Three Kingdoms: The Guan Family's Rebellious Son, Long Blessing Jing Xiang

"How could...how could he not be dead?"

"High Priest, I participated in the killing of the Barbarian Girl before and saw her appearance with my own eyes. I went to the suburban clinic this time because of the wound I sustained during the assassination!"

"I...I saw it with my own eyes, I will never be wrong! That barbarian girl is lying in the clinic...and there are other women taking care of her!"

The skin color of the barbarians is different from that of the Han people, so they are easy to identify.

Barbarian women are rarely seen in Chengdu, and it is precisely based on this that the ghost is very sure.

And as he narrated in more detail.

In this secret room, everyone's face was as dark as water.

Something happened——

Something big happened——

If this barbarian woman survived, all the misunderstandings would be resolved if Zhuge Liang met her.

Then, the Southern Barbarian invasion that had already been launched, the Southern Barbarian invasion that was sure of victory... would most likely be abandoned halfway, and the orders issued by the King of Wei and the actions of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect would end in failure.

The impact here...cannot be said to be far-reaching.

This is a case of losing more than gaining something, this is going to cause a big mess——

However, complaining now is of no use. Things have come to this point. Even if it means taking a risk, we must not let that barbarian girl see Zhuge Liang alive. No, we must not let her walk out of the clinic alive.

With this in mind, Zhang Zhuo's expression became more solemn, and he immediately asked the ghost.

"Where is the clinic?"

The ghost quickly pointed to the simple map of Chengdu on the table and indicated the location of the clinic.

Zhang Zhuo, however, felt a little embarrassed looking at this position.

"It's only five miles away from the Shu Army's garrison on the outskirts of the city—"

That’s right, the clinic was located at the foot of Changqiu Mountain, not far from the Shu army’s base outside the city.

The chief priest Zhao Guang pondered and said, "Even if Shu is empty, the Shu army camp can still provide two to three thousand people. If we send a large number of ghost soldiers to the clinic to assassinate, or burn it down, it will alarm the Shu army camp, which will cause complications... counterproductive."

"Then according to your opinion..." Zhang Zhuo looked at Zhao Guang.

At this time, he did not ask for instructions from Zhang Yulan and Zhang Qiying, who had higher status.

This is because... when it comes to such decisive killing, it is still necessary for these men to make the decision. The so-called woman's kindness... women are always kind.

"Just a few of us going——"

Zhao Guang suggested. As he spoke, he looked at all the people in the room, including him and the ghost soldier, a total of nine people... a ghost woman, a saint woman, six high priests, and a ghost soldier!
"We'll sneak in disguised as patients, and then kill that barbarian woman without anyone noticing..."

Zhao Guang suggested.

Following this proposal, Zhang Zhuo, Meng Sheng, Wang Sheng, Huang Chang, Yang Feng... the five chief priests all nodded in agreement.

"That's it..."

Zhang Zhuo immediately bowed to Zhang Yulan and Zhang Qiying, "This matter is of great importance, so the ghost woman and the saint girl should not get involved..."

"Do you think I'm too soft-hearted?" Zhang Yulan was a little annoyed.

Zhang Zhao, however, did not take it seriously and smiled lightly, "Haha, the Saint mentioned before that the ghost woman has already been too soft-hearted once... This matter concerns the King of Wei's edict and the spread of our Five Pecks of Rice Sect in the Central Plains. There can't be any mistakes... So..."

"I know..." Zhang Yulan gritted her teeth. It was a bad feeling to be rejected by her own men. She was also a strong-willed woman. "So, I have to go! Compared to you blindly barging in, I... I have a better way!"

At this point, Zhang Qiying seemed to suddenly realize something and she exclaimed.

"Aunt...are you going to use that medicine?"

Obviously, Zhang Qiying thought of something.

Zhang Yulan nodded heavily under the gazes of the crowd, and then took out a medicine bottle, "As long as you open this medicine bottle and smell the scent inside, no matter who it is, they will faint immediately... Instead of rushing in recklessly, why not... use this method to sneak in without anyone noticing..."

As soon as this statement comes out…

The high priests put away their rudeness and bowed respectfully to Zhang Yulan.

The chief priest Zhang Zhuo sighed, "I've only heard of rosemary from the Western Regions, which can make people fall asleep after smelling it. It's no wonder that a ghost woman can have such a strange fragrance——"

Zhang Yulan bit her lip slightly, "There is no time to lose...you take the antidote first, and we will set off immediately!"

As she spoke, Zhang Yulan distributed pills to everyone and she swallowed one herself. When everyone saw her swallow it, they swallowed it without hesitation, then prepared their daggers and the nine of them headed towards the clinic.

