Chapter 32 3. What is Du Fu worried about?

In the first year of Xiantian, 712 A.D., Li Longji, Prince Ruizong, ascended the throne in Wude Hall as Xuanzong, and respected Ruizong as the Supreme Emperor.In the literary world, Song Zhiwen, a great writer, was given to death by Emperor Ruizong because he once attached to Wu Sansi;Some important figures in the Kaiyuan prosperous age successively appeared on the stage this year, and a majestic historical drama kicked off. In the first month of this year, Du Fu was born in Gong County (now Henan).The Du family is a family of officials and eunuchs.Du Yu, the thirteenth ancestor of Du Fu, was a famous general in the Jin Dynasty and was known as "Du Wuku".He is not only good at fighting, but also versatile. He has annotated "Zuo Zhuan" and is Du Fu's most respected family figure.His grandfather, Du Shenyan, was Wailang, a member of the food department in Wu Zetian's era, and later served as a direct scholar of Xiuwenguan. Together with Li Qiao, Cui Rong, and Su Weiwei, he was called the "Four Friends of Articles", and he was also a poet as famous as Song Zhiwen and Shen Quanqi. He is the founder of five-character verses.So Du Fu said proudly: "My ancestor's poems are the most ancient", "Poetry is my family's business".

Du Fu had an uncle named Du Bing, the second son of Du Shenyan.At the age of sixteen, because his father was framed and imprisoned, Du He killed his enemy alone to avenge his father, but he was beaten to death on the spot.This extreme act of revenge was appreciated by people at that time.Because of this, Du Bing was called "Xiao Tong". The famous scholar Su Ting personally wrote the epitaph for Du Bing, and Liu Yunji made the sacrificial oration.Uncle's tragic act of righteousness has always made Du Fu have endless reverie. Du Fu's father, Du Xian, used to be the magistrate of Sima in Yanzhou (now in Shandong) and Fengtian (in today's Ganxian County, Shaanxi). My uncle is well known."Cui died before Du Fu could remember.Du Fu's character is Zimei, ranking second.The older brother died early, and the younger siblings were all born to his stepmother, Mrs. Lu.When Du Fu was young, he lived with his second aunt's house in Renfengli, Jianchunmen, Luoyang, the eastern capital.He was young and weak, and his second aunt was a virtuous person who cared for Du Fu more than his own children.Once, both Du Fu and his cousins ​​were infected with the epidemic, and the second aunt always took care of Du Fu first, and then took care of her own children.As a result, Du Fu's illness improved day by day, but the second aunt's son died of illness.When Du Fu grew up, he heard this story from his servants and was very moved. He even wrote an epitaph for this aunt who "put others before herself".

Du Fu lived in Luoyang for a long time in his youth.Luoyang was the eastern capital of the Tang Dynasty, and its political, economic, and cultural status was no less than that of Chang'an.Luoyang's prosperity and people's safety excited Du Fu, and Luoyang's reputation and cultural relics gradually influenced Du Fu. He had the opportunity to be influenced by various cultures and arts since he was a child, which had a great influence on his future poetry creation. When Du Fu was fourteen or five years old, he had already made his mark in the Luoyang literary circle and was somewhat famous.The great writer Li Yong, the poet Wang Han, the Jinshi Cui Shang and Wei Qixin all valued him very much, and the latter two also compared him to the historian Ban Gu and writer Yang Xiong of the Han Dynasty.He also often visited the mansions of high-ranking officials and nobles, and got acquainted with Qi Wang Li Fan and Secretary Supervisor Cui Di, and thus got acquainted with Li Guinian, a famous Liyuan figure.Du Fu's poem "Zhuang You" recalled his life at that time: "Sex is rich, he is addicted to alcohol, he is jealous of evil, and he has a hard heart. If he is a child, he will make friends with all old people. Drinking and watching the eight poles, the desires are so vast."

