Hanzi

During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, there was a talented scholar named Wang Xun. From a young age, he was quick-witted and exceptionally bold, excelling in both prose and poetry. At just twenty years old, he was appointed Chief Clerk by the Grand Marshal Huan Wen.

On one occasion, Huan Wen wished to test Wang Xun's courage. During a council meeting at the Grand Marshal's residence, Huan Wen deliberately rode a horse from the back hall directly into the main assembly hall. All the other staff members were startled, scattering in fright, but Wang Xun remained calm and composed, sitting still. Huan Wen sighed in admiration, saying, "One who can remain seated in the face of a galloping horse will surely become a prominent figure!"

Another time, Huan Wen tested Wang Xun's talent. While the staff were discussing affairs, he secretly had Wang Xun's prepared speech manuscript taken away. When it was Wang Xun's turn to speak, he delivered his points fluently and eloquently without a pause. Huan Wen then compared his speech with the retrieved manuscript and found that while the content was identical, not a single word was the same. He was immensely impressed by Wang Xun's quick wit and literary prowess.

One night, Wang Xun had a dream in which someone presented him with a writing brush as large as a rafter. Upon waking, he told his family, "I dreamed someone gave me a brush as big as a rafter. It seems I am destined for some great literary undertaking."

Wang Xun's prophecy quickly came true. That very morning, Emperor Xiaowu suddenly passed away. Due to Wang Xun's outstanding literary skills, the court entrusted him with drafting all the important documents, including the elegy, the obituary, and the posthumous title for the late emperor. Such a rare honor was seldom seen in history.