Kuangfu Han Dynasty

Chapter 34
Xin Pi was very good at observing words and expressions. Just now, while listening to Pang Tong's talk, he secretly glanced at Cao Cao's expression.

When Prime Minister Cao first met Pang Tong, he was not very interested, just to give Han Song some face. When Pang Tong defended himself with the Spring and Autumn Period Judgment, it seemed that he was really capable of being an official, so he gave him a chance to continue talking. Then Pang Tong commented that the officials in the prefectures and counties were very good people. In order to be in place, this was indeed the talent situation that Cao Cao needed to understand, and he gradually became interested.

But since Pang Tong's "On Heroes", the look on Prime Minister Cao's face has obviously become impatient: I have been fighting with the world's heroes for almost 20 years, and I don't know if there are any heroes among them?Until Pang Tong finally praised Zhou Yu, saying that he would make Cao Cao break his scales, Cao Mengde even dismissed it.

Seeing this, Xin Pi, who had been preparing his bow for a long time, immediately stood up and shot a fatal arrow at Pang Tong!
"Prime Minister! I have just received an urgent report about the latest situation in the counties of Nanjun. Among them is Linju County Magistrate Xiang Lang, who was highly recommended by Pang Shiyuan just now. He has abandoned his official position a few days ago and is missing! He may have defected to Liu Bei. And Li Yan, the magistrate of Zigui County, also fled westward to Yizhou when the vanguard of our army arrived to take over the county seat!"

As soon as this statement came out, there was an uproar in the hall. If this matter is true, then Xiang Lang and Li Yan, as county officials, have the responsibility of guarding the land, and their crimes are far greater than that of Pang Lin!

Cai Mao, the prefect of Qiannan County, immediately shouted: "Prime Minister, I believe that Xiang Lang and Li Yan, as county magistrates, took the lead in defecting, and should be severely punished according to law! Li Yan is from Wancheng, Nanyang, and his family members may be around, but Xiang Lang is the real deal. We are from Nanjun, and our family is in Yicheng. We should arrest the entire Xiang clan immediately to serve as a warning to others!"

He looked at Pang Tong again and said: "As for Pang Tong, a great meritorious official, responsible for the advancement and retreat of a county's officials, he openly recommended rebellion to the prime minister. Now that he and his younger brother have rebelled, their intentions may be bad, and they must be investigated strictly!"

Kuai Yue also seized the opportunity and sarcastically said: "De Gui, this is Pang Shiyuan's 'knowledge of people'. Didn't he say it himself? After pulling out ten and losing five, he still got half of it. Now he strongly recommends three officials, but actually Isn't it okay to kill the two of them?"

Cai Mao said angrily: "Brother Yidu's words are reasonable. Fortunately, Mao didn't listen to his words at first. If the officials were all based on Pang Tong's recommendation, wouldn't more than half of the officials in the eighteen counties of Nanjun defect?"

Others, such as Wang Can, Dou Fu and others, also joined in attacking Pang Tong. At this point, even Han Song and Fu Xun could no longer speak for him.

And what about Pang Tong?From the beginning to the end, he kept his head down and frowning. Xu Shu knew what he was thinking: It didn't matter that Li Yan and Pang Tong didn't have a close relationship, but Xiang Lang was a fellow sect member who they knew very well, and his character and moral character were very clear.Even Pang Tong must not have expected that Xiang Lang, who had always been gentle and gentle in the past, would choose to betray the interests of the clan and abandon his official position at this critical moment!

Only Xu Shu knew the reason. During the years when Pang Tong came to Jiangling to serve as an official, Xiang Lang still maintained close contact with Xinye, especially Zhuge Liang. Xiang Lang admired him the most and regarded him as a "sage". Kong Ming's support would naturally It affects Xiang Lang's stay or stay.

At this time, Pang Tong finally raised his head and looked at Xu Shu, as if he knew that he was hindering this matter.

But in the face of everyone's questioning, Pang Tong pursed his lips as if he didn't intend to defend himself. After all, the sum of everything before and after was enough for Cao Cao to make a final decision about him.

