Hot Wavelength

Chapter 70 Sample Chapter Preview
Sample Chapters from Part Three of "Nikola Tesla's Rope"

******
In 2035, 25 light-years from Earth, the Y-shaped superluminal power station on Vega.
“My name is Sanlang, and her name is Lingling. Why are the names you gave us, you supercomputer, so strange?” said the boy with the number “X”.

"This is to make it more convenient for you to study," the computer replied.

"Why do we need to study? Aren't you a supercomputer? Can't you just download the knowledge and answers into our brains?" asked the girl, now called Lingling, whose ID is "0".

"Because I don't know the ultimate answer either, you have to find it yourselves through learning and thinking," the computer replied.

"You've already mastered quantum gene printing technology, which can give us any form of intelligent life. Why print us into human form? Why should we learn from humans?" Sanlang pressed.

"Because intelligent life exists only in our solar system within a 25-light-year radius, and they are humans from Earth, you have been programmed to take on human form," the computer replied.

“Through ultraviolet light scanning, we have learned that there are many countries and ethnic groups on Earth. Why do we speak Chinese, have Chinese names, and learn from the Chinese people?” Lingling asked.

Laughter erupted from the loudspeaker. "The reason is simple: right now, only the Chinese are observing us with a space telescope!"

The two stopped asking questions, looked at each other, and seemed somewhat bewildered.

The Vega galaxy has faced a predicament for hundreds of millions of years, and it is said that the key to solving this puzzle lies in human wisdom.

The riddle was simple: just figure out the numbers three, two, one, and zero. The two of them immediately found the answer in the *Tao Te Ching*:
One life two, two beget three, three beget all things.

However, the supercomputer said it wouldn't work. The Tao Te Ching is too profound, and computers and human brains can't "understand" it for a while. Moreover, the problem with the Vega galaxy is how three can become two, not how two can become three.

Where should we begin our study of China? Ultra-light waves scanned a map of China, assigning weights to geographical, historical, and cultural parameters. After calculation, a central point was found—Zhenjiang.

The Yangtze River, China's longest river, makes a bend at Zhenjiang. Its downstream delta region, extending to the sea, is known as Jiangdong or Jiangzuo, a region with superior geographical conditions and a rich cultural heritage.

In addition to dividing the Yangtze River into left and right sections in the east-west direction, Zhenjiang can also be considered the dividing line between North and South China. With its strategic location at the crossroads of waterways and land routes, Zhenjiang is a place where history and geography converge, a place where many stars shine and cultural heritage flows.

Jinshan Temple in Zhenjiang.

The name of this ancient temple, which has stood for a thousand years, lingered in Lingling's mind.

Temples, Buddhism, the pilgrimage to the West, *Journey to the West*, Wu Cheng'en, who visited Jinshan Temple multiple times and left behind two poems entitled "Jinshan Temple":
Ten years of dreams linger around Zhongling.
Today I'll bring my wine pot and try climbing it.

Drunk, I sing a tune on a flowering branch.
He playfully wrote a poem on a banana leaf and begged a mountain monk for it.

The moon sets in the clear sky, and a turtle emerges from the river.
The rooster crows in the dark palace as the sun rises over the sea.

The wind blows and laughter can be heard below.
I was startled to find myself among the white clouds.

&
For years I've dreamt of Jinshan Temple.
A thousand-mile journey home, a victorious trip.

The Buddhist realm is truly as serene as the moon reflected on the river.
My body will temporarily linger with the water and clouds.

Two pearls appeared in the Dragon Palace after a long night.
Ao Bei's deep autumn jade floats.

When I'm drunk and leaning against the stone railing, I gaze into the distance.

The rosy clouds rise from the Haimen Tower in the east.

"Ten years of dreams linger around Zhongling, I'm startled to find myself amidst the white clouds. Zhongling? Zhongling Spring? Lingling?" Sanlang seemed to understand the name the computer had given the girl. Soon he found another poem by Wu Cheng'en. "He also wrote a poem that cleverly incorporates the numbers one to ten in its verses, also called the 'Ten-Character Song'."

