A flat boat carried Zhuge Liang and Ma Liang across the rippling blue waves of Yunmengze and galloped to the Cao army camp on the opposite bank. Yunmengze, also known as Yunmeng Daze, is the general name of the lakes on the Jianghan Plain. In the pre-Qin period, the lake group once covered 450 kilometers, but due to the continuous sedimentation of the Yangtze River and the Han River, the Han River Delta continued to expand, and the range of Yunmengze gradually decreased. By the end of the Han Dynasty, Yunmengze had shrunk by half compared with the pre-Qin period. However, the scale of Yunmengze should not be underestimated, and it is only because Xiahou Yuan does not understand the geography and hydrology of Jingzhou that he will set up camp on the location of the original ancient lake, and finally was flooded by Zhuge Liang and Changsaka became the soul of Guan Yu's knife.

Now that the man-made flood launched by Zhuge Liang has receded, Guan Yu and Cao Ren have each found a high ground across Yun Mengze and camped to confront each other. Looking at the murderous banner of "Cao" on the other side, Ma Liangna, who was only 16 years old, was both excited and apprehensive. I was excited that I was fortunate to be selected by Mr. Zhuge who had admired him for a long time as his deputy envoy to Cao Ying to meet the envoys of the Son of Heaven. What is worried is that the two armies of Cao and Liu have become mortal enemies after months of fierce fighting, and this trip to Cao Ying is tantamount to going deep into the tiger's den.

Seeing that Ma Liang couldn't hide his nervousness, Zhuge Liang walked to the bow of the boat and patted the young man's shoulder and comforted him in a deep voice, "Ji Chang doesn't need to worry too much, Cao Ying's trip is at most thrilling." ”

The reason why Zhuge Liang dared to assert this was that he was sure that Cao Ying's rat trap to save Cao Cao would not violate the rule of "the two countries are at war, and they will not be killed". Second, Zhuge Liang knew that Cai Ji was good at suppressing people with power, so he judged that it would not be long before the female prince would join forces with Sun Ce to go south to intervene in the Battle of Dangyang. With Liu Bei's current strength, of course, he can't compete with Cao, Cai, and Sun, but before Cai Ji arrives in Jingzhou, Liu Bei still has the opportunity to fight for a clan treatment with Xu Du to make good students. However, considering that the Jingzhou celebrities led by Zhang Cun and others are inclined to be partial to the seal. It was inevitable that people from Jingzhou would surrender their identities during the negotiation process, and Zhuge Liang took the initiative to ask Liu Bei to send envoys to Cao Ying. Liu Bei obviously didn't trust Zhang Cun and the others either, and he not only agreed to Zhuge Liang's request. He also specially sent Chen Zhi to escort Zhuge Liang to envoy Cao Ying.

The young Ma Liang didn't know what complicated political game Zhuge Liang had behind his envoy to Cao Ying, but Zhuge Liang's words gave him great encouragement. Seeing Ma Liang who came back to his senses, he took a deep breath, straightened his waist, and hugged his fists towards Zhuge Liang with a resolute expression, "Mr. is good to teach." After going ashore, he should be polite and courteous, and never fall into the prestige of the general. ”

Ma Liang's reaction made Zhuge Liang very pleased. This at least proves that there are still loyal people among the younger generation of Jingzhou scholars. In addition, Ma Liang's brother Ma Tan is quick to think. It is also a rare material that can be made. And just when Zhuge Liang secretly made up his mind to cultivate the Ma brothers, the boat had already wobbled and landed on Cao Ying's dock.

