are sore. If we paint every other day, we can finish it by the end of March."
Before the mural was completed, Zhu Fa Tai did not want outsiders to see it, so he put up a curtain to cover it up. After the painting was completed, he would reveal it to the believers during the Buddha's birthday celebration, which would surely have the effect of warning the ignorant and promoting Buddhism.
On the morning of February 25th, Chen Caozhi and his third brother Chen Shang rushed to the residence of Sanqi Changshi Quanli to see him off. Liu Shangzhi also came. Fan Ning and Fan Wuzi originally left for Wuxian yesterday.
It was said that Quanchang Shi would leave Beijing today, so he would delay going with Quanchang Shi for one day. Chen Shang and Chen Caozhi also arranged for his servant A Zhu to follow Quanchang Shi back to Qiantang. This was not only to report the news, but also to send Chen Cao the next time.
When people went to Beijing to lead the way, Liu Shangzhi's family letters and some gifts for his father were brought back by Chen's servants.
The Quan family was a large family in Sanwu, and many people came to see Quan off. Among them were Xie Wan, the official attendant of Sanqi, Gu Minzhi, the chief minister of imperial censorship, Zhang Ping and his younger brother Zhang Mo, as well as Lu Shi, brothers Lu Na, Wang Xizhi, and Wang Biao.
Among them, Wang Tanzhi, Huan Mi, Huan Ji's uncle and nephew, Xi Chao, Kuaiji King Sima Yu and Situ Prefect Shi Yuan Dan came to see the whole family off, each with gifts for each other.
Xi Chao said to Chen Cao: "I went to Dong'an Temple yesterday to visit Lord Zhi. He praised you very much. I have been with Lord Zhi for ten years and I have never heard him praise a person like this. Wang Yishao
, Xie Anshi has never received such favor from Lord Zhi."
Chen Caozhi said humbly: "It's just that some of the Buddhist scriptures I know happen to be suitable for Zhigong. How can I compare with Yi Shaogong and Anshi Gong?"
Xi Chao said: "What Cao Cao lacks is family status and qualifications, and family status depends on one moment and another." He also said: "The day after tomorrow I will send Huan Zhongdao and Princess Xin'an to Gushu to see Duke Huan, and then go
Meet Princess Nankang in Jingzhou."
Chen Cao said: "The day after tomorrow I will come to see Brother Guest and Duke Huan County off."
When Chen Caozhi was talking to Xi Chao, he saw Lu Na's attendant Banli whispering to Laizhen, handing a large package to Laizhen. Laizhen handed the package to Ran Sheng, and came over and said to Chen Caozhi: "Xiao Lang
Sir, I have come to report something."
Chen Caozhi had already guessed what it was about, and said to Lai Zhen, "Tell me, what's the matter?"
Lai Zhen whispered: "Miss Lu learned that Madam Ding and Madam Run'er are celebrating their tenth birthday, so she asked Banli to bring her a special gift."
Banli comes to the Gu Mansion every two or three days to deliver news. Yesterday evening, he came to the Gu Mansion and heard that Chen Shang's servant A Zhu would follow Quanchang back to Qiantang tomorrow. He also learned that on April 11th, Ding Youwei, Chen Runer and his daughter
It was her birthday, so she hurried back and asked Short Hoe to tell Mrs. Lu. Lu Weirui discussed with her stepmother Zhang Wenwan and prepared two gifts for Banli to bring over early in the morning. The gifts given by Lu Weirui were much more valuable than those given by Chen Caozhi to his sister-in-law and niece.
Chen Cao said: "Come to Zhen, give the package to A Zhu, and give him a few words."
Xi Chao smiled on the side, thinking about how Chen Caozhi would marry the Lu girl? What should the Xie girl do?
Chen Caozhi cupped his hands towards Xi Chao and said, "Brother guest, I'll go and explain a few words and I'll be back."
