Jianming Chaos

The three of Liu Bei hurriedly ate lunch, took gifts, and set off.

After traveling for several miles, they came to a land surrounded by mountains, fields and rivers, and saw a group of farmers hoeing in the fields, looking very contented.

A farmer sang: "Wolong boy has high ambition, young and vigorous, good luck, I don't know when to vote for who, but I hope I will help the hero for the rest of my life!"

Liu Bei was fascinated, and after the farmer finished singing, he couldn't help clapping.The eyes of the farmers shot at him in unison.

Embarrassed, Liu Bei got off his horse and walked up to the singing farmer, asking, "Uncle, the song just now is really nice, the score is good, the words are well written, the melody is beautiful and flexible. I wonder who composed it?"

The farmer looked Liu Bei up and down, and asked, "Sir...?"

"Xinye County Magistrate Liu Bei." The three of Liu Bei pretended to go out today to avoid attracting attention.

As soon as the name "Liu Bei" was heard, the nearby farmers put down their work and gathered around. Obviously, everyone knew his name.

"The official is the famous Liu Shijun?" Farmer A asked.

"Don't dare to take it, it's Liu." Liu Bei was a little embarrassed.

Farmer B pointed to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei who were waiting there and asked, "I heard that the envoy has two sworn brothers, but are there two generals over there?"

"It is Liu's second brother Guan Yu and third brother Zhang Fei."

"You three, please come to my house for a cup of tea. My house is right next door." Farmer C said.

"Thank you uncle, we have important business to come to Longzhong, next time." Liu Bei declined.

The farmer who sang just now said: "I forgot to answer the envoy's question. The song just now was created by Mr. Wolong himself. It's called 'Shenlong Zhizhi'. Almost everyone here can sing it."

"Wolong!" Liu Bei's eyes lit up, "You mean this song was written by Wolong?"

"Yes. Does Shi Jun know him?"

"I came here just to look for him. He must be nearby, can you introduce me, uncle?"

"You have found the right place. I will show you the way. You can go by yourself. I still have to work." The farmer pointed to the south and said, "There is a trail between the two mountains. Take the trail to cross the mountain. Later, you will see a high hill called Wolonggang; there is a sparse forest in front of the hill, and there is a thatched cottage in it, where Mr. Wolong lives."

Liu Bei thanked the farmer and came to Wolonggang with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

They walked through the mountain path, and they saw a high hill, as well as woods and streams.Liu Bei saw the corner of the house protruding from the dense forest over there.

"This is such a beautiful place with beautiful mountains and rivers!" Liu Bei looked around greedily, and couldn't help sighing, "It turns out that the sages I'm looking for live in this kind of picturesque fairyland!"

When the three of them came to the thatched cottage, Liu Bei got off his horse and knocked on the door.

A boy about ten years old opened the door and asked, "Who is Mr. looking for?"

"Hello. I am Liu Bei, magistrate of Xinye County, and I am here to pay homage to Mr. Wolong."

"You are Master Liu Bei? My husband only mentioned you a few days ago."

"Really? May I go in and see him?"

"Unfortunately, he was out this morning."

"Oh? Then when will he come back?"

"Maybe, it may be three to five days, or it may be half a month. Anyway, his return date is always uncertain."

Liu Bei was very melancholy when he heard this.Zhang Fei said, "Since we're not here, let's go back first."

Liu Bei thought for a while, and said to Xiaotong: "If the master comes back, please tell me that Liu has been here, and I have something important to ask, so please see me."

The three went home.After walking for less than a mile, he suddenly saw a young man who looked like a scholar walking in front of him, dressed in white, wearing a kerchief on his head, and holding a small folding fan in his hand.

Liu Bei thought it was Kong Ming who had returned, so he got off his horse and saluted, "Liu Bei, the county magistrate of Xiaxinye, is here to pay a visit to Mr. Wolong."

The scholar was stunned for a moment, and hastily saluted, "Cui Zhouping is a friend of Wolong, and I met Uncle Liu Huang."

Liu Bei was also taken aback, and said, "It turned out to be Mr. Cui. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Cui Zhouping asked: "I heard that the emperor's uncle is now the magistrate of Xinye County. Why did he surrender to this mountainous place today? Could it be that he came to ask Kong Ming to come out of the mountain?"

