Yuan Shao, the father of Fanghua in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 691
Zhuge Liang took out the famous thorn from his arms and handed it to the guard at the door. The guard took it and looked at it, then walked through the door holding the famous thorn.

The cold wind of winter blew over, and Zhuge Liang felt that even the two layers of linen clothes could not stop the coldness from entering his sleeves. He couldn't help but cross his hands and poke them into his sleeves, which slightly blocked the biting cold wind.

However, the soldiers on the opposite side did not come out. Zhuge Liang felt that even his feet were numb from the cold, so he stamped his feet vigorously on the snow. As his body moved, a trace of warmth rose from the soles of his feet.

When the donkeys next to them saw their owner acting like this, they also followed suit by kicking their hooves on the ground. One person and one donkey stepped on the snow, causing the guard at the door to look sideways and wonder where did this ungrateful mountain villager come from?
But it was too cold outside. After an unknown amount of time, Zhuge Liang felt that his whole body was about to freeze. When he rubbed the donkey's ears with his hands to keep warm, the guard came out, pointed at Zhuge Liang, and said to the slave following him: "This is the man."

When the servant saw it, he came over and said, "Are you Zhuge Liang?"

"Master Fu wants to see you, come with me."

After Zhuge Liang heard this, he led the donkey and walked inside. When the servant saw it, he frowned and said, "The mansion is clean. It would be bad to bring such a beast in to make noise and disturb the Lord."

After hearing this, Zhuge Liang had no choice but to tie the donkey to a tree on the side and follow the slave inside. When he came all the way to the hall, he saw another slave waiting in the corridor. He looked at Zhuge Liang's shoes covered with snow and said : "Wipe your feet quickly before going in."

Zhuge Liang looked around privately and found no place to wipe his feet, so he jumped on the ground a few times to shake off the snow on his boots and stepped onto the corridor.

When the servant saw it, a look of disgust appeared on his face, and without saying a word, he led Zhuge Liang to the guest seat in the hall, turned around and went to the back hall.

Zhuge Liang sat bored for a long time, and then he heard the sound of footsteps gradually coming. When he looked up, he saw an old man walking over.

The person who came was about 50 years old, with a thin appearance, gray beard and hair, a rather weathered face, and slightly squinted eyes, but Zhuge Liang saw a rather sharp look in his casual glance, and thought to himself that this should be It's Jia Xu.

He stared at Zhuge Liang and said, "Is this Zhuge Kongming here?"

Zhuge Liang sat up straight, bowed slightly and said, "Zhuge Liang, a common man, has met the Lord."

Jia Xu nodded slightly, sat opposite Zhuge Liang, and said, "I heard that Kong Ming has been in Wancheng for more than half a month, but he has not responded to the general's call. Why is this?"

Zhuge Liang said: "This matter is about to happen to Lord Bingming."

"When Riliang lived in seclusion in the mountains, he was appreciated by the general and sent someone to Liang's mansion to invite him. Liang is really grateful."

"Although it is hard to refuse such kindness, Liang knows that he is too young to hold such a big responsibility. If he refuses directly, he may lose his etiquette, so he comes to Wancheng in person to plead guilty to the general."

"But I haven't had the opportunity to meet the general. It's the same today when I meet the general. If the general can convey Liang's original intention to the general and get the general's understanding, that would be great."

After hearing this, Jia Xu's face showed a strange color. "So, you don't want to serve as an official under the general?"

Zhuge Liang cupped his hands and said, "My abilities are actually limited, please forgive me."

Jia Xu stroked his beard and laughed: "I'm afraid things are not that simple, right?"

"If you have the intention to refuse, I'm afraid you will find a way to see the general on the first day you come to Wancheng. Why wait until now?"

"I'm afraid I feel that Nanyang has no place to use, and the general can't give you the status you want. After all, you are married to Liu Jingsheng, so naturally you don't like this little Nanyang."

After hearing this, Kong Ming thought that it was really hard to deceive this poisonous person who was known all over the world, so he had to say in a deep voice: "Liang has no disrespect to the general."

"It's just that based on Nanyang's situation, there is some discrepancy between what Liang thinks."

Jia Xu's eyes flashed, "Are you talking about the dead people in the city?"

"Do you know how many people die in Liangzhou every winter?"

"When we were in Liangzhou, everyone wanted to go to the Central Plains. Even though the Central Plains was always in turmoil, it did not stop the Xiliang people from going south."

"After all, life in Liangzhou is worse than in the Central Plains."

"But after arriving in the Central Plains, the Liangzhou people found that not only did their situation not change much, but even the Central Plains nobles looked down on the officials and warriors from Liangzhou."

"You were born in the Central Plains, and the Zhuge family is also a prominent local family. Maybe you haven't experienced this feeling, right?"

Zhuge Liang has been feeling vaguely uncomfortable since he entered the mansion, but at this moment he couldn't suppress it and said: "Liang only knows that the world has been at war for too long, and too many people have died. If this continues, how many people will be able to survive?" Survive?"

"Liang doesn't see a solution to Wancheng's problem, so he still asks the Lord for advice."

Jia Xu was stunned, then he chuckled and said, "That's it."

"Do you think Wancheng is not doing well in many things?"

Zhuge Liang nodded slightly, acquiescing.

