Lu You (1125-1210), a Chinese poet of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), had a lifelong dream – to fight against the Jin Dynasty and reclaim lost territories of his homeland, but his aspiration was never fulfilled. 

 

Lu You was so close to his dream once in Sichuan. In 1172, he was hired to do strategic planning in the military in Nanzheng, Sichuan (today's Hanzhong, Shaanxi). Standing at the front, the man and countless soldiers were itching for the fight against the Jin troops in the north to bring a divided country back together. But Lu's military plan was vetoed by the court before their ambition came true. Sighing in grief and depression, Lu You was posted to Chengdu where he had a life of leisure hereafter.

 

In 1190, 65-year-old Lu You was dismissed and returned to his hometown Shanyin (today's Shaoxing, Zhejiang). Leading a plain and tranquil life in seclusion from then on, Lu gradually became a cat person.

 

Edited by Wu Cuiyao