Water Margin begins as a captain in Yanggu County

Chapter 212 What does Su Qing think?

As soon as Su Wu sat down, the emperor looked him up and down and said, "You have a really good physique..."

"Your Majesty, thank you for your praise..." Su Wu didn't know what was going on and was still a little nervous, but then he thought about Tong Guan's words and calmed down.

Then the emperor asked, "Tell me about your youth..."

Things from my youth? This question is a bit difficult, so Su Wu has to make it up: "When I was young, my family was not poor, I had enough to eat and wear, and I had read some books. Later... my father passed away early, and my mother also left. When I was half grown up, I had no choice but to sell the big house and trade it for a small one. I grew up like this, and also helped the neighbors with some chores, and also wandered around the streets for a while, and learned some boxing and kicking from the gangsters. Later, I joined the government office to do work. I learned that the county magistrate valued me, so I became the head of the county government..."

In fact, they are all true, but not the whole truth, leaving some room for imagination.

The emperor nodded and said, "I think I should have read more when I was young..."

Su Wu did not answer, but just let the emperor think so.

Then the emperor said: "Cheng Wanli is really good. He promoted you from the countryside and made you his son-in-law. Haha... he is a smart man..."

Su Wu understood that the emperor had sought him out just to chat. The emperor seemed to also like chatting, but he obviously also had a purpose, which was probably that he wanted to have a more comprehensive understanding of Su Wu.

Su Wu also smiled and said, "I will never forget the kindness of Mr. Cheng in raising me. My fiancée is also a good woman. This is my blessing."

"Really? Such a good man, I must find a chance to meet him." The emperor smiled, but he really didn't have the majesty of an emperor. At this moment, the emperor seemed like an elder next door.

"Your Majesty's grace is so great, it is also a blessing for me!" Su Wu said.

The emperor waved his hands and said, "You don't have to be so reserved. I came to you because I have something to ask you. After all, you are a brave warrior. I want to ask you about the Liao Kingdom. You should tell me what you have to say from the bottom of your heart..."

It turned out that there was something serious going on. Su Wu was also thinking that those officials must have discussed this matter with the emperor countless times. They came to ask Su Wu at this time, so they must have concerns...

It's inevitable that I'm afraid of losing. If I really lose, many things will be difficult to resolve.

Su Wu couldn't help but think again, what is the emperor asking? He should be asking about confidence.

Su Wu replied, "Your Majesty, regarding the matter of attacking Liao, I think we must fight. Not only must we fight, but we must fight a big war. Since ancient times, the northern lands have been nomadic, fishermen and hunters, and there have always been tigers and wolves. It has always been a situation where one side sings and the other side takes the stage. Attacking Liao and taking Yanyun is a major plan for the country. As for the north, no matter whether Liao wins or Jin wins, as long as we take Yanyun and Yanshan, our Song Dynasty will have no worries for eternity!"

The emperor then asked again: "How much victory and loss? How much defeat?"

Su Wu immediately said, "This time, the elite army is about to enter the capital. Your Majesty should personally see the strength of each army. If what I said is true, we will win a hundred battles without a single defeat. Your Majesty is kind and virtuous, the soldiers are willing to die, and there is plenty of money and food. The Liao people are already at the end of their strength, and they are also attacked from all sides. How can our army not win?"

Upon hearing this, the emperor seemed to be relieved and nodded: "Okay..."

But Su Wu said again: "I also ask for your permission. If we fight this time, I will die on the battlefield and live up to your majesty's kindness!"

The emperor was actually quite moved, and looked at Su Wu with excitement in his eyes. He just said, "Okay, okay, with your words, I have nothing to worry about!"

Su Wu still felt a little surprised. Is this emperor so easily moved?
Then Su Wu came back and said: "If you attack Liao, I will use my life as a guarantee. If you don't recover Yanyun, you will die!"