"Oh, that's right. Mr. Liu didn't come at the right time. Mr. Kong Ming went out this morning and didn't return."

"Really? That's too unfortunate. I was just trying to chat with him."

"Sir, can you sit down and talk with Liu?"

"Of course, it's a great honor for me to see the emperor's uncle today."

So, the two sat on the stone and talked; Guan Yu and Zhang Fei waited aside.Zhang Fei was dissatisfied, but it was inconvenient to say so.

Talking about the general trend of the world, Liu Bei said: "The world is in great chaos today. From Shi Changshi's monopoly to the Yellow Turban Party's rebellion, to Dong Zhuo's power, and now it is Cao Cao usurping the Han. It is really a wave of ups and downs. I don't know what Mr. What do you think?"

Cui Zhouping shook his head with a smile, and said: "I am a villager who doesn't understand the world's major events. I only know that there are always conflicts in the world. No matter which dynasty we live in, war is inevitable because human nature is warlike. Under such circumstances, only a few people who are good at controlling the rudder of history can ease the contradictions, transform the troubled times, and reduce the harm of war. I think the emperor's uncle is enough to take on this important task, get rid of the villains, and restore the Han Dynasty."

Liu Bei sighed: "I'm really ashamed. Liu has worked hard for many years, but now he is only a county magistrate. I don't know when he will realize his dream of destroying Cao Fuhan!"

"Don't worry, uncle, the world has its own decisions, and everything exists for a reason."

Finally, Liu Bei asked Cui Zhouping to be his military adviser, but was declined.

After Cui Zhouping left, Zhang Fei said dissatisfiedly: "Brother is so unreasonable, let's just go back if you don't see Wolong, and you have to talk to that rotten scholar for so long, making us both wait!"

"Mr. Cui is also a talented person of the generation. Although he is not as outstanding as Kong Ming, we can't say that about him." Liu Bei is a person who respects talents and treats Kong Ming's friends equally.

Zhang Fei listened, bowed his head and was speechless.After returning to Xinye, Liu Bei immediately sent people to live in Longzhong temporarily to inquire about Kong Ming's news every day.

Four days later, the soldiers reported that Kong Ming had returned.Liu Bei was overjoyed, and immediately ordered to prepare horses and gifts, and then went to Longzhong.

Zhang Fei was upset again when he heard that, and said, "Brother, why bother! If I want that villager, I can go to Longzhong and bring him here? I have to go out in person, really!"

Liu Bei said: "The third brother doesn't know something. A sage seeker must be sincere and sincere, and visit the door in person. Only then will the sage be tempted and know that you value him; if you bring him here, it will only be counterproductive."

After Zhang Fei heard this, he had nothing to say.So, the three brought gifts and came to Longzhong again.

It was the little boy who opened the door again, and he said embarrassedly: "Your Excellency is a step late again, Mr. Kong Ming went out to play with his friends an hour ago, and said he would not come back until the day after tomorrow."

"And did you mention my visit?"

"I said it, but the gentleman didn't pay much attention to it."

When Liu Bei heard this, he immediately fell from the peak of hope to the deep valley of disappointment, and sighed: "No fate!"

"My lord, don't be discouraged. He must be at home when you come the day after tomorrow. By the way, Mr. Kong Ming's younger brother Zhuge Jun is in the room. Do you want to see him?"

Liu Bei thought, since they're all here anyway, let's just meet up and walk into the hut with the boy.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei stood outside the house watching the horses.It was winter, and although they were wearing thick sweaters, they were still shivering from the cold.

A person in the house is sitting on a straw mat and reciting: "Sitting alone in the gazebo, singing to the sky, accompanied by wind and thunder, looking at the slanting rain, the clouds are blowing on your face, but you feel the coolness floating in your heart, cold, cold, cold..."

"It's really chilling!" Liu Bei ventured.

The man turned around.Liu Bei saluted and said: "Liu Bei, magistrate of Xiaxinye County, met Mr.

Zhuge Jun hurriedly got up and returned the greeting: "Uncle Liu Huang came to the humble house suddenly, I am sorry to welcome you!"

"Mr. speaks seriously. I don't know what poem Mr. just recited?"

