The Sage of Confucianism and Taoism

Chapter 1502 Meeting an old friend in a foreign land

"I won't argue with you about the following sin! You must attend the early spring cultural gathering in Guangzhou City today, and make a name for yourself. If you can create a momentum to catch up with Fang Xusheng or even suppress Fang Xusheng, you will be the winner. Hero." Zhu Fengqiong said.

"Master Zhu, I have something unclear. What is your relationship with the Lei family?"

"Don't ask what you shouldn't ask! Knowing too much will not do you any good!"

"Okay, I won't ask any more questions about this matter. But... I don't want to participate in the early spring literary conference. I think this is their conspiracy against me to damage my literary reputation."

"If you really have a literary name, they can't attack you. If your literary name is damaged because of this, it means you are not worthy to compete with Fang Xusheng. I will persuade them to take back the treasure. I think you got too much!"

"How much I get is not up to you! In what capacity you pass the message to me, that is the key."

After a while, Zhu Fengqiong sent another message: "You only need to know that Lei Ting, who is in contact with you, cannot often enter the world of Kong Shengwen. Before you compete with Fang Yunwen, you must obey my orders! My identity is Your superior!"

"I don't doubt it, but it's a pity that Great Scholar Lei Tingzhen didn't say that you were involved in this matter at that time."

"In a few days, Master Lei Tingzhen will inform you. In short, you must do everything possible to publicize your literary name. Only in this way can we continue to build momentum until we force Fang Xusheng to come out to compete with you."

"For those treasures, I will do my best." Fang Yun replied.

"May you not tarnish Tao Sheng's clothes!"

"Don't worry about that!"

Fang Yun put away his official seal and did not doubt Zhu Fengqiong's identity. After all, this matter was very confidential. Since he pointed out the semi-saint clothes and crown at the beginning, it proved that he already knew everything in detail.

Fang Yun stood up and was about to go find Wei Changxian, but sat down again.

After thinking for a moment, Fang Yun picked up the official seal of the Marquis of Zhujiang and sent a letter to Wei Changxian.

"If Lord Lumen picks me up personally to go to the early spring cultural gathering, I might consider it."

Wei Changxian never replied, and Fang Yun was not in a hurry.

In the evening, the sound of neat horse hooves came from outside the carriage, and Fang Yun judged that it was the sound made by the heavy cavalry of Lumenhou's personal guards.

The sound of horse hooves stopped, and the old voice of Marquis Lumen came from outside the door.

"Long Xiang, the time has come. Let's go to Guangzhou Academy of Literature with me to participate in the early spring literary meeting."

Fang Yun waited for ten breaths before stepping out of the carriage. He smiled and cupped his hands to Marquis Lumen and said, "I've kept you waiting for so long. Let's set off now."

Many generals were displeased, but Fang Yun turned a blind eye.

The generals of the Lumen Army went to Guangzhou Academy of Literature with Fang Yun. Xun Tianling originally wanted to stay in the army, but after learning that Zhang Longxiang also participated in the literary conference, he decided to arrive later.

When the group arrived at Guangzhou Academy of Literature, night fell and the lanterns were lit.

There were many tables and chairs placed in the Wenyuan Square. Thousands of people had arrived and stood up one after another.

Fang Yun followed Lu Menhou and walked forward with a smile. If someone greeted him, he would return the greeting or nod in greeting.

After walking a few steps, I heard a young scholar shout: "I dare not forget about my country despite my humble position! The students believe that those who can write such famous sentences are definitely not of the wrong kind!"

Fang Yun turned to look at the scholar, bowed his hands in greeting, and was grateful.

Many people present nodded lightly. They were all influenced by the poetry-mad old man. Before there was evidence, they would never slander Zhang Longxiang as a traitor.

However, there are still many people with cold eyes and full of hostility.

Everyone walked to the front of the banquet and stopped at the front table. Qishan Hou Gou Bao, who was wearing a Qingyi academic uniform, was standing there. He first exchanged salutes with Lumen Hou, and then turned to look at Fang Yun.

"Nephew Long Xiang, long time no see. Is everything okay?"

Fang Yun stared at Qishan Hou Gou Bao. He was a tall and mighty old man with a huge nose. If the nose was more curved, it would be a typical aquiline nose. Although he was smiling, his eyes were cold and his face seemed like wood. engraving.

Fang Yun smiled and said: "Everything is fine. My Zhang family has been taken care of by Marquis Qishan these years! Meeting Marquis Qishan today is one of the four great joys in life."

"Oh? What are the four great joys in life?"

Fang Yun smiled and said: "Long drought brings sweet rain, meeting an old friend in a foreign land, the night of flowers and candles in the wedding room, and the time when the gold medal is named."

The prefect of Guangzhou on the side smiled and said: "Okay! The Marquis of Zhujiang is full of witty words. This is indeed one of the four great joys in life."

Fang Yun glanced at the Guangzhou magistrate. "Meeting an old friend in a foreign land" was extremely ironic to Gou Bao. The Gou family had been the main force attacking the Zhang family in recent years. Fang Yun wanted to see how Gou Bao would respond, but the Guangzhou magistrate interjected. , easily resolved.

Lumenhou smiled and said: "Everyone, please don't stand. Sit down."

Gou Bao and Lumen Hou took their seats first, then a chair was left vacant for Xun Tianling, and Fang Yun took his seat next.

There are currently only three people sitting at this first table, and the rest are elsewhere.

Gou Bao and Lu Menhou were chatting in a low voice, while Fang Yun was sitting alone.

Fang Yun ignored everyone, took out a book and read it carefully.

Many people turned their attention to Fang Yun. When they saw Fang Yun's move, some nodded in approval, some sneered, and some showed pity. They had lost too much in ten years in prison, and they had to race against time to make up for the losses.

Not long after, Xun Tianling arrived, and the early spring literary party officially began.

The person who presided over the cultural gathering was the prefect of Guangzhou. This person was elegant and humorous, which made the atmosphere of the cultural gathering even more exciting.

Soon after, the Guangzhou prefect announced the rules of this literary gathering. All poems are acceptable, with no limit on rhyme, and the topic is broad, as long as there is the image of spring. This literary gathering is a gathering of strange poems, and the final ranking is determined by "strangeness". If the degree of "strangeness" is similar, it will be judged by three university scholars.

Fang Yun was stunned, and immediately understood that the key to this literary gathering is not the poems themselves, but the "similar degree" and the judgment by three university scholars.

The Guangzhou prefect can decide whether the level of the two strange poems is similar, and the three university scholars will decide the superiority.

If the level difference between the two poems is not too big, then the Guangzhou prefect can hand it over to the three university scholars. At that time, Lu Menhou and Gou Bao will join forces, and Xun Tianling will not change the result no matter how he judges.

Fang Yun is helpless. This kind of literary competition with artificial interference can be cheated openly without taking any risks. This is a very simple but difficult to avoid literary gathering trap.

Fang Yun scanned the entire venue, memorized everyone's face, and then sent a letter to Qin Dynasty Prime Minister Zhu Fengqiong, asking him to send a list of all the people in the literary gathering, their portraits and their life stories, especially those who were good at poetry.

Zhu Fengqiong replied quickly.

After reading the information, Fang Yun felt a headache. It seemed that his enemies had prepared for at least ten days. Even if he didn't come to Guangzhou City, they would hold this literary gathering in Pengcheng or Zhucheng.

There are more than ten famous poets and even five people from other countries on the list of participants today.

These more than ten famous poets have all written relatively famous poems, and have at least written poems at the level of Dafu. There are also three who have created works of Mingzhou.

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