Confucianism under Heaven

Chapter 2 Literary Poems and War Poems

Chapter Two: Literary Poems and War Poems

The cold, resounding words echoed in the sky, and a pillar of crimson light descended from the heavens, enveloping Ye Ru completely.

This scene caused everyone to gasp in surprise, their faces filled with shock.

This crimson pillar of light perfectly represents the fact that Ye Ru's words are comparable to those of a sage!

It should be understood that in the Confucian and Taoist continent, sacred words are used to measure a person's behavior and conduct, and those who possess great talent are considered to have it.

Some of the more powerful sacred words can even be inscribed on the temples of various countries, using the temples' power to slay evil spirits, enhance national fortune, and suppress savage monsters.

The sacred words are also divided into seven levels: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple, with red being the lowest and purple the highest.

Enveloped in light, his talent surged forth like a spring, and the pressure around Ye Ru vanished instantly. A warm aura flowed from deep within his brow to his limbs.

"These are sacred words! How could this good-for-nothing utter words comparable to those of a saint!"

Wang Xiaoyang turned pale, quickly took two steps back, and then knelt down with a thud.

The sage's teachings, as if spoken by a divine decree, exuded an aura of authority without anger.

The people around were also shocked. This good-for-nothing from Wenxing Private School could now utter sacred words!

"Ye Ru seems a bit unusual today, as if his temperament has changed a lot."

"Yes, were those words really spoken by Ye Ru himself?"

Countless people looked at Ye Ru with a hint of fear in their eyes.

"Don't think that just because you're a nobleman's son you can do whatever you want. Things change every thirty years. We, the poor, are not to be bullied."

Ye Ru glanced at the pale-faced Wang Xiaoyang, then left gracefully, brushing past the woman without even looking at her.

……

After class began, a teacher who was over forty years old appeared at the door, holding a ruler.

Immediately, the noise gradually subsided and finally disappeared completely, and everyone sat up straight and quieted down.

This teacher, named Xu Sheng, had passed the imperial examination at the county level, but unfortunately, he was not very bright and did not advance further. In order to make a living, he had no choice but to come here to teach.

After the sound completely disappeared, Master Xu began to recite the poem.

"In the Confucian and Taoist Continent, in order to pass the examinations for the title of Tongsheng or Xiucai, one must be able to compose poetry. Poetry is divided into two types: war poetry and literary poetry. War poetry is grand and magnificent. A war poem composed by a great Confucian scholar can even suppress an entire city. Literary poetry, on the other hand, can elevate one's sagehood, seize literary rank, solidify one's academic career, and temper one's literary courage."

"Poetry is divided into four-character poems, five-character poems, and seven-character regulated poems. In the county examination, in addition to examining the calligraphy, the history of various great Confucian scholars and ancient poems accounted for a very large proportion."

"The levels of poetry are divided into six categories: Primordial Chaos, Cultivating Virtue, Astounding Sage, World-Renowned, Legendary, and World-Suppressing."

"Among all the students of our Wenxing Private School, it is already quite difficult to produce a poem on the Primordial Chaos, and to produce a poem on the Cultivation of Virtue is even more rare, with only one in a hundred being able to do so. Apart from Han Dingsheng back then, no one has reached that level to this day."

When Han Dingsheng was mentioned, Xu Sheng's expression became somewhat unnatural.

During the lecture on poetry, Ye Ru listened with great interest, never expecting that poetry would be so important here.

“In our Huangzi Class, there is only one person with this talent, and that is Wang Xiaoyang from the Langya Wang Clan. As for you, you should not try to write poetry, lest you humiliate yourselves.”

Master Xu gave Wang Xiaoyang a fawning smile, while everyone else curled their lip. They all knew that Wang Xiaoyang's family was aristocratic, and although he only held the seventh rank in officialdom, he was still considered wealthy and powerful in Qingyun County.

If Master Xu wanted to pass the imperial examination, he would need the help of aristocratic families.

However, Wang Xiaotian was also quite capable. After all, he came from a noble family and had been well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics since childhood. Although he did not possess extraordinary talent, he was still a rare rival in the entire Wilderness Class.

After reciting the ancient poem, Master Xu picked up his brush and wrote two large characters on a piece of scrap paper: "Mountains and Rivers," and then said:

"Today, let's compose the simplest type of poem, a landscape poem, requiring tonal patterns and rhyme. Who wants to give it a try?"

As soon as he spoke, the previously noisy classroom fell completely silent.

Landscape poetry? Is it really that simple?