But... Zhang Yulan didn't swallow the pill, she just kept it stuck in her mouth.

Zhang Qiying was very observant and noticed something was wrong from the way her aunt swallowed the pill. She also did not swallow the pill.

She even seemed to realize what her aunt was going to do.

...

...

Lutou Mountain is a mountain located in Mianzhu Pass. It is the only way to get to Shuzhong through Mianzhu.

As the saying goes - the river locks up Shuanglongtai, and the pass is the hero of Wumahou. Yizhou is like the lungs, and this place is a small throat.

The word "throat" is enough to describe the importance of Lutou Mountain to Shuzhong and Chengdu.

At this moment, on the top of the mountain, Zhuge Liang, Huang Yueying and Guan Suo all rushed to a tombstone. This is a place in Lutou Mountain called Luofengpo.

Hundreds of lush and green ancient cypresses are towering and lush around.

If it is quiet, there is no sound or movement;
When it moves, the forest waves roar.

There are also two ancient cypresses here, which were planted by Zhang Fei to mourn Pang Tong, so they were named Zhang Fei Cypress. The left crown of the tree is shaped like a dragon, and the right crown is shaped like a phoenix, so it is also called Dragon and Phoenix Cypress.

At this moment, Zhuge Liang was standing among the ancient cypresses, facing Pang Tong's tombstone, as if he was filled with emotion.

"Shi Yuan, long time no see. Today, I am here with my wife and the younger Guan Suo to pay my respects to you—"

Zhuge Liang's words sounded like he was speaking to an old friend.

Yet it seemed as if he had many feelings.

——If you can get one of the two, you can pacify the world!

——If you can have both, how can you not achieve hegemony?

These two sentences were widely spread in Jingxiang, but where did they come from? In the world of the time, Zhuge Liang was probably the only one who knew the truth.

He took Huang Yueying and Guan Suo to pay homage three times to Pang Tong's tombstone, placed the tribute, and then slowly turned around and walked down the steps while asking:
"Weizhi? Your fourth brother knows all the heroes in the world, but does he know? Where did my name Wulong and Pang Shiyuan's name Fengchu come from..."

this…

Guan Suo paused for a moment after suddenly raising such a question, and then shook his head, "Fourth Brother didn't mention this!"

"Let me tell you..." Zhuge Liang slowly recounted this memory that had been buried in his heart and silent for a long time.

original…

The Han people have never lacked "titles", especially the "Qingliu", who are often given special titles.

Such as the three gentlemen, the eight guardians, the eight masters, the eight chefs…

There are the well-known Xun's Eight Dragons, Xun's Three Ruo, Jingzhou Eight Talents, etc.

If you want to gain a foothold in troubled times and achieve something, the support of your family is indispensable, but the first item of this support is to establish a reputation, the first thing - to establish a reputation!
Such as Lu Ji holding oranges, lying on ice to catch carp, and Kong Rong giving away his pears...

It is still the same old analysis. As the eldest son of the Jiangdong Lu family, Lu Ji's family never lacks oranges.

Wang Xiang was from a prominent family in Langya, and his family had plenty of carp.
As for Kong Rong... pears are produced in abundance in his hometown, so why should we give them away?

All of this... is acting. It is a series of measures implemented by the big families to build up a reputation for their children, thus...making it easier for them to be selected as filial and honest people and enter the official career.

The same is true for Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong.

Zhuge Liang's master was the famous scholar Sima Hui. Zhuge Liang's sisters married into the Kuai family of Jingzhou and the Pang family of the four major families of Pang, Ma, Xiang and Xi respectively. Zhuge Liang's uncle-in-law was Liu Biao, and Zhuge Liang's uncle was Kuai Yue.

He has the background, the only thing missing is the title...

It is exactly the same with Pang Tong.

Therefore, Mr. Sima Hui, who was also a famous scholar, discussed privately with Pang Degong, Huang Chengyan... and set up a plan that allowed Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong to shine in front of the talented men of Jingchu.

The names of Crouching Dragon, Phoenix Chu...came into being at the right time.

Of course, the reason why Liu Biao did not use them was because he knew what was going on and knew the water content of these "Wolong" and "Phoenix Young"...

It’s a pity that the title is a bit watered down, but it cannot be denied... these two people have real stuff in their stomachs!
He didn't use them, but the title of Crouching Dragon and Phoenix was widely known...

As expected, the news reached the ears of Liu Bei and Zhou Yu.

Is this why Liu Bei visited Zhuge Liang three times at his cottage?