Chen Caozhi walked over and said to Banli, "Thank your wife and young lady for me." Then he asked, "Mrs. Lu hasn't gone to the Zhidu Mountain Dojo, has she?"
Banli said: "Zhidu Mountain Dojo has been disbanded, and Lu Song has gone back to Xuzhou."
Chen Caozhi nodded, thinking that it was not an option for Mrs. Lu to seek medical treatment everywhere because of infertility. If Lu Na had no children, Mrs. Lu's status in the Lu family would also be reduced. Mrs. Lu loved Wei Rui and was willing to marry Wei Rui.
He, he has to find a way to help Mrs. Lu——
I heard Banli say: "Chen Langjun, my little lady still wants to meet you. I wonder if Chen Langjun can do anything about it?"
Chen Caozhi also misses Lu Weirui very much. After they said goodbye to Dong'an Temple, they haven't seen each other for five days. They had not seen each other for more than two years before. Now, after not seeing each other for a few days, they feel longing for each other. Their love is painful and insatiable.
, said: "In the next month, I will paint Buddhist murals at Waguan Temple on even days. Mrs. Lu and Miss Wei Rui can come to Waguan Temple to celebrate the occasion when they have time."
When Banli heard this, he was overjoyed, bowed and left.
Xie Wan, Wang Xizhi saw Quanli talking to Sima Yu and Yuan Changshi, the king of Kuaiji, and they came to Chen Caozhi. Xie Wan asked: "Why hasn't Cao Zhi come to my Wuyi Lane for so many days? That night the recorder
The sound is still lingering around the beams."
Wang Xizhi smiled and said: "When Cao Zhi is going to Xie's Mansion, he will also come to our Mansion for a visit."
Chen Cao said: "Yi Shaogong, Wan Shigong, Cao Zhi and Gu Changkang have been painting murals for Waguan Temple these days, but they have never visited. Don't be surprised. Don't be surprised."
Wang Xizhi said: "Can Cao Zhi also paint Buddha statues? I will definitely go to Waguan Temple to visit someday. My son Xian Zhi also likes to paint, but he is not good at painting figures."
Xie Wanxin said: "In terms of painting skills, my A Yuan is not as good as Gu Kaizhi or Chen Caozhi. It's a pity that she is a woman. Well, tomorrow I will ask the third sister-in-law and A Yuan to go to Waguan Temple to worship Buddha and let A Yuan see Chen and Gu.
How does your painting skills compare to hers?"
Quan Li's motorcade over there is about to leave. Quan Li bid farewell to everyone one by one. Chen Caozhi, Chen Shang, and Liu Shangzhi want to see them off one more way. They talk to Quan Li and Fan Ning along the way and send them off ten miles away.
Wave goodbye.
Chen Caozhi and Chen Shang returned to the Gu Mansion, only to see Jiang Kai, the son of the guard general Jiang Sixuan, who had been waiting for a long time. When they saw Chen Caozhi, Jiang Kai raised his hands and said: "The honorable family has received the gift of "Thirteen Chapters of Game Theory" from Mr. Chen.
, I read it carefully all night, and I was very impressed. The family leader felt uneasy about receiving such a generous gift for no reason, so he donated forty acres of land on the south bank of the Qinhuai River. Although he did not have a house, Mr. Chen could build it according to his own preferences. This was the family leader's decision.
Mr. Chen, please don't turn me down." He ordered the steward to hold a brocade box containing the land deed documents, and ordered the steward to stay and take the Chen brothers to the Qinhuai River to view real estate.
After Jiang Kai said this, he did not allow Chen Cao to refuse, so he said goodbye and left.
Chen Shang and Chen Caozhi followed the stewards of the Jiang Mansion to the south bank of the Qinhuai River to check out the real estate. They saw a wasteland overgrown with weeds and a two-acre pond.
It is adjacent to his mansion, and borders the Wen family's manor in Taiyuan to the southwest. The Qinhuai River flows through it, making it a good place to stay at home.