In the famous book "Water Margin", after the imperial court summoned Song Jiang and others, they were ordered to attack another rebel army, Fang La, and finally eliminated two rebel armies in one fell swoop. This matter did exist, and the person who came up with this plan for Emperor Huizong of Song was Hou Meng, a famous minister of the Song Dynasty; but Hou Meng's early experience was very interesting.
Hou meng
Hou Meng looks extremely ugly, in his childhood was ridiculed as an "ugly ghost", the low-value Hou Meng fortunately has a low IQ, when he was a teenager, he was praised for his intelligence, and he himself also worked hard to study, hoping to get a meritorious name. But unfortunately, Hou Meng participated in several scientific expeditions in a row, but he failed to achieve fame. This caused him not only to suffer internally, but also to all kinds of external sneers. But Hou Meng was not moved, and finally at the age of 31 he was admitted to a township tribute, although it was not a prominent meritorious name, but it was better than nothing, hou Meng was also slightly happy.
"Hou Meng in the Biography of Yu Wenlong Water Margin"
But some bored people did not want to make him happy, and soon after Hou Mengkao went to the township tribute, it was the early spring of kite flying. Hou Meng also came out to relax in addition to studying, who expected Hou Meng to be surrounded by a group of idle people as soon as he came out, and quipped to him about thirty years before he was admitted to the township tribute, when he would be admitted to the jinshi. At this time, a person actually took out a kite painted with Hou Meng's ugly face and put it in the sky. After Hou Meng saw it, he was not angry but happy, and laughed with everyone, and after laughing, Hou Meng borrowed paper and pencil from others and mentioned a poem "Linjiang Immortal Kite" on it:
No one who was willing to believe in the line of hiding, now Fang's name is traced. Gratuitous craftsman painting description. When the wind borrows lightly, it falls into the air.
Only then did he have to boast that his body was gradually stabilizing, and he only suspected that he was going to the Toad Palace. The sunset is red when it rains. A few people were flat on the ground, looking at me in the sky.
After everyone saw this word, they no longer dared to joke with Hou Meng, because they knew that the ugly guy in front of them would never be so mediocre for a lifetime. Sure enough, in the spring exam of the following year, Hou Meng won the jinshi in one fell swoop, entered the official field, and directly achieved the Hubu Shangshu.