However, in any case, Ji Xiaolan tried his best to be an official. During the Ganjia period of academic Sheng Xing, this choice was also intriguing. "Career ups and downs like gulls, life and death books like ants." This is Ji Xiaolan's own elegy and a true portrayal of his life experience.

"I did what was happening in the king's world and won my reputation before and after my death." Xin Qiji's ci expresses the heroic dream in the traditional mind: to help the monarch dominate the world and leave a name for future generations. By the middle of Qing dynasty, the situation had changed. Emperor Qianlong wanted to unify the nation's ideology and culture, so the battle on the battlefield turned into cultural cleansing. In the stormy times, Ji Xiaolan shouldered the historical responsibility and became the editor-in-chief of the Catalogue of Sikuquanshu. Previously, this famous scholar commented on many academic classics and famous poems, and also wrote the notes of Yuewei Caotang, but none of them can be compared with Sikuquanshu. Become the greatest honor in Ji Xiaolan's life. Behind this glory is the life track of a scholar-type official.

1724, Ji Xiaolan was born in Cui Zhuang, xian county, Hejian region. His birth was accompanied by various magical stories: his grandfather Ji Tianshen dreamed that a fire flashed into the building, and then Ji Xiaolan was born; Some people say that Ji Xiaolan is the reincarnation of the Fire Spirit: xian county has had the custom of expelling the Fire Spirit since the Five Dynasties. It is said that the fire spirit is female and appears naked in the fire. The day before Ji Xiaolan was born, the local fire elves were discovered. People hit bronze to drive it away, and the fire spirit flashed into Ji's house. At this time, Ji Xiaolan was born, his earlobe was perforated, his feet were white and pointed, and he looked like a fire elf. In addition to the reincarnation of the fire spirit, there are legends of the reincarnation of the python spirit and the monkey spirit: there is a python near Ji's home, which disappeared after birth; Ji Xiaolan likes to eat hazelnuts, chestnuts, pears and dates since he was a child, but he can't stop eating them, and his temper is particularly active. He can't sit still for a moment. This association is also related to Ji Xiaolan's name. His name is Ji Yun, and the words "Xiaolan" and "Cloud" mean sunshine. In its name, it is related to the monster.

According to the legend of unofficial history, the birth of celebrities is often accompanied by visions, but there are few similar magical performances after Ji Xiaolan was born: when he was two or three years old, several clay dolls dressed in colorful clothes and holding golden hair played with him and affectionately called him brother; At the age of four, Ji Xiaolan was as bright as a torch, and there was no obstacle to seeing things in the dark. After seven or eight years old, his eyesight gradually became the same as that of ordinary people. 3 1 year-old, please ask for divination before the middle school entrance examination, and measure the word "ink": the black part is the second and fourth place, the next four points are "Shu" feet, and the scholar is the prefix "Ji", which means entering the Imperial Academy as an identity, and things will be discussed later; When I was studying in Fujian in my prime, two men in red appeared on the treetops of Tang Bai in imperial academy, bowed to him and gradually disappeared. -These many miracles are not anecdotes, but what Ji Xiaolan himself said, which can be found in his "Four Ku Quanshu". Not only Ji Xiaolan, but also some of his relatives and friends had strange experiences. If we sum up the adventures of Ji Xiaolan, his family and friends in Yuewei Caotang Notes, we can probably compile an adventure of the Qing Dynasty.

Readers must be curious to know what Ji Xiaolan is like with all kinds of legendary experiences. According to the description of the Qing dynasty, he was "ugly" and "nearsighted", that is to say, he was not only ugly, but also nearsighted and didn't look tall. Ji Xiaolan, however, has an astute nature and likes to tease people. His classmates who studied together when he was a child, and officials who grew up in the same dynasty, were all teased by him. His spoofs are often related to words, which are unexpected but reasonable. On one occasion, young Ji Xiaolan and several children from his neighbor's house kicked rattan balls and hit the sedan chair of a passing county magistrate. The magistrate picked up the rattan ball, and the children sent Ji Xiaolan to get it. When the magistrate saw that he was

Ji Xiaolan became more sensitive to words when he grew up. One summer, many new fans were added to the palace. Emperor Qianlong ordered Ji Xiaolan to write an inscription for his favorite fan. This article is selected from Notes on Reading Poems in Wei Caotang written by Tang Dynasty poet Wang Zhihuan. The original text of this poem is: "The Yellow River is far above the white clouds, and Wan Ren Mountain is an isolated city; Why did Qiangdi complain about Liu Yang? Spring breeze can't reach Yumen Pass. " In the inscription, Ji Xiaolan inadvertently missed the word "The Yellow River is far above the white clouds". After reading it, the dragon threw the fan back unhappily and said he lied to you! When Ji Xiaolan saw it, he realized that he had missed a word. He said slowly and unhurriedly, "Your Majesty, this is not a poem, but a word." I read it to the saints: The Yellow River is far above, white clouds are everywhere, and the lonely city is Wan Ren. Why does Johnny complain? Willow and spring breeze are less than Yumen Pass. "After Ji Xiaolan broke that poem, Liangzhou Ci really changed from a poem to a word. Dragon laughed and praised Ji Xiaolan for his cleverness.

