The west gate of Xudu is bustling with people.
People were coming and going, cars and horses were noisy, and the streets were filled with a dazzling array of goods.
The wide avenue is filled with various sounds, such as the chirping of birds, the discussions of merchants, and the shouts of pedestrians.
Outside the west gate, there was already a huge team of soldiers ready to go. They were following Cao Pi and Cao Zhen to go to Luoyang.
Cao Pi was dressed in a mighty general's attire and had an imposing presence. Cao Zhen stood next to him, with determination in his brows. As Cao Pi's right-hand man, he and Cao Pi share a common sense of mission.
Cao Pi's eyes were looking far ahead, with a lot of thoughts, and he was finally leaving Luoyang to carry out an important task assigned by Cao Cao alone.
Although this is a punishment for him, it is also an opportunity for him. He must seize it and perform well in front of Cao Cao.
Cao Zhang and Cao Zhi both came to see Cao Zhang off. Both of them were wearing plain clothes.
When the people saw them, they stopped what they were doing and looked at them, their eyes full of admiration and envy.
Several young masters of the Cao family are talented, both civil and military, and are loved and praised by many people.
Following Cao Zhang and Cao Zhi were their respective subordinates Yang Xiu, Xu Shu and Sima Lang.
Cao Zhang walked slowly to Cao Pi, holding in his hand the cloak that Cao Pi gave him when he went to conquer Li Jue, and handed it to Cao Pi: "Brother, this is the cloak you gave me back then, and I am wearing it." Defeated Li Jue. Today I will return him to you, hoping that you will wear it and display your ambitions in Luoyang!"
Cao Pi reached out to take the cloak from Cao Zhang's hand and put it directly on his back: "Okay, I will use Ziwen's joy of victory to make great achievements in Luoyang. Just wait for me to come back!"
Cao Zhang understood the hidden meaning of Cao Pi's words and nodded with a smile: "Don't worry, I will definitely wait for you!"
Cao Zhi also stepped forward and said respectfully to Cao Pi: "Brother, take care along the way!"
Cao Pi nodded, hugged Cao Zhi affectionately, and then looked at him expectantly.
Cao Zhi didn't seem to understand what Cao Pi meant, and just looked at him stupidly.
"Zijian, when Ziwen went to war, you wrote a poem on the spot. Why, when I went away, you just said "take care" and that's it? You are obviously favoring one over the other!" Cao Pi started half-jokingly Picking on Cao Zhi's fault.
Cao Zhi responded with some embarrassment: "Brother, it's not that I favor one over the other. It's just that my mind has been empty recently and I can't think of suitable poems to support you."
There was a trace of displeasure on Cao Pi's face. He didn't think that Cao Zhi couldn't write poems for him because of his talent, but he didn't even bother to write poems for himself, a "punished" person.
Cao Zhi turned to Cao Zhang for help: "Brother Ziwen, brother Zihuan blamed me for not writing a poem for him, but I really can't think of it now. You are the leader of Yuedan Ping, please help me write one."
Cao Jian obviously didn't expect that Cao Zhi would throw this problem to him. He said with some embarrassment: "Zijian, you can't do it. I couldn't do it in a hurry..."
Cao Pi saw the two of them shirking each other, and felt even more unhappy. He could only suppress his anger and waved his hands and said: "Okay, don't worry about it anymore. It's almost time, and it's time for me to set off. What do you think of my two wise brothers?" , Brother already knows, let’s just say goodbye.”
Seeing Cao Pi's disappointed look, Cao Zhang suddenly felt something in his heart and said, "Brother, don't panic. I'm suddenly inspired, so I'll send this poem to the three of us brothers."
Cao Pi obviously didn't expect Cao Zhang to come up with the poem just in one thought, and looked at him with slight surprise.
Cao Zhi was also full of surprise: "Oh, brother Ziwen, you figured it out so quickly. Read it quickly and listen."
Cao Zhang began to recite in a low voice: "Boiled beans burn the bean sprouts, and the cooked bean sprouts turn into ashes. Those who are ripe will be treasured on the table, and the ashes will be used as fertilizer in the fields. If we don't grow from the same roots, why would we be willing to destroy ourselves?"
The artistic conception of the poem is very simple and clear: beans are boiling in a pot, and then the bean sprouts are burned under the pot. By the time the beans are cooked, the bean sprouts have already been burned to ashes. The cooked beans can be served as a delicacy at banquets, while the green beans turned into ashes can only be used as fertilizer in the fields. If they are not brothers born from the same root, who would be willing to sacrifice himself for his brothers?
After listening to Cao Zhang's recitation, Cao Pi and Cao Zhi carefully recalled the meaning of the poem. Both of them could not help but change their expressions. Neither of them expected that Cao Zhang would compose such a poem praising brotherhood in such a short period of time. of poetry.
Although the word "brother" is not mentioned in the whole poem, the use of boiled beans and burning bean sprouts vividly demonstrates the artistic conception of mutual support between brothers. It is definitely a masterpiece.
In fact, this poem was certainly not written by Cao Zhang himself, but by the "Anti-Seven-Step Poetry" written by the famous modern poet Guo Moruo.
This poem comes from Mr. Guo Moruo's 10,000-word essay "On Cao Zhi" written in 1943. It vividly responds from the opposite angle to Cao Zhi's "Seven-Step Poetry" which describes brothers fighting each other. It turns the originally miserable scene into a brotherhood. concentric.
