Reborn in the Three Kingdoms: Da Qiao Doesn't Want to Be a Widow Anymore

Chapter 324 Trying to show off, don't hit me.
"I did not inform the Central Protector General when I went to Wancheng, so when I entered the tent, he was still holding Han Ji in his arms, and was coaxing Mei Ji to apply medicine to his wounds in a low voice."

I later learned that he had taken in someone not long after I left Wancheng.

Some time ago, Han Ji became pregnant. He probably thought I was jealous because of Han Ji, so he arranged to send her back to Shuxian to rest and prepare for childbirth.

Suddenly I understood what my sister meant. Perhaps he felt a little more affection for me than for others, but really, it wasn't that different.

Qiao Rong was clearly smiling as she spoke, but the words she uttered in her calm tone were more and more heart-wrenching than the last.

"Sister, don't be sad. I took a nap and suddenly felt like I was waking up from a dream. I've figured out a lot of things now."

Although my sister's words of advice were harsh, they were sincere. However, I was clinging to a sliver of hope, always thinking that I could be different.

I wanted to go to Wancheng because I felt unwilling to give up. I always felt that if we met and talked things out, he would understand me.

I only realized it was all wishful thinking when I got there.

Qiao Rong paused, as if she didn't really want to talk about anything related to Zhou Yu anymore.

“I’ve always enjoyed tending to herbs. When I was young, Dr. Hua came to our house and praised me for my talent in learning and practicing medicine.”

If my father hadn't thought it was a medical skill and forbade me to learn it, I should be able to be a half-baked doctor by now.

Even Dr. Zhang thinks highly of me, believing that I have talent.

I think that if I didn't ask for a loving husband, I would still prefer to be a female doctor like Dr. Zhang, practicing medicine and healing the sick to benefit the people.

The lives of so many people should be far more important than my personal debt of gratitude.

However, I probably won't be able to help my older sister anymore. If others knew that I had become a female doctor, they would probably look down on my older sister's background even more.

Sister, please don't blame me, okay?

Qiao Rong looked up, her face already streaked with tears.

In the third month of spring in the eighth year of Jian'an, Physician Zhang left Jingkou, and Qiao Rong followed him. She held Zhou Xun tightly, her eyes filled with reluctance; this was the flesh and blood she had given birth to at the cost of her life.

Even though she was very disappointed in herself and the Zhou family, she still couldn't easily let go of the little one in the swaddling clothes.

Zhou Xun slept soundly, his little face rosy, like a ripe peach, making him irresistible.

Qiao Rong gently kissed his forehead, then handed Zhou Xun to Qiao Wei and got into the carriage without looking back.

Her lips trembled, and she dared not turn around, afraid that if she looked at Zhou Xun one more time, she would not be able to leave again.

Zhou Xun, who had been sleeping soundly just moments before, suddenly woke up as if sensing something, and burst into tears in Qiao Wei's arms.

In the spring of the eighth year of Jian'an, Sun Quan personally visited Wu County. Xu Jing and Hua Xin presided over the monthly evaluation, attracting famous scholars from various states to come and observe the ceremony. Even the collateral branches of the Yuan family in Runan sent their sons to attend the ceremony.

Most surprisingly, Shi Tao from Yingchuan, Cui Jun from Boling, Meng Jian from Runan, and Pang Tong from Xiangyang also sent their visiting cards.

Qiao Wei flipped through the visiting cards again, and confirmed with Zhang Hong that no one's visiting cards were missing. He muttered, "There's still one person missing." "Who?" Sun Quan leisurely put down the scroll in his hand. "I've looked at this card over and over again so many times."

Qiao Wei pressed the post and the list, "Zhuge Kongming".

Historical records indicate that during the Jian'an period, Xu Shu maintained close relationships with Shi Tao, Cui Jun, Meng Jian, Pang Tong, and Zhuge Liang.

Xu Shu, Cui Jun, Meng Jian, and Shi Tao were even referred to as the Four Friends of Zhuge Liang.

