[Revealing the Historical Gossip: The Mystery Behind Shi Nai'an and "Water Margin"]
Today, I would like to tell you a little-known historical story about the legendary experience of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, who invited Shi Nai'an three times, and why this literary genius abandoned the court and concentrated on creating "Water Margin". Don't worry, I'll tell you from the beginning, so that you can't take your eyes off it, hold your breath, and follow me to uncover the mystery of history.
Shi Nai'an, a literary genius who lived in the troubled times at the end of the Yuan Dynasty. His life is confusing, and it can be described as a legend within a legend. First of all, let's travel back to his youth, emerging in the autumn and becoming the best of the civil service. However, why did this promising Shi Nai'an stay away from the court and choose to live in seclusion in Baikochang?
In fact, at the moment of the fall of the Yuan Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to unify the country and sent Liu Bowen to invite Shi Nai'an to enter the dynasty three times. However, Shi Nai'an politely declined every time, preferring to live in seclusion in the mountains. In order to understand the deviance of this literary prodigy, we need to deeply interpret the chapters of "Water Margin".
Secluded in Hakukoba, the name sounds like a scenic spot in "Water Margin", right? In fact, it was in this quiet land that he started his creative journey of "Water Margin".
Fengqiao, Liuqiao, Banqiao, Shijiaqiao...... These place names seem to be passwords, opening the mysterious door of "Water Margin". Shi Nai'an regarded the reeds as Liangshanbo, and used the nature of the water and sky as the background to outline this heroic epic. He looked at the court coldly, and was fascinated by literary creation, which was really unrepentant.
Back to the turning point in history, the plot of Zhu Yuanzhang inviting Shi Nai'an three times is simply a historical version of "three visits to the thatched house". Liu Bei invited Zhuge Liang, and Zhu Yuanzhang invited Shi Nai'an, which reminds people of this "three invitations" tradition among historical figures.
When he came for the first time, he invited Shi Nai'an to fight with the paper tiger, forming a unique literary scene that made Liu Bowen cry and laugh. This literary genius of the Ming Dynasty, like a time traveler, holds a pen and fights with fictional heroes, which is really fascinating.
The second time I asked Shi, I took my family and fled to Baikochang to live in seclusion. The place names here are more like a plot of "Water Margin", which is extremely interesting. When Liu Bowen came for the third time, Shi Nai'an moved to the vicinity of Fengqiao. The mystery of these place names makes the whole story even more bizarre and playful.
Shi Nai'an was not a literati who liked to strife, he chose to live in seclusion in Hakukoba, the name sounds like a scenic spot in "Water Margin", right? In fact, it was in this quiet land that he began his creative journey of "Water Margin".
After Shi Nai'an's skillful revision, the second half of "Water Margin" was handed over to Zhu Yuanzhang. Seeing that the heroes of Liangshan were so loyal to the emperor and even willing to sacrifice their lives for the country, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly became enlightened. This "Water Margin", which is full of the spirit of loyalty and filial piety, has become a classic in his mind.
Shi Nai'an survived in the prison for nearly a year, suffering physically and mentally. When Liu Bowen learned all this, he felt the same hatred and hatred for the enemy, and personally came to visit the prison of the Criminal Department. This scene is reminiscent of the movie "The Shawshank Redemption", and the friendship is strong.
Shi Nai'an struggled painfully in prison, but when he understood Liu Bowen's intentions, he was willing to change the book for it, and wrote the last fifty times of "Water Margin". This revision changed the hero's ending from tragic to loyal and filial son, and achieved a classic work that advocates loyalty.
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