On the sixth day of the second month, Xu Shu’s classmate Cui Hong came to Shouchun.

Military Advisor General's Mansion

"Senior Brother Yuanzhi, what are you doing?" Cui Hong was pulled by Xu Shu and walked towards the living room, asking curiously. Today, as soon as the senior brothers met, Xu Shu said that he wanted to give Cui Hong a surprise.

Cui Hong was very confused and asked repeatedly what surprise he was, but Xu Shu just smiled and refused to answer.

"Haha..." Xu Shu didn't look back and just smiled, "You'll know when you wait!"

Soon, the two of them had already arrived at the living room. As soon as they stepped into the hall door, they heard two completely different voices ringing almost at the same time, one showing loud and ostentatiousness and the other showing gentleness and restraint.

"Zhouping, don't be fine!"

Cui Hong suddenly looked up and looked at Xunsheng. His face suddenly felt very happy and said loudly: "Kong Ming! Shi Yuan!...you are all here?!!!"

Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong and Shiran came to Cui Hong and nodded with a smile.

At this time, Xu Shu suddenly stretched out his right hand. Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, and Cui Hong understood and stacked his right hand on Xu Shu's hand one after another. This was one of the Lumen Learning Etiquettes that Pang Degong specially formulated to teach his disciples to cherish their classmates.

"Hahaha..." The four of them laughed loudly at the same time, throwing all the etiquettes they had on their daily lives behind their heads, and for a moment it seemed like they were back to the days when they were studying in Lumen.

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After sitting down, Xu Shu and the other three asked Cui Hong about the situation after leaving the army, chatting and laughing, and having fun.

"...Shi Yuan, there has been no news of you for more than a year. I didn't expect you to join the command of Uncle Liu!" Cui Hong shook his head and said with a smile.

"Huh~~!" Pang Tong also remembered the jokes he had with Cui Hong, Meng Jian and Shi Tao when he was in the army. He smiled and sighed.

At that time, Pang Tong vowed to surrender to Sun Quan, and then he would "fight" with Zhuge Liang and compare. After the times changed, Pang Tong himself also found it a little funny when he thought of the words at that time.

"Zhouping, you and Guangyuan are really patient. You have been living in seclusion for more than a year!" Pang Tong stroked his short beards on his chin, showing an expression of incredible belief.

"If Yuan Zhi hadn't sent someone to invite him this time, I'm afraid you wouldn't go out and you wouldn't go out of the door?" Since Liu Bei's territory was growing more and more, a large number of talents needed to be added.

With the creed of not avoiding relatives, Xu Shu recommended his two other junior brothers, Shi Tao and Cui Hong, to Liu Bei. From the performance of Xu Shu, Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong, Liu Bei has fully learned the outstanding talents of Lumen students.

After hearing Xu Shu recommending two other classmates from Lumen, Liu Bei immediately agreed and wrote two letters to Xu Shu's envoys to express his sincerity. Cui Hong was moved by Xu Shu and Liu Bei's double invitation. Then he left the hut and came to Shouchun.

"Zhouping, why didn't Guangyuan come with you?" Zhuge Liang asked in his unique gentle tone.

Xu Shu and Pang Tong were also concerned about this issue and looked at Cui Hong together.

"Guangyuan... has already gone to Xuchang!" Cui Hong's face was a little dim, he sighed and replied slowly.

"He is also like Gongwei. Go to Cao Cao?" Pang Tong asked in confusion.

"Yeah!" Cui Hong nodded and said sadly, "The emperor issued a ruling to Guangyuan and recruit him to the court as an official!"

"It seems to be the recommendation of Gongwei..." In just a moment, Zhuge Liang guessed the reason inside, "Zhouping, you have also received the order to enlist the throne!"

Cui Hong nodded and forced a smile: "But at that time I had received a letter from Yuanzhi and Liu Huangshu, so I refused on the pretext of refusing!" Cui Hong is a person who values ​​feelings. When he thought that he might be a hostile party with his former classmates and friends in the future, he felt sad.

"Everyone has his own ambitions, and it is impossible to force it!" Xu Shu understood Cui Hong's nature and said comfortingly.

"Zhouping, how are his mentors doing recently?" Zhuge Liang's harmony changed the topic. "It's a pity that he failed to pay homage to his mentors when he went out to Xiangyang a few days ago!"

"My teacher is healthy as before!" Cui Hong swept away the shadows and said with a smile, "The emperor also issued an edict a few days ago to summon his teacher to the court to serve as the Guanglu doctor, but he refused the saying "Chu Turtle"!" (Note: Zhuangzi once compared himself to a turtle.

It means not to be greedy for wealth and honor. It is used to reject the order of King Chu to summon the court)

After a pause, Cui Hong continued: "My teacher is now training that little guy Ma Su with all his heart! This little guy is extremely smart. It's a pity that he is a little sloppy and can't stand it and learn when he comes!"

"This little guy... is very different from Ji Chang's personality, interesting!" Pang Tong smiled with interest.

"Zhouping, what do you think about the situation in Jingbei?" Xu Shu wanted to ask for some advice from Cui Hong, who had just come from Jingbei.

"If Ma Chao cannot be driven out as soon as possible, Jingbei will eventually become a place full of bones and a place without a thousand miles!" Cui Hong said with extraordinary affirmation...

