"A quarter of an hour?"

Emperor Zhezong laughed when he heard this, "You kid aren't talking nonsense, are you?" ”

"Your Majesty is not in vain," said Wu Hao Gudao, "but the picture drawn in a quarter of an hour was drawn on paper with a special pencil, and the color was monotonous, which could only be seen by the officials and could not be passed on to future generations...... This is also the method of daily practice of his subordinates. ”

"Pencil?" Zhao Ji said, "Is it the lead of the lead?" ”

"Exactly."

The lead is somewhat similar to the pencil and wooden board of later generations. Among them, lead refers to black lead strips, which are not real pencils, but graphite grinding into powder and rubbing strips. Oak is a plank. The combination of the two is a simple writing instrument, which is a common tool used by officials. Wu Haogu found the "lead bar" very early, but after using it, he found that it was too soft and not suitable for sketching. Therefore, in the pen shop of Kaifeng Mansion, the "pencil" mixed with clay and wooden rod was customized - of course, it was not the same as the pencil of later generations, the lead bar was not wrapped in the wooden pole, but clamped in the groove of the head of the wooden pole, which was very inconvenient to use, so Wu Haogu usually used carbon strips to make drafts.

But what he plans to show Zhao Xu today is his sketching skills, so he doesn't use carbon strips - charcoal powder has poor adhesion ability and is not easy to preserve, while lead strips with graphite as the main component are not easy to erase off.

Wu Haogu also knew that the official Zhao Xu was not very interested in calligraphy and painting, he was concerned about military affairs! If Wu Haogu's painting skills play some role in military affairs, then the seat of the chief of the edict will be able to sit comfortably.

And sketching is definitely the strongest "spy painting" skill!

"Then let's draw it," Zhao Xu said, "and paint it in the Chongzheng Palace." ”

In a quarter of an hour, Zhao Xu could still wait.

Wu Hao said: "Rong Chen went down to get the painting tools." ”

Zhao Xu nodded: "Yes." ”

Wu Haogu bowed again, turned around and walked out of the Chongzheng Palace.

Zhao Xu watched him leave and frowned slightly: "It won't be a delusional person, right?" ”

This is asking Tong Guan, because Zhao Xu originally didn't know about Wu Haogu, and it was Tong Guan who talked to him.

Tong Guan arched his hand and said: "Your Majesty, Mi Youren, the son of Mi Fu, has worshiped Wu Haogu as a teacher and learned painting skills. ”

"Is that really the case?"

Zhao Xu doesn't pay much attention to calligraphy and painting, but he still knows who Mi Fu is.

"It's true," Tong Guan said, "Mi Youren returned to Kaifeng Mansion with Wu Haogu and the slaves. ”

When he was talking, another palace attendant announced: "The painting bureau is waiting for Zhaowu to ask for a meeting." ”

"Xuan."

When Wu Haogu came in, he only took a pack of pencils and a small drawing board with rice paper pasted.

Zhao Xu looked a little strange, so he asked, "What are you holding?" ”

"Your Majesty, it's a drawing board and a pencil." Wu Haogu replied.

Zhao Xu nodded, "Then let's draw it." ”

He didn't ask someone to time it, although Wu Haogu claimed that half an hour was enough, but as an official, he couldn't be careless.

Wu Haogu arched his hand and said: "The minister implores to sit on the ground and paint." ”

In the Chongzheng Palace, there is a bookcase for the Hanlin scholars and the scholars of the Middle School (used when the decree is drafted), but Wu Haogu did not see it, so he simply asked to sit on the ground and draw.

"Yes."

With Zhao Xu's permission, Wu Haogu sat down cross-legged opposite Tong Guan, skillfully put the drawing board on his lap, held it with his left hand, and took out the pencil with only a knife in his right hand. He had been a little nervous before, after all, it was the first time he had met you, and it was false to say that he was not afraid. However, when the willow carbon strip was held in his hand, his emotions had calmed down a lot.

