Hello everyone, this is the editor of History Encyclopedia. Today, I will tell you the story of Liu Yuxi. Welcome to follow us.
Liu Yuxi is known as the “Poet Hero”, which is appropriate. This is what Bai Juyi said in the preface of “Liu Bai’s Singing and Collection Explanation” that he was gifted. Liu Yuxi’s poetry is full of boldness and vitality, with a sense of vigor and vitality that truly deserves it. Moreover, looking at Liu Yuxi’s actions when he was young, there was no shortage of arrogance and toughness, and he could also live up to the word ‘hao’. However, as time passed, Liu Yuxi, in his later years, was in a miserable state and dared not speak up even when his beloved woman was robbed, which was deeply lamentable.
You should know that Liu Yuxi achieved success as a young man. He was born in the same year as Bai Juyi. Bai Juyi passed the imperial examination at the age of 29, which was already quite remarkable. Liu Yuxi passed the imperial examination at the age of 22 and achieved three consecutive titles in three years. Such a genius naturally became a hot political rising star. He participated in the “Yongzhen Reform” led by Wang Shuwen and served as a key general, guiding the country at a young age.
Unfortunately, this experience became the pinnacle of Liu Yuxi’s political career. Subsequently, he fell into a low point in his life and was repeatedly demoted. On the one hand, it was undoubtedly due to the competition in the officialdom at that time, and on the other hand, it was inseparable from his personality. He often wrote poems to satirize the powerful, rebellious, and unrestrained, and exile became synonymous with him. From his early thirties to his early fifties, Liu Yuxi was demoted to a foreign official for a total of 22 years.
During his exile, although his official positions were all at the level of governor, everyone knew that he was outdated, unreliable in the court, and disliked everywhere. Therefore, even the subordinate county magistrate dared to oppose him. When he served as the governor of Hezhou, he was forced to change his place several times and finally moved to a rundown hut, where he wrote the famous “Inscription on the Humble House”.
Originally, in the fifth year of the Taihe era, Liu Yuxi was given the opportunity to be promoted to the position of Minister of Rites by Pei Du, who appreciated him. However, shortly after arriving in the capital, he was forced to be released again as an official due to the resignation of Pei Du, this time serving as the Governor of Yangzhou. Liu Yuxi, who was in a bad mood, met the former Sikong Li Shen and was warmly welcomed. The exquisite cuisine and peaceful singing and dancing left Liu Yuxi deeply moved, especially Li Shen’s courtesans who moved him. He wrote “To Li Sikong, a courtesan”:
High bun cloud maid palace style makeup, spring breeze song ‘Du Wei Niang’;
Being commonplace and meddling in trivial matters, cutting off the intestines of the governor of Jiangnan.
Although he was also demoted, Li Shen doted on his concubines like clouds and lived a luxurious life. He saw Liu Yuxi complaining so much, so he decided to give this courtesan to Liu Yuxi. This moment ignited the passion of Liu Yuxi’s life, and it is also a beautiful story of the Tang Dynasty, recorded in “Shi Shi” and “Quan Tang Shi”.
Originally, this could have ended as a fairy tale story. However, society is so cruel. The prime minister at that time, Li Fengji, was very curious when he heard about it. He didn’t know what kind of celestial figure Liu Yuxi could admire. So, when Liu Yuxi had the opportunity to bring his entire family to Beijing, he issued an invitation for Liu Yuxi to bring his family as guests.
In the Tang Dynasty, there was a mentality of comparison among literati and scholars. Liu Yuxi was already quite old and didn’t know how to keep a low profile, so he immediately chose this most beautiful and youngest concubine to go. After seeing her, Li Fengji pulled the woman and ran away. There are only eight words recorded in historical books: ‘I was amazed and speechless.’.
After the banquet, Li Fengji asked Liu Yuxi to go back by himself, and the woman stayed behind. Although at that time concubines were playthings of the powerful and could be freely given away, this woman herself was also given to Liu Yuxi by Li Shen. However, such shameless robbery is still rarely heard of.
If it were in the past, wouldn’t Liu Yuxi curse for a day and a night, and even write poetry to make Li Fengji infamous for thousands of years? However, in his later years, he had lost his sharpness. He knew how powerful the prime minister was and how fierce the struggle in the officialdom was, and he dared not fight for a woman again. He is gentle like a sheep, without resistance. The only gesture made was to write four poems and deliver them to Li Fengji’s mansion.
These four poems all express nostalgia for my beloved concubine. However, there was no hint of dissatisfaction towards Li Fengji between the lines. The first one is like this:
The jade hairpin overlapping has no fate, the fish in the deep pool and the crane in the sky.
Proud Purple Luan rests in the dance mirror, able to speak to the Blue Bird without holding the title.
The golden basin is already covered with water that is difficult to collect, and the jade basket is long and cannot be extended to the side.
If you pass down the Miwu Mountain, you will shed red tears on the poor spring.
This seven character quatrain is not difficult to understand, it simply expresses one’s regret and longing for a woman, without any hint of arrogance. After reading it, Li Fengji praised repeatedly, but did not return it to the woman. In fact, Liu Yuxi is already old, and Li Fengji is 14 years older than him. This poor woman was forced to circulate by several bad old men, and who asked about her happiness? Of course, Liu Yuxi did not dare to turn red with anger towards Guan in the end, which also made people sigh deeply.
