"The Friendship of Yangzuo"
"Yangzuo" is Yangjiao Ai and Zuo Botao.
"The Ming Yan of the World"
Ming Dynasty Feng Menglong
The hands behind the back are clouds and the rain is covering the hands, so why count them? You took care of Bao when he was poor. This way is abandoned by people today like dirt.
In the past, there were Guan Zhong, named Yiwu, and Uncle Bao, named Xuanzi in the state of Qi. The two had known each other since they were poor and humble. Later, Bao Shuxian gained a reputation under Duke Huan of Qi and recommended Guan Zhong as Prime Minister, taking the position above him. The two of them worked together to assist the government and remained consistent. Guan Zhong once said a few words: "I have fought three times in three battles in the north, but Uncle Bao does not think that I am cowardly, because he knows that I have an old mother; I have tried to be an official three times, but Uncle Bao does not think that I am unworthy, because he knows that I am not worthy of the time." Also; I talked with Uncle Bao, but he didn't think I was stupid, knowing the pros and cons; I talked with Uncle Bao, and we shared a lot of profits, but Uncle Bao didn't think I was greedy, because he knew I was born poor. "Parents, the one who knows me is Uncle Bao!" Therefore, in ancient and modern times, when it comes to making friends with friends, it must be called "Guan Bao". Today it is said that two friends met by chance and became brothers. Each sacrificed his own life and left his name for eternity. In the ancient Spring and Autumn Period, the King of Chu Yuan respected Confucianism and Taoism and recruited talented people. The people in the world who hear the wind and return will be overwhelmed. In the Jishi Mountain of Western Qiang, there lived a sage, whose surname was Zuo and whose twin names were Botao. He died of his parents when he was young. In his late forties, due to the annexation of China's princes, there were few people who practiced benevolent government and many people relied on power and hegemony, so they had no official career. Later, I heard that King Muren of the Chu Yuan Dynasty was very kind and sought wise men, so he took a bag of books, said goodbye to his neighbors and friends in his hometown, and rushed to the Chu Kingdom. When we came to Yongdi after a long journey, it was the middle of winter, with heavy wind and rain. There is a poem "Moon over the Xijiang River", a single winter rain scene:
The sad wind cuts my face, and the drizzle invades my clothes. He makes ice and snow to show off his cold power, but he is not as kind as he was at that time.
The mountain color is unclear and often dark, and the sunlight occasionally shines but is still weak. Wanderers at the end of the world long for home, and travelers on the road should regret it.
Zuo Botao walked in the rain and wind for a day, and his clothes were all wet. Looking at the dim sky, I walked toward the village to find a place to stay overnight. In the distance, I saw the light coming from the broken window in the bamboo forest, and I ran towards that place. Seeing a low fence surrounding a thatched house, he pushed open the fence and knocked lightly on the firewood door. One of them opened his door and went out. Zuo Botao stood under the eaves and hurriedly saluted and said: "I am a young man from the Western Qiang family, my surname is Zuo, my double name is Botao. I wanted to go to Chu country, but unexpectedly it rained on the way and I couldn't find a place to stay. Please borrow me for one night. You can come early, but I don't know if you will allow me." Upon hearing this, the man hurriedly responded and invited him into the house. Bo Tao looked at it and saw that there was only one couch on which there were piles of books and nothing else. Knowing that Bo Tao was also a Confucian, he wanted to bow down. The man said: "It is not necessary to talk about etiquette and let the fire dry the clothes, but it is a conversation." That night, he burned bamboo for the fire and Bo Tao dried his clothes. The man cooked food and wine for Bo Tao, and he was very diligent and generous. Bo Tao asked for his name. The man said: "My surname is Yang, my twin names are Ai, my parents died when I was young, and I live here alone. I have loved reading all my life, and agriculture has been abandoned. I am fortunate to meet a wise man who has come from afar, but I hate that my family is poor and I have nothing to pay for. I am begging for forgiveness." "Bo Tao said: "In the rain, I was covered, and I had a drink and a meal, so I was so grateful." That night, the two of them rested together and fell asleep, talking about the knowledge in their minds, and they couldn't sleep all night.
Until dawn, it continued to rain. Jiao Ai left Bo Tao at home, treated him with all he had, and became Kunzhong. Bo Tao is five years older than Jiao Ai, and Jiao Ai considers Bo Tao his brother. After staying for three days, the rain stopped and the roads dried up. Bo Tao said, "It is a pity that my dear brother has the talent of a king and the ambition of economic affairs. He does not care about bamboos and silks, but enjoys the old forest and spring water." Jiao Ai said, "It's not that he doesn't want to be an official, but he doesn't have the convenience to do so." Bo Tao said. "Now the King of Chu is asking for scholars humbly. Since my virtuous brother has this intention, why don't you go?" Jiao Ai said, "I am willing to follow my brother's orders." Then he packed up some small roads to waste food and rice, abandoned his thatched hut, and the two of them looked south together. Enter.
After only two days of travel, it was raining again. We stayed in the hotel, all the food was exhausted, and there was only one bag of food left. The two of them took turns to carry it, and left in the rain. Before the rain stopped, the wind picked up again and it turned into heavy snow all day long. How could it be seen? You see: the wind makes the snow cold, and the snow takes advantage of the power of the wind. Willow catkins are flying wildly, and goose feathers are dancing wildly. The sky is in chaos, making no distinction between north, south, west and east; the ground is covered in the sky, turning into green, yellow, red and black. The poets exploring plum blossoms are full of pure and interesting things, and the passers-by on the road want to lose their souls. The two of them walked through Qiyang and passed the Liangshan Road. When they asked about the woodcutter, they all said: "From now on, there is no human habitation for more than a hundred miles. It is all barren mountains and wilderness, with wolves and tigers hordes, so we have to stop."
It was the second watch of the night, and there was heavy wind and rain, thunder and lightning, and the sound of killing could be heard for dozens of miles. Looking at it at dawn, Jing Ke's tomb was shaken as violently as a hair, and white bones were scattered in front of the tomb. The pines and cypresses beside the tomb were uprooted. Suddenly a fire broke out in the temple, burning the ground to white. The village elders were shocked. They all went to the tombs of Yang and Zuo to burn incense and worship. The follower returned to Chu State and reported the matter to King Yuan. The king of the Yuan Dynasty felt that his righteousness was so important that he sent officials to build a temple in front of the tomb, named him a senior official, and decreed that the temple should be named "the temple of loyalty and righteousness", and a stele was erected to commemorate the event. The incense continues to this day. Jing Ke’s spirit has been extinct since then. The natives offer sacrifices at four seasons, and their prayers are very spiritual. There is an ancient poem that says: In ancient times, benevolence and righteousness encompassed heaven and earth, but they only existed within a small space in the human heart. The autumn day in front of the Ershi Temple is pure, and the heroic spirit is always accompanied by the cold moonlight.