Cao Cao really felt that Pang Tong was deliberately imitating the words of Gongsun Yan and others during the Warring States Period, exaggerating and elevating juniors like Zhou Yu. He just wanted to make himself believe that there were talented people in Jiangdong and that Pang Tong must be used to deal with them. Can be taken seriously, Cao Cao has seen too many similar tricks in the past ten years.

"Pang Shiyuan."

Cao Cao singled out Pang Tong and made a judgment against him: "You don't know people well and your recommendations are wrong. It seems that the post of meritorious Cao is indeed not suitable for the present."

Hearing this, Han Song panicked, but Cao Cao continued:

"But I just heard that you are quite familiar with the Spring and Autumn Period Prison and are good at official affairs. Then I will temporarily serve as the prison chief of Nanjun. It will be up to you to arrest Xiang Lang, Li Yan and even the officials and scholars who surrendered to the enemy. Go and supervise it in person. If it is done well, it will be regarded as repairing the situation. If it is not done properly, then live in prison yourself."

Good guy, Pang Tong directly changed from Xiao He's job to Cao Shen. Although it seems that his rank and salary have not changed, his power has been greatly reduced. Pang Tong was demoted and retained.

After saying this, Cao Cao waved his hand and said: "Yuan Zhi, take Pang Shiyuan down."

The interview was a complete failure. Pang Tong remained silent. He only bowed to Cao Cao and walked out side by side with Xu Shu.After the two of them left the hall, Cao Cao smiled and said to Han Song: "De Gao, the orange you presented is still a little green and sour. You must first put it on the branch of Yunmeng in Jingshan Mountain and then raise it." , to eat.”

Cao Cao has seen real "talents of kings and assistants". Xun Yu, Xun You, and Guo Jia around him are all such people, and all of them have real talents and learning. Cao Cao can achieve what he has today, all three of them have made great contributions.Compared with them, Pang Tong was too immature.

But when Cao Cao carefully smacked his mouth, he felt that the taste of this small green tangerine was quite memorable compared to those tangerine fruits that were already overripe and difficult to find new ideas.Regardless of how inaccurate Pang Tong's evaluation of Zhou Yu was, at least he raised the possibility that Jiangdong might be an enemy of Prime Minister Cao, which touched an idea in Cao Mengde's mind that he had never discussed with his ministers...

That's why this green orange can avoid the fate of being thrown away and rotting. Cao Cao must deliberately suppress him and dampen his enthusiasm. If he is really a good seedling, maybe he can be put to use after a few months of training.

Han Song did not dare to sit down anymore and avoided the table to plead guilty, but Cao Cao did not feel dissatisfied: "Everyone may make mistakes, but I still follow the good deeds. As De Gao said, Pang Degong is a great sage in Jingzhou, and his clan should not be implicated. Although I have removed Pang Shiyuan's meritorious service, I have allowed him to remain as prison warden, and Pang Shanmin, the son of Pang Degong, has also been recruited as an official to assist Lou Zibo in Xiangyang to appease the soldiers."

"In this way, it can be considered as forgiving the Pang family, and it is a good start for the reform of the Jingzhou Guan clan. De Gao thinks, is there anything wrong?"

How could Han Song dare to say no? He quickly bowed down and praised Cao Cao for his generosity.He even regretted supporting Pang Tong. This kid was obviously a genius, but it was a pity that he was too impatient. He wanted to show all his abilities at once, but he didn't want to be too hasty. He was still too young and it would be better to suffer some setbacks.

While Kuai Yue, who was standing aside, was feeling proud, Cao Cao stared at him and said: "I heard that Pang Shanmin's wife is the sister of Liu Bei's mastermind Zhuge Liang, but just now I forgot to ask Pang Tong, what is his opinion of Zhuge Liang? Xu Yuanzhi said His title of 'Fulong' is both in name and in reality. In another world, the Kuai family is also married to the Zhuge family. Do you think Xu Yuanzhi's evaluation is accurate?"

Kuai Yue was shocked. Yes, Zhuge Liang's eldest sister was married to his cousin Kuai Qi. This was the fate forged when Zhuge fled from Xuzhou to seek refuge with Liu Biao.But Kuai Yue was quite disgusted with this relative. At this moment, he felt that it was a drag and wanted to get rid of him. He immediately responded: "Prime Minister, I think... Xu Yuanzhi's evaluation of Zhuge Kongming is impartial!"