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On the afternoon of the same day, Xu Shu led Cui Hong to meet Liu Bei. After a long discussion, Liu Bei sighed at Cui Hong's talent and immediately became accused of serving as the provincial dictionary.

……………………………………….

On the eighth day of the second month, Liu Qi envoyed the Nanjun Prefect Liu Xian to Shouchun. Liu Xian came here, and there was only one task - handing over the seals and ribbons of the prefects of Jiujiang, Yuzhang and Luling to the eldest brother.

The transfer of seals and ribbons indicates that Liu Qi has completely given up his ownership of the three counties including Jiujiang.

Liu Xian also told his elder brother on behalf of Liu Qi that the Jingzhou army had withdrawn from the three counties including Jiujiang, and Lu Xun's troops were also taking over local public security and defense at the same time.

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In order to ensure that the county governance situation of the new three counties can be quickly settled, the elder brother has temporarily appointed the acting prefect of the three counties—

Lu Xun temporarily served as the prefect of Jiujiang;

Chen Zhen temporarily served as the prefect of Luling;

Gu Yong temporarily served as the prefect of Yuzhang;

At the same time, Zhuge Jin was appointed as the governor of Lujiang County, replacing the position left by Chen Zhen; Yu Fan was appointed as the governor of Jiujiang County...

The other county officials were appointed by Xu Shu, Zhuge Liang, Sun Qian and Zhang Yi and others after consultation.

After last autumn, my elder brother had held the first "trial examination" (i.e., imperial examination) selection for the common people in Shouchun. Although this "trial examination" is still a trial operation, and considering the feelings of the gentry, there was no large-scale publicity to the outside world.

The scope is limited to Shouchun and Lujiang counties, but the implementation effect is quite ideal. Dozens of common people who are talented but cannot perform due to their background limitations were recruited exceptionally, greatly supplementing the talent pool of big brothers.

This time, a large number of county officials were needed, so that the common people could be sent out. These people were not only talented, but also knew the sufferings of the people. What's more important is that their loyalty to their elder brother can be absolutely guaranteed.

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On the tenth day of the second month, Ma Chao's messenger arrived in Shouchun and brought a letter.

In the letter, Ma Chao first used his father Ma Teng to get in touch with his elder brother. Then he was so clever and described the situation in Jingzhou from another perspective.

In Ma Chao's description, the Jingzhou Rebellion was entirely caused by Cai Mao's ambition to monopolize power. Liu Qi, Kuai Yue and others made the situation increasingly stiff due to a series of misunderstandings, while Ma Chao was a completely loyal man.

We are working hard to stabilize Jingzhou and prevent the people from being affected by war.

Ma Chao told his elder brother that he would do his best to assist Liu Cong to maintain the peace and stability of Jingzhou in the past. He hoped that his elder brother would understand and not get involved with Liu Qi and others. He also wanted to persuade Liu Qi and others to eliminate misunderstandings and concerns through his elder brother.

Return to Xiangyang to relieve the confrontation between Jingnan and Jingbei across the river.

At the end of the letter, Ma Chao specifically mentioned his deep hatred with Cao Cao, expressing his hope to join hands with his elder brother to fight Cao Cao, in order to restore the Han Dynasty in the future.

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"Fa Zheng is indeed amazing!" After hearing Xu Shu finish reciting the letter, Pang Tong couldn't help but laugh and "like" and said, "If you don't know the situation, you will really think that Ma Chao is Duke Zhou and Yi Yinzhong? If you can distort the facts to such a level with a wonderful pen, Fa Zheng can be called a genius in the world!"

After hearing what Pang Tong said, everyone in the hall burst into laughter.

But if you think about it carefully, Pang Tong said it is indeed good———————This so-called "handwritten by Ma Chao" was definitely written by Fa Zheng. It is impossible for Ma Chao to write such a "wonderful" astronomy investigation in detail. In addition, Sun Qian and Zhuge Liang experienced the Jingzhou Rebellion at that time, and it is probably difficult for us to see the flaws so easily.

"How to reply to Ma Chao?" After laughing, Sun Qian asked a question.

"After the news from Jingnan comes, it's not too late to reply..." Zhuge Liang said with a faint smile. "I guess Ma Chao will also send a letter to Jingnan. In one or two days, the messenger should still be able to wait!"

After thinking for a while, the eldest brother nodded...

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As Zhuge Liang expected, two days later, Liu Qi's messenger rushed to Shouchun with two letters.

One of them was given to Liu Qi by Ma Chao. In the letter, Ma Chao expressed his willingness to regard Liu Qi as the governor of Jingzhou, and said that he would return the military and political power in Jingbei, and asked Liu Qi, Kuai Yue and others to cross the river to receive it.

Another letter was written by Liu Qi to his elder brother. Liu Qi said that he had seen through Ma Chao's conspiracy to lure him across the river and said that he would not be fooled.

Kuai Yue had already come up with a solution - let Ma Chao send all Liu Cong and Jingzhou Mu seals to Jingnan first, and hand over the military force in his hands, and then Liu Qi would cross the river. As long as Ma Chao refused, it proved that he had no sincerity at all.

The day when Ma Chao refused was the time to launch an army to fight the Northern Expedition.

Ma Chao gave his elder brother and Liu Qi two "handwritten books" with completely different contents completely exposed his two-faced and three-killing nature.

Those who play with fire will burn themselves. Those who play with conspiracy will also die from conspiracy!

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Chapter completed!