Cen Wenwen said helplessly: "You are just too humble. When you are in your prime, you should be full of energy, but being so depressed is really off-putting... However, although this painting "Ink Bamboo" is excellent, it lacks one thing. The poem always feels like something is missing.”
As he spoke, he turned to Fang Jun and asked with a smile: "Erlang's poems are extremely famous, and his writing style is even more unique. How about writing a poem for this painting to add more color?"
Ma Zhou also said: "I have my wish, but I don't dare to ask my ears!"
Fang Jun thought for a while, then nodded and said: "In that case, let's show off our embarrassment. But first of all, if you don't mention it well and ruin this painting, don't blame me!"
Cen Wenwen laughed and said: "Someone said that it is not good for King Bin to be too humble, but unexpectedly, your Fang Er is even more humble than King Bin... Who in Guanzhong doesn't know that Fang Erlang's poetry and calligraphy are unparalleled? He can easily get a copy Your masterpiece is already worth a hundred gold. If you write a poem for this painting of King Bin, the value will be doubled. If you are short of money in the future, you can resell it for a high price, and you will have no worries about food and clothing!"
Fang Jun laughed and said, "In that case, shouldn't I ask Brother Ma to draw a few hundred paintings, and then write poems on them, rent them to a shop on the street, sell them, and make a fortune?"
Cen Wenwen shook his head amusingly: "Not to mention that things are rare and valuable, no matter how good Erlang's calligraphy is, if he takes out a few hundred paintings, they will become cabbage on the street? Just talking about these hundreds of paintings, Bin Wang certainly can't draw, and I'm afraid even Erlang you can't write these hundreds of poems."
Fang Jun smiled and nodded: "A few hundred songs are a bit difficult, but for a hundred and eighty songs, it's still possible to make up the number."
Ma Zhou didn't know Fang Jun very well, so he didn't know whether his words were a joke or modesty.
Fang Jun picked up the pen and wondered what poem to write that could correspond to the theme of "Ink Bamboo".
Speaking of which, in two lifetimes, this is the first time that a "literary man" has written poems and inscriptions for others, which makes me feel quite proud of some educated people...
Since it cannot be fooled, the painting and the characters should be combined and reflect each other. Only then can it become a classic, be praised for a while, and even be passed down through the ages.
Fang Jun had a good impression of Ma Zhou. He was an official in his previous life, and he paid special attention to those famous officials in history who were famous for their "talent". Ma Zhou can be said to be the key figure who inherited the mantle of Du Ruhui and Fang Xuanling and carried forward the prosperous age of Zhenguan.
Definitely a Mingchen of the previous generation!
The records and evaluations of it in history books are definitely too perfunctory.
Ma Zhou, whose parents died when he was young, was alone, but he was addicted to books, diligent in reading and erudition, good at "Poems" and "Books", and good at "Spring and Autumn". He was already full of knowledge when he was less than twenty years old. During the Wude period, he once served as a state assistant teacher, but was criticized by the governor for ignoring political affairs, so he resigned. Later, when he arrived in Bianzhou, he was humiliated by the county magistrate again. He was full of ambitions and could not express his ambitions, so he drank all day long to drown his sorrows. Finally, he resigned and went to Chang'an, becoming a "Chang'an drifter"...
Living in the capital is not easy, but when you come to Chang'an, you realize how big the world is and how difficult life is. After drifting in Chang'an for a period of time, seeing that survival had become a problem, he had no choice but to go to Chang He's house as a retainer and settle down in Chang'an for the time being.
His hard work paid off, and the God of destiny finally favored this ambitious young man.
In the fifth year of Zhenguan, His Majesty Li Er issued an edict and ordered all officials to discuss the affairs of the country and make suggestions on the gains and losses of current affairs. All officials, both civil and military, had to write a memorial.
Chang He was a martial artist who had never read many books and could barely recognize a few characters. How could he write such a memorial? So, just like most generals in the court, they looked for gunmen to write for themselves...
At this time, Ma Zhou was at Chang He's house. Chang He did not abandon the near and seek the distant, so he asked Ma Zhou to write an article and submit it to Li Shimin to settle the matter.
Ma Zhou was so pleasantly surprised, how could he give up such a great opportunity? Naturally, I racked my brains and used what I had learned in my life to put forward twenty suggestions in this article discussing current affairs. It was written clearly and brilliantly, and the pros and cons of national affairs were explained in depth. Each suggestion can be called the most perfect plan at the moment. .
His Majesty Li Er was very surprised after reading it: How could that old man Chang He write such a thorough article? After asking, I found out that it was the masterpiece of Chang He's disciple. His Majesty Li Er was eager to seek talents, and immediately ordered people to go to Chang He's house to invite Ma Zhou. He had a conversation with this humble scholar who was born in the dead soul. After taking office, he was appointed as the supervisory censor within a year, and finally he was promoted to Zhongshu Ling, becoming an important adviser and right-hand man to His Majesty Li Er. It can be said that he became famous in a "break" and rose to prominence...
