Following Nick's description, the provincial graduate dipped a finger in wine and wrote on the table what had been written on the scrap of paper that had appeared from who knew where:
The Central Plains people are numerous, and the Celestial Dynasty is prosperous and flourishing.
Many lands bow before the people of the Central Plains, and countless masses pay them homage.
The Manchus used cunning tricks to seize our Central Plains. If this hatred goes unavenged, we will disgrace our ancestors.
Recruit troops and buy horses. Rise in revolt.
Organize an army! Take up arms! Wipe out every last Manchu!
The provincial graduate wrote in Yan Zhenqing's regular script, which he had learned from Grand Secretary Liang Guozhi of the Eastern Pavilion. Liang was one of the deputy chief editors revising the Complete Library of the Four Branches. Since he had reformed archive management while serving as Jiangning's Provincial Administration Commissioner, the archives of the Hall of Literary Brilliance were also under his charge.
As they went back and forth, the provincial graduate became acquainted with him. Once they were familiar with each other, Liang Guozhi recommended regular script to him.
Qianlong liked Wang Xizhi's small regular script. Regular script was also more suitable for writing memorials.
Whether Yan Zhenqing's or Wang Xizhi's calligraphy was better depended on the person. Wang Xizhi's brushwork was free and elegant, while Yan Zhenqing transformed lean hardness into rich grace, much as people of the Tang dynasty regarded plumpness as beauty.
Liang Guozhi was a relatively incorruptible official, but when copying Yan Zhenqing's model calligraphy, he used silk paper. Such paper was generally used for meticulous brush paintings and was rather expensive, mainly used by the imperial family and nobility.
In other words, once outside the palace, Liang Guozhi could not afford such