HPDBC Chapter 31 What Makes a Good Official?
Chapter 31 What Makes a Good Official?
This is where the couple lives, so either they got lost in the mountains and came here unintentionally, or they were looking for them on purpose.
Under the watchful eyes of Wang Ji and Yao Shi, the other person's figure became clearer and clearer, and after a moment, he came to the pavilion through the corridor and stood in front of it.
Wang Ji sized him up. The man was handsome and dressed in an expensive mink cloak, looking quite extraordinary. The young woman beside him was most likely a maid.
Out of politeness, I stood up and bowed with my hands clasped in greeting.
"My name is Wang Ji. May I ask where you two come from? Are you here to see me?"
Chen Yue also took a look at this poet from history books, the first of the Four Great Poets of the early Tang Dynasty, and the second grandfather of Wang Bo, who wrote "Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng".
"Mr. Wang, you are too kind. My name is Chen Yue, and this is my maid, Zhao Qimei. We came from Shennong Temple."
"Shennong Temple?"
Yao's eyes widened, as if she had thought of something, and she quickly asked a question.
"Young master, could you perhaps be the new Shennong envoy?"
The Shennong Temple was not far from their location. They had visited it twice before when Chen Shan was there, so it was familiar to them. It was the place where the Shennong Envoy lived.
Chen Yue smiled and nodded.
"Mr. Wang has such refined tastes, fishing in this pavilion on such a fine day."
When Chen Yue admitted it, Wang Ji's expression changed, but he didn't react like Wang Xian, Lu Xiu, and the others; he remained quite indifferent.
As the saying goes, he is without desires or wants, and that is probably his current situation. Wang Ji is already 51 years old, which is not young in ancient times.
He has experienced a lot in his life, and now he lives in seclusion in Zhongnan Mountain to spend his old age in peace. Since there is nothing he can ask Shennong Envoy for, there is no need to deliberately curry favor with him.
"So you are the new Shennong Envoy, my apologies for my disrespect."
Chen Yue made this special trip despite the cold weather, not because he was bored. His grandfather had given him some instructions before he came to the Tang Dynasty.
Besides the matters in Chang'an, there was another matter: after meeting Wang Ji, I answered the question that was ten years overdue for him.
Wang Ji also came from a family with a strong scholarly tradition. He was good at everything in his life except for his career, which was always unsuccessful. He served in office three times and then went into seclusion three times.
Wang Ji didn't say it, but he always felt a thorn in his heart, believing that his talents had nowhere to be displayed and that there was no discerning ruler in the world.
At that time, Chen Shan casually remarked that there was something wrong with his official position. The Shennong Envoy was already very famous at that time because he was the envoy of the old Shennong, so his status and position were extremely high.
During their last drinking session, both of them drank too much. Wang Ji cried in front of Chen Shan and finally asked him a question: what makes a truly good official?
Chen Shan said he could consult the old Shennong after he returned, but he was bitten to death by a snake on the way.
Wang Ji is a somewhat obsessive person. Based on Chen Shan's understanding of him, if this question is not answered, he will never be able to let it go for the rest of his life, and it will become a huge psychological burden.
So Chen Yue came here this time to solve this problem for his grandfather and to tell him what a real official is.
Of course, this answer was also the result of Chen Yue's own research on a large amount of information online, combined with Wang Ji's situation.
Although Wang Ji and his wife lived in a thatched cottage, the furnishings inside were quite nice, filled with a scholarly and elegant atmosphere.
Chen Yue casually picked up a piece of paper from the table and glanced at it.
""Ambition"
As dusk falls on the eastern hill, I gaze into the distance, leaning against the railing, wondering where to turn for support.
Every tree is tinged with autumn colors, and every mountain is bathed in the glow of the setting sun.
The herdsmen drive their calves home, and the hunters bring their game back.
We look around, strangers to each other; I sing a long song, longing for the days of gathering wild herbs.
