Chương 87: A Miraculous Manifestation Before the Public, Shocking

"Just scribbled something?" Kong Rong's eyes widened.

"Just scribbled something and it turned out like that?"

"It was just something I wrote casually," Liu Ce said calmly.

"At the time, I just wanted to finish writing quickly and leave. That place... wasn't really suitable for me."

That was a very honest remark, and it made everyone laugh.

Huangfu Song patted Liu Ce on the shoulder:

"You little rascal! If you can't even write like this casually, what will you be like when you're writing seriously?"

Then they talked about suppressing the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

Lu Zhi asked the most detailed question: "Bo Lue, how exactly did you fight the battle at Guangzong? I besieged it for so long, but I just couldn't break through."

Liu Ce thought for a moment and then said what he could say:

"Actually, there's no ingenious plan; it's just waiting."

"Wait?" Lu Zhi paused upon hearing this, then he had a clue.

"Wait until Zhang Jiao dies of his illness," Liu Ce said.

"I have received news that Zhang Jiao is seriously ill and will only live for a few days. Therefore, we will surround him without attacking, and wait for him to die so that the morale of our army will fall into chaos."

He paused, then added:

"Of course, some preparations were made beforehand, such as sending people to infiltrate the city and spread rumors that the imperial army would arrive soon and those who surrendered would be spared death."

After listening, Lu Zhi sighed deeply: "So that's how it is... I was eager to attack the city, while you were patiently waiting. In terms of patience... I am not as patient as you; His Majesty is pressing me hard."

Yang Biao asked, "I heard you personally beheaded Zhang Bao?"

"Yes." Liu Ce nodded.

"During the battle of Xiaquyang, Zhang Bao took the initiative to come out of the city to challenge me, saying he wanted to fight me one-on-one, so I... granted his request."

He spoke of it casually, but everyone present could imagine the scene: two armies facing off, a one-on-one duel to decide life or death.

Huangfu Song was filled with excitement:

"Good! This is the spirit of a military general! Unlike some who hide in the back and command, sending soldiers to their deaths!"

As they chatted, Cai Yong suddenly remembered something and asked:

"Bolue, your two poems, which express the heroic spirit of the army, are indeed excellent."

But I wonder... could you write other kinds of poetry? Perhaps landscapes and pastoral scenes, or poems expressing emotions and aspirations?

As soon as he finished speaking, the others echoed his sentiments:

"Yes, yes, besides military poems, can the Marquis of Champion write anything else?"

Liu Ce smiled.

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then slowly said:

"Master Cai, esteemed seniors, to be honest, poetry is something that requires one to express one's feelings."

A few days ago at Zuichunlou, the atmosphere was just right, and I was reminded of the suppression of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, so I wrote two poems.

"If I were to write again now, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to produce such poetry anytime soon."

He paused, then chuckled, "Even if I forced it out, it would be poorly made and only make me a laughingstock."

That's very true.

Cai Yong and the others heard this and, although somewhat disappointed, understood.

Writing poetry isn't like drinking water or eating; it's not something you can just do on a whim.

When inspiration strikes, brilliant ideas can flow from your pen; when inspiration fails, you can't force yourself to produce anything good.

But Liu Ce changed the subject: "However, I have always taken the four sentences I wrote before as the goal I have strived for in my life."

"Oh?" Cai Yong's eyes lit up.

"Which four lines? They are actually the goals you, Marquis of Champion, have strived for your entire life?"

The others also became interested and all looked at Liu Ce.

Liu Ce thought to himself: Everyone move aside, I'm about to start showing off.

He put down his teacup and slowly stood up.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the locust tree leaves, casting dappled patterns on him.

He stood there, back straight, gazing into the distance, striking a pose of "having the world in his heart".

Then he spoke.

The voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear and resonant:

"To establish a moral compass for Heaven and Earth!!!"

Upon hearing the first sentence, Cai Yong stopped fanning himself with his bamboo fan.

"To establish a purpose for the people!!!"

In the second sentence, Lu Zhi's hand trembled slightly as he held the teacup.

"To carry on the lost learning of the sages!!!"

At the third sentence, Kong Rong's mouth dropped open.

"To usher in an era of peace for all generations!!!"

As the fourth sentence fell, the entire backyard fell silent.

The only sounds were the rustling of leaves in the wind and the faint chirping of birds in the distance.

Cai Yong and his companions were stunned, as if they had been frozen in place.

Immediately, an unprecedented glint flashed in his eyes!

"Good... good... good!" Cai Yong was the first to react, his beard trembling with excitement.

He jumped up, his movement so sudden he almost knocked over the table.

He rushed over to Liu Ce, grabbed Liu Ce's hand, and his voice trembled slightly with excitement:

"What a magnificent phrase, 'To establish a moral compass for Heaven and Earth, and to secure a destiny for the people!' What a magnificent phrase, 'To continue the lost learning of the past sages, and to usher in an era of peace for all generations!'"

He stared at Liu Ce with burning eyes:

"Such vision, such ambition! I... I am ashamed to admit my inferiority! Liu Bolue, you are truly a genius! A genius!"

Lu Zhi also stood up and nodded repeatedly:

"Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! These four sentences perfectly encapsulate the pursuits that scholars, officials, and indeed all people should have in their lives! The heart of heaven and earth, the life of the people, the learning of the sages, and peace for all generations—every word carries immense weight!"

Kong Rong, no longer arrogant, slammed his fist on the table and stood up:

"Incredible! Absolutely incredible! These four lines are enough to be remembered for eternity! Liu Bolue, you... you really are..."

He hesitated for a long time, then finally managed to stammer out:

"The younger generation is truly formidable! They are indeed formidable!"

Han Shuo, Ma Ridi, and Yang Biao also stood up, their faces flushed with excitement, praising him endlessly.

Although Huangfu Song didn't understand poetry very well, he could still sense the weight of those four sentences.

He patted Liu Ce on the shoulder with such force that it could break an ordinary person's body:

"Good lad! You have ambition! This is the kind of fine son of our great Han Dynasty!"

Meanwhile, behind the artificial hill in the backyard.

Cai Yan, Cai Yong's daughter, was holding her breath, eavesdropping behind the artificial hill.

She was reading in her room, with Liu Ce's two poems copied out on the table.

The maid came to tell her that the Marquis of Champion had arrived. Her heart stirred, and she felt an inexplicable urge to see what this person who could write such poems looked like.

So she quietly got up, tiptoed to the backyard, and hid behind the artificial hill.

At first, she could only vaguely see Liu Ce's profile; he was tall and slender, but had broad shoulders. She thought to herself: He doesn't look like a warrior; he looks more like... a scholar.

Then she heard those four sentences.

"To establish a moral compass for Heaven and Earth, to secure a destiny for the people, to continue the lost learning of past sages, and to usher in an era of peace for all generations..."

She murmured to herself, completely stunned.

As a talented woman who had been well-versed in poetry and literature since childhood, she understood all too well the weight of these four sentences.

These are not ordinary verses; they are the words of a sage! They are a grand aspiration worthy of being recorded in history!

She thought about Liu Ce's age; she'd heard he was not even twenty.

Thinking of his talent and magnanimity, of his quelling of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and recalling the glimpse of his upright figure I had just caught...

Her cheeks involuntarily flushed red.

My heart started beating faster for no apparent reason.

"He has such lofty aspirations..." Cai Yan felt an indescribable sense of admiration and awe.

In the courtyard, Cai Yong still held Liu Ce's hand, unable to calm down for a long time.

He looked at the determined, talented young man before him.