At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the world was in chaos. The princes fought in a melee, and the land was starved to death. The people were in dire straits. Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, Lu Bu, Yuan Shu, Sun Jian, Gongsun Zan, Ma Teng, Liu Biao and other princes fought in the world.
In 199 AD, Yuan Shao finally defeated Gongsun Zan and took over Youzhou, Yizhou, Qingzhou, and Bingzhou, all of Hebei. Cao Cao also defeated Lu Bu and Yuan Shu successively, and occupied Yanzhou, Xuzhou, and parts of Yuzhou and Sili. The two major cities in the north
The princes were ready to annex the other side to strengthen themselves. For a time, the world, which was constantly fighting for war, fell into a short-term calm.
The cold wind at night in early spring always reminds people of the coldness of winter. People in Xiangyang City have already returned home when the sunset comes, and the pedestrians who occasionally pass by on the street are also in a hurry. When the last ray of sunset disappears in the sky, Xiangyang
The city has become quiet and peaceful.
The sky is like a canopy, the bright moon hangs high, the stars are dotted, and it is as vast as the sea.
The moon seems to be particularly bright tonight, and the stars are even more brilliant. The moonlight is mixed with the starlight and the river in the south of the city is sparkling, complementing the lights lit everywhere in the city. It can be said that 'the city is surrounded by thousands of lights, and the stars are in the middle of the water'.
It was late at night, and Xiangyang City was already dark, shadowy and silent under the moonlight.
The moonlight is still bright, the stars are still brilliant, but at some point a black line rises on the horizon. When you look closely, the black line has turned into a dark cloud. This dark cloud is billowing with black smoke, swallowing up all the light like a devil awakening from the ground.
.
The black clouds are extremely fast, just like the rushing waves on the seaside. The stars are broken where the waves pass, and time is reversed. Darkness falls on the earth and covers the light in the sky. The moon is exceptionally bright against the darkness, as if it has exhausted all its energy to emit light.
The final and most dazzling glory.
Xiangyang City is clearly divided into black and white, generally black and half white, with distinct levels of darkness and light, ebb and flow.
When the moon gave off its last rays, darkness covered the sky, and the entire land of Kyushu was in darkness.
Black clouds rolled, mixed with bursts of thunder, which lasted for a long time, like the roar of a demon.
Countless strangers across the land of Kyushu were all shocked. They all looked up at the sky, sometimes bowed their heads in deep thought, sometimes twirling their fingers and calculating, trying to guess what happened.
Zhongnan Mountain has always been a sacred place for Chinese Taoists. At this time, there were two Taoists standing side by side on the highest peak of Zhongnan Mountain.
The man on the left is in his forties or fifties, wearing a Taoist robe, holding a whisk in his hand, with a gentle face and a pair of eyes that are indifferent, as if everything in the world is nothing to him. Only a slight frown shows that he is not feeling well in his heart at this time.
calm.
The person on the right is in his thirties, with sharp eyebrows and starry eyes, holding a sword, and his eyes are full of worry when looking at the sky.
"Brother, what's going on? I just did some calculations and found that the secrets are in chaos. I vaguely feel that the secrets seem to have deviated from the original direction." The Taoist on the right couldn't help but ask first.
"Darkness has fallen, time has reversed, and strangers must come to the world. The power of the three-thirds of the world will probably add more twists and turns." The person on the left said with a flash of his eyes.
"What can we do? In the decades since Huan Ling, first there were ten ministers who disrupted the government, then there was Dong Zhuo's hegemony, and now Cao Cao, Yuan Shao and other princes are separatist. The Central Plains has been in constant war. Ten houses and nine empty houses are filled with mourning.
, if more troubles are added, these people may suffer again." The Taoist on the right said with a worried look.
"It has been hundreds of years since Emperor Gaozu established the Han Dynasty, and the imperial court has become decayed. As the saying goes, there will be no governance without chaos. After great chaos, there must be great governance. This change may be a good thing, but I don't know who caused the huge change in the sky." On the left.
The Taoist looked at the sky and said.
"Would you like me to go and investigate? It's a good opportunity to cut off the worldly ties. I don't have any worries." The Taoist on the right was obviously worried.
