After Zhou Ping left Xiapi, Liu Bei took Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to visit Zheng Xuan.
This is his second visit, the previous time he went with Zhou Ping.
However, when he met Zheng Xuan that time, Zhou Ping spoke less and most of what he said were respectful words.
Liu Bei could understand why Zhou Wen'an, who was always good at talking, did not dare to say anything when he met Zheng Xuan.
Facing such a erudite scholar, if you don't read enough books, it will be difficult to say anything.
Although Zhou Wen'an knew the situation and had outstanding resourcefulness, Liu Bei also knew that he did not read much and that this gentleman was "not good at reading" like himself.
Not being good at reading doesn’t mean that I don’t read at all, it’s just that I haven’t dug into the pile of books to study hard. Some books still need to be read.
Zheng Xuan was from Gaomi, Beihai, Qingzhou. Because of the Yellow Turban Rebellion in Qingzhou, he came to Xuzhou to take refuge.
He is now nearly seventy years old. When he was young, he left home to study for more than ten years. He learned almost everything, so that he had no one to ask in Shandong. He also went west to enter the Pass to become Ma Rong's disciple.
By the time he returned home after completing his studies, he was already over forty years old, and because his family was poor, he had no choice but to go to Donglai to farm as a guest, that is, he rented land from powerful families to farm.
Later, he was banned for fourteen years due to party ban. After the party ban was lifted, he was replaced by General He Jin, but he had no intention of becoming an official and resigned and returned to his hometown.
When Tao Qian, the former Xuzhou pastor, was here, he treated him as a mentor and friend.
Now that Liu Bei has taken over Xuzhou, he is very respectful to him, but he is too busy with political affairs and cannot visit him often.
When I met Zheng Xuan again this time, I talked about the young man with the wine gourd hanging around his waist who we came with last time, that is, Zhou Wen'an.
"Although this man is young, he can see people's hearts with his eyes, can distinguish between good and evil, and is wise. He also has a high position and a far-sighted view, and can understand the situation of the world. He is the talent of Wang Zuo."
This is Zheng Xuan’s evaluation of Zhou Ping.
Liu Bei was secretly happy in his heart, but he sighed that there were too few talents around him, and he often felt like there was no one available.
Zheng Xuan recommended Sun Qian, who was studying with him, to Liu Bei.
Sun Qian and Sun Gongyou were also from Beihai. They followed Zheng Xuan to escape to Xuzhou and were Zheng Xuan's disciples.
A famous scholar like Zheng Xuan would definitely have good disciples. Liu Bei was immediately overjoyed, appointed Sun Qian as his official, and brought him back to the state capital.
…………
Zhou Ping led Zhang Wu, Xu Chu and others across the Huaihe River and arrived at Xuyi. They rested for the night and then hit the road again the next day. After a few days, they arrived at Guangling.
Chen Deng was in Guangling, and his political affairs were clear and clear, which won the hearts of the people. Zhou Ping heard praises from everyone along the way.
After entering Guangling City and arriving at the Prefect's Mansion, Chen Deng was very happy to see Zhou Ping and held a banquet in his honor.
But this time there is no fish and meat, mainly chicken and mutton.
"Hahaha... Sir, he cut off the food route and defeated the highway. He ambushed troops on three sides and destroyed Lu Bu. Such a strange plan is really unexpected. Zhang Zifang's strategy is nothing more than this! Come, let me toast you sir."
Chen Deng laughed and said, toasting to each other.
Zhou Ping raised his glasses to drink, and said with a smile: "If it weren't for the wise lord and the brave generals, it would be difficult to accomplish the conspiracy. The main reason why Yuan Shu was defeated and Lu Bu was defeated was because of the lord and the generals."
"Sir, you are too modest. Yuan Gongzhu has long coveted Xuzhou. I can understand that he set up an ambush in advance to cut off his food route. But as far as I know, before Lu Bu arrived in Xuzhou, he had already asked the envoy to send him to Xuzhou.
Sun Zhongtai led his troops back to Xiapi to hide in hiding, and ordered Tian Guochang and Xu Zhongkang to lead their troops back and wait for orders, also to protect Xiapi. Could it be that Sir, at that time, he knew that Lu Bu would attack Xiapi?"