Unlike many of Ma Liang's previous imaginations on the ship, it was not a murderous array of guns and knives that greeted them on the shore at this moment. is not a Cao Ying bureaucrat who is more than the sky, but an old man with an elegant and extraordinary appearance. I saw that the old man was surrounded by a group of armor soldiers with a smile like a spring breeze and stepped forward and said, "Old man and young man Kong Rong, this Lang Jun is General Zuo's envoy?" ”

I heard that the person who came turned out to be the famous Kong Rong. Zhuge Liang and Ma Liang were shocked. Thinking of the envoy, Liu Bei had deliberately emphasized that Kong Rong had taken a lot of care of him when he was in Xu Du in the past. It is one of the few loyal people in the court, Zhuge Liang hurriedly stepped forward, and respectfully saluted Kong Rong, "Langya Hou learned from Zhuge Liang to meet Kong Shaofu." ”

At this time, Zhuge Liang was already famous all over the world with the two major events of the alliance of the four families and the flooding of Dangyang. Before Kong Rong met, the young strategist who forced Cao Cao into a Jedi was eight feet tall, like a pine and cypress, and couldn't help but feel good, and immediately picked up Zhuge Liang's left hand and twisted his beard and laughed, "I have heard that Zhuge is young and promising. When I saw it today, it really lived up to its name. ”

Zhuge Liang was humble. The two then went hand in hand, chatting and laughing all the way. It's like an outing together. After opening a distance from the left and right guards, Kong Rong suddenly lowered his voice and revealed to Zhuge Liang, "Cai Anzhen has sent Cao Pi, the second son of the Cao family, and Wu envoys to the Cao camp, and Kong Ming is good at doing it himself." ”

Zhuge Liang couldn't help but tremble slightly when he heard what Kong Rong said, and secretly sighed that Cai's action was so fast, and in just over a month, he had formed an alliance with Sun Ce and joined forces to intervene in the Jingzhou war. But now that he was in the enemy camp, it was inconvenient to delve into it, so he had to bow his hand to Kong Rong to express his gratitude.

However, Kong Rong's move is not simply based on personal preferences to sell to Liu Bei. In his opinion, it is better for the Son of Heaven to choose Wang Ji as a pro-government than to stay in Xu Du as a puppet of the Cao family. However, Liu Xie, who lacked major generals, wanted to gain a firm foothold in Xindu, but after all, he inevitably asked for the support of the surrounding princes. Looking at the princes of the world, Cao Cao is arrogant and domineering, Cai Ji is scheming, Sun Ce is a fierce thief, but Liu Bei Hongyi is generous, and after King Jing of Zhongshan, it is suitable to work with the Han court after the capital move to contain other princes with different surnames. In line with the idea that the stronger Liu Bei's strength is, the more beneficial it will be to the Son of Heaven, it is not surprising that Kong Rong will favor Liu Bei at this time.

On this day, the simultaneous arrival of Zhuge Liang, Cao Pi, and Sun Quan caused an uproar in Cao's camp in Nagasaka, and all corners of the camp were filled with all kinds of gossip for a while. Some people think that Liu Bei is forced by the Cao Cai alliance to release Prime Minister Cao Cheng, but some people say that Liu Bei wants to exchange Prime Minister Cao Cheng for the Son of Heaven, and some people even assert that the eldest prince of Xu Du has surrendered to Cai and Sun. Cao Ren, as the commander-in-chief, naturally would not allow these rumors to disturb the morale of the army. So on the one hand, he sent his guards to behead a few people who were bewitching the people to set an example, and on the other hand, he placed Zhuge Liang and Sun Quan on the east and west sides of the camp respectively, in case the envoys of Liu and Sun took the opportunity to conspire. And after all this qiē was arranged, Cao Ren summoned Sima Lang and Cao Pi into the tent overnight to discuss the next countermeasures.

As the saying goes, knowing oneself and knowing that the other is invincible, Cao Ren asked Cao Pi about the situation in the north as soon as he came up, and Cao Pi naturally unreservedly told Wu Shuo how Wu Shuo went to Donglai to ask Cai Ji for help, and how Cai Ji and Sun Ce met in Fengxize.

