Qingzhou, plain.

"My lord, judging from the information from Xuzhou, Tao Envoy Jun has made up his mind to defend it. In this way, I am afraid that in a short period of time, General Cao's side will not be able to make much progress. Jian Yong reported respectfully.

"Hmm...... It seems that it is impossible for Tao Envoy Jun to ask us for help in a short period of time. Liu Bei shook his head and sighed when he heard this.

"The lord doesn't have to worry, as long as General Cao still wants to take Xuzhou, Tao Envoy Jun will ask the lord for help sooner or later." Jian Yong chuckled when he heard this.

"Well, send someone else to contact Zizhong and ask him to see the situation and make comments." Liu Bei nodded and said.

"No." Jian Yong responded when he heard this, but then showed a look of hesitation, "Lord, although there is nothing now, if the future lord is also so close to the Mi family, I'm afraid Zihe and Zifu will ......."

"Hmm...... I believe that Zihe and Zifu will understand. Liu Bei groaned when he heard this, but then the conversation changed and said in a cold tone, "And the kindness of the past funding, I have also repaid them a lot over the years, and I have helped them become Qingzhou giant businessmen and create their own family." If they are still not satisfied...... But I can't be blamed for that. In the end, Liu Bei's tone carried a hint of murder.

Hearing this, Jian Yong nodded and didn't say much, but he didn't have much feeling for Liu Bei's words. As mentioned earlier, Jian Yong, who has been by Liu Bei's side since childhood, is probably the only person who knows Liu Bei's true character now. Even Liu Bei's classmate Gongsun Zan didn't understand him. Otherwise, Gongsun Chan would not have sent people all the time, hoping that Liu Bei would be able to send troops to help him.

The two discussed for a while, and Jian Yong suddenly remembered something, "Lord, the report sent by Kong Fujun a few days ago mentioned one thing, saying that Zhuge Wenhou of the Zhuge family of the Lang Evil Country entered the Beihai Country with his family and rushed all the way to this side. ”

"Oh? Is Zhuge of the Zhuge family thick? When Liu Bei heard this, after thinking about it, he asked suspiciously, "Didn't you say that since the death of Zhuge Jungong, he has been living in seclusion in Yangdu?" ”

In these years of correspondence with Mi Zhu, Liu Bei has learned a lot about the large and small families in Xuzhou. This also makes although the Zhuge family has declined since its ancestor Zhuge Feng was demoted to a commoner, Liu Bei still heard of it.

However, this is not because Liu Bei has begun to take any action, but because he has always been aware of the situation of the family in Qingzhou and the surrounding areas. After all, the vast majority of talents in this era are from families, whether they are big families or small families. For Liu Bei, who has ambitions, he naturally hopes to get more talents from these families.

"I think it's to avoid the disaster of the war in Xuzhou, although the Lang Evil Country has not been invaded by General Cao's troops, but after all, it has now fallen into the hands of Zang Ba." Jian Yong smiled when he heard this.

"Hehe, this Zang Ba is also a talent, Xian and you will find a time to send someone to contact you and see if there is a chance to win it over." When Liu Bei heard this, he suddenly thought of the situation when Zang Ba sent someone to show his goodwill before, and couldn't help laughing.

"As for that Zhuge Wenhou~" After speaking, Liu Bei sighed for a while and then said with a smile, "Although it has declined, it is enough to be an ordinary local official." Send someone to contact them, and say I'm going to feast them. ”

"My subordinates will arrange it." Jian Yong replied respectfully, without the slightest surprise in his tone. Because over the years, Liu Bei has invited those scholars to win over those families in Qingzhou. Even for some hermits with high prestige, they did not hesitate to visit them in person.

Although not many of those hermits were accepted by Liu Bei as his subordinates, Liu Bei's practice made the label of Corporal Lixian firmly beaten on him by many scholars and hermits.

A few days later, in Liu Bei's mansion in Pingyuan County.

"Liu Yuanjun is really too polite, he is just a grass ......" Zhuge Xuan said respectfully, with a hint of surprise in his tone.

Today's Zhuge family, whether it is Zhuge Xuan before or Zhuge Xuan today, is not a very famous scholar. Those elders in the future, although many of them were officials, their official ranks were not high. For example, Zhuge Xuan, who was only a 600-stone Taishan county in his lifetime, and although Zhuge Xuan was retained by Liu Biao when he left, his official rank was lower than Zhuge Xuan's county at that time.

