The Tang Dynasty was an era of great poetry, with great achievements such as Li Bai, Du Fu, Bai Juyi, Wang Bo, Wang Wei, Li He, Liu Yuxi, Li Shangyin, and Du Mu.
In the middle of the Tang Dynasty, there was a poet named Li Bo (Zi Lie) who was also very famous. Bai Juyi praised him for "writing poems to pass on Bao Xiefeng" ("SendIng Li Puzhou"), which shows the great fame of Li Bo at that time.
Bai Juyi (portrait)
With achievements and great fame, the social status will naturally increase, and there will be people who will pursue and even be used by people. Li Bo has personally encountered and experienced such "interesting things".
When Li Bo was an official in Pu prefecture (蕲州, in present-day Puchunbei, Hubei), a scholar with the same surname came to visit with his own masterpieces.
Li Sheng's purpose in asking to see Li Bo was to ask Li Bo, who was both a great poet and an official, to appreciate and evaluate his works, and then, in a timely manner, to promote himself. At that time, this was a way for many literati and inkers to enter the career path, or a shortcut.
Li Bo, who occasionally felt unwell, learned that after Li Sheng came to the door, it was inconvenient to push back, so he asked his son to come forward to receive him. Li Bo's son obeyed his father's orders and invited Li Sheng to the living room.
Li Sheng (portrait) who visited Li Bo
After the two men sat down in greeting, Li Bo's son apologized to Li Sheng for his father's physical condition and could not personally entertain guests.
Li Sheng listened and quickly expressed his understanding. Then, he talked a lot about his admiration for Lord Li Bo. And in the words, the meaning of "please entrust" is revealed from time to time.
Li Bo's son listened while smiling and responding to Li Sheng. When the two talked about poetry creation, Li Bo's son took the poems brought by Li Sheng and wanted to appreciate them. He looked at it and was astonished: "How is this work of his exactly the same as the poetry that my father composed when he was young?" ”
The son of Li Bo who was surprised (portrait)
Although Li Bo's son had doubts, he was inconvenient to say anything for a while, so he immediately returned to normal and continued to chat with Li Sheng. After a while, Li Bo's son asked Li Sheng to rest in the guest room for the time being.
After the family took Li Sheng away, Li Bo's son took Li Sheng's poems and quickly came to his father's place to tell a detailed account of the meeting.
Li Bo was also surprised to hear that the poems brought by Li Sheng were not different from his early years. Therefore, he took the poems brought by Li Sheng from his son's hand, and when he looked at them, it was indeed the same content and the authors were different!
What's going on? In several works, the ideas and meanings are not much different, and the situation that individual sentences are similar or identical may exist! However, word for word, exactly the same, it is puzzling!
Li Bo (portrait) caught in contemplation
After pondering for a moment, Li Bo, who still did not understand the reason, said to his son: "You should first treat him well, and wait until tomorrow, when I personally see this person, and then make a decision." ”
The next day, Li Bo received Li Sheng, who was visiting. During the conversation, Li Bo took the initiative to talk about the poems brought by Li Sheng, and said gently: "It seems that we do have a fate. After reading your masterpiece, I feel that one of my early works is just like 'a milk compatriot'! ”
When Li Sheng heard Li Bo say this, he was first secretly shocked, and then categorically denied: "Lord Li, it is absolutely impossible." How can the clumsiness of the late life be compared with your masterpiece! ”
When Li Bo saw that Li Sheng denied it, he didn't bother to say anything more, and said bluntly: "Sir, this work of yours should be what I did in my early years!" After speaking, Li Bo asked Li Sheng to explain the reason.
Li Sheng, who still insisted on writing his own poems, had to laugh bitterly and tell the truth after some forced excuses, "Lord Li, this was bought for a hundred dollars when I was studying in Chang'an twenty years ago. If it is really created by you, please forgive me! ”
Li Sheng who is defending (posterity)
Li Bo listened and was deeply ashamed of Li Sheng's behavior. However, on second thought: "Twenty years later, a candidate for the examination has not yet been able to pass the entrance examination." In order to seek a future, it is indeed pitiful to fall to the point of stealing other people's works in order to seek recommendation! ”
Thinking about this, Li Bo said that he would not pursue the matter any further, and set up a banquet to entertain and retain Li Sheng.
When Li Sheng wanted to quit and leave, planning to continue his study tour elsewhere and seek a way out, Li Bo gave him some money, food, and clothing to show compassion for the scholars.
Li Sheng expressed his deep gratitude for Li Bo's gift. At the same time, he pleaded with Lord Li to take away the works of Li Bo that he had bought. Li Bo listened and replied indignantly: "Now that I am old and enjoy the official government's Feng Lu, I don't need it, so you can take it with you." ”
When bidding farewell to Li Sheng, Li Bo asked him with concern: "Mr. Li, where are you going to go, and who are you going to pay homage to?" Li Sheng replied respectfully, "I will go to Jingnan to meet my cousin Lord Lu Hongxuan." ”
Lu Hongxuan (portrait)
When Li Bo heard this, he was stunned at first, and then he laughed. Because Lu Hongxuan and Li Bo's father is an uncle and cousin, he is Li Bo's cousin.
Li Sheng saw the busyness and asked Li Bo: "Lord Li, what are you laughing at?" After Li Bo explained the original commission, Li Sheng not only did not have any embarrassing moves, but calmly said to Li Bo: "Lord, since you can give your works from your youth to the late life, then even your cousin has lent me it." ”
After saying that, Li Sheng faced Li Bo, bowed down and bowed for two prayers, and without waiting for Li Bo to express his position, he turned around and left. Li Bo shook his head, only to look at this "brother" with the same surname, "free" and go!
After the story is told, I put aside my pen and think: driven by fame and fortune, the scheming people do not hesitate to face it, and always want to pass some "convenient roads" in order to achieve their goals. As for the result, we will talk about it later!
Main reference: Chronicle of Tang Poetry