The person who came here amid the auspicious snow was none other than Deng Zhi, the villager who had lived for generations in the village at the foot of Fenghuang Mountain that was almost plundered by the Black Mountain bandit Du Chang. He was a descendant of Deng Yu, the founding hero of Emperor Wu of the Eastern Han Dynasty and the first prime minister.
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When Liu Qi ordered his people to post recruitment notices everywhere and demanded that no village in Xinye be left out, naturally the recruitment notices were posted in the village at the foot of Fenghuang Mountain where Deng Zhi was located.
Seeing the recruiting list, Deng Zhi thought about it again and again, and finally gave up on Pang Xi, who would go to Luoyang later that year to join a good scholar. He posted the list at home and waited to go to Xinye to take the exam on the first day of the twelfth lunar month.
In Deng Zhi's opinion, being recruited by others and taking the initiative to defect are two different things. Since Xinye County Magistrate Liu Qi has posted a recruitment list, he is recruiting talented people from all over the world. From this, he can see that Liu Qi is a true lover of talents, which is a surprise to Deng Zhi.
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Unexpectedly, on the first day of the twelfth lunar month, there would be the first heavy snowfall in the second year of Chuping, that is, 191 AD. No matter how heavy the wind and snow were, it could not stop the Shu Han who had sent envoys to Soochow in history and was not afraid of being forced into the frying pan by Sun Quan.
The famous general Deng Zhi.
Deng Zhihuai was worried about the recruitment list, packed some simple clothes, carried a thin luggage, said goodbye to his grandfather, and walked alone for more than 20 miles in the wind and snow to Xinye to take the exam early at five o'clock.
With his familiarity with the directions, Deng Zhi did not get lost in the plains where roads were blocked by heavy snow, and successfully braved the snow and wind and arrived at Xinye County in time.
When Liu Qi saw it was Deng Zhi, he immediately showed a happy smile on his face. The charm of the talent recruitment list is most useful only to a talent like Deng Zhi. Only by revealing the list and nominating oneself can it better demonstrate Deng Zhi's incomparable confidence and extraordinary talent.
Chen Wu also shouted loudly: "It's strange, there are no roads under the heavy snow, and there are really people who reveal their names and take the exam."
Chen Wen regained his composure, looked at the person who came down carefully, and said, "Sir, this person is none other than Deng Zhi, who was nearly robbed by bandits at the foot of Fenghuang Mountain."
"Haha, Brother Wen has a good memory. This is the person I am waiting for." Liu Qi stepped forward in three steps and shouted excitedly: "Everyone, follow me to greet Deng Zhi."
"Yes." Everyone responded in unison, feeling very happy that Young Master Liu Qi finally had the person he was waiting for.
Liu Qi didn't care much and trudged forward towards the snow that was up to his knees. Two guards, Chen Chun and Chen Xia, were guarding him on the left and right to support him. Liu Qi almost fell into the snow several times.
Deng Zhi obviously saw the scene in front of him, but when he saw Liu Qi, the eldest son of Xinye County Magistrate, running toward him in a cotton-padded jacket regardless of his status, he burst into tears and felt warm in his heart. He was secretly glad that he had not thrown himself in the wrong place!
"Brother Bo Miao, Brother Bo Miao." Liu Qi shouted loudly as he struggled to step on the snow.
"Brother Bo Miao?" Deng Zhi was stunned and wondered how the eldest son Liu Qi knew his own name. He must have been secretly caring about him for a long time. Thinking that the eldest son valued him so much, Deng Zhi almost wanted to take out a knife.
He dug out a red heart and gave it to Liu Qi to show his loyalty, and responded in a hoarse voice: "Eldest Young Master, Eldest Young Master..."
When Liu Qi stumbled and touched Deng Zhi in the knee-deep snow, Liu Qi without hesitation took off the large cotton-padded jacket that Huang Wudie had carefully sewn for him, put it on Deng Zhi's body, and choked with sobs: "Uncle
Brother Miao, thank you for your hard work."
How could Deng Zhi withstand such a scene? The county magistrate condescended to take off his cotton-padded clothes in spite of the cold and snow. This was a huge act of kindness.
Deng Zhi was a man who read poetry and books, so he naturally understood the dignity of the Lord of Heaven and Earth, his parents and teachers. He was moved in his heart. In addition, after trudging for a long time in the wind and snow, his legs felt weak and he had to bow down and burst into tears: "My eldest son, Bo Miao is A commoner, with so much virtue and ability, receives such a great courtesy from the Young Master, please Rong Zhi pay your respects."
