Silver Fox of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 38 Gan Ning
The grandfather and grandson lived in Fancheng briefly for one night, and prepared to cross the river to Xiangyang the next day.

But when they arrived in Fancheng, it was almost dark, and there were no people from Qianshou on the road, and the surrounding countryside was empty, only a few guards at the city gate were about to close the gate.

When Deng Hong saw that the city gate was about to be closed, he quickly shouted: "Don't close the city gate. I am an official under Liu Shijun's tent and I am going to Xiangyang."

At this time, on the tower, there was a strong man lying bored on the female wall with a piece of dogtail grass in his mouth. Hearing the shout, he glanced over.

At seven o'clock in the evening, the sky is not completely dark in midsummer, seeing the other party is dressed as a Confucian scholar with a child by his side, he thought of a joke, propped his head sideways and said: "There are orders from above. It has to be closed."

Deng Hongdui smiled and said: "General, please be considerate. If we can't enter the city, our grandson and grandson will have to sleep outside the city. I don't mind. I'm afraid that my grandson will be exposed to the wild at night, and it will be bad if he gets sick." gone."

"That's it."

The man smiled and said: "It's true, I see that you are dressed as a Confucian scholar, how do you recite scriptures?"

"Forehead"

Deng Hong raised his head, wondering hesitantly: "Does this have something to do with my going to the city?"

The man said: "I admire people with talent and learning the most. If you don't have much talent and learning, but walk around in Confucian clothes, wouldn't it tarnish the reputation of scholars? So I have to test you, otherwise I can't let you enter the city."

Deng Hong was speechless.

But people under the eaves had to bow their heads, so they could only say: "I treat "The Analects of Confucius."

It's a bit embarrassing to say this.

The man thought for a while, then tilted his head and said with a smile: "Then tell me, what does it mean to say, "Ancient scholars are for themselves, and today's scholars are for others"?"

Deng Hong looked at Shen Chen.

Shen Chen whispered a few words in his ear.

Deng Hong said in a loud voice: "The ancient scholars were themselves, and they finally achieved things. Today's scholars are people, and they eventually lose themselves. When the sages talk about the gains and losses of scholars with their hearts, they have said a lot, but there is no such thing. What is important is what is important. If you can clearly distinguish it and examine it day by day, you will not be ignorant of what to do."

Originally, the man thought that Deng Hong could translate it a little bit, and it would be good to talk about some knowledge, but he didn't expect that the explanation was quite clever, and immediately realized that the other party was not an idle person, so he sat up and looked up and down at the grandparents and grandchildren in the city.

It was only at this time that Deng Hong and Shen Chen could see the man's appearance clearly. They saw that he was about 27 or [-] years old, with a burly figure and a particularly resolute face. He was wearing a luxurious silk brocade suit, and there were weird bird feathers on his head, just crossing his legs like this Sitting on the female wall and looking down.

Gan Ning!

Before that person introduced himself, Shen Chen almost called out his name.

It's because the bird feathers on his head and the brocade clothes are so famous.

Not only is he famous in later generations, but he is also famous in the last years of the Eastern Han Dynasty, because this guy doesn't do anything.

Before that, Gan Ning organized a criminal gang known as "Jinfan Thief" to do evil in Berkshire, and his reputation had already spread to Jingzhou.

Last year Jingzhou don't drive Liu He to instigate against them, Liu Biao's army was defeated by Liu Zhang, Gan Ning went to Nanyang to hang out, unexpectedly he was in Fancheng.

At this time, Gan Ning was also looking at the grandparents and grandsons.

In fact, the Fancheng area of ​​Caiyang was Gan Ning's ancestral land. Liu Biao placed him under Zhang Yun's command, and now he is stationed in Fancheng, looking at the city gate all day long.

I have nothing to do today, I wanted to tease the scholar in the city, but I didn't expect that the other party's knowledge is not bad.

You must know that Gan Ning did commit crimes in his early years, but later he changed his mind, read and practiced calligraphy, and studied Confucian articles. Later, because of his talent, he was recruited by the state government, and even gradually promoted to the county magistrate of Shu County.

It can be seen that his level is not too bad.