The young Du Fu was bold by nature, addicted to alcohol like a maniac, and hated evil like hatred. He often hid characters and praised right and wrong.This is the common habit of the talented and the common tragedy of the talented.This character trait of Du Fu laid the groundwork for his subsequent poverty, loss of ambition and homelessness. At that time, it was "the heyday of Kaiyuan", the economy was prosperous, and the transportation was developed.Such a prosperous age provides many convenient conditions for poets who love to travel.In particular, the four seas were pacified, the four directions came to court, and the unified territory greatly expanded the range of excursions for literati, who were able to travel in Mobei, Lingnan, and Dahe.Widely regarded as a thrilling and romantic experience, wanderings became a popular fad, followed by all literati.Most of the famous poets at that time had the experience of traveling, such as Meng Haoran traveled to Beijing and Luozhou, traveled through Wuyue, arrived in Bashu in the west, and went to Hunan and Guangxi in the south; Cen Shen went to the frontier fortress many times, as far as Anbeiting and other remote areas.

In addition to being influenced by the fashion at that time, Du Fu’s first roaming also hoped to get acquainted with celebrities from all over the world through roaming. Recommended by the state and county chiefs and border commanders, to make some preparations for entering an official career in the future. In the twenty-fourth year of Kaiyuan (736), Du Fu went to Luoyang, the eastern capital, to take the Jinshi examination.At that time, he was unrestrained and extremely conceited. He didn't even pay attention to the great writers in history such as Qu Yuan, Jia Yi, Cao Zhi, and Liu Zhen.But the result was that he failed the examination, and his annoyance was indescribable.So, with the arrogance of contempt for Kao Gonglang, he went to Qi Zhao Plain for a second roaming, "Long Qi and Zhao, Qiu Ma is quite crazy" ("Zhuang Tour").His masterpiece "Wang Yue" was written during this period.The two sentences at the end are famous sentences that have been passed down through the ages: "You will be the top of the mountain, and you will see all the small mountains." It reveals the poet's extraordinary bearing and open mind.

In the twenty-ninth year of Kaiyuan (741), Du Fu ended his roaming career and returned to Luoyang. He built an earthen chamber in Luhunzhuang at the foot of Shouyang Mountain in the northwest of Yanshi County, and lived here for several years.During this period, he married Si Nongqing Yang Yi'er.After marriage, the husband and wife are deeply in love with each other, and they have experienced decades of ups and downs.His wife, Mrs. Yang, has been accompanying Du Fu through the course of his life. At the turn of spring and summer in the third year of Tianbao (744), Du Fu met Li Bai, a great poet who was bestowed by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty, in Dongdu.The two fell in love at first sight, contrary to the age-old bad habit of literati, they talked with each other heart-to-heart, feeling like they hated seeing each other later.In the autumn of the same year, Li Bai and Du Fu traveled together in Liang (now Kaifeng) and Song (now Shangqiu area), and met the poet Gao Shi.The three of them climbed onto the piano stage of Shanfu (now in the south of Shanxian County, Shandong Province), feeling deeply moved and feeling nostalgic for the past.Then they went to Liangyuan (now Kaifeng, Henan) restaurant to drink happily, compose impromptu poems, and give pointers to the country.Soon, Du Fu separated from Li Bai and Gao Shi. Li Bai went south to Jiangdong, Gao Shi returned to Liang and Song Dynasties, and Du Fu planned to go west to Chang'an.Du Fu and Li Bai bid farewell to each other, but since then they have been separated and have never seen each other again.

In the fifth year of Tianbao (746), Du Fu came to Chang'an, where he was always dreaming.I hope to obtain an official position by taking the imperial examination.The prime minister in power at this time was Li Linfu, who was known for his jealousy, insidiousness and treachery. Beginning with Emperor Taizong Li Shimin in the Tang Dynasty, there was a way for the emperor to interview and select scholars, and gradually formed a system.In the sixth year of Tianbao (747), Xuanzong followed the ancestral system and issued an edict to "seek a wide range of scholars from all over the world, and all those who have mastered one skill or more are all in harmony with the capital" to take the exam.Prime Minister Li Linfu was worried that the scholars would expose their greed for power and lawlessness during the interview, and wanted to block the world's speech, so he said to Xuanzong: "These people are poor and lowly scholars, and they don't know taboos. Let the Chief of the Minister of Ministers test them." It is suggested that the chiefs of the counties and counties first conduct a primary selection and eliminate them, and then the chief of the Minister of Ministers will try to ask them.Du Fu also took the exam.After Li Linfu's careful arrangement, none of the candidates passed.Such a nationwide public recruitment examination, unexpectedly no one passed.When the news came out, the government and the public were shaken, and the public opinion was in an uproar. However, Li Linfu reported to congratulate him, saying that his politics was clear and bright, and "there are no sages left in the wild."As a result, Du Fu encountered a second setback in his official career.

