Jiang Wan's voice was full of disappointment. He didn't expect that Liu Zhang, who he had high hopes for, would judge people by their appearance!
Originally, in Jiang Wan's mind, Liu Zhang was a wise, mighty, and extraordinary person.
Especially when he heard that Pang Shiyuan showed his talents under Liu Zhang's tent, he was very eager to visit Chang'an.
At this time, Jiang Wan could only lament that it was really hard to live up to his reputation!
"For Duke Qin, I am twenty-six this year."
"You are six years older than Zhuge Liang!"
Liu Zhang exclaimed again, his eyes full of doubts.
If what Jiang Wan said is true, then Zhuge Liang would have been sixty when he died!
Is it possible that Jiang Wan was already in his prime when he was in power in the Shu Han Dynasty?
After Liu Zhang mentioned Zhuge Liang, Jiang Wan's face suddenly darkened, but he still nodded and confirmed Liu Zhang's question.
"What Mr. Qin said is true. I am indeed six years older than Military Advisor Zhuge..."
Listening to Jiang Wan's slightly melancholy tone, Liu Zhang suddenly had a bold idea in his mind.
Could it be that in history, Jiang Wan's talents were not weaker than Zhuge Liang's, but he was always suppressed by Zhuge Liang?
After Liu Bei captured Yizhou, Jiang Wan indulged in drinking and ignored government affairs when he was appointed magistrate of Guangdu.
Liu Zhang was more certain of his thoughts. Perhaps Jiang Wan's talents were much more than that, but he just didn't have the chance to display them!
After all, Jiang Wan once proposed the Northern Expedition strategy of heading south from Hanzhong along the Han River at the age of more than sixty years old.
"Jiang Wan, Jiang Gongyan?"
A trace of surprise flashed in Jiang Wan's eyes, and then he showed a look of self-mockery.
"I didn't expect that with a humble name, I could get into the ears of Duke Qin! I'm... very lucky!"
Liu Zhang frowned slightly, Jiang Wan was so resentful!
"Gong Yan has great talent, why should he belittle himself?"
Jiang Wan shook his head, but did not change his attitude because of Liu Zhang's compliment.
"I am just a vulgar person. I am not as old as Duke Qin. How can I be considered a great talent?"
After hearing Jiang Wan's words, Liu Zhang was even more confused.
Could it be that the Jiang Wan in history was not this person?
"When Pang Shi from Jingzhou came to Yizhou in the early Yuan Dynasty, he had just reached the top! But he was full of ingenuity, and in one battle he defeated the Xianbei cavalry, which had been causing trouble to the Han Dynasty for many years!"
"Furthermore, Zhuge Liang, who was just appointed as military advisor by Liu Bei, is not in his prime?"
"Age cannot determine anything, ability is the standard to measure a person!"
Liu Zhang's words made Jiang Wan's silent heart waver slightly.
However, it still did not change Jiang Wan's preconceived notions about Liu Zhang.
"What Mr. Qin said is absolutely true! Wolong and Fengxiao are the best in the world, and their age cannot hinder their talents."
"But Jiang Wan is a mediocre person. No matter how long he lives, he will just waste his years..."
The corners of Liu Zhang's eyes twitched, and a sentence suddenly popped into his head.
Mud can't hold up the wall!
Jiang Wan just gave him this feeling, without any fighting spirit at all.
No wonder Liu Bei wanted to kill him in history!
"Forget it, it's up to you!"
"Tell me why you're here? Who do you represent, Zhuge Liang or Liu Bei?"
Jiang Wan had completely worn away Liu Zhang's last bit of patience, and he no longer wasted any more words at the moment.
"Mr. Qin is joking, the whole of Jingnan is under the rule of Young Master Liu Qi."
"Liu Bei is just the governor of Nanjun under the Young Master, and Zhuge Liang is just managing the taxation of Jingnan for the Young Master."
Liu Zhang waved his hand casually, showing a disdainful smile.
"Okay, you and I are not fools, why bother with these nonsense?"
"Let's be honest? What are you here for?"
