Longzhong in August is picturesque.

Liu Xiu took Deng Ai and took a carriage to Longzhong. The carriage stopped at the foot of the mountain, and Liu Xiu took Deng Ai to the place where Zhuge Liang lived.

The two walked for about a quarter of an hour before they came outside the house.

Deng Ai went up and knocked on the door, and after a while, a boy opened the door, poked his head out, looked at Deng Ai and Liu Xiu curiously, and asked, "Who are you and is there something wrong?"

Deng Ai bowed his hand and said neither humbly nor arrogantly: "My son-in-law Liu Xiu is a classmate of Mr. Zhuge and came to visit Mr. Zhuge today. ”

When the boy heard this, he looked at Liu Xiu who was standing outside the door in surprise.

The young man in front of him, is it Liu Xiu?

It seems that it is not the legendary burly and tall, but thin and elegant.

The boy shook his head and said, "Master Xiu, my husband and his friends went into the mountains to play together." This time, it may be three or five days, or ten and a half days, and I don't know when I will come back. If there is anything wrong with Mr. Xiu, you can tell me, and I will tell you when Mr. comes back. ”

Hearing this, Deng Ai turned to look at Liu Xiu, waiting for Liu Xiu's reply.

Liu Xiu said: "It's not a big deal, since Brother Kong Ming is not at home, I will come back next time." ”

"Xiao Ai, let's go. ”

Liu Xiu waved his hand, and Deng Ai said goodbye to the boy.

The two walked down the mountain, and Deng Ai said: "Childe, Mr. Zhuge is not here, so I can only come again next time." ”

Liu Xiu smiled and said, "Zhuge Liang's intentions, I already understand. It's better not to see each other. Perhaps, this is the best way to refuse. He doesn't have to be embarrassed, and I don't have to be embarrassed. ”

Deng Ai seemed to understand whether he understood or not, and there was doubt on his face.

Liu Xiu patted Deng Ai's shoulder and said, "Let's go, go down the mountain and go to Xu Shu's residence." ”

......

In the mountains, the maple forest is swaying, and the shadows of the trees are swaying.

In an open and flat place, Zhuge Liang Shitao and Meng Jian were sitting under a tree and playing chess.

At this time, it was Zhuge Liang and Shi Tao playing against each other.

Shi Tao said as he fell: "Kong Ming, Liu Xiu was appointed by the Son of Heaven as the Taishou of Yuzhang County, although it is a vacant position for the time being, but it has a lot to do. You and Liu Xiu are classmates, he will definitely find you and invite you to go. Only, why are you dodging?"

Zhuge Liang chuckled and said, "The Tao is different, and they don't conspire with each other." ”

Meng Jian stroked his beard under his chin and said, "Could it be that Kong Ming plans to go north with us?"

Zhuge Liang shook his head, picked up a black spot and fell, and said solemnly: "I swear not to stand with Cao Thief, and it is impossible for me to go to the north to assist Cao Thief." ”

Shi Tao's eyes showed curiosity and asked, "Or, are you going to Jiangdong?"

Zhuge Liang shook his head and said, "Jiangdong is not suitable either. ”

Meng Jian and Shi Tao looked at each other, both of them couldn't understand, and said: "Cao Cao is not suitable, Liu Xiu is not suitable, Jiangdong Sun Quan is not suitable, Liu Biao, you look down on you." So, what are you going to choose?"

Zhuge Liang shrugged his shoulders and said, "If you don't have a choice for the time being, you won't choose, isn't it good to plough Longzhong?"

Shi Tao said with a straight face: "Kong Ming, I can't understand you." ”

Zhuge Liang fell again, and said, "You lost." ”

Shi Tao stared at the situation on the chessboard, sighed, and said, "This game of chess is lost." ”

After a pause, Shi Tao said: "Kong Ming, learn to be a literary and martial artist, and sell it to people who know the goods." You have a lot of strategies in your mind, and you have great ambitions to calm the world. Why didn't you choose it for a long time? Whether it was Cao Cao, or Sun Quan, or Liu Xiu, it was actually not bad. ”

Zhuge Liang also sat up straight, and his expression gradually became solemn. He looked at Shi Tao and Meng Jian, and said with a straight face: "The lord I want to choose must meet my standards." ”

"What standard?"

