Chapter 18: Encounter (Third Update)

  Li Bai was such a great talent, but his later years were bleak and desolate, it's really moving!

  If in modern society, someone like Li Bai is very talented but has a poor later life, all they need to do is write a few masterpieces, find an auction house to sell them, and they won't have to worry about food or clothing. Even if it's not much, the money from selling their work can last for a year or two.

  "Li Bai views money as dirt, his integrity is worthy of praise!" Li Changguo weighed the silver that had been squandered, his thoughts fluctuating, and he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of regret.

  "Thanks to your care for these days, General Li. This little money is not enough to show my gratitude, please accept it as a token!" Li Bai just glanced at the silver and pushed it back to Li Changgui's face, without any concern.

  Just now, in front of Li Bai, he viewed money as dirt, and then he performed a scene. Li Changguo sighed again, saying: "Li Hanlin, aren't you slapping my face? Being able to travel with Li Hanlin, drink and eat together is one of life's greatest pleasures! Looking around the world, how many people have this kind of honor?"

  To be able to travel with the poet, drink and eat together is one of life's greatest pleasures!

  Looking around the world, looking back at all of history, how many people have had such glory?

  Even Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji, did not have such an honor!

  Li Changguo said, pushing the silver back in front of Li Bai.

  Li Bai sized up Li Changguo, stretched out his right hand and pushed the silver to one side, then picked up a wine cup and started drinking with Li Changguo.

  Gao Mei-li glanced at Li Bai, then looked at Li Chang-guo again. Her bright and charming eyes sparkled with an unknown thought. When she gazed at Li Chang-guo, her pretty face flushed like a ripe apple, very enticing.

  Li Bai's intoxication was rising, his mood was great, Li Changguo's intoxication was also good, the two of them clinked cups and exchanged toasts, this one drink started and couldn't be stopped. Don't know how many cups were drunk, Li Changguo got a bit tipsy, this was his first time feeling drunk since arriving in the Tang Dynasty, all due to Li Bai's capacity for wine.

  "Li Hanlin, there's something I don't know whether I should say or not." Li Changguo thought of a way to sober up Li Bai.

  "Haha!" Li Bai laughed and said: "Brave General, what are you talking about? If there's something to say, just speak up!"

  "Then I'll say it!" Li Changguo sincerely wanted to help Li Bai, saying: "Li Hanlin, your talent is as high as eight dou, your learning is rich and abundant, your name is renowned throughout the land, your poetry is famous throughout the land, and there are countless people who admire you. Why do you have so many enemies?"

  "Rather than bowing and scraping to the rich and powerful, I'd rather let my heart remain untroubled." Li Bai replied with his famous line.

  Li Bai was born with a proud bone, never frowning or bowing down to those in power and wealth, this poem is a reflection of his character.

  "Alas! Alas!" Li Changguo shook his head and said, "Li Hanlin's reputation is renowned throughout the land, his poetry is renowned throughout the land. This learning is extremely good, I am very admiring. However, there is another article, which Li Hanlin does not quite understand."

  "Oh!"

  Li Bai has read all the books in the world, his learning is rich and vast, when it comes to literature and scholarship, he looks down on the whole world, looks down on history, how many people can compare with him? He really had some dissatisfaction, his eyes shone brightly, staring at Li Changguo, very interested, asked: "What kind of article?"

  "Human feelings and worldly affairs!" Li Changguo said word by word.

  "What's this 'human emotions and worldly affairs'?" Li Bai savored it carefully, then shook his head, with a hint of mockery, saying: "Can this be called learning?"

  "Everything in life is a lesson, and understanding human emotions is the key to writing!" Li Changguo spoke out a sentence full of philosophical meaning.

  "Who said that? What a great talent!" Li Bai applauded and praised, looking at Li Changguo with eager expectation: "Ah! I, Li Bai, have read all the books in the world, but I didn't know such wonderful words, ashamed! Ashamed!"

  This is a famous quote by Cao Xueqin. Although Li Bai was a great talent, it's impossible for him to know the quotes of literary giants from 1,000 years later.

