Chapter 23: Different Political Views

  In the late afternoon, Liu Xiu and three others were chatting in their dormitory when Mao Zong suddenly rushed in and shouted loudly: "Xiao Xian has returned."

  The three of them simultaneously lifted their heads and looked at him with a gaze that was as if they were looking at a monster, saying in unison: "You're back, so you're back, why are you so happy?"

  Mao Zong panted and looked at them, slapping his thigh: "Li Zhizhong has also arrived."

  "Li Zhizhong, which Li Zhizhong?" Liu Bei said with a frown, somewhat impatiently.

  "Which Li Zhizhong?" Mao Zong's face couldn't hide his complacency, delighted to the point of being unable to close his mouth, rubbing his hands and saying: "Of course it's our county's most famous scholar, Li Dingli Yezhong."

  Liu Bei was taken aback and immediately stood up: "He... has he been captured?"

  "Not really." Mao Zong's eyebrows danced with excitement, his mouth stretched to his ears: "He was sent by Governor Shi to discuss winter defense matters in our Taogu Valley and is currently talking to my father and Mr. Lu." Mao Zong leaned over to Gong Sunzhan and smiled fawningly: "Bohui, I heard them mention you, they should be inviting you to the meeting soon."

  Liu Bei was pacing back and forth in the room, when he heard Mao Zong's words, his eyes lit up as he looked at Gongsun Zan, then carefully glanced at Liu Xiu who remained unmoved. He walked over to Liu Xiu's side and whispered: "Big brother, we're able to study here thanks to Li Jun's recommendation, so it would be good for us to go thank him in person."

  Liu Xiu let out an "oh" and only then reacted to what they were saying, which was about the famous Li Ding. However, he wasn't quite clear on what position Zhang Zhong held in the government, but judging from how Mao Zong and Liu Bei treated him, it seemed like a very high-ranking official. And as for that Governor or whatever, he had no idea whose side he was on.

  Liu Bei saw Liu Xiu's bewildered expression and felt a sense of urgency in his heart. Li Ding was originally the Gong Cao of Zhuo County, in charge of personnel selection, and to get things done in the county, going through him would be the most direct way. Moreover, Li Ding had always had a good impression of Liu Bei, and once said in front of others that Liu Bei would definitely achieve great things in the future. This sentence had been Liu Bei's greatest reliance, and it was precisely because of this sentence that Liu Xiu's father, Liu Yuanqi, treated him as a person. Now that Li Ding had become the Zhongshu Lang of the Cishi, it was naturally good news for Liu Bei. At this time, not going to pay his respects and offer congratulations in person, when would he do so?

  Liu Xiu was unclear, but Liu Bei did not want to miss this opportunity. He patiently and softly explained to Liu Xiu the importance of Li Ding to their future careers. He thought that after hearing this, Liu Xiu would understand, but unexpectedly, Liu Xiu just nodded casually and still showed no enthusiasm.

  Liu Bei became somewhat anxious: "Elder brother, according to reason and emotion, we should all go to pay our respects."

  Liu Xi furrowed his brow, somewhat impatient. He hadn't planned on staying in the dangerous place of Zhuo County for long, and whether or not he got along with Li Ding seemed unimportant. Moreover, he felt that Li Ding had followed Lu Min to Taogu Valley for a reason, and was probably busy, unlikely to have time to meet with them.

  "Go ahead." Liu Xiu fell silent for a while and still didn't plan on going: "Anyway, he didn't recommend me to come in the first place."

  Liu Bei was speechless. Li Ding initially indeed recommended him alone, and did not mention Liu Xiu, but because his family had no money, he went to find Liu Yuanqi, hoping that Liu Yuanqi would invest. He thought that Liu Xiu resented this matter, and it was not good to say anything more, but in his heart, he looked down on Liu Xiu for not knowing how to show respect. Not to mention that Li Ding is now a trusted aide by the side of Governor Zhang, even if he was still serving as a Gong Cao in Zhuo County, he was someone who could not be offended, and Liu Xiu did not take him seriously, and would definitely regret it later.

  Liu Bei did not persuade him again, he stood alone at the gate, waiting for an opportunity to meet Li Ding.

  Mao Zong was delighted in his heart, and he left after a while, of course, without forgetting to show off Li Ding's arrival at Taogu to others. After he left, there were only two people left in the house, Liu Xiu and Gongsun Zan. Liu Xiu was quietly reading a book, but Gongsun Zan was a bit restless. He thought for a while, then suddenly let out a long sigh.

