Downline: six seven eight nine.
Horizontal batch: North and South
There are several versions of the legend about this couplet:
I. Lv Mengzheng version:
According to legend, this couplet was written by Lv Mengzheng in Song Dynasty. Lu was born in a poor family and lived in poverty. One year during the Spring Festival, the family was short of food and clothing, and no one was there. Lv Meng wrote this couplet. This couplet skillfully uses the rhetorical device of "hidden characters". The upper part is "one (harmony clothes)" and the lower part is "ten (harmony food)". The horizontal criticism of "North and South" and "Nothing" implicitly expressed the dilemma of "lack of clothes and food, nothing" in the early years.
Second, Zhang Xiucai version:
A long time ago, there was an insatiable county magistrate who ran roughshod over the countryside and harmed the people. The local people are miserable. But the bad county magistrate used his power to suppress the people and prohibited them from reporting the actual livelihood that was unfavorable to him. However, when the news reached the capital, the emperor sent an imperial envoy to inquire.
When the county magistrate got the news, he sent his minions to intimidate the people everywhere, asking them to say things like having enough food and clothing and being safe for the country and the people when they were questioned by the imperial envoys. He also specially sent people to send some fish to the people to hang at the door on the day of the arrival of the imperial envoy.
Zhang Xiucai was determined to let the imperial envoy know the real situation, so he had an idea.
He went to see the county magistrate and said, "When the imperial envoy arrives, the king will put a couplet in front of his house to let him know that we are well fed and clothed here."
The magistrate asked, "How do you write?"
Zhang Xiucai said: "The first one is 2345, the second one is 6789, and the banner is North and South." Then, he explained, "Didn't you want us to tell the imperial envoy that he had enough food and clothes? My first couplet says there are 2345 sets of clothes, and my second couplet says there are 6789 kinds of food. The banner means that the house is located in a good place facing south. "
Hearing this, the county magistrate was very happy and nodded.
On the day when the imperial envoy arrived, Zhang Xiucai posted this couplet on the door. The writing is very unique: the first couplet "2345" has a word space above it, the second couplet "6789" has a word space below it, and the banner "North and South" has a word space before and after it.
An imperial envoy passed by the scholar's house and saw this couplet. After a little thinking, he understood its meaning. He made an unannounced visit with his heart, found out the evil deeds of the county official, and dismissed him for investigation.
Third, the youth edition:
The magistrate in Gusu was fierce and ruthless, leaving the people without food and clothing and complaining.
Once, I heard that the emperor was coming to Gusu City. The morning before the emperor arrived, a young man posted a couplet on the south gate archway. The first couplet is "2345", the second couplet is "6789", and the horizontal plaque is "North and South". There was a sea of people under the signboard, but no one could understand it.
The next morning, the emperor arrived. After seeing the couple, he didn't understand its meaning.
The emperor wrote a letter, and whoever can untie this couplet will be doubly rewarded.
At this time, the young man came forward and said, "Left-wing couplet 2345 is short of one, so take a homonym of one word, which means clothes, that is, lack of clothes;" Right union 6789, less than ten, take the cross homonym, it is food, that is, eat less; There are only two words on the horizontal plaque, north and south, east and west, north and south. There is nothing, which means that the people have nothing to say anymore. All-in-one couplet means: lack of clothes and food, nothing. This is the benefit that the magistrate brings to the people. Please speak for the Lebanese people! "
Hearing this, the magistrate knelt at the emperor's feet and cried out for mercy. What about the emperor? Although I admire the exquisiteness of couplets, I think that couplets are openly cursing the magistrate and insinuating themselves, leaving the dumb people speechless. I vented all my anger on the magistrate and ordered people to behead the magistrate who oppressed the fisherman.
Fourth, the teaching version:
There is a question in the sampling test of the sixth grade graduation: When Zheng Banqiao was a county magistrate, he often visited incognito and observed the people's feelings. As the New Year approached, Zheng Banqiao paid a private visit with his entourage and walked to the door of a farmer's house. I saw this couplet written on the door, which is composed of "2345"; Downlink "6789"; Ask "North and South". After Zheng Banqiao saw it, he asked the officers to go back and get some clothes, food and money. After the officers brought them, Zheng Banqiao gave them to the farmer, and the farmer's owner was grateful and kowtowed repeatedly.
Q: Why did Zheng Banqiao send something to farmers?
When marking the papers, the teachers were so shocked by the answers written by the students that they said everything, but most of them were not worthy. Of course, there are also many smart people or students who have correctly understood this couplet. There is no doubt that they lack food and clothing and have nothing!