When Xu Hongzu was born, it was the fifteenth year of Wanli.

Since he was a child, he didn't want to take exams, he didn't want to get ahead, he didn't want to be famous in history, he just wanted to play.

So when he grew up, Xu Hongzu, whose family was not very wealthy, wore frugal clothes, had no entourage, no guards, took dry food, went to famous mountains and rivers alone, slept in the open air, was not afraid of hardship, was not afraid of starvation, and only returned home once a year, just to climb.

He left home at the age of 20, wearing cloth clothes, no government support, no friends to help, alone, traveled the world for more than 20 years, he has been to the places, including Huguang, Sichuan, Liaodong, Northwest, to put it simply, the country's thirteen provinces, all visited.

The mountains he has climbed, including Mount Tai, Mount Hua, Mount Heng, Mount Song, Mount Zhongnan, Mount Emei, simply put, he has been to what you have heard, and he has also been to what you have not heard.

In addition, the Yellow River, the Yangtze River, Dongting Lake, Poyang Lake, Jinsha River, Han River, almost all rivers and lakes, all traveled.

In the fourteenth year of Chongzhen (1641), Xu Hongzu died of a serious illness at the age of fifty-four.

The notes he left behind, it is said that there are more than 2 million words in total, but unfortunately they have not been preserved, and the remaining part, about hundreds of thousands of words, has been compiled into "Xu Xiake's Travels" by later generations.

In this book, the details of the mountains and rivers of the motherland are recorded, involving geography, water conservancy, landforms, etc., and it is known as the greatest geographical work of the 17th century, translated into dozens of Chinese languages and circulated around the world.

Okay, the summary should come out, this is the story of a great geographer, who traveled around in order to study geography and made outstanding contributions to the development of geography, which is the pride of the Chinese nation.

Is that so?

No.

In fact, to tell the story of this man, I only want to explore one question, why did he do this.

No funding, no recognition (at least not during life), no interests, no future, giving up everything, spending a lifetime, just to travel?

For what exactly?

Xu Xiake said before his death:

"Zhang Qian in the Han Dynasty, Xuanzang in the Tang Dynasty, and Yelu Chucai in the Yuan Dynasty, they all traveled the world, however, they all accepted the emperor's orders and were ordered to go to the four directions."

"I am just a civilian, I have not been ordered, I am just wearing cloth clothes, holding crutches, wearing straw sandals, and I have traveled the world by myself, so although I die, I have no regrets."

That's right, what I'm going to talk about, it's in this story.

I'm sure many people will ask, what did you say?

Previously, I have talked about many things, many ups and downs, many princes and generals, many helpless changes, and many changes, but this thing, in my personal opinion, is the most important.

Because I want to tell you, the so-called hegemony of the ages, the eternal success, and everything else, is just dung. First it becomes dung, then it becomes dirt.

The last thing I'm talking about, it's beyond all of the above, at least in my opinion.

But this thing, I thought about it for a long time, and I couldn't express it in accurate words. But in the end, I found this sentence in a humble and worthless book.

Yes, this is what I want to say, this is what I want to express through Xu Xiake, enough to despise all princes and generals, the most perfect conclusion:

There is only one success - to live life in your own way!

……

……

There is only one success - and that is to live life in your own way!

When this last sentence flowed from the tip of the pen, a feeling of emptiness suddenly swelled in Gowen's heart.

It's done!

"Those Things in the Ming Dynasty" is finally finished!

All the circumstances that came to mind about the creation of this book came to mind.

Be in high spirits when deciding on the topic of your writing.

The first time I put pen to paper, it was empty.

In order to buy Ming Dynasty materials, I ran all over Beijing out of breath.

When encountering two historical books that contradict each other and conflict with each other, the six gods have no master.

For the first time, I learned about the excitement of the heroes when they were shining brightly from historical materials.

Write about the hands dancing when it rises.

The grandeur of the reverie is intense.

……

It all ended today!

The drama began to come to an end.