As Chen Yue read it aloud softly, his expression suddenly turned strange. If he remembered correctly, this poem was very famous in later generations.
Moreover, it is the most famous of all Wang Ji's literary works, and is hailed as one of the earliest mature five-character regulated poems in the early Tang Dynasty, a milestone in pastoral poetry.
He had memorized it when he was in school, but he never dreamed that one day he would see the original author's manuscript.
"Your Excellency Shennong, is there something wrong with my poem?"
Seeing that Chen Yue was so interested in his new work, Wang Ji couldn't help but ask a question.
"Oh, this poem is very well written. In my opinion, it is very likely to become a masterpiece that will be remembered for generations. Also, Mr. Wang is a good friend of Old Chen."
"There's no need to address me like that. My name is Yanzu, and my elders call me Azu. Mr. Wang, please call me Azu as well."
"Yanzu?"
Wang Ji stroked his beard and laughed, "The Book of Songs says, 'That son of theirs is a man of outstanding talent and virtue,' referring to a person of high moral character. 'Ancestor' refers to ancestral system and origins, signifying emulation and respect."
This courtesy name takes virtuous and talented individuals as its model, striving to emulate the wise virtues of its ancestors—truly excellent!
Chen Yue listened, completely stunned.
"As expected of a literary master, he can explain this so perfectly."
"Grandpa, I wonder how Old Master Chen is doing these days?"
Although Wang Ji hadn't visited the Shennong Temple in the past few days, the details about the new Shennong Envoy and the Penglai Immortal Island mentioned by Chen Yue were no secret.
Wang Ji naturally knew this as well, and no one thought Chen Yue was lying, because only this explanation made sense.
"He's doing well in Penglai. He eats and sleeps well every day, and he even has time to play chess and drink tea with his old brothers who grew up with him."
Wang Ji revealed a genuine smile.
"Ten years ago, the last time Old Chen came to the Tang Dynasty was in September of the fourth year of Zhenguan. On the night of the tenth, you all got very drunk here. Am I right?"
Wang Ji let out a long sigh and nodded.
"That's right. Not long after I stepped down from my post as the Assistant Magistrate of the Imperial Music Bureau, I planned to stay in Zhongnan Mountain for the rest of my life and never serve in office again."
Although it was their first meeting, the two quickly became familiar with each other after the initial awkwardness. Yao warmed a pot of wine for them and reheated the dishes they had just eaten.
She lit a stove in the middle so the two of them could talk, and then took Zhao Qimei to the side room.
Yao knew in her heart that Wang Ji had never given up the idea of becoming an official, and this was no exception even now. Otherwise, why would he choose to live in seclusion in Zhongnan Mountain, which was so close to Chang'an, instead of returning to his hometown?
"Mr. Wang, that night you were drinking with Old Chen and you asked him a question: how can one be called a good official?"
Unfortunately, Old Chen returned to Penglai and never came back. Ten years have passed in the blink of an eye. Before I came, he specifically told me that if I saw you, I would definitely give you an explanation.
Wang Ji, who had been calm, suddenly raised his head and stared intently at him.
Even her breathing became somewhat rapid.
"Indeed, this question has troubled me for ten years, but has Elder Chen already obtained the answer from Shennong?"
"Mr. Wang, please don't forget that I am the grandson of the old Shennong. Old Chen raised me since I was a child. Although he was a servant, I have always regarded him as my grandfather."
Since it was something he entrusted to me, I naturally have to take it to heart. You're right, that's why I'm here today.
Wang Ji's expression turned serious. He immediately patted his bottom, stood up, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and asked Chen Yue in a formal and earnest manner.
"Wang Ji, I humbly await the divine decree of Lord Shennong!"
Chen Yue didn't beat around the bush and got straight to the point.
"Mr. Wang, you always say that you haven't met a wise ruler, which is why your career has always been unsuccessful. Is that true?"
Wang Ji closed his eyes, picked up the wine cup on the table, and drank it all in one gulp, his face showing some pain.