Since then, Du Fu's life has become increasingly impoverished, "selling medicine in the city, sending food to friends", often suffering from hunger and cold.Du Ji, his grandson, lived in the southern suburbs of Chang'an at that time, and Du Fu often had the audacity to fight the autumn wind.Du Ji's life is not rich, and he is very unhappy with Du Fu's old age.He didn't say anything on the surface, but when he dug well water to wash rice, he deliberately swung the bucket; when he went to pick vegetables in the garden, he just picked them randomly.Du Fu was deeply moved by this.In order to survive, he had to let go of his arrogance, and wrote poems to some dignitaries, stating his predicament, and explicitly or secretly asking for their support, but to no avail.So he wanted to follow the example of Yang Xiong and Sima Xiangru in the Han Dynasty and seek official positions by offering gifts.

In the first month of the tenth year of Tianbao (751), Xuanzong held a grand ceremony to offer sacrifices to Emperor Xuanyuan (Lao Tzu), Taimiao (the ancestral temple of the Li and Tang royal families), and heaven and earth.Du Fu took the opportunity to present the "Three Rites and Fu", which was finally appreciated by Xuanzong. The edict was written by Li Linfu, and Du Fu's essays were tested in Jixianyuan, waiting for the appointment of the court.This is four years.It was not until the 14th year of Tianbao (755) that a small official of Hexi Wei was added. The official rank of the county lieutenant was Cong Jiupin, who was in charge of public security in a county.This is a small official who is in charge of the armored weapons of the capital and the door locks. His official rank is from the eighth rank, slightly higher than the county lieutenant.Du Fu couldn't laugh or cry. After ten years of running around, he only got this humble post.But due to livelihood, he had no choice but to give in.Even such a small official, he didn't work for a few days.

When the Anshi Rebellion broke out, Du Fu was going home to visit relatives, and was reunited with his family in Fengxian.Du Fu first took his wife and children from Fengxian to Sanchuan to the north, and arrived in Fuzhou (now Fuxian County, northern Shaanxi). Hearing the news that Suzong had ascended the throne in Lingwu, he planned to go for refuge.But it was inconvenient for the whole family to move around, so Du Fu arranged for the family members and rushed to Lingwu alone.He first came to Yanzhou (now Yan'an, Shaanxi), and stopped at Xiaohe (later renamed Du Fuchuan) seven miles south of the city. On the way from Yanzhou to Lingwu, he was captured by Anshi's rebel army and escorted back to Chang'an.

