The Great Wei Music Bureau

Chapter 185: Divorce plan

We continue from the last chapter. After talking about Cui Zhi and Jiang Hongyu, let's take a look at the situation of the great scholar Li. Will he tell Tuoba Li and Lu Yu about Emperor Liang's recruitment? Let's read on.

The three people in the hall greeted each other, and Tuoba Li said directly: "Li Yuefu, we originally did not approve of you helping Liang State to raise disaster relief funds. You said it was for the people and to win a good reputation for our Great Wei.

But now, the good things are coming to others, while Xiao Zongqing and his people just treat you as an actor and a tool to make money! The Liang people don’t think much of you! You didn’t get a good reputation, but instead lost the face of our Great Wei. How shameful is this! "

Li Yi waved his hand and smiled, "Don't be upset, King Ping'an. I have many purposes for doing this, not only the two points mentioned before, but also for my own considerations, such as to gain a good reputation for myself and the cause and effect of Buddhism."

Lu Yu said, "Let's not talk about this matter for now. Tell me what Emperor Liang said to you last night."

Li Yi smiled and said, "Of course you want to recruit me."

Tuoba Li and Lu Yu were both shocked. Li Yi picked up the teacup and said with a smile, "The Emperor of Liang is very generous. He said that as long as I am willing to stay in Southern Liang, he will marry Princess Huaxuan to me. How sincere!"

Tuoba Li immediately asked: "What did you say?"

Li Yi smiled and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. A gentleman does what he should do and doesn't do what he shouldn't do. Besides, I guess Xiao Yongming recruited me in order to pry open the aristocratic families in Southern Liang. This is tantamount to trying to pull chestnuts from the fire, and the final outcome is self-evident. I am afraid of death and will not do anything stupid." Tuoba Li and Lu Yu looked at each other and then they felt relieved.

Li Yi asked, "By the way, has anyone from the Honglu Temple of Southern Liang come to inform you that the Emperor of Liang will host a banquet tonight to receive the envoys?"

Lu Yu nodded and said, "I've already told you that you were sleeping at the time, so I didn't call you."

Tuoba Li asked: "Then why are those people outside looking for you?"

Li Yi shook his head and smiled, "I just woke up, how would I know? Maybe you are here to ask for advice?"

Lu Yu asked in confusion, "Why would these self-righteous Liang people ask you for advice? What do they want to ask you for advice on?"

Li Yi smiled and said, "Let's go and take a look and we'll know."

The scene changed, and Li Yi and his companions came to the main hall. Four officials of the Music Bureau were pacing in the hall, including Guo Ming, the governor of the Southern Liang Music Bureau, and Zu Hao, the Zhongzheng of the Imperial Observatory, was discussing something with another Zhongzheng. When everyone saw Li Yi and his companions coming, they all stepped forward to salute.

Tuoba Li was about to say a few polite words, but after they bowed to him and Lu Yu, they all ran to Li Yi. Tuoba Li was very embarrassed, and Lu Yu smiled and said, "They came to see Li Yuefu anyway, Your Majesty, don't worry about it."

Tuoba Li said unhappily, "Although Li Yi is indeed talented, these Southern Liang officials cannot look down on me like this! They really have no manners at all! Minister Lu, why are they looking for Li Yi?"

Lu Yu said, "Your Highness, have you forgotten about the six arts competition? I guess Zu Hao must have come to ask for advice on mathematics, and those officials from the Music Bureau came to ask for advice on music. Li Yuefu is indeed outstanding in these areas, and they are willing to put down their dignity and come to ask for advice, which means they are convinced this time."

However, the slap in the face came so quickly that Guo Ming, the commander of the Southern Liang Music Bureau, saluted Li Yi and said, "Li Music Bureau, His Majesty asked us to draft a reform charter for the Music Bureau, but I have no idea at the moment. I wonder if you can help me come up with an idea?"

When Lu Yu heard this, he was surprised and asked, "Wait a minute, Guo Yuefu, His Majesty of Liang asked you to innovate Yuefu, why did you come to our Li Yuefu for advice?"

Guo Ming said awkwardly: "This... this is what His Majesty meant. His Majesty said that only Li Yuefu knew how to change it."

