Editor's Note: The original text of this article has been deleted.
Author: Zheng Zheng
Uncle Du Fu:
Hello!
I am a high school science student wearing a disguise. I love the literature of the prosperous Tang Dynasty, the heroic frontier poetry that expands the territory, and the romantic feelings of drinking wine. However, your "Du Fu's Diary" makes me angry as soon as I read it, full of negative energy. It has been several years, and I can't hold it in anymore. Unfortunately, you are an ancient person, and even if I wanted to criticize you, I couldn't find your remains. I have been enduring it, enduring it, enduring it like this. Just now, I read a letter written by a high school science student in Wuhan to the writer Fang Fang, and it inspired me, made my blood boil. I decided to learn from him and vent my long-suppressed anger.
The country is unfortunate, but the poets are fortunate. During the An Lushan Rebellion, when the country was in crisis, you did not have a long whip in your hand, shedding blood on the battlefield. Instead, you took the empire's salary and became a self-media account, tirelessly pursuing your dream of being a "poet saint" and building your own reputation. You succeeded, you are the biggest winner in the midst of the national crisis.
I am filled with sorrow and anger, even more so than Sima Qian's humiliation in the palace. I don't want to talk to you with my buttocks, I want to speak to you with my chest, like a man, openly criticizing you. I won't be so uncultured as to teach you about men and women. I won't curse you maliciously, I want to openly bombard you like a cannon, like a young Red Guard.
[One]
Uncle Du Fu, you are a cunning writer, you slander our great Tang Dynasty. Before you went to Tongguan and other places before 759 AD, what were you? Li Bai was much better than you, you are not even worthy to shine his shoes, why should you be compared to him in the future? Before this, among the poets in the Tang Dynasty, you were nothing special. You were just an ordinary poet, an ordinary cadre who couldn't even flatter the emperor properly. The reason why you became famous and left a mark on Chinese literary history for 1200 years is because you wrote "Three Farewells" and "Three Officials".
The three farewells are "Farewell to the Newlyweds," "Farewell to Old Age," and "Farewell to Homelessness."
The three officials are "The Official of Xin'an," "The Official of Tongguan," and "The Official of Shihao."
These are the "Du Fu's Diary" you wrote during the national crisis. This is the ironclad evidence of your ulterior motives.
Your "The Official of Shihao" was included in our high school textbook. It is about a great elderly couple in Shihao, Shaanxi, whose three sons all went to the front lines during the national crisis and ended up in Shandong. It may not seem far today, but at that time, it was very far, because the command system was temporarily dysfunctional. Two of the three sons died, and one remained in the army. The front lines still needed reinforcements, so the old grandfather left, leaving only the old grandmother behind.
That night, you, Du Fu, stayed at their house and witnessed everything. You saw the comrades who came to recruit soldiers, and you heard the old grandmother's heartfelt confession. There were also moments of sadness and crying. You heard it all. She said, "I, this old woman, want to join the army as a cook and serve the country with my last loyalty." But what did you write?
After daybreak, the old grandmother left with the comrades who came to recruit soldiers. The old grandfather also returned from outside the wall. You bid farewell to the old grandfather and wrote this "The Official of Shihao".
I read it, and it was really disheartening. So disheartening. You didn't portray the old grandmother's enlistment as a heroic sacrifice, you didn't depict this heroic family as the indomitable people of the country. You wrote her image so lowly. It's as if the comrades who came to recruit soldiers were the claws of the country, the incarnation of demons, and the embodiment of mediocrity.
Many years have passed. When we walk in Xi'an, reminiscing about the great prosperous era, there are always people who jump out and say that it was not a prosperous era, look at the truth revealed by eyewitness Du Fu. It makes us confused. The Tang Empire went through a difficult period, experienced setbacks, and had lessons learned. It paused for a while, but when we look at the entire Tang Dynasty, can flaws hide its brilliance?
Uncle Du Fu, are you ashamed under the nine springs? Think about it, who are you really writing for?
[Two]
Uncle Du Fu, you are immature, you are ignorant. I can't say that you are not patriotic, that you are not loyal to the Tang Dynasty, but your understanding and worldview are flawed. You don't realize that you have tarnished the image of the Tang Dynasty, hindered the cohesion of consensus within, and provided ammunition for hostile forces to attack our Tang Dynasty. It's a pity. I feel angry, resentful, and pitiful towards you.
