That year, the Kingdom of Balhae (698–926) dispatched envoys to the Great Tang. The court urgently summoned He Zhizhang to receive the delegation and arrange lodging for the foreign envoys at the imperial hostels. Balhae was a tributary state formally invested by the Tang; at the height of its power, its territory encompassed what are now Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning Provinces, the Primorsky Krai, and parts of the Korean Peninsula.
On the following day, the Balhae envoys presented their state letter. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang ordered the Hanlin scholars to read it aloud at court. When the document was opened, the scholars were struck dumb. The characters looked like the tracks of birds and beasts—utterly unintelligible. None could decipher a single word.
The Son of Heaven then summoned the entire civil and military court, seeking someone capable of translating the Balhae letter. Yet throughout the court, not one official understood the Balhae language. Thus, no one knew whether the message conveyed goodwill or provocation.
After court was dismissed, He Zhizhang returned home and told Li Bai of the matter. Upon hearing this, Li Bai declared that he was willing to relieve the Emperor of his worries. He Zhizhang therefore recommended him for audience at court.
Li Bai glanced over the foreign script and immediately translated it into the Tang court's "common tongue," fluent and precise. It turned out that the letter was a threat, demanding that the Tang cede one hundred and seventy-six cities of Goguryeo—or else face war.
All the ministers, confronted with the barbarian script resembling birds' and beasts' tracks, could only confess their ignorance truthfully to Emperor Xuanzong. The Emperor flew into a rage and proclaimed:
"If after three days no one can read this foreign letter, all stipends shall be suspended.After six days, all offices shall be stripped.After nine days, those still unable shall be punished.Let the worthy be chosen, that together we may uphold the state."
The civil officials of the court were shaken to the core, living in constant dread. Fortunately, He Zhizhang, then serving as a Hanlin scholar, knew of Li Bai's ability to read foreign scripts and recommended him the very next day.
Emperor Xuanzong immediately bestowed upon Li Bai the degree of Presented Scholar, clothed him in a purple robe with a golden belt, and summoned him to court wearing the gauze cap and holding the ivory tablet. Li Bai then entered the palace and translated the highly provocative letter before the Emperor himself.
When the civil and military officials stood speechless, none daring to propose a countermeasure, Li Bai stepped forward calmly and declared that he was willing, on a later date, to draft a reply in the presence of the Balhae envoys—one that would compel their khan to submit with folded hands.
Hearing such confidence, Emperor Xuanzong was greatly pleased. He immediately appointed Li Bai as Hanlin Scholar and granted him wine to drink freely.
On the day of drafting the reply, Li Bai seized the moment and requested that Yang Guozhong grind the ink for him, and that Gao Lishi remove his boots and attend him in stockings. Li Bai said to the Emperor:
"Only when a minister's spirit is fully exalted can he avoid disgracing his sovereign's command."
Needing him at that moment, the Emperor could only issue the order. Thus Yang Guozhong held the inkstone, and Gao Lishi removed Li Bai's boots—what splendor and spectacle!
With great self-assurance, Li Bai wielded his brush without pause and addressed the envoys in the Balhae language:
"Our small state has been discourteous. His Majesty, in his boundless grace, does not take offense.We shall now draft the imperial reply—listen well."
The Emperor allowed Li Bai to sit close to the imperial couch upon a brocade stool as he drafted the reply edict. Concerned that his boots might soil the royal seat, Li Bai requested that they be removed. At the Emperor's command, the two powerful ministers complied, standing in attendance while Li Bai sat and wrote.
With his left hand stroking his beard and his right hand flying across the page, Li Bai quickly completed the draft in the Balhae language. Before the imperial throne, he first recited it aloud in Chinese, then read it again to the envoys in their own tongue. His voice rang clear and forceful, the cadence majestic and awe-inspiring.
The envoys turned pale with terror and dared not utter a word. The "Letter to Terrify the Barbarians" was completed and read aloud at court. The foreign envoys, convinced that Li Bai was a celestial immortal descended to earth, were utterly shaken.
Why, then, did Li Bai insist on having Yang Guozhong grind ink and Gao Lishi remove his boots?
The story dates back to Li Bai's first arrival in Chang'an, where he became fast friends with He Zhizhang. They discussed poetry and drank together daily, delighting in one another's company. As the provincial examinations approached, He Zhizhang wrote a letter instructing Li Bai to seek out the chief examiner.
Unbeknownst to them, the chief examiner was Yang Guozhong, with Gao Lishi overseeing the examination—both corrupt officials obsessed with wealth. Upon seeing the letter, they assumed He Zhizhang had accepted bribes from Li Bai and resented him instead.
On the day of the examination, when Yang Guozhong saw Li Bai's name on the paper, he did not even read it. Scribbling wildly, he sneered:
"Such a scholar lacks propriety—let him grind ink for me!"
Gao Lishi added mockingly:
"Grinding ink is not enough—he should remove my boots and stockings!"