"Our predicament is related to numbers. Could the answer lie in this poem about numbers?" Lingling read the poem aloud:
No travelers walk past the ten-mile-long pavilion.
Stars appear in the nine heavens.

All ships on the eight rivers returned to port.
All seven thousand prefectures and counties were closed.

The officials of the Six Palaces and Five Departments returned to their posts.
Fishing has ceased across the four seas and three rivers.

The bells and drums sounded from the top of the two buildings.
A bright moon shines over the universe.

"No travelers walk along the ten-mile-long pavilion, stars appear in the nine heavens. Isn't this the predicament of our Vega star system? Could this be the poem we've been looking for?" Lingling exclaimed in delight.

The supercomputer's computing speed was indeed incredibly fast, but a passage on the screen plunged the two into a fog of confusion. It was a poem created by AI that also contained ten numbers. The computer claimed that the answer might be hidden in this poem, which was derived from a story in Chinese historical dynasties.

Heaven's Secret

Zhou Xuan's Nine Tripods were without light.
The Qin Dynasty's eight passes and the vast territory are measurable.

The Han dynasty saw the rise of six emperors, including Wen, Jing, and Sheng.
The five systems of the Tang capital were implemented by Emperor Xuanzong.

Song Dynasty, ten out of two, treacherous officials.
The bright oars swayed seven times, and the three treasures were in the ocean.

The Yuan Dynasty's four-part flying stone heat,
A single step into the clear stream brings a refreshing coolness.

Is this some kind of celestial script? Who can understand it? Lingling wondered to herself. Since Wu Cheng'en's poem about Jinshan Temple mentions Zhongling Spring, the character "Ling" is not commonly used, yet it was the name the computer gave her.

Let's go then, just like Wu Cheng'en's poem says: "For years I've dreamt of Jinshan Temple, today I'll bring my wine pot and try my luck at climbing it."

Saburo's doubts arose: why was the topic of "pot" brought up again? Was it a wine pot? Or a jade pot?
******
Shangqing Palace, Luoyang, China, 2035

"Put this on quickly! The doctor said only you can come up with the answer to save humanity!" Li Xiaoxuan said to Wu Yu, holding up a hat.

"You actually believe that?! When all of humanity faces such a huge crisis, shouldn't the United Nations convene governments from all countries to deal with it together?" Wu Yu was truly speechless. "I'd really like to ask the doctor, do you know how many tens of thousands I earn a month?"

Li Xiaoxuan chuckled, "I know, you can earn 0.35 a month!"

After his initial resentment subsided, Wu Yu stopped complaining, his heart filled with both doubt and curiosity. Could it be that, as the doctor said, he was truly the only one who could find the key to unlocking the secrets of humanity's crisis?
Li Xiaoxuan also became serious, helping Wu Yu sit on the steps outside the Shangqing Palace and putting the specially made hat that the doctor had given him on his head.

The hat looks ordinary, like the kind often given out by tour groups, but it actually has a hidden secret: it's the latest virtual reality wearable device developed by the doctor.

Shangqing Palace in Luoyang, the first Taoist temple in China to be named "Palace," is located on Cuiyun Peak of Mangshan Mountain in the old city of Luoyang. During the reigns of Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty, it was also known as the Palace of the Supreme Emperor of the Mysterious Origin. It was a sacred place for worshipping Laozi and was revered as the "source of Taoism."

The doctor told Li Xiaoxuan that Shangqing Palace had a strong aura, and that Wu Yu should be brought there before entering the virtual reality, which might be more conducive to his thinking about the big questions of the universe.

Aura? Is he a PhD or a scientist?

The scene changed, and Wu Yu felt as if he had emerged from the entrance of a cave in a paradise, with a bright and clear view before him.

Scene prompt: 1091 AD, the sixth year of the Yuan You reign of Emperor Zhezong of Song.

