The opening of the Three Kingdoms inherits the bravery of the overlord of Chu

Chapter 178
Phoenix chick Pang Tong,

Compared with Fulong Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong is a sad figure. Because of his premature death, he left with hatred before he could fulfill his life ambitions, which always makes future generations sigh.

Life of Pang Tong
Pang Tong (179-214), courtesy name Shiyuan and nickname Fengchu, was born in Xiangyang, Jingzhou (now Xiangyang City, Hubei Province) during the Eastern Han Dynasty. He was an important adviser under Liu Bei, and he was worshiped as a general in the army with Zhuge Liang.

According to the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", Pang Tong was born very ugly, and he was simple when he was young, and he didn't look particularly smart.At that time, Sima Hui of Yingchuan was good at knowing people, and Pang Tong went to see him when he was 20 years old.Sima Hui sat on the mulberry tree picking mulberries, while Pang Tong sat under the tree, and the two talked to each other from day to night, talking endlessly.Pang Tong saw the problem very thoroughly.Sima Hui was amazed at Pang Tong because of this, saying that no one among Jingzhou scholars could compare with him.Because of Sima Hui's comments, Pang Tong gradually became known.

Later, Pang Tong defected to Liu Bei, assisted Liu Bei to enter Sichuan together, and planned three secret plans for Liu Bei to occupy Sichuan: "Select elite soldiers, and attack Chengdu directly day and night. It can be decided at one stroke. This is the best plan; Famous generals in Shu, who have elite troops under their command and are guarding the pass, we can pretend to return to Jingzhou and lead them to send them on Qingqi, but we can capture and kill them, and then march into Chengdu. , Slowly enter Yizhou, this is the next plan. If you hesitate, you will be in great trouble, and you can't stay here for a long time." Liu Bei finally adopted the plan.When attacking Luo County, Pang led the crowd to attack the city, but unfortunately died of an arrow. He was only 35 years old.Later, the place where Pang Tong was buried was named Luofengpo. "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" said that there was Luofengpo first, and then the death of Fengchu. The reverse description was to attract people's attention and was full of superstition.

The tomb of Pangtong Temple, also known as the Dragon and Phoenix Temple, was built by Liu Bei, Emperor Zhaolie of the Shu Han Dynasty, and is located at Baimaguan, Luojiang County, Deyang City, Sichuan Province.It was restored in the 30th year of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty (1691), and the existing gate, main hall, pavilions on both sides, Qifeng Hall, and Pang Tong's tomb outside the temple.There are thousands of pines and cypresses around the temple and the tomb, which are lush and picturesque.There is a pair of couplets and plaques engraved on the front gate: "Knowing that Luofeng exists in the past, I am willing to let Wolong be a veteran."

The touchstone of talent testing in the Three Kingdoms

In the Eastern Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period, the world was in dispute, and the princes from all walks of life with the heart of dominance were thirsty for talents, and resorted to various means to win over the world's talents for their own use, hoping to occupy a favorable position in the cruel annexation war.The use of Pang Tong, the phoenix chick who is known as "one of the dragons and phoenix chicks can secure the world", is like a mirror, which immediately reflects the level of the princes' grasp of talents.

One is to test out Liu Biao's blindness.Liu Biao is more than eight feet long, with a gentle appearance and a strong appearance. He was famous all over the world when he was young, and he was listed as one of the "eight handsome men".He opened classics and established studies, loved the people and supported scholars, and took care of himself calmly.However, Liu Biao is suspicious and jealous by human nature, he is better than sitting and talking.Under his rule, Fulongfengchu lived in seclusion in Xiangyang mountains and forests for many years without being known to him. Without Liu Bei's frequent visits, both Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong would have died of old age in the thatched hut.Therefore, after Liu Biao's death, it is not surprising that his political and military groups immediately fell apart.

The second is to try out Sun Quan's idea of ​​judging people by their appearance.Let’s talk about the death of Zhou Yu, the governor of Sun Quan’s subordinates. Lu Su, a counselor, recommended Pang Tong to Sun Quan, saying: “This man is proficient in astronomy and geography; He said that Kongming also deeply admires his wisdom, why not reuse it now in the south of the Yangtze River!" After hearing this, Sun Quan was overjoyed and said, "I have heard his name for a long time. Now that I am here, please come and meet me." So Lu Su invited Pang Tong came to see Sun Quan.