They ordered Li Bai expelled from the examination hall. Humiliated and enraged, Li Bai swore he would one day repay this injustice.
After court that day, a Balhae envoy quietly asked He Zhizhang:
"That man in the hall—how great is his rank, that he could make the Grand Preceptor grind ink and the Grand Commandant remove his boots?"
He Zhizhang replied:
"Those two are merely powerful men of this world.That Li Scholar is a celestial immortal sent down to aid the Heavenly Dynasty.Who could compare with him?"
When the envoys returned to Balhae, they reported all they had seen and presented the Tang reply. Though the Balhae king was arrogant by nature, he was utterly shocked upon reading the letter. Never had he imagined that the Tang possessed someone who could read the foreign script. Believing the Tang court to be aided by immortals, the king immediately submitted a letter of surrender, pledging annual tribute and regular court attendance.
Yet this peerless genius, Li Bai, was at that very time being exiled to Yelang due to his involvement in the case of Prince Yong, Li Lin, traveling through Sichuan toward his place of banishment. Zhang Hao, however, did not forget his old friend despite his own lofty status. Through his tireless efforts, together with others, Emperor Suzong of Tang finally pardoned Li Bai and rescinded his exile.
Wu Tong said:
"In former days, my lord exchanged poetry with Hanlin Academician Li Bai and came to know him deeply, sharing loyalty and sincerity. When Li Bai later fell into disgrace, my lord exerted himself greatly on his behalf. You are truly worthy of the name 'friend.' I admire you deeply."
How many can truly live by the words 'If one attains wealth and rank, do not forget one's friends'?
Zhang Hao replied:
"Carriages, horses, robes, and furs—if they can be shared with friends, I share them.This is merely the extent of my ability."
As Zilu once said:
"I wish to share my carriage, my horses, and my light fur robes with my friends,and feel no regret even when they are worn thin."
It is in hardship that true friendship is revealed. To remain faithful and supportive at one's lowest point—this alone defines a true friend.
Moved by Zhang Hao's words, Wu Tong said:
"My lord is a chivalrous chancellor.As Zengzi said, 'The gentleman meets friends through culture, and through friends aids benevolence.'To learn today of your deep bond with Hanlin Academician Li Bai is profoundly moving.I can only bow in admiration."
Zhang Hao then said:
"Hall Master Wu, you are a man of loyalty. I shall speak plainly.My second friend is also a man of extraordinary talent, in no way inferior to Li Bai—each excelling in his own domain."
He paused, then recited:
'Fine clothes never starve to death,Yet the scholar's cap so often ruins a man.My lord, pray listen in stillness,Let this humble one speak in full…'
'In youth I served as guest to the realm,Reading ten thousand volumes, my brush guided by spirits.In rhapsody I rival Yang Xiong,In poetry I stand with Cao Zhi…'
'I once served as Left Remonstrant.'
Wu Tong exclaimed:
"Could it be the great poet Du Fu?"
For scholars of old were driven by the ideal of serving the world through achievement. Du Fu's lifelong political aspiration was to "raise the ruler to the level of Yao and Shun, and restore purity to customs." During the An Lushan Rebellion, he followed Emperor Suzong and was exceptionally appointed Left Remonstrant, an official charged with correcting the Emperor's faults.
Yet those who truly realized such ideals were few. In his later years, aided by friends, Du Fu finally settled in Chengdu and built his humble dwelling, the Thatched Cottage of Du Fu. There he visited the Shrine of the Marquis of Wu, paying homage to his lifelong idol, Zhuge Liang, and wrote his immortal poem "The Prime Minister of Shu":
"His campaign unfinished, his body already dead—Ever after, heroes weep with tears upon their sleeves."
Was this not also a lament for himself?
Du Fu lived for poetry and died for poetry. In life he was impoverished and uncelebrated, unlike Li Bai, whose fame filled the realm. Du Fu's work went largely unappreciated; he was poor, neglected, and ignored. The one who truly recognized him was Zhang Ji, imperial son-in-law to Emperor Xuanzong.
As he once wrote:
"Riding a donkey thirteen years,Living off others in the capital's spring.By day I knock at rich men's doors,By dusk I trail the dust of fat horses.Cold scraps and dregs everywhere—Silent sorrow hidden in my heart."
Yet to read Du Fu's complete body of work is to read the history of the Tang Empire's decline from splendor. The An Lushan Rebellion forged the Poet Sage, whose works would endure for ten thousand generations.
The Prime Minister of ShuDu Fu
Where shall the Prime Minister's shrine be found?Beyond Brocade City, cypresses dark and deep.Green grass reflects the steps in spring's own hue,Golden orioles sing beyond the leaves in vain.
Thrice he sought counsel for the realm's great plans,Serving two reigns with an old minister's heart.His campaign unfinished, his body already dead—Ever after, heroes weep with tears upon their sleeves.