Such children of families with low official rank and low reputation don't have too many in the whole world. Therefore, Zhuge Xuan never thought that Liu Bei, the dignified Qingzhou pastor, would summon him, let alone set up a banquet to entertain himself and his family. Although it was only a small banquet, it was enough to flatter Zhuge Xuan.

"Wen Hou is too modest~ Wen Hou gave up his career for the sake of his relatives, which is very admirable." Liu Bei smiled when he heard this.

Hearing this, Zhuge Xuan naturally didn't dare to do anything, but these words still made his somewhat nervous mood relax a little. Not long after, under Liu Bei's initiative, he talked with him.

Speaking of which, when scholars and literati communicate in this era, they always like to talk about the situation in the world or evaluate celebrity anecdotes. Through this behavior, they can not only broaden their horizons, but also know the level of the other person. Just like now, from Zhuge Xuan's various views on the general trend of the world, Liu Bei can roughly know the other party's ability.

After a long while, Liu Bei suddenly raised his glass and smiled, "Wenhou has traveled all the way, how does Qingzhou feel compared to Xuzhou?" ”

"Back to the envoy, the biggest feeling Qingzhou gives me is stability. For example, there is chaos in various places today, especially in the Kanto region. Although I have long heard that under the governance of Liu Yuanjun, Qingzhou has become a rare and stable place in the eastern part of the Kanto, but it is still a little hard to believe it when I see it in person. Zhuge Xuan praised again and again when he heard this.

His words were not intended to be flattering, because Qingzhou had indeed become one of the few places of stability in the eastern part of the country under Liu Bei's governance. Because since Liu Bei completely defeated the Yellow Turban Thieves in Qingzhou, there has never been any war in Qingzhou. Even if Yuan Shao was attacked by Yuan Shao when he was an enemy in the past, it was just a few cities on the border.

In addition, Liu Bei diligently repaired internal affairs, and even issued many decrees for the benefit of the people, so that the people could better live and work in peace and contentment, causing many people in Jizhou, Xuzhou, and Yanzhou to flee here one after another.

It can even be said that in the entire Kanto region now, except for Li Yi's rule, Qingzhou is the only happy land.

Hearing Zhuge Xuan's words, Liu Bei suddenly sighed, "I am fortunate to be valued by the imperial court and entrusted with the position of Qingzhou pastor." It's just that the preparation is shallow, and many times, I feel inadequate. ”

"The name of making Jun too humble, making Jun virtuous, although he is in Xuzhou, is often heard." Zhuge Xuan said respectfully when he heard this, and his tone was very sincere.

Hearing this, Liu Bei chuckled lightly, and drank with Zhuge Xuan again, and after an unknown amount of time, Liu Bei asked again, "I don't know where Wen Hou is going on this trip?" If you can, if you can stay and help? With his literary talents, he will definitely be able to benefit the people......"

"This ......" Hearing this, Zhuge Xuan suddenly hesitated.

After this conversation, coupled with the scene he had seen before, he had a good impression of Liu Bei. Moreover, Liu Bei, as a Qingzhou pastor and a royal prince, is such a courteous corporal, it is absolutely impossible to say that he is not moved.

It's just that......

Zhuge Xuan hesitated, and his eyes skimmed to Zhuge Liang on the side. Seeing this, Liu Bei suddenly smiled and said, "Wen Hou, what are your concerns?" It doesn't hurt to be outspoken. ”

"Don't hide it, the reason why Xuan went north with his family this time is that on the one hand, he wants to avoid the disaster of war, and on the other hand, he really wants to go to Yin, Henan." Zhuge Xuan said respectfully when he heard this.

"Oh? But for them? When Liu Bei heard this, he thought of Zhuge Xuan's actions just now, his mind moved, and then he asked with a smile.

"Exactly." Zhuge Xuan replied respectfully, "The two of them, the eldest Mingjin and the younger Mingliang, are both sons of deceased brothers. The two have been smart since they were children, especially Ah Liang, who is even more talented. So Xuan planned to go to Henan Yin to see if he could let them enter the Great Dao Academy to study. ”

"I see, there are great Confucians such as Zheng Gong in the Great Dao Academy, and it is indeed a place that all those in the world who want to learn yearn for." Liu Bei nodded in response when he heard this, and at the same time a trace of helplessness appeared in his heart.

Dao Academy, after all these years of operation, its reputation has already spread all over the world. Countless forces are researching and imitating, but unfortunately none of them can reach the level of the Great Dao Academy. On the one hand, it is because the other forces have many great families, and their interests are complicated, and it is difficult to cultivate talents simply like the Great Dao Academy. In this case, even if those families are willing to teach, Liu Bei may not dare to let them teach.