Sima Lang still had a lot of questions about the Caisun Alliance earlier, but after listening to what Cao Pi said at this moment, he finally stroked his palms and praised convincingly, "Qi Hou is in a hurry. It's really Su Zhang in the world! ”

Cao Ren didn't have a good impression of Cai Ji and Sun Ce, and at this time he was more concerned about when Cao Cao would be able to get out of trouble. Seeing this, Cao Ren hurriedly asked Cao Pitan, "When will Cai Anzhen and Sun Bofu arrive?" ”

"Qi Hou and Pi set off south at the same time. If there are no accidents, you will be able to arrive in South County in a month. Cao Pi replied in a deep voice.

"A month?" Cao Ren muttered and frowned. A month is not a long time, but it is not a short time, especially in such a sensitive season as the present, a little carelessness is very likely to give rise to branches.

However, Sima Lang waved his hand disapprenousively and said, "With the second prince and Wu Envoy here, Liu Xuande will not dare to risk the disapproval of the world and fight again." Attack Dangyang. ”

Hearing Sima Lang's judgment that Liu Bei would temporarily stop attacking Dangyang City because of his arrival, Cao Pi's eyes couldn't help but light up, and his heart throbbed, because Sima Lang's voice definitely proved that he had not been in vain in Qiying in the past three years. And Cao Pi, who was deeply encouraged, wanted to further prove himself. Then he asked Cao Ren, "Uncle Ren, I heard that the envoy of Liu Ying has entered the camp, I don't know who is coming?" ”

Cao Ren heard that Cao Pi asked about Liu Ying's envoys. thought that Liu Bei actually sent two young descendants with white faces and beards to envoy Cao Ying. Immediately said angrily, "It's that Zhuge villager." ”

"Zhuge Villager?" Cao Pi was slightly stunned at first, and then as if he understood something, he leaned over and asked, "But Zhuge Kongming, who is called Fengzhi Wolong with Pang Shiyuan?" ”

"Wolong?" Cao Ren waved his big hand crookedly and said, "Xu is called that." ”

Cao Pi saw that Cao Ren despised Zhuge Liang so much, and hurriedly persuaded him, "Qi Hou once said. Zhuge Kong has a share in the rule of the country, and the imperial army has a law. It is Wang Zuo's talent, Uncle Ren must not take it lightly! ”

Of course, Cao Ren knew that Zhuge Liang had single-handedly planned to flood Dangyang before, which caused Cao Cao to be trapped in Dangyang, and Xiahou Yuan was destined to fall to Changsaka. But as a military general, he always believes that force is the key to determining victory or defeat on the battlefield. Just as if it weren't for Liu Bei's command having tens of thousands of enemies like Guan Yunchang, Zhuge Liang would not be able to stop Cao Cao and Xiahou Yuan no matter how scheming he was.

In addition, Cao Pi's appearance of opening his mouth to say "Qi Hou" and closing his mouth "Qi Hou" also made Cao Ren very dissatisfied. In his opinion, the men of the Cao family stand up to the sky, how can they be called by their own mother-in-law and aunt. Even if Cai Ji is a female prince who is unparalleled in the world, Cao Pi has to send people under the fence in Qiying. But now that they are all in their own camp, they still need to be so polite to the demon girl. From this, Cao Ren couldn't help but think of all kinds of rumors about Cao Pi and Cai Ji in the outside world. Earlier, Cao Ren only dismissed these rumors as the boring work of the good deeds. Now it seems that it is groundless, not necessarily without a cause.

However, before Cao Ren opened his mouth to teach Cao Pi a lesson, Sima Lang on the side had already twisted his long beard and said with emotion, "The prime minister once gave Zhuge Kongming chicken tongue incense, and wanted to be an official in the same dynasty as him. I never thought that Qi Hou would have such a high opinion of this person. ”

"Qi Hou is good at whether he is a character or not, there will never be a mistake." As soon as Cao Pi finished speaking, he saw Sima Lang and Cao Ren both glance at him meaningfully, so he hurriedly explained, "If Qi Hou is not discerning, how can he compete for the world as a woman." ”

Regarding Cao Pi's second half of the supplement, Sima Lang nodded thoughtfully. It is said that Cai Jihui's vision and knowledge of talents and the use of people are already the consensus of the world. Recruiting talents has always been a major matter for the princes. Those who are talented are not necessarily virtuous, and those who are virtuous are not necessarily talented, even if they have both ability and political integrity, they may not be able to work together with the princes. Therefore, the princes generally give priority to selecting talents from their own blood relatives, or retreat to promote their own townspeople. In short, morality and integrity can be discussed separately, and loyalty is the most important.