"Brother Bo Miao, you must not do it. You and I, brothers, don't like this." How could Liu Qi let Deng Zhi bow down? If he bowed down, wouldn't it make Deng Zhi a little shorter?
In order to prevent Deng Zhi from kneeling down, Liu Qi stumbled forward. If the guard general Chen Chun had not supported him in time, he would have knelt down in front of Deng Zhi.
Seeing that Liu Qi valued him so much, Deng Zhi was even more excited and moved. Regardless of the cold wind hitting his chest, he took out the talent recruitment list from his arms, raised his hands above his head, and said with a serious and upright tone, "Deng Zhi is not talented. I will reveal the list to take the exam. Please invite me." The county magistrate proposes a question."
Liu Qi took the recruitment list and tore it into pieces. Deng Zhi was shocked when he heard Liu Qi say: "This recruitment list almost caused Brother Bo Miao to be mistakenly caught in the wind and snow. What do you want it to do? Really?" How can talented people be recruited with just a list of names?"
Seeing that Liu Qi's drama of love was almost finished, Chen Wen stepped forward to persuade him: "Sir, brother Bo Miao, don't freeze your body because of the cold weather. Please go back to the mansion and talk freely."
"Yes, yes, yes, hurry, hurry, General Wu, please help Brother Bo Miao return home." Upon hearing this, Liu Qi shouted with even more concern.
"Master, please." When Deng Zhi saw Chen Wen calling Liu Qi "Master", Deng Zhi changed his name to "Master" instead of "eldest son", and naturally integrated into Liu Qi's circle.
"Brother Bo Miao, please." Liu Qi made a gesture of invitation, and then took Deng Zhi's hand and walked through the snow to the county government, holding Deng Zhi's hand as if he had found a treasure, smiling happily.
Chen Wu supported Deng Zhi. He had previously resented so and so for provoking the young master Liu Qi to wait in the snow and was freezing. The so-called hatred had disappeared at this moment. He was completely impressed by Deng Zhi's sincere action and defected to the young master regardless of the heavy snowfall. Someone who thinks so highly of someone must be an extraordinary person. Besides, Chen Wu would not dare to underestimate the people that Young Master Liu Qi values.
When Deng Zhi and Liu Qi walked hand in hand to the front of the mansion and saw soldiers sweeping away the snow at the gate of the county government office and clearing an open space to welcome Deng Zhi, Deng Zhi was inexplicably moved again. The eldest son Liu Qi greeted him in the snow. , the kindness of taking off his clothes and giving him warmth was enough for Deng Zhi to repay him for the rest of his life.
Before Deng Zhi unveiled the list, he had heard that the magistrate of Xinye County had released military rations to relieve the hungry people in the severe cold weather. Liu Qi quickly established himself in Xinye County and won a good reputation among the people. In addition, Liu Qi was the eldest son of Liu Biao, the governor of Jingzhou, so he had both As a clan member of the Han Dynasty, Deng Zhi was a smart man. He could have foreseen that the eldest son Liu Qi, who was so eager for talents, loved the people like a son, and was deeply supported by the people, would have a bright future...
"Bring the snow and make wine, and wash the dust with the wind for Brother Bo Miao." Liu Qi ordered loudly, and was overjoyed for a moment. On this snowy day, the outside of the city was completely white. Where did the dust come from in the wind and snow? There is no need to wash the dust, but it is the right thing to catch the wind. Timely.
Soon, in the lobby where the county government received guests, wine and food were placed, just in time for lunch.
Liu Qi, Deng Zhi, Chen Wen and others drank and sang happily without any need to talk about taking the exam. They chatted all over the world and drank until they were in high spirits. Liu Qi got down and picked up the wine glass, took Deng Zhi's hand and said drunkenly. : "Brother Bo Miao, come on, come on, drink this cup, I have something to say."
Liu Qi picked up the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp. Deng Zhi wanted to ask what he had to say before drinking, but saw that Liu Qi had already drank the glass with the bottom up, so he had no choice but to tilt his neck and drain the wine in one gulp.
Perhaps it was because the pure grain wine that did not have industrial alcohol in ancient times did not have high alcohol content, or maybe Deng Zhi was already a heavy drinker. Anyway, Deng Zhi and Liu Qi drank a jar of wine together, and nothing happened.