Kuai Yue commented on Zhuge Liang: "This son lost his family at a young age and had no elder brother to teach him, so he grew up to be a madman. After reading a few miscellaneous books, he thought he was a genius. He was also quite arrogant, and he criticized the county officials recruited by the government. He was too young, and every time he compared himself to Guan Zhong and Le Yi, people in Jingzhou treated him as a joke, and no one at that time appreciated him, so Sima Decao, Liu Bei and others regarded him as a figure."

Kuai Yue waved his hand and concluded contemptuously: "Since the 'phoenix chicks' we saw today are just ignorant crows without all their feathers, then the so-called 'Fulong' is just a snake swimming in the grass!"

……

Unlike the confident and high-spirited rooster when he entered the hall, Pang Tong seemed like a wilted bird when he came out.He originally wanted to make a splash in front of Cao Cao, the most powerful person in the world, and then climb up to the high branch of his Han minister and fly straight to the temple, so as to realize his ambition of becoming the emperor's teacher, but unexpectedly he was interrupted after his first cry.

When he was approaching the gate of the county mansion, Pang Tong raised his head and looked at Xu Shu, who was leading the way with brisk steps, and suddenly asked: "Yuan Zhi, you are the one who made the 'Le Wang Yu' today, right?"

Le Wang Yu was a senior official of the Jin Dynasty in the Spring and Autumn Period. When his uncle was imprisoned for his younger brother's affair, Le Wang Yu offered to rescue him. However, he later repeated that he and his younger brother were both the same. Rebel against the party.Xu Shu felt a little ashamed, but he also knew that he had to prevent Pang Tong from being used by Cao Cao, so he said: "Shi Yuan, I never promised to help you."

Pang Tong followed Xu Shu: "That's right, you and I still made a bet. In this case, you have even more reason to deliberately hide the fact that Ju Da (Xiang Lang) and Li Zhengfang abandoned their official positions from me."

Xu Shu retorted: "How could I have expected that you would recommend these two people?"

Pang Tong said firmly: "Yuan Zhi knows me, just as I know Yuan Zhi, how can you not know?"

Xu Shu was almost moved by his words. Knowing that Pang Tong was smart and couldn't hide it, he simply admitted: "Okay, I wanted to remind you, but who asked Shi Yuan to call me a running official? I am angry in my heart, and let you Have a taste of 'the price of a small official'."

Pang Tong sneered: "Ha! Yuan Zhi doesn't tell the truth. This excuse is too false. Don't I know how broad your mind is?"

In the end, he shook his head helplessly: "Forget it, even if the two of them had not abandoned their posts, I am afraid Cao Mengde would not have reused me. It is a pity that my warning and advice from the bottom of my heart were only regarded by him as 'the big words of a political strategist'. "

Pang Tong murmured to himself: "Cao Cao is arrogant, closed his eyes and ears, and does not realize that a powerful enemy is right in front of him. It is not me who is incompetent!"

If you speak ill of Prime Minister Cao in front of the military guards at the gate of the county government, you may be anxious to go to jail!Xu Shu was startled by Pang Tong, and quickly pushed him out of the house until he reached the other side of the street, and then planned to go back.

Unexpectedly, Pang Tong grabbed Xu Shu and said, "Today I tasted everyone in Jingzhou, but I didn't have time to say who Yuan Zhi is. Do you want to know my evaluation of you?"

Regardless of whether Xu Shu thought about it or not, Pang Tong stared at him up and down, touched his chin and commented: "Yuan Zhi is a good horse. It should be used for planning formations and battlefield strategies. But now Prime Minister Cao only uses you as a horse." The horses that plow the fields and pull carts are really used in the wrong place."

Pang Tong continued talking to himself: "Moreover, Yuan Zhi, a good horse, still knows its owner, just like Wu Zui, the mount of Xiang Yu, the overlord of Chu. I heard that when Gaixia was defeated, Xiang Yu ordered the commander of Wujiang Pavilion to love the horse. When he was sent to the east of the Yangtze River, he returned and died in the battle. The Wuzui horse refused to leave its master and neighed in the boat. Finally, it threw itself into the water and followed King Xiang away."