Ji Xiaolan is also a real person, who likes impatience and hearsay, telling his bizarre experiences everywhere, and even taking off his shoes and socks to curious people many times to show off his pointed feet like foot binding. His daily life is also different from ordinary people: he doesn't eat rice and noodles, and his diet is mainly meat, with a meal of two or three pounds; Although I like meat, I never eat duck. I always think duck meat stinks. I accidentally ate it and immediately threw up. Good at smoking, using a big hookah, called "Ji cauldron".

Ji Xiaolan is really an interesting person, and anecdotes about him have been widely circulated since the Qianlong period. People appreciate and love his wit. They embellished the cycle, even made it out of nothing, and attached irrelevant things to him, such as disagreement with Xiao Shenyang. In fact, Ji Xiaolan never teased Xiao Shenyang in history, but only dissuaded him when his friend Cao Xibao impeached Xiao Shenyang. The reason why Ji Xiaolan is portrayed as an ideal figure who is not afraid of authority in film and television dramas only reflects people's imagination of his humor, integrity, wit and erudition. As a legend, Ji Xiaolan's humor and wit masked his true temperament; As an official, his success in official career masked his depression and sadness.

Ji Xiaolan, like others, passed the science examination and entered the official career. Compared with Pu Songling, Ji Xiaolan is much luckier: 17 years old, should be a teenager and become a scholar; At the age of 24, he took the provincial exam and won the first place; Jishi Shu, a senior high school scholar of 3 1 year-old, ranked fourth in the imperial examination and was elected as the top scholar in imperial academy, and began his long career as a literary courtier. During Ji Xiaolan's stay in imperial academy, one of his main tasks was to accompany his entourage and write poems and chapters. Dragon is also a poet. He wrote many poems, so Ji Xiaolan wrote many hymns. This kind of poem is usually balanced, mainly praising. Now it seems meaningless, but it was unusual in Ji Xiaolan at that time. They won the favor of Emperor Qianlong for Ji Xiaolan and won the "Tianyu Award". Emperor Qianlong's appreciation had a decisive influence on Ji Xiaolan's life.

From 1756 to 1768, Ji Xiaolan had a smooth and quiet time. Because of the appreciation of emperor Qianlong, he was promoted step by step: 1763, he served as an official in Fujian, studied politics, and was promoted to a scholar; 1768, according to the usual practice, he should be on a business trip and be awarded the magistrate of Duyun Prefecture, Guizhou Province. However, due to his excellent knowledge, Gan Long thought that he could not give full play to his position as a local official, so he was appointed with four titles. Stay in Zuo Chunfang and Zuo Shuzi, bachelor of Hanlin Academy. This exceptional promotion was very glorious in the society at that time. However, in Ji Xiaolan's prosperous and ambitious year, his life took a dramatic turn, and he was found guilty and dismissed. His former courtiers were all sent to Urumqi as prisoners, but today they are sent to Urumqi.

It was Lu Jianzeng's case that led to a major turning point in Ji Xiaolan's life. 1768, the newly appointed Lianghuai Salt Administration Bureau failed to ask for bribes from salt merchants. The last letter of the paper exposed the blessing of former general Yance, saying that he engaged in embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds during his tenure, which aroused the anger of Emperor Qianlong and ordered a thorough investigation. Due to the corruption of salt policy, Shi Lu, a salt transporter from Huaibei to Huaibei, who had already retired, was also arrested and imprisoned. Emperor Qianlong ordered "immediately sealed, no one can hide." However, when Lu's home was searched, it was found that there was nothing of value in his home. Emperor Qianlong was very angry and thought that someone had tipped him off and asked Lujia to transfer his property. Later, it was discovered that the informer was Ji Xiaolan. What's the relationship with Lou? There are three sons and three daughters. The eldest daughter married Lu, and her grandfather was Lu Jianzeng. At that time, Ji Xiaolan had been promoted to a bachelor's degree and was able to enter and leave the court. When he heard a little wind, he told his son-in-law Lu that the court was investigating the salt affairs in Huaibei. Lu met a doctor, Wang Chang, and Wang Chang told him that salt had been harmful for a long time, so he quickly wrote a letter to his family. The result is naturally a tragedy. Ji Xiaolan and Wang Chang were convicted of leaking secrets, while the principal offender Lu Jianzeng died in prison.

