Cen Wenwen said helplessly: "You are just too humble. You are in your prime of life, and you should be full of energy. Being so sluggish and depressed is really off-putting... However, although this painting "Ink Bamboo" is excellent,
But there is one verse missing, and I always feel like something is missing.”
After saying that, 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 dare not ask for my ear!"
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 is a master of poetry and calligraphy? He can easily get a pair of them."
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 for each of them, and rent them to a shop on the street to sell them, which will make a lot of money?"
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 you, Erlang, can't write these hundreds of poems."
Fang Jun smiled and nodded: "A few hundred is a bit difficult, but a hundred and eighty is still possible if you make up the numbers."
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 ministers in history who were famous for their "talent". And Ma Zhou can be said to be the successor of Du Ruhui, Fang Jun
Xuanling's mantle is the key figure who will inherit the prosperous era of Zhenguan.
Definitely considered 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 "Poetry", "Books", and "Spring and Autumn". He was already rich in economics when he was less than twenty years old. During the Wude period, he once served as a prefecture official.
He was a teaching assistant, but he was criticized by the governor for ignoring political affairs, so he resigned. Later, when he went to Bianzhou, he was humiliated by the county magistrate. 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
Named "Chang'an Piao"...
It was not easy to live in the capital, but when I came to Chang'an, I realized how big the world was and how difficult life was. After wandering in Chang'an for a while, I saw that survival had become a problem, so I had to bite the bullet and go to the house of General Chang He as a retainer.
, settled 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 pros and cons of current affairs. All officials, both civil and military, had to write a memorial.
Chang He was a warrior who had never read many books and could barely recognize a few characters. How could he write such a memorial? So, like most generals in the court, he hired a gunman to write for him...
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 overjoyed. How could he give up such a great opportunity? Naturally, he racked his brains and put into use what he had learned in his life. He put forward twenty suggestions in this article discussing current affairs.
Taking it into consideration, every suggestion can be regarded as the most perfect solution 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, he found out that it was the masterpiece of Chang He's disciples. His Majesty Li Er was eager to seek talents and immediately ordered people to go to Chang He's house to ask for horses.
Zhou, after having a conversation with this low-born Luhun scholar, felt that it would be too late to meet him immediately, so he immediately asked Ma Zhou to serve in the secret province of Menxia. Within a year, he was appointed as the supervisory censor, and finally became an official.
Zhi Zhongshu Ling became an important adviser and right-hand assistant to His Majesty Li Er, which can be said to be a model of becoming famous in a "break" and rising to prominence...
Ma Zhou once compared himself to Fu Shuo of Shang Dynasty, Lu Wang (Jiang Ziya) of Zhou Dynasty. Regarding this, Ouyang Xiu commented in "New Tang Book·Ma Zhou Biography": Ma Zhou's talents are not as good as Fu Shuo and Lu Wang, so there are few future generations.
Records of his deeds. However, Taizu, who wrote "A romantic man still looks at the present day", denied Ouyang Xiu's evaluation. He once commented: "Fu said, Lu Wang is not moral. Ma Zhou's talent and virtue are far away." He believed that Ma Zhou's talent was
His virtue is far superior to that of Fu Shuo and 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 revolution in history.
The prosperous age of the Tang Dynasty made the name of the Huanghuang Tang Dynasty immortal through the ages, and its legacy has lasted 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: Luan Feng Ling Yun, must be equipped with wings; a gift of stock and arms, sincerity and loyalty. Such a high evaluation was also given in the early years of the Tang Dynasty when famous officials gathered.
It is rare.
What kind of poem is good to write?
Fang Jun meditated for a moment as he picked up the pen, and then started writing with his hands deep. The tip of the pen brushed and dyed on the rice paper, and 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 into the emotions and scenery, expresses his ambitions with things, and at the snap of his fingers, he created a masterpiece that is unparalleled in the world. I am impressed!"
As he spoke, he straightened his clothes and gave Fang Jun a long bow, which made Fang Jun startled and hurriedly avoided him. Cen Wenwen said to Ma Zhou with an envious look: "King Bin has always fulfilled his duties with the goal of benefiting all people."
I have never slacked off my duty in the past few years. Now Fang Erlang's poem, from the sound of the wind blowing bamboos, reminds people of the hardships in life, and also praises King Bin for your sentiment and moral character. It is conceivable that after a thousand years, King Bin's name will definitely follow.
With this poem and this painting, the fragrance will last forever, and the purity and meaning will last forever. I really envy you!"
Ma Zhou stood aside, looking at the "Ink Bamboo", carefully savoring every word, for a long time, and sighed to Fang Jun: "Erlang, this... is too ridiculous, how dare you 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 concerns for the people, as well as his sense of responsibility and the mentality of an upright official. Since he painted it as a gift to his superiors and elders at the time, his tone was quite
Such humble and euphemistic words. 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 don't dare to say how good my poems are, but they are definitely a reflection of my heart. At the beginning, I dared to be written "The Charcoal Seller" by His Highness the King of Wei.
Now, I can also write you a "Mozhu"! 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 works alone until midnight, just to be more accurate.
A better understanding of the reality and urgency of the reports reported in various places can provide His Majesty Li Er with more intuitive and accurate advice.
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 caution,
It is very likely to cause the already difficult people to become even more distressed.
We must conscientiously fulfill our duties, have compassion for all people, work conscientiously, and be honest and self-responsible.
This is how Ma Zhou behaved as an official and as a human being.
And Fang Jun's poem is indeed the greatest praise and affirmation for Ma Zhou! It made Ma Zhou feel shocked, and he felt that a scholar would die for his confidant! 8