  "Li Hanlin, is what you said reasonable?" Li Changguo did not answer Li Bai's words, but instead asked a question.

  "It's not just reasonable, it's too reasonable!" Li Bai sighed with emotion.

  "Since this statement is reasonable, Li Hanlin, you say that human feelings and worldly affairs are not a subject of study? Is it just an elaborate article?" Li Changguo pressed step by step.

  “……”

  Li Bai remained silent for a moment, then made a fist and bowed to Li Changgui, saying: "The brave and heroic captain has an extraordinary understanding, I am shallow and ignorant, please don't laugh at me."

  "What about this article, how did Li Hanlin do?" Li Changguo pressed again.

  When it comes to writing poetry, Li Bai is a poetic immortal, and only the Poetic Sage can be compared with him. When it comes to human relationships and worldly affairs, Li Bai is very poor, and he becomes speechless at once.

  Li Bai studied extensively and was well-read, able to speak eloquently, with a ready tongue. But now he is like this, speechless, for the first time in his life.

  Looking at Li Bai's speechless expression, Li Changguo was indeed a little pleased and relieved that he could make Li Bai speechless, possibly the only person who could do so.

  “……”

  Gao Mei-li blinked her charming eyes, with an expression of utter disbelief. The world-renowned Li Bai was actually left speechless by Li Chang-guo's words. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she would never have believed it, even if you killed her.

  "Li Hanlin devoted himself to serving the country, but it was difficult for him to find a way to do so. He encountered obstruction from high-ranking officials and nobles, which may not have been entirely due to their jealousy of his talent. This is related to Li Hanlin's failure to handle human relationships and worldly affairs properly."

  Li Changguo knew that he had to follow up at this time, otherwise all his previous efforts would be in vain: "Li Hanlin is a talented and knowledgeable person, famous throughout the land. If He Zhizhang and Princess Yuzhen can recognize your talent, why wouldn't others? It's not necessarily so! I think that as long as you are willing, there are many people who would be happy to lower themselves to interact with you and become close friends. If you can handle human relationships and worldly affairs well..."

  This is absolutely a true statement. With Li Bai's talent and reputation, how many people would not want to befriend him? Many people would want to befriend him, but in the end, he ends up with fewer friends than enemies, far fewer. In short, Li Bai doesn't know how to handle relationships.

  "Being worldly and understanding human nature doesn't necessarily mean being servile! Li Changguo said finally: "A hero must be good at protecting himself! If one can't even protect oneself, one is not qualified to be a hero! Li Hanlin, if you want to serve the country, you must take care of yourself!"

  "This..."

  This was the most stunning and astonishing thing Li Bai had ever heard in his life, although his carefree and ethereal nature still lingered, he felt constrained and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

  Li Changguo watched with admiration in his eyes, Li Bai is indeed Li Bai, he finally listened, hopefully he can do a good job on this article about human feelings and worldly affairs!

  If Li Bai had done well in human relationships and worldly affairs, would there have been a hero in Chinese history who combined the qualities of a poet and a capable statesman?

  Li Changguo is eagerly anticipated.

  It was clear that Li Changguo's words had a profound impact, and Li Bai drank cup after cup of strong wine, lost in thought.

  "Are you repeating yourself?" Gao Miaoli was worried and whispered in Li Changguo's ear.

  "It doesn't matter!" Li Changguo was greatly relieved and said: "Li Hanlin has a broad mind, nothing will happen to him!"

  Li Changguo's words had a great impact on Li Bai, and after finishing dinner, he continued to visit, but Li Bai was still distracted. Li Changguo knew that this was Li Bai's crucial moment and it was not suitable to disturb him, so he found an excuse and went to visit with Gao Miaoli.

  The two of them strolled around for a while, leaning against the railing and admiring the beautiful view, feeling carefree.

  "Hello, is anyone there?"

  At this moment, an old man with a dragon and phoenix appearance, a heavenly face, extremely handsome, rushed to ask Li Changguo questions.