After the catastrophe, Chang'an was devastated and in a mess.The rebels looted everywhere and killed innocent people indiscriminately, and the city was filled with the smell of blood all the time.Du Fu witnessed the face of Chang'an after the enemy's occupation, and wrote a series of masterpieces of "poetic history". "Spring Hope" was written during this period: "The country is broken and the mountains and rivers are there, and the city is full of spring vegetation. I feel the flowers splashing tears, and the birds are frightened. , full of desires and hairpins." There are not only purely personal feelings, but also a breath that is connected with the times. In the first month of the second year of Zhide (757), the rebels in Luoyang had internal strife.An Lushan was murdered by his son An Qingxu conspiring with Yan Zhuang and Li Zhuer.When the news came, the hearts of the people in Chang'an City were floating.In February of this year, Emperor Suzong entered Fengxiang, and the situation changed dramatically, and the rebels began to be in a disadvantageous position.Many Tang officials who were detained in Luoyang took the opportunity to escape, and some absconded back to Chang'an, bringing the latest news.As a result, people in Chang'an City defected to Fengxiang one after another.Du Fu also decided to run away. He came to Dayun Temple in Huaiyuanfang, where Monk Zan Gong, the master of the temple, gave him coils and clothes.After putting on makeup, Du Fu sneaked out of the Golden Light Gate and went straight to Fengxiang. After going through untold hardships, Du Fu finally met Suzong in Fengxiang, "seeing the emperor in hemp shoes, with elbows exposed in his sleeves", looking quite embarrassed.Suzong appointed him Zuo Shiyi.Zuo Shiyi was an admonishing official who gave advice on the emperor's political affairs. His official rank was from the eighth rank. Although the official rank was low, he belonged to the so-called "close ministers".Suzong also wrote in the official letter: "Du Fu in Xiangyang, I know your talents and virtues very well." At that time, Du Fu had been an official for less than a year. It is very exciting to be able to serve as an admonisher equivalent to the emperor's close minister.He was grateful for the great grace of the emperor, and he devoted himself to the great cause of ZTE without even asking for leave to visit his family. However, he was involved in the Fangguan incident less than a month after taking office. Fang Guan, courtesy name Cilu, was born in Henan, the fifth-generation grandson of the famous official Fang Xuanling, whose father Fang Rong was the Prime Minister of Empress Wu Zetian.Fang Guan studied in Yiyang Mountain in Luhun for more than ten years when he was young, and he was a "commoner friend" with Du Fu. Xiong Baotai from the Qing Dynasty wrote in his poem "Du Fu": "Who knows the history of Qianqiu's poetry? Fang and Du are in deep trouble together." From this It can be seen that the relationship between Fang Guan and Du Fu is extraordinary.When Fang Guan was a magistrate, he was able to eradicate violence and bring peace to the people, and there were many unrequited loves wherever he went.After the outbreak of the Anshi Rebellion, Xuanzong was fortunate to Shu, and Fang Guan chased after him. He was worshiped as the Minister of the Ministry of Culture on the same day, and made peace with Zhongshu.Fang Xuanling, Fang Rong, and Fang Guan are the famous "Three Prime Ministers of the Five Dynasties" of the Fang family in history. In August of the first year of Zhide (756), when Xuanzong heard that Suzong had ascended the throne in Lingwu, he sent prime ministers Wei Jiansu and Fang Guan to Lingwu to canonize Suzong.Su Zongji hated Wei Jiansu for being attached to Yang Guozhong, so he was quite indifferent to him, but deliberately treated Fang Guan with humility.After Fang Guan met Suzong, he talked about state affairs and was impassioned. Suzong was greatly moved. Afterwards, he discussed with Fang Guan more about military and state affairs. Fang Guan likes to receive guests and is good at discussing. He recommends and promotes well-known people in many ways, but he is contemptuous and vulgar, and most of the officials are dissatisfied with him.At that time, Beihai prefect He Lanjinming came to Lingwu to meet Suzong.He Lan Jinming once supported Zhang Xun and Xu Yuan when they were guarding Suiyang, and he would not save him if he died, but such a person was able to gain Suzong's trust and entrust him with a heavy responsibility.He Lanjinming and Fang Guan used to be political enemies, so they took advantage of the contradiction between Xuanzong and Suzong's father and son to sow discord, and framed Fang Guan, saying: "Jin used Wang Yan