Painting has long been an instinct for him, such as breathing, walking, blinking. Even if you are nervous, this instinct will not be forgotten.

Moreover, this painting in front of the emperor, to put it bluntly, is to fool the layman, as long as he takes out the level of 30% when he was admitted to the Academy of Fine Arts in the past, it is enough to impress Zhao Xu.

After taking a deep breath, Wu Haogu began to paint.

He did not paint a full-body portrait of Tong Guan, but drew a large head, that is, Tong Guan's head, neck, and shoulders. However, he drew more carefully, not only outlining the lines with his heart, but also using the chiaroscuro techniques of later generations.

Because of the solid foundation of more than ten years of painting and more than 100,000 sketches in his previous life, Wu Haogu's painting is like a cloud of water in his peers, one stroke at a time, all of which are just right, extremely smooth, and in a blink of an eye, a "Sketch of Tong Guan's Avatar" has been completed.

"Your Majesty, the minister has finished painting."

Finished drawing?

Zhao Xu was stunned, it didn't seem to be half an hour later, how could it be good?

"Tong Guan, present it."

"Whoa."

Wu Haogu carefully flattened the drawing board and handed it to Tong Guan with both hands.

"Officer Tong, please take it."

Tong Guan glanced at the sketchpad before taking it, and with the help of the dim light in the hall, he saw an incredible picture, just a combination of black and white (in fact, gray) and a bunch of lines, and drew a lifelike version of himself...... It's almost exactly like what he saw in the bronze mirror!

This martial arts is so ancient, and he is really the first person in the painting!

And...... This kind of "quick painting" ability, if it is used in spy painting, it is really powerful, others paint one, he can paint ten or twenty paintings, that is, the entire Daliao is put on drawing paper, maybe it is also possible!

The drawing board was carefully presented by Tong Guan to the imperial case in front of the official Zhao Xu. Zhao Xu glanced at it, and was immediately as surprised as Tong Guan.

The child in the painting is very similar to the real person...... Anyway, as long as you look at the painting, you will immediately know that it is Tong Guan! Take this painting, you can go to the Xiangshi to show Tong Guan.

"Sure enough, he has real skills!" Zhao Xu said again, "Wu Haogu, raise your head and look at me!" ”

Hearing this, Wu Haogu raised his head and looked at the young man on the throne wearing a red robe and a long head on his head.

Although the light was very dim, Wu Haogu could still see that Zhao Xu's face was gray and thin, as if he was sick. Thinking of the young emperor's age and early death in history, as well as the consequences of his early death, Wu Haogu had a feeling that his heart was like a knife.

If he doesn't die, there may not be Jingkang Tiantian in Huaxia......

"Do you see clearly?" Zhao Xu asked.

"See clearly." Wu Haogu somewhat understood what Zhao Xu meant.

The exam continues!

However, what Zhao Xu has to test this time is not only Wu Haogu's painting skills, but also his memory...... Or rather, the ability to memorize portraits.

Because there are a lot of people who can be seen, but they can't paint in person. For example, the Great Liao Emperor Yelu Hongji may not be willing to be an honest model of Wu Haogu.

"Remember?" Zhao Xu asked.

"Remembered." Wu Haogu replied.

Sketching from memory, also known as silent sketching, is a technique in sketching exercises, in which the artist relies on observation to remember the image characteristics, structure and dynamics of the model, and then performs silent sketching.

"I'll paint again," Zhao Xu said, "go back to the painting bureau and paint, and then show it to me when I'm done." ”

"Whoa."

Wu Haogu bowed, took his pack of carbon pencils, exited the Chongzheng Palace, and then walked back to the painting bureau not far away.

Liang Shicheng saw him coming quickly, thinking that he was going to take something, so he asked, "What do you need?" Why don't you let someone know? ”

"Is there rice paper? Bring it to me quickly. Wu Haogu didn't explain, so he directly asked for a copy of the birth announcement, then spread it out on the desk, and began to use a carbon pen to silently write the portrait of the official Zhao Xu.

