On May 5th, Wang Mou went to Shuinan Town, Jishui County, Ji'an City, Jiangxi Province, to collect wind. Wang Mou saw a portrait of Wang Geng on the street of Shuinan Town. Wang Mou remembered the deeds of Wang Wenjiegong and wrote today's article.
In the second year of Jianwen, The Jianwen Emperor Zhu Yunjiao opened a branch to take a soldier. Ji'an Province's student Tian'en took the lead and took over the Three Dingjia. Jishui County Hu Guang kao zhongzhuangyuan, Jishui County Wang Geng kao in the list of eyes, Luling County Li Guan kao in the middle of the flower. The students of Ji'an Province won the top three, which made a good story in the cultural history of Luling.
Not long after Emperor Jianwen's good days, he encountered the Battle of Jingnan by emperor Zhu Di. In the fourth year of Jianwen, Zhu Dibing came to the city of Nanjing. The ministers of the Ming Dynasty watched their nephews fight their uncles and were thinking about their future. The disciples from Jiangxi, led by the spiritual leader Xie Jin, came to Wu Pu's home for a meeting of life and death.
Wu Pu (吴溥), courtesy name Derun, is a native of Chongren County, Fuzhou, Jiangxi Province. Wu Pu was the first soldier in the second year of Jianwen's second class, and he summoned Jiangxi Shizi to his home to discuss the way out. Wu Pu first made a generous statement, saying that he would commit suicide and martyrdom for Emperor Jianwen. Xie Jin, Hu Guang, and Wang Geng followed suit, generously stating that they would commit suicide and martyrdom for Emperor Jianwen.
Wang Geng (王艮), courtesy name Jingzhi (敬止), is a native of Daiyuan Village, Shuinan Town, Jishui County, Ji'an Province, Jiangxi Province. Wang Gen and Hu Guang, a fellow villager in Jishui County, are good friends, and the two of them went to Beijing together to catch the exam. Wang Geng's talent is above Hu Guang's, but his appearance is not flattering. In ancient times, the scholar paid attention to the judgment of the book, and the body refers to the appearance. Emperor Jianwen, in accordance with the criteria for taking the rank of scholar according to the book's words and deeds, ordered Hu Guang's title and only gave Wang Gong the title of Eye Meritorious Service.
Wang Geng was not convinced, and Emperor Jianwen ordered Wang Geng and Hu Guang to compete with each poem in the name of "Dangui". Wang Geng and Hu Guang each sang a poem, and Wang Geng's poem was obviously better than Hu Guang's. Emperor Jianwen regretted that he had judged people by his appearance, and could not revoke Hu Guang's title of Emperor Yuangong. Emperor Jianwen took a different approach, giving Wang Geng the title of Honorary Title.
Wang Geng, feeling the grace of Emperor Jianwen's knowledge, resolved to commit suicide and martyrdom for Emperor Jianwen. Wang Gen bid farewell to Xie Jin, Hu Guang, and Wu Pu, and returned home to bid farewell to his mother, wife and children. Wang Geng took poisoned wine and was loyal to Emperor Jianwen. When Emperor Jianwen heard the news, he sent Hongwu twenty-four years to pay homage to Wang Gong. Before Wang Geng was buried, Zhu Di entered Nanjing, and Emperor Jianwen disappeared.
Although Xie Jin, Hu Guang, and Wu Pu made generous statements, saying that they would martyr emperor Jianwen, they chose another way out. When Zhu Di entered the city of Nanjing, Xie Jin, Hu Guang, and Wu Pu surrendered to Zhu Di on their knees. After all, Zhu Di was the king of the rebellious clan and urgently needed the support of the scholars. Celebrities like Xie Jin and Wu Pu, and leaders like Hu Guang, are naturally Zhu Di's guests.
Hu Guang, in his capacity as a champion, drafted an edict for Ming Chengzu to ascend the throne. Xie Jin is one of the leading figures in the world of heavenly literature, and he works for Ming Chengzu, making Ming Chengzu feel a light on his face when he ascends the throne. Ming Chengzu was very important to Xie Jin and Hu Guang, and both Xie Jin and Hu Guang served as the first assistants of the cabinet during the Ming Chengzu period.
Although Wu Pu's career was not smooth, he followed Xie Jin to compile the Yongle Canon and was one of the main creators of the Yongle Canon. A "Yongle Canon" is enough to make Wu Pu famous in history, and after Xie Jin, Hu Guang, and Wu Pu surrendered to Zhu Di, they were both fame and fortune.
After Wang Geng committed suicide and was martyred, Ming Chengzu did not embarrass his family. Ming Chengzu asked his family to escort Wang Geng's coffin back to his hometown for burial. Wang Geng was buried in The Village of Daiyuan in Shuinan Town, and it was not until the Ming Dynasty was about to fall that the Southern Ming court remembered Wang Gen. The Southern Ming court gave Wang Geng the title of "Wenjie", which can also be regarded as a praise.
Zhu Di was the son of Ming Taizu, and Zhu Yunjiao was the grandson of Ming Taizu. The old Zhu family uncle and nephew were infighting, and no matter who won, they would not destroy the Ming Dynasty Jizong Temple. Xie Jin, Hu Guang, and Wu Pu surrendered to Zhu Di, which can be said to be a time-conscious person for Junjie.
Although Wang Geng's talent was not as good as Xie Jin's, it was not inferior to Hu Guang's. With Wang Geng's talent, if he did not commit suicide and martyrdom, he would certainly be able to achieve high achievements. Unfortunately, Wang Gen could not see the situation clearly and gave up his life in vain.
To this day, people's evaluation of Wang Geng is still polarized. Some people say that Wang Gengyi Bo Yun Tianzhong is loyal to the liver and guts, and some people say that Wang Geng does not know the current affairs and foolishly sends him to his death. The evaluation of Wang Geng is a matter of opinion, and everyone should watch and do it for themselves.
Remarks: The pictures in this article were all taken by Wang Mou in Shuinan Town, Jishui County, Ji'an City, Jiangxi Province, Wang Geng's hometown.