Because of the news that the entire Southern Expeditionary Army was annihilated and that Kuai Yue had committed suicide, Xiangyang is now like the eye of a huge storm, with clothes from the north and south, traders, and soldiers everywhere, and public opinion is raging.
A gorgeously decorated carriage drove out from the Xiguo Gate of Xiangyang and headed northwest. There were two people sitting in the carriage. One of them had a sparse turban and single clothes. He had a strong body and a serious appearance. The other person had a high crown and brocade robe, a handsome appearance and a dignified appearance. .
These two people were none other than Zhuge Liang's friends, Xu Shu and Cui Jun.
Xu Shu was born in a single family. Although he had a small fortune, but now that the world is in chaos, horses can no longer be bought with money. This carriage belongs to Cui Jun. The Cui Jun family is the leading wealthy family in Beizhou, and his great-grandfather Cui Heng, his grandfather Cui Pan, his father Cui Lie, and his father Cui Shi both became famous people in the world.
After hearing the news in the city, the two immediately went to Longzhong, ten miles northwest of Xiangyang, to meet their friend Zhuge Liang.
Zhuge Liang is in his twenties this year. He left school at the beginning of the year and moved to Longzhong with his family to live a leisurely life of farming, studying.
Although the carriage was far less comfortable than the ox-cart, it was much faster than the ox-cart. It didn't take long to reach Zhuge's house in Longzhong.
The Zhuge family's residence is surrounded by mountains and rivers and has three rooms. Zhuge Liang and his wife live in one room, his brother Zhuge Jun lives in another room, and the last room is occupied by the wife and son of Zhuge Xuan, Zhuge Liang's uncle.
Xu Shu, Cui Jun and Zhuge Liang have known each other for many years and have a close friendship. They ran to Zhuge Liang's home for three days in a row, so they came and went quite casually and went straight into the house to find Zhuge Liang.
"Xu Jun, Cui Jun..." Hearing the sound in the hall, a woman in cloth clothes and a bun came out of the inner room. When she saw Xu Shu and Cui Jun, she calmly saluted and greeted them.
This woman is Huang Yueying, the wife of Zhuge Liang and the daughter of the famous Miannan scholar Huang Chengyan. Although she has dry hair and ugly appearance, her expression is delicate and her temperament is refined, making her unforgettable.
Although Huang Yueying does not have an exquisite and beautiful face, she is well-read in classics and virtuous. She is a strange woman like Zhong Lichun in ancient times. Xu Shu and Cui Jun respected Huang Yueying in their hearts and did not dare to neglect. They hurriedly returned the courtesy and then asked : "Isn't Kong Ming at home?"
Huang Yueying replied calmly: "Ge Lang is studying in Leshan."
The so-called Leshan is a mountain next to Zhuge's home. Xu Shu and Cui Jun both knew that Zhuge Liang liked to climb Leshan to study.
The two looked at each other, said goodbye to Huang Yueying immediately, and went to Leshan to look for Zhuge Liang.
As soon as the two of them reached the foot of the mountain, they heard a continuous roar that echoed in the valley for a long time. Needless to say, this must be Zhuge Liang's roar. Zhuge Liang liked to write "Liang Fu Yin" and roared out with love. He often sits on the top of Leshan Mountain, on a huge rock, hugging his knees and shouting, which can be heard for miles, and is heard far and near.
Xu Shu and Cui Jun climbed all the way to the top of Leshan Mountain and saw Zhuge Liang sitting on a large bluestone with his back turned, facing the cliff, roaring endlessly.
"Kong Ming..." Xu Shu and Cui Jun strode up behind Zhuge Liang and shouted in unison.
Zhuge Liang turned around after hearing this, revealing an extremely handsome face. Coupled with his eight-foot-tall body, he was really a high-spirited man, dwarfed by Xu Shu and Cui Jun.
Zhuge Liang saw his two friends coming hand in hand and couldn't help but smile and joked: "Zhou Ping, Yuan Zhi, are you here asking for a drink again?"