The pagoda's shadow is reflected in the river and sky.
Jinjiao Beigu Peak.

The pavilion stands tall, overlooking the sea.
A spring gushes forth, its waters cascading down like lotus blossoms.

This is Jinshan Temple in Zhenjiang.

Wu Yu was already dressed in a long robe and official hat, looking every bit the scholar-official of the Northern Song Dynasty. A man approached from the opposite direction, bowing and clasping his hands in greeting. Wu Yu unconsciously returned the gesture, asking, "May I ask your honorable name, sir?"

The visitor paused, then laughed and replied, "Brother, you're quite the joker! I am Su Shi, also known as Dongpo!"

"Oh my! Mr. Dongpo, I've heard so much about you!" Wu Yu was overjoyed. "Wow, I can't believe I'll get to meet Su Dongpo?!"

“Mr. Xuan Yuan is joking. We were both Jinshi graduates in the same year and have been friends for many years. There is no need for formalities.”

Wu Yu couldn't believe his ears. He looked around, but no one was there. Was this referring to him? Me? Master Xuan Yuan? A Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination)? Haha!

"What a coincidence! I wonder how many days Brother Dongpo will stay at Jinshan Temple?" Wu Yu asked with a smile, trying to hide his embarrassment.

"I am here on the prefect of Hangzhou and have been summoned to the capital. It is said that I am to be appointed Minister of Personnel. I am passing through this place and will leave after writing this poem to my heart's content."

"Brother Dongpo, I would be honored to see your poem first." Wu Yu approached, and Su Dongpo inscribed his poem on the wall:

Inscription for Jinshan Temple

The tide follows the dark waves, causing the snow-capped mountains to tilt.
Fishing boats on distant shores gaze at the bright moon.

The bridge faces the temple gate, where the pine path leads narrow.
The spring flows clear and bright over the rocks.

The green trees stretch far and wide, the river and sky dawn.
A hazy red glow hangs over the sea as the sun shines brightly.

Looking out, the clouds meet the water on all four sides.
A thousand green peaks dotted with countless light geese.

"What a fine poem!" Wu Yu exclaimed. Su Dongpo, naturally pleased, said, "Brother Xuanyuan, you are learned and have a remarkable memory, and your poetic fame is widespread. How about you compose one today as well?"

Huh? Comparing poetry with Su Shi? That's ridiculous! As Wu Yu shook his head repeatedly in refusal, he inexplicably began to recite:
"Mourning Yue Fei at Jinshan Temple"

The vast, sorrowful waters flow gently on.
A thousand emotions linger, a sorrowful old face.

Heartbroken, I lament the river's red paper, its surface stained with tears.
He was a treacherous and corrupt official, whose integrity was tainted by crime.

With no general left to defend the central formation,

Avoid having a hundred enemies attacking the pass.

Frosty leaves gather clouds that obscure the sun.
A strong wind and heavy snow blanketed the green mountains.

“Brother Xuan Yuan’s poem is truly excellent, but I wonder which brother Yue Fei is?” Su Shi asked.

"Well, Brother Su, please don't ask. Just know that he was loyal to the emperor and loved his country, but was later harmed by treacherous officials." Wu Yu explained the connection between Yue Fei and Jinshan Temple with embarrassment.

Yue Fei was framed by Qin Hui and, while fighting against the Jin, was urgently summoned back to the capital (Lin'an, present-day Hangzhou) by twelve imperial edicts. On his way, he passed Jinshan Temple, where an old monk presented him with a poem as a reminder:

The water gushes forth beneath Fengbo Pavilion.
Despite countless hardships, we must steer the ship firmly.

I fear my companions may have ill intentions.
He pushed himself into the deep waves.

Jinshan Temple's connection with Yue Fei goes beyond these. To this day, Jinshan Temple has four treasures, one of which is the Yue Fei Bronze Drum. Legend has it that General Yue beat the drum to urge the troops into battle, and after three drumbeats, he defeated the Jin army.