Chen Deng asked with a puzzled look on his face. This question had been stuck in his mind for a long time. Today he had to meet Zhou Ping and he could finally ask it in person.
"Come, let's drink." Zhou Ping toasted Chen Deng again and asked with a smile, "According to what Yuan Long has seen, is Lu Bu trustworthy?"
Chen Deng thought for a moment and shook his head: "Lü Bu has betrayed his master several times. This person cannot be trusted."
"It's not trustworthy. He comes to Xuzhou and the lord's troops are outside. How can we not guard against him? Besides, Lu Bu is still the same Lu Bu, but the lord is no longer Cao Cao, and Xuzhou is no longer Yanzhou."
"Hahaha... It's true, it's true!" Chen Deng laughed and said, "Cao Mengde led the troops to attack Xuzhou, and Yanzhou was attacked by Lu Bu. The emperor sent troops to block the road. Lu Bu led the army, and it was indeed very likely that he would attack
Xiapi, sir, what you are thinking is absolutely right!"
Zhou Ping toasted Chen Deng again: "My lord has a benevolent heart and is easy to trust. At first, he thought that Lu Bu would not be like this, but the result was beyond his expectation. Lu Bu's courage is hard to match in the world. If he is loyal, he will be a famous general.
,such a pity!"
"I heard that his generals Gao Shun and Cao Xing are loyal and righteous people. Why didn't you keep them for your envoy's use, but let them go?" Chen Deng asked.
Zhou Ping smiled slightly: "Loyal people must do what they promise. If they don't fulfill their loyalty, how can they be convinced? Yuanlong can rest assured, I believe they will return and be used by the Lord."
"It's what Mr. Deng said, come on, let's drink." Chen Deng drank it all in one gulp, put down the cup and said with a smile, "Hahaha... There are not many people that Deng respects, but Mr. Deng is the only one."
"Oh, why does Yuan Long respect me?" Zhou Ping asked with a smile.
"I respect you sir for his open-mindedness and understanding of potential, selflessness and understanding of others!"
Zhou Ping looked at him, waiting for him to continue.
"The gentleman is open-minded and has no desires. He is outside the world, so he can clearly discern the situation in the world. The gentleman is also selfless in heart, wholeheartedly assisting the emperor, not jealous of other people's talents, not jealous of the courage of outsiders, so he can know the good and evil of others and their wisdom.
, the purpose of introducing virtuous people and recommending brave men is just to help you bring peace to the world, so that all the people in the world can live in peace and no longer have to be displaced. How can you be disrespectful to someone like you if you ascend!"
Chen Deng said it quite seriously, not as a joke.
"Haha, am I so good?" Zhou Ping toasted to each other again, and after drinking the wine in the glass, he asked with a smile, "People have respectable things, and they also have hateful things. I don't know what Yuan Long thinks about me.
Where?"
"Hahaha..." Chen Deng was full of joy today and laughed many times. He looked at the wine gourd hanging on Zhou Ping's waist, "The most disgusting thing about Mr. is that he likes to drink and have sex!"
"The one who knows me is Yuan Long!"
Zhou Ping was busy raising his glass to drink again. He had already drank a little too much today.
Chen Deng added: "However, Mr. is fond of wine and drinks often but is not always drunk. He is fond of lust and pursues beauty but does not lust after it. This evil is not really evil!"
The two looked at each other and laughed, frequently toasted to each other and drank together. They were drunk and lying together that day.
Early the next morning, Zhou Ping woke up and felt ridiculous when he recalled the drunken scene yesterday.
If it weren't for business, he would really want to stay in Guangling and stay with Chen Deng for a few more days. It's rare to meet a close friend in life, and drinking a thousand cups together is not enough.
Chen Deng heard about Zhou Ping going to Danyang to look for Taishi Ci.
"Sun Ce is stationed in Qu'a. If we go ashore from Dantu and take the land route, we are afraid that we will encounter bandits and be in danger. Now that the war has stopped and the river is safe, sir, it is better to take the waterway and abandon the boat to land at Wuhu."