This is a southern legend about Wu Zui, which moved Xu Shu's heart after hearing it, but Pang Tong's idea was obviously more bold.

"But there is another possibility." Pang Tong stared at Xu Shu and said grimly: "That Wu Zui did not commit suicide. After Xiang Yu's defeat, it was captured by the Han army and fell into the hands of Liu Bang. Wu Zui missed his old master and pretended to surrender. , knelt down, but when Liu Bang tried to ride it, he suddenly burst into flames! He threw Emperor Hengao to the ground heavily!"

This is exactly Xu Shu's current plan!Pang Tong actually told him everything without even guessing!

Seeing that Xu Shu finally showed his anxious look, Pang Tong burst out laughing. It was a pleasure for Pang Tong to reveal his old friend's concerns. His frustration of failing in today's interview seemed to be dispelled.

"Shiyuan, I..."

Pang Tong raised his palm and told Xu Shu that there was no need to say anything: "Yuan Zhi, do you still remember the bet you and I made? Now Cao Cao has neither killed me nor dismissed me, but he has not re-employed me. Neither you nor I have won. Pang has been saved. Look. There is no need for me to go to Kong Ming, and there is no need for Yuan Zhi to tell me your plan."

After saying that, Pang Tong turned around and walked forward with his hands behind his back: "What Yuan Zhi does from now on has nothing to do with me. As a newly appointed prison warden, I have a low position and cannot control Prime Minister Cao's shogunate!"

Pang Tong just walked away in a graceful manner. He became confident and high-spirited again, completely unable to see that he had suffered a disastrous defeat in his self-recommendation today.

Xu Shu felt at ease and bowed towards his old friend's retreating figure, but secretly said in his heart: "No, Shi Yuan, I won today."

"As long as you, 'Feng Chu', don't help Cao Cao with suggestions, it will be the greatest victory for Asao and I."

……

When Xu Shu returned to the county mansion, the banquet had dispersed, and Cao Cao and the guests were nowhere to be seen. Only Xin Pi was waiting there. Seeing Xu Shu return, he looked at him with a smile but not a smile.

Today, Xu Shu borrowed Xin Pi's help to thwart Pang Tong's official position. He was thinking about what he should say. Unexpectedly, before he could open his mouth, Xin Pi gestured with his hands and said, "Yuan Zhi doesn't need to explain!"

Xinpi was quite satisfied today. When he saw Pang Tong, he knew that this person had a biased temper and was not easy to get along with. He seemed to have some abilities. If he entered the prime minister's shogunate and was lucky enough to be reused, there might be a lot of trouble and even trouble. He wanted to seize his position, so Xin Pi was happy to help Xu Shu hold back Pang Tong.

As for why Xu Shu would do such a thing to his fellow disciples... I dare to ask, why did Pang Juan want to harm Sun Bin back then?It must be jealousy and fear!
Looking at their identities, one is a poor man living in another county, and the other is the leader of the local Guan clan in Jingzhou. They have nothing in common. They just happened to meet under Mr. Shui Jing's family. The harmony in the past must have been superficially incompatible, and I have long hated it in my heart. Through each other.

After catching a glimpse of the "sinister" side of Xu Shu's heart, Xin Pi felt more at ease with him. He felt that this person shared a secret with him and could be put to good use in the future, so he patted Xu Shu's shoulder affectionately and laughed: "I understand Yuan Zhi's thoughts, I understand!"

You know a thing!

Xu Shu smiled, and just took advantage of the situation to deal with it. After seeing off Xin Pi, Zhang Shao, who had already packed the wine vessels, said a few words to the food officials Wang He and Xia Houba, then trotted over and offered money to Xu Shu. Discipleship.

"Mr. Xu!"

The eight-year-old child raised his head, his face full of anticipation.

"It's still early today. I'd like to ask Master, do you have some free time to guide your disciples in calligraphy practice?"

(End of this chapter)