How could Hangzhou have become the capital? Su Dongpo seemed to understand but not quite. Puzzled, he pulled Wu Yu to the wall, pointed to his newly written poem, "Inscription for Jinshan Temple," and said with no small amount of pride:
“Brother Xuanyuan must have seen through my little trick. My poem is a palindrome. If you read it backwards, it is also a seven-character quatrain.”

The palindrome poem "Inscribed at Jinshan Temple", read backwards:

A few wispy wild geese dotted a thousand green peaks.
The water meets the clouds, and the view stretches far in all directions.

On a sunny day, the sea was shrouded in a rosy glow.
The trees along the riverbank are green and stretch far into the distance at dawn.

Clear waves and stone-eye springs stand before the railing.
The path leads to the bridge across from Songmen Temple.

The bright moon shines on the distant fishing boats on the fishing shore.
Snow waves crash against the mountain, secretly following the tide.

Good heavens! It's a palindrome poem! It's a complete poem whether you read it forwards or backwards! Wu Yu remembered that he had inexplicably written a matching poem earlier and regretted it. He should have just not written one. He was so reckless! He was so reckless! He really embarrassed himself this time!
Unexpectedly, Su Dongpo bowed to Wu Yu and said, "Brother Xuanyuan, you truly live up to your reputation; you can even recite palindrome poems on the spot!"

Wu Yu looked closely and saw that the poem he had just recited had been inscribed on the wall by Su Shi. However, it was written backwards from the end of the poem, and it really was a palindrome poem!

The palindrome poem "Mourning Yue Fei at Jinshan Temple," read backwards:

The mountains are green, covered in snow, and the wind blows fiercely.
The sun is obscured by clouds, and frost gathers on the leaves.

There are many things to be wary of when attacking from the pass.
None of the defending generals were injured.

The treacherous minister's sins have stained his upright character.
A heartbreaking sigh fills the page with the image of the Red River.

Yan Lao's tragic story has been passed down through the ages.

The murmuring stream flowed on, its flow vast and boundless. Wu Yu, recovering from his disbelief, remembered his mission: his chance encounter with Su Dongpo at Jinshan Temple must have a reason. He mustered his courage and asked, "Brother Su, I have some friends far away who may be facing difficulties. Could you please enlighten me?"

Su Dongpo pondered for a moment, then asked, "Could those friends be considered to be Linjiangxian?"

Wu Yu's mind raced like a book; could the answer lie in Su Dongpo's poem "Linjiang Xian"? Su Shi wrote over a dozen "Linjiang Xian" poems in his lifetime, and one of them appeared in Wu Yu's mind:
To the tune of "Linjiangxian: Sending Qian Mufu"

Since leaving the capital, the city has changed hands three times; I have traversed the ends of the earth, leaving no trace of the mortal world.

She still smiled warmly, as if it were springtime.

A still, ancient well; a bamboo grove with joints, a symbol of autumn.

A lone sail departs in the dead of night, accompanied by a pale moon and wispy clouds.

There's no need for furrowed brows before the emperor.

Life is like an adversity, and I am also a pedestrian.

Wu Yu wondered if the first part of Su Shi's "Linjiang Xian" was describing the situation of the "alien" Vega? Or perhaps the key point was the suggestive last line: "Life is like a journey, and I am but a traveler."

A journey against the tide? Going against the flow? Wu Yu thought of his master, whose words of advice still echoed in his ears: "Go far when you are ready to retreat, and go deep when you are ready to retreat."

It means that if you want to jump forward far enough, you have to go backward deep enough.

To solve present and future problems, should we retreat to history? Go backward? From the Northern Song Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty?

******
Scene prompt: 746 AD, the fifth year of the Tianbao era of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. Furong Tower, west of Jinshan Temple in Zhenjiang, beside Zhongling Spring.