You didn't understand how this national crisis came about, you didn't consider An Lushan and Shi Siming, these traitors worse than animals, as the source of evil. Instead, you insinuated and attributed the root of the war to the emperor's excessive military spending. You always find fault. Even when the mountain flowers are in full bloom and the military bugles are blowing everywhere, you only remember the scenes of desolation.
Your writing is too negative, you didn't encourage the people of the present, nor did you leave behind a true history for future generations. As a poet, you are unworthy of this prosperous Tang Dynasty. As a recorder of the era, you have let down this great era. You even acted like that hot-tempered female doctor in the future, "I will tell everyone everywhere," equating yourself with the common people. I am very disappointed.
Of course, your diary written in the Shihao of Shaanxi may not be fabricated. Perhaps, the version I just mentioned is the altered false version. Even so, I still thank those who altered the truth. It's not that they are incapable of writing the truth, but they believe in essential truth, holistic truth, rather than your version of superficial truth, partial truth.
You, you see the trees but not the forest.
One leaf obstructs your vision, that's what describes you, a narrow-minded poet.
[Three]
Uncle Du Fu, your love for our Tang Empire is not deep enough. You often say that you love your country and the people, but your understanding, your worldview is problematic. You don't see the inspiring historical scenes in your words.
When the nine military governors of the Tang Empire led 200,000 soldiers to besiege the rebels, what a magnificent epic scene it was! After recapturing the capital Chang'an, Emperor Tang Ming's banners fluttered as he returned to Chang'an, and the young emperor came out of the city to greet him. Inside the capital, cadres and the masses welcomed him, cheering endlessly. This is an event that will be recorded in history.
The whole country rejoiced, but what did you see, Uncle Du Fu?
You cannot see anything positive, positive, and hopeful in your eyes. No matter how great the project is, in your eyes, it needs reflection. You deceived countless readers with your "The Official of Tongguan." At first glance, it seemed good, describing the great military project of defending against the rebels, which is good.
At a critical moment, you were on the scene, also good.
You saw our Tang soldiers building the Tongguan fortifications, good, good. This is not just a simple pass, but a magnificent fortress group, comparable to the Maginot Line and the Normandy defenses in later generations. Our soldiers guarding the pass told you, "Even birds cannot fly through the clouds. Even if the barbarians come, they will have no way back. The capital Chang'an will be safe." What a remarkable defense project, even birds cannot fly over, even if the rebels come, they will have no way back, and the capital Chang'an will be safe.
Seeing such a solid and magnificent defense project. How did you write about it in your diary? On the surface, you seemed inspired, but when you started writing, you sadly said that four years ago, Tongguan was lost, a complete defeat, soldiers turned into fish and turtles in the Yellow River, and the generals were captured by the rebels.
Will you die if you say something inspiring?
You hypocritically advised the soldiers guarding Tongguan not to follow the example of the captured general. I read it, and I really can't help but be furious. Are you the only smart one? Are you the one who never forgets the past and learns from it? Are you the only one who learns from mistakes and others are all fools? How was our Chang'an finally recaptured? Did you fight for it with your own hands?
Uncle Du Fu, I really don't want to use foul language. I endure.
[Four]
Uncle Du Fu, do you know that your diary has provided weapons and ammunition to the hostile forces that refuse to let us die? Do you know?
When the imperial army counterattacked the rebels, advancing through the darkness before dawn, you insisted on writing about their struggles.
The empire needed soldiers, young and old, after the young and strong were not enough, the elderly and even the old women were needed. After all the young and strong sacrificed themselves, the old women lay on the ground crying, with the taste of winter, standing there, while the old men threw away their walking sticks, put on military uniforms, and resolutely followed the comrades who came to recruit soldiers to the front lines. Such a blood-boiling story, and you wrote it as "Farewell to Old Age," what is your intention?
This old grandfather, with a determination to die for the country, volunteered to serve the country, and yet you wrote it as a tragic tale of hopelessness. You turned his heroic counterattack into a story of despair. You couldn't see his sense of responsibility towards the motherland.
You judged others by your own narrow-mindedness.
Uncle Du Fu, you used your talent in the wrong way. You wrote "The Official of Shihao" and "Farewell to Old Age," and now you want to write "Farewell to the Newlyweds." You are further providing reactionary material to the Tubo and Khitan, to foreign hostile forces. Without parents, without a wife, without children, those who escaped escaped, those who died of hunger died, those who were forced to hang themselves hanged themselves, those who were forced to jump into the river jumped into the river, only a single man remained, who should he bid farewell to? Why did you write such stories?
