The Three Kingdoms: Rise to Power Starting with Intercepting Liu Bei

In Xiangyang, in a secluded mansion.

Inside the study, where the aroma of tea wafted, Liu Bowen was handling the government affairs transferred from Cai Mao.

Although Cai Mao occupied Jingzhou, he was not the one in charge. He was at best a figurehead. Only after the Qin army completely controlled Jingzhou could he adjust his attitude.

Before this, everything required the cooperation of General Cai.

"Sigh~~~!"

As Liu Bowen perused the official documents, he sighed repeatedly.

It's truly astounding how much you don't know until you see it!

The grain reserves in Jingzhou are almost depleted. The grain supplies provided to the anti-Qin coalition a while ago were equivalent to one-tenth of the annual consumption of the entire population of Xiangyang.

It should be noted that Xiangyang's population at that time was already as high as 300,000 to 400,000. Based on an average annual grain consumption of 20 shi per person, that would amount to 6 to 7 million shi. Even one-tenth of that is not a small number, and the actual amount is probably even higher.

But now there is a food shortage, which is truly strange.

Could it be that we're transporting grain from Xuzhou to deal with this emergency?

Liu Bowen shook his head repeatedly, dismissing this unrealistic idea.

Just as he took out his portable pipe, lit it with a tumbler, and took a deep drag, the nicotine stimulating his cerebral cortex and instantly making him feel happy, and he was immersed in the smoky environment, he heard a series of hurried footsteps outside the door.

"My lord, there's an ugly young man outside the manor requesting an audience. He says he came from Lord Cai's residence!"

The guard spoke respectfully. Although he didn't go in, he knew from the pungent smell coming through the crack in the door that Lord Liu was smoking again due to stress, so he didn't dare to disturb him.

"Oh? Then bring him in!"

Liu Bowen abruptly stopped smoking, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes. He was not one to seek the limelight, and very few people in Xiangyang knew his true identity. Why would Cai Mao introduce such a person to him?

"Here you go!"

After a while, the tightly closed study door was gently pushed open from the outside. Liu Bowen, holding a pipe in one hand, curiously explored the commotion outside the door.

The guard walked in quietly, followed by an ugly man in his early twenties, dressed in a coarse brown robe with a gourd hanging from his waist.

They were choked by the thick smell of smoke as soon as they entered the room and coughed incessantly.

He had thick eyebrows, a sunken nose, a dark complexion, a sparse and short beard, and was about seven feet tall. He could also faintly smell alcohol, which made him look like a heavy drinker.

This was Liu Bowen's first impression of the ugly young man.

The ugly young man stared intently at Liu Bowen from the moment he entered. He couldn't detect any disgust in Liu Bowen's eyes for his appearance, and he felt a little more favorably towards him.

After all, this is an era that values ​​appearance, and there are many cases like his where his career was affected by his looks.

"Amitabha Buddha, I am Pang Tong, Pang Shiyuan, Daoist name Phoenix Chick, greetings, Daoist Master!"

Pang Tong immediately wrapped his left hand around his right, embraced Yin and Yang, and chanted "May you live forever," performing a Taoist ritual for Liu Bowen.

"Huh, how did you know I'm also a Taoist?"

Liu Bowen was somewhat surprised, clearly curious that Pang Tong could see the Taoist cultural aura in him. After all, at this moment, he was holding a pipe, and the room was filled with smoke, making him look like an old smoker, without any Taoist spiritual aura.

"I studied under Master Zuo Ci for many years and have a basic understanding of Taoist practices, so I could immediately recognize the familiar aura emanating from you, Daoist Master."

Pang Tong explained calmly and confidently, showing no fear despite Liu Bowen's identity.

After all, someone who dares to openly enter and leave the governor's mansion during such a tense period cannot be an ordinary person. In addition, Cai Mao has sided with Qin Xuan, so Liu Bowen's identity is not hard to guess.

"Zuo Ci? What's your relationship with Zhuge Liang?"

Upon hearing Pang Tong introduce himself, Liu Bowen immediately realized something and quickly frowned as he asked.

"That's my junior brother, now serving as an advisor to Liu Bei!"

Pang Tong explained nonchalantly that he had already thought of these things before he came.

Upon hearing this, Liu Bowen's expression softened considerably. He immediately invited the other party to sit down and took out a slightly creased cigar and a tinderbox from his robe, handing them over.

"This is?"

Pang Tong was puzzled by Liu Bowen's actions and did not know what he meant.

"This is cigar tobacco. Lighting it with a flame and smoking it can make people feel happy, which is also our way of hospitality."

Liu Bowen explained that Qin Xuan had told them to offer cigarettes to everyone, saying it could improve relationships between people.

As key leaders of the Qin Xuan Group, they receive a certain amount of tobacco quota every month, so they might as well use it.

"Oh, how do I use it?"

Pang Tong became interested and, under Liu Bowen's demonstration, he also learned to smoke a cigar. However, he was a bit clumsy at first, and felt nauseous and dizzy after taking a puff. Fortunately, he eventually learned to smoke normally.

Soon the study was filled with smoke again.

While enjoying the pleasure brought by tobacco, Pang Tongtong explained his purpose for coming.

Since his junior apprentice Zhuge Liang joined Liu Bei two years ago, he also left his master Sima Hui and traveled around, seeing all the warlords in the world, which stirred up quite a few waves in his heart.

Not long ago, Pang Tong returned to his master Sima Hui. After the two talked, Pang Tong discovered that there was a huge difference between what he had learned and what he had personally experienced and realized.

Furthermore, his master hoped that he and his junior brother Zhuge Liang would come out of seclusion together to assist Liu Bei, which aroused Pang Tong's resistance, because he realized that the mandate of heaven was now in Qin.

Following Liu Bei was tantamount to courting death, and later, through the divination techniques he had learned, he became even more convinced of this.

Therefore, he deceived Sima Hui into going to Liu Bei's place to travel, and then formally served the other party. In reality, he came to Xiangyang, wanting to recommend himself for an official position. In the end, he was recommended by Cai Mao to come here.

After listening to Pang Tong's account, Liu Bowen remained silent, because he could not determine whether the man was sincere, especially given his close relationship with Zhuge Liang, Sima Hui, and even the mysterious Zuo Ci.

But since they've already come, regardless of their purpose, he couldn't remain silent. So, after taking a few deep drags on his pipe, he said:

"Your status is special, so I cannot make a decision. I must inform my lord so that he can decide. If you are willing, you can go to Jinling. I will write you a letter of divorce to ensure your smooth passage."

Liu Bowen had the authority to do so; with his handwritten letter in hand, Pang Tong's journey to Jinling would not be hindered.

As for why Liu Bowen didn't send guards to escort him, but instead let the other party go on his own, he was gambling on whether Pang Tong would dare to do so. If he did, then he must be sincere.

If you don't dare, then you can only become the enemy. If you're capable, we'll meet on the battlefield.

Those assassination methods are of little use to those who study Taoist magic. Otherwise, wouldn't the Black Ice Platform have failed to assassinate Zhuge Liang multiple times for the same reason?

"Thank you, sir. I will certainly go myself!"

Pang Tong was overjoyed and quickly stood up to perform the Taoist ritual of crossing his left and right hands. He felt a long-lost respect from Liu Bowen's sincere words.

Liu Bowen patted the man on the shoulder as encouragement. Although their conversation was brief, this man was knowledgeable in astronomy and geography. He was erudite and, given time, his achievements would be no less than Liu Bowen's.

If Qin Xuanzhen truly accepts him, it might even become a celebrated story in officialdom!

Please subscribe!

\ u2029

\u2029\u2029\u2029