Shi Tao and Meng Jian asked in unison.

Both of them were very curious about what kind of person would meet Zhuge Liang's standards.

Cao Cao's domination of the north is powerful enough to not meet Zhuge Liang's standards.

Sun Quan is young, he dominates Jiangdong, divides one side, is young and promising, and does not meet Zhuge Liang's standards.

Liu Xiu's literary brilliance, strong martial arts, and resourcefulness are also quite outstanding, but he still does not meet Zhuge standards.

In the end, who can do it?

Zhuge Liang said: "The master I have chosen must trust me, and even more reuse me." Even, I was the only one who planned it. I need enough space to carry out my governance policy. ”

"Cao Cao is as cunning as a fox, and he is better at marching and arranging troops. His own ability is quite remarkable. The military generals under his command are even more talented. If I am loyal to Cao Cao, it will be difficult for me to stand out, and I will not have a chance in a short time. ”

"Sun Quan is a good choice, he is a corporal who is polite and virtuous, and he can be called a master. But under Sun Quan, there is Zhang Zhao in the text, Zhou Yu in the martial arts, and one in the literature and one in the military, all of whom are Sun Ce's trusted ministers. I went to Koto, and it was difficult to reuse. ”

"Liu Xiu has potential, but Liu Xiu is not only good at strategy, but also has both martial arts. I went after. If there is a disagreement, whose opinion will prevail, and if it rises to a different political philosophy, whose opinion will prevail?"

Zhuge Liang said: "Compared with Cao Cao and Sun Quan, Liu Xiu actually doesn't give me much space. What I need is a person who can entrust me with military and political affairs, so that I can go all out, without the slightest constraint. ”

After a pause, Zhuge Liang said again: "Liu Xiu has his own ideas, and it is bound to be impossible to follow my train of thought. In this case, why bother to see each other again? It is better not to see each other, but to leave a friendship with the same family. ”

"Alas......"

After Shi Tao heard this, he couldn't help but sigh lightly.

After thinking for a while, Meng Jian said, "Kong Ming, your talent is really difficult to display. ”

Zhuge Liang said: "The time has not yet come, I believe that it will wait." ”

Meng Jian shook his head and said, "Even if you wait, I'm afraid it will be difficult, and time waits for no one." Moreover, according to what you said, we must entrust you with all the major military and political affairs, let alone hinder your approach, in other words, we must trust you absolutely. Such a person has a heart and mind that ordinary people can't do, and even a puppet-like life is not something ordinary people want. ”

Zhuge Liang said: "Jiang Taigong fishes, those who wish to take the bait, there are always people who are willing." ”

Shi Tao smiled and said, "Meng Jian, you and I are too worried. Kong Ming has his own plans, and we will not mix. ”

Meng Jian changed his words and said, "Kong Ming, what do you think about Liu Xiu's trip to Youxian?"

Zhuge said: "This is a wonderful move, far away from the battle in Xiangyang, and there is another opportunity to establish a foundation." Liu Xiu's move can be called a wonderful move. Among them, there is also the promoter of Pang Shi. ”

Shi Tao said with a smile: "Master Pang does take a lot of care of Liu Xiu, a closed disciple. ”

Meng Jian said: "After all, he is a closed disciple. ”

Zhuge Liang said: "Although Youxian is an opportunity, it is also a crisis. Liu Xiu did a good job in Youxian County and was able to form a foundation and gain a foothold in Jingnan. If Liu Xiu makes a mistake, Youxian is probably the place where bones are buried. ”

Shi Tao asked: "Kong Ming thinks that Liu Xiu has more opportunities to rise, or more opportunities to bury bones?"

When Zhuge Liang heard this, he fell silent.

After a while, Zhuge Liang said: "Liu Xiu went to Changsha Youxian alone, half and half of the chance; if there is Shiyuan's assistance, the chance of rising is seventy percent; if Liu Xiu says that he moves Yuanzhi, he will definitely rise." Liu Xiu can govern the army, Yuan Zhi can sort out internal affairs, and Shi Yuan is good at strategy. The three of them work together, and the situation in Jingnan will inevitably be opened. ”

Shi Tao and Meng Jian nodded, and there was also an expectant look in their eyes