Jiang Wan blinked and sighed in his heart.
It is said that Liu Zhang is eclectic in his work and his character is hard to figure out. This is indeed the case when we meet him today!
"I heard that Cai Mao was exchanging grain for Duke Qin's horses. After hearing this, Prince Liu Qi also wanted to make a deal with Duke Qin!"
Liu Zhang snorted softly, as expected.
Liu Bei also took a fancy to these war horses in his hands!
Sure enough, in troubled times, war horses are the hard currency!
"You're late! All the war horses have been sold out!"
Regarding Liu Zhang's excuse, Jiang Wan didn't believe even a single punctuation mark.
"Qin Gong is joking! Everyone knows that Qin Gong wiped out 200,000 Xianbei in one battle. In addition, coupled with the previous battle against the Qiang people, I am afraid there will be too many war horses with nowhere to put them!"
"Everyone is selling to anyone, and our young master Liu Qi is even more sincere!"
Liu Zhang really couldn't understand why Liu Bei had the nerve to send people to ask for war horses?
"What kind of sincerity does the big-eared thief have?"
Jiang Wan was slightly startled, then shook his head helplessly.
People say that Liu Zhang and Liu Bei have a deep hatred, and it is indeed true!
"Since Cai Mao is willing to give 500 shi of grain in exchange for a war horse, we Jingnan are willing to give 600 shi!"
Jiang Wan's domineering reply immediately made Liu Zhang laugh.
"Hahaha...!"
"The big-eared thief is worthy of being a mat weaver and shoe seller, but he can't get any publicity!"
"Go back and tell him that he can keep the hundred stones of grain for himself during the New Year. The war horses will not be sold!"
Liu Bei's move is simply without sincerity!
First of all, to form a deal with Jingnan, the war horses need to be transferred from Guanzhong to Shujun, and then from Shujun to Bajun Yufu.
The loss in the process is more than a hundred stones?
To put it bluntly, even if Liu Zhang killed the horse and ate its meat, he didn't want to sell it to Liu Bei!
When Jiang Wan heard Liu Zhang's evaluation, he nodded slightly in agreement.
In fact, Jiang Wan also commented on Liu Bei in the same way.
On the way to Chang'an, Jiang Wan passed by Jiangling and came to visit Liu Bei on Zhuge Liang's military order.
Who would have thought that Liu Bei, who already had a place in his career, would be so distracted that he didn't pay any attention to the young Jiang Wan.
Jiang Wan was originally an official of Lingling County under Liu Qi, but Liu Bei, the governor of Nan County, bossed him around.
The price for buying and selling war horses has been reduced to 600 dan.
At that time, Jiang Wan did not want to come, because it was impossible to sell at this price, and Liu Zhang would laugh at him in vain.
But thinking of Zhuge Liang's commission and his curiosity about Liu Zhang, he traveled thousands of miles to Guanzhong.
The results were completely unsatisfactory!
It was enough for Liu Zhang to disappoint Jiang Wan, and he was ridiculed by Liu Zhang in vain.
"Mr. Qin, Jingnan is a major grain-producing area, with mountains of grain! We can talk about the price!"
Liu Zhang smiled and shook his head. He had no intention of trading with Liu Bei.
"No need!"
Jiang Wan was a little anxious. If this matter could not be handled well, he would lose even more status in Jingzhou, let alone be reused.
"Mr. Qin, since it's a business deal, we can naturally negotiate!"
"We are very sincere and ask Mr. Qin to give us a chance!"
If the envoy who came was someone else, Liu Zhang would really be too lazy to talk nonsense with him.
After all, after receiving Cai Mao's 10 million stones of food and grass, Liu Zhang will not encounter a food crisis in the next two years.
Moreover, Liu Zhang's next target for occupation has been set on Jingzhou.
Funding Liu Bei now is equivalent to increasing the strength of one's enemies and hindering oneself.
However, looking at Jiang Wan in front of him, Liu Zhang nodded eccentrically.
"In that case, give the big-eared thief a chance!"
"One price, five thousand stones of grain and one war horse!"