The emperor immediately waved his hand and said, "No need to say that. I don't know how many reports of your victory I have read. How can I not know that you are a brave man who fights bravely and dies bravely? Small victories and small defeats are common in the military. Just fight calmly. As long as you conquer Yanyun, I will definitely reward you handsomely!"

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty. I will never regret it even if I die!" Su Wu just kept saying it. He seemed to have realized something: this His Majesty was actually very easy to deal with.

There is a kind of innocence about His Majesty!
It is a rare and precious innocence, or in other words, pureness.

The emperor smiled and suddenly asked, "I heard that you were wild and unruly last night?"

Su Wu was stunned, and nodded in embarrassment: "Your Majesty, please forgive me, I may have drunk too much..."

"It's okay to be wild and unrestrained, but it really has the charm of the Tang Dynasty. It's not like the court, where there are countless old-fashioned people. Whether they are literati or poets, don't you know that true nature is the most moving? I like true nature the most, just like calligraphy and painting, which require unrestrainedness. Unrestrainedness is the best..."

The emperor spoke with a smile, and his smile made people feel like they were in a spring breeze.

Su Wu was also surprised. He didn't expect that this would offend the emperor.

At first, Su Wu was thinking about how to make a name for himself as a scholar. There are many ways, and there are also shortcuts, that is, quarreling with others, scolding others, and putting himself at the forefront of public opinion. In this way, he can gain fame very quickly. Even if some people don't like it, everyone will subconsciously regard Su Wu as a scholar.

Looking back now, I didn’t expect that the emperor would like such a person.

Perhaps, art is the pursuit of a kind of freedom, freedom of soul and thought. People with high artistic attainments will inexplicably be close to freedom and like a certain kind of eccentricity.

Su Wu's move was an accidental success and really suited the emperor's temper.

But Su Wu also knew that an artist could not be a good emperor. It was like a person who was an art student who failed the exam but had great political power.

An artist's freedom, unrestrainedness, and even eccentricity would be a disaster politically!

Su Wu only said: "It is also because I am unworthy. I have never had a real teacher, never attended the provincial school or the imperial college, never really taken the imperial examination, and lack some discipline and awe for many things..."

"Just like this, this is the best, haha... Just like you said, those disciplines and awe will make those people old-fashioned and boring..." Zhao Ji laughed.

But he said again: "Su Qing, since you are such an unrestrained person, why don't you come and take a look and tell us what this Gen Yue is like?"

Su Wu was overwhelmed, so he also pretended to look around, what about this Gen Yue? Of course, it was awesome, but he had to explain why.

Got to find the word!
Su Wu knew that he seemed to have found a way to get along with the Emperor. Everyone had different ways of getting along with the Emperor, and everyone had their own unique secrets. Su Wu seemed to have touched the threshold.

Then you have to think carefully...

Su Wu stood up, looked to the left, then to the right...

Evaluating art is an extremely difficult task.

Fortunately, Su Wu was knowledgeable and spoke slowly: "Your Majesty, the scenery has reached the pinnacle. No matter which side you look at, the layers are clear, the composition is ingenious, the color matching is even better, and even the outlines and lines contain Taoist principles, and even the light and shadow are ingenious... It is full of vitality. The landscape, whether it is calligraphy or painting, or landscaping, actually connects to the human heart, and what is connected is the human emotion. The emotion is mysterious and cannot be described, but it can be felt..."

Su Wu paused here and observed his boss's reaction.

Unexpectedly, the emperor also stood up and said, "Excellent! Painting and calligraphy are about expressing people's hearts and emotions. Let's talk about it in detail!"

Su Wu understood and calmed down, then continued: "Feelings arise, thoughts diverge, and emotions flow. To put it simply, it is like seeing a scene and having feelings in your heart, which may be pleasant, refreshing, sad, infuriating, or mixed. This is the meaning of landscape creation in calligraphy and painting. The way of artistic conception is probably here!"

Su Wu had already spoken eloquently, and was waiting for the emperor's response.