Xu Shu was the first to enter officialdom. In the sixth year of Jian'an, after Liu Bei stationed himself in Xinye, Xu Shu went to join him.

Therefore, it is quite reasonable that Xu Shu was not on the list of those to be evaluated, but since the others had all sent their visiting cards, there was no reason why Zhuge Liang would not come!
She thought for a moment, wrote down the names of Shi Tao and the others on the bamboo slip, and called Youxuan over, "Go quietly to the post station where these people are staying and inquire whether there is a Mr. Zhuge traveling with them."

If not, then inquire with Chief Clerk Zhuge to see if any of his brothers have recently come to visit or traveled to Wu County.

Sun Quan pondered for a long time, "It seems you really value this Mr. Zhuge. Ziyu is well-versed in governance and possesses profound talent; I imagine his younger brother has inherited his style."

"It's not just that." Qiao Wei had other considerations for Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang was good at internal affairs and military administration. Cao Cao praised him in history books for his expertise in military affairs.

Now, Jiangdong has Zhang Zhao in domestic affairs and Zhou Yu in foreign affairs. But the more this is the case, the clearer the stances of civil and military officials will become in the future, and the more acute the contradictions will be.

Zhuge Liang was capable of both internal affairs and military command, making him a versatile talent.

Moreover, Zhang Zhao was getting old, and many of his political views were conservative. Sun Quan moved his capital from Wu County to Jingkou, intending to send troops to Jingzhou, but Zhang Zhao did not agree with this.

In times of chaos, there is a need for conservative elders to protect the rear, as well as for ambitious and enterprising individuals to command the troops.

Zhang Zhao came from a prominent family and, although he valued farming, he was not particularly skilled at it. Therefore, he was somewhat lacking in agricultural matters and the management of supplies and provisions. Zhuge Liang was exactly the kind of talent that Jiangdong needed at that time.

Qiao Wei arranged for Wu Fan and Liu Dun to learn the art of double-cropping rice in Jiaozhou, and recruited the Ou and Mo clans, establishing Danyang, Wancheng and other places as important metallurgical centers, all in preparation for Jiangdong's annexation of Jingzhou in terms of supplies and weapons.

Now that the plan is progressing smoothly, someone is needed to take charge of this task and integrate resources. Among the many talents in internal affairs, Qiao Wei still wants to choose Zhuge Liang.

But if Qiao Wei were to explain why she would place such great trust in a complete stranger, she wouldn't be able to explain it in a short time. After all, Zhuge Liang at that time was just a young scholar of little renown, not the statesman, military strategist, inventor, strategist, and writer who would later become famous throughout history.

"I only know that Mr. Shui Jing called Zhuge Kongming the Crouching Dragon and Pang Shiyuan the Young Phoenix, which must have been reasonable."

Qiao Wei took out Pang Tong's visiting card and placed it in front of Sun Quan. "Master Fengchu has already entered the game. Does Your Majesty not wish for the dragon and phoenix to advance side by side and head west towards Jing and Yi?"

Sun Quan's eyes lit up slightly, his surprised gaze sweeping over Qiao Wei's face. "How did you know I wanted more than just Jingzhou?"

"Because I saw that you wrote a letter to General Zhao, and then asked him to write a letter to General Zhang Boqi."

Zhang Boqi, whose given name was Ren, was a subordinate of Liu Zhang, the governor of Yizhou. He and Zhao Yun were from the same school. Unfortunately, due to the constant struggle between Liu Zhang and Zhang Lu, Zhang Ren, acting on Liu Zhang's spirit, killed his wife, mother, and family.

Now, Zhang Lu's power is growing, and he has seized control of Hanzhong. Even though Liu Zhang hates him to the bone, he can do nothing about it.

Sun Quan wanted to unite with Yizhou to attack Jingzhou first, promising that once the grudge against Jingzhou was settled, he would send troops to help them suppress the Five Pecks of Rice sect.

Because Zhao Yun and Sun An were betrothed, they had been exchanging letters since last year. Sun Quan would occasionally use these letters as a pretext to issue military orders.