The actions that Jingzhou and Jiangdong had been preparing for a long time came to an abrupt end amidst the overwhelming news of Cao Jun's victory in the Northern Expedition.
If Cao Cao were defeated, no one would gossip if they marched.
But Cao Cao won, and it was a naked victory!
They killed the Wuhuan Chanyu Tadun, the Wuhuan prince Louban, and a group of Wuhuan leaders, big and small, and took the heads of the two brothers Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang with them.
All the people of the Han Dynasty were cheering for Cao's army to annihilate Wuhuan, the three counties of Youzhou; if Liu Biao and Sun Quan chose this time to attack Cao Cao secretly, they would be despised by all Han people and even cause huge internal conflicts.
After all, in the face of national justice, the internal fighting among the Han people can always be ranked second to the justice.
...
In the quiet and quiet bamboo forest, Zhuge Jin was sitting and discussing the world with famous people in Jingzhou.
In addition to Zhuge Jin, there are three people present here: Cui Jun (named Zhouping), Yingchuan Shitao (named Guangyuan), and Runan Mengjian (named Gongwei). As for their friends Xu Shu and Xu Yuanzhi, they have gone to Runan alone.
"Everyone, Cao Cao has quelled the trouble in the north, and I think he will soon march south with a great victory!" Zhuge Jin said halfway, then raised his head to observe everyone's reaction.
However, what disappointed Zhuge Jin was that no one in this group of people revealed their thoughts on their faces.
"How can the hair be attached without the skin... My Lord Jing Shenggong, now is the time when I need your help!"
Zhuge Jin came to Liu Biao. Not only was he the son of an old friend, but also because of his outstanding talent and character, he was quite loved and valued by Liu Biao.
In order to repay Liu Biao's kindness, Zhuge Jin wholeheartedly made suggestions for Liu Biao; not only that, he also used his personal connections to recruit talents for Liu Biao.
The previous Xu Shu was recruited by Zhuge Jin to Liu Biao's disciples with great effort. Who would have expected that Xu Shu could not be reused by Liu Biao just because of his poor background.
When Zhuge Jin, who was running around, got Xu Shu's resignation as a staff member and tried to retain Xu Shu, he didn't know that Xu Shu had already disappeared from the world in Jingzhou, and no one could be found no matter how hard he looked.
What Zhuge Jin said was very obvious. Cui Zhouping and others could no longer pretend to be deaf and dumb, so they had to reply: "Tzuyu... Duke Cao is now sitting on Chong, Xu, Yu, Yi, and a total of five
In the land of Zhouzhou, he has become the most powerful prince in the world. In addition, he also has Lu Bu and Ma Teng to help him, who else in this world can stop Duke Cao?"
"Yes!" Shi Guangyuan said, "all Wuhuan in the three counties were killed. This is a rare external victory for the Han people in the past hundred years. Moreover, Prime Minister Cao loves the people like his sons, and the officials under his rule are honest and upright, and the people live and work in peace and contentment...
Why should we go against such a heroic figure?"
Zhuge Jin glanced at Shi Guangyuan and knew that this brother might have planned to join Cao Cao.
But he was still unwilling to give up, so he advised again: "You are all great talents in pursuing revenge, and Cao Cao has a lot of advisers. Even Xu You, Yuan Shao's adviser, is not ranked high among Cao Cao's advisers.
..”
After Meng Gongwei took a sip of tea, he chuckled and said, "Haha... Ziyu, do you mean that we are not as good as Xu You?"
Zhuge Jin knew he had made a mistake as soon as he spoke, so he quickly explained: "No, no! You are all great talents, but even if it is gold, someone needs to dig it out! Cao Cao has many capable people, when will you
Only then can we find opportunities to get ahead?”
"But I heard that Lu Yan appointed Wei Jian, Jia Kui and others in Hedong County alone. Prime Minister Cao also appointed Du Ji to go to Hedong County alone to take up the post of governor.
Some of them were descendants of famous families, and some were sons of poor families, but without exception, they were all placed in high-ranking positions by the imperial court!
Ziyu, you said that talents have no chance of getting ahead under Prime Minister Cao...but I think talents have more chances to get ahead under Prime Minister Cao than under Liu Jingzhou?"
Shi Guangyuan's words left Zhuge Jin speechless.
