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

Chapter 5 Meeting Liu Bei: I, Xu Shu, am eager to improve!
"Xuepu?"

"interesting!"

"Kongming, the wise ruler you have chosen intends to emulate Duke Huan and King Zhao by seeking out talented individuals in Xiapi!"

Inside Xia Pi City.

Upon hearing the news, Pang Tong smiled broadly.

Zhuge Liang and his entourage had been in Xiapi for several days since entering from Xiangyang.

Although Huang Zhong was unable to find Hua Tuo in Qiao County, he found Hua Tuo's apprentice Wu Pu in Xiapi, which coincided with Zhuge Liang's desire to stay in Pi.

The group then settled down temporarily in Xiapi.

Huang Zhong took Huang Xu to Wu Pu's clinic every day for consultations and to prepare medicine, while Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, and Xu Shu gathered information in the city.

Originally, Zhuge Liang was still worried about what identity to use to meet Liu Bei, but unexpectedly, news came from the city that "General Liu Bei is studying gardening in Xiapi. If there is anyone skilled in gardening, I am willing to pay a large sum of money to learn the art of gardening."

Zhuge Liang and the other two were not fools; they understood the refined meaning behind the music.

How could a dignified General Zuo really want to study gardening in Xiapi?

It was called Xuepu (学圃), but in reality, it was a pretext for seeking out talented people.

"Kongming, when do you plan to go see General Zuo?"

Xu Shu looked at Zhuge Liang.

Judging from his tone and expression, he seemed eager to try.

On his way to Xiapi, Xu Shu learned a great deal about Liu Bei's character and deeds from Zhuge Liang, and he had long admired Liu Bei.

Now that he has learned that Liu Bei is using the pretext of seeking talent through gardening, Xu Shu can no longer suppress his desire to visit Liu Bei.

Zhuge Liang saw through Xu Shu's thoughts but did not point them out.

With a gentle wave of the feather fan, a speech was given:
“I am still young and have no prior acquaintance with General Zuo. If I go now, General Zuo will surely treat me like a student, which is not what I want.”

“If Yuanzhi is interested, he can first meet with the Left General; once Yuanzhi is highly regarded by the Left General, he can then recommend Liang to the Left General.”

Xu Shu was overjoyed.

In terms of talent, Xu Shu was inferior to Zhuge Liang.

If Zhuge Liang had met Liu Bei first, Xu Shu's impression on Liu Bei would have been greatly diminished.

on the contrary.

If Xu Shu had met Liu Bei first and recommended Zhuge Liang, Xu Shu would have gained more credit and merit in Liu Bei's eyes for recommending talented people.

Xu Shu understood: Zhuge Liang was being modest!
"We'll do as Kongming wishes!"

Xu Shu bowed to Zhuge Liang and hurriedly left.

Pang Tong, standing to the side, couldn't help but remark in surprise: "Yuanzhi is being far too hasty."

Zhuge Liang understood Xu Shu's thoughts and expressed his understanding.

People often say that one should be established by the age of thirty, but Xu Shu was already over thirty and had not only failed to achieve fame and fortune but also had not started a family. How could he not be anxious?
Just as Zhuge Liang had guessed.

Xu Shu agreed to follow Zhuge Liang northward not only out of friendship, but more importantly, because he wanted to achieve fame and fortune, then settle down and start a family so that his loving mother could live a peaceful and comfortable life.

Xu Shu is too eager to improve!

Outside Xia Pi City.

Liu Bei rolled up his sleeves and worked diligently in the fields.

Although he found it strange that Liu Bei was learning gardening, Che Zhou, the governor of Xuzhou, still set aside a few acres of fertile land as a favor to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei didn't stand on ceremony and personally took charge after acquiring the fertile land.

There were also skilled gardeners who went to the fields to give Liu Bei pointers.

Whether the visitor was an old farmer or a young boy, Liu Bei humbly listened to their opinions, as if he were truly learning gardening. Not only Liu Bei was working in the fields, but Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were also working there.

"Second brother, I don't understand. Eldest brother already said that this journey is like a bird soaring into the blue sky or a fish entering the sea, free from all constraints. Why then use growing vegetables as a way to hide his great ambitions?"

Zhang Fei spoke in a somber tone, and with one stroke of his hoe, he dug a large pit.

"Third brother, we're hoeing the ground, not digging holes." Guan Yu lowered his head, not answering Zhang Fei's question, his attention focused on hoeing the ground instead.

