Chapter 4: Sophora Fragrans (IV)

“Lord Xue, you flatter me too much!”
Li Kuo smiled bitterly and shook his head. “From a country boy in the morning to a courtier in the evening—moving freely in the imperial court, manipulating affairs across the land. Who wouldn’t desire such a life? I truly don’t have such an opportunity.”
There was some truth to Li Kuo’s words. Though he was now a military commander, it still went against his original intention of entering officialdom to serve the emperor. Honestly, he preferred to serve the country from within the court.
“Oh?”
Xue Bo was clearly surprised. He had initially thought Li Kuo was at most a Confucian general who had read a few military books, never expecting him to have such lofty aspirations.
“Hehe, they say it’s better to be a leader of a hundred men than a mere scholar. General Li, by serving the country at the frontier, isn’t that more fulfilling than a poor scholar like me?”
Xue Bo found Li Kuo increasingly fascinating, and his interest grew even stronger.
With his hands behind his back, Xue Bo walked a few steps along the ridge before suddenly stopping and asking, “General Li, look at these daisies blooming proudly all over the mountains. What do they lack the most?”
Li Kuo hadn’t expected such a strange question. After thinking for a moment, he replied, “Water, I suppose.”
“Exactly. No matter how beautiful the chrysanthemums are, without the nourishment of rain and the warmth of sunlight, they will wither. If these chrysanthemums on the ridge lack snowmelt, one day they will turn into a cracked, lifeless wasteland, no longer as vibrant as before!”
His words were cryptic and meaningful. Hearing this, Li Kuo was shocked—it seemed Ni Xin’s guess was correct!
Seeing Li Kuo’s expression change, Xue Bo felt pleased and continued, “General Li, do you know Lord Jiyi?” (Note 1)
Li Kuo nodded slightly. “Ji Zhongsan’s fame is well-known. Though I am humble and unlearned, I do know a bit about his deeds. True scholars like him have become even rarer since the Wei and Jin dynasties.”
“You’re wrong. True scholars have existed in every dynasty, and their number only increases! Do you think there were no true scholars during the Southern and Northern Dynasties? Or in our dynasty? It’s just that true scholars are not popular. Neither emperors nor local lords like those who put on airs.”
These words were rather extreme, especially coming from Xue Bo, who was well-educated and a graduate of the imperial examinations. After all, throughout history, scholars had always been role models for those who aspired to serve the country. If one couldn’t enter officialdom, retreating to the mountains to cultivate virtue was still a good choice.
“I know what you’re trying to say—Taibai?”

Xue Bo snorted coldly and said, “Although Li Bai enjoyed great favor, he was arrogant because of his talent. In the end, all his wealth was spent and he could never get it back. What is talent? It’s nothing but a tool for others to amuse themselves with. Do you think writing a good poem can save the world and bring peace to the people? His Majesty the Emperor is already a sage ruler as rare as those in past dynasties, comparable to Yao and Shun, yet even he couldn’t tolerate Li Bai’s arrogance. Do you know why? It’s because his back was held too straight!”
Li Kuo was shocked and about to retort.
But Xue Bo spoke first, “Then there’s Ji Kang. His grand theories of ‘transcending moral conventions and following nature’ and ‘understanding hierarchy and empathizing with all beings’ are nothing but self-deceiving illusions! Do you think he didn’t want to wear a purple robe and bring honor to his family? Ji Zhongsan just couldn’t bear to lose face! By marrying a woman from the Cao Wei family, he naturally became a loyal supporter of them. If we really want to blame someone, it’s only that he chose the wrong side!”
Hearing him speak more and more harshly, portraying Ji Kang in such a vile light, Li Kuo grew furious and said, “What does Lord Xue mean? Ji Zhongsan was ranked first among the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove. How many masterpieces has he left behind? How could someone so revered by scholars be described in such a negative light?”
“Revered? Revered for his arrogance? Revered for his calm acceptance of death? ‘The Guangling San is lost forever.’ He spoke those words with ease, but did he ever repay the three thousand students who pleaded for him? Did he ever consider his wife and children? They say the scholars of the Wei and Jin dynasties were true literati, yet they cursed themselves in self-mockery! If true freedom from worldly ties were possible, why would Ruan Ji cry in despair? Do you really think it’s so hard to find a true friend?”
“This… this…”
Li Kuo was speechless for a moment. His opponent clearly had prepared well, and he couldn’t think of any words to refute him.
Could what he said all be true? No, that’s impossible!
“I believe General Li is a smart man. He surely wouldn’t want to be such a ‘true literati.’ After all, why live if not to gain fame and provide for one’s family? I’m not trying to dampen your spirits, but given General Li’s current status, it might be difficult for him to rise any higher.”
Seeing the moment was ripe, Xue Bo pointed out the true purpose of this chrysanthemum-viewing outing bluntly.
“Lord Xue, if you have anything to say, please speak plainly. I’m ready to listen.”
Li Kuo sighed deeply and smiled bitterly.
“Good! I like General Li’s straightforwardness!”
After a brief pause, Xue Bo lowered his voice and said, “If I’m not mistaken, General Li once held the nominal position of guest to the crown prince, right?”
Boom!
Although Xue Bo’s voice was very low, it sounded like a thunderbolt to Li Kuo.
He was indeed a persuader, and one sent by the crown prince!

Of course, he remembered holding the nominal position of Guest of the Crown Prince—in fact, it was his first significant official role when he first entered the court. Back then, at most he would occasionally accompany Prince Guangping in studying and practicing calligraphy; he had no close relationship with the Crown Prince at all.
Of course, in the eyes of the world, he already seemed to belong to the Eastern Palace…
In truth, Li Kuo had also considered joining the Eastern Palace as a minister. But the incident of being ambushed by Gao Xiuyan and Li Linfu at the Crown Prince’s private residence was still fresh in his mind. The Crown Prince’s cowardice and lack of gratitude had deeply disappointed Li Kuo.
The feeling of betrayal was blatant, and the pain was searing. He had been abandoned by the Crown Prince—abandoned without hesitation. Was such a person still worth following and risking one’s life for?
“If General Li has forgotten, I might as well remind him. General Li must be carrying an identification badge from the Eastern Palace, right? The Crown Prince only has ten such badges in total. Giving one to a general must mean great expectations, right?”
Seeing Li Kuo lost in thought, Xue Bo grew even more pleased. After a brief pause, he said with a smile, “You are now guarding the borders to defend the country. Your mother and wife still live in Chang’an. The Crown Prince is kind-hearted and often sends people to visit and take care of them. But after all, people are mortal and may fall ill. If they contract serious diseases because of your stubbornness and pass away, I doubt that’s what General Li wants to see.”
Note 1: Shuye refers to Ji Kang, a famous master from the Three Kingdoms period and the leader of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove. He was executed by Sima Zhao for refusing to submit to the puppet state of Western Jin.