Forty degrees north latitude: a good book that brings me a lot of confusion.

In the almost unanimous praise of my friends, I dug out Mr. Chen Fumin's masterpiece Forty Degrees North from that pile of books. Holding this "fiery red" book in my hand, I am very alert: reading is a very personal thing. Those good books with one voice are all selected by time. A new book, which came out soon, was praised in this way. Does anyone follow the trend or even "play in friendship"?

On the cover of the gold lettering on a red background, the striking black Chinese character "40 degrees north latitude" was written by Mr. Chen Fumin himself. The word is like a man, and this good word adds a side note to the flood of praise from my friends, urging me to hurry up to 40 degrees north latitude.

After the preface, the first article is about the rider who failed to reach the finish line. Riding a horse is Wang Wuling of Zhao. In that pile of historical papers, the riders are emperors and princes who have enjoyed the scenery for a while. "Some people are dead, but he is still alive", but in the memory of ordinary readers, this rider, King Wuling of Zhao, even if he is alive, can only accompany him to the bottom of the records of ancient emperors in China. "Needless to say, Emperor Hanwu of the Qin Dynasty, Tang Zong and Song Zu were not particularly dazzling roles even in the star-studded Warring States history." With this conclusion, why did Mr. Chen Fumin let King Wuling of Zhao be the pioneer of the 40-degree North?

1903, Mr. Liang Qichao published a self-written article in Xinmin, which was edited by him. The title of the book is actually the biography of Zhao Wuling, the first great man after the Yellow Emperor. Liang Qichao has the spirit of never giving up. From 1903 to 2022, one hundred years suddenly became history again. During this hundred years, did the evaluation of King Wuling of Zhao turn over the historical position because of an eye-catching article by Liang Qichao? Mr. Chen Fumin added: "It is estimated that orthodox historians will laugh when they say that King Wuling of Zhao is the first great man after the Yellow Emperor. The naming method of the titles of Liang Rengong's articles despises Yao Shunyu, Duke Zhou and Confucius, which is totally unorthodox. This is a taboo for the fair and gentle expression of China orthodox culture, and it is not too serious academically. That is to say, Mr. Chen Fumin, a doctor of literature who has received strict academic training, wants to take this as a starting point and set the record straight. Not really! Liang Qichao's articles are somewhat grandiose for riders who can reach the finish line, but they are not grandiose in terms of the historical position of King Wuling of Zhao. Only two major events he accomplished, namely, riding and shooting and building the Great Wall in northern Zhao, were enough to help him "shine in history and benefit future generations", and the earliest Great Wall he built in northern China was located in the geographical zone of 40 degrees north latitude. Reminds me of the details that I neglected when I read the story of King Wuling of Zhao, and at the same time, I suddenly realized why the book was named 40 degrees north latitude: The Rider who didn't reach the finish line, with King Wuling of Zhao as the leading role, contained * *11,and Mr. Chen Fumin chose historical events related to the geographical area of 40 degrees north latitude, such as Waterloo of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. Because the specific geographical location of Deng Baishan in both versions is about 40 degrees north latitude. Later, it became my favorite article, entitled "Then, let's go to Luoyang". The protagonist of the article, Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty, wants to leave Pingcheng, the capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty, and move to Luoyang, because the ideal and plump emperor doesn't want to dwell on 40 degrees north latitude and go south! -Mr. Chen Fumin rearranged the historical stories of some historical figures about 40 degrees north latitude. This practice is not new. There are not a few books and films about 38 degrees north latitude. Why do my friends, who can be called reading seeds, applaud without hesitation in the face of 40 degrees north latitude?

In fact, after reading the third article in the book, Song of the Losers, I think I have read their minds.

The protagonist of Song of Losers is Li Guang, a flying general.

Articles selected into senior high school Chinese textbooks, such as Xinlingjun Stole Symbols to Save Zhao, Biographies of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru, Biographies of Qu Yuan and Hongmen Banquet, are excerpted from Biographies of Wei Gongzi, Lian Po and Lin Xiangru, Biographies of Qu Yuan and Jia Sheng and Biographies of Xiang Yu. And an excerpt from "Selected Works of Zhaoming to Ren Anshu" tells us that Sima Qian is "more generous than sad" outside the historical records. We will read "Biography of General Li" in the future, and we will be convinced of the general image written by Tai Shigong. "General Li is broad, and Longxi is also a successful person." Therefore, in the tree, migration becomes discipline. Guang Jia has been shot for generations. In the 14th year of Emperor Xiaowen, the Xiongnu entered Xiaoguan, widely used good soldiers to join the army to attack Hu, and used good riding and shooting to kill the first road, which was Hanzhong Lang. "

Mr. Chen Fumin's Song of the Loser lists a large number of reliable historical materials, but the conclusion about Li Guang is: "Although he has fought many battles, he has not achieved a decent record. At the beginning of a war, we often lose our troops in armor, and we are either defeated or captured, with a tragic ending. When he was questioned by his superiors again because he lost his way and delayed his fighter, he chose to commit suicide or refused to take responsibility. " Mr. Chen Fumin's conclusion is a blow to readers who have never thought about and can't question Sima Qian's Historical Records. In particular, Mr. Chen added "or refused to take responsibility" after his judgment that "he chose to commit suicide", which directly disintegrated the image of the iron frame general erected by Tai Shigong more than 2,000 years ago.

Of course, the flying general Li Guang's Waterloo is not a big problem for today. However, for readers at 40 degrees north latitude, Li Guang, a flying general, has been turned into a clay tire by Mr. Chen Fumin's crawling comb, and the formation range is not small: even Sima Qian's Historical Records is suspicious. So, are the historical figures who we think have clearly separated Zang and Fei really settled? And Mr. Chen Fumin also saw the inevitable swing of readers. In the chapters after Song of the Losers, historical figures or events such as Wang Zhaojun, Sima Shi's Jin Dynasty, Emperor Xiaowen's move to the capital, Anshi Rebellion, etc. All these are based on the information he has accumulated in the long-term historical and geographical research process, which provides his opinions and can guide readers to think from many directions.

Therefore, the publication of 40 degrees north latitude received rave reviews. Every article in Forty Degrees North tells readers that on the basis of having information, not being lazy to think and having one's own opinions is the meaning of reading. The question is, in that case, isn't it more confusing to read more books?