Chapter 189: Qin Battle! “Gao Shan Liu Shui” vs “Cang Hai Yi Sheng Xiao”!
Ding Shaojie, the representative of Great Yan, was in a bad mood. The morale he had worked so hard to boost was brought down by Lin Beifan!
He was very unwilling and decided to continue to challenge.
He smiled and said, “Sir Lin, let’s start with the two of us for the first game, shall we?”
By inviting Lin Beifan to go first with him, he had a chance to eliminate him.
He didn’t know how skilled Lin Beifan was in playing the qin.
However, Lin Beifan had a special identity. If he was eliminated, it would definitely hit the morale of Great Wu.
Lin Beifan blinked, “Are you sure I should go first?”
“Of course! I’ve heard that Sir Lin is talented and knowledgeable, a rare genius in a century! I believe he must be outstanding in qin playing as well. So, I can’t wait to witness it myself. I believe everyone here is also very eager to hear Sir Lin’s qin music!”
Ding Shaojie’s words were full of politeness and flattery, pushing Lin Beifan up high, forcing him to go on stage.
If Lin Beifan went on stage, he had a chance to use his qin skills to defeat the opponent and hit Great Wu’s morale.
If he didn’t go on stage, it would mean that Lin Beifan was afraid.
Being afraid before the battle could also affect his morale.
It had to be said that even a small qin battle was full of deceit and cunning, making it difficult to guard against.
The Empress and the civil and military officials looked worriedly at Lin Beifan.
Lin Beifan nodded calmly, “Alright! I’ll go first in this game!”
Ding Shaojie smiled happily and arrogantly, “Thank you, Sir Lin, for your cooperation!”
Then, under everyone’s gaze, Ding Shaojie walked to the center of the martial arts arena.
“Now, let me play the first piece, ‘Gao Shan Liu Shui,’ for everyone to appreciate!”
Saying that, he knelt down and pressed his hands on the qin strings.
After closing his eyes for more than ten seconds, waiting for his heart to calm down, he began to play the well-known piece, “Gao Shan Liu Shui.”
Instantly, a melodious and soothing, elegant and fresh sound of the qin filled the entire venue.
In the qin music, everyone seemed to see a tall green mountain deep in the forest, with a flowing stream winding down, crashing against the rocks and making a pleasant dingdong sound.
The stream was clear and one could see the moss and even fish.
Beside the stream were strange rocks, green forests, and the sounds of insects and birds.
It was as if they could also see two people playing the qin under the high mountains and flowing water, a scene of harmony and tranquility between man and nature!
Their hearts couldn’t help but calm down.
On the side of the Great Yan team.
Tang Yong, the top scholar, whispered, “It’s been a few days, but now I really have to admire it! Shaojie’s qin skills have become even more refined. Not only has his technique reached its peak, but he can also integrate emotions and scenery into his qin music. Amazing!”
“Indeed, Shaojie is truly outstanding in this aspect. He will definitely become a master qin player in the future!”
At this moment, the third prince of Great Yan, with a hushed tone, said, “Enough talking, let’s quietly enjoy this beautiful piece of music!”
Everyone nodded, some even closed their eyes, swaying and moving their heads.
The melodious qin music even floated outside the venue.
“This is the sound of the qin, the literary battle has begun!”
“Who is playing ‘Gao Shan Liu Shui’? It sounds so delightful! The scenery has been integrated into the music, I can almost see a painting depicting high mountains and flowing water. It’s so beautiful!”
“This is the best version of ‘Gao Shan Liu Shui’ that I have ever heard. The lingering sound lasts for three days, it’s unforgettable!”
“With this divine composition, victory is already assured! Who is the genius behind it?”
“It should be Liu Feng, from our Great Wu. He excels at playing the qin!”
“I also think it’s Liu Feng. This prodigy is the best at playing the qin. I heard he even sleeps while hugging his qin!”
“Haha! It seems like we have already won this round!”
…
The people of Great Wu grew excited.
At this moment, a soldier ran out and shouted, “In the first round of the literary battle, Great Yan has sent Ding Shaojie, the second place winner in the imperial examination, who is currently playing the well-known qin piece ‘Gao Shan Liu Shui’!”
The venue instantly fell silent!
Everyone’s hearts became filled with worry.
