Chapter 49: Cai Yong (Cai Bojie)

The reputation of the Four-Wonders Young Master is not without reason. Even the renowned great Confucian Cai Yong has come to invite him.

Why did Cai Yong invite Liu Zhan? Because Cai Yong is a famous great calligrapher in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. Liu Zhan's calligraphy, one of the four wonders, successfully created a new style - regular script. Can it not attract the great calligrapher Cai Yong?

A long time ago, Cai Yong had wanted to visit Liu Zhan, this new talent, but he couldn't find him.

It was rumored that he first appeared in Youzhou and gave a fan to the governor of Youzhou, Liu Yan. Then, he went south to fight. When the Yellow Turban rebels rose up, the Four-Wonders Young Master, as a captain in Youzhou, participated in the campaign to suppress the Yellow Turban Army. Since then, he has been erratic and has never stayed in one place. Finally, rumors spread that he returned to Hebei. But if he really went to Hebei, could it be guaranteed that he wouldn't change places again?

So, Cai Yong gave up the idea of going to visit. Now, it's great. Liu Zhan has come to Luoyang. Isn't this like delivering himself to the door? Do you think Cai Yong will let him go?

Cai Yong, courtesy name Bojie. He is from Yuguo, Chenliu. In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, he was a famous writer and calligrapher and the father of the famous talented woman Cai Yan. Because he served as the left Zhonglang general, later generations also called him "Cai Zhonglang."

Cai Yong was proficient in music and had extraordinary talent. He studied under Hu Guang, a famous statesman and scholar.

In addition to being proficient in classics, history, and being good at literary works such as ci and fu, Cai Yong was also proficient in seal script and official script in calligraphy. Especially in official script, he had the deepest attainment and the highest reputation. There is an evaluation that "Cai Yong's calligraphy has a strong character and is full of vitality." He created the "flying white" calligraphy style, which had a great influence on later generations. When Tang Zhang Huaiguan commented on Cai Yong's flying white calligraphy in "Shu Duan," he said, "Flying white is extremely wonderful and unparalleled, moving in harmony with divine power."

In his life, he liked to collect books. He had as many as over ten thousand volumes. In his later years, he loaded all the books he had collected onto several carts and gave them all to Wang Can. There were still four thousand volumes left. "Sui Shu - Jing Ji Zhi" recorded that there were 20 volumes in his collection, but it was lost early. Later generations compiled "Collected Works of Cai Zhonglang." "Complete Writings of Later Han" also included many of his works.

When arriving at Cai Yong's house, it was not like those vulgar people like He Jin who just ate, drank, had fun, and talked nonsense. Old Cai was most concerned about calligraphy, one of the four wonders. Before even sitting down, he went straight to the point.

"I am very pleased to see the true appearance of the Four-Wonders Young Master. It is rumored all over the world that the fan surface of the Four-Wonders Young Master contains four wonders in one object. I have only heard about it but not seen it. It makes me itch with curiosity. Especially his calligraphy has created a new style. The style is novel and unique. It makes me very eager to see the young master as soon as possible. May I ask, young master, who did you learn calligraphy from?" Cai Yong asked eagerly.

"Replying to Cai Zhonglang, although my family has declined by my father's generation, there are still some books for me to study. Since I was young, I have been good at pondering things. In my youth, I had a strange idea to create a new style. It's just that over the years, it has gradually become a bit more mature. If I want to make further progress, I still need the guidance and teaching of a calligraphy master like Cai Zhonglang." Liu Zhan incidentally flattered Old Cai in his words.

Just as they were talking, a young man walked out of the inner hall. This person was thin and had a pale face. At a glance, one could tell that he was not in good health.

The person who came out to see him off was a beautiful little girl about thirteen years old. She was also thin and about 1.6 meters tall. She was wearing a white dress and stood gracefully. When they reached the door, she said, "Senior brother, take care. Cai Yan won't see you off anymore."

Oh, this is Cai Yan. The Cai family's daughter is growing up and is almost ripe.

That is to say, the young man just now must be Wei Zhongdao, the short-lived ghost. Judging from their relationship, it seems quite good.

Damn it. It's going to be a mess... The duck is about to fly... It's a bit troublesome! It seems that if one doesn't use strong medicine, one won't be able to hold her in one's arms!

Cai Yong introduced to Liu Zhan, "This is my daughter Cai Yan. She has heard of your great name and has long wanted to meet you. Cai Yan, this is the famous Four-Wonders Young Master, General Liu Zhan who campaigns in the north."

"Ah, you are the Four-Wonders Young Master. You are so young? A person can create four unique skills by himself. How amazing!" The little girl's eyes sparkled with admiration.