as the Sangong, advocating superficiality, so that the Central Plains were sloppy. Today, Fang Guan only It is a pedantic statement and a false name, and the people who quote it are all pompous people, no different from Wang Yan. Your Majesty's use of Guan as Prime Minister is probably not a blessing for the country. Besides, Fang Guan is assisting the emperor in Chengdu, so that Your Majesty and the kings will be divided Leading the various ways to control, and placing your majesty in the empty land of Shasai, and spreading his private party among the various ways, so that he can rule the great power. The intention is that no matter which son of the emperor wins the world, he will not lose his wealth. Is this what a loyal minister should do? What did you do?" It means that Fang Guan is a grasshopper, who is loyal to Xuanzong and also serves Suzong.From then on, Suzong began to distance himself from Fang Guan. Seeing that he was losing power, Fang Guan wanted to win Suzong's trust by making extraordinary achievements, so he took the initiative to request to lead an army to recover Chang'an Luoyang from the rebels.Suzong agreed.Fang Guan didn't understand military affairs, so he appointed Li Yi, the servant of the household department, as the marching commander, and Liu Zhi as the staff officer. All military affairs were entrusted to Li and Liu.Before dispatching troops, Fang Guan said boldly: "Although there are many rebels dragging down the river (hu dialect, which means a strong man), they can surely defeat Liu Zhi!" In October of the first year of Zhide (756), Fangguan’s troops were divided into three groups: the southern army led by the general Yang Xiwen, marching from Yishou (now Zhouzhi, Shaanxi); Liu Guizhe led the central army, marching from Wugong; Li Guangjin led the northern army, marching from Fengtian (now Qianxian County, Shaanxi Province) marched.Fang Guan himself led the central army as a forward.Fang Guan first encountered the rebel general An Shouzhong in Chen Taozhen (now east of Xianyang, Shaanxi).Fang Guan imitated the art of war in ancient books, using chariots in formation, with two thousand ox carts riding between them.The rebels clamored along with the wind, and the cattle were frightened. The rebels set fire to them again, and the people and animals were in chaos. More than 40,000 people were killed and injured by the Tang army, and only a few thousand survived. Later, Fang Guan led the southern army to fight against the rebels, but was defeated again. Tang generals Yang Xiwen and Liu Guizhe surrendered to the rebels.When Suzong heard that Fang Guan was defeated, he was furious. Fortunately, Li Mi interceded for him and saved his life.But after Fang Guan was defeated, he felt ashamed to see others, and often complained that he was sick and refused to go to court. Every day, he only talked about Sakyamuni and Lao Tzu with his concubine Liu Zhi and the advising doctor Li Yi, or listened to Dong Tinglan's drum and piano.Soon, a censor impeached Dong Tinglan for bribery. Suzong took the opportunity to dismiss Fang Guan and demote him to be a junior teacher of the prince, which was actually a idle job. The ups and downs of Fang Guan's official career are also related to the fate of his close friend Du Fu.As the saying goes, all prosperity and all losses, Du Fu immediately went to the rescue, saying that Fang Guan "seldom established himself, but later became a mellow Confucian and a minister." free minister".Su Zongzheng hated Fang Guan, and immediately vented his anger on Du Fu, and immediately ordered Du Fu to be arrested and interrogated.Fortunately, the new prime minister Zhang Hao and the censor Wei Zhi came forward and said: "Although Du Fu's remarks are arrogant, they are still in general." A paper ink system was made, and Du Fu was sent back to Fuzhou (now Fuxian County, Shaanxi Province) to visit relatives. During Du Fu's visit to relatives, Guo Ziyi led the Tang army and Huihe cavalry to recover Chang'an in September and Luoyang in October. Suzong also returned to Chang'an. In November, Du Fu returned to Chang'an with his family. Originally, Du Fu was sensitively aware of Suzong’s estrangement towards him when he returned to visit his relatives, but he may not have realized that Fang Guan, who had been left idle, was still a thorn in Suzong’s side, let alone aware of Suzong and his confidant Li Fuguo, etc. People are weaving the so-called "house party".Before long, Zhang Hao was demoted to governor of Jingzhou Dadu, Fang Guan was demoted to governor of Binzhou (now Binxian County, Shaanxi Province), and Liu Zhi, the son of Guojiu who had a good friend with Fang Guan, was demoted to governor of Langzhou (now Langzhong, Sichuan Province). Jing