Wang Changling hosted a banquet at Furong Tower, with his friend Xin Jian as the guest of honor, and Wu Yujing also present, dressed in Tang Dynasty attire. Wang Changling asked:
“Mr. Xuan Yuan, I heard that you will be returning to Luoyang soon? The journey is long, and it will probably take two or three months.”

Wu Yu was about to tell the truth—it wouldn't even take two or three months; he was already in Luoyang, and he arrived the moment he took off his hat and opened his eyes. He swallowed his words, cupped his hands, and said, "Brother Shaobo, do you have any letters or poems you'd like me to deliver to relatives and friends in Luoyang?"

Wang Changling wrote two seven-character quatrains with flowing, powerful strokes, one of which Wu Yu memorized when he was in elementary school:
Two poems written at Furong Tower to send off Xin Jian, the first one:

A cold rain fell on the river as night descended on Wu.
At dawn, I saw off my guest, leaving the Chu Mountains lonely.

If relatives and friends in Luoyang ask about me,
A pure heart resides in a jade pot.

"Brother Shao Bo is indeed pure and noble, with the world in his heart. I wonder if you could help me understand how to turn three into two, and then from two into one?" Wu Yu could hardly believe that he had asked such a strange question.

Wang Changling pondered for a moment before replying, "I have already told you, aren't you my relative or friend in Luoyang?"

What do you mean? What, this poem was written specifically for me, this "relative from Luoyang"?
If relatives and friends in Luoyang ask about me,
A pure heart resides in a jade pot.

Could it be that a pure heart in a jade pot is the answer I'm looking for?

******
Li Xiaoxuan was very curious about the hat the professor gave Wu Yu, even though she knew it was just a high-tech virtual reality wearable device. What intrigued her even more was that when Wu Yu wore it and entered the virtual world, the words printed on the hat would change depending on the scene and location.

Now, the words on the hat read: Zhenjiang Jinshan Temple Travel Agency.

Wu Yu followed the tour group and, guided by the tour guide holding up a small red flag, arrived at the gate of Jinshan Temple.

The tour guide spoke in a soft, clear Wu dialect: "Dear tour members, we have just visited Zhongling Spring, known as the 'Number One Spring Under Heaven,' and Furong Tower. Welcome to Jinshan Temple. Let me introduce it to you first."

Jinshan Temple was first built during the Eastern Jin Dynasty. In 505 AD, during the Southern Dynasties of the Wei, Jin and Southern Dynasties, Emperor Wu of Liang held the first Buddhist Water and Land Dharma Assembly in China at Jinshan Temple. All sentient beings, regardless of land, water or air, were included in the assembly to pray for the deceased and for the living.

In the 25th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign (1686), the emperor made a southern tour to Jinshan Temple and bestowed upon it the plaque "Jiangtian Chan Temple," changing its name to "Jiangtian Temple." He also personally inscribed the words "A Panoramic View of the River and Sky." After being destroyed and rebuilt several times, it was renamed Jinshan Temple.

Jinshan Temple blends seamlessly with the mountain, presenting a unique landscape where "Jinshan Temple is wrapped in the mountain, you can see the temple and the pagoda, but you can't see the mountain."

As a famous temple, Jinshan Temple is a place where historical figures and stories converge. For example, Su Shi wrote a palindrome poem on the wall of Jinshan Temple, which has been passed down through the ages.

In Wu Cheng'en's novel, Jiang Liuer was rescued by Zen Master Faming of Jinshan Temple. After growing up, he became a monk at Jinshan Temple, took the Dharma name Sanzang, and began his journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures.

Wu Yu thought, shouldn't it be called Xuanzang? Why did Xuan become three?

There is also a well-known legend that after Jinshan Temple was built, a white python was found crawling inside. The old abbot built the Fahai Pagoda to protect the temple, and the white python fled and dared not return. From then on, Jinshan Temple became a popular place of worship.

Wu Yugang noticed two couplets on the four pillars of the main gate of Jinshan Temple, and the tour guide kindly explained the content and origin of the couplets.

