Chapter 34 The Thousand-Year-Old Fox and the Thousand-Year-Old Demon
Chapter 34 Thousand Years Fox and Thousand Years Demon
Liu Biao seemed furious at first, but then suddenly changed his attitude, which was unexpected.
But this is a good thing.
Because this shows that Liu Biao is not really angry, he is just testing it.
Seeing that Liu Biao had no intention of blaming him, Deng Hong felt relieved and boasted to his grandson: "To be honest with you, Achen has been smart since he was a child. Although he was born to my cousin's daughter, he is loved by the whole family. The clan classics were also handed over to him for study, and within a few years, he had read all the clan books."
"oh?"
Liu Biao was surprised and said: "How can a child like him understand books?"
He also thought that Shen Chen was so smart because he was taught by other more powerful scholars in the clan.
Deng Hong said: "Achen really doesn't understand many things, but he likes to ponder by himself. He often asks scholars on the roadside to find out their meaning, so he has a thorough study of the meaning of the scriptures. The tribesmen are all different, and they even specialize in collecting books. For him, he is only eight years old and has already read a lot of classics."
Liu Biao praised: "This eagerness to learn is a talent that has been present since childhood. The Xinye Deng family deserves to be a queen of a famous family, and your clan also knows how to cultivate talents. This is a good thing."
Seeing that he was praising him more and more, Deng Hong felt a little erratic, so he smiled and said: "The clan also hopes that Ah Chen can lead the clan to prosper again in the future. In fact, he has already saved the lives of the clan. This time we leave Xuzhou and move back to our clan. It was also because Ah Chen believed that Cao Cao would massacre Xuzhou, so he had no choice but to do so."
"What?"
Liu Biao looked at Shen Chen and was shocked: "Did you guess that Cao Cao would massacre Xuzhou?"
If you say you have good knowledge, then you are a genius. But if you can understand other people's strategic intentions, then you are not just a genius, but a pure evildoer.
Shen Chen glanced at his unruly uncle, and said rather helplessly: "Your Majesty, I also asked passers-by from north to south, and learned about the general trend of the world from their mouths. Through some of Cao Cao's original behaviors, I , and thus make a judgment.”
"Then why do you think Cao Cao will massacre Xuzhou?"
Liu Biao asked.
Shen Chen replied: "Cao Cao formed an alliance with Yuan Shao in Yanzhou. Although he defeated Tao Qian and Yuan Shu, he was still afraid of Yuan Shu's strength. In order to avoid being attacked from both sides, and to prevent Yuan Shu from annexing Xuzhou and increasing his strength, he would definitely defeat Tao Qian first. Let Xuzhou turn into a scorched earth, and massacre is the best way."
Hearing his words, Liu Biao sighed: "He who knows others is wise, and he who knows himself is wise. At a young age, you have already reached the level of knowing others. In time, if you study hard, you may have a great future. There are many talents in Jingzhou, but no one I can match you at this age."
"I have given you too much credit. Chen is just a stupid person. How can he compare with the talents of Jingzhou?"
Shen Chen knew very well that he had no background now and had just arrived in Jingzhou. As the saying goes, anything good in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. It would not be good if his talent and reputation were revealed and aroused the jealousy of the Jingzhou scholars, so he refused again and again.
Liu Biao liked him even more when he saw that he was young but not sharp, like a gentleman hiding weapons, which coincided with the principles of "Book of Changes". He smiled and said: "You are really good at this childish thing. In this way, your uncle will first be a minister in the state bookstore." Shi, after your clan moves to Xinye, how about following your uncle to Xiangyang?"
"Then what do you want me to do in Xiangyang?"
Shen Chen asked.
Liu Biao said: "Of course I hope you can study hard and become a pillar of talent in the future."
Shen Chen's eyes rolled, and he suddenly knelt down and kowtowed: "Shijun has learned from ancient times to the present. The world's talents are one stone high, and the prince alone has eight fights. Although Chen is young and ignorant, he still yearns for it. I would like to worship Shijun as his teacher. Follow left and right and learn the meaning of the scriptures.”
"Worship me as your teacher?"
This sudden move made Liu Biao's face suddenly darken, and his eyes became very sharp, staring at Shen Chen who was prostrating.
As a lord who can conquer Jingzhou on his own, how can he be an ordinary person?
Love is true.
But Liu Biao also hated it when people took advantage of his love for talent and wanted to use his power to rise to the top.
Although he was once one of the Eighth Grade Scholars, his talents and learning were indeed famous all over the world. If he had not been an official and concentrated on learning, he would have been one of the great Confucian scholars at that time.
But in the final analysis, he is already a prince.
Let’s not talk about whether he has time to teach his disciples. Just talking about his current status does not support him to accept students.
More importantly, as the pastor of Jingzhou, he controls the power of the entire Jingzhou. Countless people want to worship him in order to ride on the wind.
Such utilitarianism also made Liu Biao very unhappy.
Therefore, almost all people in the world who want to worship him as their teacher will offend him.
Now Shen Chen suddenly asked to become a disciple. Under normal circumstances, he would definitely refuse.
But the person who said these words was not an adult.
Can an eight-year-old be so utilitarian?
Liu Biao glanced at Deng Hong suspiciously, but found that Deng Hong was also very surprised by Shen Chen's actions.
It seems that this matter was not instigated by Deng Hong.
Liu Biao thought.
Since it wasn't Deng Hong who instigated it, it was Shen Chen who made the decision without authorization.
So does he really want to become a disciple, or does he want to use his power to gain a foothold in Jingzhou?
Liu Biao looked at Shen Chen and said softly: "Children, do you really want to worship me as your teacher?"