  "What's wrong with Brother Bo?" Liu Xiu raised his eyelids and asked casually.

  "Indeed, you are quite calm. Gongsun Zan looked at Liu Xiu with some admiration, "Unlike Cheng Ming and Xuande, I couldn't see any problem with you."

  Liu Xiu was taken aback for a moment, looked up and sized up Gongsun Zan, his eyes rolled over, put down the book in his hand, and smiled: "Brother Bogui, what are you talking about?"

  Gongsun Zan smiled slightly, stood up and walked to the door, looked around, then seemed to have a deep meaning in his eyes as he sized up Liu Bei who was standing at the gate of the second courtyard waiting for an audience. He returned to the room, bent down, leaned close to Liu Xu and whispered: "What do you think of Governor Taishi?"

  Liu Xiu broke out in a cold sweat. Who is Governor Zhangsun, anyway? I know him by name, and he's already evaluating me. He nervously avoided Gong Sunzhan's gaze, chuckled, and said: "Elder Bo Pei works at the Taishou Prefecture, so naturally, he has opportunities to meet with Governor Zhangsun. I'm just a rustic country bumpkin; how dare I have such extravagant hopes, let alone evaluate him?"

  Gongsun Zan blinked his eyes and couldn't help but laugh, Liu Xiu's words made him feel very comfortable in his heart. Although he was just a book assistant, he was a person of the Taishou Fu, and also the son-in-law of the Taishou, so it was expected that he would rise step by step in the future, and someone like Liu Xiu couldn't be compared to him. Liu Bei was so anxious to go see Li Ding, he could understand, and even felt a little superior.

  "What's the point of saying this, I'm just a book assistant, with such good calligraphy, it's easy to be a book assistant in the future?" Gong Sun Zan sat back on his own seat and smiled faintly: "However, I think Cheng Ming might be disappointed."

  "Why?" Liu Xiu asked in puzzlement.

  "Because our governor has always been opposed to going to war with those barbarians, he is a follower of the saint and likes to treat them with benevolence. Mr. Lu heard my words and must have gone to the county to persuade them to prepare for battle, store grain and grass, in preparation for the barbarians' attack, which goes against the governor's consistent stance."

  Gongsun Zan explained a few sentences, and Liu Xiu finally understood that the current governor of Youzhou was Liu Yu, who believed in Confucianism and had a policy towards foreigners that was diametrically opposed to Gongsun Zan's. Therefore, Gongsun Zan did not think much of him. Liu Xiu didn't have a good impression of either of them, but he had an innate dislike for Confucians, especially those who were gentle with outsiders but had a different attitude towards their own people. As a result, he naturally showed a disdainful expression and nodded in agreement with Gongsun Zan's words.

  Gongsun Zan, seeing Liu Xiu's agreement with his views, was in high spirits and naturally became more open in his speech, uttering some disrespectful words towards Liu Yu. Just as he was getting into the conversation, Mao Zong came over to invite Gongsun Zan to leave. Although Gongsun Zan had some reservations about Liu Yu, he didn't dare be rude and hastily got up to follow Mao Zong. Liu Xiu sat alone in the room, thinking back on Gongsun Zan's previous words, and secretly sighed. He vaguely remembered that Gongsun Zan and Liu Yu seemed to have a grudge against each other, which would later become irreconcilable, but he didn't realize that their conflict ultimately stemmed from differences in policy towards the Hu people.

  Liu Bei stood at the bottom of the steps, watching as Gongsun Zan followed Mao Zong hastily into the central courtyard. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly - he had wanted to request an audience with Li Ding, yet here he was, standing obediently in this spot, while Gongsun Zan was being summoned by someone else. The difference between their situations was truly not insignificant. Nevertheless, Liu Bei held Gongsun Zan in high esteem and didn't feel any jealousy towards him; on the contrary, he felt that this was something Gongsun Zan deserved.

  It wasn't until much later that Gong Sun Zan finally came out, his face calm but his hasty footsteps made people feel a bad atmosphere. Liu Bei was curious, but didn't ask, still standing there motionless waiting.

  After a moment, Li Ding and others came out with the host of the Mao family, Mao Qin. Liu Bei hastily stepped forward two steps and said loudly: "Liu Bei, a rustic from the countryside, pays his respects to Lord Li and asks if you are well."

  Li Ding was over forty, looking very refined and dignified. At first glance, he looked like Liu Bei, with a hint of a proud smile on his face. He stopped in his tracks, watching as Liu Bei bowed to him, just about to speak when suddenly his brow furrowed: "What's going on with your eyebrows?"