Why did Zhou Yu recruit Fengchu under his command and let him lead the entire plan of the Western Expedition to Sichuan and Shu?

Everything is manipulated...

Guan Suo listened patiently, his heart slightly beating. He pursed his lips and asked in confusion: "Why did Zhuge Military Advisor tell me this!"

"Nothing, I just came to see Pang Shiyuan again... I just felt inspired..."

Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan.

Like hiding something...

Guan Suo could sense that he was hesitant to speak, and could also sense that he...he must be hiding something...

At this time...

Jiang Wan came hurriedly, "Military Advisor Zhuge, Madam... the explosive packs under Luofeng Slope have been completely buried, and the fuses have been transmitted to a distant place through the catheter. If the invasion of the southern barbarians forces us to this point, as long as the military advisor gives an order... the entire Luofeng Slope can be blown up! No matter how many barbarian soldiers come, they will all be buried here!"

Jiang Wan's words were full of passion...

Zhuge Liang's expression was extremely bleak. He didn't seem happy at all because he had planted the explosive pack that could defeat the Nanman and inflict severe damage on them. Instead... his face was filled with deep melancholy.

After a long pause, he finally spoke: "If Xuande had not fought the Cao thief in Hanzhong, we would never have treated the barbarians like this..."

Hearing this, Guan Suo said, "Fourth brother mentioned before that when dealing with barbarians, the best way is to attack their hearts..."

Zhuge Liang nodded. "He's right. If I had enough time and enough troops, I would definitely make these barbarians surrender willingly. But once this explosive pack explodes, then... from now on, there will be no need to attack their hearts and minds. At that time... not only the barbarians, but all ethnic groups other than the Han people will no longer believe in us."

Having said that, Zhuge Liang turned around and looked at Pang Tong's tombstone meaningfully.

The decision that had already been made in my heart has undoubtedly become more concrete at this moment.

"Are you all ready?"

Zhuge Liang looked at Jiang Wan...

Jiang Wan pondered for a moment, nodded and said nothing.

After receiving this reply, Zhuge Liang turned to Huang Yueying and said, "Madam, please go back... I am here..."

Huang Yueying gritted her teeth, and the tears in her eyes seemed to be about to burst out, as if she had guessed something.

"Can't I not go?"

Zhuge Liang smiled faintly and said, "Pang Tong could have chosen not to die back then..." After that, he turned around and followed Jiang Wan out of the ancestral hall.

Guan Suo didn't understand for a moment, "What is Zhuge Military Advisor going to do?"

Huang Yueying wiped the tears from her eyes. She tried to make herself stronger, or at least look stronger. "He must be planning to meet the Barbarian King in person..."

"Why?" Guan Suo was stunned, and subconsciously he wanted to chase after him and ask Zhuge Liang why.

Yes, the explosive pack has been buried, so we are not afraid of more barbarians. Why...why take the risk to meet the barbarian king Meng Huo?
You know, the misunderstanding has not been resolved.

In Meng Huo's eyes, he and Zhuge Liang undoubtedly had a grudge for the murder of his daughter, which was irreconcilable. Moreover, the barbarians had the habit of cannibalism!
Just as Guan Suo was about to take a step forward, Huang Yueying's calloused hand grabbed him. The palm was not big, but perhaps because of assisting her husband in making all kinds of exquisite crafts for many years, it was covered with thick calluses.

"do not go…"

Huang Yueying's voice came out at the same time.

"Why?"

"You can't persuade him..." Huang Yueying explained.

Guan Suo is still confused...

Huang Yueying couldn't help but shake her head and murmured, "No one can stop Kong Ming from doing what he wants to do..."

"But the misunderstanding has not been resolved. Cheng Yu, the envoy who rebelled against Wei, is still here. Military Advisor Zhuge...he is the backbone of Shuzhong! How could he put himself in danger?"

"These are not reasons." Huang Yueying pursed her lips. "Before the Battle of Chibi, all the big families in Wu wanted to surrender to Cao Cao. Wasn't it dangerous for Kong Ming to debate with the scholars at that time? Perhaps in Kong Ming's view, he can still use the debate method... to persuade the barbarians to retreat, so as to avoid the loss of lives and retain the possibility of conquering these barbarians in the future..."

"This is different...the barbarian girl Hua Man died in Chengdu!"

Perhaps it was because Guan Suo's words were loud enough that they not only reached Huang Yueying's ears.

Even Zhuge Liang, who was walking away, heard it.

For this reason, he paused, turned around, and looked back at Guan Suo, "Weizhi, your fourth brother taught you to always make the most correct decision, the most rational choice, and the most successful deployment, but I will also teach you one thing today, maybe through you... I can also pass this on to your fourth brother..."