The emperor frowned and said, "What Su Qing said really touched my heart. I knew it in my heart but could not express it in words. I never thought that Su Qing could explain it so clearly and profoundly. Su Qing's attainments are truly extraordinary and cannot be compared to others!"

"Your Majesty, you are too kind!" Su Wu was modest. To be honest, these words, the general theory of art appreciation, the principles of art appreciation, I don't know how many people have studied them thoroughly...

The emperor then asked, "Then tell me more about the landscaping of Mount Gen. What else is missing?"

Su Wu frowned immediately. This was really a bit embarrassing. His mind was racing. How should he fool the artist emperor?

After thinking it over, I decided to say slowly, "I wonder if Your Majesty has really thought about the difference between elegance and vulgarity?"

"Hmm? Elegant and vulgar..." The emperor paused. If you asked him how to distinguish between elegant and vulgar, he would be able to do it easily. But if you really asked him how he could tell the difference, he really couldn't explain it clearly.

The emperor said, "Su Qing, please tell me..."

Su Qing came forward and said, "Your Majesty, please allow me to speak out of turn. Generally speaking, elegance and vulgarity are nothing more than the difference in virtue. A person with high virtue is elegant, while a person with low virtue is vulgar. This is not the point. Today, when we discuss the art of landscape painting and calligraphy, we have to talk about other things. One is unique, which means being unique. Two is breakthrough, which means going one step further. Three is novelty, which is something that the world has never seen. If it is not unique, it is not elegant. If it is not breakthrough, it is not elegant. If it is not novel, it is not elegant. This is the difference between elegance and vulgarity!"

Su Wu is in the right state. He doesn’t know much about art, but he understands artists!

The emperor clapped his hands and said, "Wonderful, very wonderful, this is a very wonderful saying, it makes me suddenly enlightened, the missing part of Genyue is that everything is exquisite, but it is still in line with the artistic conception of our ancestors! The original Tao is lacking here, Su Qing is very talented!"

Su Wu immediately said back: "It is just like your majesty's calligraphy, which is the way of great elegance, unique, innovative, and breaking through the brushstrokes of the predecessors, like crane knees, bamboo joints, hook blades, seeking balance in danger, and willow leaves swaying in the wind. This is the ultimate elegance, the achievement of the great way!"

The emperor's eyes lit up, and he walked a few steps to Su Wu's side, his face full of joy: "It's great that Su Qing came today. If I hadn't summoned Su Qing today, how could I have heard such big words? This Genyue, I am always satisfied, but also often unhappy, I can't find the best of it. Today I really got an epiphany. But let me ask Su Qing, with your ideas, how can the way of landscape creation be achieved?"

Su Wu's brows were already furrowed. This was really like driving a donkey to a millstone. He had to keep pretending, and it was getting out of control...

How could Su Wu not feel guilty if he continued to pretend like this?

I also thought that it was a good thing that I didn't meet a carpenter emperor. As for the way of carpentry, Su Wu didn't even know where to start even if he pretended.

He continued to pretend, "Your Majesty, I believe that the way of nature is to follow the laws of nature. The way of nature is to be natural and natural. The so-called landscaping is nothing more than trying to bring the way of nature into the house. This is just trying to steal the opportunity of nature. How difficult it is!"

"Yes, yes, yes, yes. The way to create landscape is to steal from the sky. It turns out to be so difficult. Having said this, I feel less unhappy. How difficult is it to steal from the sky!" Zhao Ji nodded, seeming to be really thinking deeply.

But Su Wu said again: "One scene goes away, the clouds roll and unroll, another scene comes, the strong wind and the strong grass, another scene is the sky blocking out the sun, another scene is the towering trees, and another scene is the rippling blue waves. The world is the silk, people are the pens, the water, clouds, grass, trees, mountains and rocks are the ink, and it is outlined like this. If you want to talk about great success, there is really no way to achieve great success. Your Majesty, please forgive me. Human power has its limits, and the minister's way will not break the secrets of heaven..."