This was the road Taishi Ci had walked before. He took a boat from Dantu and Liu Yao to Wuhu, and then went into the mountains to gather people.
Zhou Ping, however, wanted to take the overland route. He wanted to learn more about the terrain of Jiangdong and the conditions of the people, so as to prepare for the subsequent capture of Jiangdong.
"If we take a boat and sail against the current, it will probably take a long time. Besides, I want to see how Sun Ce's troops are doing. Don't worry, Yuanlong. I have Ziwei, Zhongkang and the others to protect me, and everything will be fine."
Chen Deng knew that Zhang Wu shot Lu Bu in the arm and was then stabbed by Zhang Fei, not to mention Xu Chu, who knew how fierce he was just by looking at his figure.
"In that case, please be careful along the way, sir!"
"Yuanlong must also pay attention to Sun Ce's movements in Guangling to prevent him from suddenly leading his troops across the river to attack."
Zhou Ping also warned.
"Now Jiangdong is not yet stable, the two counties of Kuaiji and Yuzhang have not yet been taken into his hands, and Yan Baihu and others have gathered in disobedience. I don't think Sun Ce dares to attack Guangling yet. If he dares to come, I have five thousand soldiers to defend the city. Xuyi
There are also three thousand soldiers who can provide reinforcements. Don’t be afraid of him. Sir, you can rest assured.”
What Chen Deng said is true. Sun Ce only has Danyang and Wu Commandery now. Moreover, Taishi Ci in Danyang gathered a crowd to resist, and Yan Baihu, Zou Ta, Qian Tong and others in Wu Commandery gathered a crowd to disobey. If they don't annihilate these people, there are also Kuaiji and
If he did not capture the two counties of Yuzhang, he would not be able to cross the river to fight for Guangling.
Zhou Ping led everyone to Jiangdu, boarded the boat from Jiangdu, crossed the river to Dantu, and then rushed to Qu'a.
Because Sun Ce was stationed in Qu'a, Zhou Ping did not want to cause trouble, so he did not enter Qu'a city, but bypassed Qu'a and headed west directly to Jurong, intending to go south from Jurong to Jing County.
According to his understanding, Taishi Ci is now in Jing County.
Zhou Ping and others walked quickly westward around Qu'a. After walking more than 20 miles, a group of troops came in front, numbering about two to three hundred people.
Looking at the man in front of him, he was wearing armor and carrying a spear. He was followed by several generals in armor. He seemed to be a general with a high official position.
Zhou Ping hurriedly reined in his horse and stopped, and ordered everyone: "Stop and let them pass first."
They stopped on the side of the road to clear the way for the oncoming soldiers and horses to pass.
The oncoming soldiers and horses were not walking very fast. The leader noticed Zhou Ping and others from a distance and kept staring at them.
When they arrived at Zhou Ping's side, the leader reined in his horse and stopped, staring at Zhou Ping sharply.
Zhou Ping looked at him without avoiding it, with a smile on his face.
Based on Zhou Ping's guess at this moment, this person is about the same age and appearance as himself, and he is also beautiful. The person next to him seems to be about the same age as himself, and he is also very handsome.
The several generals behind them are a little older, but they are all quite powerful. They are definitely not ordinary generals. They are probably all experienced and prestigious generals.
It is very possible that these two people who are about the same age and appearance as themselves are Sun Ce and Zhou Yu.
Zhou Ping knew that he was the same age as the two of them.
"Who are you? Why are you not afraid of me?"
The leader looked at Zhou Ping for a long time, with an angry look on his face, and asked sternly.
The person next to him immediately said: "This is General Sun Bofu. Are you from other places?"
Zhou Ping was secretly shocked. It turned out to be Sun Ce, so the person next to him must be Zhou Yu.
So he quickly raised his hands in salute and said with a smile: "I have heard about General Sun's reputation for a long time, but I didn't know it just now, so I am rude, so please don't blame me!"
Xu Chu and the knights also quickly followed suit and bowed their hands in salute, forcing a smile on their faces.
