Fine words: (story)

Su Dongpo said: "I have something to tell you."

Wang Anshi's face immediately changed color and said: "You want to Bringing up the past?" Su Dongpo said, "What I want to talk about is state affairs." Wang Anshi calmed down a little and said, "Let's talk."

Su Dongpo said: "The Han and Tang Dynasties were destroyed by party disasters and wars. I tried my best to avoid such crises in the past. But now there are wars and disasters in the northwest, and many scholars have been sent to the southeast. Why don't you stop it?"

Wang Anshi pointed two fingers at Dongpo and said: "These two things were initiated by Hui Qing. I have retired now and have no right to interfere."

Su Dongpo said: "Yes, I am not in my position. However, the emperor treats you with great courtesy, and you should also treat me with great courtesy." Wang Anshi became a little irritable and replied, "Of course, of course. At Anshikou, the entrance is in Zi Zhan'er." He meant what the two said, don't spread the word out of this house, because he was once sold by Lu Huiqing, so he was so careful.

As the two continued their chat, Wang Anshi seemed to be at odds with what he was saying. He said: "'Do an injustice and kill an innocent person, and you will gain the world.' People have to be like this."

Dongpo said: "Today's gentlemen strive to reduce half a year's grinding ’, he didn’t hesitate to kill people.”

Wang Anshi smiled and said nothing.

Evaluation: The excerpt mainly writes about the conversation between Su Dongpo and the tired and decadent Wang Anshi.

There are three descriptions of Wang Anshi's portrait:

The first "Wang Anshi's face changed color" and the second "Wang Anshi calmed down for a while" are the same. It means that he has let go of the past. In the past, Wang Anshi (New Legalist) and Su Dongpo (Conservative) were two irreconcilable factions and were in a state of confrontation. Wang Anshi had plotted against Su Dongpo many times in the political arena and transferred him from the court. Nowadays, he talks about the past without hesitation and sits down and talks with Su Dongpo calmly. This is very different from Wang Anshi, who was famous in the past, which shows that the two have settled their differences.

The third point "Wang Anshi became a little irritable" was because Su Dongpo mentioned the emperor Shenzong who treated him very well. Since the death of his only son Wang Yu, Shenzong has been his only supporter. But later Shenzong became increasingly tired of the reform and no longer believed in Wang Anshi, so he later spoke ill of Shenzong.

In the excerpt, Wang Anshi also reminded Su Dongpo that "today's words will come out from Anshi's mouth and enter into Zizhan's ears", asking him to be careful about his former confidants. This shows that Wang Anshi in his later years has awakened and had some goodwill.

I learned: When a person lets go of what is most important in his heart, he becomes magnanimous and kind, or he may just turn a deaf ear to it.

Wang Anshi was deeply hit by the conservatives, despised by the world, tired of Shenzong, calculated by his confidants, and saddened by the death of his son. We should not be too harsh in our evaluation of such a tired and decadent old man who no one understands. In fact, the original intention of the reform was not wrong. The fault was that he chose the wrong person, but everyone attributed everything to him. I think we should treat this person with understanding and tolerance.