Cao Zhang read this poem out at this time, but it was very consistent with the three brothers. The current situation reminded Cao Pi and Cao Zhi from another angle of the true meaning of the word "brother."
"Brother Zihuan, are you satisfied with this poem for you?" Cao Zhang looked at Cao Pi and asked.
Cao Pi recalled Cao Zhang's poems, recalled the scene when the three brothers grew up together, recalled all the ways he had framed Cao Zhang in the past year, and how tolerant Cao Zhang was to him. He felt that his heart was full of shame, and tears could not help but flow out of his eyes. , nodded repeatedly: "Satisfied, satisfied! Brother Ziwen has deep intentions, and I already know everything!"
Cao Zhi also praised Cao Zhang and couldn't help but shed tears: "Brother Ziwen's poems are concise and concise, but profound in meaning. He also wrote about the love between brothers so great and profound, I am deeply impressed!"
Cao Zhang looked at Cao Zhi and thought to himself: Forget it. Without your "Seven-Step Poem" and Guo Lao's "Anti-Seven-Step Poem", I would just be borrowing flowers to offer to Buddha. But this way, you will never have the chance to write "Poetry in Seven Steps" again.
"Thank you, brothers. I wrote this poem because of my deep feelings. Brother Zihuan, the mountains are high and the road is far, so please take care of yourself." Cao Zhang knew that time was almost up, so he directly reminded Cao Pi.
Cao Pi also understood what Cao Zhang meant, and said to the two of them: "Two worthy brothers, take care, and I say goodbye for my brother's sake!"
Cao Zhang and Cao Zhi also returned the gift together, and then exchanged greetings with Cao Zhen to say goodbye.
Cao Pi and Cao Zhenfei mounted their horses.
Cao Pi waved his hand and announced loudly: "Let's go!"
Cao Pi and Cao Zhen led the army to leave the west gate of Xudu in a mighty manner and headed for the distance.
Cao Zhang and Cao Zhi waved and watched, and they didn't lower their hands until Cao Pi and Cao Zhen's team completely disappeared from sight.
"Zijian, I have something to do, so I'll take my leave first." Cao Zhang turned around and said to Cao Zhi.
"Brother, please excuse me. When I have time, I will pay you a visit at home and ask my brother about poetry!" Cao Zhi responded simply, still thinking about Cao Zhang's poetry just now.
Cao Zhang patted Cao Zhi's shoulder lightly, turned around and walked towards Xu Shu and Sima Lang, and the three of them got on their horses and left together.
When Yang Xiu saw Cao Zhang and others leaving, he hurriedly walked to Cao Zhi and asked with concern: "Master Zijian, what happened just now? Why are you and Zihuan crying?"
"Dezu, didn't you mean to ask me not to write a poem to see brother Zihuan off, but to write a poem to brother Ziwen? He wrote a poem on the spot, and it was about brothers. It touched people's hearts very much. Zihuan and I Brother Huan always sheds tears when he feels something in his heart!" Cao Zhi explained to Yang Xiu.
Yang Xiu frowned in confusion: "What poem did he write?"
Cao Zhi recited Cao Zhang's "Anti-Seven-Step Poetry". After listening to it, Yang Xiu opened his eyes in astonishment and praised repeatedly: "Wizard, really a wizard! I thought he was on the Moon Dan Review I had prepared the article for a long time, but I didn’t expect him to be able to write it well and produce a masterpiece!”
"Oh, I originally wanted to give him a difficult debut and further instigate the relationship between him and Zi Huan, but I didn't expect that it would succeed him instead, and I would give him a favor in vain!" Yang Xiu sighed in annoyance.
"Dezu, we are brothers after all. Look at how well this poem is written. I think you should stop worrying about it." Cao Zhi persuaded Yang Xiu.
"Don't worry? Then everything we have done before will be completely in vain, right? Originally, we went to report it because we wanted to take the opportunity to bring down any one of them, or even make them both lose!"
"But I never expected that Cao Zhang first used a delaying tactic to delay the war, completed the business of the pawnshop, banker and escort agency, and made another meritorious service in front of Sikong. Now with a big wave of his hand, he released Cao Pi and sent him to Luoyang directly eliminated his competitors. This person's mind and means are really rare in the world!"
"Now Ziwen keeps showing off in front of Sikong. Zihuan went to Luoyang to farm, and he will definitely return with honors a year later. If you don't struggle and don't take action now, then you will really have no chance of being the prince! Could it be that you Are you really planning to admit defeat?" Yang Xiu reminded Cao Zhi anxiously.
Cao Zhi said in embarrassment: "Of course I don't want to give in just like this, but you also said that brother Ziwen is a genius and has made so many contributions in front of his father. Even if I want to compete with him, I can't compete with him now." !”
Yang Xiu frowned in thought and muttered in a low voice: "Who says we can't compete? As long as we work hard, we will definitely get a chance to perform. Please let me think about it."
Yang Xiu pondered for a long time, then suddenly his eyes lit up, he smiled, and said to Cao Zhi: "Sir, I have thought of a plan. I guarantee you can make a great contribution in front of Sikong this time! Come back to your house with me to prepare!"
Cao Zhi didn't know what method Yang Xiu was talking about, but he had great trust in Yang Xiu, and without hesitation, he immediately followed Yang Xiu on his horse and returned to the mansion...