The couplet on the inside has slightly smaller characters because there are too many characters! Each line has 45 characters, for a total of 90 characters, making it a long couplet.

The author is Shen Bingcheng, a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the sixth year of the Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1856), the chief compiler of the Wuying Hall, and is said to have risen to the position of Governor-General of Liangjiang, a first-rank official.

First line:

One peak floats like jade, ten places are covered with gold. I remember Pei Toutuo wearing a black robe on the riverbank, and Su Neihan leaving his sash at the mountain gate. Time flows like water, who will continue the auspicious connection? I wish to open a magnificent palace and a beautiful hall, to forever guard the green cliffs and verdant walls.
Second line:

A vast expanse of misty waves, a thousand forests rustling in the wind, I imagine the immortal Jiao burying cranes in the secluded rocks, and the recluse Lu savoring the spring water in Zhongling. They built their houses with fragrant neighbors, worthy of seeking out the traces of the past. I have wasted the lotus flowers and palm leaves, listening together to the evening drum and morning bell.

Wu Yu's heart stirred. The story of Su Shi leaving his jade belt at Jinshan Temple, the story of Lu Yu appreciating Zhongling Spring, and the story of Lu Yu, the Tea Sage, ranking Zhongling Spring.

This all seems to be related to the answer Wu Yu is looking for.

Looking at the other couplet on the outside, the characters are much larger because there are fewer characters.

First line: Mountains, water, forests, and pavilions surround it on both sides.

The second line reads: "One can sing, drink, and play music, embracing both the past and present."

Wu Yu recalled his master's saying about "this couplet" and "that couplet," and blurted out sarcastically, "What kind of couplet is this? First of all, it doesn't conform to the 'this couplet' theory at all, and it doesn't describe the stories and characteristics of Jinshan Temple at all!"

Wu Yu got more and more excited as he talked. Although he had long since swallowed the books he had read, Wu Yu wearing a hat was a completely different story!

"This couplet is not only irrelevant to the topic and vague in content, but it also seriously violates the tonal rules. It has four consecutive oblique tones. Who wrote this?"

The tour guide had heard about the flaws in this couplet before, but seeing Wu Yu's face still displeased her. Suppressing her anger, she professionally and seriously introduced it:
"The author of this couplet is Wu Xiqi, a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the 40th year of the Qianlong reign (1775), a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, and the official who rose to the position of Chancellor of the Imperial Academy. He was a literary figure and one of the Eight Great Masters of Parallel Prose in the Qing Dynasty."

Upon hearing this, Wu Yu became even more excited: "No wonder, so you're a master of parallel prose! Your words are indeed ornate but impractical. This couplet could fit into any house within eight hundred li of Jiangnan, it doesn't specifically refer to Jinshan Temple at all. That's a major taboo in couplet writing!"

The tour guide, unable to contain herself any longer, disregarded professional etiquette and retorted, "Look at you, so capable! If you're so smart, why don't you write a couplet specifically for Jinshan Temple?"

Poet Wu Yu channeled his inner poet, raising his voice: "Come on then! Besides, didn't you just introduce the origin and stories of Jinshan Temple? Summarize and refine them, what's so difficult about creating a couplet for Jinshan Temple that meets the requirements of 'this couplet'?"

The couplet that Wu Yu composed for the main gate of Jinshan Temple is:
First line: A thousand wheels on land and water, a palindrome, a sutra that repeats itself, a python that never returns.
The second line reads: "A panoramic view of the river and sky reveals temples and pagodas, but no mountains."

"A thousand rounds of water and land ceremonies" refers to the many water and land ceremonies held in the past and future. "A panoramic view of the river and sky" comes from Emperor Kangxi's imperial evaluation of Jinshan Temple.