"This poem is called "The Wind and Rain Pavilion", which was written by Rong Guoping, a poet in the Spring and Autumn Period. The poem depicts the desolate state of mind of a down-and-out official. Although the writing is mediocre, the writing is very realistic and the artistic conception is profound. After reading it, people feel an inexplicable feeling. of sadness."

Liu Bei sighed and said, "My mood at the moment is just like that downcast man!"

"Uncle Huang must be worried about not being able to touch his brother Kong Ming a few times?"

"Exactly. If I don't see Kong Ming for a day, I won't feel at ease!"

"Uncle Huang, don't worry. He said he will be back the day after tomorrow. Uncle Huang can come to him the day after tomorrow."

"I'm afraid it will be one step too late!" Liu Bei sighed.Indeed, judging by today's communication methods, it may not be possible to ensure that the next time will catch up.

"No, my second brother never mentioned the return date before when he went out, but this time he mentioned it, which shows that he is hinting to the emperor that he will wait at home the day after tomorrow."

Liu Bei was overjoyed when he heard this: "If this is the case, the big man will be saved!"

"The emperor is so concerned about the country and the people, he will definitely pay back."

"Thank you. Mister is Kong Ming's younger brother, and he must be a man full of talent and learning. Can you go back to Xinye to govern with a certain one?"

Zhuge Jun shook his head with a smile, and said: "The emperor doesn't know something. Among the three of us, I am the one who least wants to be in politics. My eldest brother Zhuge Jin went to Jiangdong in his early years to work as the Lord of Wu and Sun Quan. The elder brother lives a leisurely life here. The second elder brother longs for freedom on the surface, but deep in his heart hides lofty political ambitions. He very much hopes that one day he can join a British lord and fight the world with him. As a great Han Zimin, he is also very concerned about the rise and fall of the Han Dynasty. Seeing Cao Cao bullying the emperor and oppressing the people, he was also heartbroken. He only hated not being able to meet a wise master like the emperor's uncle. Based on our years of brotherhood, I can be sure that As long as the emperor invites him sincerely, he will definitely be obliged."

Liu Bei remembered the song the farmer sang that day, and now he heard Zhuge Jun's words, his confidence suddenly increased, and he thanked: "Mr. I swear, I will invite Brother Ling out of the mountain as soon as possible!"

He borrowed pen and paper and wrote a book, describing the decline of the great man, pouring out his heartfelt desire for talents, begging Kongming to come out to help, his words were earnest and moved people to tears.

Liu Bei handed the letter to Zhuge Jun and said, "Mr. please pass this letter on to Brother Ling. I hope you can say a few more good words for Liu. Liu is very grateful! Let me go now!"

On the way back, Zhang Fei said dissatisfiedly again: "Brother couldn't see Kong Ming last time, but bumped into a white-faced scholar and talked a lot, making us wait; this time he spent a long time with that yellow-haired boy again. The two of us are drinking northwest wind outside! I said, brother, you can't just care about others, you should also think about us!"

Liu Bei apologized and said: "I did ignore you, I'm really sorry; but please understand my feelings. Since Xu Shu left, my heart is like a bottomless black hole, endlessly empty. I don't see Kong Ming for a day, I can't eat for a day!"

After hearing this, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei bowed their heads and remained silent.

…………

Xiangyang City Perfume River, a flat boat.The boatman stood at the bow, and two people sat at the stern.

Cui Zhouping: "Kong Ming, do you know that the famous Uncle Liu Huang came to see you a few days ago?"

Kong Ming: "I know, Xiaode told me."

Cui Zhouping: "Didn't you always want to take refuge in a British lord? Now it's here."

Kong Ming: "Wrong, I most yearn for a free life, don't care about world affairs, and be carefree."

Cui Zhouping: "Don't pretend, I know that you had the intention to join him early in the morning."

Kong Ming: "Sure enough, we are old friends for many years. I can't hide it from you. In fact, the teacher told me to do this too. Now I have nowhere to escape! It seems that there will not be many opportunities to accompany you to travel in the mountains and rivers in the future."

Cui Zhouping: "It doesn't matter, you go busy with political affairs, I still have Guangyuan and the others."

Kong Ming: "You bastard, you never speak with restraint."

The two talked and laughed and swam along the river.