"That's good, junior brother, being too heavy-minded is hindering your practice. Just now, there was a strange phenomenon in the sky and the earth. The purple star turned to the south. Although it was only for a moment, I feel that the person who caused the strange phenomenon in the world must be in the south. Junior brother, you can go to the south to look for it."
The Taoist on the left pondered for a moment and said.
"Okay, I'll go now. When I get back, I'll have a drink with my senior brother and say goodbye." The Taoist on the right was obviously impatient. After saying that, he hurried down the mountain.
The Taoist on the left looked at the junior brother who was walking away quickly and shook his head, sighing softly: "I hope you can seize this opportunity." After saying that, he silently looked at the dark sky and waited until the vision disappeared before turning around and leaving.
go.
After the vision of heaven and earth lasted for nearly an hour, the dark clouds gradually dissipated, light once again enveloped the earth, and the night remained silent as if nothing had happened.
Yingchuan, an unknown small village, is completely silent. Occasionally, a few dog barks can be heard, which is particularly loud in the quiet night.
There is a family in the small village that still holds a lamp, and the loom in the house keeps squeaking. The figure shrouded in the light in the window looks extremely old, and is mixed with coughs from time to time.
When black clouds enveloped the earth, the window in the next room had been opened. A young man in his twenties and seventies, wearing a coarse blue shirt, looked at the black clouds in the sky and frowned.
When the dark clouds dissipated and the stars reappeared, he took a deep breath and murmured: "Ziwei is heading south, but it has only changed slightly, and the sky is still dark and unclear. It seems that I have to go south for a while, and I will pay a visit to my old friend.
friend."
"Cough" "cough" "cough" came from the next door, making his soothing brows wrinkle again. The young man walked out of the room and came to the bed and whispered: "Mom, it's better to go to bed early, don't hurt your body.
"
"Didn't my son get some rest too?" The person in the room asked the question without answering. His voice was extremely old, but it was full of persuasion and was convincing.
"My child is thinking about something and can't sleep." The young man said honestly, being extremely respectful to the people in the room.
"Come in." The old man sighed and said.
The young man opened the door and walked in. Under the light, the young man's face was gentle. He looked quite humble, but mixed with a sense of heroism. Standing quietly, he gave people a sense of pride.
The old man in the room had already got off the loom at some point and was standing aside. His face was kind but not angry.
"Mother." The young man came to the old man's side and saluted.
The old man grunted and walked to the young man to tidy up his somewhat messy clothes and said, "But it's more related to the vision just now."
"Yes." The young man didn't hide it. The movement just now was too loud, and it was impossible for his mother not to notice it at the window.
"Well, I know you can't stay at home. When do you plan to leave?" the old man asked with a sigh.
"My child plans to leave for Jingxiang and his party tomorrow." The young man hesitated and said. He planned to visit some friends first and didn't want his mother to worry about him. After all, the south is too big.
"I know you are ambitious and want to do something big. But remember not to rush forward. You can stay at home for a day tomorrow and then leave the day after tomorrow." The old man was obviously relieved when he heard that he was going to Jingxiang.
"Yes, let's leave the day after tomorrow." The young man hesitated for a moment, but agreed. He knew that something must be wrong with his mother.
"In that case, you should go to bed early." The old man said.
"Then mother, go to bed early." After the young man finished speaking, he bowed to the old man and walked out.
The old man waited for the young man to go out and then got on the loom again.
On Wollongong in Nanyang, two young men stood side by side. An unfinished chess game in a bamboo house not far behind them showed that the two were playing chess before darkness came. The chessboard was criss-crossed with black and white, showing a murderous look.
"Shi Yuan, what do you think of this strange change in the sky?" The speaker was a young man in his twenties. This young man was as tall as jade and extremely handsome. The feather fan in his hand was swaying, and his hair was flying. At first glance,
He looks like a handsome and wealthy young man.
The young man next to him was extremely ugly. This ugliness was not because he was too ugly, but for the young man in white next to him. However, he did not take it seriously as he played with the chess piece in his hand and said: "The sky is changing, the stars are...
"Darkly, the secret revealed just a few days ago has also changed. The British Lord must have appeared. I will go to find him to help him complete his hegemony. Where are you, Kong Ming? If you don't come with me, you won't be lonely on the road." He spoke with a casual demeanor.
