What is the metaphor of Hongyan's biography?
Hongyan delivers books, also known as flying pigeon delivers books, which refers to correspondence and correspondence with Hongyan. Hongyan is a large migratory bird, which moves southward every autumn, often causing homesickness and wandering sorrow.
Legend has it that when Liu Bang, the Emperor Gaozu, was surrounded by Xiang Yu, the overlord of Chu, he sent letters by carrier pigeons, which attracted reinforcements to escape from danger. Zhang Qian and Ban Chao went to the Western Regions, and pigeons were also used to send messages to the royal family. During the reign of Qing Qianlong, a pigeon-letting party was held in Foshan, Guangdong, China in May and June every year, with thousands of pigeons participating every year, with a distance of about 400 miles. At that time, there were similar pigeon racing activities in Shanghai, Beijing and other places. The earliest written record of sending messages abroad by carrier pigeons was found in 530 BC, when carrier pigeons were used to convey the results of the Olympic Games.
Hongyan is synonymous with letters, sometimes called postman. Why is "Hongyan" called a letter and postman? Tracing back to the source, during the Han Dynasty, Su Wu was sent to Xiongnu, and Khan was exiled to the North Sea to herd sheep. 10 years later, when the Han Dynasty approached the Huns, Khan still refused to let Su Wu return to Han. Chang Hui, who went to the Huns with Su Wu, secretly told Ambassador China about Su Wu, and designed Ambassador China to tell Khan that the Han emperor killed a wild goose when hunting, and a letter was tied to the goose's foot, telling him that Su Wu was herding sheep in a swamp. Upon hearing this, Khan only asked Su Wu to go back to Han. Later, people used Hongyan as a metaphor for letters and messengers.