Among the many princes and warlords in the late Han Dynasty, only Liu Bei and Cai Ji were not nepotistic and knew how to make good use of them. Of course, this is also related to Liu Bei's poor background, and Cai Ji's direct family is almost extinct. But whether it is objective factors or subjective factors, Liu Bei and Cai Ji are indeed better at recognizing people than other princes. In particular, with the help of the evaluation of later history books and classics, Cai Ji recruited a large number of civil servants and military generals with both ability and political integrity along the way for his own use. In the eyes of the uninformed Han Dynasty people, this phenomenon naturally became "Qi Hou's wisdom and knowledge, and the use of people".

So after listening to Cai Ji's evaluation of Zhuge Liang at this time, Sima Lang seemed to have regarded the young Zhuge Liang as an extremely difficult opponent in his heart. But he claimed that he knew very little about Zhuge Liang, so he asked Cao Pi for advice, "Second son, the Marquis of Qi praised Zhuge Kongming, but do you have any other comments?" ”

Cao Pi lowered his head and thought for a moment, and recounted decisively, "Qi Hou also said that Liang Zhi is big but not opportunity, more scheming and less decisive, good soldiers but no power. ”

Where did Sima Lang know that Cai Ji's evaluation was the evaluation of Zhuge Liang by his brother Sima Yi in history. Since this passage is from the Book of Jin. Emperor Xuan", some people in later generations also believe that this is the sycophancy of the historians of the Jin Dynasty. But whether it is Sima Yi's iron mouth or the historian's sycophant. From an afterthought's point of view, this passage is quite interesting.

Among them, Sima Yi accused Zhuge Liang of having great ambitions but not knowing the opportunity with "great ambition but no opportunity". And Zhuge Liang did stick to the setting of Jing and Yi sending troops in "Longzhong Pair", and as a result, the division of troops between the two places thousands of miles away caused Shu Han to lose the advantage in troops. "More planning and less decision" means that Zhuge Liang has a lot of plans but few decisions. This one is a bit too harsh. After all, the resources of Shu Han were limited in history, and Zhuge Liang challenged the land of the Central Plains with a state, so he naturally had to be cautious. As for the last sentence, "good soldiers but no power" is the most worth recalling. This sentence is only literally interpreted to say that Zhuge Liang likes to use soldiers but does not understand the power change, and it is often used to prove that Zhuge Liang is not curious about plotting, such as the sneak attack on Chen Cang to persuade Hao Zhao to surrender, and he can't think of a plan and can only knock the city wall. However, if the word "quan" is interpreted as a conspiracy, this passage can also be interpreted as Zhuge overemphasizing the means of warfare, reckless military force, and despising the role of social, political, economic, and cultural factors in pacifying the world. In fact, Sima Yi in history did drag Zhuge Liang to death with "momentum". Chen Shou even commented on Zhuge Liang in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" "Moving the public year after year, unsuccessful, covering the strain will be slight, not his strength!" ”

Of course, the current Zhuge Liang is just a fledgling young strategist. Mo said that he sent troops from two ways and five out of Qishan, so far he has not even had the experience of leading troops to fight independently. In this case, the evaluation of "ambition but not opportunity, more scheming and less decision, good soldier but no power" is obviously a bit inexplicable. However, considering that this remark came from Cai Ji's mouth, and Zhuge Liang's fellow disciple Pang Tong was also an important minister of the Cai family, the evaluation relayed by Cao Pi at this time still attracted Sima Lang's great attention. (To be continued......)