The Three Kingdoms: Hindsight is 20/20, and the Three Revivals of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 55 This Pang Tong is no simple man.

"So you are the Chief Clerk of the Left General! It's a pleasure to meet you!"

“I am Wen Zihua of Bohai, the brother-in-law of Governor Yuan, and I am the acting Commandant of the Central Army. Governor Yuan had long heard that the Left General was going north, so he ordered me to do my best to find out.”

"It is truly my good fortune to have met Chief Secretary Pang today."

“Governor Yuan happens to be in the city today. Chief Clerk Pang may come into the city with me.”

The leader bowed to Pang Tong, indicating his identity.

Because Yuan Tan admired famous scholars, Wen Ye followed suit, and thus Wen Ye was even polite to Pang Tong and others.

The Central Army Colonel mentioned by Wen Ye is not the Central Army Colonel of the Eight Colonels of the Western Garden, but a military position established by Yuan Tan to command the personal guards of the inner palace, similar to the Central Commander and the Central Protector.

Upon hearing Wen Ye's self-introduction, Pang Tong couldn't help but scrutinize him more closely.

Before Pang Tong even arrived in Linzi after entering the State of Qi, he had already heard of Wen Ye's reputation.

Perhaps he became despondent because he was disliked by Yuan Shao, or perhaps he thought he was invincible in Qingzhou.

After Yuan Tan quelled Tian Kai in the north, attacked Kong Rong in the east, and amassed troops in the coastal areas, like most powerful rulers who initially adhered to self-discipline but later became arrogant and extravagant, he began to listen to advice from his advisors, appoint cronies, and ignore the hardships faced by the common people in farming and weaving.

Wen Ye, who was Yuan Tan's brother-in-law and commanded Yuan Tan's personal guards, not only embezzled and sold public property, but also plundered the people in the fields.

Hua Yan, Kong Shun, and others were mostly treacherous and cunning, but they were regarded as confidants only because they could boast about their achievements in front of Yuan Tan.

Wang Xiu and others were talented and virtuous, but because they didn't know how to flatter Yuan Tan, they were merely used as laborers under Yuan Tan.

Yuan Tan, heeding slanderous words, ordered his generals to conscript men from various counties. Those who paid were exempted from taxes, while those who did not were forced into military service. He also sent troops to search for and arrest people hiding in the mountains and fields, as if capturing birds and beasts.

It can be seen.

Subconsciously comparing Yuan Tan to Liu Bei, Pang Tong couldn't help but feel contempt.

Although Liu Bei was not the most virtuous, compared to many other powerful rulers of his time, he was undoubtedly the most outstanding.

Disdain is disdain.

Pang Tong did not show it, but instead praised Wen Ye with eloquent words, saying that he was young and promising, full of vigor and talent, and would surely be remembered in history.

Wen Ye was overjoyed to hear this, and his fondness for Pang Tong increased dramatically.

Everyone entered the city.

Cavalrymen had already gone ahead to the governor's mansion to report to Yuan Tan.

Upon learning that Liu Bei had dispatched his chief clerk Pang Tong to Qingzhou, and that Zheng Xuan's disciple Sun Qian was also there, Yuan Tan was overjoyed.

In order to boost his morale and win the hearts and minds of the people and the soldiers, Yuan Shao ordered Yuan Tan to invite the 74-year-old Zheng Xuan to go to Liyang to join the army.

Yuan Tan isn't stupid.

Upon hearing this military order, it became clear that someone was interfering.

To put it nicely, it's called "invitation"; to put it bluntly, it's called "coercion."

A 74-year-old man was traveling from Beihai Gaomi in Qingzhou to Liyang in Weijun, Jizhou, and he could die on the way at any moment!

If Zheng Xuan dies, Yuan Tan will surely be blamed.

At that time, all the scholars in Qingzhou who admired Zheng Xuan would regard Yuan Tan as an enemy.

Yuan Tan was already harsh on the people; if he offended the scholars as well, then his foundation in Qingzhou would be reduced to nothing!

However, Yuan Tan could not disobey Yuan Shao's military orders.

This left Yuan Tan in a dilemma.

The arrival of Pang Tong and Sun Qian gave Yuan Tan a glimmer of hope.

To show his sincerity, Yuan Tan personally went out of his residence to greet Pang Tong and Sun Qian, and the level of enthusiasm surprised both Pang Tong and Sun Qian.

Both men were intelligent and quick-witted, and they could naturally tell that Yuan Tan must have something to ask of them.

really.