Jia Xu said: "I am fifty-one years old this year."

"According to ordinary people, this age is considered a long life. I don't know how many years I can live."

"But you are different. You are still young and strong, and it is possible to live 50 years longer than me."

"But the difference between you and me is that you haven't seen many things in the world."

"In the face of irresistible force, personal efforts are extremely insignificant, and we can only drift with the tide and struggle to survive." "Over the years, I have seen many things in the world, and now all I can think about is just thinking about it. It’s just a few more years to live.”

"So now I don't care so much about external affairs. After all, my power is limited and I can't change anything."

Zhuge Liang cursed, this is really self-effacing. Isn’t the current situation in the world all caused by you? "

Naturally, Jia Xu didn't know what Zhuge Liang was thinking, so he kept talking to himself, "But you are different."

"You are still young and there is still a lot you can do."

"Did you know that I am the one who recommends you to the Lord this time?"

Zhuge Liang was confused and said: "Liang lives in seclusion in the mountains and is unknown. How can he be so virtuous and capable as to be appreciated by the emperor?"

Jia Xu spoke up: "First, the name of the Four Friends has spread from Nanyang."

"You are the youngest among them, so you must be outstanding, so I want to see it with my own eyes."

"The second is that you are related to Liu Jingsheng, and Nanyang is not stable. If we join forces with Liu Jingsheng, you can be the middleman to ease the relationship between the two parties."

After hearing this, Zhuge Liang smiled bitterly in his heart. It seemed that what Jia Xu valued was only his reputation, background, and relationship with Liu Biao.

As for his own talent, as the top strategist in the world, the other party may not have cared about it from beginning to end, right?

Jia Xu seemed to see what Zhuge Liang was thinking. He chuckled and said, "Of course, I not only recommended you to the general, but also other famous people in Jingzhou."

"I am already old, and I want to keep a low profile and spend my old age in peace. Sooner or later, someone will take my place."

"You are still young, but as a subordinate in Nanyang, your starting point is not low. Now that the world is in chaos, Jingzhou is already a pretty good place. Do you want to serve the general for a year and a half?"

Zhuge Liang hesitated for a moment. With Jia Xu's status, saying such words could be regarded as a surrender, so he subconsciously agreed.

But then he thought of something and said: "Liang heard that Cao Cao occupied Sili, defeated Liu Xuande in Yuzhou, occupied Yingchuan, and almost occupied the entire border of Nanyang."

"Liang would like to ask the prince for advice. What should he do if Cao Cao covets Nanyang?"

Jia Xu thought for a moment and said: "Promote peace through war."

After Zhuge Liang heard this, the expression on his face did not change, he leaned over and said, "I have learned the lesson."

Jia Xu only thought Zhuge Liang agreed, but he didn't expect Zhuge Liang to say: "Liang is really grateful for the kindness of Mr. Fu. Please let Liang go back and think about it for a few days before he can reply to Mr. Fu."

Jia Xu nodded slightly and said, "I understand."

"You go first."

Looking at Zhuge Liang's retreating figure, Jia Xu's eyes flashed. There was not much conversation between the two, but he had actually figured out Zhuge Liang's thoughts.

The other party's final change of mind should be based on his last sentence.

It seems that as a Langya person, he has deep resentment for the massacre of Xuzhou, and he is probably not close to Cao Cao's camp, at least for now.

Hearing this, Jia Xu sneered slightly. Sure enough, he was a newborn calf who was not afraid of tigers. He was raised in a pampered and pampered family and did not know the cruelty of this world and how difficult it was to survive.

Maybe he will let go of his ridiculous dignity when he encounters a hurdle that he cannot overcome in the future and is overwhelmed by a cruel display.

Forget it, I don't have that much patience. There are enough celebrities in Jingzhou, including him. Even if he changes his mind and comes back, there will be no place left for him here.

Not only that, if this side negotiates peace with Cao Cao, they can actually be used as hostages.
Zhuge Liang went out, no longer looking behind him, not paying attention to the movement behind him. He raised his head and looked at the winter sky.

The sunlight was a bit dazzling, but Zhuge Liang tried his best to stare back. Through the conversation just now, Zhuge Liang had already understood Jia Xu's thoughts.

This is a man who can change his ambitions and principles at any time in order to survive.

Zhuge Liang felt that Jia Xu might indeed be more suitable to be a counselor than him, because as a counselor, he naturally seeks the best interests in everything. However, he could not agree with Jia Xu's idea. The other party had indeed seen more misery than himself, but In troubled times, some people seek survival and some seek justice!

Thinking of all the chaos and tragedy he had seen along the way, a fire flashed in Zhuge Liang's heart. He would never compromise with Cao Cao. The path Cao Cao took was definitely wrong!

And Zhuge Liang hopes that in the future he will not become someone like Jia Xu.

Different road non-phase plan!

He rode the donkey all the way back home. When Huang Yueying saw Zhuge Liang entering the yard, she came out to welcome him and took the donkey's reins over. She smiled at Zhuge Liang and said, "Are you leaving?"

Zhuge Liang smiled bitterly, "How did Madam guess it right?"

Huang Yueying covered her mouth and smiled, "There is obviously a look of disappointment on my husband's face."

(End of this chapter)