The rousing music also drew a break.

The entire theater is closed, leaving only the lingering echoes and colorful images that will be unforgettable for a long time.

Looking at the thick manuscript paper in front of him, which was densely filled with words, Govin let out a sigh of relief, and then a smile of satisfaction and abundance appeared on his face.

This time the historic cruise ship has docked.

But the next flight of the literal dream is already waiting at the airport, waiting for its departure!

Putting the manuscripts on the table in order, Govin walked out of the study with a hint of ease and a hint of satisfaction.

The sun was shining outside the study, and although it was winter, there was not a hint of cold wind.

In the courtyard stood a few young people chatting. When one of them saw Govin come out, his eyes lit up suddenly, and then he stopped what he was saying, and asked Govin loudly, "Govin, are you done writing?" ”

Hearing his words, several young people also turned around. Some people rushed out of the wings on the east and west sides.

There are Gu Cheng, Haizi, Li Xingmin, Jin Guantao, Long Shao, Chen Danqing, Shu Ting, Ning Suxin, He Yong, Zhang Ju......

Everyone looked at Govyn, at the manuscript he was holding.

Govin smiled knowingly, then nodded.

The people in the whole courtyard were boiling and rushed towards Gowen.

"This last volume of 'The Fifteenth Year of Wanli' must be the most exciting!"

"That's right, I can't wait to see it!"

"I don't know how Govin will write about the fall of the Ming Dynasty......"

"It's finally over!"

"Is it over? Why are you reluctant? ”

"Don't worry, give me the manuscript, I'll read it to you!"

"Forget your broken Mandarin!"

“……”

The manuscript in his hand was taken away by Kitajima first, and then Kitajima's footsteps did not stop at all, and rushed directly to the steps in front of the study, and then blocked the people in front of him with one hand, holding the manuscript high with the other, and shouted loudly: "Don't grab it, don't grab it, be careful to tear up the manuscript!" ”

Seeing that everyone's eyes were glowing with gold, staring greedily at the manuscript in their hands, still ready to grab the manuscript, Bei Dao couldn't help swallowing a mouthful of saliva, and hurriedly handed the manuscript in his hand to Chen Danqing in front of the crowd, and said in a somewhat embarrassed voice: "That...... According to the usual practice, it is better for Chen Danqing to read it to everyone. ”

Chen Danqing took the manuscript unrelentingly, then turned around and said loudly: "Okay, everyone go to the East Wing, let's watch the last volume of "Those Things in the Ming Dynasty" 'Wanli Fifteenth Year' together!" ”

Chen Danqing is a painter, although his ancestral home is not in Beijing, but after the intellectuals returned to their hometowns, he stayed in Beijing and taught at the Central Academy of Fine Arts. At this time, he had already made a sensation in the Chinese and foreign art circles with his 1980 "Tibetan Paintings", and became one of the top painters of the younger generation.

Soon after Ge Wen established the Courtyard Cultural Salon, Chen Danqing joined in.

Every time Gewen finished writing a volume of "Those Things in the Ming Dynasty", he had to borrow the young talents of the courtyard to find the shortcomings, and every time Gewen sent a manuscript, it would cause a crazy robbery in the courtyard, and caused several manuscripts to be torn up. The previous reciter was none other than Chen Danqing, who could speak standard Mandarin.

Seeing that the manuscript was returned to Chen Danqing's hands, everyone laughed at the monkey-anxious Beidao, and at the same time laughed and rushed into the first wing room on the east side.

There are about seven or eight rooms in a row of wings on the east side, and the construction area of each room is not large, so you can only stand on the ground and listen when you go in late, and you will be tired after a long time. Therefore, everyone is in a hurry to grab a vantage point such as a low stool on the kang or in the house.

The courtyard, which was still bustling with activity, suddenly became a little deserted.

The farce before him made Govin smile, and he did not enter the house, but walked a few steps into the middle of the courtyard, and sat down on a stone bench under the withered begonia tree.