After about half an incense stick’s time, the qin music finally came to an end, and everyone snapped out of their trance caused by the melodious music.
There was a bit of regret, as the qin music was too short and they couldn’t continue to enjoy it.
“What a wonderful rendition of ‘Gao Shan Liu Shui’!” the Empress praised loudly. “Although it is a widely circulated qin piece, you have played it in a new realm. Well done!”
“Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty of Great Wu. I am unworthy of it!” Ding Shaojie smiled faintly, but couldn’t hide his arrogance.
He had played this piece of ‘Gao Shan Liu Shui’ more than a thousand times!
Not only had his skills reached their peak!
But he could also integrate emotions and scenery into his qin music, making it truly extraordinary!
He didn’t believe that anyone could play it better than him!
It could be said that he had already secured his victory, haha!
“Sir Lin, it’s your turn!” Ding Shaojie said with a smile that he couldn’t conceal.
Lin Beifan smiled, “You played really well! With just this piece, you can be considered outstanding!”
Outstanding?
Ding Shaojie furrowed his brows slightly, feeling somewhat dissatisfied.
In the field of art, skill levels could be categorized as famous, outstanding, and master.
A famous master is someone who has reached a level recognized by the public in a certain skill.
An outstanding individual is someone who has devoted many years to a particular skill and has reached the pinnacle of that skill.
A grand master is someone who has transformed their technique into an art form and established their own style.
He felt that based on his performance just now, calling himself a grand master would not be an exaggeration.
But the other party only gave him the title of “outstanding,” which was clearly stubborn and stingy, unwilling to admit his greatness.
“Sir Lin, please! Let me see what level your qin skills have reached!” Ding Shaojie said somewhat provocatively.
Lin Beifan did not respond and stepped onto the stage slowly.
The spectators’ eyes filled with worry.
This was the first round for Great Wu, and Lin Beifan was the soul of Great Wu’s representatives. If they lost this round, it would be a huge blow to Great Wu. And based on the current situation, the chances of losing were very high.
On the side of Great Yan, the third prince, Yan Xinghe, opened his paper fan and smiled triumphantly. “Lin Beifan is destined to lose! Shaojie’s qin skills have reached their peak, they are incomparable. No matter how well Lin Beifan plays, it will only result in a draw! Moreover, Shaojie has taken the initiative. I don’t believe that Lin Beifan’s mentality won’t be affected! Once affected, he is bound to lose!”
“What Your Highness said is absolutely right!”
On the side of Great Yan, they burst into laughter as if victory was already in their hands.
At this moment, Lin Beifan had already arrived in front of the ancient qin. With a composed expression, he said, “Next, I will play the piece ‘Cang Hai Yi Sheng Xiao’! This is a qin composition that I created. Please enjoy!”
After the introduction, he sat down and placed his hands on the strings of the qin.
Without making any adjustments, he began playing directly.
After just a few notes, everyone felt a tremor throughout their bodies, as if they were being pulled by an inexplicable force.
Before they could react, a majestic and grand aura rushed towards them, like surging waves in the vast ocean!
Wave after wave, the tides rose and fell, the sky was high and the sea was wide, and determination filled their hearts!
Everyone felt as if they were being swept along by the waves!
It was as if they had leapt out of the waves and stood on top of tall rocks, facing away from the setting sun, witnessing the surging tides, the lingering glow of the setting sun, the rising winds and clouds, and the waves crashing on both shores. Their hearts were filled with determination and magnanimity, and their minds were boundless!
At the same time, in the vastness of the world, there was only one person, who couldn’t help but feel a sense of vastness and loneliness!
All the trivialities and mundane matters of the past seemed to have been washed away by the waves, leaving only a deep evening glow and a release of heartfelt laughter!
Young people, listening to this piece, felt their hearts brimming with courage, wishing they could wield a sword and enter the martial world, or hold a pen and enter the court.
The elderly listened to this piece of music and shed tears.
Memories of the past were like clouds drifting away, swept away by the waves.
“What…what kind of tune is this? So bold and yet so moving?”
Representatives from the Great Yan side were shocked as they watched Lin Beifan playing the qin.
The third prince of Great Yan exclaimed, “The opponent actually played such a divine tune?”
Ding Shaojie couldn’t believe everything, shaking his head vigorously, “It’s impossible! This can’t be!”