When Pang Tong explained his purpose and hoped that Yuan Tan could send troops to meet Liu Bei, Yuan Tan pretended to be in a difficult position: "General Zuo has recommended me, and I should personally lead my infantry and cavalry to welcome you. However, I am currently preoccupied with important matters, which makes me anxious day and night. Alas." Although Yuan Tan spoke cryptically, Pang Tong understood his intention and said: "If Governor Yuan has encountered any difficult decisions, I am willing to help you resolve them."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Tan sighed again and said, "The General sent someone to order me to summon Duke Kang Cheng to the front line in Liyang immediately."

The voice just fell.

Sun Qian stood up in shock: "My master is seventy-four years old. How can he withstand such a long journey? Does Governor Yuan have a grudge against my master?"

Normally, given Sun Qian's personality, he wouldn't have lost his composure like this.

However, when it came to Zheng Xuan's safety, Sun Qian couldn't contain his anger.

In this era, a teacher for a day is a father for life. How could Sun Qian sit idly by and watch Zheng Xuan's safety be ignored?
Yuan Tan was secretly pleased.

Yes, that's exactly the attitude we want!

The angrier you get, the more reasons I have to shirk responsibility.

on the surface.

Yuan Tan then pretended to be embarrassed: "Mr. Gongyou, it is not that I have a grudge against Duke Kangcheng, but it is the General's order."

“Brother Gongyou, please calm down.” Pang Tong persuaded Sun Qian, looking intently into Yuan Tan’s eyes: “I can assure Governor Yuan that as long as the Left General comes to Qingzhou, Duke Kangcheng will not need to go to Liyang, and Governor Yuan will not be punished by the Grand General.”

Pang Tong did not tell Yuan Tan the specific response, but instead made a promise to Yuan Tan, which pleased Yuan Tan greatly.

“I have always admired General Zuo. Since General Zuo has a good plan, I will do my best to help him succeed.” Yuan Tan also did not ask Pang Tong for his specific response.

For Yuan Tan...

Zheng Xuan is too hot to handle!
As long as Liu Bei is willing to intervene, then Zheng Xuan's life or death will have nothing to do with Yuan Tan.

With his worries resolved, Yuan Tan was overjoyed and became even more enthusiastic about Pang Tong's suggestion to send troops to meet Liu Bei. He even promised to personally lead his infantry and cavalry to welcome Liu Bei first thing the next morning.

After the banquet ended.

Sun Qian, worried about Zheng Xuan's safety, said to Pang Tong, "Military Advisor Pang, I was greatly flustered when I heard that my master had been summoned by Yuan Shao. I want to return to Gaomi and will not travel with you."

Pang Tong understood Sun Qian's concerns and did not stop him, saying, "You can let General Huang Zhonglang go with Brother Gongyou."

Sun Qian shook his head: "General Huang is going to stay behind to protect Military Advisor Pang. How can he go with me? I am from Beihai. With my master's reputation in Beihai, even mountain bandits would not dare to rob me."

Pang Tong solemnly replied, “The world is in chaos right now, so it’s best to be careful. Yuan Tan needs something from the Left General, so why would he harm me? Besides, I am the Left General’s Chief Clerk, a position above Sun Ce’s. Once I’ve made a decision, it shouldn’t be contested!”

Seeing Pang Tong display his official authority, Sun Qian had no choice but to obey.

Subsequently.

Pang Tong added, "I have heard that Kang Cheng has authored more than ten thousand volumes of classics. The current situation is chaotic, and Beihai is not a safe place."

"If Kang Cheng Gong were willing to follow the example of Cai Yong gifting his collection of books to Wang Can and present his collection of books to the Left General, he would surely leave a good name in history."

"Although it may seem like we are taking advantage of someone's misfortune, if General Zuo can obtain the books in the collection of Duke Kangcheng, he can make them widely circulated, and all the scholars and people in the world will regard the classics written by Duke Kangcheng as models."

"Whether it's leaving a lasting legacy or providing blessings for future generations, it's all beneficial to Kang Cheng Gong!"

Sun Qian was stunned.

On second thought, he realized that Pang Tong's considerations were thorough.

Zheng Xuan is old.

Zheng Xuan's only son died young, and his grandson was too young and had no reputation.

Every husband is not guilty, and he is guilty of his crime.

Without protection, the more than 10,000 volumes of scriptures annotated by Zheng Xuan would instead bring disaster upon them.

Mind this.

Sun Qian replied, "I will convey Chief Secretary Pang's intentions to my master."

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(End of this chapter)