"Yes, your talent and academic reputation have spread all over the world. Everyone in the world knows the name of Baji. I have heard people talking about it in the countryside in the morning. Now that I see you, I naturally want to follow you and learn the meaning of the classics."
Shen Chen replied.
"In that case, then raise your head and look at me."
Liu Biao said.
Shen Chen raised his head and looked at him with wide eyes.
What kind of eyes are those?
The eyes without any impurities are as clear and transparent as the stars and the sea.
In his eyes, Liu Biao read a kind of desire.
That’s the thirst for knowledge!
It seems that in Shen Chen's eyes, he is the embodiment of knowledge, and following him around just wants to swim in the ocean of learning.
Liu Biao felt a little ashamed of himself for a moment and secretly cursed himself for going too far.
No matter how smart a person is, he is only an eight-year-old child. The only way he can analyze current affairs is by listening to what passers-by talk about and making judgments by mistake.
How could a person already have a utilitarian mind at the age of eight?
Thinking of this, Liu Biao shook his head and said: "It is indeed a good thing that a child is sensitive and eager to learn. However, I am busy with official duties and cannot teach you to read."
"That's it."
Shen Chen looked disappointed.
Liu Biao then said: "But Zhongzi of the Song Dynasty, a well-known scholar in the country, is now teaching in Xiangyang and Xianshan. You can go to his disciples."
"Really? Thank you so much, envoy."
Shen Chen's eyes showed surprise again, and he was in high spirits.
Liu Biao said: "Zhongzi of the Song Dynasty has always been strict. If you don't concentrate on studying, he may not like it. If you are afraid, it is better to follow your uncle honestly."
Shen Chen said without hesitation: "The teachings of the sages are erudite and sincere, asking questions and thinking deeply, and benevolence is in it. Although I am not talented, I still want to pursue the realm of the saints. No matter how strict the teacher is, I will do it." study hard."
"good."
After testing it three times, Liu Biao finally felt relieved and said with a smile: "Although you can't worship me as your teacher, teachers are impermanent. If you don't understand anything in the future, you can come and ask me. I will tell the concierge that from now on If you come, there is no need to stop outside."
This is equivalent to being a named disciple.
Shen Chen looked very happy again and said, "Then I may have to bother you more, sir."
He even changed his name.
"Well, you go ahead, I will send someone to take you back to Xinye."
Liu Biao smiled. He liked such a talented young boy very much.
In addition to his love for talents, it is also because Shen Chen has great sensitivity to the current situation, and may be able to help him consult on the general trend of the world.
With such a person by his side, if he can teach him more in the future, make him one of his own, and tie him to his side, then the position of the Liu family in Jingzhou will be more stable.
"Thank you very much, envoy."
Deng Hong and Shen Chen thanked them again.
After coming out of Liu Biao's mansion, Deng Hong said happily: "Ah Chen, I am serving as an official in Jingzhou."
"Don't be too happy if you have a rich family."
Shen Chen curled his lips.
There were two types of officials in the Han Dynasty. Shi Ling Shi was the official who looked after the library and could also be called a librarian.
Although librarians are very powerful people, at least in the Han Dynasty, there was really little room for advancement and not much power, so the upper limit of this official was just that.
Deng Hong was very contented and said: "I am not a filial person or a talented person. It would be good if I can be appointed as a royal minister. If I am lucky in the future, I may be promoted."
"Well, I hope so."
Shen Chen nodded noncommittally.
In fact, the biggest gain from this trip was not that Deng Hong became an official, but that he could enter and leave the prefecture at will and often meet with Liu Biao.
Anyone who knows anything knows the benefits that being able to hang out in front of the top leader every day will bring to them.
Why do people who later become officials always like to promote their own secretaries?
Isn't it because the secretary is one of our own?
Shen Chen didn't really think that he could take Liu Biao as his teacher. After all, Liu Biao was a high official in the border area and had no time to teach his apprentices.
Secondly, when he recruits students, he is also afraid that students will use his power to cause chaos in Jingzhou, so he will definitely not accept disciples.
Therefore, what Shen Chen did just now was just to see Liu Biao more often.
Fortunately, he won the bet.
Although they are both thousand-year-old foxes, Liu Biao still lost because of his misjudgment of Shen Chen's age.
Eight years old is true.
But his mind has already matured.
One is a thousand-year-old fox, and the other is pretending to be a tiger that cooks and eats. He has excellent acting skills, but he was fooled in the end.
After getting a satisfactory harvest from Liu Biao, there was already someone waiting for them outside the door.
The people sent by Liu Biao were working for Liu Xian, and because of Liu Biao's order, he did not neglect it. He first arranged for many village elders in Huangmenting to camp in the west of the city on that day, and the next day, he prepared a boat and sent it to Fancheng.
After passing Fancheng, we followed the Feishui River, which was later known as the Baihe River, all the way north, passing through Chaoyang County, and soon arrived at Xinye County, which is more than 200 miles away from Xiangyang.
This ancient county town located on the east bank of the Feishui River has a history of nearly four hundred years from the early Western Han Dynasty to the present.
In the distance is the vast wavy river bank, and the rammed earth structure of the city is not high, standing in the wilderness.
Outside the city, there are villagers farming everywhere. Because in the Han Dynasty, the north had two crops, spring millet and autumn wheat. Now it is the winter season in early October. The planting and irrigation of wheat are in full swing. There is almost no slack time in the twelve months.
.
A huge team suddenly appeared on the broad post road. The people outside Xinye City raised their heads from the farmland one after another. Countless people named Deng looked at those people blankly.
Our ancestors hundreds of years ago, they were once a family.