After saluting, Sun Quan saw Pang Tong's thick eyebrows and nose, black face and short beard, and his strange description. He felt very uncomfortable, so he asked Pang Tong: "How is your talent and learning compared to Gongjin?" It's very different from Gongjin." Sun Quan was very upset when he heard this, and asked Pang Tong to step down.Lu Su asked: "My lord, why don't you use Pang Shiyuan?" Sun Quan said: "This madman is also, I swear I will not use him." Sun Quan, this time it is precisely this big taboo!

The third is to test out Liu Bei's short-sightedness.Compared with Sun Quan, Liu Bei was slightly stronger than Sun Quan. He did not immediately let him retreat, but sent Pang Tong'an to Leiyang as the county magistrate. After that, Pang Tong was drunk and lying in Leiyang to abolish the government, and Zhang Fei went to arrest him s story.In less than half a day, Pang Tong completed all the affairs of more than a hundred days, and Zhang Fei admired him very much.Then Zhuge Liang recommended that Liu Bei worship Pang Tong as the deputy general of Zhonglang, and make suggestions with Zhuge Liang.Liu Bei lived a life of ups and downs. Just after he got Xichuan, his career improved and he was defeated in Xiaoting. This is not accidental, but inevitable!It is because of Liu Bei's short-sightedness that he sent Xuzhou, Jingxiang, and even Pang Tong to Leiyang, all of which are the same version.

The fourth is to try out Cao Cao's knowledge and use of talents.When Cao Cao heard that Mr. Feng Chu was coming, he personally went out of the tent to welcome him in. He divided the guests and hosts into seats, and asked Pang Tong, "Zhou Yu was young, and he deceived everyone with his talents, so he didn't use good tactics. Mr. Cao Jiuwen's name, now I have patronage, and I beg for my advice. "Then prepare the horse and invite Pang Tong to watch the dry village and water village together.Pang Tong and Cao Cao looked up together.Pang Tong said: "By the mountains and forests, looking forward and backward, there are doors to go in and out, and there are twists and turns in advance and retreat. Although Sun and Wu are born again, and Rangju comes back, it is nothing more than this." What a virtuous and virtuous corporal Cao Cao was at that time!Although Pang Tong offered a series of tricks to trick the shrewd Cao Cao, it was never heard that Cao Cao gritted his teeth with hatred for Pang Tong.In terms of knowing and employing people, Liu Biao is naturally no problem, and Cao Cao is obviously better than Sun Quan and Liu Bei.Cao Mengde's "time of day" is not given by nature, but the "time of day" created by his own insight to recognize people and employ people.

Comments from Pang Tongzhi

Pang Tongying's early death often made future generations regretful. The relevant comments are compiled as follows:
Pang Tong self-assessed: "On the remaining strategies of the king and hegemony, and the key points of relying on it, I seem to be able to do it for a day." Sima Hui said: "The crown of scholars in Nanzhou. Virtue, publicity and sincerity know people, this is true virtue. Those who know current affairs I care about heroes. There are dragons and young phoenixes here.” Lu Su’s letter of recommendation reads: “Scholars are not talented in a hundred miles, and it’s time to show off your talents when you are in charge of governance and don’t drive them.” "Fulong" Zhuge Liang, also known as "Fulong and Fengchu", said: "Pang Tong, Liao Li, the talents of Chu, should be praised for those who promote the world."

Historian Chen Shou concluded the coffin: "Pang Tongya was a good person, learned classics and conceived ideas, and he was called a high-level man in Jing and Chu at that time. The method is upright to see success or failure, and he has unique strategies, but he is not known as virtue. Wei Chen , Uncle Zhong of Xun Yu, Zheng Qicheng, Guo Zhihou and Li Xie?"

Pei Songzhi, the author of "Three Kingdoms Notes", said: "The plan to attack Liu Zhang was based on the rule, but the success of violating righteousness was due to deceit. It’s right. It’s time to prepare for a feast, and it’s a joy and a disaster. I have never been ashamed of myself when I competed with the king of martial arts. There is no loss in this preparation. The statement that “the emperor and the ministers are all lost” is a slander.”

Li Guangdi's evaluation in the Qing Dynasty was: "Pang Shiyuan talked about talents, but he refused to seek perfection and blame. With this kind of heart, he can be called 'Fengchu'."

After Pang Tong's death, there was a nursery rhyme that said: "One phoenix and one dragon will go to the middle of Shu. Only halfway there, the phoenix died and fell to the east of the slope. The wind sends rain, and the rain follows the wind. There are only dragons at all times."

Sad husband Pang Shiyuan!
(End of this chapter)