, but with a hint of domineering and confidence, which looks a bit funny.
These two people are none other than Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong, known as the Crouching Dragon and the Phoenix.
Zhuge Liang smiled and said: "The pastoral life is peaceful and peaceful. I don't want to leave yet."
Pang Tong sneered and cursed: "I don't know you yet. If you want to go into seclusion, why would you let people inquire about the outside world? How could you look at the map and sigh all day long? Do you still want to be that Jiang Taigong? Or do you still miss Liu Bei?
?" Speaking of this, Pang Tong paused and said seriously: "Don't have too much hope. If the celestial phenomena do not change, then Liu Bei might really come here to invite you and accomplish great things. But don't forget.
Well, even if Liu Bei has your assistance, he will be on one side at most, and it will be even more difficult to dominate the world. You and I both know this, and the weather is unclear now, so it’s hard to say what Liu Bei’s future situation will be. Why don’t you come with me to assist?
Lord Ying, I have lived up to your abilities."
Zhuge Liang chuckled lightly and said, "I don't know. It's just that in this vast China, it's not so easy to find a hero. It's better to be Jiang Taigong."
Pang Tong laughed loudly: "After talking for a long time, it is still your arrogance that is causing trouble, and you refuse to let go." After speaking, he sighed: "You are the most capable among us, but you are also the most arrogant. You are easy to miss.
What a great opportunity."
Zhuge Liang said with determination: "If he can't even do this, even if I take the initiative, I won't be able to use my talents. In that case, I would rather live in the mountains forever." The sonorous words echoed in the mountains for a long time, startling groups of people.
flying birds.
Pang Tong was silent for a while and said solemnly: "Based on these words, if I find the British master in the future, I will let him come to invite you in person."
"It all depends on God's will. Who can say what will happen in the future?" Zhuge Liang said softly, with a hint of stubbornness and gratitude in his tone.
Pang Tong smiled and said nothing.
The two of them stood like this until the dark clouds cleared and light returned to the earth before returning to the house.
Just an hour of darkness only attracted the attention of a few people, and even fewer people realized that the world in the future may change because of this dark cloud covering the sun. For them, this is an opportunity and a turning point in fate.
For others, this is just dark clouds covering the stars and moon, and this phenomenon often occurs in midsummer. As for why it appears at this time, it is not something they consider. Compared to them, those who have not discovered
People with this vision are happier because they will not be worried about it.
Therefore, the black cloud covering the sun disappeared without causing much disturbance.
However, the city of Xiangyang was not peaceful because Liu Biao's son Liu Qi suddenly fainted three days ago and never woke up again.
It didn't attract much attention at first, but after two days, Liu Qi still hadn't woken up. Famous doctors from Xiangyang were invited. They all said that he was overworked, but he still fell into a coma, and Xiangyang City also became...
Not calm down.
By the third day, people had already begun to think about themselves or their families, because Liu Biao had three sons in total, the eldest son Liu Qi, the second son Liu Cong, and the third son Liu Xiu.
Needless to say, Liu Xiu was not the eldest son, and his mother died young. It was impossible for a person to inherit Liu Biao's position alone and without support, so he was naturally excluded.
Liu Qi is the eldest son, and according to the usual practice, Liu Qi succeeds to the throne, which is justifiable. But Liu Qi also has no support from his mother's family. Although there are support from forces headed by Yi Ji, most of them come from poor families. Although they have some fame, they do not have much power. With Liu Qi,
Cong seemed a bit weak during the fight.
Although Liu Cong is the second son, his mother is from the Cai family. As the largest family in Jingzhou after Liu Biao, the Cai family has huge power. In addition, Liu Cong has been favored by Liu Biao for his intelligence since he was a child, so he is more likely to succeed than Liu Qi.
Much larger.
Originally, these had to wait for Liu Biao's decision, but now Liu Qi might die of illness, which forced them to go to express their loyalty as soon as possible. Therefore, Xiangyang City was very busy in the past two days.
However, this turmoil ended because of Liu Qi's awakening. At least on the surface, Xiangyang City was peaceful.