This…

Guan Suo and Zhuge Liang looked at each other.

Even from dozens of steps away, Guan Suo could feel the tremendous pressure, as if Zhuge Liang was speaking his final words before his death.

At this time, Zhuge Liang's words were chanted again, "What I want to teach you is that in this world, there are always some people who do things that seem stupid! For example, Pang Shiyuan, he could have lived, but he didn't... The lord's seizure of Yizhou was not legitimate, and people will forever stab him in the back and question his reputation for benevolence. His benevolence will collapse in this Han territory in an instant..."

"Only Pang Shiyuan fell at Luofengpo... Dao, Heaven, Earth, Generals, Laws... The lord went west to Bashu, and the most lacking 'morality' was successfully made up... The lord no longer betrayed his loyalty to gain the clan's land, but avenged his military advisor and his brothers, which is also an irreconcilable hatred..."

At this point, Zhuge Liang paused, "What I have to do today is not to save the lives of those 200,000 barbarians, but to do my best to avoid this war that should not have existed..."

"But...but what if the barbarians are unreasonable...and they don't release the military advisor?" Guan Suo asked.

"That way..." Zhuge Liang smiled lightly, "At that time, another military advisor of Emperor Liu will be either dead or imprisoned in the barbarian army. In this way... even if we blow up hundreds of thousands of barbarians, it will be for a good reason and have a legitimate reason... At least, the Di people, Qiang people, and other ethnic groups will support us and stand on our side."

understood…

When Zhuge Liang recited this last sentence, Guan Suo understood it all at once.

He opened his mouth subconsciously, he still wanted to persuade.

But at this moment, the words came to his lips, but he swallowed them all back... He seemed to have understood the lesson that Military Advisor Zhuge explained to him with his life.

There are always people who want to do something that seems stupid——

For a moment, he hesitated and his throat choked.

He lowered his head subconsciously, but just as he lowered his head, he noticed Huang Yueying's belly which was already noticeably bulging.

He realized all of this, but it was obvious that Zhuge Liang had no idea that she was pregnant.

"Military Advisor Zhuge..."

Guan Suo was about to speak, but it seemed that the kind-hearted Huang Yueying had seen through him again. She once again held Guan Suo back and shook her head at him, indicating...

Don't tell him!
"Is there anything else?" Zhuge Liang asked Guan Suo.

“No…no more…” Guan Suo could only shake his head.

At this time, Zhuge Liang did not stop, but walked out of the ancestral hall and got on the carriage driven by Jiang Wan.

Until the carriage drives out...

Guan Suo looked at Huang Yueying's belly and asked her, "This... haven't you told Zhuge Military Advisor yet?"

Huang Yueying shook her head. "Kong Ming has always had his country in his heart, not his family... I, this child and I should not hinder him!"

Huh...huh——

Guan Suo let out a long sigh. Even at this moment, he still couldn't understand...

Is it worth it?
Is it worth taking such a risk, using your own life and your family's happiness, for the chance of success in a verbal battle?
...

Zhuge Liang had already driven away.

At the same time, Lutou Mountain was heavily guarded and many people were very nervous. They had only heard that on the battlefield of Bashan, this explosive had killed tens of thousands of Wei soldiers in an instant.

But...no one knows how powerful this explosive is.

But even so, every soldier standing here had a fierce look in his eyes, as if the fuse in their hands... could determine the survival of hundreds of thousands or even millions of people in Shu.

In the evening, the setting sun shone on the mottled city wall. Guan Suo walked through the city gate sadly. He felt particularly depressed and regretful.

He kept chanting, "It's all my fault. It's all my fault for not listening to Fourth Brother. Otherwise... otherwise Prime Minister Zhuge wouldn't have to risk his life like this."

At this time, a large number of people gathered under the city wall, and life was noisy.

Hearing this, Guan Suo could not help but turn his head to look, and saw a man dressed as a peddler holding up a golden hairpin and shouting, "Are you so ignorant of the value of things? You want to exchange it for three pieces of Shu brocade? Don't even think about it! Bring at least thirty pieces!"

The people below were still questioning, "You are asking for an exorbitant price. We haven't even verified whether this hairpin is real gold or fake gold, and you are threatening to use thirty pieces of Shu brocade. You are asking for too much."

"Real gold is not afraid of fire? If you don't believe it, then I will refine it for you to see. But I have a promise. This is made by Jingzhou's skilled craftsmen. If it is verified to be real gold, I will not sell you the thirty pieces of Shu brocade!"