Because of this, he was able to discover the extraordinaryness of the other party.

Since Gan Ning studied, he still admires those truly learned people. Seeing that their grandparents and grandchildren really cannot spend the night outside the city, he shouted: "Open the city gate and let them in."

"Thank you General!"

Deng Hong was overjoyed. After bowing his hands and saluting, he asked the coachman to drive the donkey cart into the city.

When the grandparents and grandchildren came in, Gan Ning was still watching them from the tower, Deng Hong handed over his hands again to express his thanks, and the donkey cart slowly drove towards the posthouse.

When Shen Chen saw Gan Ning, he also wanted to have a chat, but unfortunately there was no reason to talk to him, and he still had to guard the city gate, so he had to leave without disturbing him.

But I didn't expect that when the two arrived at the post house in a donkey cart, they would not be accepted.

Because Deng Hong was going to take office, he didn't go to the place, and he didn't get the identity of the waist card. The stables of the post house were used by Jingzhou officials who came and went. He had no identity, so he couldn't move in.

In fact, there were inns in the Han Dynasty. The problem lies in the recent chaos in Guanzhong, and a large number of refugees flooded into Wuguan. Among them, the powerful families in Guanzhong with a certain economic strength basically ran to the surrounding areas of Xiangyang. Therefore, the inns in Fancheng have been full recently. I asked a few. None of the rooms.

In desperation, the grandparent and grandson had no choice but to look for buildings that could accommodate them in the rather desolate streets.

When it was dark, it was nowhere to be found.

At this time, Gan Ning got off work and handed over the military affairs of the city defense to the other generals. He was riding his horse back to his mansion. When he happened to see them, he urged his horse to approach and asked, "Why are you still on the street?"

Seeing that it was Gan Ning, Deng Hong smiled wryly and said, "Because I went to Xiangyang to take up my post, and I haven't received the seal of the official's badge yet, so our grandparents and grandchildren are not accepted in the stables of the museum."

Gan Ning thought for a while and said, "Then why don't you come to my house for a night, anyway, I live alone, and my house is quite big."

"Thank you General!"

Deng Hong was very happy, and thanked again and again: "It's really lucky to meet the general when I go out."

"You come with me."

Gan Ning was leading the way, leading them towards the south of the city.

Fancheng is very large. With the chaos at the end of the Han Dynasty, people from all over the place migrated to Jingzhou, and Xiangyang gradually formed a metropolitan area.

Zhonglu County, Linju County, Bi County, and Yicheng in the south, and Shandu County, Deng County, Fancheng, and Caiyang in the north, within a radius of 100 to [-] square kilometers, there are more than ten counties with a population of more than [-]. Ten thousand.

The grandfather and grandson followed Gan Ning and walked about two kilometers in the city, and finally arrived at his home.

It was a very large mansion. Gan Ning was a very extravagant man, and his family was very rich, so he had to pay attention to luxury in his life. He said he lived alone, but in fact there were 30 to [-] servants.

After arriving at the gate, his servants led his horse and the donkey of his grandfather and grandson to the stables in the back yard, and the two of them followed Gan Ning into the yard and headed towards the middle hall.

At this time, the sky was completely dark, around nine o'clock in the evening, Gan Ning ordered guests to come, and prepared some food and drinks for them.

Although Deng Hong said a few polite words, he couldn't hold back Gan Ning's enthusiasm, and soon the middle hall was lit with candles, and the hall was brightened up.

While waiting for the dishes to be served, Gan Ning turned his head and asked Deng Hong, "Sir, you are well educated. I don't know if you are going to Xiangyang this time. What kind of official position do you plan to take?"

Deng Hong said with a little embarrassment: "It's the secretary of the State Mushu Pavilion."

Gan Ning frowned and said, "Mr. is so knowledgeable, is it just to give a history of imperial orders?"

"actually, I"

Deng Hong wanted to say that his talent and learning were just like that.

But Shen Chen suddenly said: "Nowadays the world is in chaos, talented people may not be able to be reused, I think the general is very powerful, can't he only guard the gate of Fancheng?"

Gan Ning's expression changed, he sighed and did not speak.