"Sir, please speak." Deng Zhi finished drinking the wine in the glass, then took a spoonful of wine and filled Liu Qi's glass.
Liu Qi held a full glass of wine, shaking his head, as if he was too drunk, and said in a leisurely manner: "Brother Bo Miao, let's make peace with you now that you are here. We are all brothers, and all of you here are generals. I will now make Brother Bo Miao a partial general."
, as captain, in charge of a hundred bandit soldiers who have just been trained and uniformed, I hope Brother Bo Miao will not make money from his official position."
When Deng Zhi heard this, he was pleasantly surprised. Young Master Liu Qi was so generous. He became a general capable of commanding troops and having real power just by his words. Young Master Liu Qi truly regarded himself as a great talent.
Although Deng Zhi was pleasantly surprised, he could keep his composure. He followed Liu Qi's example and returned the gift, drained the glass of wine in one gulp, and said, "Master, after drinking this glass of wine, Zhi will have something to say."
Liu Qi naturally drained the wine in his hand and said, "Brother Bo Miao, please speak."
Deng Zhi placed the cup in his hand flat on the desk, turned around and bowed to Liu Qi, with a sincere look: "Thank you for your appreciation, I am even more grateful for your appreciation. Although Zhi is not talented, I dare not forget the kindness of your knowledge and encounters."
"The sage said that if you have no merit and no reward, if you become a general before you have been under the master's command for a day, you will be criticized by others, but Zhi really doesn't dare to be a general."
Liu Qi laughed loudly: "Brother Bo Miao is so humble. The saints also say that it is a waste of resources if you are talented and do not take on big responsibilities. Brother Bo Miao came to work with me in the wind and snow. It is really Qi's luck. Brother Bo Miao and all the brothers have helped me."
Why do I worry that the Han Dynasty cannot help me? Why do I worry that the world cannot be stable? Why do I worry that the people cannot be happy?"
Deng Zhi was confused by what Liu Qi said about squandering natural resources, and wondered if a saint had said that. However, Deng Zhi was still infected by Liu Qi's heroic spirit and he sincerely praised Liu Qi: "Young Master's benevolence is the
The great fortune of the people of Xinye is also the great fortune of all the people in the world."
"That is, since I, Mr. Zuo, can help the Han Dynasty to settle down the world, brother Bo Miao should not refuse." Chen Wen also stood up and picked up his wine glass to persuade Deng Zhi to accept the general.
"Yes, yes, brother Bo Miao, please don't refuse, lest you spoil the young master's feelings." Wen Dai, Chen Wu and others also echoed.
"Come on, thank you brothers for your love, I appreciate your noble mind. Deng is not talented, so I will put the post of general on hold for the time being. I will accept it after I have made great achievements." Deng Zhi did not dare to entrust himself to others. In front of Liu Qi, he said
Really humbled.
"That's fine, let's put aside the post of general for the time being. Brothers, let's make wine in the white snow. It's a clean and white gathering of heroes. Life is happy. Drink and get drunk before you stop." Liu Qi took the lead and drank it all in one gulp. Naturally, there was another round of drinking and drinking.
A strong hero with great courage.
After drinking for two hours, which is equivalent to four hours in today's time, it took a full afternoon to drink. Chen Wen, Chen Wu and others were all staggering.
Deng Zhi drank a lot, and basically figured out the strength and combat power of Liu Qi's current troops from the drunken rhetoric of the soldiers present. He also understood that the most depressing thing about Liu Qi was that he still lacked 200 soldiers to attack Gocheng, and that he would be planning to attack Goose City in January.
On New Year's Eve, after capturing Echeng, they opened warehouses to release grain to relieve the people, and liberated tens of thousands of poor tenant farmers who were controlled by the three local tyrants and evil gentry and were struggling to die from hunger and cold.
Deng Zhi was so highly regarded by Liu Qi that he was thinking about how to achieve a great feat so that he could become a general. Looking at the somewhat depressed Liu Qi and other soldiers, Deng Zhi suddenly had an idea and decided to serve Liu Qi tonight.
In the last letter of submission, on a windy and snowy night, he came up with a clever plan to help Liu Qi capture Echeng immediately.
Deng Zhi looked solemnly in Liu Qi's ear, and asked in a half-excited, half-consulting voice: "Sir, I have a clever plan. Three hundred soldiers can capture Echeng. Do you dare or not?"