Having said that, Su Wu wiped his forehead.

The emperor nodded, "Yes, I am the Genyue, I moved the world into my home, how can I compare with the secrets of heaven? I am afraid that I will never achieve great success in this life!"

There was a sense of loss in the emperor's words...

Su Wu immediately said: "That's not the case!"

"Hmm? Su Qing, what a great idea!" The emperor really looked like he wanted to ask for advice.

Su Wu bowed and said: "The whole world is in your Majesty's hands. The scenery of the world is your Majesty's scenery. Isn't the art of creating scenery already perfect?"

"Haha..." The emperor immediately put one hand behind his back and stroked his beard with the other hand: "Your words are very true to my heart. Su Qing, you are my soulmate. The high water and the flowing water are not only today, but once I meet Su Qing, the world is wide open. This is my great fortune today. I am so lucky. I should have a few drinks."

But the emperor suddenly took Su Wu's hand and led him to sit at the table in the pavilion. Su Wu did not resist and just let the emperor lead him.

Not far away, there was Liang Shicheng, who was going to give instructions on the food and wine, but his face showed surprise, as if wondering how many talented people there were in the world.
Su Ziqing, what kind of skills are these? Where did you learn these skills? Where can you find a place to teach such skills?

I also think that scholars are different. Liang Shicheng only understood half of what he said. It is really impossible to learn this.

He also knew that within the imperial city, there would be one more person by the emperor's side in the future...

This person's name is Su Wu!
I'm used to it. From time to time, there has to be someone added to the emperor's side. Some come and some go, some leave and some stay. I don't know how long this scholar Su can stay.

Just serve the wine and food, watch the water flow, and have a good chat. The emperor frowned and reflected, and said: "Today, Su Qing made countless big words. I am also thinking that in the way of landscape creation, people should be outside, not inside. If people are everywhere, it is full of craftsmanship, just like writing. If you can't get rid of the craftsmanship, you will eventually be laughed at..."

Su Wu also nodded and said, "Your Majesty, what you said makes sense, but if you really think about it, the artisans must be involved in landscape creation, but people are not. People are the spirit of nature, they are nature, they are also a landscape. Only with people can it be the way of heaven."

"Yes, that makes sense. We should get rid of the craftsman, not the person." The emperor nodded, but then said, "The Taihu stone doesn't need to be brought. Although it is unique, it is made by a craftsman, which is enough."

Su Wu was delighted when he heard this. Was this another unexpected success? Although transporting grass and wood from a long distance was also very costly, it was much easier than transporting the Taihu stone.

The people will suffer less now.

But the emperor suddenly raised his hand and pointed, saying: "There should be a tree covering the sky and blocking the sun. The purpose of landscape design should not be to seek novelty, but to create artistic conception. If the tree covers the sky and blocks the sun, and the solar term comes and the mist rises, wouldn't it be a profound artistic conception?"

Su Wu's heart sank again. What did it take to block out the sun? It needed towering trees with wide canopies, and they had to be transported from far away to the capital, and they had to be planted and survive.

This seems to be harder than carrying stones...

It's really killing me...

I also heard the emperor come to ask: "What do you think, Su Qing?"

What can Su Qing think? Of course, he can't do it. If you really ask Su Wu, Su Wu really wants to say that it is most natural to make Genyue a bare mountain!

"I am only speaking in words, and have never actually created any scenery. If we really talk about scenery creation, Your Majesty is clearly more accomplished!" Su Wu replied.

The emperor smiled and said, "It's okay. Creating scenery and appreciating scenery are two different things. Just invite Su Qing to appreciate it when the time comes!"

"It is my honor!" Su Wu replied. This emperor could not be saved, and there was no way he could stop the trouble.

"I have some paintings and I will give you two later!" Needless to say, the emperor treats people very well.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!" Su Wu stood up and bowed.

The emperor reached out his hand and pulled him: "You're welcome. Come often when you have free time..."

