It's a pity that the generals are driving. -Tang Bai Juyi's "Selling Charcoal Weng"
An old man selling charcoal
Dynasty: Tang Dynasty
Author: Bai Juyi
Original text:
An old man selling charcoal cuts wood and burns charcoal in the mountains in the south all year round.
His face was covered with dust, which was the color of smoke burning, his temples were gray, and his ten fingers were burnt black.
What is the money for selling charcoal for? Buy clothes, buy food in your mouth.
Pity that he is wearing thin clothes, but he is worried that charcoal can't be sold, hoping it will be colder.
At night, it snowed a foot thick outside the city. Early in the morning, the old man drove a charcoal wheel to the market.
Cows are tired and people are hungry, but the sun has risen very high. They are resting in the mud outside the south gate of the market.
Who is that proud man riding on two horses? It was the eunuchs in the palace and eunuchs who did it.
The eunuch, with documents in his hand and the emperor's orders in his mouth, shouted at the petrified palace.
A load of charcoal, more than 1000 kilograms, eunuch attendants to drive away, the old man is helpless, but there is no way.
Those people put half a piece of red yarn and a piece of silk on their heads as the price of charcoal.
translate
An old man selling charcoal is chopping wood and burning charcoal in Nanshan.
His face was covered with dust, showing the color of smoke and fire, his temples were gray and his ten fingers were blackened by charcoal.
What is the money from selling charcoal for? Buy clothes to wear and food to eat in your mouth.
It's a pity that he only wears thin clothes, but he is worried that charcoal can't be sold in hot weather, hoping it will be colder.
A foot of snow fell outside the city at night. In the morning, the old man drove a charcoal car over the frozen wheel tracks and headed for the market.
Cattle are tired and people are hungry, but the sun has risen very high, and the old man is resting in the mud outside the south gate of the market.
Who are the first two free and easy riders? It's a pawn of the eunuch in the palace.
They had documents in their hands, but they said it was the emperor's order. Then they turned around and shouted at the cow to pull it to the north.
A load of charcoal was so heavy that the messenger in the palace insisted on driving it away. The old man regretted it, but there was nothing he could do.
The messenger in the palace hung half a horse's yarn and a column of silk on the cow's head as the price of charcoal.
A story about pity
Wu Zetian cherishes talents.
When Wu Zetian first ascended the throne, the prime minister was Shangguan Yi, who was called "the originator of five-character poems in Shangguan style". Shangguan Yi has a little granddaughter named Shangguan Waner, who can write good poems in her teens. The poems written do not stop at flirting with the moon, but pay close attention to the sufferings of the people. Wu Zetian saw that Shangguan Waner must be a person who can seek happiness for the people when she grew up, so she was especially valued.
Soon after, after Shangguan Yi conspired with Li Zhi, it was discovered by Wu Zetian that Shangguan Yi should "follow the door". However, Wu Zetian read a good poem in Shangguan Waner, pardoned her extrajudicial death and made her a maid in the palace.
At the age of 16, the prince and his ministers Pei Yan, Luo and others planned a coup, and actively participated in it to avenge his father. However, it was revealed that the Prince was abolished, Pei Yan was beheaded, and King Robin was sent back to his native place. Only Shangguan Waner was forgiven by Wu Zetian and stayed in the palace as a maid.
Although Wu Zetian made Shangguan Waner a servant, she wanted to give her more education and make her a talent for herself and the country. On one occasion, she came to Shangguan Waner's residence and saw that she had written a poem called "Color Book Complaints". The kung fu of that poem is by no means inferior to that of her grandfather Shangguan Yi. Some Wu Zetian didn't believe that such a good poem would be written by Shangguan Waner, so she improvised a five-tone poem with the same rhyme as "Color Book Complaints".
After a little thought, Shangguan Waner blurted out: "The dense leaves are cut and spit, and the new flowers are gradually blooming. Although climbing the bar is correct, the pick is empty. Spring comes from the sun, and autumn is not willing to be sparse. Excuse me, Li, what do you want? "
Shangguan Waner mocked Wu Zetian with metaphor. After seeing it, Wu Zetian deliberately claimed to be good. Then she asked Shangguan Waner, "What's wrong with borrowing peaches and plums?" Wan'er replied, "This is a fake flower. Although it is fake, it is fake. "
At that time, let alone a "sinner" like Shangguan Waner, even a court official, if he wrote such a poem, I am afraid it would be fatal, but Shangguan Waner would rather die than tell the truth. This fearless spirit first pleased Wu Zetian. So she asked Shangguan Waner again: "Are you insinuating?"
With Wan'er's fortitude, of course, I won't deny it, but if I directly admit that there are many shortcomings and hesitate a little, Wan'er replied calmly: "Your Majesty, the interpretation of poetry has never been static, depending on the poet's state of mind. If your majesty says I'm insinuating, the handmaiden won't dare to argue! "
Wu Zetian was not only not angry after listening, but also smiled and said, "Good answer, I just like your stubborn personality!" " "Then she asked," I killed your grandfather and father. Do you have a grudge against me? "
Shangguan Waner still said calmly: "If your majesty thinks it is, the handmaiden dare not say no!"
This answer is exactly what Wu Zetian wants. If you say you don't hate Wu Zetian in front of you, it can only show that Shangguan Waner is too timid and hypocritical, and Shangguan Waner's words not only show his position, but also acknowledge Wu Zetian's "strength." Wu Zetian nodded with relief after hearing this. Then, Wu Zetian praised her grandfather Shangguan Yi's literary talent, and pointed out Shangguan Yi's sin of drafting an annulment letter, expecting Wan'er to understand her and be loyal to her.
However, Wu Zetian's intention was not understood and recognized by Wan'er. She was not loyal to Wu Zetian and participated in the coup again two years later. Of course, the coup failed again. The Minister of Justice proposed to hang Shangguan Waner, but Wu Zetian disagreed. Another minister said that even if he is young, he can avoid the death penalty, and he can't escape the crime of living. It is better to sentence him to exile and send him to Lingnan as an army. However, Wu Zetian said that being sent to Lingnan was a long mountain and a bad environment. For a young girl, it is equivalent to killing her, so it is too heavy.
Wu Zetian said, Shangguan Waner is talented, and if she practices hard, she will definitely become a very outstanding talent. Therefore, Wu Zetian decided to impose "Zhu punishment" on Wan'er, that is, to stab a cinnabar plum blossom on Shangguan Waner's forehead and keep it as a personal maid.
Wu Zetian said that keeping her as a handmaid was actually asking a teacher to impart knowledge to her. Shangguan Waner was finally moved. It is better to be with yourself than to kill; More importantly, after getting along for a long time, she found that Wu Zetian governed the world in an orderly way, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment. She was a good emperor.
Since then, Wu Zetian has been carefully guiding Wan'er, influencing, cultivating and reusing her in many ways. Shangguan Waner gradually eliminated the accumulated grievances and misunderstandings and replaced them with admiration, respect and love. With her intelligence, she helped Wu Zetian solve problems, tried her best to be Wu Zetian's most effective confidant, and made many contributions to assisting her in governing the country.