How talented is Xu Shu?
He was so angry that Liu Biao ran away.
Based on the friendship between these three people and Xu Shu, it is natural that they can no longer have expectations for Liu Biao.
"Alas...it seems that today's trip was in vain again." Zhuge Jin felt a sense of loss that he couldn't hide in his heart.
But what made him feel most disappointed was that Cao Cao had shown his ambition to devour the world. No one could tell how long Jingzhou could protect itself.
Just then,
Suddenly a voice came from the distance, "Hey, didn't you two say you were leaving Jingzhou earlier? Why are you sitting together again today?"
When Zhuge Jin heard this, there was a hint of astonishment on his face.
Cui Zhouping, Shi Guangyuan and Meng Gongwei suddenly showed a trace of embarrassment on their faces when they heard that the visitor had revealed their thoughts.
"Ahem..."
"Drink tea, drink tea!"
Shi Tao and Meng Jian used coughs and tea to relieve their embarrassment. Only Cui Zhouping couldn't tolerate him and asked: "Shi Yuan, aren't you also going to Jiangdong? Why haven't you set off yet?"
The visitors are Pang Tong and Pang Shiyuan, who are from Xiangyang, Jingzhou, and are known as Fengchu!
The person Zhuge Jin originally wanted to visit during this trip was Pang Tong, but when he happened to meet Cui Jun and others, he suddenly thought of recruiting talents for Liu Biao.
Who would have known that not only these three people had long thought of leaving Jingzhou, but even Pang Tong, a local, wanted to abandon Jingzhou and switch to Jiangdong!
Pang Tong came to the table by himself, glanced at the table, and immediately said with disgust: "There is no wine, what kind of drinking is this?"
"You... you simply don't know how to be funny!" Cui Zhouping pointed at Pang Tong and said, then suddenly laughed and said: "Shiyuan, when do you plan to leave?"
Pang Tong took a cup of tea from Meng Jian, drank it in one gulp, and sighed: "I visited my uncle and teacher earlier today, and now I'm here to see you all... I will leave for Jiangdong tomorrow!"
"So urgent?" Zhuge Jin was shocked and thought: "It seems that Pang Tong's actions can no longer be stopped."
Pang Tong glanced at Zhuge Jin, shook his head and said: "Ziyu, you are also a knowledgeable person, how come you can't see that Liu Jingsheng is just a person who maintains his integrity?"
Before Zhuge Jin could speak, Pang Tong pointed to the other three people present and said, "Even the best-tempered Yuan Zhi was angry and left because of Liu Jingsheng. Who do you think among these three can stay under him?"
Zhuge Jin remained silent. Obviously, this was also Zhuge Jin's biggest headache.
Well, there was no hope of recruiting talents, so Zhuge Jin had no choice but to drink tea.
The few of them chatted for almost another quarter of an hour. Pang Tong stood up, cupped his hands and said, "I will leave for Jiangdong tomorrow. I will meet and leave sometimes. Please take care!"
Cui Zhouping, Shi Guangyuan, Meng Gongwei and Zhuge Jin all stood up and returned the greeting: "Take care!"
Pang Tong always acted without hesitation. After bidding farewell to his old friend, he turned around and left gracefully.
The four of them stood by the stone table, looking at Pang Tong's leaving figure, feeling a faint sorrow of separation in their hearts.
"Everyone, Yuan Zhi wrote to me, inviting me to visit the Central Plains. Shi will be leaving later today. I would like to say goodbye!" Shi Guangyuan suddenly bowed and said.
Shi Tao and Xu Shu were both from poor families, and their relationship was the best.
At the invitation of Yan Feng and Zhou Hong, Xu Shu decided to go to the Central Plains alone to find out.
Yan Feng and Zhou Hong did not lie to him. Not long after Xu Shu arrived in Runan, he discovered that Cao Cao's rule was different, so he immediately wrote a letter inviting Shi Tao to go to the Central Plains with him.
Shi Tao is indeed leaving, and he is leaving even more urgently than Pang Tong...
What else could Zhuge Jin do? He could only raise his hands and say: "Brother Guangyuan, take care!"
"Take care!" Shi Tao said goodbye and turned to leave.
As for Meng Jian and Cui Jun, after they looked at each other, they obviously had a choice in their hearts.