Does this single man really exist?
Even if he does exist, are you sure you have heard and recorded everything? Are you certain that this is the most advantageous way of working for the people? Have you considered the interests of the people? Can you be sure that what you are doing is beneficial to the people?
Where is your standpoint?
[Five]
Is this loyalty?
During the unfortunate years of the country, there were so many heroic and moving stories that you did not choose. Instead, you selectively chose materials that interested the hostile forces. Have you forgotten General Li Guangbi? He didn't have a decisive victory, but he had the determination to die. You know this. How did the official historians write about it during the Central Plains War? Do you know?
Let me tell you.
General Li told his soldiers, "Look at the red flag in my hand. When I wave it down three times, you must unite as one and launch a desperate attack."
The scenes in the official history were so touching.
After General Li finished speaking, he inserted a short knife into his military boots and said, "I am a minister of the country. If the battle goes against us, all the generals will die in the front lines, I will never live a life of compromise. I will definitely take my own life with a knife, so that you will not die alone, I will accompany you."
The result, you know, in this life-or-death battle, General Li defeated the enemy's generals and turned the tide.
What a great and glorious battle it was.
Uncle Du Fu, why didn't you write poetry for him? Why did you wait for future historians to write about it?
[Five]
Uncle Du Fu, you don't understand gratitude.
Your father was a local leader. Let's stop counting there, you are also a second-generation official, living a life of a young master since childhood. You don't know how to farm, you write letters to superiors to ask for positions, although it took a few years, you eventually got them. In various ways, you are a cadre. Although your position is not high, you still have privileges. You admit it yourself, you don't serve in the military, you don't pay taxes. Not only can you live off exploitation in peaceful times, but even when the people are struggling with hunger, you are much better off than the ordinary people.
You enjoy privileges and don't know gratitude. That's your problem.
Whose clothes are you wearing, whose food are you eating? Have you forgotten?
You are not a professional writer of later generations. The division of labor in the Tang Dynasty was not so developed yet. You couldn't rely on writing poetry, receiving a salary, and paying taxes to support yourself. You don't even have the qualifications of a taxpayer, you don't have the qualifications to be sentimental. You have received favors from the country, why don't you show gratitude?
After the soldiers tightened their belts and recaptured the capital, you were on the banks of the Qujiang River, writing poetry and singing with your friends, flattering each other. Occasionally, you would write about spring flowers, autumn moon, mandarin ducks, and butterflies, go to the Qujiang River to drink with people, and discuss poetry and art.
Such peaceful times, who brought them?
Did you defeat the rebels?
You don't know gratitude, but others do. And yet, you still speak cold words.
[Six]
Uncle Du Fu, you are hypocritical, seeking fame and popularity, and pleasing the crowd. In order to establish your historical status as the "Poet Saint," to be a so-called "poet of the people," you disregarded the great historical achievements of the Tang Dynasty in pacifying the chaos, and did not sing the praises of the soldiers' great indomitable spirit. You want to present yourself as a spiritually independent figure, outside of official history, outside of the "Old Book of Tang" and the "New Book of Tang," using your "Du Fu's Diary" to write a poetic version of "Du's Tang History," and even make yourself a historical figure to be biographed in both the old and new books of Tang history.
Your ambition is not small.
Are you the most talented poet in the Tang Dynasty? Not necessarily. Are those friends who wrote poetry and sang together with you in Chang'an, at the Qujiang River, the most talented? Not necessarily, right? Why don't they write poems like yours? Because their artistic views are different from yours. They love the Tang Dynasty. From ancient times to the present, have you seen any citizens who have defamed their own country?
Uncle Du Fu, you have confused the relationship between the Tang Dynasty, the Tang government, and the people. Unlike the Republican era, during the Tang Dynasty, the country, the government, and the people were unified and inseparable. If you love the people and want to be the poet of the people, you cannot defame the government, you cannot vilify the image of grassroots cadres, and maliciously provoke the relationship between cadres and the masses.
For over 1200 years, you have finally become a great "Poet Saint" in our eyes, your poetry is called "Poetic History," and you have been elevated to the heavens.
Are you satisfied, ambitious uncle?
They say history is fair, and the eyes of the people are clear. I doubt that. Otherwise, why would you ascend to the altar, your poetry recited repeatedly, and people like me who criticize you become the clowns?
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