"I have been very busy recently. All the troops are entering the capital, and the bandit leader is about to enter the capital. I dare not slack off in the inspection." In fact, Su Wu was reluctant to come here often. Although this was a shortcut, he was actually angry when he saw Zhao Ji.

This shortcut is sometimes really difficult to take. It’s not because there are many man-made obstacles, nor is it that Su Wu is not good at it, but there is a barrier in Su Wu’s mind that is sometimes really difficult to overcome.

"Well, official duties are busy, but life is not all about petty intrigues, nor is it all about fame, wealth and power. We should also often transcend the mundane world..." said the Emperor, the leader of the Taoist sect.

Su Wu was furious when he heard this. Is this something an emperor could say? He reviewed the troops for you, fought for you, and yet it became just a pursuit of fame and fortune!
What made Su Wu most uncomfortable was that he had to respond with another sentence: "Your Majesty is wise!"

"Haha... have a drink!" The emperor actually invited him.

Su Wu stood up and bowed to eat.

It was a simple meal and a few glasses of wine, but it was extremely uncomfortable.

After finishing the meal and chatting for a while, Su Wu stood up and said goodbye.

But at the end, the emperor said: "Su Qing, there is something I need to tell you..."

"Your Majesty's order..." Su Wu replied.

"You can't never go to Fanlou again. You should go more often!" The emperor promised Li Shishi and he took it to heart.

"Ah?" Su Wu was still stunned.

"Go more often..." The emperor smiled.

"Oh, as you wish!" Su Wu nodded, bowed and slowly retreated.

After retreating far away, he turned around and walked again, walking along the palace road. It was the young eunuch who led the way here, and it should be the young eunuch who led the way out.

It was Liang Shicheng who suddenly came to see him off in person.

How could Su Wu not bow? "Meeting General Liang."

That's right, Liang Shicheng also had the title of Grand Commandant, and even had the title of Kaifu Yitong Sansi! He was also a giant inside and outside the court. How powerful could he be? People called him the "Hidden Prime Minister".

How bold could he be? He imitated the emperor's handwriting and issued an edict.

Of course, he was not a man of great talent, and he could not write poems, songs, essays or policy papers, but he was willing to work hard to imitate the emperor's handwriting. Sometimes, the emperor was too lazy to write, so he had to write it, and he could write so well that many people could not tell the real from the fake.

It was also this person who was accustomed to boasting that he was Su Shi's illegitimate son.

Liang Shicheng smiled and said, "Mr. Su is a great talent!"

"Excuse me, excuse me..." Su Wu forced a smile, but today his face looked a little stiff.

"Where does Mr. Su live?" Liang Shicheng asked again.

"I live not far from the Privy Council, which is the residence of Mr. Cheng from Jingdong." Su Wu replied.

"Oh, so that's the case. It's a little inappropriate. Although we are father-in-law and son-in-law, how can we be considered as a son-in-law? Others will laugh at it. So... I'll find you a house and you can stay there for a while? How do you think?"

As he spoke, Liang Shicheng already looked at Su Wu.

How could Su Wu not know that this was a test, and the test was the first step to get close. This method was also clever, he didn't even say he was sending her away, but just let her stay temporarily, and if she got used to living there, then he would send her away.

After I give it to you, I will thank you more and visit you more often. And after that, it goes without saying...

It means to recruit!
It was still the kind of offer that was hard to refuse, and Su Wu said, "That's great!"

"Okay, okay, tomorrow, no, today, this afternoon, someone will come to find you." Liang Shicheng smiled happily.

"Thank you, General Liang!" Su Wu bowed.

At this moment, for some reason, Su Wu suddenly became less willing to take shortcuts, and he felt uncomfortable all over.

He thought he should be like a fish in water and should be familiar with it. He underestimated everything, including the difference between the city of Bianjing and his three perspectives.

He thought he could bear it, but now, he feels very uncomfortable.