Zu Hao said sternly, "There is nothing to be ashamed of in talking about this. We are not as skilled as others, so we should ask for advice in person. As the sage said, 'When three people walk together, there must be one person who can be my teacher.' Why are you so shy?"

Li Yi explained to Tuoba Li and Lu Yu: "It's nothing. Last night, the National Music Bureau used an ancient score of Guangling San to discuss the correct way of music with me."

Zu Hao asked in confusion, "Guangling San? Wasn't it lost? The National Music Bureau was able to find the lost ancient score, so why didn't they bring it out earlier? If it had been brought out earlier, coupled with Mr. Dai's performance, we might not have lost during the competition."

Zu Hao's words made Guo Ming even more embarrassed. He had his own plans for not taking out the ancient score. First, he didn't think Dai Yao would lose. Second, he wanted to use the ancient score to defeat Li Yi again, so as to improve his reputation. But in the end, he lost face instead of gaining the prize.

Of course, it's not that his version of Guangling San is bad, but Li Yi grasped the relationship between the audience, which is why he won him over in terms of righteousness. You know, there are not many people who can truly understand the true meaning of Guangling San. If Dai Yao played it instead, perhaps he would have a deeper understanding, and the effect of playing it would naturally be different.

Li Yi smiled and said, "In fact, I have already explained last night that if Zhengyue does not change and innovate, it will be lost in the future because there are too few people who can understand Zhengyue. If we want Zhengyue to be passed down, we must improve the level of musicians' creations so that people can understand it and spread justice."

Guo Ming said in embarrassment: "Yes, Li Yuefu is right, but this is easier said than done!"

Li Yi nodded and said, "That's true, but the rhythm is beyond words. Last night, I listened to the National Music Bureau's "Guangling San", and I had some insights. I composed a piece of music based on what I learned. I wonder..."

Guo Ming was surprised and asked, "Li Yuefu was able to gain some insights after just listening to it once? Then is this song, as you said, both understandable and able to spread justice?"

Li Yi smiled and said, "Then you will have to listen to it before you decide." After that, Li Yi led everyone to the courtyard, and released his talent, which condensed into a big drum, four medium drums, a pipa, a set of chimes and several military bugles. Then he used the spiritual sound spell to control the instruments to play, and he waved the drumsticks and beat the drums. Cui Zhi, Yin Miao, Zhou Mo, and a group of Nanliang officials and Wei envoys gathered around to listen to the song.

This time, Li Yi picked out the song "Prince Lanling's Battle Song" adapted by Wang Jianan and Liu Qingyao from his own Chinese song library. I won't tell the story of this song because it has been lost in China and was found in Japan, which is a bit embarrassing. I will just talk about the effect of the performance of this song.

This is a famous piece of classical opera, which not only has a very profound cultural heritage and distinct artistic characteristics, but also uses drums to show strength, pipa to express emotions, chimes to create elegance, and military trumpets to show power. The changes in rhythm are both passionate and mournful, making the whole piece touching and beautiful.

In short, after Li Yi added Confucian and Taoist exhortations to his interpretation, this song full of appeal and passion made everyone feel overwhelmed and deeply empathized. If Li Yi had added special effects, it would probably have given people an immersive feeling.

After the song was over, the righteous spirit gathered like a stream and finally flowed into Li Yi's right palm. Li Yi, who was good at pretending, naturally wanted to show his mastery, so he asked Xiang Guoming: "Guoyuefu, how about this song?"

Guo Ming bowed and said, "If Li Yuefu had used this song last night, I would have lost even more miserably, right?"

Li Yi laughed and didn't answer directly, but what he was thinking was: How is it possible! Most of the people who listened to this song today were officials from the Ministry of Rites. Whether they were from Nanliang or our delegation, they could understand the charm of the music. The people last night were mixed. If we didn't use the kind of music with lyrics, I'm afraid many people wouldn't understand it. Even if we win, the effect will definitely not be that good.

Li Yi pretended to be profound and said, "Does the National Music Bureau now understand what I mean by changing the old and promoting the new?"

Guo Ming actually didn't understand. He got this title of Yuefu Ling through the back door. Although his piano skills were indeed good, his creative ability was limited. Xiao Yongming also knew that he didn't have that real ability, so he asked him to ask Li Yi for advice.

However, with so many people watching, Guo Ming couldn't afford to lose face like this, so he could only force himself to say, "I understand, but I really can't write down this mysterious feeling. I'd better ask Li Yuefu to give me some more advice!"

