Everyone, including Zishe and Zisheng, was stunned. After Kong Ming finished writing, he walked back to his sister and sat down quietly.
"If I'm not mistaken, this person will become a peerless figure in the future." Everyone was talking about it.
"What if it's not?"
"The only thing is that Xie Zirui is really misleading the students."
They put a lot of pressure on me, but I was determined to make sure Zhuge Liang learned the best. I must make sure that Kong Ming became a person who was recorded in history.
"Is everyone here? Haha." When the teacher arrived, everyone quickly stood up and saluted. "Hey, why is there a hole on the ground? What's going on? You can celebrate, but don't tear down the school. It will be useful in the future. Find a way to fix the hole here." The teacher knew that it was meaningless to investigate because usually we would "never confess", so the teacher always adopted the method of collective responsibility.
"Today, except for those who are serving as prefects outside, basically everyone is here. Today, we are here to celebrate Xie Zhi's birthday, and everyone has worked hard during this period, so let's have fun tonight. But don't tear down my school." Then the school began to make a mess, with people doing all kinds of things, discussing interesting things from all over Jingzhou. Obviously, Brother Wen Zheng's marriage became a hot topic that night. The teacher was also very interested and said that he would let Wen Zheng bring it to everyone to see. Many people also toasted me, so I drank a lot that night. Everyone wanted me to show off my martial arts, but seeing that I was drunk, they were afraid that I would smash things everywhere, so they didn't propose this idea. But more people came to tease Zhuge Liang, but a child is a child, and soon fell asleep in his sister's arms, and everyone's voices quieted down. Maybe this is the extraordinary thing about this guy, which makes everyone like him. Teacher Wei asked my sister to take him back to rest first, and then everyone became lively again. When I was already a little drunk, someone suggested that I write a poem. I usually don't have that kind of literary talent, but that day, I didn't refuse and staggered, "Then I'll make up one." Everyone quieted down, and I held the wine vessel in one hand and took a big gulp.
"A proud young man, with a perverse nature, three parts drunk and seven parts frivolous. He stretched out his arms like an ape, taking in the sky, holding the bright moon on his left and shooting the Yaoguang on his right." I suddenly got excited, picked up the iron bow, walked to the window, stretched out my somewhat sluggish body, drew the bow to its full length, and really shot an arrow at the North Star. Then he continued, "I imagine the day when I will lead the army across the river, sail with flags flying, and race on the water. Or command the iron cavalry, holding the Sirius, sweeping across the four fields (ya third tone), sweeping across the wilderness. Occasionally, I was thinking about something, and my heart was confused. Suddenly, I saw a star falling, as if it fell in Xiangyang."
When I woke up, it was already the afternoon of the next day. My sister was still complaining to me about how I drank so much. Maybe it will only happen a few times in my life, it's okay to drink a little more. My sister was helping me pack my clothes for the long journey. Zishe came to visit suddenly. He said, "Your poem yesterday was good, but it was strange. It seemed to end just after the beginning, and the last few sentences were completely different from the previous mood." I said that I couldn't remember what happened yesterday, so he repeated my poem to me. I also felt that the meaning of the latter part was indeed very different from the frivolous feeling of the previous part. But I still explained to him, you also know that my poetry and songs have always been poor, and it's good to be able to write like this. He expressed his complete agreement.
It's raining heavily outside. I think if the weather is like this tomorrow, we won't be able to leave.
Fortunately, the sky cleared up the next day, and my teacher and I left Xiangyang as planned. Before leaving, Kong Ming waved to me, and I raised the wolf in my hand above my head in response. The joy in my heart was beyond words.
I encountered some troubles when I went out, because there were many people gathered at the north gate. I asked them what happened, and they pointed to the top of the city wall. There was an arrow stuck on the parapet of the city wall. Everyone looked at me. I asked what happened? They said, "You have shot such an arrow before, have I?" They looked up. The arrow was several inches into the parapet. I couldn't believe it myself. I took out my iron bow and shot a few more arrows at the city wall. All the arrows broke and fell to the ground. I pointed to the direction of the academy, which was more than two miles away. It couldn't be me, but the teacher decided that we should go and have a look together. The result was that it was indeed my arrow, because only my arrow was eagle feather, but none of us could pull it out, not even me. I almost dropped the arrow because it was broken. In the end, we reached a consensus that there was something wrong with the wine.
We had a great time, talking about happy topics, and the teacher seemed to have regained his youthful temperament, playing with us. The only exception was Chen Liang, who just smiled at us but didn't join us in the fun.