He naturally had a reason for saying this. This year he and his brother Zhuge Jun cultivated a total of 200 acres of land, and the harvest was quite abundant. Recently, his wife Huang Yueying brewed some wine, which attracted Xu Shu and Cui Jun to come to enjoy the autumn breeze. Of course. , they preferred to gather and chat with Zhuge Liang rather than covet drinks.
Xu Shu and Cui Jun looked at each other and smiled, Xu Shu said: "Haha, Kong Ming, you guessed it right, we are indeed here to ask for a drink. However, we will not drink your wine in vain, we will bring a shocking surprise this time
After hearing the news, you will definitely take out the wine at home and let us enjoy it."
"Oh?" Zhuge Liang raised his eyebrows when he heard this and asked, "What is this shocking news?"
Xu Shu replied: "It concerns the south."
The affairs in the south must involve Liu Jing. Zhuge Liang couldn't help but guessed: "Could it be that Liu Zhongda repelled the Jingzhou army?"
Since he had been with Xu Shu and Cui Jun for many years, they were quite partial to Liu Jing. If the news was not good for Liu Jing, they would never be so relaxed when they came to see him.
Cui Jun sighed: "More than just repelling them, Liu Zhongda used floods to annihilate Jingzhou's southern army in one battle at the foot of Lin County. Kuai Yidu committed suicide and died, while Cai Degui fled north alone."
"What?!" Zhuge Liang was immediately shocked by this shocking news.
Seeing Zhuge Liang's dumbfounded look, Xu Shu and Cui Jun couldn't help laughing. When they first learned the news, their reaction was exactly the same as Zhuge Liang's reaction at this time.
Although Zhuge Liang is the youngest among them, he has always had the ambition to help the world. He often compares himself to Guan Zhong, Le Yi, Xu Shu, Cui Jun and Zhuge Liang. They have known each other for many years and have never seen him show such an expression.
Zhuge Liang urged: "What is going on? Tell me quickly..."
After Xu Shu and Cui Jun saw Zhuge Liang's joke, they told him everything they knew.
Zhuge Liang listened and digested it for a long time before he said: "Kuai Zhangling is a man of great resourcefulness and heroic appearance. He is a heroic and famous general of Chu. Unexpectedly, he ended up defeated and dead."
Since his eldest sister was married to Kuai Qi, Zhuge Liang had a lot of contacts with the Kuai family in Xiangyang. He also met Kuai Yue several times and was deeply impressed by his talent.
Therefore, Zhuge Liang learned that after Zhang Xian died of illness and Linxiang fell, Liu Jing tried to use the power of a county to fight against an army of a country, and this army of a country was commanded by Kuai Yue.
Even though Zhuge Liang firmly believed that Liu Jing's civil and military talents were superior to those of Kuai Yue, the difference in strength between the two sides was huge and could not be reversed by one person's wisdom. He was very worried about Liu Jing.
Liu Jing achieved a brilliant victory comparable to the Battle of Jimo even though everyone, including him, was not optimistic about it.
While Zhuge Liang was happy for Liu Jing, he also felt ashamed.
At that time, he did not understand why Liu Jing, who was born into a royal family, a family of officials, had a reputation for virtue, and had extraordinary talents, insisted on serving as a minor official in the city and living in a dirty place.
He believed that the right thing for Liu Jing to do was to keep his reputation at home and wait for the opportunity to skyrocket in the future. This is what he is doing now, living in seclusion in Longzhong, farming and studying, and waiting for the opportunity.
However, Liu Jing has embarked on an astonishing path: he was a city official in his 17th year, the governor of Changsha County in his 18th year, filial piety and honesty in his 19th year, and became the magistrate of Ling County, and he became the prefect of Lingling in the 22nd year.
The army took over three counties, separatized Jingnan, and ruled across the river with Liu Biao, fighting against each other.