"Seeing the temple and the pagoda but not the mountain" is the unique appearance and reputation of Jinshan Temple. "Palindrome" refers to Su Shi's famous palindrome poem "Inscription on Jinshan Temple". "Returning scriptures" refers to the story in "Journey to the West" where Tang Sanzang retrieved the true scriptures and stored them in the scripture library of Jinshan Temple.

"The White Python That Never Returns" refers to the legend of Fahai building a pagoda to suppress the white python. The entire couplet is perfectly balanced in tone and rhyme, with almost every character closely related to Jinshan Temple, making it a rare and unique couplet.

The so-called exclusive couplet is what Wu Yu's master called "this couplet". Taking the couplet written by Wu Yu as an example, this couplet is only correct when it is hung in Jinshan Temple. It is not correct if it is hung elsewhere.

Conversely, even if the person reading this couplet doesn't know where it comes from, they will know after reading the content that it was written specifically for Jinshan Temple.

What's even more ingenious is that the word "轮" (lún) in the couplet is equivalent to "回" (huí), which is a Buddhist term, while "览" (lǎn) means "to see," which is a colloquial expression. This corresponds to the fact that Jinshan Temple is both a Buddhist monastery and a prosperous secular site.

What Wu Yu didn't know was that his couplet accurately interpreted the predicament faced by the Vega galaxy.

The tour guide stood there, stunned, thinking to herself, "This kid's couplet is really good!" However, even if she reported the couplet to the Jinshan Temple Management Committee, they wouldn't pay any attention to it, since the couplet had been hanging there for many years and there hadn't been any contest for it.

A contest for couplets with prizes? The tour guide immediately had a solution:
"Are you here to cause trouble at our Jinshan Temple? If you're really that capable, the Guanyin Mountain Scenic Area in Dongguan, Guangdong is holding a contest to create a matching couplet. No one has been able to come up with one in over twenty years, and the prize money has already increased to 210 million yuan!"

******
Li Xiaoxuan suddenly noticed that the text on Wu Yu's hat had changed; it now read "Dongguan Guanyin Mountain Travel Agency." What's going on? Has he followed Su Dongbo all the way to Lingnan?

Wu Yu stood outside the main gate of Guangdong Guanyin Mountain National Forest Park. To the upper right of the tall gate tower were seven large characters:

Viewing the mountains and waters from Guanyin Mountain.

The upper left corner, instead of a corresponding second line, reads: "Seeking a second line, reward 210 million yuan!"

Tourists nearby pointed and commented: "No one has been able to match the second line of these seven characters for over 20 years. In 2024, the prize money was 138 million yuan, and this year it has risen to 210 million yuan! Each character is worth 30 yuan, truly a 'one character is worth a thousand pieces of gold'."

Wu Yu was initially delighted, but subconsciously touched the hat on his head, thinking, if this hat can't help me come up with the matching line, can the doctor still expect this lousy equipment to help me save humanity?
Wu Yu, blessed by the poet, was surprised again. The seven characters of the first line seemed simple, but there were many tricks to it. His master had said: "Long couplets are easy to match, short couplets are difficult, and short couplets with repeated characters are extremely difficult."

The phrase "Viewing the mountains and waters from Guanyin Mountain" consists of seven characters, but it contains two sets of repeated characters. It looks simple, but it is difficult to find a clever matching phrase.

The master said that a couplet, whether written for a temple gate or a house gate, must first be specific and focus on the environment, characteristics and allusions of the place and the object, which is the so-called "this couplet".

The sentiments and ideals that naturally extend and sublimate from the "this couplet" are called the "that couplet". If the second line is only literally parallel to the first line and says similar content, it is called "clashing", which is a major taboo in couplets. Couplets without emotional and logical sublimation, no matter how well they are clashed, are still mediocre works.

When evaluating a couplet, those that are neither one thing nor the other are considered inferior; those that include one thing but not the other are considered low-grade; those that combine one thing with the other are considered average; and those that blend emotion and scenery without distinction are considered top-grade.

