The officials in the Flying Glitter Pavilion had already dispersed. Cao Rui, accompanied by Xu and Lu, two attendants of the middle class, walked leisurely along the side of the palace to the north.
To the north of the Bronze Swallow Tower lies the Zhang River.
The mountains and waters in the distance contrast with the nearby pavilions, creating an imposing, expressive painting-like scene.
Cao Rui recited aloud: "By the long flow of Lin River, I look at the lush and flourishing garden fruits."
"The literary talent of the King of Yongqiu is truly outstanding! In my opinion, when it comes to poems and odes describing the Zhang River and Yecheng, the King of Yongqiu is undoubtedly number one."
Xu Zhu spoke from the side: "In the past, the Emperor ordered all the princes to write together, and Your Majesty had also written a 'Rise to the Stage' poem at that time."
Cao Rui waved his hand: "Writing about wind and birds, the former emperor used 'The wind gently blows and rustles my clothes, and the birds fly by singing in front of me', while the King of Yongqiu wrote 'I look up at the gentle spring breeze and listen to the lamenting songs of the birds'."
"To be honest, the former emperor was quite good at writing essays and poems of longing for a lover, but his other poems and odes were still a bit lacking compared to the King of Yongqiu."
The two attendants nodded in agreement.
If it's a bit lacking, it's more like the former emperor was biased. In fact, the gap should be much larger.
When it comes to literature, Your Majesty often believes that the former emperor's intention was higher than that of the King of Yongqiu. But when discussing poetry and prose, Your Majesty never hides his praise for the King of Yongqiu.
Lu Yuchi spoke from the side: "Your Majesty, the Chongwen Pavilion has been established for over three years, and many literary talents have emerged among the scholars in Lu Prefecture."
Cao Rui asked: "I went to the Chongwen Pavilion in late October last year, and since then I have not paid attention to these matters. The flourishing of literature can also reflect the virtue of Great Wei."
"Who among the scholars have produced excellent works?"
Lu Yuchi paused for a moment: "Your Majesty, there is a scholar in Lu who goes by the name of Ruan Ji, who is the son of Ruan Yuanyu from the past in Ye. When Ruan Ji first came to study in Luo last autumn, he made a name for himself in the Imperial Academy with his five-character poem 'The Poet's Reflections on Sentimentality'."
"Oh, this person is called Ruan Ji?" Cao Rui nodded thoughtfully: "Do you remember the poem, Lu Minister?"
Lu Yuchi bowed his hands and said: "I remember the lines 'I cannot sleep at night, so I get up and sit to play my guqin. The thin curtains reflect the bright moon, and the cool wind blows on my clothes' which convey a fresh and elegant literary style, with a sense of transcendence."
Cao Rui laughed and said: "He is a promising talent. His literary skills are very similar to the poem 'How Brightly Shines the Moonlight'."
"Ministers, today I have an idea, and the two of you will accompany me to ponder it."
Lu Yuchi and Xu Zhu both immediately straightened their posture and stood in respectful silence.
Cao Rui said, "In the first year of Taishou, I established the Chongwen Pavilion, and the Five Classics were recompiled. Poetry, prose, and essays were selected every year. The flourishing of literature in Luoyang is comparable to that of the 'Seven Poets of Ye' during the Jian'an years in the copper sparrow pavilion in Ye."
"Then there were the seven, Wang Zhongxuan, Xu Weichang, Ruan Yuanyu, Ying Delian, Kong Wengju, Chen Kongzhang, and Liu Gonggan. They had nothing to hide in their studies, no embellishments in their prose, and all of them raced together with equal pace, giving rise to the flourishing literary style of that time."
Cao Rui sighed and said, "In terms of literature and poetry, I wonder if it is possible to include these extraordinary and unique individuals from the countryside in Luoyang to be governed by the imperial court."
Cao Rui sighed: "Literature and poetry are like this, I am thinking, can we recruit these extraordinary and peculiar talents from the countryside into the court in Luoyang to be under our jurisdiction?"
Speaking, Cao Rui turned to Xu Zhu: "Minister Xu, I remember that you sent the Yangzhou Inspector to investigate, and they said that the last trace of Zuo Ci was in Tianzhu Mountain of Lufeng Prefecture?"
Xu Zhu replied: "It was Tianzhu Mountain, and after that, Zuo Ci disappeared. Tianzhu Mountain is close to the jurisdiction of General Jia Kai, and I sent someone to ask for help from him, but he did not promise."
"The Emperor mentioned earlier, Ge Xuan, the Inspector also explored. Ge Xuan, a person who lives in Wuchang, has a close relationship with Sun Quan and cannot come to Luoyang."