Ma Zhou once compared himself to Fu Shuo of Shang Dynasty and Lu Wang (Jiang Ziya) of Zhou Dynasty. Ouyang Xiu commented after "New Book of Tang·Biography of Ma Zhou": Ma Zhou's talents are not as good as Fu Shuo and Lu Wang, so there are few future generations. Record his deeds. However, Taizu, who wrote "The most romantic people still look at the present day", denied Ouyang Xiu's evaluation. He once commented: "Fu Shuo and Lu Wang are not moral. Ma Zhou's talents and virtues are very different." He believed that Ma Zhou's talents and virtues were far greater than Fu Shuo's. , above Lu Wang.
In fact, this is indeed the case.
Although the records of Ma Zhou in the Old and New Tang Books are not very detailed, the important role Ma Zhou played in the "Reign of Zhenguan" is indelible. With his outstanding talents in governing the country, he assisted His Majesty Li Er in creating the most famous prosperous era in history, making the name of the glorious Tang Dynasty immortal and lasting for thousands of years.
In recognition of Ma Zhou's outstanding contribution to the Tang Dynasty, His Majesty Li Er once wrote an inscription for Ma Zhou: "The phoenix and the phoenix must be equipped with wings; the sincerity and loyalty are the foundation of loyalty." Such a high evaluation was rare in the early Tang Dynasty when famous officials gathered.
What kind of poem should I write?
Fang Jun meditated for a moment as he picked up the pen, and then started writing with a heavy wrist. The tip of the pen brushed and dyed on the rice paper. Each of the magnificent and square characters appeared in the blank space in the upper left corner of the painting.
Cen Wenwen leaned forward slightly and chanted softly: "I am lying in the Yazhai listening to the rustling bamboos, which is suspected to be the sound of suffering among the people. I am a Caozhou county official, and every branch and leaf is always about love... Hiss!"
Cen Wenwen took a breath and praised: "Erlang, what a great talent! He is deeply in love with the scene, expresses his aspirations through things, and wrote a masterpiece at the snap of his fingers. I am impressed!"
As he spoke, he straightened his clothes and gave Fang Jun a long bow, which made Fang Jun startled and quickly avoided him. Cen Wenwen said to Ma Zhou with an envious look: "King Bin has always fulfilled his duties and taken the benefit of all people as his own responsibility. He has not slacked off in the past few years. Now Fang Erlang's poem, with the sound of the wind blowing and the bamboos shaking, is associated with the suffering of the people's lives. , I also praise your sentiments and moral character, King Bin. It is conceivable that after a thousand years, King Bin’s name will be as fragrant and lasting as this poem and this painting. I really envy you!"
Ma Zhou stood aside, watching the song "Ink Bamboo", savoring every word carefully. After a long time, he sighed to Fang Jun: "Erlang, this... is too ridiculous. How can I dare to be a low-ranking official?"
This poem by Zheng Banqiao starts from writing about bamboo and expresses his ambitions based on objects. It expresses his worries and concern for the people, as well as his sense of responsibility and the mentality of an upright official. Since he was painting as a gift to his boss and elder, there was a lot of humility and euphemism in his tone. Now that it was written by Fang Jun, in Ma Zhou's view, it was Fang Jun's infinite admiration and respect for him. How could this not make Ma Zhou both flattered and ecstatic?
Fang Jun shook his head and said: "Do you think I wrote it casually? I dare not say how good my poems are, but they are definitely a reflection of my heart. At the beginning, I dared to be asked by His Highness the King of Wei to write a poem called "The Charcoal Seller" , now, I can also write you a song "Ink Bamboo"! I hope you will not forget your original intention, care about the people, be honest and upright. If you can benefit the people, the people will give you a name that will go down in history and last forever!"
Ma Zhou was shocked!
Ma Zhou has always been favored by His Majesty Li Er, so he does not feel proud or proud to be able to stay with you for a long time. On the contrary, he feels that he has a heavy responsibility, walking on thin ice, and does not dare to slack off. He often worked alone until midnight, just to more accurately understand the reality and priorities of the memorials reported in various places, so that he could give more intuitive and accurate advice to His Majesty Li Er.
Ma Zhou was born in poverty, so he naturally knew that the seemingly prosperous Tang Dynasty was not as prosperous as it appeared on the surface, and the people at the bottom were already struggling to make ends meet. He also knew that if the central government made a small decision without careful consideration, it would most likely lead to the already difficult situation of the people becoming even more difficult.
He must conscientiously fulfill his duties, be compassionate to all people, work conscientiously, and be honest and self-responsible.
This is how Ma Zhou behaves as an official and as a person.
And Fang Jun's poem is indeed the greatest praise and affirmation for Ma Zhou! Ma Zhou's mood was shaken, and he felt that a scholar would die for his confidant!