Li Yi had seen through everything and said with a smile: "As for the reform of Yuefu, in my opinion, there are three main points. The first is to accept folk music into the bureau, gather the strengths of hundreds of schools, and seek rhythm accumulation.

Second, various music scores are classified into palace music, folk music and religious music. Palace music is further divided into banquet music and ritual music; folk music is further divided into pop, rock, folk, ethnic, etc.; religious music can only be divided according to the sects of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism.

Third, develop new musical instruments and increase the variety of music.

I have explained it so clearly, I think Guo Yuefu should know how to start writing, right? "

Guo Ming looked at the helpers he brought with him, and they nodded in response. He felt relieved and saluted to Li Yi, saying: "Thank you Li Yuefu for your advice. I know how to write it. But after the charter is written, I will have to trouble Li Yuefu to help review it!" Li Yi nodded. After Guo Ming thanked him, he left with the Yuefu officials.

After seeing off the officials from the Southern Liang Music Bureau, Li Yi bowed to Zu Hao and said, "I wonder why Zu Zhongzheng came to see me?"

Zu Hao introduced his colleague to Li Yi, saying, "Li Yuefu, this is also the Zhongzheng of the Imperial Astronomical Observatory. His surname is Chen, his name is Chong, and his courtesy name is Tianwen. To be honest, the starry sky that Li Yuefu showed last time was too bizarre for people to accept for a while.

After returning, I discussed it with many colleagues. Although they did not believe Li Yuefu's words, they could not find any flaws. Chen Zhongzheng is an expert in astronomy and is also good at making celestial instruments. I brought him here to discuss it with Li Yuefu. In addition, His Majesty also ordered the two of us to calculate the national destiny with Li Yuefu. "

This is a serious problem. In ancient times, deducing celestial phenomena was a mathematical discipline, but calculating the fate of a country was a higher level. Every year, no matter which emperor it was, he would ask the Imperial Astronomical Observatory to calculate the fate of the country. This was an important part of formulating national policies, and the emperor attached great importance to it. Now the two Zhongzheng of the Southern Liang Imperial Astronomical Observatory were going to calculate the fate of the country with Li Yi, which was equivalent to letting Li Yi participate in the political affairs of Liang State and handing the fate of the country to Li Yi!

Tuoba Li and Lu Yu didn't know that Xiao Yongming showed Li Yi the imperial seal, so they naturally couldn't understand why Xiao Yongming did this. Both of them were shocked. And Xiao Yongming did this not just to show his trust in Li Yi!

Why do I say that? Because this series of operations are all a plot to alienate the Southern Liang Dynasty! After the morning court session, Shen Yue met Xiao Yongming alone. He had been cheated by the old silver coin once before, but fortunately he woke up in time and stopped before it was too late, otherwise he would definitely fall out of favor with the emperor.

So in order to take revenge, Shen Yue set his sights on Li Yi and proposed this alienation plan to Xiao Yongming. These officials of the Southern Liang Dynasty deliberately performed this act for Tuoba Li and Lu Yu to see, so that they would doubt Li Yi. After the formal reception of the delegation, they forcibly detained Li Yi and then played both sides hard. On the one hand, they continued to create the illusion that Li Yi had surrendered in front of Tuoba Li and Lu Yu, and on the other hand, they tried to frame or kill Li Yi's family in the Northern Wei Dynasty.

After that, Xiao Yongming openly granted the marriage, used Princess Huaxuan to keep Li Yi, and made him hate Northern Wei! In this way, Li Yi could stay in Southern Liang and help them deal with the Northern Dynasty. Shen Yue's move was vicious! However, our great talent Li was unaware of this calculation.

When Li Yi heard Zu Hao say that he wanted to calculate the fate of the country with him, he waved his hands and said, "Master Zu, are you kidding me? How can I predict the fate of the country? That is the business of your Imperial Observatory and the Imperial Master. How can I, a minister of music from another country, get involved in this matter with you!"

Chen Chong said sternly, "Li Yuefu, there is no need to be modest. His Majesty said that you know astronomy and geography. Although you are not a prophet, you are not far behind. Your control over the fate of the country is far better than ours. That is why he asked us to calculate the fate of the country together with Li Yuefu."