But then I heard Taiwei Liang also said: "Your surname is also Su, and my surname is also Su. I am the illegitimate child of the great scholar Su, and you are also a scholar Su. Haha... It's fate. You and I are originally one family..."

How could Su Wu not laugh? He had to laugh even if he couldn't, so he just nodded and said, "It's my honor."

"There aren't many people with the surname Su. It's a small family. When you're away from home, you're a family. You should take care of each other. When you have time, you should come and visit more often. My house is easy to find out about. It's convenient to go to Wang Xianggong's house when you have nothing to do. You can also visit Wang Xianggong's house. It's killing two birds with one stone... Scholar Su is so talented, how can he not have a bright future?"

Liang Shicheng became more and more excited as he spoke, which was inevitably a trick.

He could certainly handle the affairs of the court.

Su Wu nodded: "I will come to see you when I am done with the inspection of the captives!"

"Haha... good, good, no wonder Secretary Tong values ​​you so much, you are truly a rare talent in the world!" Liang Shicheng just kept praising you.

What Su Wu was thinking at this moment was that he had to leave Beijing as soon as possible! After finishing his work, he would leave Beijing.

Dealing with these people and these things every day, smiling and flattering every day, it is not that Su Wu cannot accept smiles and flattery, but that Su Wu cannot accept these people.

If someone else comes, someone who is upright and self-reliant, what's wrong with flattery and smiles? Even if someone else comes, he can still smile from the bottom of his heart.

But you must not stay in the shit pit for too long.

Only when he walked out of Zuoye Gate did Su Wu feel relaxed. Only when Fan Yun brought the horse and he got on the horse did Su Wu feel that the air he breathed was much fresher.

Only when Su Wu went on his own errands and did practical work did he feel relaxed both physically and mentally.

Go outside the city and inspect the various tribes, the food and grass supply in the army, and the mood and mentality of the soldiers in each tribe...

Soldiers are still cute!
After being busy for most of the day, he would return to the city, deal with some official documents in the Privy Council, and then go home.

Fang La will arrive tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, all kinds of celebrations will begin.

Su Wu could then find a way to leave the capital... and go home to visit his family.

Just as Su Wu reached the door of his house, he met the Wang family's servant again. The servant seemed to have been waiting for a long time. He came forward to greet him and brought another letter.

Su Wu opened it and looked at it, and Sister Li got angry!

Why? Just because Su Wu was perfunctory, how could we tolerate it when he was perfunctory in academics?

Just look at the words in it, which say that Mr. Li’s poems are the great way, and everyone else’s are the small way. How could Li Duidui tolerate such words?
Of course, he was criticizing people, but he did it with quotations from classics, long speeches, and a well-organized logic.

It means that Su Wu should reflect on himself from the bottom of his heart, recognize his mistakes, and reform himself.

Su Wu was overwhelmed by this. Is it so difficult to deal with him?

After reading the letter, Su Wu raised his hand and said, "Go back. Come back tomorrow morning and tell them that I will reflect on my mistakes tonight and change my ways. Even if I have to stay awake all night, I will reflect deeply, turn over a new leaf, and write back to express my deep regret."

"Greetings, Master Su!" The servant turned around.

Of course, Su Wu still didn't take it seriously. Sister Li was awesome, so let Sister Li scold her more. Anyone who could be scolded by Sister Li must be a person who will be famous throughout the ages.
Yan Shu, Ouyang Xiu, Su Shi, Wang Anshi, Zeng Gong, Qin Guan, Huang Tingjian, Liu Yong... Which one of them has not been criticized by Sister Li?
What about the Eight Great Masters of Tang and Song Dynasties? Sister Li didn't even look at them...

Go ahead and argue!
If she doesn't argue, she's not Li Qingzhao! She's nicknamed Li Duidui!
It would be better to write poems or lyrics to counterattack. In this way, Su Wu would be the number one figure in the literary world of the Song Dynasty!
(Brothers, did Sister Li scold you today?)

(End of this chapter)