Zhang Fei was even more frustrated: "Second brother! I'm a pig butcher, not a farmer. I don't know how to hoe the ground!"

Guan Yu's attention remained focused on hoeing the ground: "I'm not a farmer either. You'll get the hang of it after a few tries. I'll teach you."

"Second Brother!" Zhang Fei felt even more helpless.

I don't want to farm, so why should I learn how to hoe the land?
Just as he was grumbling, a person with an elegant demeanor came humming a song.

It was Xu Shu!

The song goes: Heaven and earth are in turmoil, the fire is about to extinguish; the great building is about to collapse, a single tree cannot support it. There is a wise man in the valley who wishes to serve a wise ruler; the wise ruler seeks wise men, but does not know me.

Huh?
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei both looked up at Xu Shu, their faces showing surprise.

When someone shouts, "Nobody knows who I am!" anyone would be tempted to check who's spouting nonsense.

"This person is extremely arrogant!"

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei both hummed softly in unison.

At this moment, there was no one else in the field except Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei. Xu Shu's humming was clearly aimed at Liu Bei.

To hum a song to a general of the left to express one's unfulfilled talents is nothing short of arrogance!

In contrast to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei's dissatisfaction, Liu Bei's simple eyes, which had been focused on hoeing the ground, suddenly became bright and piercing.

After waiting for several days, the wise man has finally arrived!
Liu Bei's true intentions were not what they seemed. He wanted to avoid arousing Cao Cao's suspicion by establishing the Xu Du Academy, and he wanted to find talented individuals by establishing the Xia Pi Academy. Now that these talented individuals had arrived, he naturally could not let them go.

"Sir, are you skilled in gardening?" Liu Bei stopped working and asked.

Seeing that the singing had received a response, Xu Shu stopped and replied, "Does the General of the Left wish to inquire about the techniques of large gardens or small gardens?"

Seeing the hidden meaning in Xu Shu's words, Liu Bei asked, "Forgive my ignorance, but may I ask you, sir, what is a large garden? What is a small garden?"

Xu Shu stood with his hands behind his back, speaking with great boldness: "As the ancients said, governing a large country is like cooking a small fish. A large garden governs a country, a small garden governs a field."

Seeing that Xu Shu had seen through his intentions in learning gardening in Xiapi, Liu Bei was even more pleased.

Immediately.

Liu Bei put down his hoe and bowed to Xu Shu, asking, "May I ask your honorable surname, sir?"

Xu Shu returned the greeting with a bow: "I am a humble commoner and dare not presume to speak of honor. I am Xu Shu from Yingchuan, courtesy name Yuanzhi, and I have come here by chance. I happened to hear that General Zuo is offering a large sum of money to teach me gardening techniques, but I am short of funds, so I have taken the liberty of coming here. If my gardening techniques are pleasing to General Zuo, I hope that General Zuo will not hesitate to reward me."

Liu Bei laughed loudly: "Sir, you are too modest. Since you have such knowledge, I am all ears! This is not the place to talk, please follow me."

Seeing Liu Bei and Xu Shu move to another place, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei also put down their hoes and followed Liu Bei, watching Xu Shu warily.

Staring at him by two burly men, even Xu Shu, a former chivalrous knight-errant with considerable martial prowess, couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.

Seeing Xu Shu's unusual expression, Liu Bei gestured to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei not to be rude and scare away the wise man, while warmly introducing Xu Shu:
"Please don't be offended, sir. These two men have always protected me and are as close to me as brothers. We three usually address each other as brothers. This is Guan Yu, courtesy name Yunchang; this is Zhang Fei, courtesy name Yide. Both are brave enough to fight ten thousand men!"

Liu Bei's enthusiasm immediately eased Xu Shu's tense nerves, and he stopped and bowed, saying, "Forgive my poor eyesight, I did not recognize Xiong Hu Yingjie. Now that two heroes are wholeheartedly assisting General Zuo, how can we not succeed in our great cause?"

There's a saying that goes something like this: Even though I know you're flattering me, I still feel good listening to it.

Furthermore, Xu Shu's praise of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei was not obsequious but rather sincere, which made Guan Yu and Zhang Fei feel favorably towards him in just a few words.

Liu Bei was also amazed.

How many virtuous men are there in Yingchuan!
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(End of this chapter)