And what if you don't let the people of the family teach, and choose from the poor or even the people? Naturally, there are capable people among these people, but most of these people have already become officials, so how can they give up their status and run to teach? Of course, there are many people who don't care about their careers, but these people are basically in a state of seclusion, although they usually do some things to teach the people, but let them really teach? It's simply impossible.

Because whether it is Liu Bei or Liu Biao, the academies that come out are all open to those families. And how is it possible to let those who choose to live in seclusion because they do not want to get involved in all kinds of struggles teach the children of the family? It is precisely for this reason that the academy that Liu Biao made in history was finally gone.

Without a perfect system to ensure that the college can be in a neutral state, in the end, this place of education will only become a place for power struggle.

However, although he was helpless in his heart, Liu Bei became interested in Zhuge Jin and the others. Because from the conversation just now, he understood that Zhuge Xuan was not the kind of person who talked exaggeratedly, and this kind of talent in the mouth must be extraordinary.

So subsequently, Liu Bei successively took the examination of Zhuge Jin and Zhuge Liang, and the results were ......

"I can't imagine that the two of them have such knowledge before they wear crowns, which is really embarrassing! I want to prepare for it at this age......" Liu Bei looked at Zhuge Jin and shook his head with emotion, but there was a burst of essence in his eyes.

"Hehe, the king is overrated, overrated~" Hearing Liu Bei's words, Zhuge Xuan suddenly laughed and said, it can be seen that he is also very satisfied with the performance of Zhuge Jin and the others.

"Haha, but Wen Hou is too modest, the two sons are so talented, I'm afraid it won't take long for the Zhuge family to become famous all over the world!" Liu Bei laughed.

"Alas, the world is famous and I don't dare to ask for luxury, I just hope that they can live in peace and security......" Zhuge Xuanyan shook his head and smiled bitterly.

From Jingzhou to Xuzhou, Zhuge Xuan has seen too many tragic situations in the world over the years, coupled with the embarrassment over the years, the ambition and dream of Zhuge Xuan when he was young have long been completely wiped out.

"There's a proposal, why don't you think about it?" Liu Bei looked at Zhuge Xuan and said with a smile when he heard this.

"Envoy, please speak."

"Now there is still a vacancy in Qingzhou's governance, if Wen Hou is willing to stay......" Liu Bei looked at Zhuge Xuan and chuckled, "As for Ah Jin and Ah Liang, although Qingzhou does not have as many famous teachers as the Great Dao Academy, there are also great sages such as Kong Wenju and Bing Genju. If they see the talents of the two, they will definitely not be stingy with advice. ”

"This ......" Zhuge Xuanyan suddenly hesitated.

From his personal point of view, he naturally wants to stay in Qingzhou, on the one hand, now that the army is in chaos, although the scheduled route is already very safe, but who can really ensure that the road is safe? On the other hand, Qingzhou is much closer to the Lang Evil Country.

Seeing Zhuge Xuan like this, Liu Bei smiled again, "Since Wen Hou is hesitant, why don't you listen to Ah Jin and Ah Liang's thoughts?" ”

"This ......" Hearing Liu Bei's words, Zhuge Xuan immediately wanted to object, although Zhuge Jin and the two were very smart, but after all, they were both teenagers who had not yet worn a crown, and Zhuge Liang was only twelve years old, in case one accidentally said something that offended Liu Bei......

It's just that before Zhuge Xuan opened his mouth to object, Liu Bei over there had already looked at Zhuge Jin and the two with a smile and asked, "You also heard my proposal just now, what do you think?" ”

"This ...... It's up to my uncle. Hearing this, Zhuge Jin glanced at Zhuge Xuan, and then hesitated and said respectfully.

"Well, what about you?" Liu Bei nodded when he heard this, and then turned his head to look at Zhuge Liang.

"If you treat you so kindly, Liang will definitely not live up to your high expectations!" Zhuge Liang looked at Liu Bei and said respectfully, with an inexplicable brilliance in his eyes.

"Well said!" When Liu Bei heard this, he immediately laughed and turned his head to look at Zhuge Xuan and asked, "Wenhou, you shouldn't hesitate anymore now, right?" ”

"Subordinates meet the lord!" When Zhuge Xuan heard this, he bowed down in front of Liu Bei and said respectfully.

Immediately, Liu Bei directly appointed Zhuge Xuan as the ruler, and even personally took Zhuge Jin's brothers to Le'an Country and asked Bing Yuan to teach them.

"Genju, these two sons are talented and intelligent people, especially Ah Liang, please bother ......" Liu Bei advised.