Deng Hong hurriedly said, "Ah Chen."

Shen Chen ignored him, but continued: "By the way, I haven't asked the general's name yet."

"I'm Gan Ning from Berkshire, and I'm named Xingba."

Gan Ning replied.

Deng Hong hurriedly said: "The Deng family in Xiaxinye is called Deng Hong, and his name is Youshuo. This is my grandson, named Shen Chen, who is only eight years old, and speaks a little carelessly. Please forgive me, General."

Gan Ning waved his hands and said, "It's okay, this child is right. I didn't like Liu Zhang and Liu Yan and his sons at first, and turned against them, but after defecting to Liu Biao, he was placed under Zhang Yun's command and guarded the city all day long. door, annoying."

Shen Chen said: "I have heard of the general's reputation. He is quite famous in Bashu, but Liu Biao doesn't use it because he doesn't practice martial arts. In my opinion, his foundation will be taken away one day. go."

"Achen, you."

Deng Hong's eyeballs almost stared down, and he hurriedly wanted to cover his mouth.

Unexpectedly, Gan Ning was not angry at all, as if he had met a bosom friend, he began to look up and down Shen Chen, quite surprised and said: "You kid, wait a minute, when I was asking a question just now, I saw you talking to your uncle, Could it be?"

Deng Hong said helplessly: "The general's guess is correct. It was Ah Chen who said that he was extremely intelligent since he was a child. Last year we went to see Liu Jingzhou. It was because of Ah Chen that I was awarded the honorary history."

"I didn't expect you to be so talented. I thought so too."

Gan Ning said: "After I betrayed Liu Zhang and went to Liu Biao last year, I found that his military equipment was slack, and his generals were full of wine bags and rice bags. Generals like me who are capable of fighting can't be reused at all. People take it away."

Deng Hong was surprised: "In that case, why doesn't the general leave?"

Gan Ning laughed at himself and said: "I grew up on the great river since I was a child, and I only wish to stay in the south and follow the Ming Lord. But now I have turned against Liu Zhang in Yizhou in the south, and there is chaos in the east of the river. Commit yourself to Liu Biao, and get by all day long."

Shen Chen laughed: "General, don't be discouraged. "Book of Changes" says: "A gentleman hides his weapon in his body, and he will move it when the time comes. "What the general lacks now is not an enlightened master, but an opportunity. Before that, the general must be prepared."

"Oh?"

Gan Ning asked curiously, "What do you think?"

Shen Chen said: "Nanyang is a good place. I predict that in two years, Nanyang will be in chaos. The general should take this opportunity to join us to expand the army, occupy some cities, and recuperate. When the time comes, we will When the general shows his talents."

Gan Ning said with a smile: "Although Liu Biao does not practice martial arts, he has tens of thousands of soldiers and horses. He reached Bashu in the west, rejected Henan in the north, attacked Wuyue in the east, and conquered Jiaozhi in the south. There is no one in the world who is much stronger than him. Who Will you come to attack Nanyang?"

Shen Chen smiled confidently: "If the general doesn't believe it, he will find out next year or the year after. Someone will definitely attack Wancheng at that time, why don't we wait and see?"

"Okay, I want to see if it's true as you said."

Gan Ning would not be able to persuade a child with just a few words, or even if he is not a child, it is impossible to persuade him immediately.

Before the prophecy has become a reality, everyone has their own ideas except those who don't have their own ideas.

Shen Chen said: "If Chen is lucky, what should the general do?"

Gan Ning said without hesitation: "That means you are a person who can really understand the situation in the world. When the time comes, I will listen to what you say."

"It's a word."

"It's a word."

"The general remembers to come to me when the time comes."

Shen Chen revealed fox-like sly eyes.

After the Huangmenting incident, he began to reflect on many things.

The biggest mistake at that time was that it was not expected that Cao Cao would hear his name, which resulted in the killing of hundreds of relatives gathered in Zhuangyang.

Since then, he has been summarizing and thinking every day, and his intelligence and strategy have gradually grown a lot.

Perhaps this is the best interpretation of the phrase "I examine myself three times a day".

(End of this chapter)