Even if they were not yet students preparing for the imperial examinations, they still wouldn't be able to compose landscape poems.

For them to be able to compose a limerick at their current level is already quite an achievement, let alone requiring it to be rhymed and have to follow the rules of tone.

"Rotten wood cannot be carved."

Looking around, Master Xu shook his head, then smiled and glanced at Wang Xiaoyang, saying:

"Wang Xiaoyang, you are the most promising candidate in our class to create the Primordial Poem. Would you like to give it a try? You could be the first to do so."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiaoyang nodded, his face full of pride, and said:

"That's easy. Let me think about it."

Ye Ru looked at Wang Xiaoyang, then chuckled softly, feeling utterly speechless.

On Earth, composing a poem is a piece of cake.

Wang Xiaoyang thought for a moment, then stood up, straightened his chest, and said:

"The mountain stream flows gently, clouds and mist dance in the clear sky, stars shine outside the window, and the strings of the zither and the se murmur."

"Excellent poem! Although this poem has not reached the level of the Primordial Chaos, it is still a poem of the Primordial Chaos. It is unique. The title of 'talented scholar' belongs to you alone. Well done! Everyone should be like Wang Xiaoyang. Only by writing poems like this can one have a chance to pass the imperial examination!"

Master Xu couldn't help but clap his hands and cheer, full of admiration.

The students below all looked at Wang Xiaoyang with admiration.

Upon hearing this, Ye Ru yawned with a smile.

Although this poem contains mountains and water, it lacks a certain artistic conception. Artistic conception is the soul of a poem; without it, the poem is merely a cobbled-together creation.

The poem originated from the primordial chaos, which doesn't qualify one as a talented poet, and besides, it hasn't even resonated with any other poets.

And this kind of lousy poetry, anyone on Earth could write.

However, Wang Xiaoyang happened to witness this scene. Recalling his previous shameful act, a malicious glint appeared in his eyes. He then looked at Master Xu, performed a student's salute, and said:

"Master, I think Brother Ye Ru can also write landscape poems. Why don't we let him give it a try?"

As soon as he said that, everyone in the room was in an uproar, and then they all looked at Ye Ru with a hint of schadenfreude in their eyes.

"Ye Ru? Forget it, everyone knows his level. He's hopeless and utterly worthless."

When Master Xu saw Ye Ru's lazy appearance, his eyes showed a hint of disgust, and he pretended to humiliate him.

Some people who were on good terms with the gentry also ridiculed:

"Poetry requires talent, but it cannot be acquired through hard work by such a despicable person."

Upon hearing this, Ye Ru's anger flared up instantly.

In his previous life, he was well-versed in Tang and Song poetry. With his extraordinary memory, although he wouldn't say he was an expert in all of them, composing poetry was a piece of cake for him.

Moreover, the history of this Confucian and Taoist continent only extends to the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, Sui and Tang Dynasties, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, during which countless poets emerged.

At this moment, many students began to whisper among themselves.

Although Wang Xiaoyang was a disciple of a noble family, he was also a man of genuine talent and learning.

Ye Ru's previous impolite behavior led many students to believe that he did it on purpose.

Ye Ru glanced at Wang Xiaoyang, but didn't say anything more. Instead, he closed his eyes, indicating that he was ignoring him.

This contempt infuriated Wang Xiaoyang. The other party's earlier remarks about saints had caused him to lose face in front of everyone, and he was determined to humiliate Ye Ru today!

"What, Brother Ye Ru, could you compose a poem or two to broaden our horizons?"

Wang Xiaoyang gave Xu Fuzi a look, then looked at Ye Ru with a forced smile.

"Ye Ru, since you have no interest in appreciating Wang Xiaoyang's poetry, why don't you write one yourself and let me comment on it? I'll see whose poem is better between the two of you, shall we?"

Master Xu understood and echoed his sentiment.

"Oh no! Master Fu and Wang Xiaoyang have joined forces to attack Ye Ru."

"Ye Ru was born with limited intelligence. Let alone composing a poem, even a single line would be too much for him. Of all people to offend, he had to offend Wang Xiaoyang. Isn't he just asking for humiliation?"

"Ye Ru has never composed a complete poem since he entered the school. He will probably be punished now."

"What? Brother Ye Ru, are you intimidated?"

Hearing the chatter around him, Wang Xiaoyang became even more aggressive, staring at Ye Ru and mocking him.

Under everyone's gaze, Ye Ru slightly raised his head, his dark eyes reflecting unparalleled confidence:

"I'd like to give it a try."