, "Ode to the Winter Pine," was completed, resonating with Dao Yun.

Liang Shanbo's conversation was deeply meaningful.

His goal today was to gain the favor of Xie Xuan and even Xie Daoyun, so that they would be willing to recruit him, a man from a humble background. Therefore, his philosophical discussions needed to be conducted from the perspective of a man from a poor family, but he did not lose his composure.

He intentionally portrayed himself as a man from a poor family using history to justify his beliefs with composure and restraint.

Xie Daoyun's two questions, "Can the materials reach the craftsmen?" and "Do the craftsmen dare to bear the consequences?", are soul-searching questions for idealists.

His answer was powerful.

He didn't say "how we should do it," but rather "how others have done it in history, so this path works." This is grounded idealism, not empty slogans. His answer is supported by specific historical anecdotes: Zhu Maichen carried firewood to study, Ni Kuan used a hoe to carry scriptures, Fu Yue was promoted from construction work, and Jiang Shang returned home carrying loads.

He was challenging a deeply ingrained logic of realism. And this spirit was necessary for him, who wanted to rise against the powerful clans of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

He accepted Xie Daoyun's interrogation instead of avoiding it, just like a pine tree that still stands tall after being interrogated by reality!

Meng Wenlang observed quietly and deeply understood his disciple Liang Shanbo's intentions.

He was very pleased.

In his view, Liang Shanbo's conversation had already acquired some of the charm of "high-quality conversation".

The finest conversation is a means to an end. Liang Shanbo's conversation here is not the goal, but a means to persuade powerful and wealthy people to "recruit" him, a man from a humble background. He is using this method to gain their appreciation and recruitment.

……

……

The discussion has ended.

From behind the blue silk curtain, Xie Daoyun's clear, melodious voice once again rang out, like autumn water flowing over stone steps, each word carrying its own verse: "Liang Shanbo, Mr. Meng once sent me your poems and essays, which I have read in their entirety. Your poems, with landscapes as their foundation and profound principles as their spirit, are quite remarkable. Now that we have the opportunity to meet, I would like to ask you to compose a poem on the spot. Would you be willing?"

Liang Shanbo faced the tent, bowed, and said, "Shanbo dares not refuse your command. Please, Madam, bestow upon me a title."

Xie Daoyun said, "Wansong Academy is named after pine trees. Just now you mentioned that 'pine wood is tough and can be used for beams and rafters,' and 'to abandon the pine and cypress trees of poor families in secluded valleys is not only a misfortune for the poor families, but also a misfortune for the court.' So please compose a poem about pine trees. Four-character, five-character, or mixed-style poems are all acceptable. The time limit is one incense stick."

She continued, "However, I imagine you may have some old poems about pine trees. Today's poem must be one you've never written before, composed on the spot. Mr. Meng is right here, so if you try to pass off an old poem that Mr. Meng has seen, you won't be able to fool him."

Liang Shanbo said, "I have never composed a poem about pine trees before. I must have composed it on the spot today, and I dare not lie."

Immediately after consulting Xie Daoyun and Xie Xuan, Liang Shanbo got up and went to a room next door to ponder the verses. Meanwhile, in the quiet cottage, Meng Wenlang and the Xie siblings were also busy, continuing their old conversations, but this time, they talked mostly about Liang Shanbo.

Liang Shanbo sat down in the next room, closed his eyes slightly, and quickly made a plan in his mind.

This poem about the pine tree should not merely describe its appearance, but also its character. This character should resonate with the previous discussion, serving as a continuation of it, and should be consistent with the overall meaning of today's examination. The previous discussion used reasoning; this poem, however, should use imagery.

He only stayed for a short while before getting up and returning to his quiet retreat.

Seeing that he had returned so quickly, Xie Xuan raised an eyebrow slightly: "You've already composed a poem in such a short time?"

Liang Shanbo replied, "Yes, I already have one."

Inside the quiet room was a low desk with writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on it.

Liang Shanbo knelt down behind his desk, picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, concentrated for a moment, and calmly began to write.

