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Around the beginning of the year, Sima Hui and Liu Bei had a meeting. Liu Bei begged Sima Hui to introduce several young talents. Sima Hui recommended Feng Chu Pang Tong and Wolong Zhuge Liang. Liu Bei also heard of these two people. He visited Pang Degong for this and invited Pang Tong to become an official in the wilderness, but Pang Degong was ambiguous and did not agree immediately.

As for Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei also heard that he knew him well, but Zhuge Liang's wife was Cai Mao's niece and Liu Biao's aunt and niece. Moreover, Zhuge Liang's second sister was the daughter-in-law of the Kuai family. It was precisely because of these intricate official connections that Liu Bei was worried and did not go to Zhuge Liang.

Liu Biao was seriously ill and the Cai family was in power. Liu Bei did not dare to come to Xiangyang easily, so the matter was left unresolved. Now when Sima Hui asked, Liu Bei had to apologize: "There are many things and it is difficult to take care of for a while, which disappointed Mr. Shui Jing."

Sima Hui was not disappointed, but smiled and nodded, "Okay"

Liu Bei was also confused about what was going on.

The two walked to the mountain gate and asked the gatekeeper to come in to report. After a moment, Pang Tong and Pang Shanmin both welcomed him, "Welcome to Uncle Liu and Uncle Sima Shi"

Pang Shanmin came to Longzhong on the order of Liu Jing. Seeing that Cao's army was about to go south, Pang Shanmin's mission persuaded his father to lead the gentry of Longzhong to Jiangxia to take refuge. Liu Jing had agreed to change Jiangxia Academy to Jiangxia Branch of Lumen Academy and donate the entire academy assets to Lumen Academy. At the same time, he promised to bear the living expenses, money and food of all the gentry, with very generous conditions.

However, there are also differences within the Pang family. Although Pang Degong intends to temporarily move Lumen Academy to Jiangxia, his clan’s brother Pang Ji opposes the Pang family to Jiangxia. This is why Pang Ji is not in Xiangyang today.

Even the younger generation of the Pang family had differences. Pang Shan’s people insisted on moving to Jiangxia, but Pang Tong firmly opposed it.

Pang Shanmin stepped forward and smiled and said, "How come the two uncles come together?"

Sima Hui smiled and said, "It's best to come together."

Liu Bei smiled bitterly and explained: "We met in front of the mountain gate. Nephew, your uncle is here."

Before Pang Shanmin could speak, Pang Tong stepped forward and smiled, "Uncle is here, I will lead the emperor to go."

Liu Bei was worried about the pursuit of the soldiers behind him, so he didn't care about saying hello to Pang Degong first, so he nodded and said, "I have something urgent to look for him, and I'm annoyed to my nephew."

"Uncle, please come with me"

Pang Tong took Liu Bei from the other side to the backyard. Sima Hui looked at the two of them and stroked his beard meaningfully and laughed. He also followed Pang Shanmin to the main hall.

Pang Tong walked with Liu Bei, and asked while walking, "Why did the emperor run to Longzhong alone?"

"Oh, don't mention it."

Liu Bei briefly said what happened in Xiangyang. Only then did Pang Tong realize the crisis that Liu Bei encountered. He pondered for a moment and smiled: "In fact, crisis is also an opportunity. If the emperor can seize the opportunity, he might turn over from now on."

Liu Bei slowed down and asked in a low voice: "Nephew, how do you say this?"

Pang Tong smiled, "I don't know if the emperor is willing to listen to the far plan, the middle plan or the near plan"

Liu Bei narrowed his eyes, "I want to hear it all, but time is tight. Can you tell me about Jince or Zhongce first?"

"The approach is very simple. The emperor gave up the wings and led the army south to join forces. If he lost to Cao's army, he would then cross the Han River and retreat directly to Nanjun. There were two generals Yun Chang and Long to support him, and Wang Wei's army was neutral. It should not be difficult to go to Nanjun. I think the emperor should be able to gain a foothold in Nanjun."

Liu Bei nodded silently. He had considered this plan, but Xiangyang might not allow him to cross the border, and he might even take the opportunity to eat him. He was considering going to Anlu County and then using Jiangxia to Nan County. Liu Jing should give him this face.

"My nephew might as well talk about Zhongce again."

"Zhongce means to unite against Cao. The emperor's uncle never thought of taking the lead of the four families to resist Cao's army's southward journey."

Liu Bei pondered for a moment and said, "Are you talking about Nanjun, Jiangxia, Xiangyang and myself, there are four families in total?"

Pang Tong nodded, "Cao Cao has already gone to the Wuhuan, so this time the threat from Nanyang is not the real attack of Cao's army to attack Jingzhou. If I am not wrong, it should be to use attack as the defense to defend the Jingzhou army. Cao Cao was afraid that we would take advantage of the empty opportunity of the Central Plains to go north, so as long as the four families join forces to fight against Cao, they should win this battle. The key is that the emperor's uncle takes the lead. This will be immeasurable for the emperor's uncle to take over Jingzhou in the future and lay the foundation for the emperor's uncle to take over Jingzhou."

If the first strategy is still a bit dull, then the second strategy is quite stylish. Then the first strategy makes Liu Bei full of expectations.

Liu Bei secretly praised that he deserved to be known as Feng Chu. This is definitely the words of a wise man. He immediately had the intention of gaining talent in his heart. This is the genius he had never found for many years. No wonder Sima Hui wanted to recommend him again.

After pondering for a while, Liu Bei smiled and said, "Your uncle should send someone to send me back north later. I wonder if Shi Yuan is willing to send me a trip and we will go to the wilderness together."