Liang Shicheng stood aside and watched, only looked at it for a while, and his face changed greatly.

Isn't this an official painting?

And it's fast, and it's like ......

After drawing Zhao Xu's sketch, Wu Haogu found that Liang Shicheng was really standing beside him in a daze, so he arched his hand and asked, "Brother Shoudao, do you think I painted it?" ”

"Like, it's too much...... Even the official portraits collected in the palace are nothing more than that. ”

"That's good." Wu Haogu smiled, "Can you borrow pen and ink?" ”

"Okay, let's study ink for you."

"Thank you, sir."

Wu Haogu is not polite, he is the first day to come, there is no student service in the Hanlin Painting Academy, if you want to study ink first, and then paint, it will be delayed.

Just when Liang Shicheng was grinding for Wu Haogu with his hands and feet, Wu Haogu chose another cooked Xuan and a raw Xuan, glued them with paste, spread them out on the desk, and then chose a thin pen, and began to sketch them on the cooked rice paper according to the silent sketch.

This time it is a white portrait, it is a bust, the painting is not complicated, it is completely realistic, and it does not use the technique of "Wu with the wind" - in fact, it is a Northern Song Dynasty version of the "ID photo", not to mention any artistry, but it is definitely real enough to resemble, just used to paint spy paintings.

Holding the "spy painting photo" that had just been painted and the ink had not dried thoroughly, Wu Haogu entered the Chongzheng Hall again.

"Your Majesty, the minister has finished painting."

Zhao Xu nodded with satisfaction. This time, the time of Wu Hao Guhua is not long, so I don't know how to paint?

"Bring it in."

This time, it was Yang Jian who took the drawing paper from Wu Haogu's hand and held it in front of Zhao Xu.

Zhao Xu leaned forward, looked at the picture carefully, and then smiled slightly: "Wu Haogu, you are really the first person in the painting!" ”

Is this Miguchi's own seal?

Wu Haogu thought in his heart, and said a few words of modesty: "The minister's painting skills are just a small law, and it is really not enough to worry about." ”

"If Xiaofa is used in the right place, it can also benefit the country and the people, and it can benefit the country and the people, so it can't be said that it is not enough." Unlike his younger brother as an artist, Zhao Xu's request for "painting" is not based on art, but out of practicality.

So even if Wu Haogu took out "Pan Su'er's Smile" and put it in front of him, he wouldn't feel how good it was. But if Wu Haogu can paint the portraits of Yanyun Chengguan and the monarchs and ministers of the Liao Dynasty and bring them to him, it will be a great achievement.

However, Zhao Xu's summoning of Wu Haogu today was not all because of his painting skills, he had other things to ask.

"Tong Guan and I said, Ma Zhi is your friend?" Zhao Xu paused, and looked at Wu Haogu with blazing eyes, "Do you know his details?" ”

Ma Zhi?

That's not a good question to answer!

If Wu Haogu said it truthfully, then the lawlessness of the Ximen Qing family would have to be exposed!

And...... The Ximen clan is the descendants of the Youzhou Yabing Group, and there are many comrades in the Liao State. What will Zhao Xu think about this? What would Prime Minister Zhang Tun and Privy Envoy Zeng Bu think?

"Your Majesty," Wu Haogu pondered, "as far as the minister knows, Ma Zhi is a maritime merchant...... There is also a body of martial arts, and his knowledge is also very extensive, and he got acquainted with him when he traveled to Yuntai Mountain in Haizhou. ”

"Maritime?"

Wu Haogu nodded and said: "As far as the minister knows, the Ma family is engaged in trade in the East China Sea, and his family's sea boats can go directly to Suzhou in Liao, Haizhou in Goryeo, and Hakata in Japan from Haizhou, Mizhou, Dengzhou and other ports. ”

"Can you go across the sea to Suzhou in Liao?" Zhao Xu groaned in a low voice, thoughtful.