There is no trace of experience in the history books, but the folk version is lively and interesting: afraid of in-laws looking for trouble, they sealed salt and tea in a blank envelope and ordered people to send them to Lujia overnight. Lu was puzzled at first and tried to figure it out again and again before he realized the mystery: the salt case was investigated, so he immediately transferred his assets. Ji Xiaolan's wonderful answer to Emperor Qianlong's interrogation was also circulated among the people: "The emperor enforced the law strictly and conformed to heaven; I am jealous of my affair, and I still follow the bad habits of human relations. " The dragon laughed. Although the play is wonderful, Ji Xiaolan's life has really changed a lot. He was exiled to Urumqi for about two and a half years. Because of his outstanding literary talent, he mainly works as a copywriter in the garrison, and his actions are relatively free. On the contrary, he didn't suffer much damage. But because of the customs of the western regions, we have broadened our horizons and increased our knowledge. 1770, when Ji Xiaolan was 47 years old, he was kindly put back by Emperor Qianlong. In June of the following year, he trudged back to Beijing and rejoined the Hanlin.

When I first entered Hanlin, I was a new bachelor; Re-enter the Imperial Academy to pardon criminals. At that time, the youth who denounced Fang Qiu had deeply realized the impermanence of the world and the hardships of life, and no longer had the mentality of that year. "Life is happy and lost, and Wan Li follows" is a regret for his previous happy life; "It's better to fly than to hurt a bird", which is the fear of the unpredictable future; "No, I'm to blame for rushing to camp, biting my banquet and entertaining nymphs. Although there is a tacit understanding, birth and accession to the WTO are contradictory. " There must be a reward for your confidant, your affection is the most sacred, and your Lord's grace is like heaven. "This is the official choice after hesitation. These poems were written by Ji Xiaolan when he just returned from Urumqi during the period of Liangzhou Ci, which truly reflected his mentality at that time.

Despite the setbacks, Ji Xiaolan resolutely joined the official career again. On June+10, 65438, when he returned to Beijing, Ji Xiaolan met Luan Miyun, just as the Turkic Ministry had surrendered, and Ji Xiaolan made an article contribution, which was rewarded by Emperor Qianlong and re-edited by the Imperial Academy. 1773, the imperial court opened the Siku Quanshu Museum. Ji Xiaolan was recommended by Liu Tongxun, a university student, and was appointed as the editor-in-chief of Sikuquanshu Library by Emperor Qianlong. Ji Xiaolan was just 50 years old that year. For him, compiling a lonely sitting map is the most important thing in his life, which takes 10 years. Ji Xiaolan was promoted to a bachelor's degree in the Cabinet after completing the compilation of The Four Ku Quanshu and The General Outline. Assistant secretary of state grant

In his later years, Ji Xiaolan was a literary courtier in the eyes of Emperor Qianlong, although he was a senior official. 1785, Yuan Wailang Haisheng beat his wife to death, and Zuodu Shi Yu Ji Xiaolan participated in the trial, which was denounced as "useless greed" by Emperor Qianlong. In 786 AD, Cao Xibao impeached Liu Quan, a slave in Shenyang, which had nothing to do with Ji Xiaolan. However, Emperor Qianlong obviously doubted Ji Xiaolan in the imperial edict, speculating that he was dissatisfied with small Shenyang and secretly incited it. Although Ji Xiaolan was not involved in this matter afterwards, Ji Xiaolan's inner panic can be imagined, so his words and deeds became more and more forbearing and obedient. In his spare time, he just sits alone burning incense and writing books. As for the death of Emperor Qianlong, Emperor Jiaqing acceded to the throne, taking Ji Xiaolan as a veteran and being polite without any real responsibility. Otherwise, you will not be awarded the title of college student until you die.

However, in any case, Ji Xiaolan tried his best to be an official. During the Ganjia period of academic Sheng Xing, this choice was also intriguing. At the same time, the great poet and thinker Yuan Mei was eight years older than Ji Xiaolan. He became famous as a teenager. He was a top student in high school and was chosen as Jishi Shu of imperial academy, but he didn't stay. Instead, he was released to a magistrate. I have been in business for more than ten years, retiring from the countryside and caring for mountains and rivers. In the same year, scholars Qian Daxin and Ji Xiaolan were also known as "South Qian Bei Ji". He resigned in the prime of his life to concentrate on his studies. At the same time, Zhang Xuecheng, who has made great achievements in history, chose not to go after being admitted to the imperial examination. Compared with these scholars, Ji Xiaolan, a scholar, is secular, and Ji Xiaolan, an official, is lonely and helpless. Ji Xiaolan is an official, a scholar, a writer and so on. From the value point of view, he is a scholar at first, leaving four complete works, which play an irreplaceable role in academic history. "Career ups and downs like gulls, life and death books like ants." This is Ji Xiaolan's own elegy and a true portrayal of his life experience.