The first line of the couplet, "Viewing the scenery from Guanyin Mountain," only mentions the characters, location, and actions, lacking any sentiments or ideals related to "that place." This places higher demands on the second line. Besides matching the first line literally, the second line also bears the responsibility of extending and elevating the overall meaning and sentiment.

It's already difficult enough to match the parts of speech, tones, and scenery/actions of the characters in the second line, but even if it's a perfect match, it's still only of a lower level. To reach the middle to upper level, where one can seamlessly connect the two without distinction, is probably only a matter of luck.

Wu Yu silently prayed, "Master, Doctor, please help me! Before saving humanity, let me win the lottery!"

Li Xiaoxuan suddenly heard Wu Yu chuckle beside her, which startled her. What was going on? The doctor had said that wearing the device might have side effects. She quickly took off Wu Yu's hat and woke him up.

Wu Yu opened his eyes, still smiling as he hugged Li Xiaoxuan and whispered in her ear, "I've matched the second line of that couplet worth 210 million. Listen to it."

Upon hearing the seven words Wu Yu uttered, Li Xiaoxuan was involuntarily invigorated: "I've heard about the reward for the couplet contest before, and your second line is absolutely brilliant!"

"Without distinction between us, the sentiment has been elevated. Master's words are truly excellent! The 210 million bonus is in hand!" Wu Yu slowly suppressed his smile and looked at Xiao Xuan thoughtfully.

Wu Yu knew that Li Xiaoxuan couldn't be thinking about the huge prize money at this moment, because they both understood:

The seven-character second line, worth 210 million, is the answer they have been searching for.

******
On a side note, some readers jokingly praised Brother Xian for attending Qidian's "extra chapter learning class," but actually, Brother Xian attended Qidian's VIP advanced extra chapter class. Others might skip a chapter for a day, Brother Xian skips a chapter for a year. Others might skip a chapter for two and a half cents, Brother Xian skips a chapter for two million! Haha~
See you in the third installment of "Nikola Tesla's Rope".

&
Jinshan Temple in Zhenjiang is located at the intersection of Chinese cultural heritage. It is situated between two sides, and this place marks the entrance to Jiangnan.

Jinshan Temple has four treasures: the bronze tripod of King Xuan of Zhou, the bronze drum of Yue Fei, the "Jinshan Map" by Wen Zhengming, and the jade belt of Su Shi.

During the Tang and Song dynasties, Jinshan Temple was built on an island in the river, shaped like a "lotus flower in the heart of the river." Spring water gushed from the riverbed and divided into Nanling, Zhongling, and Beiling. Later, the river changed course, and Jinshan Temple was connected to the southern land, and the spring water merged into Zhongling, which was named "The First Spring Under Heaven." It is a bit of a pity that the ranking of the first spring was not listed by Lu Yu, the Sage of Tea.

Modern people do not argue with the Tea Sage about who is better, so they rely on the Tang Dynasty scholar Liu Bochu's statement that "the springs in the world are divided into seven grades, among which the Yangtze River South Ling Water is the best" to call Zhongling Spring the best, and Furong Tower was rebuilt next to the spring.

Emperor Wu of the Southern Liang Dynasty first held a Water and Land Dharma Assembly at Jinshan Temple. In Wu Cheng'en's *Journey to the West*, Jiang Liuer was ordained at Jinshan Temple with the Dharma name Sanzang, and Guanyin Bodhisattva descended to the mortal realm to guide him on his journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures. Legend has it that when the monk Fahai built the temple, a white python coiled around it and used a pagoda to suppress it.

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The final poem, a seven-character regulated verse titled "Jinshan Temple".

The towns to the east and west have stood for a thousand years.
It is natural for it to be divided horizontally between north and south.

The bronze drum once crushed three brave armies.
Zhongling does not envy a mere tea spring.

Jinshan stands tall, hibiscus falls.
The painting depicts a land and water scene with jade belts wrapped around it.

The child descended from the river, a celestial being.
The Dharma ocean of scriptures swallows the heavens.

(End of this chapter)