"If you ask about the prosperity and failure of ancient and modern times, please just look at Luoyang City." Luoyang has been the imperial capital since ancient times and has witnessed countless prosperity and decline events in history. When it was in its prime, the princes in Luoyang City gathered together and built gardens here, which was a great scene. When it declined, the people fled and became desolate.
The original name of Huyuan is Jixian Garden. It was the garden of Pei Du, the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, in Jixianli, Luoyang. It passed through the hands of many people during the Song Dynasty and has always been a famous garden in Luoyang. During the Jingkang Rebellion, the owner fled and was never heard from again. Over the past few years, the garden has become overgrown with weeds and has become a home for foxes and rabbits.
It was here that Wang Xiaolie set up a painting and calligraphy academy to house the scattered court painters.
Li Tang took Li Di around the lake garden from south to north and from east to west. Finally, he stood on the Shuixin Pavilion and looked at the vast Pingjin Pool. He sighed and said, "I heard that this lake garden has been famous since the Tang Dynasty and has countless scenic spots. I looked at it again today, but I only saw weeds everywhere. .”
Li Di said: "Dad, after Jingkang, the people of Luoyang fled, and there were not many families in the city. Without them, wouldn't this garden be deserted?"
"Yes, the Jingkang Rebellion, this ancient city also suffered a catastrophe. Not only the people suffered, but the scenery also suffered." Li Di looked up and saw only twos and threes of lotus flowers in the Pingjin Pond, and the buildings on all sides had long since The flower garden was overgrown with weeds, and I couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
Li Di said: "Xuanfu turned this place into a painting and calligraphy academy. We work harder on weekdays and just tidy it up again. When we arrive in Luoyang, it is better than in Xiangyang. What else is there to be unhappy about? I heard that Luoyin is here Let’s go out and try some famous dishes later.”
Li Tang laughed when he heard this: "You are still young and think about these things every day. If you ask me, when you arrive in Xijing, don't be in a hurry to eat those famous delicacies. Instead, find a clean and elegant restaurant and ask for two kilograms of beef. A few vegetables. While drinking wine, I looked at the scenery of my motherland."
Li Di said: "Since Dad said so, let's do it. It's almost noon, let's go out and see if there is a suitable place."
Walking out of the lake garden, looking at the sparse pedestrians on the streets and the decaying shops on both sides, Li Tang sighed: "When I was young, I lived in Xijing and made a living selling paintings every day. Luoyang was so prosperous at that time! Although It’s not as lively as Kaifeng City, but the trees line the streets and the scenery is better. Inadvertently, there is a restaurant on the street. Go in and have a few drinks, and your life will be like a fairy.”
Li Di said: "I'm young, and it's a pity that I didn't have such a peaceful life for a few years."
As I was walking, I saw a wine flag stretched out from under the big locust tree by the roadside. There was a cage in front of the door, with several chickens cuckling non-stop.
Li Tang said: "After walking for a long time, this is the only one selling wine. Come on, let's go have a drink."
After saying that, he and Li Di strode into the restaurant together.
A waiter was lying on the counter, bored. When he saw Li Tang and Li Di coming in, he hurriedly came to greet them. He said: "Two guests, please come in quickly."
Li Tang chose a seat and sat down, looking around. The restaurant is not big, with only seven or eight tables, and there are currently two tables occupied by guests.
Li Di said: "Do you sell good wine in this shop?"
The boy smiled and said: "Sir, since Wang Xuanfu came to Luoyang, wine is no longer what it used to be. There are special wine shops selling wine. Our place, such as the famous wine Jinshaquan, is the most powerful. And the local wine is sent from the supply and marketing cooperative, not brewed by ourselves.”
Li Di said: "You two are not ordinary people, so of course you have to drink good wine. Jinsha Spring is famous far and wide, so I brought two bottles. - By the way, I heard that this wine has been aged for several years. Don't use others to trick us. !”
The waiter smiled and said: "Sir, how can a small shop like ours have wine that has been aged for several years? Just make do with some."
After hearing this, Li Di waved his hand: "That's all, it's not aged wine. I can't drink that wine. Just bring a bottle of ordinary wine."
The boy turned around with a smile, and couldn't help but feel a little gurgling in his heart. Since this guest officer has no money and cannot drink good wine, why is he asking so many questions?
Not long after, the waiter brought over a bottle of wine and a plate of soy sauce beef. After placing a few more vegetables in season, they left.
It is customary for a small shop like this not to sell hot dishes. If you want hot food, you order it and he goes to buy it for you. Only in Xiangyang and Dengzhou, taverns also sell hot dishes, a new habit introduced by Wang Xiaolie. Even common noodle restaurants and dumpling restaurants will also cook a few simple dishes.
After pouring the wine, Li Tang took a sip. He sighed: "Luoyang is a city in the world, but now it is much worse than Xiangyang. It is really sad."
As soon as he finished speaking, a man at the table next to him suddenly turned around. He looked at Li Tang and said, "It turns out to be Li Daizhao! I haven't seen you for many years. How are you doing?"
Li Tang took a closer look and saw that the man's face was covered with beard and there was a lot of dust. After looking at it for a long time, he recognized it and said, "Zhang Daizhao, is it really you?"
Traditionally in China, beards are also called "beautiful beards". Some people even collect their lost beards as treasures. But in the Song Dynasty, many scholars before the age of forty could not grow beards. The man in front of me looks young and has a beard, just like a coolie.
The man nodded: "What a pity! We still have one day to meet again!"
Li Di stood up, walked to the man, looked up and down, left and right. Said: "Oh my god, it's really Zhang Daizhao! My dear Li Di, I met him a few years ago. Don't you remember Daizhao?"
The man looked at Li Di carefully and then said: "It turns out to be Li Di! You have grown up so much in the past few years that you can't recognize him anymore."
Li Tang saw that the man only had a pot of bad wine and two peaches in front of him, so he hurriedly asked him to come to his table. He said to him: "Where have you been these years? I have traveled to many places, but there is no news from you."
The man sighed and said: "The city of Kaifeng was destroyed, and I fled with the people. By chance, I was bumped into by the Jin army. Seeing that I was young, they took me to carry the burden. Later they moved to Longde Mansion, where Stay. Most of the people there fled and had nothing to eat. Who would buy paintings? There was no way, so I had to do odd jobs to make a living. A few months ago, Wang Xuanfu's army went north and recaptured Longde Mansion. I thought I couldn’t stay there for long, so I returned to Zhongyuan.”
Li Tang couldn't help but sigh after hearing this.
The man's name was Zhang Zeduan, and he was extremely famous in later generations. In this era, he was just waiting for an imperial edict from the Academy of Painting. We are colleagues with Li Tang, Li Di and others, so of course we know each other. I recently returned to Luoyang City and wanted to find something to do. Unexpectedly, I happened to meet Li Tang and Li Di.
If you ask Wang Xiaolie, he doesn't know who Li Tang and Li Di are, but he knows who Zhang Zeduan is. After all, although Li Tang and Li Di are famous artists who have left their names to future generations, Zhang Zeduan's famous paintings have been included in the history textbooks. As long as you are Chinese, few Chinese have not heard of them.