The imperial capital of Luoyang, we entered the city under the afterglow of the setting sun. We knew it would be and would certainly be bigger than Xiangyang, but it was indeed too big, and there were many more people. I suddenly remembered that family, and I wondered how their generational issues were resolved. I really didn't wait for him to come to find me, but I was in Changsha later, and he couldn't find me even if he came to Xiangyang, but I didn't know where his home was, and it was impossible to find it. Under the guidance of the officials who entertained us, we spent an hour in the bustling crowd to reach the official residence prepared for us. At this time, looking in any direction, you can't see any city walls, only houses and people. I know Zisheng is a road blind, so I asked him what he thought of this place, and his answer was really not surprising to me. He said that I would live here for ten years and still be lost. This is the imperial capital of Luoyang.
We were not the only ones in the official residence. We also met many princes from other towns. Because the court meeting for the reward would be held in a few days, the teacher told us to communicate more with others and make more friends. There was no other way. The so-called politics means that even if you hate someone, you have to try to be friendly with as many people as possible. This was the most direct and naked words from the teacher to us. Each of us also followed the instructions and tried to talk to others with a smile. Even when facing a murderous devil like Dong Zhuo, we all knew what he did in Nanyang. I even thought that if Ziyu was here, he might kill him, because the evil star in his family was caused by him. But Hua Xiong was always with him, a person I felt was not easy to deal with. If Ziyu came, he might be killed by Hua Xiong. Although Lu Zhi looked like a scholar, he had several people under him who could not be ignored. His student Liu Bei was definitely a master at winning people's hearts, and Liu Bei's two brothers, a young man with a long beard and a teenager of the same age as us, were definitely masters of the same level as my master. Gongsun Zan should be the stronger one. He and several generals under him were very good at martial arts, especially the young man surnamed Zhao, who was only one year older than me, but looked like he had experienced many battles. He made me sweat with his silver spear, but the most powerful one was a young general behind Ding Yuan in Liangzhou. He had a huge earring on his left ear that almost touched his shoulder. He gave me the feeling of a god. He almost regarded everyone as nothing. Some people thought he was too arrogant, but I didn't think so, because I felt his unspeakable confidence and strength. Many of them would practice martial arts in the courtyard of the official residence. I knew that Hua Xiong was probably about the same as me after receiving the strange training from my master, but the long beard, the young man, and the one surnamed Zhao were definitely better than me. The residence was very clean and I didn't find any rats, which made me feel at a loss.
The day before the court meeting, the young man with earrings found me and asked me to go out and talk. He found a restaurant and we drank there. He suddenly picked up my bow, pulled it and said, "It's strong enough." After drinking a few bowls, he said again, "I saw you carrying that weapon." I was a little drunk and asked, "What weapon is it?" "I know what you are holding. I have seen it. That thing is called Tianlang. It was used by Maodun Chanyu who surrounded Liu Bang at Baideng. Later, it was passed to the hands of the Wusun people. I don't know how it got to you, but it is rumored that this thing does not stick to blood and will not return to its original color. When I saw it, it was already dark. I hope you don't tarnish the reputation of Tianlang." "Then let's fight," I suggested, but the young man said, "If it's on the battlefield, I will satisfy you, but now is not wartime. I won't fight with people who I think are much worse than me. Come to me when you become stronger." Although I was drunk, I understood what he meant, and I also knew that I was much worse than him. When I went back and told my teacher about this, his face immediately became serious. He was worried that they might be the first force to become our enemy.
We were called together that morning to wait for the emperor to appoint titles, which was actually He Jin's title. Sure enough, He Jin was the first to be appointed. The imperial edict attributed the main credit for the elimination of the Yellow Turbans to He Jin's command. He was named the King of Side by Side with the Emperor. From this title, we can tell that He Jin wanted to put himself on the same footing as the emperor. Seven people, including the teacher, Ding Yuan, Gongsun Zan, Dong Zhuo, Huangfu Song, Zhu Jun, and Lu Zhi, were named dukes. I didn't pay attention to the others, I just waited for the teacher to be appointed. Because the teacher defended Jingzhou, which prevented Jingzhou from falling into the hands of the enemy during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, he also transported military supplies to various battlefields and offered the court a plan to defeat the Yellow Turbans, for which he was named Duke of Han Chu and was appointed as the governor of Jingzhou.
