Our impression of Li Bai is that he primarily wrote poetry. However, we don't truly understand Li Bai; in fact, he treated poetry merely as a hobby.
It's only after reading *Guiguzi* that we realize Li Bai was actually a strategist. This identity as a strategist is quite intriguing. Why did Li Bai admire *Guiguzi* so much? Let's delve into the historical context. In
*Li Bai and the Strategists*, Lin Zailan and Zhan Jichuan mention that Li Bai loved reading *Guiguzi* and aspired to become a strategist, a rarity among Tang Dynasty poets.
The *Guiguzi* Li Bai read was called *Changduan Jing*, also known as *Fan Jing*, written by his teacher Zhao Rui.
Li Bai's ultimate ideal was power; he wanted to become a politician, and politicians are often skilled in the art of diplomacy, thus qualifying as strategists. As for poetry, which we know so well, it was merely a hobby in his mind, even less important than reading *Guiguzi*.
Therefore, Li Bai had an extreme fondness for the art of diplomacy. How can we tell?
Please see his poem "On the Origin of a Great Journey, Presented to Liu Guandi," in which he writes, "Talent and skill are truly boundless; worldly paths are easily cast aside." What does this mean? It means: With the wisdom of Guiguzi's strategies, one's future is assured. In modern parlance, it means that by mastering Guiguzi's strategies and applying the art of diplomacy to its fullest extent, achieving one's goals is a matter of minutes.
What benefits did Li Bai gain from reading Guiguzi and writing poetry for him?
First
, he became famous throughout the land through poetry, enabling him to travel to the capital to meet the emperor. His successful speech before Emperor Xuanzong was a testament to the mature application of the art of diplomacy. Did he intentionally use poetry as a tool to gain official position through this art of diplomacy? The answer is definitely yes.
Second
, reading Guiguzi, learning the art of diplomacy, and undergoing special training for over a year honed his quick thinking, as swift as lightning. This is how he developed his impromptu poetry.
Third ,
as a strategist, Li Bai's ability to adapt to changing circumstances allowed him to establish himself. Li Bai's use of the strategist's ideas in his poetry naturally resulted in a captivating, ever-changing, and vibrant artistic conception.
IV.
Strategists were mostly masters of language, adept at speaking eloquently and maximizing the expressive power of language to achieve successful persuasion.
They explicitly emphasized winning through ingenious language and frequently used exaggerated expressions.
Li Bai's tragedy stemmed from Emperor Xuanzong's inability to handle state affairs in his later years, his increasing mental confusion and lack of understanding, coupled with Li Bai's arrogant and unrestrained personality.
In the first year of the Guangde era, Li Bai fell seriously ill and passed away after writing "Linlu Ge" (Song of the Roadside), at the age of sixty-three.
Postscript:
From Li Bai's perspective, focusing on reality, writing poetry was merely a hobby; Li Bai had political ideals. Ultimately, regardless of his strategic skills, swordsmanship, or poetry, these were simply tools for Li Bai.
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