Zhaoshao Yin Yanwu was demoted to be the governor of Bazhou (now Bazhong, Sichuan), the monk Zangong, the abbot of Dayun Temple, was also exiled to Qinzhou, and Du Fu was demoted to Huazhou (now Huayin, Shaanxi) to join the army and take charge of local cultural and educational affairs.Fang Guan was later relegated to the newly established Cixi County as the county magistrate, thus becoming the first county magistrate in the history of Cixi County. Du Fu was in a sad mood when he left the capital, but he still swallowed his anger, did not dare to complain about the emperor, and still had nostalgia for the court.In the depths of his heart, many contradictions are entangled and writhed, which is also a common problem of great talents in the feudal era.This is true of Li Bai and Du Fu. In the autumn of the second year of Qianyuan (759), there was a great famine in Guanzhong.Due to his humble official position, Du Fu was helpless, so he simply abandoned his official position and moved his family to Qinzhou (now Tianshui, Gansu Province).Du Fu's life was very difficult when he lived in Qinzhou.So he sent a poem to his nephew Du Zuo, hoping to get some rice and vegetables in exchange.The hermit Ruan Fang was his new friend who once gave him thirty bunches of leeks.Monk Zangong, the former abbot of Dayun Temple who was relegated to live here, also took him to Nanshan Xiangdi to see the site and plan to build a residence, but limited by funds, he failed to get his wish.So he makes a living by collecting, growing and selling medicines.Mrs. Yang also helped him dry the medicine. In October of this year, Du Fu went to Tonggu from Qinzhou again, because his nephew Du Zuo was unable to help him, and the county magistrate of Tonggu wrote a letter to welcome Du Fu at this time.Du Fu also specially wrote poems to express his gratitude.However, after arriving in Tonggu, the county magistrate was not as enthusiastic and generous as the letter said, and even refused to save him.Du Fu's family was almost desperate, living in the wilderness by picking acorns.Du Fu was only forty-eight years old this year, but his temples were already grey.After staying in Tonggu for a month, Du Fu's family couldn't live anymore, so they went south to Chengdu. The second year of Qianyuan was the most difficult time in Du Fu's life.This year of hard work was the year in which his thinking changed the most.A philosopher said: "All great changes start with the change of the soul." So this year is the year with the most fruitful creation and the highest achievement for Du Fu. At the end of the second year of Qianyuan, Du Fu's family moved to Chengdu and lived in a Caotang Temple with few monks.Caotang Temple is located by the Huanhua River in the western suburbs of Chengdu. It has a long history. It was an ancient temple in the Southern Qi Dynasty.Du Fu's family lived on "the old man offering Lumi, neighbors and garden vegetables".In the second year, with the help of relatives and friends, I started to operate thatched cottage.So far, Du Fu has a stable and comfortable home. In the first month of the first year of Baoying (762), Yan Wu, Du Fu's old friend, was promoted from the governor of Mianzhou to the Jiedu envoy who was also in charge of the eastern and western Sichuan.When Yan Wu was busy with his official duties, he often brought wine to the thatched cottage to sing with Du Fu's poems and wine.With the help of Yan Wu, the thatched cottage was expanded and renovated. In April of the same year, Suzong died and Daizong came to the throne.In July, Yan Wu was called to the imperial court. Du Fu bid farewell to him, and sent him to Mianzhou. He presented a poem to Yan Wu, saying: "In this life, the old Shu will return to Qin if he dies. If you are a public servant, you will not love yourself when you are in danger." ( "Ten Rhymes to Send Yan Gong to the Court") On the one hand, he hopes that Yan Wu will put state affairs first, and on the other hand, he also shows that he still has affection for the court and always wants to return to Chang'an. Du Fu personally sent Yan Wu to Fengji Station in Mianzhou before breaking up. Unexpectedly, Xu Zhizhi, the military envoy of Jiannan, launched a rebellion in Chengdu.Du Fu could not return to Chengdu, so he took refuge in Zizhou (now Santai, Sichuan), relying on Li, the governor of Zizhou.In August, Xu Zhizhi's rebellion was suppressed, but the turmoil did not stop, so Du Fu had to move his family to Zizhou. In the spring of the first year of Guangde (763), Du Fu heard in Zizhou that the Tang army had defeated the Anshi rebels.When the good news came, the poet was overjoyed, burst into tears, danced and danced, drinking and singing, and wrote "Wen Guanjun Takes Henan and Hebei":