Then he began to confer titles of marquis, but there was only one person, and I didn't expect that person to be me. I hurriedly knelt in the middle and thanked him according to the etiquette lesson taught by the teacher before the court meeting. My contribution was that I allowed Huangfu Song to go south to destroy the Bōcai Army, and I not only delayed the Yellow Turban Army but also made the Yellow Turban Army lose its morale, and most of them fled and surrendered. The actual situation, I am afraid, is only known to the people of our Jingzhou Prefecture, but I still waited for him to finish before thanking him and accepting the reward. The title given to me was also longer, called "Marquis of Ping'an Fengyun".
My brothers were all made earls for reasons not dissimilar to what they actually did, but I think the true warriors were not given those titles.
There was no enfeoffment of viscounts and barons, only rewards for some of the brave generals from various towns who had suppressed the Golden War. Even so, the court meeting was still delayed until after noon.
But everything is not over yet. After the enfeoffment was completed, the teacher taught us that we might have become the target of public criticism. Zisheng and Zishe already understood, but I said I didn't understand. They still explained it to me. "Don't you think it's strange that you are the only one to be enfeoffed as a marquis?" I also felt strange, but I really didn't understand it so well. I asked them, and it was the teacher who explained it to me. The others were solemn and said nothing. "It's very simple. This time, we actually contributed the least to pacify the Yellow Turban Rebellion, but our rewards were the most generous. One duke, one marquis, and three earls are enough to make other princes wary of us. Don't you think it's strange that you are the only marquis? Many heroes who pacified the rebellion under the other princes were hardly mentioned for rewards. Why? There are also powerful characters next to He Jin. Just for your marquisate, we must stay for a while. But you don't have to be sad. We will definitely be treated like this this time, but the marquisate will be replaced by someone else."
A few days later, we were summoned to the palace. He Jin spoke on behalf of the emperor, "You have sheltered the Yellow Turban Army and taken in the Yellow Turban rebels. What crime should you be punished for?" Zhong Zisheng walked out of the queue and said, "Your servant, the loyal and trustworthy Earl Zhong Wenjie, has a report to make." He Jin agreed. Zisheng then told everyone the idea he had thought of long ago, "The Yellow Turbans' rebellion has spread to all directions. When their power is at its peak, no one can withstand their attack. When they fail, there will be nearly one million Yellow Turban followers in the world. If we openly encircle and suppress them, they may become desperate and suffer the consequences. For this reason, we will recruit those Yellow Turban followers who are willing to turn over a new leaf, and move their hearts with the kindness of Your Majesty, so that they will surrender sincerely." He Jin also nodded slightly. I knew the plan was ready, but I didn't expect Dong Zhuo, the Duke of Tianshui, to suddenly say, "I heard that the governor of Jingzhou has not recruited any soldiers since he took office. How could he recruit hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers of the Yellow Turbans? How could it be possible if he had not colluded with the Yellow Turbans?" "It is well known that the three earls of Jingzhou were conferred titles. If we colluded with the Yellow Turbans, why did we attack the Yellow Turbans' weak points? We started the army after the Huang Ji incident. We have Zhang Mancheng in the west and Bōcai in the east. Our connection with Luoyang has been almost cut off. Who knows how we can recruit soldiers? If I don't have hundreds of thousands of soldiers, how can I stop hundreds of thousands of Yellow Turbans from attacking, and how can I make the Yellow Turbans surrender willingly after the Yellow Turbans are defeated?"
He Jin was very satisfied with Zisheng's answer, or at least he showed that he was satisfied. We passed this test very easily. Many local dignitaries in Luoyang came to ask for marriage, because they all saw that this big tree would be more convenient for shade in the future. However, Brother Chen Liang was said to have been married with children. I was afraid that the Changsha incident would happen again, so I claimed that I had an engagement before. Therefore, the teacher asked the two bachelors to get married quickly.
During the New Year of Yichou, which was the New Year of the second year of Zhongping, our two military advisors in Jingzhou got married one after another. Zishe married the daughter of Si Tu Wang Yun, and Zisheng married the daughter of Taifu Tian Kai. For this reason, they had to stay in Luoyang for a while, and we returned to Jingzhou after attending their wedding. To be honest, I hated this kind of political struggle very much. After leaving Luoyang, I felt a lot more relaxed.
Along the way we were talking about the wedding of these two guys. I didn't see the bride, but they will eventually return to Xiangyang, so I'm not in a hurry.
We were almost back to Xiangyang. The teacher looked at the overcast sky and told us to hurry back to Xiangyang, as the weather was about to change. I looked at the sky and turned back to see my big flag, which read: Peaceful and Cloudy Hou Xie.
"Can we really be safe?" I couldn't help asking myself. I laughed for some unknown reason and galloped towards Xiangyang.