Cao Rui nodded: "And what about the various sects of belief?"
Xu Zhu thought for a moment: "The remaining popular beliefs, the most prosperous are in Xizhou, followed by Qingzhou."
"Xuzhou, Longyao, Donghai, Xiaopu, Guangling, and other remote districts, with their mixed beliefs in Tianshi Dao and Buddhism, often have conflicts. The previous Xuzhou Administrator Lu Jing was old and deaf, and did not manage them."
"And in the border areas of Qing, Xuzhou, and Yanzhou, such as Jibei, Taishan, Dongguang, Beihai, and Jining, there are still believers in the Taiping Tao."
Cao Rui sighed: "Zhang Jiao has been dead for over fifty years, but the Taiping Tao is still here! The government has no much energy to deal with blind faith in the countryside, and it cannot be completely suppressed. We can only govern it."
"Minister Xu, send a letter to the Secretary of Defense in Luoyang, and ask each prefecture and commandery to gather these various beliefs and extraordinary talents. Have their leaders reside in Luoyang so that they do not cause chaos in the countryside."
"Furthermore, establish an office similar to the Chongwen Pavilion." Cao Rui looked at the few people present and said, "What should we call it?"
The two attendants looked at each other, and in the end, Xu Zhu elbows pushed Lu Yuchi. The youngest of the three attendants, Lu Yuchi, finally bowed and said: "The Chongwen Pavilion oversees all literary affairs. The new agency gathers all kinds of peculiar talents from across the country, governed by the court to clarify their principles."
"Let's name it 'Mingli,' the words 'Clarity of Principle'."
Cao Rui laughed and shook his head: "The 'li' word can be used, but the 'ming' word is more exquisite. The clearer the argument, the more clear the principles are. But what about people's beliefs? How can we clarify them all? It would be better if the court pointed out and selected outstanding talents!"
"Let's call it the Mingli Pavilion!" Cao Rui looked at Xu Zhu: "You go and talk to the Secretary of Defense about this."
"Understood," Xu Zhu replied.
On the other side, Lu Yuchi pursed his lips slightly, as if he had more to say.
Cao Rui noticed Lu Yuchi's expression and asked, "Minister Lu, is there anything you wish to say?"
Lu Yuchi had been thinking about this for a long time, but he hesitated at this moment.
The Emperor has always regarded divination and geomancy as mere pastime, primarily used for entertainment and relaxation, rather than actually believing in them.
Just like Emperor Wu summoned Zuo Ci and others to Ye City, and Emperor Wen sought a reading from Zhu Jianping, there was no real purpose other than to entertain and amuse.
If he were to rely on the divination from Guan Lü's omens...
Then say it!
Lu Yuchi made up his mind and said with a bow, "Your Majesty, Guan Lü's divination resulted in the Huàn hexagram, and the hexagram's words are 'The king visits the ancestral temple, favorable for crossing great rivers'."
"The ancestral temple of the Wei Dynasty is in Luoyang, but Emperor Wu's Tengwang Palace and the Chengxiang Empress's Chanyang Tomb are both located in Ye City. So far, Your Majesty has only dispatched Xu Xuan for the Tengwang Palace and Si Kong for the Chanyang Tomb."
Lu Yuchi began to feel nervous: "The king visits the ancestral temple, and the ancestral tombs are also like the ancestral temple. Why not let Your Majesty personally go to offer sacrifices at the Tengwang Palace to make expiation?"
Cao Rui looked at Lu Yuchi: "Minister Lu, are you afraid of Guan Lü's hexagram or do you truly wish for me to go there in person?"
Lu Yuchi bowed his hands in respect and said seriously, "Your Majesty, I have both thoughts."
Cao Rui looked at Xu Zhu again: "What does the Viscount Xu think?"
Xu Zhu replied: "It's all about belief; if one believes, it exists; if one does not, it does not. Your Majesty may make the decision based on your own will. The hexagram can be interpreted from either the ancestral tombs in Ye City or the ancestral temple in Luoyang. Wasn't the temple in Luoyang worshipped before Your Majesty's departure?"
"I think there is no need for worry,"
It is clear that Xu Zhu is not a Confucian scholar and does not wish to consume the goodwill between himself and the emperor by making such recommendations.
On the contrary, it seems that Lu Yuchi appears more considerate and more concerned about the emperor himself.
Cao Rui understood in his heart: "I understand. The Tengwang Palace and the Chanyang Tomb are both to the west of Ye City, about ten li apart. Three days later, I will personally go to offer sacrifices at the Tengwang Palace and the Chanyang Tomb. It will take a day to go there and a day to return."