At this moment, the melody of this piece spread outside.
The people who heard it were filled with excitement, a sense of courage surging through their bodies, as if they couldn’t wait to express it.
“What kind of tune is this? I haven’t heard it before.”
“This should be a new composition!”
“And it’s different from the usual melancholic qin tunes! This piece is full of boldness and ambition, it’s a song for heroes! So captivating!”
“Yes, it sounds amazing! I feel like I can see the surging river and its flow into the sea!”
“I see the martial world in it, isn’t this what the martial world looks like?”
“This is the kind of tune a man should listen to, full of grandeur and magnanimity. I want to shout loudly!”
“Don’t shout randomly, listen carefully!”
…
Half an incense stick’s time passed, and Lin Beifan finished playing.
It took a while for everyone to come back to their senses.
The Empress asked, “Sir Lin, is it over?”
Lin Beifan replied, “It’s over!”
The Empress felt unfulfilled, filled with regret. “It ended so quickly!”
Lin Beifan said, “Your Majesty, it has been half an incense stick’s time already!”
“Although it’s been half an incense stick’s time, after listening, I still want to listen again! This piece is different from the usual qin compositions, which tend to be somewhat melancholic and lacking in grandeur! But this tune is so refreshing, majestic, vast, and full of heroic and free-spirited energy. It’s a song for heroes, a song for great men! Truly worthy of being called ‘Cang Hai Yi Sheng Xiao’!” praised the Empress.
Lin Beifan smiled and said, “Thank you for Your Majesty’s praise!”
“However, I still feel like something is missing!”
“What’s missing are lyrics!” Lin Beifan smiled.
The Empress’s eyes lit up and she eagerly said, “Yes! That’s it! It’s missing lyrics! Because it’s a qin composition, not many people can play it! But with lyrics, everyone can sing along and express their emotions! Especially when sung by great heroes and individuals, it can bring out their heroic spirit!”
“What Your Majesty said is absolutely right!” A general sitting nearby laughed. “Actually, I wanted to express my feelings just now. But without lyrics, all the courage in my heart, filled to the brim, didn’t know how to be expressed. It’s uncomfortable to keep it inside! If it could be accompanied by a set of lyrics, it would be absolutely marvelous!”
“A good composition needs to be paired with good lyrics to complement each other!”
…
Everyone started to speak.
“Sir Lin, since this tune was composed by you, it’s up to you to complete the lyrics! We believe that with your talent and knowledge, you can create the best lyrics! Let this composition, ‘Cang Hai Yi Sheng Xiao,’ become renowned throughout the world!” The Empress assigned the task.
Lin Beifan smiled faintly, “Your Majesty, actually, I already have the lyrics!”
1. Gao Shan Liu Shui (高山流水) is a famous piece of classical Chinese music that originated during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The title translates to “High Mountains and Flowing Water” in English. It is a solo guqin piece, with the guqin being a traditional Chinese musical instrument.
Gao Shan Liu Shui is considered one of the most renowned and challenging compositions for the guqin. It is often regarded as a masterpiece of Chinese music and has been performed by many virtuoso guqin players throughout history.
The piece is known for its expressive and evocative nature, aiming to depict the imagery of towering mountains and flowing water. It combines various playing techniques to mimic the sounds and movements of nature, such as the cascading of water and the grandeur of mountains.
Gao Shan Liu Shui has become a symbol of Chinese culture and has been performed and recorded by numerous musicians, both within China and internationally. Its enduring popularity and significance have made it an integral part of the guqin repertoire and an important piece in the preservation of traditional Chinese music.
2. “Cang Hai Yi Sheng Xiao” (沧海一声笑) is a popular Chinese song from the 1990s. The title can be roughly translated as “A Laugh in the Vast Sea.”
The song was performed by Chinese singer/songwriter Zhou Huajian, also known as Dave Wong in English. It gained significant popularity and became one of Zhou Huajian’s signature songs. “Cang Hai Yi Sheng Xiao” is known for its emotional and poetic lyrics, which depict the vastness of the sea and the laughter that resonates through it.
The song’s melody and lyrics evoke a sense of longing, reflection, and a connection to nature. It has become a classic and enduring piece in Chinese popular music, and Zhou Huajian’s rendition is widely recognized and appreciated by listeners in China and beyond.