The last volume of "Those Things in the Ming Dynasty", "The Fifteenth Year of Wanli", consumed the most effort of Gowen, containing his most life insights and all his ancient worries, after writing this volume, Gowen's mind was empty, and there was no longer any thoughts and passions. Therefore, no matter what opinions and suggestions Chen Danqing and others put forward in this last volume, I am afraid that Gowen will not be able to revise and compile it.

Today's sun is just right, there is no wind yet, and although it is a little cool to sit on the stone bench, it does not have the feeling of being in the open air in winter.

Sitting on the stone bench, Govin stretched, twisted his aching neck with his hand, and then swept his eyes around him.

Then he noticed a familiar plastic notebook on the stone table beside him.

The notebook was spread out, and on one side of the two open-air pages was a block of newspaper that was supposed to have been cut out of a newspaper.

It should be Ning Suxin's book, it seems that she is often seen taking this book and copying some text paragraphs.

Govin picked up the notebook casually.

Then his eyes were drawn to the tofu block newspaper on the left side of the notebook.

Ruffianism

Author: Li Daguang

……

How did the current heated discussion of the history of the Ming Dynasty come about?

Why did "Those Things in the Ming Dynasty" cause such a big social upsurge, and what is its essence?

I think it's just four words: "ruffians talk about history".

……

This is?

A review of "Those Things in the Ming Dynasty"?

Govin couldn't help but read this review seriously, and as soon as he read it, his chest tightened a little.

After contacting Duan Wenjie, president of the Dunhuang Academy, by phone and in the process of collecting Ming historical classics, Ge Wen already had a general understanding of China's contemporary historiography, so he knew Li Daguang's status in the historiography very well.

And the main content of the "Theory of Ruffians" in front of him turned out to be Li Daguang's criticism of "Those Things in the Ming Dynasty", which made Gowen very depressed and hurt.

The conscience of heaven and earth, he wrote "Those Things in the Ming Dynasty" sincerely, and his heart can be expressed by the sun and the moon.

Even if it is useless, you can't belittle yourself so much and denigrate "Those Things in the Ming Dynasty"!

Gowen was a little depressed and flipped through Ning Suxin's notebook.

After looking through it, Govin found that not only did this page have pasted newspaper tofu blocks, but also many previous pages.

Govin thought patiently and looked at the tofu block at the front of the notebook.

As the pages of the notebook flipped through the pages, Govyn's brow furrowed at times.

Ning Suxin should have excerpted all the comments on "Those Things in the Ming Dynasty" in the newspapers she knew.

And it should be pasted in chronological order of publication, as can be seen from the time on several review articles.

From these comments, it is clear that something can be inferred -

At first, the newspapers praised "Those Things in the Ming Dynasty" almost on the side, but slowly articles with criticism and accusations began to appear, especially when Mr. Li Daguang, a big man in the field of historiography, published "On the Ruffian", and all of a sudden positive review articles almost disappeared. Moreover, there are many old gentlemen in the field of historiography in these critical and accusatory articles.

However, after dozens of critical articles appeared in the notebook, newspaper clippings of positive comments on "Those Things in the Ming Dynasty" appeared on the notebook pages, and then the comments of criticism and praise intersected and went hand in hand, until the last blank page of the notebook.

When the last page of the newspaper clippings was also read, Govin gently closed the notebook, and his heart became a little excited, and the feeling of being a little aggrieved at first had long since disappeared.

At the end of the notebook, Govin saw a lot of very familiar names-

Gu Cheng, Bei Dao, Ning Suxin, Jin Guantao, Li Xingmin, Chen Danqing......

When the old gentlemen in the historical circles criticized and accused themselves, everyone was speaking for themselves for "Those Things in the Ming Dynasty", and they were not afraid of authority, but bravely stood up and insisted on justice and conscience in their hearts.

Does this count as your own success?

Is this saying that my efforts have always been recognized?

Could this be the echo of what you are conveying and shouting? (To be continued.) )