The pen tip dances across the paper, the handwriting as always, clear and upright, with strong strokes, the strength contained within a gentle warmth.

Mr. Meng once remarked that Liang Shanbo's calligraphy reflected his personality on several occasions.

Soon, a poem was written, and it read on the paper:

Ode to the Winter Pine

Tall branches brush against the layered sky, dense leaves obscure the heavens.

A strong wind reveals its resilience, and snow reveals its steadfast heart.

This poem was originally the representative work of Fan Yun, a writer and minister during the Southern Qi and Liang dynasties. In Liang Shanbo's previous life, this poem was written only about a hundred years later.

After finishing writing, Liang Shanbo put the pen down by the inkstone, blew on the ink on the paper, and then held the manuscript in both hands and presented it to Xie Xuan.

Xie Xuan took the poem manuscript but didn't rush to read it. Instead, he stood up, walked to the blue silk curtain, bowed slightly, and handed the manuscript inside, saying, "Elder sister, please read it first."

This small detail demonstrates his respect for his elder sister, Xie Daoyun.

Xie Daoyun took the poem manuscript, lowered her head, and read it several times from beginning to end.

She read it over and over again, even though it was only twenty characters long. The first time she read it, she looked at the wording; the second time, she looked at the meaning; and the third time, she looked at the style and spirit.

Then, she handed the poem to Qingxiao behind her.

Qingxiao gracefully emerged from behind the curtain, her skirt trailing on the ground, and presented the poem to Xie Xuan.

Xie Xuan took the poem manuscript again and read it carefully several times, faster than Xie Daoyun. After reading it, he handed the manuscript to Meng Wenlang.

Meng Wenlang took it and examined it carefully several times before nodding slightly. This nod conveyed a hint of approval.

Xie Xuan didn't rush to comment, but turned to the blue silk curtain and asked, "What does elder sister think of this poem?"

From behind the tent came Xie Daoyun's calm voice: "The first two lines of this poem concisely describe the pine's loftiness, while the last two lines reveal its character, its steadfastness shining even brighter in the wind and snow. The four words 'vigorous integrity' and 'unwavering heart' are truly extraordinary."

That's all the praise I could offer.

In fact, the poem deeply moved her.

As a talented woman who writes poems about willow catkins, she greatly admired the poem's "expressing one's feelings through objects" style, and even associated the poem with herself.

Despite her noble birth and renowned talent, her marriage was an unfortunate affair. Her husband, Wang Ningzhi, was a mediocre and incompetent follower of the Taoist sect of Five Pecks of Rice. Her pride and resentment were somewhat similar to that of a pine tree standing tall in the snow. Just as the pine tree stands firm in the snow, she stood firm in her unhappy marriage; both embodied the virtue of "bearing snow to reveal one's chastity."

This resonance was genuine, but she couldn't easily express her feelings, so she suppressed her love for the poem, turning it into just two simple words of praise, leaving it at that.

But Xie Xuan knew that for his elder sister to praise the poem like that was enough to show that she liked it.

Xie Xuan looked at Liang Shanbo, smiled slightly, and said, "This poem has a vigorous and upright style, embodying the spirit of the pine tree. The four characters 'riding the wind' and 'bearing the snow' convey a sense of generosity. Excellent."

This poem also moved him.

The poem contains not a trace of gentleness, but only strength and vigor. The phrases "riding the wind" and "carrying the snow" subtly reflect the spirit of a military general who is not afraid of difficulties and becomes stronger with each setback.

Although Xie Xuan came from a noble family, he was not a spoiled brat who could enjoy the fruits of others' labor. He harbored a grand ambition to launch a northern expedition, and his greatest aspiration in life was to achieve great deeds on the battlefield. He was waiting for his opportunity, and the "unwavering heart seen in the wind and snow" in this poem was precisely the kind of composure he needed.

Meng Wenlang sat to the side, watching all this, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

Outside the window, the sound of the pine trees rustling in waves surged forth.