Wu Tong and the "Western Madman" Situ Kong clasped hands in farewell.One day later, Wu Tong caught up with the escort transporting the exiles bound for Yelang. He stepped directly in front of the marching column.
A soldier at the front barked,"Who dares obstruct officers of the court?"
Wu Tong produced an official command token and said calmly,"By imperial decree, the former Hanlin Academician Li Bai is to be released immediately. Here are the edict and the release documents."
Upon seeing the imperial insignia, the commanding officer dropped to one knee and declared,"Your order is received."
He took the documents, examined them carefully several times, then said respectfully,"My surname is Wang, my given name Song. That Lord Wu has come in person shows how deep the bond is between Lord Zhang Gao and yourself."
After a pause, he gave the order in a firm voice:"Bring forth the exile Li Bai!"
Before long, the soldiers escorted forward a frail elderly man. He appeared around sixty years of age. Wang Song said,"Hanlin Academician Li Bai, this journey has been hard on you. You have been pardoned by His Majesty. You are now a free man."
The old man was none other than Li Bai, ill-fated in his later years. After Prince Yong's rebellion failed and the prince was executed, Li Bai had been implicated and imprisoned. His temples were now white with age, no longer the reckless, brilliant youth of former days—
'A man who cannot spread his wings in wind and cloud,Wastes the heaven-given stature of eight feet.'
At this moment, Li Bai was instead the poet who wrote:
'My white hair stretches three thousand fathoms long—Each strand born of sorrow.Before the bright mirror, I cannot tell,Where autumn frost first touched my brow.'
Li Bai knelt and bowed deeply."Boundless imperial grace—this commoner Li Bai thanks His Majesty!"
Wang Song said,"This gentleman is Wu Tong, Hall Master of the Loyalty Hall, who has come by fast courier under Lord Zhang Gao's orders with the edict and documents."
Wu Tong stepped forward."Hanlin Academician, Lord Zhang Gao entrusted me to bring you these two robes. Please change into them."
He then turned to Wang Song and said,"Lord Wang, may I trouble you to allow the Academician a moment to change?"
Wang Song nodded."Brother Li, change out of the prison garb and depart with Hall Master Wu."
The exhaustion on Li Bai's face finally softened into a faint smile. He received the robes from Wu Tong's hands. Thinking of his old friend Zhang Gao far away in Chang'an, emotion overcame him, and two lines of hot tears streamed down his face. He withdrew to change, and before long returned, bowing deeply.
"This commoner Li Bai thanks Your Excellency for your care along the road. I take my leave."
Wang Song replied solemnly,"You are a man of immense learning and talent for governing the world. As the saying goes, only in fierce winds is the strength of grass revealed. The court will surely employ you again in time."
Wu Tong said,"Elder, let us go."
Wu Tong and his companions bowed to Wang Song and departed. Wu Tong offered his own horse to Li Bai, while he rode together with Ling Xian'er. The three reached an inn, bathed, and changed clothes.
It was already the hour of shen (late afternoon). After washing, they seated themselves on the second floor of the inn. Few guests were present, and preparations for dinner began.
Li Bai said,"Hall Master Wu, could you prepare writing implements for me?"
Wu Tong smiled."A small matter."
He raised his voice."Waiter!"
The inn attendant hurried over."What would the guests like to order?"
Wu Tong replied,"Bring us the finest dishes, a jug of your best wine—and most importantly, prepare brush, ink, paper, and inkstone."
He handed over ten taels of silver."Keep the change."
The waiter's eyes lit up."At once!"
Soon the dishes and wine were served."The writing implements will arrive shortly—we've sent someone to buy them."
Ling Xian'er rose and poured wine for the three. Li Bai's love of wine was known to all. Du Fu once wrote:
'Li Bai, with a single jug, writes a hundred poems,Sleeps in wine shops along the streets of Chang'an.'
Wu Tong said,"Elder, please eat and drink."
Li Bai raised his cup."To Hall Master Wu and Madam—thank you for riding day and night, sparing no effort for a man like me. This cup is my salute."
They drank together. Afterward Wu Tong said,"You must be hungry. Let us drink lightly first."
After days of coarse fare on the road to exile, Li Bai ate heartily.
Once the meal ended, the waiter returned with the writing implements. Wu Tong asked him to clear the table. The waiter smiled.
"So the guests are scholars! Let me prepare another table for you—leave this to me."
They moved to a clean table. Li Bai said quietly,"Lord Zhang Gao's kindness is as heavy as a mountain. I have nothing with which to repay him. I can only offer a poem."
Ling Xian'er ground the ink. Wu Tong and Li Bai trimmed the paper. Li Bai dipped his brush and wrote swiftly, his calligraphy powerful yet unrestrained. He wrote:
*'When Lord Zhang took command in JingzhouAnd was appointed Crown Prince's Attendant,I was exiled to Yelang.We were a thousand miles apart…This poem is my reply.
Zhang Heng knew sorrow—his Four Griefs still remain.Ashamed, I receive your brocade verse,A comfort for longing hearts.
The great bird spreads its wings once more,The phoenix dreams of its old pool.Honor and joy return alike—Like purple mushrooms of Mount Shang.'*
When the ink dried, Li Bai folded the poem and handed it to Wu Tong.
"Hall Master Wu, please deliver this to Lord Zhang Gao."
Wu Tong accepted it solemnly."The bond between you and Lord Zhang transcends distance and mountains. I am deeply moved. I will ensure your poem reaches him."
Moved by their friendship, Wu Tong reflected that in ancient times, friendship stood among the Five Human Bonds, holding a place of great importance.
He called out,"Waiter! Two more jugs of fine wine and two small dishes!"
Turning to Li Bai, he said,'Within the four seas, all men are brothers—who then is a stranger on the road?'"Elder, your brilliance is known to the world. To meet you today, I must drink with you."
They sat together. It was early winter—evening clouds gather, snow threatens to fall; will you share one more cup?
Li Bai lifted his cup and gazed into the distance."This cup I offer to my old friend afar."
He drank it dry, bold and unrestrained.
Ling Xian'er poured again. After several rounds, Li Bai sighed,"I hear Lord Zhang executed the Governor of Haozhou, Lü Qiu Xiao?"
Ling Xian'er answered,"He delayed military orders, which led to Zhang Xun's martyrdom. When Lord Zhang arrived, Suiyang had already fallen for three days. He acted according to military law."
Slightly drunk, Li Bai recited:
'When poplar catkins fall and cuckoos cry,I hear Longbiao lies beyond Five Streams.I entrust my sorrow to the bright moon—Let it follow the wind to the west of Yelang.'
This poem was written for Wang Changling, famed as the "Sage of Seven-Character Quatrains," Li Bai's close friend. When Wang was demoted to a minor post, Li Bai composed these lines to express sympathy and longing.
Thus, poets of the Tang dynasty often met through verse, forging friendships beyond words.