This was just a bargaining between a merchant and a "fated" customer, nothing serious.

But Guan Suo noticed the words "Wei" and "Yue" engraved on the gold...

This handwriting, this hairpin... Guan Suo couldn't be more familiar with it. Isn't this the one he gave to Wang Yue?

——『Wang Yue is here? 』

Guan Suo thought so subconsciously.

But suddenly, he was attracted by the cloth wrapped around the gold hairpin. It turned out... he was quite familiar with this cloth. It was the cloth he had given to Bao Sanniang and had used to wipe her tears several times.

This is a piece of silk with a story...

——『Wang Yue? Bao Sanniang? Huaman?』

and many more…

Guan Suo came to his senses immediately, his pupils widened, and his eyes, which were originally filled with annoyance and frustration, suddenly became filled with hope.

He took a series of vigorous steps and grabbed the merchant. "Tell me? Where did you get this hairpin? Where did you get it?"

"Sir... Sir, let's talk it over, let's talk it over..." The merchant was terrified. However, the young man in front of him was dressed elegantly and was from a wealthy family. How could he dare to offend him? "I... I also bought it from someone. It was... It was the doctor Dong Feng outside the city who used this hairpin to exchange for money... I, I..."

He wanted to say that he was just buying low and selling high... This was a commercial behavior and was protected by the Shuzhong Commerce Bureau.

Unexpectedly, Guan Suo snatched the hairpin from his hand, threw a bag full of coins to him, and said in a very serious tone, "Lead the way, take me to the clinic and see the doctor Dong Feng..."

"Okay...Okay..." The merchant agreed immediately and subconsciously weighed the bag of coins in his hand. It was heavy. He took a peek and found that it was "silver"...

Although silver in the Han Dynasty was mostly used by government agencies and was paid to the imperial court by local governments as tribute, it was also quite popular among the people and was a hard currency!

This full bag of silver is cold, but my heart is warm when I hold it in my arms.

Immediately, the merchant smiled and said, "Young man, follow me, this way, this way—"

...

On this side, Guan Suo was still rushing to the clinic under the guidance of the merchant.

But on the other side, the nine people from the Five Pecks of Rice Sect had already arrived at the clinic. The ghost soldiers had already finished their investigation and found that the doctor Dong Feng was not there... maybe he had gone out to buy medicinal herbs.

The only patient living here is that one...

This is easy -

Zhang Zhuo asked Zhang Yulan for the drug and gave it to the ghost. "Hide in there secretly... and then what to do, do you know? I know... I know!"

The ghost soldiers agreed one after another, "I know, don't worry, High Priest... don't worry, Saint, don't worry, Ghost Queen..."

As he spoke, he took the drug and walked towards the clinic again.

At this time, Zhang Yulan opened his mouth and said to Zhang Zhuo: "Our goal is only to kill that barbarian woman. The rest of the people can always escape with their lives!"

"No!" Zhang Zhuo replied firmly: "They will see our faces and expose the truth, so... no one can be left alive!"

"you--"

Zhang Yulan moaned, but at this moment, she found that her identity had become extremely pale and powerless.

Even though she was a ghost woman and second only to the Five Pecks of Rice Sect in terms of power, due to her lack of martial arts, when it came to such an action, he... he could do nothing.

"action--"

At this time, Zhang Zhao saw the ghost soldier come in and waved to the other five priests beside him, and immediately the six of them quickly walked towards the clinic.

Zhang Yulan couldn't help biting her lip as she watched them act like this. At this moment, she was particularly hesitant and had mixed feelings.

"Aunt..." At this time, Zhang Qiying's voice came out, "Aunt didn't take the pill just now, right?"

Well…

When this was suddenly mentioned to her, Zhang Yulan felt ashamed as if she had been caught doing something bad, and she couldn't help but lower her head.

Zhang Qiying continued, "I think that the people that my aunt wants to charm are not the women in this clinic, but... the six high priests, right?"

This…

Following Zhang Qiying's words, Zhang Yulan couldn't help but widen her eyes.

"You...how do you know everything?"

Zhang Qiying pursed her lips slightly, "Aunt, please don't ask me this. I am willing to help you and reduce the number of murders...but..."

"but what?"

"Others can be spared, but that barbarian girl is related to the King of Wei's decree and the future of our Five Pecks of Rice Sect. She...she must die..."

Zhang Qiying's voice was not loud, but the pupils that accompanied the voice were captivating.

Even Zhang Yulan didn't know what to say for a moment!

After a long pause, she murmured, "Qiying? What is your plan?"

...

…(End of chapter)