Liu Bei has changed his name and no longer called him a virtuous nephew, but called him a verb. This is to regard him as a peer. In addition, the excuse of borrowing and sending him a trip is to win over Pang Tong.

How could Pang Tong not understand that he had observed the situation in Jingzhou long ago. Liu Bei seemed weak, but in fact he was not weak. He had already controlled the 10,000 troops in Nanjun, and the 6,000 troops in his hands were able to compete with Jiangxia and Xiangyang.

But there is Cai Mao in Xiangyang, Xu Shu and Dong Yun in Jiangxia, and there is no longer his position as Pang Tong, and Liu Bei still lacks a military advisor.

The important thing is that his uncle Pang Ji also advised him to follow Liu Bei, which finally made Pang Tong make up his mind. He has been looking for opportunities these days and is preparing to go to the wilderness, but he didn't expect that Liu Bei would come today.

He seized this opportunity and made Liu Bei look at him with admiration. Since Liu Bei had spoken, Pang Tong also abandoned the reserve of scholars and gave a deep courtesy, "Pang Tong is willing to serve the emperor's uncle."

...........

Pang Shanmin came to Longzhong with two missions. One was to persuade his father to temporarily move Lumen Academy to Jiangxia. As long as Lumen Academy moved away, the gentry in Longzhong would follow him to Jiangxia.

This is not only because Lumen Academy has a high prestige, but the important thing is that since Liu Biao fell ill at the beginning of the year, Jingzhou stopped subsidies for the northern gentry, which caused a huge response among the gentry. When he went to Jiangxia, there was a generous subsidy for grain and rice, which was a worry for life. These gentry members who had family members would definitely bow their backs for five dou of rice.

Pang Shanmin had already convinced his father, but he was not sure about another mission, which was to persuade Zhuge Liang to go to Jiangxia. Although he was Zhuge Liang's brother-in-law and Zhuge Liang's close friend, he didn't know if he could convince this brother-in-law and friend.

Zhuge Liang invited Pang Shanmin into the study. Pang Shanmin's arrival made Zhuge Liang quite happy. Most of his former friends left Longzhong. Cuizhou Ping and Shi Guangyuan went to Yecheng and obtained a position under Cao Cao. Xu Shu, Ma Liang and Pang Shanmin went to Jiangxia. Kuai Qi was in Nanjun. Only Feng Chu and Pang Tong were left with friends in Longzhong, which made Zhuge Liang quite lonely.

The arrival of Pang Shanmin made the cold and silent study suddenly lively.

Zhuge Liang wore a lotus crown on his head, a gossip mysterious clothes, and a feather fan in his hand. He asked Pang Shanmin with a smile, "Are you used to living in Jiangxia?"

"It's almost the same as Xiangyang, but it's just a little warmer. Your second sister just complains that the summer is a bit wet, but the living conditions are pretty good, so she's very satisfied with this." Pang Shanmin also replied with a smile.

"What about you, are you satisfied?"

"I'm very satisfied, I'm busy all day long and I feel very fulfilled."

"Is your ambition to be a minor official in Jiangxia?" Zhuge Liang shook his feather fan and said with a smile.

Pang Shanmin felt the ridiculous meaning in Zhuge Liang's tone. He felt a little unhappy and said coldly: "Although the mountain spring is thin, the spring is a river. Why does the river become a river? Why does Kong Ming underestimate me?"

Zhuge Liang sighed slightly, "I didn't underestimate you. With your talent, you can be a book to support Qucai. Xu Shu can be Sima, Dong Yun can be a military officer, but you are a businessman, Qucai."

It turned out that Zhuge Liang was worried about himself. Pang Shanmin's resentment suddenly subsided and said with a smile: "Although I have studied hard for ten years, I have no experience in doing things. To be honest, the hardships of the past two years have helped me a lot."

Zhuge Liang smiled, "The year's hardship is enough. You can become the governor of Anlu County in the next step."

"Mr. Anlu County"

Pang Shanmin asked in confusion: "What do you mean?"

“I mean it’s very simple.”

Zhuge Liang smiled and said, "You Liu Shou wants to plot against Anlu County but there is no excuse. This time Cao's army goes south. Isn't Anlu County the best excuse? Whoever is the county magistrate is Liu Min or you. Apart from you, who can block the officialdom in Jingzhou?"

Pang Shanmin nodded silently. Only then did he understand why Liu Jing valued Zhuge Liang so much. Before coming to Longzhong, Liu Jing did talk to him and was preparing to make him the position of the Anlu County Magistrate. Zhuge Liang guessed that Pang Shanmin was quite surprised.

After a moment of silence, Pang Shanmin turned the topic to the main business, "If I remember correctly, my brother is twenty-seven this year. The ancients said that a man is ten years old and is nearly thirty years old. Haven't he considered going out to do something?"

"Of course I have considered my future. I went to Shuzhou to seek a job a few years ago. However, Liu Zhang was cowardly and was not the leader of pioneering achievements, so he returned home in disappointment. The Liu brothers were more capable and had already made wedding dresses for others. Resigning to them was equivalent to suicide. Cao Cao and Han thieves were incompatible with my ambitions. Although Liu Huangshu was a benevolent and righteous leader, he seemed to have no interest in me. As for Ma Teng, Zhang Lu and others, he was a mediocre person last month. Last month, my brother wrote me another letter to me, asking me to become an official in Jiangdong. To be honest, I was quite moved."

"Why don't you consider Jiangxia?" Pang Shanmin finally couldn't help but say that Zhuge Liang all mentioned it, but Jiangxia was not mentioned.
Chapter completed!